Plain Talk

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738: 'I am the sixth person in three years to be sitting in this job' (Video)

September 11, 2026

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services -- the largest line item in our state's budget -- has seen a lot of change in recent years. The newest leader of that agency recognizes it, and wants to change the trajectory. "I am the sixth person in three years to be sitting in this job," Conner Swanson, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on August 13, told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "So, I do understand to your point that there has been some turnover he...

738: 'I am the sixth person in three years to be sitting in this job'

September 11, 2026

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services -- the largest line item in our state's budget -- has seen a lot of change in recent years. The newest leader of that agency recognizes it, and wants to change the trajectory. "I am the sixth person in three years to be sitting in this job," Conner Swanson, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on August 13, told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "So, I do understand to your point that there has been some turnover he...

737: 'I don't know how the Attorney General is going to do it' (Video)

September 09, 2026

The special session is over. It was called to address a growing crisis with kratom, and lawmakers gave Gov. Kelly Armstrong most of what he wanted. They passed a total ban for synthetic kratom, and some big new regulations for the natural variety. But Sen. Janne Myrdal, who, like Armstrong, wanted a total ban on all kratom products, says the regulatory part of it may be unworkable. It will essentially require Attorney General Drew Wrigley's office to spin up a new regulatory and testing progr...