The Backstory from the North Dakota News Cooperative

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the North Dakota News Cooperative’s latest statewide poll. Host Sabrina Halvorson is joined by Michael Standaert, lead reporter at NDNC, to unpack how polling results are transformed into in-depth, unbiased journalism. They explore the full editorial process, from receiving raw data to selecting compelling story angles and conducting follow-up interviews.

Michael shares why maintaining in...

In this episode, host Sabrina Halvorson talks with Mary Jo Hotzler, board member of the North Dakota News Cooperative, about the meticulous process behind their latest statewide public opinion poll. From selecting a polling company to crafting nonpartisan questions, Mary Jo explains the meticulous process behind ensuring accuracy, credibility, and a truly representative sample. Discover why live phone interviews still matter, how s...

In this episode, we look at how shifting U.S. tariffs are impacting North Dakota’s farmers and agricultural businesses. As new tariffs take effect, especially those on imports from Canada and China, farmers are seeing increased equipment costs, delayed deliveries, and growing uncertainty about future trade relationships.

Michael breaks down what’s happening on the ground, including insight from soybean growers, ag suppliers, and bu...

In this episode of The Backstory, host Sabrina Halvorson is joined by reporter Michael Standaert to explore a forward-thinking agricultural initiative in North Dakota: using rotational grazing practices to capture and store carbon in soil. Michael breaks down the science of carbon credits and the economics of carbon markets, sharing insights from his reporting and interviews with researchers and ranchers like Louis Heaton.

They div...

Federal cost-cutting measures are putting some North Dakota senior programs at risk. In this episode of The Backstory, hosts Sabrina Halvorson and Michael Standaert discuss Michael’s recent reporting on the uncertainty facing Senior Companions programs due to AmeriCorps funding delays. With more than 375 volunteers helping isolated older adults across 53 counties, the potential loss of this support could have a profound impact—not ...

In this special episode of The Backstory, host Sabrina Halvorson talks with reporter Michael Standaert about his work featured in an investigative series that received the Arthur E. Rowse Award for Excellence in Examining the News Media from the National Press Club.

Michael’s reporting, produced in collaboration with FLOODLIGHT, uncovered the sudden appearance of a newspaper in Morton County, North Dakota. Although it appeared to b...

A cyber attack on a national food distributor made headlines — but how does that trickle down to rural grocery stores in North Dakota? In this episode of The Backstory, host Sabrina Halvorson speaks with NDNC reporter Michael Standaert about his recent story, Grocery Stores in North Dakota affected by cyber attack on distributor. They unpack how supply chain disruptions disproportionately impact small-town stores, the real-world ch...

In this episode, host Sabrina Halvorson speaks with journalist Michael Standaert about the growing interest in regenerative agriculture and how mini-documentaries are bringing attention to this important topic. Michael explains how farmers are working to restore soil health, reduce chemical use, and adapt to changing consumer demands.

The discussion highlights a recent mini-documentary by Kiss the Ground that showcases North Dakota...

In this update episode, reporter Michael Standaert returns with a powerful follow-up on Ukrainian refugees living in North Dakota under the Uniting for Ukraine program. As the two-year parole period nears its end for many, families now face the threat of losing their legal ability to work — and the looming question of whether they'll be forced to leave. From a mother trying to keep her son in high school to a man who fled Mariupol ...

In this episode, the Michael Standaert and Sabrina Halvorson explore the implications of proposed Medicaid changes on rural hospitals in North Dakota. Initial concerns suggested significant potential harm, but further research reveals that exemptions and low percentages of affected individuals might mitigate these effects. The discussion covers the specifics of Medicaid work requirements, tribal exemptions, and how hospitals might ...

This week on The Backstory from the North Dakota News Cooperative, host Sabrina Halvorson talks with reporter Michael Standaert about his latest article uncovering the impact of federal funding cuts to AmeriCorps programs in rural North Dakota.

Standaert shares what he learned from educators and community members who relied on AmeriCorps support, particularly in small towns where one volunteer could make the difference between a fu...

In this episode, we expand on an earlier Backstory discussion with reporter Michael Standaert with an additional guest. Keli Berglund, the former Department Commander for Disabled American Veterans in North Dakota and current mayor of Lincoln, joins us to discuss the critical challenges faced by veterans in accessing healthcare, especially in rural areas. She highlights the impact of potential funding cuts on the VA’s administrativ...

In this episode, we discuss the recent measles outbreak in North Dakota, marking the state's first cases in over a decade. Journalist Michael Standaert shares insights on the timely reporting done by the North Dakota News Cooperative, detailing the rapid spread of the disease and the significant role declining vaccination rates have played. We explore the outbreak's origins, current status, and efforts to mitigate further spread, i...

Federal funding cuts are putting pressure on key institutions in North Dakota. In this episode, host Sabrina Halvorson talks with NDNC reporter Michael Standaert about how these cuts could impact the state library and major research universities. Programs like interlibrary loans, online databases, and services for people with reading impairments are at risk. At UND and NDSU, canceled CDC and NIH grants threaten ongoing and future r...

In this episode, hosts Sabrina Halvorson and Michael Standaert delve into the anxieties local veterans are facing regarding proposed staffing cuts at the VA, which could potentially affect as many as 72,000 positions nationwide. The discussion includes insights from various veterans, who express fears about longer wait times and diminished care quality. Despite reassurances from the VA, veterans remain skeptical about how these cut...

In this episode, hosts Sabrina Halvorson and Michael Standaert unpack what it means to be a “humanitarian parolee” in the U.S.—specifically focusing on Ukrainian immigrants in North Dakota under the “United for Ukraine” program. They break down how humanitarian parole differs from refugee status, why these distinctions matter, and what’s at stake as parolees face an uncertain legal future. The conversation also looks at how nationa...

Sabrina Halvorson and Michael Standaert discuss USDA funding freezes and program cuts impacting farmers and rural communities. They discuss the sudden end of key initiatives like Local Food Purchase Assistance, and Food for Schools, along with broader effects on Climate Smart Commodities and Rural Energy Assistance. Standaert discusses what he heard from foundation directors, farmers, and other stakeholders as they discuss the chal...

In this episode of The Backstory podcast by the North Dakota News Cooperative, CEO Sabrina Halvorson and lead reporter Michael Standaert delve into the effects of President Donald Trump's trade wars on North Dakota's $41 billion agricultural economy. The discussion highlights concerns and uncertainties faced by local farmers and agricultural leaders regarding tariffs and trade barriers, including insights from farmers and state far...