Author: Jim Monk

South Dakota House nears Ravnsborg impeachment decision

Jason Ravnsborg interviewed by police following fatal crash SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A South Dakota House committee investigating whether state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg should be impeached for his conduct surrounding a 2020 fatal car crash is set to finish its work this week. Lawmakers are wrapping up an investigation that has splintered the state’s Republicans over what to do…

Minneapolis teachers OK contract, classes resume Tuesday

MINNEAPOLIS – Minneapolis teachers have approved a new contract to end a strike that has kept students out of their classrooms for nearly three weeks. The school district’s 28,700 students are set to return Tuesday. The union, which represents about 4,500 teachers and support professionals, voted to approve the new contract Sunday after its negotiators reached a tentative agreement with…

Prosecutors drop appeal in Sjodin killing but will still seek death penalty

FARGO (KVRR) – Federal prosecutors have suddenly dropped their appeal of a judge’s ruling in September that overturned the death sentence for Alfonso Rodriguez, the man convicted in the 2003 kidnapping and death of Dru Sjodin. On March 3, the U.S. Attorney’s office filed documents stating that prosecutors intended to ask a federal appeals court to overturn Judge Ralph Erickson’s…

Minnesota House votes unanimously to divest from Russia

Minnesota State CapitolST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota House has voted unanimously to divest the state’s pension funds from Russia, joining states across the U.S. in protesting Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Minnesota’s public employee pensions funds had an estimated $53 million worth of investments in Russia before its invasion of Ukraine. Rep. Sydney Jordan, whose northeast Minneapolis district is home…

South Dakota hires New York firm to track medical marijuana sales

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Health has hired a New York-based software company to help monitor the flow of marijuana in the state’s legal medical marijuana market. The contract with Metrc was finalized this month. Metrc will use “radio-frequency identification” to track cannabis from seed to sale. The company uses software to collect data from growers,…

Manager plans to reopen Paradiso over the weekend

LONGTIME FARGO RESTAURANT WAS DAMAGED BY FIRE WEDNESDAY

FARGO (KVRR) – Cleanup continues at a well-known Fargo Mexican restaurant that was damaged by fire early Wednesday morning. General Manager Neil Clouse had been planning to reopen Paradiso Thursday afternoon. But Clouse says preparations are going slower than expected and says he now hopes to welcome back customers sometime over the weekend. Clouse says it appears the fire was…

Planned Parenthood North Central receives $20 million

PIERRE, S.D. – Planned Parenthood North Central States has received $20 million from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. It’s the largest donation in the organization’s history. North Central States operates 28 facilities in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. Sarah Stoesz, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, says the donation brings tremendous relief because costs of providing care are…

North Dakota cancels bird and poultry events due to flu concerns

BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota health officials have canceled all shows, public sales, swaps and exhibitions of poultry and other birds in the state because of concerns about potential exposure to avian influenza. State Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says nationally, the outbreak has affected more than 13 million commercial and backyard birds in 17 states. North Dakota’s State Board of…