North Dakota
North Dakota leaders react to Trump's address to Congress
FARGO – In the late evening hours of Tuesday, March 4,
President Donald Trump addressed the United States Congress for the first time
since taking office earlier this year.
After his speech, those representing the state of North Dakota were quick to weigh in on the president’s priorities for the next four years.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Trump’s “vision for the future of the United States” will bring more energy independence and border security, North Dakota
Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., said in a statement late on Tuesday.
“I am proud to stand with President Trump in turning the page on the disastrous policies of the previous administration and deliver on a new era of American exceptionalism. From unleashing American energy to securing our border, the President laid out a clear road map to a stronger America and peace around the world,” Fedorchak said.
Under the Trump administration, unlawful border crossings in the north and south are predicted to hit the lowest number seen in years,
according to NPR factcheckers.
However, the U.S. was producing “record amounts of oil and natural gas” under the Biden administration,
NPR reported,
and set a natural gas record in 2023.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
The country will get “back on track” under Trump, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said in a release on Tuesday.
“After being in office just over a month, the Trump administration has already put in place policies that are stopping the flow of illegal immigration, helping to build U.S. energy dominance and showing that America is back open for business to grow our economy,” Hoeven said. “At the same time, the President has made clear that we need to rebuild our military to keep our nation safe, support our veterans, make government work better and support our small businesses, including our farmers and ranchers. We look forward to continuing to work with President Trump on these priorities to build a better future for the American people.”
Over the last six weeks, a flurry of changes from the Trump administration have left North Dakota farmers, veterans advocates, victim service shelters, tourism industry leaders and federal workers concerned that the budget cuts, federal layoffs and new tariffs will harm the state’s economy, veterans health care and more.
Even North Dakota’s governor weighed in on Tuesday.
Tanner Ecker / The Bismarck Tribune
Since taking office in January, Trump has made “significant progress” by “bringing common sense back to America,”
Gov. Kelly Armstrong said in a release.
“Illegal immigration is down, investment in U.S. manufacturing is up, and North Dakota is among the states that stand to benefit most from the president’s focus on American innovation, common-sense regulations and government efficiency,” Armstrong, a Republican, said.
Members of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL were less enthusiastic following the address.
Mike McFeely / The Forum
Under Trump’s administration, health care costs will go up as will household prices for working families, the
North Dakota Democratic-NPL chair Adam Goldwyn said online prior to Trump’s address.
“Whether it’s the price of eggs to housing, Trump’s policies are already making life more unaffordable for North Dakotans, and this will only get worse,” Goldwyn said in the release. “They’re going to steal from you and your grandma to pay for tax cuts for out-of-state billionaires.”
The price of eggs was rising under the previous administration as well.
During his Tuesday address, Trump blamed the skyrocketing price of eggs on former President Joe Biden.
However, the rising cost of eggs is largely due to an ongoing avian flu epidemic that is running rampant amongst crowded chicken factories,
NPR factcheckers reported on Tuesday,
leading to the slaughter of tens of millions of chickens that were producing America’s eggs.
In addition, the Minnesota DFL Party released a statement following Trump’s address that was critical of the administration’s agenda.
Trump’s policies will also harm Minnesotans, according to Minnesota DFL Executive Director Heidi Kraus Kaplan.
“As he pushes forward with a budget plan that would rip health insurance away from thousands of Minnesotans who rely on Medicaid and a trade war that will raise the cost of everything from food to electricity, Donald Trump is showing Minnesota his true colors,” Minnesota DFL Executive Director Heidi Kraus Kaplan said in the release. “Minnesota Republicans will be held accountable for rubberstamping Donald Trump’s plans to cut taxes for the ultra-rich while shredding programs that support working-class Minnesotans.”
Some Democrats left the chamber in protest during Trump’s address, according to Reuters, while others applauded Trump at times throughout his speech.
U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., condemned the actions of some House Democrats on Tuesday in a release.
“Democrats in the Chamber sneered, heckled and booed,” Cramer said in the release. “You don’t have to hate America because you hate President Trump, and you don’t have to love Trump because you love America.”
North Dakota
Found guilty of manslaughter: Dickinson man to spend only about four and a half more years in prison
DICKINSON — A 70-year-old Dickinson man
charged with murder in 2024
was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years in prison after the charges against him were dropped to manslaughter. According to court documents, he will only be in custody for about four and a half more years.
