FIRST AMENDMENT Archives - KVRR Local News

AP files civil rights lawsuit against Trump administration

February 21, 2025

Jim Monk,

NEW YORK (AP) – The Associated Press sued three Trump administration officials Friday over access to presidential events, citing freedom of speech in asking a federal judge to stop the 10-day blocking of its journalists. The lawsuit was filed Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The AP says its case is about an unconstitutional effort by the…

TikTok Back Online After Brief Shutdown

The future of the app is still unclear, but reports indicate that President-Elect Trump plans to sign an executive order delaying the ban for 90 days.

January 19, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) – Nobody knew for certain what TikTok would look like come January 19th – the day its supposed ban went into effect. But it ended up being the 18th that saw all the drama. First, a warning. Then, a full shutdown. Followed by a quick restoration that gave credit to President Trump – the day before his inauguration….

City prosecutor says ‘F*** Biden’ flag is protected speech

CHARGES WILL NOT BE FILED

February 3, 2021

Jim Monk,

FARGO (KVRR) – Charges will not be filed against a Fargo homeowner who was flying a flag with a profanity referring to President Biden. Assistant City Attorney Alissa Farol says she determined that displaying the flag is protected by the First Amendment. Farol says the flag is permitted because it contains a non-commercial message and doesn’t exceed the maximum size…

MSUM Commemorates Banned Book Week

Livingston Lord Library wants to take a stand with the first amendment by defending Literature

September 28, 2020

,

MOORHEAD, Minn. — MSUM’s Livingston Lord Library is showing solidarity with other libraries across the country by celebrating the freedom to read during banned books week. In a push for literary freedom, the library has put up a board allowing visitors to write out the names of books that had a positive effect on them but were at least at…

Anti-Walz Billboard Controversy in Fosston, Minnesota

"Rocks & Cows of the North" is against the handling of the pandemic by Democrat Gov. Tim Walz

July 26, 2020

KVRR Staff,

FOSSTON, Minn. — A group in northern Minnesota is behind a digital billboard ad in Fosston, Minnesota that is being talked about around town and across the entire country. The group calling itself “Rocks & Cows of the North” is against the handling of the pandemic by Democrat Gov. Tim Walz. Their Facebook page says the governor continues to make…

Fight Over Gay Wedding Videos Stays in District Court

The filmmakers say videos are a form of speech with protections under the First Amendment.

October 3, 2019

,

ST. PAUL, Minn.–Minnesota’s attorney general says the state will continue to fight a lawsuit in federal court that was filed by two Minnesota filmmakers who want the right to refuse to record same-sex weddings instead of taking the case to the full 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals or U.S. Supreme Court. Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota Human Rights…

Appeals Court Reinstates Lawsuit Over Same-Sex Wedding Video

A three-judge panel ruled that the First Amendment gives the Larsens the right to choose when to speak and what to say.

August 23, 2019

,

MINNEAPOLIS, M.N.–A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit filed by two Minnesota filmmakers who want the right to refuse to film same-sex weddings. Carl and Angel Larsen, who run Telescope Media Group in St. Cloud, sued the state in 2016, saying Minnesota’s public accommodation law would result in steep fines and jail time if they offered services promoting only…

Red River Women’s Clinic Sues Over Two Abortion Laws

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has said that he will be required to defend the current laws

June 25, 2019

TJ Nelson,

FARGO, ND — Red River Women’s Clinic, the sole abortion clinic in North Dakota, is suing over two state laws it believes tells doctors to lie. One measure passed this year requires physicians to tell women that they may reverse a so-called medication abortion if they have second thoughts. The other law requires doctors to tell patients that abortion terminates…