MINOT, N.D. — A Ward County Jail inmate in Minot is charged with breaking another inmate’s jaw in two places during a fight over Ramen noodles. 32-year-old Jesse Jones of Kenmare is charged with aggravated assault. Court documents reveal that 26-year-old inmate David Pieper Jr. accused Jones of stealing seven Ramen noodle packages and a bowl from Pieper’s cell. Authorities…
FARGO, N.D. — A small plane had a mechanical problem while landing at Hector International Airport in Fargo. The single engine Piper Comanche slid off the runway around 5:30 Wednesday evening. No one was hurt. The plane was hauled to an aircraft maintenance company at the airport where FAA flight inspectors will work to determine why the landing gear failed….
BISMARCK, ND — Gov. Doug Burgum now says he will reimburse Xcel Energy $37,000 for Super Bowl tickets. The governor and first lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum watched the game at no cost from a suite provided by Xcel Energy at U.S. Bank Stadium. Burgum says in a statement he will pay back Xcel Energy “to eliminate even the perception of…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A Super Bowl sex sting resulted in dozens of arrests in the Twin Cities. More than three dozen people are facing possible felony charges for attempting to solicit children for sex or for trafficking victims. 14 women were rescued from sex trafficking situations. 7 people were booked for sex trafficking and the promotion of prostitution. The sting…
State Rep. Paul Thissen is dropping out of the Minnesota governor’s race after a poor showing in Tuesday night’s caucuses. The former House speaker was part of a crowded field of Democrats hoping to succeed Gov. Mark Dayton. But he finished at the bottom of a six-candidate field in the caucus straw poll, well behind U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, the…
MINOT, ND — A state representative from Minot is out of the hospital after a crash last night near Larimore on Highway 2. Representative Andrew Maragos and another man were hurt in the two-vehicle crash sending both men to Altru in Grand Forks. Maragos hit a SUV driven by 33-year-old Travis Holt of Grand Forks after Holt crossed too close…
BEMIDJI, Minn. — A former assistant principal at Bemidji Middle School has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually exploiting dozens of children. 35-year-old Brandon Bjerknes pleaded guilty in September to coercion and enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography. Federal prosecutors say Bjerknes “repeatedly victimized at least 55 vulnerable young girls and boys over nearly…
SAUK CENTRE, Minn. — A Sauk Centre school bus driver was arrested for driving his route while drunk. Authorities say 63-year-old Thomas Bromen was arrested Monday after the school district received several complaint calls. School officials told police one of their drivers was apparently drunk and driving a bus with about 40 to 50 children on board. The superintendent says…
GRAND FORKS CO., ND — A state lawmaker from Minot was hurt in a car crash on Highway 2 near Larimore. The highway patrol says 33-year-old Travis Holt of Grand Forks was attempting to turn onto a residential driveway but crossed too close in front of a car driven by 73-year-old Andrew Maragos. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch….
GOLDEN VALLEY CO., ND — A jury has convicted the former police chief of LaMoure of sexually abusing a child. A Golden Valley County jury returned its verdict Monday against James Watson. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child. He’s also facing separate trials on felony sexual misconduct…
