Author: Jim Monk

LA cop cleared of wrongdoing for George Floyd ‘Valentine’

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles police officer who shared a photo of George Floyd with the words “you take my breath away” in a Valentine-like format has been cleared of wrongdoing and will not face any punishment. The officer, who has not been named publicly, was found not guilty of any administrative charges by a internal disciplinary panel comprised…

Oak-killing disease spreading north in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Foresters and landowners are concerned that a disease that kills oak trees is spreading farther north in Minnesota. Oak wilt was been around for decades and has been confirmed in 40 Minnesota counties, but the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is now finding cases farther north than ever before.  The disease  was recently discovered in Crow…

Cass Lake man killed in drive-by shooting at party

CASS LAKE, Minn. – Cass County sheriff’s officials say one person has died after being struck by gunfire at an outdoor house party. A drive-by shooting happened at a residence in Cass Lake shortly before 3 a.m. Monday. Deputies arrived to find a 34-year-old local man had been hit by gunfire while he was in a yard at the party….

Air Force plans training exercise over Northern Plains

Minot AFB B-52BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Air Force is planning a massive training exercise over the Northern Plains states. The maneuvers are set for July 19-23 over the Powder River Training Complex. The training area is the largest in the continental United States. It covers nearly 35,000 square miles of air space over the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming. Officials…

Man killed by officer in Olivia was 32-year-old father

OLIVIA, Minn. – Friends and family have identified the man who was fatally shot by a police officer over the weekend in western Minnesota. A cousin, Jessica Laro, identified him as 32-year-old Ricardo Torres Jr. He was shot in alley about 2 a.m. Sunday in Olivia. Officials say Torres was armed and confronted a police officer. Laro says Torres would…

Drought may be driving up North Dakota pelican population

BISMARCK, N.D. – Abnormally dry weather may have helped boost the number of American white pelicans nesting in north-central North Dakota, considered North America’s largest refuge for the big-billed birds. Results of an aerial survey show 16,600 pelicans nesting at the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, an increase of about 2,400 birds from a year ago when high water gobbled…

U.S. Supreme Court backs Minnesota Amish in septic tank fight

MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with an Amish group in Minnesota that’s fighting efforts to compel them to install septic systems. The case pits families with the traditionalist Swartzentruber Amish in southeastern Minnesota against Fillmore County. Minnesota courts have sided with the county, but the Supreme Court sent the case back to the Minnesota Court of Appeals…