Author: TJ Nelson

North Dakota Population Hits All-Time High, Minnesota Population Also Rises

Minnesota's population grew by 43,000 people between 2017 and 2018

BISMARCK, ND — North Dakota’s population has grown to an all-time high. The U.S. Census Bureau says that as of July 1, North Dakota’s population was estimated at 760,077 people. That’s up 4,900 people from an estimate in July 2017. The population has grown since the 2010 Census pegged it at more than 672,000 and it grew as the Bakken oil…

Fergus Falls Man Lost Nearly $8,000 In Sweepstakes Scam

Police say the man received a letter telling him that he'd won a prize

FERGUS FALLS, MN — We have yet another warning about scams. A Fergus Falls man has lost nearly $8,000 in a sweepstakes scam. Police say the man received a letter telling him that he’d won a prize, but needed to pay a fee in order to collect the money. He sent the money and later realized that he’d been taken. Remember…

Golden Ball Swiped From Top Of Como Park Conservatory Found Wrapped In Christmas Stocking

Security footage showed five people on a path near the conservatory at about 2 a.m. Sunday

ST. PAUL, MN — A golden ball swiped from the top of the conservatory at St. Paul’s Como Park has been found, gift wrapped in a giant Christmas stocking. Security footage showed five people on a path near the conservatory at about 2 a.m. Sunday. About 15 minutes later, two youth reappear on camera and one of them is carrying the…

Governor Burgum Appoints Van de Streek To East Central Judicial District judgeship

The District covers Cass, Traill and Steele Counties in North Dakota

FARGO, ND — Assistant Cass County State’s Attorney Tristan Van de Streek is now a judge. Gov. Doug Burgum named Van de Streek to the East Central Judicial District which covers Cass, Traill and Steele Counties. He’s been a county prosecutor since 2007 and also worked as an assistant city attorney in both Fargo and Minot. Van de Streek was one…

Three People Hurt After Crashing At Intersection In Douglas County

The sheriff's office says the crash happened Tuesday night on Lake Victoria Road

DOUGLAS COUNTY, MN — Three people were rushed to hospitals after crashing at an intersection in Douglas County. The sheriff’s office says the crash happened Tuesday night on Lake Victoria Road. 27-year-old Jacob Haan of Alexandria was thrown from his vehicle and taken to the hospital in Alexandria. Two people in the other vehicle, 54-year-old Steven Stixrud and 58-year-old Lori Stixrud…

On “Joe Mauer Day” In Minnesota, Twins Announce They Will Retire Mauer’s Number

Mauer announced his retirement at the end of the 2018 season

ST. PAUL, MN — Gov. Mark Dayton has proclaimed today, December 18, 2018, as “Joe Mauer Day” in Minnesota. The Minnesota Twins have announced that they are retiring Mauer’s uniform number, No. 7. That will happen during a pregame celebration sometime during the 2019 season. Mauer announced his retirement at the end of the 2018 season. The St. Paul native played…

Movie Director And Television Star Penny Marshall Dies at 75

Marshall passed away Monday due to complications from diabetes

HOLLYWOOD HILLS, CA — From the star of “Laverne & Shirley” to one of the top-grossing female directors in Hollywood, Penny Marshall made her mark on entertainment. Marshall passed away in her Hollywood Hills, California home on Monday due to complications from diabetes. She was 75. As a filmmaker, she became the first woman to direct a film that grossed…

Former Minnesota House Speaker Picked For Walz Cabinet Post

Margaret Anderson Kelliher has been chosen to lead the Department of Transportation

ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesota Governor-elect Tim Walz has named a former speaker of the Minnesota House as his transportation commissioner and is keeping the budget commissioner of outgoing Gov. Mark Dayton. The Democrat appointed former House speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher to lead the Department of Transportation. The governor-elect announced that Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans will keep his…

Victims In Fatal Buggy-Pickup Crash Near Avon Identified

The crash happened just after 11:15 a.m. Sunday on a county road north of the town

AVON, MN — Two people killed when their buggy was hit by a pickup have been identified. They are 71-year-old Robert Keppers and 66-year-old Mary Keppers of Avon, Minnesota. The Keppers’ horse-drawn buggy was hit by a pickup driven by 23-year-old Mark Knapp of Avon. The crash happened just after 11:15 a.m. Sunday on a county road north of the town….

Dakota Plains Holdings Co-Founder Sentenced For Stock Manipulation Scheme

Ryan Gilbertson also was fined $2 million and ordered to pay more than $15 million in restitution

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Minnesota man who helped found a business in North Dakota’s oil patch has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for fraud in a stock manipulation scheme. Ryan Gilbertson also was fined $2 million and ordered to pay more than $15 million in restitution. The U.S. attorney’s office says Gilbertson co-founded Dakota Plains Holdings, which owned a…