Author: TJ Nelson

Two More Charged in Minnesota Medicaid Fraud Case

It follows charges earlier this week against Lillian Richardson and six accomplices in a $7.7 million fraud scheme

  BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — Two more Minnesota women face charges in a large Medicaid fraud case. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has filed a lawsuit against a Brooklyn Center woman and her daughter for bilking $929,000 in Medical Assistance funding from the state. It follows charges earlier this week against Lillian Richardson and six accomplices in a $7.7 million…

Mantador Woman Charged After Police Search of Home

Tiegs' daughters, ages 6 and 11, and a 15-year-old male relative were in the home at the time of the search

  MANTADOR, ND — A Mantador woman is charged with child endangerment after police found drugs within the reach of three children. Thirty-one-year-old Amy Tiegs is also charged with felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Officers from a multi-county drug agency searched Tiegs’ home recently with assistance from parole agents. Court document…

North Dakota Senators Speak Out on New GOP Health Care Bill

The reworked bill pushed by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell seeks conservative support

  NATIONAL — Republican Sen. John Hoeven says he needs more time to evaluate a revamped GOP health care bill. The reworked bill pushed by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell seeks conservative support by letting insurers sell low-premium policies with skimpy coverage. Hoeven says he wants to see the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s evaluation of the bill before he decides. Democratic…

Charges Pending Against Man Accused of Taking Four Vehicles in Wilkin County

Silvernail was taken to the hospital in Breckenridge before he was jailed

WILKIN COUNTY, Minn. — A man was arrested near Rothsay after taking at least four vehicles that didn’t belong to him. The Wilkin County Sheriff says Kurtis Silvernail was caught trespassing on private property and took off on an ATV around 6:45 this morning. He headed into a bean field before he was caught and taken into custody. Silvernail was…

New Case of Measles Confirmed in Minnesota

The newest case is an unvaccinated man who lives in Hennepin County

  HENNEPIN COUNTY, Minn. — Health officials have confirmed an additional case of measles in Minnesota. The new case is associated with the measles outbreak that has been occurring mainly in Hennepin County since late March. The newest case is an unvaccinated man who lives in Hennepin County. Officials say the man visited several public locations in Hennepin, Ramsey and…

Dead Mayflies Pile Up in Welch, Minnesota

The swarm only lasts about 24 hours before the insects die

WELCH, Minn. — Mayfly season has produced an unusual sight in Welch, Minnesota. Mounds of dead mayflies resembling piles of mulch littered the lock and dam on the Mississippi River. Every summer, millions of mayflies lay their eggs on the river in Minnesota and Wisconsin, creating a swarm that’s big enough to be seen on weather radar. The swarm only…

Jamestown Man Killed in Crash in Oklahoma

The highway was closed for more than seven hours

  JAMESTOWN, ND — A Jamestown man was killed in a three-vehicle crash in north-central Oklahoma on Wednesday. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 75-year-old Bert Hilber was on on a three-wheel trike motorcycle when he stopped for a semi which was waiting to turn. The patrol says a pickup failed to stop and hit Hilber’s bike, pushing it into the…

Drought in North Dakota Continues to Worsen

The worst areas are in the west, with much of the east rated as abnormally dry

  NORTH DAKOTA — Drought that is ravaging crops, pastures and hay land in North Dakota has worsened over the past week. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows nearly three-fourths of the state in some stage of drought, up from about two-thirds last week. At least 55 percent of the state is in severe or extreme drought, up from…

President Trump Denies Request for Disaster Declaration for DAPL Protests

Burgum spokesman Mike Nowatzki says the governor was notified in May that the request had been denied

  MORTON COUNTY, ND — The Trump administration denied a request for a “major disaster declaration” for the pipeline protest in Morton County back in May, and we are just now learning about it. Gov. Burgum made the request to help cover some of the estimated $38 million cost to police protests of the Dakota Access pipeline. Burgum spokesman Mike…

Fargo Man in Custody After Being Found with 14-Year-Old Missing Girl

He was arrested Wednesday and faces a kidnapping charge in Nebraska

FARGO, ND — A missing Nebraska teen has been found in Fargo and a Fargo man is in custody. The 14-year-old girl was reported missing on Monday and investigators determined she had been enticed to leave by 24-year-old Nicollas Johnson. He was arrested Wednesday and faces a kidnapping charge in Nebraska. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison….