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Shaw: She did not have to lay there and suffer

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Shaw: She did not have to lay there and suffer


In a survey at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair, people were asked, “Should terminally ill adults have the option to end their lives with the assistance of health care providers?” An overwhelming 73% said yes, while just 18% said no. It’s time for Minnesota legislators to listen to the people of the state and pass such a law.

We know these laws work in other states. Mona Henkels of Fulda, Minnesota, had a very dear friend, Elfi Rice, who used to live in Faribault, Minnesota. Elfi later moved to the state of Washington.

In 2015, Elfi was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She valiantly fought her cancer, and received numerous chemotherapy treatments, but they didn’t help.

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Mona Henkels is pictured with her friend Elfi Rice.

Contributed / Mona Henkels

“Elfi was in a lot of pain,” Mona told me. “She was sick, very weak and lost her appetite. She was choking on her food. We couldn’t even understand what this eloquent woman was saying. She had fought all she could fight.”

Realizing that she was terminally ill and only going to get worse, Elfi made the decision to die with dignity. After she was examined by two physicians and found to be of a sound mind, Elfi was approved for Washington’s program.

Surrounded by her family, Elfi took two pills in a drink and went to sleep. An hour later she was gone.

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“I’m very grateful that she was allowed that option,” Mona said. “I was so glad that she did not have to lay there and suffer. There was nothing to be gained. She had lived a great life. She wasn’t going to submit to the indignity and inhumanity of waiting to die.”

David Sturgeon of Tonka Bay, Minnesota, will never forget the brutal death of his father.

“My father had skin cancer,” David told me. “He was miserable. He couldn’t do anything for himself. He was choking on fluid filling his lungs, was horribly uncomfortable and clearly in pain. He wanted to get medical assistance to die, but that wasn’t a legal option. Instead, he got the death he dreaded.”

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David Sturgeon is pictured with his father shortly before his death.

Contributed / David Sturgeon

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That had a huge impact on David. Nine years after his father’s death, Tom Warren of California, who was like a second father to David, was also dying and suffering. So, Tom chose death with dignity. David was with Tom and his family when Tom took his medication.

“He told everybody he loved them and went to sleep,” David said. “Totally peaceful. To be a witness to that was incredible. It was what he wanted. I wish my dad could have had that opportunity.”

Every terminally ill person should have this opportunity. What’s the point of prolonging misery and suffering? In most states, we treat our dogs and cats more humanely when they are dying than we do our fellow human beings.

“I can only hope when my time comes, my passing will be like Tom’s,” David said.

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“It’s just the right and humane thing to do to provide this option,” Mona said.

Jim Shaw

InForum columnist Jim Shaw is a former WDAY TV reporter and former KVRR TV news director.





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North Dakota

Fire burns at Pallet Green Recycling storage yard in rural Williston

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Fire burns at Pallet Green Recycling storage yard in rural Williston


WILLISTON, N.D. (KFYR) – UPDATE (5/10/2026 at 11:45 p.m.): A fire broke out at a Williston recycling business Sunday evening, and no one was injured.

Multiple crews responded to Pallet Green Recycling just before 8:30 p.m., according to the Williston Fire Department. Crews arrived at the scene where they fought heavy smoke and flames.

Industrial storage containers were on scene, and officials say it is unclear what, if any, chemical residue was inside them. Officials believe there is no danger to the public.

Williston Fire Chief Corey Johnson said the fire was contained to the business’s exterior storage yard, and crews were not concerned about it spreading beyond the property.

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“Right now, the structures are protected in the area. We’re not concerned about the fire spreading off of the lot,” Johnson said.

Multiple departments from across Williams County responded, and extra water trucks were brought in due to the fire’s remote location.

The cause remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. Your News Leader will provide updates as more information becomes available.

ORIGINAL STORY (5/10/2026 at 9:39 p.m.): Crews responded to a large fire at a storage yard in rural Williston on Sunday night.

