Author: Jim Monk

Update: North Dakota attorney general remembered as man of integrity

Wayne Stenehjem funeral 2/3/2022BISMARCK, N.D. – Hundreds of people gathered at the Bismarck Event Center to pay tribute to North Dakota’s longest-serving attorney general who died last week. Sixty-eight-year-old Wayne Stenehjem was found unresponsive at his home and died unexpectedly last Friday following his hospitalization. A cause of death has not been made public. Stenehjem’s body was brought to the…

South Dakota attorney general insists no wrongdoing during crash investigation

Jason RavnsborgPIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg insists he did nothing wrong in using his position overseeing the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation to make inquiries about what out-of-state criminal investigators could find on his phone during the investigation of his 2020 fatal car crash. The Republican attorney general is facing a House impeachment probe as lawmakers…

Pilot of small plane that crashed in Minnesota dies

HUTCHINSON, Minn. – One of two people injured in a small plane crash in McLeod County earlier this week has died. Authorities say Richard Jolkovsky died from injuries caused by a single-engine plane crash south of Hutchinson.  The 61-year-old Avon man was piloting the plane. A 24-year-old passenger remains hospitalized in stable condition. The plane had taken off from Flying Cloud…

Fargo judge to retire in April due to health issues

FARGO (KVRR-KFGO) – A district judge in Fargo says he’s leaving the court. East Central District Judge Thomas Olson has given notice of his resignation, effective April 30. Olson cited health issues including his hospitalization last year for Covid-19. He was appointed by Gov. Jack Dalrymple in 2014 and elected in 2016. Olson graduated from the William Mitchell College of…

Parents of student from Minnesota sue fraternity over hazing

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The parents of a University of Missouri student from Minnesota are suing a fraternity after their son suffered serious brain injuries during a pledge party. Authorities say Daniel Santulli’s blood alcohol content was more than six times the legal limit for driving on Oct. 20 when he was found unresponsive in a car parked at University Hospital….

Students evacuated following explosion at South Dakota high school

MILLER, S.D. – Officials say students have been evacuated from a high school in Miller following an explosion and fire in the shop area. School board chairwoman Natalie Bertsch says no injuries have been reported. The Hand County Sheriff’s Office confirmed an explosion had occurred in the agriculture workshop at the school and that a fire was still active. People…

Fire damages mobile home in south Fargo

(courtesy, KFGO)FARGO (KVRR-KFGO) – Fire damaged a home in the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park in Fargo Wednesday. The fire was reported around 3:30 a.m. at 4614 San Juan Drive South. Battalion Chief Joe Mangin said the only occupant was already outside when firefighters arrived. The first unit to arrive saw flames coming from the backside of the trailer, pulled…

Trial of 3 ex-cops in Floyd killing recessed after one tests positive for COVID-19

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s rights was abruptly recessed on Wednesday after one of the defendants tested positive for COVID-19. Judge Paul Magnuson says the court is in recess until Monday. The officer who tested positive wasn’t named by the court. Federal prosecutors say Thomas Lane, J. Alexander…

Groszhans remains jailed as tensions rise between Ukraine and Russia

Kurt GroszhansWASHINGTON – A North Dakota farmer remains jailed in Ukraine on charges he attempted to assassinate a former business partner who is now a government minister. Kurt Groszhans of Ashley is in a Kyiv prison.  He’s been charged with attempted murder, attempted extortion and attempted kidnapping. Groszhans’ family says the charges are bogus and designed to stifle his claims of…