Steve Hallstrom hosts a fast-paced Tuesday, May 12th edition, tracking major updates in local law enforcement and escalating international military maneuvers. Steve breaks down the Fargo City Commission’s unanimous vote to officially name a 25-year veteran as the city’s new permanent Police Chief. Over in the Middle East, the show covers a major turning point as the United Arab Emirates enters the fray with direct military counter-strikes against a critical Iranian oil refinery. The show features an in-depth conversation with Republican congressional candidate Alex Balazs on the mechanics of a kinetic war and a wild local report about a Wahpeton man facing felony charges after building his own pistol suppressor.
Key Moments
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Stefanowicz Unanimously Confirmed: The Fargo City Commission voted unanimously last night to appoint Interim Chief Travis Stefanowicz as the permanent Police Chief, wrapping up a nationwide search. Stefanowicz, a 25-year veteran of the department, will be sworn in on May 27th with an annual salary of $201,531. Mayor Tim Mahoney praised Stefanowicz for putting his heart into his strategies and seeking team input.
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UAE Launches Counter-Strikes: Steve reports that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially joined the kinetic action against Iran. After weathering over 2,800 retaliatory missile and drone bombardments from Iranian forces, the UAE launched a series of airstrikes successfully hitting the Levant Island oil refinery in the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, President Trump noted that the U.S. peace proposal is currently “on life support”.
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Congressional Candidate Alex Balazs in Studio: Veteran and Republican primary candidate Alex Balazs joins the show to discuss the logistical realities of the Iran conflict. Balazs forcefully dismisses rumors that the U.S. military is running low on ammunition, explaining that the military simply used the recent ceasefire to rest and refit its ships. He expects President Trump to escalate to severe kinetic strikes sooner rather than later.
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Homemade Silencer Arrest: A traffic stop in Fargo led to the arrest of a Wahpeton man, Quincy Maury, who blew a .134 blood alcohol level after running a red light and striking a curb. A vehicle search uncovered marijuana and a .22 LR pistol fitted with a homemade silencer. Maury told officers he built the device himself as a hobby after watching online videos so he could shoot without hearing protection.
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Moorhead ICE Ordinance Defeated: A highly contentious Moorhead City Council vote officially put an end to a proposed separation ordinance that sought to limit local police cooperation with ICE. Following a deadlocked 4-4 split among council members, Mayor Shelley Carlson broke the tie to officially kill the discussion. Council Member Ryan Nelson led the pushback, warning the ordinance would put officers at risk with no realistic way to enforce it.
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Inflation Stays Hot: The April Consumer Price Index (CPI) reading came in slightly hotter than expected at a 3.8% year-over-year increase. Month-over-month inflation jumped 0.6%, creating a 7% annualized pace that dragged down Wall Street, pushing WTI crude oil back over $101 a barrel.
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North Dakota Veterans Home Push: VA Secretary Doug Collins voiced strong bipartisan support for constructing a new state-run veterans home in northwestern North Dakota to better serve an aging veteran population. Currently, the state’s only veterans home is located in Lisbon, forcing some western residents to endure a 300-mile barrier to care.
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Recreational Weed vs. Cigarettes: In the “best thing I heard all day,” Steve shares a segment from comic Adam Carolla lampooning cultural hypocrisy. Carolla points out the irony of a society that aggressively eradicated cigarette smoking but completely looks the other way when it comes to teenagers inhaling potent, potentially laced marijuana smoke directly into their lungs.