Author: TJ Nelson

Lost Color Footage of what Appears to be Aftermath of Fargo’s ’57 F5 Tornado

It includes shots of Immanuel Lutheran church with its roof gone

FARGO, ND — It is unbelievable timing. One month ago, Charlie Francis bought some old home movies during an online auction from the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. He was surprised to come across what appears to be lost footage from the aftermath of the deadly 1957 Fargo tornado. It was 60 years ago yesterday when the F5 tornado killed 12…

Pilot Identified in Plane Crash Near Mahnomen

Two MnDOT employees rushed to the plane and pulled the pilot from the wreckage

MAHNOMEN, Minn. — A pilot is in a Fargo hospital after crashing his plane south of Mahnomen near the airport. The Mahnomen County Sheriff says the crash happened around 8 o’clock last night and was witnessed by two MnDOT employees. They rushed to the plane and pulled the pilot from the wreckage. He’s identified as 56-year-old Mark Habedank of Twin Valley….

North Dakota Ag Officials Joining Call for Emergency Action Over Drought Conditions

North Dakota's congressional delegation made the same request earlier this week

  NORTH DAKOTA — Officials are calling on Ag Secretary Perdue to open CRP land for haying and grazing due to widespread drought. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson have joined the call for the emergency action. North Dakota’s congressional delegation made the same request earlier this week. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor…

Fargo’s Pawn America Closes its Doors

The president said all other Pawn America stores in the Midwest will remain open

  FARGO, ND — Pawn America is shutting down its Fargo location after all. The company announced in April that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the president said then that stores would not be shutting down. But employees at the Fargo location on 13th Avenue South were told in May that its store will close by the…

North Dakota Opioid Deaths on the Rise

The state will provide $180,000 to each of six successful community applicants

  NORTH DAKOTA — North Dakota recorded 61 drug-related overdose deaths in 2015. That was an increase from 43 deaths in 2014 and 20 in 2013. The North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division is now encouraging communities to apply for funding to address the opioid crisis. The goal is to identify gaps and strengthen existing community prevention…

Gwinner Man Pulled from Slough Near Cogswell Dies

He was in the water for nearly 20 minutes before he was found

  FARGO, ND — The man pulled from Kraft Slough near Cogswell on Sunday has died in a Fargo hospital. Sargent County Sheriff Travis Paeper says 57-year-old William Vandervoort of Gwinner was with friends when he went under water. He was in the water for nearly 20 minutes before he was found. Paeper says it’s possible a medical condition was…

Judge Convicts Fargo Man in Mapleton Gas Station Sex Assault

A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered before sentencing

  FARGO, ND — A district judge in Fargo has convicted a Fargo man in the sexual assault of an employee at a convenience store in Mapleton. Prosecutors say Abdulrahman Ali forced the female employee into a restroom at Gordy’s Travel Center in December 2015, claiming that she was his wife. Ali gave up his right to a jury trial…

North Dakota to Pay $3 Million for Voluntary Buyouts

Gov. Burgum said the buyouts might limit the need for layoffs

  BISMARCK, ND — North Dakota will pay about $3 million to 158 employees approved for voluntary buyouts. In April, Gov. Burgum gave 17 agency heads the option to offer buyouts to employees. He said the buyouts might limit the need for layoffs. At least 200 people applied for the buyouts, but it was up to the agencies to determine…

Dashcam Video Showing Castile Shooting Released

The video came from a camera in the squad car of Officer Jeronimo Yanez

ST. ANTHONY, Minn. — A warning that what we are about to show you can be very disturbing to some. Dashcam video of the Philando Castile shooting has been made public. The video came from a camera in the squad car of Officer Jeronimo Yanez. It shows what happened after Castile told Yanez that he had a permit to carry…