Author: Jim Monk

Carlson enters crowded Fargo City Commission race

Al CarlsonFARGO (KVRR) – Former North Dakota House Majority Leader Al Carlson is running for the Fargo City Commission. Carlson spent 26 years representing District 41 in the legislature, the last 10 years as majority leader. The Republican lost his reelection bid in 2018. Carlson says he believes his experience will help him “be an outstanding Fargo City Commissioner, representing all…

Update: Large amount of meth, cash, seized during I-29 traffic stop in SD

SHERIFF SAYS THE DRIVER MAY HAVE BEEN HEADING TO THE FARGO AREA

SISSETON, S.D. (KVRR) – A Mississippi man is in custody after authorities in South Dakota seized several pounds of methamphetamine, a loaded gun and a large amount of cash on Interstate 29 near the North Dakota border. Roberts County Sheriff Tyler Appel says a deputy found the drugs during a routine traffic stop Tuesday. Twenty-seven-year-old Travis Henley of Hazlehurst, Mississippi…

House Speaker Koppelman won’t seek reelection

Kim KoppelmanWEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – North Dakota House Speaker Kim Koppelman, who lost the GOP endorsement during his district’s convention Tuesday, says he will retire at the end of his current term. Koppelman fell 19 votes short of challenger Jim Jonas for the second endorsed spot in West Fargo’s District 13 Republican convention. “Having served for many years and…

No charges in no-knock warrant killing of Amir Locke

Courtesy, Fox 9MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota prosecutors have declined to file charges against a Minneapolis police SWAT team officer who fatally shot Amir Locke while executing an early morning no-knock search warrant in February. The 22-year-old Locke was staying on a couch in an apartment when authorities entered it without knocking as part of an investigation into a homicide. Locke was…

North Dakota farmer jailed in Ukraine moved out of Kyiv

Kurt GroszhansWASHINGTON – A North Dakota farmer jailed in Ukraine has been moved to a new facility away from the capital city of Kyiv. Sen. John Hoeven says Kurt Groszhans was moved to Lviv. Groszhans, of Ashley, has been jailed since November on charges that he plotted to assassinate Ukraine’s then-agriculture minister, Roman Leschenko. Groszhans’ family has said the charges…

Noem issues ‘critical race theory’ order

Gov. Kristi NoemSIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has issued an executive order instructing the state’s Department of Education to review its teacher trainings, content standards and other educational materials to ensure they are devoid of “divisive concepts” on race. Noem’s move Tuesday comes after a bill she touted as banning so-called critical race theory from K-12…

Woman pleads not guilty to neglecting baby who died

BISMARCK, N.D. – A Bismarck woman has pleaded not guilty to neglecting her newborn daughter who was found dead when police were called to her home. The felony child neglect charge against 26-year-old Cassandra Black Elk could send her to prison for five years if she is convicted. A South Central District judge scheduled a trial to begin Aug. 2….

Fargo teacher suspended without pay while dismissal process continues

Kevin KennedyFARGO (KFGO) – The Fargo School Board voted Tuesday to suspend a Fargo teacher without pay while the process continues to fire him for cause. Kevin Kennedy is an English and Theatre Arts teacher at Fargo South High School. According to his personnel file, Kennedy made inappropriate comments and inappropriately touched students. One student told a school district investigator…

Grindberg announces bid for Cass County Commission

Tony GrindbergFARGO (KVRR) – A former state senator and former Fargo city commissioner is running for the Cass County Commission. Tony Grindberg says his priorities include economic and workforce growth, public safety, transportation and infrastructure, the emergency dispatch center and the Red River Valley Water Supply Project. “The County Commission by its very nature is a legislative body. My legislative…