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The fire is located at Pallet Green Recycling, according to the business owner.

Sylvia Luebke captured video of the scene from a distance around 8 p.m. The fire sent a large plume of smoke over the area. Luebke said it was still burning as of around 9 p.m.

Williston Rural Fire is working to battle the fire. The department was unable to comment at this time.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.

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North Dakota

ND Guard officer in charge of DC special mission

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ND Guard officer in charge of DC special mission


Submitted Photo
U.S. soldiers with the Nebraska and North Dakota National Guards, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, pose for a group photo at a hotel in Alexandria, Virginia, April 28. N.D. National Guard 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, front row, far left, served as the officer in charge of the mission when soldiers assigned to JTF-DC responded to the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner April 25. About 2,500 National Guard members are supporting the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of residents, commuters and visitors throughout the District. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Norris.

WASHINGTON – U.S. soldiers with the North Dakota, Arkansas and Nebraska Army National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, responded to a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner (WHCAD) at the Washington Hilton in Northwest Washington April 25.

The Guardsmen were at the WHCAD at the request of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) as an additional patrol unit created specifically for the event, which celebrates the contribution of news organizations and independent journalists alike who provide notable coverage relating to the presidential administration.

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“Our mission was to assist the U.S. Secret Service with crowd control,” said Capt. Kevin Peatrowsky, an operations officer with the Nebraska National Guard (NENG) assigned to JTF-DC.

As the Guardsmen were monitoring their area of operations, they saw USSS agents sprint toward the hotel entrance.

“They were running full speed with their weapons drawn,” said Sgt. 1st. Class Allen Haney, a team member with the Arkansas National Guard. “We immediately followed suit.”

Staff Sgt. Kirsten Confer, a NENG combat medic and battle captain, recalled her response to the incident: “We fell back on our basic training. You run toward danger and move in a way that makes sense for the situation.”

According to Confer, the Guardsmen entered the hotel and immediately began securing the scene and ensured that the guests evacuated safely. At the direction of a federal agent, Confer began a rapid trauma assessment on the suspect which resulted in finding knives and ammunition on the shooter. Simultaneously, the Arkansas soldiers moved outside to provide crowd control at a pedestrian barricade outside the hotel.

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“From there, we assisted wherever we could,” said 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, a National Guardsman from North Dakota who served as the officer in charge for the mission. “We were initially helping with crowd control. After that, we realized that the USSS had begun rerouting everyone in the hotel, so we moved to the doors. We were controlling entry into the venue, so we had moved a couple more people outside, so we had five inside, eight outside.” Both Arkansas and Nebraska worked well alongside one another and, alongside the federal agencies. Hill also noted that relying on his soldiers allowed him to move to different teams, which helped allow him to plan and coordinate with different agencies.

According to 1st Lt. Jonathan Goins, a platoon leader with the Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas soldiers also helped establish a security perimeter for the staging of the presidential motorcade. Later, the team assisted federal agencies and MPD with crowd control, which helped clear the way for the president and administration officials, he said.

“Guardsmen on this mission represent the very best of the nation,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II, the interim commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. “The world got a brief glimpse, but I see them each day serving and doing amazing things across the District.”



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Stampede stay alive with 2-1 OT win in Fargo

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Stampede stay alive with 2-1 OT win in Fargo


FARGO, N.D. (KELO) — The Sioux Falls Stampede staved off elimination with a 2-1 overtime win over the Fargo Force in game four of the USHL Western Conference Finals Saturday night.

Thomas Zocco scored the game-winner 12 minutes into the extra period. Arseni Marchenko put Fargo on the board first in the first period. Noah Mannausau tied the game for the Herd in the second period.

Sioux Falls outshot Fargo 53-49, including 9-5 in overtime. Linards Feldbergs made 48 saves.

Three of the four games of the series have gone to overtime. The winner-take-all game five is Tuesday at the Premier Center.

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