Alpha News

The registered agent for the nonprofit news site when it was launched in 2015 was Alex Kharam, executive director of the conservative-leaning Minnesota Freedom Club. It also had promotion from the Minnesota Tea Party Alliance. ^{3 4}

Background

Alpha News is a right-leaning online daily Minnesota political news and commentary outlet. The outlet reports primarily on state and local government in Minnesota, but also reports on national politics. ^{1 2}

The site features original work and stories written from confidential news tips, and invites readers to provide tips. The Alpha News website’s “Citizen Engagement Toolbox” includes links to register to vote, voting locations and how to contact elected officials. ⁵

The website had more than two million visitors in 2022. ¹

Founding and Funding

Alpha News was founded in 2015, and has ties to conservative and Republican donors. Filings with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office show Alex Kharam, executive director of the conservative-leaning Minnesota Freedom Club, incorporated Alpha News. The Minnesota Freedom Club was bankrolled by Republican donor Robert Cummins, Minnesota Public Radio reported. ⁴ Alpha News is not a project of the Freedom Club, according to a Freedom Club spokesperson. ⁶

Kharam was listed as the registered agent for the nonprofit entity. The first public filing listed the Alpha News address at a UPS Store in Minnesota. ⁶

The first promotion of Alpha News came from the Minnesota Tea Party Alliance on Facebook, and many of the issues the website covered were those advocated by the right-leaning group. ⁶

Reporting

In late 2023, Alpha News produced the documentary The Fall of Minneapolis based on the book by reporter Liz Collins, They’re Lying: The Media, The Left, and The Death of George Floyd. ^{7 8} Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) was critical of the documentary. ⁹ Ellison said of the film: “I have not seen it. My opinion is that it’s not factually based … I think that it is partisan propaganda.” ¹⁰

Alpha News previously reported on the divorce file of Ellison, going to court to unseal the records—arguing it was a matter of public interest during the 2018 campaign for attorney general. Ellison griped Alpha News is “a far-right propaganda outlet with a history of racism and religious bigotry.” ¹¹

In June 2017, Alpha News reporter Preya Samsundar was livestreaming a rally outside the Capitol when an “anti-fascist” protester physically attacked her and damaged her recording device. ¹²

Staff

Anthony Gockowski is the editor-in-chief of Alpha News. Gockowski was previously a reporter and editor for several Minnesota news outlets and national outlets. ⁵

Liz Collin is a reporter for Alpha News and has won multiple Emmy Awards. She was also a former anchor and reporter at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. Her marriage to former Minneapolis police union president Bob Kroll prompted the station to remove her from police related stories to avoid a perceived conflict of interest. ^{3 3} Collins has been a public speaker and media producer. She is the author of, “They’re Lying: The Media, The Left, and The Death of George Floyd.” She produced the documentary, “The Fall of Minneapolis” which was available to audiences in November 2023. ⁵

Sheila Qualls is a contributor to Alpha News. Qualls is a former civilian editor for an Army newspaper. Previously, she was a Christian marriage and family columnist at Patheos.com and a personal coach. She has written for the Upper Room, the MOPS blog, Grown and Flown, and the Christian Post. ⁵

Hayley Feland is a reporter for Alpha News. She previously reported for the Minnesota Sun, the Wisconsin Daily Star, and the College Fix. ⁵

Hank Long is a reporter for Alpha News who has covered the Minnesota legislature, city and county governments, and commercial real estate. ⁵

Luke Sprinkel is a reporter for Alpha News. He previously was a legislative assistant in the Minnesota House of Representatives. ⁵