Tobacco Archives - KVRR Local News

Fargo City Commissioners put vote to ban flavored tobacco and nicotine products on hold

March 2, 2026

TJ Nelson,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo Cass Public Health’s effort to enact a ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products has been put on hold. City commissioners heard a lengthy discussion by public health staff who tried to clear the air saying only flavored tobacco and nicotine products would be banned, and regular non-flavored vapes would remain. They say the state’s…

Vape Store Owners Speak Out About Potential Ban Of Flavored Products In Fargo

Vape Store Owners Speak Out Regarding Potential Flavored Tobacco, Nicotine Ban

Zach Johnson, the owner of Sports Vape, argues that the ban would not prevent minors from obtaining such products and would cost the city a significant amount of tax revenue.

February 25, 2026

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – “We shouldn’t be taking away our rights and our freedoms under the guise of protecting the youth,” says Zach Johnson, owner of Sports Vape in Fargo. Johnson says that he understands the basic motivation behind the proposed ban of flavored tobacco and nicotine products, but that it simply won’t have the desired effect. Last Friday, the…

Three-Day Tobacco License Suspension For A Fargo Casey’s, Four Businesses Fined

December 17, 2024

TJ Nelson,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — You won’t be able to buy cigarettes at Casey’s at 301 10th Street North in Fargo until Thursday. The store was hit with a three-day tobacco license suspension by the city for selling tobacco products to minors. It started Monday at 10 a.m. and goes until Thursday at 10 a.m. It was the second offense in…

JUUL And Altria To Pay MN $60.5 Million

May 17, 2023

KVRR Staff,

ST. PAUL (KVRR) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announcing the state will receive $60.5 million over seven years in a settlement with e-cig manufacturer JUUL and tobacco marketer Altria. The settlement requires JUUL to pay more than one third of the settlement within 30 days, and 60 percent within the first year. The funds can then be dedicated by…

Former Senator Talks About Cracking Down on E-Cigarette Makers

March 29, 2023

KVRR Staff,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — A former North Dakota senator and architect of one of the largest tobacco settlements in U.S. history is speaking out about Minnesota’s court case against vape manufacturer Juul. Minnesota is the first to take its case against the e-cigarette maker to court, after about 39 other states and territories settled. Former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a…

Authorities: Harwood House Fire No Accident

October 9, 2022

KVRR Staff,

HARWOOD, N.D. — The investigation continues into a house fire early Friday in Harwood. Crews responded to the 500 block of Wally Street. The home was fully engulfed when they arrived and it suffered heavy damage. Smoke could be seen from a couple miles away. Based off the investigation, Cass County authorities are confident the fire was not accidental. North…

Moorhead bans flavored tobacco, raises legal purchase age to 21

October 13, 2021

Jim Monk,

MOORHEAD, Minn. – City officials in Moorhead have banned all flavored tobacco products from stores and raised the legal age to buy tobacco. The Moorhead City Council voted 7-1 to adopt an ordinance that raises the legal age from 18-21 and bars all flavored products from licensed stores, including menthol cigarettes, flavored chewing or smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes and vape juices….

House committee considers raising North Dakota tobacco taxes

February 9, 2021

Jim Monk,

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – A North Dakota House committee is considering two bills that would raise tobacco taxes. One would raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes by $1.00, bringing the tax to $1.44. The other bill would raise taxes on other tobacco products. Tim Blasl, president of the North Dakota Hospital Association, told the House Finance and Taxation…

Grand Forks Public Health encourages tobacco users to set quit date

Approximately 19.1 percent of adults continue to smoke in North Dakota.

June 15, 2020

,

GRAND FORKS, N.D.–Grand Forks Public Health is among multiple organizations encouraging tobacco and e-cigarette users to set a quit date as a part of It’s Quitting Time. It’s Quitting Time is a partnership between the North Dakota Department of Health, Tobacco Free North Dakota and various North Dakota local public health units to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking….

Gov. Tim Walz signs into law raising minimum age to purchase tobacco products

May 16, 2020

Site Staff,

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Tim Walz signed 11 bills into law Saturday, including measures to raise the age to purchase tobacco to 21 and make Minnesota the first state to prohibit the use of the toxic and long-lasting chemical trichloroethylene (TCE). Tobacco 21 law covers “tobacco, tobacco products, electronic delivery devices, and other nicotine products.” The process began May…