News & Views with Joel Heitkamp

1/2/26: Former State Senator, Vern Thompson, joins News and View, to discuss his letter he wrote to US Representative, Julie Fedorchak. Vern Thompson and Joel Heitkamp also talked about what is going on regarding Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz, and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/31/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by former Fargo Broadcaster and KFGO Reporter Al Aamodt, as well as Jack Zaleski, former Editor of the Devils Lake Daily Journal and The Forum’s editorial page. The three of them share their thoughts on some of the biggest stories of the year, like the assassination of Charlie Kirk and Speaker Melissa Hortman, the Big Beautiful Bill becoming law, ships being blown up by the Trump Administration, and more.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/30/25: Michelle Kommer is filling in for Joel Heitkamp on "News and Views" and has a full studio to have a conversation about different generations in the workforce. Michelle previously served as North Dakota’s Labor Commissioner and Commerce Commissioner, and chats with mother and daughter duo, Krista and Lily Andrews for more generational perspective. Krista Andrews is a shareholder in ABST Law in Fargo and Lily Andrews is a student at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/29/25: North Dakota State Senator Josh Boschee is filling in for Joel Heitkamp on "News and Views," and is joined in the KFGO studio by Levi Bachmeier.  Governor Armstrong appointed West Fargo School District Business Manager Levi Bachmeier as North Dakota’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction. He served as business manager of the West Fargo School District since 2019, while also coaching track and field. From 2016 to 2019 he served as education policy adviser and policy director for then-Gov. Doug Burgum. Bachmeier previously taught high school social studies for two years with Teach for America and spent a summer as a policy analyst fellow at the U.S. Department of Education. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/29/25: Josh Boschee is filling in for Joel Heitkamp on this snowy Monday, and is joined by the newly-elected North Dakota Farmers Union President, Matt Perdue. He farms with his family near Ray, N.D., where they raise spring wheat, durum, canola, lentils and soybeans, and he previously worked at NDFU and National Farmers Union. Josh asks him about his goals for 2026, the soybean crisis, and more.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/26/25: Joel Heitkamp is back on the air after Christmas and is joined by the YWCA Cass Clay CEO, Erin Prochnow. They talk about Christmas traditions within their family and the importance of YWCA during the holidays.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/23/25: Katie Christensen Mineer is the President of the Fargo School Board, but also is an avid outdoor enthusiast! She is joined in the KFGO by two members from FM Trailbuilders, Tim Krieg and Jason Pike. They talk about FM Trailbuilders, winter outdoor activities, the work the trails take in the winter, and more with Katie.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/23/25: Katie Christensen Mineer joined Planned Parenthood North Central States as an educator and later eventually stepped into her current role as North Dakota State Director. She's hosting for Joel Heitkamp and is joined on KFGO by Christina Sambor, an attorney who argued against the abortion ban before the North Dakota Supreme Court, and Diana Greene Foster, author of the Turnaway Study, which examines what happens when people are denied abortion care. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/23/25: Katie Christensen Mineer joined Planned Parenthood North Central States as an educator and later eventually stepped into her current role as North Dakota State Director. She's hosting for Joel Heitkamp and is joined in the KFGO studio by Chris Johnson from the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center. They talk about sexual abuse and violence prevention and what behaviors allow behaviors like this to develop and continue. They also talk about ND laws related to sex education and their impact on consent and abuse.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/22/25: White Joel Heitkamp takes some vacation, Vogel Law attorneys, Mark Friese and Bruce Quick, interview Carl Oberholtzer in the KFGO studio. Carl’s first teaching job was in 1974 in Hettinger, N.D., then went on to Wahpeton, N.D., in 1975 where he taught U.S. and World History, Sociology and Economics, and eventually moved to teach at Fargo North, all while teaching a variety of sports. Over the years, he became friends with Art Phillips, the owner of Video Arts Studio in Fargo, and eventually created a documentary on Little Rock Nine, as well as on Herman Stern and Detroit Lakes.  You can read more about Carl from this Senior Perspective article.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/17/25: Macy Kraemer is the Director of Marketing of BIO Girls, and joins Joel on "News and Views" to talk about their organization.