BISMARCK, N.D. — A group seeking to raise North Dakota’s minimum wage to $15 an hour can begin circulating petitions. Secretary of State Al Jaeger has approved the format of the petition. Supporters need to gather and submit at least 13,452 valid signatures by July 9 to get a proposed measure on the November ballot. Scott Nodland of Bismarck, chairman…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The head of MNsure is stepping down. Allison O’Toole announced that she will leave Minnesota’s health insurance exchange next month. O’Toole served as chief executive for nearly three years, overseeing record signups in individual health care plans even as premiums were rising sharply. Her departure comes at a tumultuous time for health care nationwide as President…
A former LaMoure police chief has entered an Alford plea to multiple child sexual abuse charges in Hettinger and Stark counties. 52-year-old James Watson’s plea is not an admission of guilt but he acknowledges there is enough evidence for a conviction. A jury in Golden Valley County last month convicted him of continuous sexual abuse of a child. The charges…
FARGO, N.D. — The group “North Dakota Open on Sundays” has a new leader. Fargo businessman Bill Burgess is taking over as chairman as they try to repeal the state’s Sunday Closing law. Burgess is a co-founder of Simply Made Apps and was the third highest signature gatherer during the groups initiated measure effort last year. Former chairman Brandon Medenwald…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Clay County Attorney Brian Melton is not in the running to serve as a Seventh Judicial District judge in Minnesota. Melton’s name was not included in the list of six candidates sent to Governor Dayton by the Commission on Judicial Selection. They include Michelle Clark, Douglas Clark, Amber Gustafson, Tammy Merkins, Kevin Miller and Jade Rosenfeldt….
SWIFT COUNTY, Minn. — Six Hancock Public School students remain in hospitals following a crash involving their school van and a semi. The crash happened after school on Monday near Danvers, Minnesota. The Swift County Sheriff’s Office says a 14-year-old and two 16-year-olds are in critical condition. The 68-year-old woman who was driving the van was treated for injuries and…
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — Students were kept in school this afternoon in Detroit Lakes while police dealt with a man in the backseat of a car with a revolver. Police were called around 3:15 to Food N Fuel on a report that 37-year-old James Poitra of Detroit Lakes hadn’t moved in three hours. When the officers noticed the gun they…
FARGO, N.D. — A former Fargo Police officer has a new job in law enforcement. Dave Boelke has been hired as a part-time deputy with the Ransom County Sheriff’s Office in Lisbon. The department has four full-time officers, including the sheriff. Boelke was fired by Fargo Police Chief Dave Todd last summer after an internal investigation into his work performance….
WAHPETON, N.D. — Fire has destroyed a house in Wahpeton. Crews were called shortly after 11:30 last night to 606 10 ½ Street North. When they arrived they could see flames and heavy smoke coming from the front of the house. The home’s occupants were able to escape before crews arrived. No one was hurt. Firefighters were on scene for…
*12:30 AM UPDATE* Police in West Fargo say the suspect in a chase is dead after exchanging gunfire with officers near Westside Elementary. The suspect refused to pull over Monday evening and rammed a squad car before pulling into a driveway. SWAT negotiated with the man but he refused to surrender and exited the vehicle with a weapon and shots…
