In the spirit of giving, thank you for supporting local news

Dear friends,

As we step into December, I have been thinking a lot about the spirit of giving. This season reminds us that generosity is not only about gifts. It is about strengthening our communities, caring for our neighbors, and making sure every North Dakotan has what they need to thrive. At the North Dakota News Cooperative, that spirit shows up in a unique way: you give by supporting nonprofit journalism, and we give by making sure high quality, deeply reported news reaches communities across the state, many of which are true information deserts.

In November, your support helped us continue that work. Our newsroom dug into some of the most pressing issues facing North Dakotans, including homelessness and housing shortages, the statewide child care challenges, and the high cost of keeping teachers in the classroom. These are not just headlines. They are stories that shape the future of our towns, our schools, and our families.

In last month’s fact briefs, we explored changes to federal hemp regulations and highlighted what makes the North Dakota Mill such a unique institution. We also broke down the cost of the Thanksgiving meal. And we continued releasing new episodes of The Backstory where we take listeners behind the scenes to help people understand the issues and the reporting process that brings them to light. One key episode features NDNC co-chair Steve Andrist, who shares the founding story of the cooperative and reflects on why nonprofit journalism remains so vital in North Dakota.

This month also brings the next round of the North Dakota Poll. It will begin soon, and once complete, we will share fresh insights into the issues shaping our state as we head into the new year.

None of this happens without you. NDNC’s journalism is free to every newspaper and every reader in North Dakota because of donors who believe in the power of accessible, nonpartisan reporting. And right now, your support goes even further. Through NewsMatch, every dollar you donate to NDNC before December 31 is matched, which doubles your impact and helps us strengthen coverage for rural, underserved, and overlooked communities.

As we close out the year, I hope you will join us in honoring the spirit of giving by investing in the stories that connect and sustain our communities. Your gift ensures that every North Dakotan, no matter where they live, has access to trustworthy and in depth reporting.

Thank you for standing with nonprofit news for North Dakota.

Sabrina Halvorson

CEO, North Dakota News Cooperative