Author: Jim Monk

Horace man arrested in area burglary investigation

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – A Horace, North Dakota man has been arrested in connection to a series of six commercial and industrial burglaries that took place in West Fargo last December. Twenty-four-year-old Shelby Whitt was taken into custody on multiple felony burglary charges. Additional charges are possible. Police say Whitt was responsible for a series of targeted commercial and…

McDonald’s to temporarily close all restaurants in Russia

DETROIT – McDonald’s said Tuesday it is temporarily closing all of its 850 restaurants in Russia in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The company said it will continue paying its 62,000 employees in Russia. In an open letter to employees, McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempckinski said closing those stores is the right thing to do because McDonald’s…

Watch: Biden bans Russian oil imports

WASHINGTON – President Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter. The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports. Energy exports have kept a steady influx of cash flowing…

Minneapolis teachers strike after failing to reach contract

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Teachers in the Minneapolis School District have gone on strike after failing to reach agreement on a new contract. The strike affects some 29,000 students. Meanwhile, teachers in St. Paul reached a deal late Monday to avert their own strike. The issues in the two districts were largely the same: wages, classroom sizes and mental health…

Burgum: Biden plan to buy oil from Venezuela, Iran ‘absolutely absurd’

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum says “it’s shocking” that the U.S. has been asking foreign governments to help mitigate the effects of a possible oil embargo on Russia. Senior U.S. officials secretly traveled to Venezuela over the weekend in a risky bid to unfreeze hostile relations with Vladimir Putin’s ally in Latin America, a top oil…

Bishop removed by pope agrees not to return to Crookston Diocese

CROOKSTON, Minn. (KVRR) – Former Diocese of Crookston Bishop Michael Hoeppner, who had wanted to continue working in the diocese following his resignation last year, will not be allowed to return. Bishop Andrew Cozzens made the announcement in a letter to the Diocese Monday. “When he was departing the Diocese of Crookston last April, Bishop Hoeppner publicly stated that he…

Airport passenger numbers up sharply in Fargo

Hector International AirportFARGO – Airline passenger volume at North Dakota’s eight commercial airports improved significantly in January compared to the same month last year, but still remain below pre-pandemic levels. According to the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, 73,117 passengers used the airports in January, 73% more than the same month in 2021, but below nearly 100,000 passengers in January 2020,…

One dead in Minot apartment fire

MINOT, N.D. – One person has died in an apartment fire in Minot. Firefighters responded to the apartment building about 12:30 a.m. Sunday and found smoke coming from a first-floor unit. Other residents of the building were evacuated and the fire was contained to the apartment where it started. Firefighters removed the victim from the burning apartment and put out…

Higher Ed Board may study salary competitiveness

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR-KCND) – North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott says there is a need to examine what the state pays faculty, staff and administration salaries in the state’s colleges and universities, and compare them with regional and national salaries. The State Board of Higher Education recently hired Dr. David Cook as the new president at NDSU. He will…