Author: Jim Monk

Nearly 3,300 citations issued during seat belt campaign

BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota transportation officials say a special law enforcement campaign generated nearly 3,300 citations. The Department of Transportation says most of the citations, 1,325, were for speeding. More than 1,200 citations were for failure to wear a seat belt and 34 were child restraint citations.  The “Click It or Ticket” campaign ran from July 1 to Aug. 19….

Sheriff: 23 pipeline protesters arrested in northwestern Minnesota

BAGLEY, Minn. (KVRR) – Authorities say 23 people were arrested following a pipeline demonstration Tuesday in northwestern Minnesota. The Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding protesters blocking a road. The initial call reported that they were setting up a tee pee and barrels in the roadway and vehicles could not pass through.  An early estimate of protesters was…

Sanford donating $350 million toward virtual care center

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Sanford Health says it is giving $350 million to a clinical initiative that aims to create a virtual care center to treat people in rural and underserved areas of the Midwest. The center will serve people from across Sanford Health’s network of hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities. It will also house innovation, education and research…

AP source: Biden requiring federal workers to get COVID shot

WASHINGTON  – President Joe Biden on Thursday is toughening COVID-19 vaccine requirements for federal workers and contractors, according to a person familiar with the plans, as he aims to boost vaccinations and curb the surging delta variant that is killing thousands each week and jeopardizing the nation’s economic recovery. Just weeks after he mandated federal workers get a shot or…

Klobuchar had breast cancer, says treatment went well

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she has been treated for breast cancer and the treatment “went well.” The 61-year-old tweeted Thursday that the cancer was found in February during a routine mammogram, and eventually she had a lumpectomy to remove the cancer. She said she completed radiation treatment in May, and a checkup in August found she…

Police make arrest in connection with downtown Fargo gunshots

FARGO (KVRR) – Fargo police say a suspect was arrested Wednesday in connection with reports of several gunshots heard downtown early Sunday. “As a result of an in-depth investigation over the past several days that involved reviewing downtown cameras and speaking with witnesses, detectives arrested Alexis Araiza, 24 years old of Fargo, for Terrorizing and Felony Reckless Endangerment. Police say…

Gazelka joins governor’s race, attacks Walz on pandemic

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Republican state Sen. Paul Gazelka has joined the Minnesota governor’s race. He’s accusing Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of failed leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and the unrest that followed George Floyd’s death last summer. Gazelka said at the state Capitol on Wednesday that Walz’s shutdowns bankrupted many small businesses and restaurants, and failed a generation of…

What’s next? Former U.S. Attorney outlines possibilities after judge overturns Rodriguez death penalty

Attorney General Drew WrigleyFARGO (KVRR) – The man who led the prosecution in the death penalty case against Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr. says now that a federal judge has overturned Rodriguez’s death sentence, the government’s next move will likely be decided at “the top levels of the Justice Department.” “On a case like this, I would imagine that the Solicitor General…

Fargo police begin training on use of body cameras

FARGO (KVRR/KFGO) – Fargo police officers begin training Wednesday with new body cameras, which are expected to be ready for street use soon.  In October, the in-car video and interview room video will be integrated into the same camera system. Police Chief David Zibolski says those with the rank of lieutenant and below will be equipped with body cameras. The…