Joel Heitkamp, Jack Zaleski, and Al Aamodt recap big stories of 2025 as we look ahead to 2026

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.