Author: Jim Monk

Kittson County fire burns 2,000 acres

LANCASTER, Minn. (KVRR/KNOX) – Fire has destroyed about 2,000 acres of brush and grassland in Kittson County. Lancaster Fire Chief Casey Faken, says the fire was reported late Tuesday afternoon in McKinley Township, near the Canadian border.  No injuries were reported. Faken says the Grand Forks National Weather Service spotted the fire on its GPS satellite and called it in. …

Unauthorized email led to resignation of former West Fargo asst. police chief

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) – The results of an investigation into former West Fargo Assistant Police Chief Jerry Boyer concluded that an email he sent to members of the department violated the chain-of-command. Boyer wrote about the verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial, but did not clear the email with Police Chief Denis Otterness. “I know many of you…

Walz wants vaccine and testing requirements for Minnesota teachers

ST. PAUL, Minn. –  Gov. Tim Walz called on lawmakers Tuesday to approve a series of new measures to respond to the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccine and testing requirements for teachers, school staff and long-term care workers. The Democratic governor detailed his proposal in a letter to lawmakers that he released after meeting privately with legislative…

Hoeven, Cramer, urge U.S. to temporarily stop accepting Afghan evacuees

Sens. Kevin Cramer & John HoevenWASHINGTON (KVRR) – North Dakota Republican Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer are among 16 senators who want the Biden administration to stop accepting most Afghan refugees until vetting procedures are changed. The 16 senators outlined their concerns in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. “We are concerned…

George Floyd pardon request now with Texas governor

HOUSTON (AP) – A Texas agency has approved a request that George Floyd be granted a posthumous pardon for a 2004 drug arrest made by a now-indicted ex-Houston police officer whose case history is under scrutiny following a deadly drug raid. Monday’s unanimous recommendation by the seven member Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to grant the pardon will now…

Police use grant to focus on Fargo traffic complaints

FARGO (KVRR) – Fargo police say nine speeding citations, two exhibition driving citations, one careless driving citation and equipment violation citations were issued during an grant-funded overtime detail. The detail centered on the 52nd Ave. S. and 25th St. S. area and focused on what the police department calls “quality of life issues.” Spokesperson Jessica Schindeldecker says police often receive…

Future of Broadway Bridge could be made soon

FARGO (KVRR/KFGO) – A decision on what to do with the closed Broadway Bridge in north Fargo could be made next month. The 30-year-old bridge, which links Fargo with Clay County, was closed after a February inspection revealed structural problems. Jointly owned by the city of Fargo and Clay County,  Fargo traffic engineer Jeremy Gorden says the cost of demolition…