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/19/25: Minnesota State Senator Rob Kupec is filling in for Joel on this Friday before Christmas, and has a conversation about a train consolidation with Darin Broten and Amy McBeth. Amy is the General Director of Public Affairs for BNSF Railway and Darin is the Executive Director of Minnesota AgriGrowth.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/19/25: While Joel Heitkamp is out, Minnesota State Senator Rob Kupec takes his place as the host of "News and Views." Rob is joined by Evan Roe, the Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), to talk about paid family medical leave that'll start up in Minnesota in January 2026. You can learn more on their website at https://pl.mn.gov/. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/19/25: Minnesota State Senator Rob Kupec is hosting while Joel takes some vacation, and is joined by Minnesota's Secretary of State, Steve Simon. Steve is Minnesota’s 22nd Secretary of State, and was sworn into office on January 5, 2015. He and Senator Kupec talk about election integrity and abnormalities.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/19/25: Minnesota State Senator Rob Kupec is filling in for Joel Heitkamp, and is joined by Don Johnson to talk about the American Revolution. Don Johnson researches popular politics during the era of the American Revolution, with a particular emphasis on how the experiences of ordinary people shaped social and political change. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/18/25: Joel Heitkamp is broadcasting from Studio South on this snowy Thursday, but he's still joined by Rusty Halvorson, Tom Szymanski, and Jack Michaels for another week of NFL picks. They're also joined by the Owner of West Main Pizza, Todd Sawrey, as their guest picker.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/18/25: Chris Gibbs is an Ohio Farmer, and former Chair of the Republican Party in Selby County Ohio, serving for seven years until 2015. He was then elected as the Chair of the Democratic Party in Selby County in Ohio. He’s also the Chair of Rural Voices USA and the Chair of Gateway Arts. He's become a good friend of "News and Views," and joins Joel again to talk about President Trump's recent address to the Nation regarding our economy, farmers, and more.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/16/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by Mary and Jen to take all of our recycling and garbage questions ahead of Christmas. Jen Pickett is the Recycling Coordinator for the City of Fargo, and Mary Aldrich is the Sales Manager at MinnKota EnviroServices.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/17/25: The City of Casselton was named the 2025 City of the Year, recognized for its strongcommunity spirit, forward-looking initiatives, and commitment to youth engagement. Casseltonhas embraced inclusive leadership by involving students in council meetings and communityprojects, including painting city snowplows.  Michael Faught has served as Mayor of Casselton, ND, since 2022. Casselton is a vibrant and growing city located in Cass County, about 20 miles west of Fargo. Known for its small-town charm and friendly atmosphere, Casselton offers a unique blend of walkability, community spirit, and economic growth that makes it an inviting place to visit or call home. As mayor, Faught has been highly involved in local development and planning efforts.  Faught currently works at Arthur Companies where he holds the position of Seasonal Operations Manager and also drives semi-trucks as part of his duties.  Adrienne Olson is the Community and Economic Development Director of Casselton, ND. She is responsible for supporting existing businesses, recruiting new businesses and services into Casselton, and creating opportunities for residents to engage in and love their city. Casselton's Economic Development office creates and sustains prosperity and quality of life for Casselton's people, businesses and organizations. Her prior experience includes executive communication roles in John Deere and Fargo real estate redevelopment firm Kilbourne Group.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/17/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined on "News and Views" by former Congressman Earl Pomeroy to talk about the Affordable Care Act. Congressman Pomeroy served as North Dakota’s at-large U.S. Representative from 1993 to 2011 and North Dakota Insurance Commissioner from 1985 through 1992.  On the night that the House passed the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, Congressman Pomeroy cast the 218th out of 219 votes to pass the bill. Then that November, he was one of 63 Democrats who lost their seats because of his support for the 2010 health care law, sometimes known as Obamacare. As we near the end of the year, it's looking likely that Congress will leave without extending Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies. The enhanced subsidies for ACA marketplace plans will expire, spiking premiums for millions of Americans, with many seeing the price tag of their plans double or triple.  (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.