Nine years were suspended from Jeffrey Powell’s sentence along with 532 days or about one and a half years for time already served.
Barring future developments, Powell will be incarcerated at the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for
the death of 59-year-old Christopher Volney Ische
for about four and a half more years.
That’s just months more than the four-year minimum sentence, according to the Stark County State’s Attorney Amanda Engelstad.
The initial incident happened on July 3, 2024. Police said the shooting, which resulted in Ische’s death, happened around 7 p.m. in a residential neighborhood in Dickinson after a verbal altercation. Police also said Powell had stayed on the scene of the shooting and talked with officers.
At the time of Powell’s arrest, police said they presumed Ische’s death was an isolated incident. He has been held at Southwest Multi-County Correctional Center (SWMCCC) since the incident with a $2 million bond.
Powell
was initially charged with a Class AA felony
, which could carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, Powell was found guilty of manslaughter of an adult victim, which is a Class B felony.
Powell pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge.
Engelstad said to The Press that the difference in charges was based on evidence presented in the trial and was an “appropriate resolution.”
Different sentencing rules applied to Powell, however, because of how North Dakota law interprets the use of a firearm in cases like this.
During the trial, the court found that Powell was a dangerous special offender pursuant to NDCC 12.1-32-09. This portion of North Dakota law allows the court to sentence above normal charges. In Powell’s case, a class B felony typically carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. With the dangerous special offender finding, the sentence can be a maximum of 20 years.
Engelstad said the State had argued for a sentence of 20 years.
“I’m disappointed in the outcome,” said Engelstad.
Additional terms of Powell’s sentence include five years’ supervised probation, along with no contact with the family of the deceased for the same length of time.
If Powell does not violate these terms, his probation will end in 2035. He is scheduled to be released from custody June 23, 2030.
A total of $775 in fees for Powell’s case, including criminal administration, facility admin and victim witness fees, were waived. He may be required to pay restitution. The State’s Attorney’s office has 60 days from the date of judgment to file an affidavit of restitution.
The view through a North Dakota Highway Patrol squad’s windshield. (Facebook)
(FOX 9) – Blizzard warnings are in for parts of both North and South Dakota, creating hazardous conditions for drivers on Thursday morning.
Blizzard warning in effect
What we know:
In North Dakota, the blizzard warning covers most of the northern two-thirds of the state, stretching into northwest Minnesota.
In South Dakota, the blizzard warning only covers three counties in the far northeast part of the state, including Day, Marshall, and Robert counties.
The National Weather Service is only forecasting between one and four inches of snow in North Dakota and two inches of snow in South Dakota, but whipping winds up to 70 miles per hour will greatly reduce visibility and cause damage to trees and power lines.
READ MORE: White-out conditions reported in NW Minnesota
What they’re seeing:
North Dakota Highway Patrol shared photos showing the blizzard conditions along Interstate 94 just east of Bismark. In the photos, it appears you can only see a few feet past the front bumper of the squad.
Another post shows snow whipping in the high winds in Grand Forks County. Troopers are urging residents to stay home in North Dakota if they are able.
Travel restrictions in place
Big picture view:
A travel alert is in effect for western parts of North Dakota while no travel is advised for central and eastern parts of the state. Troopers have restricted oversized loads from roads in the northwest and northeast regions of the state as of 5:30 a.m. and empty or light-loaded high-profile vehicles due to the high winds and icy conditions.
In South Dakota, officials warn that there are reports of multiple downed powerlines and trees blocking roadways. No travel is advised in Day and Marshall counties.
The Source: This story uses information from the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the National Weather Service.
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A 24-year-old suspect wanted on fraud charges in Florida was arrested in Bismarck following a multi-state investigation into alleged economic crimes targeting St. Lucie County, Florida residents in 2024.
Kylen Running Hawk was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 16, by Bismarck authorities working with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. Running Hawk is being held at the Burleigh County Jail pending extradition to Florida.
Running Hawk faces three charges under Florida law:
- Fraud/swindle: Defrauding to obtain property valued at less than $20,000
- Fraud/impersonation: Use or possession of another person’s identification without consent
- Grand theft: Property valued at $750 or more but less than $5,000
Detective Cpl. Redler coordinated the cross-state apprehension, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Copyright 2025 KVLY. All rights reserved.
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