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 functioning daycare or afterschool program and none at all. From paraprofessionals improving math scores in Elgin/New Leipzig schools to vital staffing support in Cooperstown, the ripple effects of these cuts are already being felt.

They also break down the reporting process, what it takes to track down stories like this, and why it’s important to shine a light on programs that many take for granted.

Episode highlights:

• The unseen roles AmeriCorps members fill in rural communities
• Why some programs were more effective, and more vulnerable, than others
• The challenges of covering cuts with little government transparency

Tune in for the full story behind the headlines.

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 administrative staff and how it could increase wait times and reduce the quality of care for veterans. Bergland emphasizes the importance of telehealth and mobile clinics in serving rural veterans and urges the community to voice their concerns to protect these essential services.

The added interview with Berglund begins at 5:53.

Keli Berglund (image provided by https://www.veterans.nd.gov/heroes/keli-berglund)

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, including the response of local health officials and the rising vaccine hesitancy since the COVID-19 pandemic. This important story underscores the critical nature of in-depth journalism in keeping communities informed about public health crises.

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 research. This episode explores the growing uncertainty, the financial fallout, and how communities are responding.

Listen to the Backstory, then read the full article here.

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 cuts will affect their care.

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 national attitudes toward Ukraine are shifting and what it could mean economically for local communities if these newcomers are forced to leave.