Author: TJ Nelson

Ban on Walleye Fishing on Mille Lacs Lake Begins Thursday

The ban will take effect tonight and last for most of the month

  AITKIN COUNTY, Minn. — A planned temporary shutdown of walleye fishing on Lake Mille Lacs is set to begin. The ban will take effect tonight and last for most of the month. It also prohibits catch and release. Wildlife officials are hoping to preserve the struggling population of the prized species on the lake. Fish are especially vulnerable this…

Minneapolis Working to Restrict Sales of Menthol Cigarettes

San Francisco and Chicago have similar policies

  MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The sale of menthol cigarettes in Minneapolis may soon be restricted to adult-only tobacco shops. The city has an ordinance that limits other flavored tobacco products to adult-only tobacco shops. Council Member Cam Gordon says restricting menthols is the next step. Anti-smoking advocates say a mint-flavored compound in the cigarettes that creates a cooling sensation makes…

Grand Forks Police Investigating Alleged Sexual Assault

They say there is no threat to the general public

GRAND FORKS, ND — Police in Grand Forks are investigating an alleged assault. They were called to the 3800 block of 32nd Avenue South around 3 o’clock this afternoon. A woman at that location said she had been sexually assaulted in another location. Officers are working to determine where the assault happened and possible suspects. They say there is no…

Six People Hurt in Chain Reaction Crash on I-94

The driver of a semi attempted to stop but was unable to and hit the rear of a Lexus which caused the chain reaction crash

MORTON COUNTY, ND — Six people were sent to the hospital after a chain reaction crash on I-94 in Morton County on the 4th. Four vehicles were stopped on the Grant Marsh Bridge around 5:30 Tuesday evening. The driver of a semi attempted to stop but was unable to and hit the rear of a Lexus which caused the chain…

Former Executive Board Member of Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe Sentenced in Embezzlement Case

Adams said in his plea agreement that they stole over $415,000 from the district between January 2011 and March 2013

  RICHLAND COUNTY, ND — A former executive board member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for embezzlement. Federal authorities say 46-year-old Thomas Adams and others allegedly wrote checks to themselves for payroll, stipends, travel and other reasons. Adams said in his plea agreement that they stole over $415,000 from the…

Mandan Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting “Justified”

Prosecutors say Sgt. Nickolas Pynnonen "tried everything in his power to stop'' the shooting from occurring

  MANDAN, ND — A prosecutor has concluded that an officer-involved shooting in Mandan was justified. A Mandan Police spokesman says the shooting death of ex-Marine Ivan Wilson was a tragic example of an officer trying to avoid pulling his gun. He said Sgt. Nickolas Pynnonen “tried everything in his power to stop” the shooting from occurring. A former classmate…

Rapid City Man Shot in the Spine Waits 10 Hours for Help

The shooting suspect, Michael Wisecarver, is charged with attempted first-degree murder

Michael WisecarverRAPID CITY, SD — A man with a bullet lodged in his spine lay injured in his Rapid City driveway for 10 hours before getting help. A passerby noticed Chad Arnold and called authorities at about 8 a.m. Monday. Police say a preliminary evaluation found Arnold paralyzed from the waist down. The shooting suspect, Michael Wisecarver, is charged with attempted…

Thief River Falls Man Drowns Swimming in Gravel Pit Pond

Kuznia is urging swimmers in this week's heat wave to choose monitored beach areas and stay clear of gravel pits, calling the ponds very dangerous

  PENNINGTON COUNTY, Minn. — The sheriff of Pennington County is warning swimmers to stay away from gravel pit ponds after a drowning. Forty-year-old Myron Sunram of Thief River Falls was pulled from one of the ponds and later died. Sheriff Ray Kuznia says the accident happened Wednesday night in a pit near Oak Ridge Lutheran Church west of Thief…

Senator Heitkamp Asking Ranchers be Given Tax Break Due to Drought

The deferment would be for a two year period on the sale of cattle

  NORTH DAKOTA — Senator Heitkamp has asked the IRS commissioner to allow ranchers to defer paying capital gains tax due to the drought. The deferment would be for a two year period on the sale of cattle. The action is being requested due to the ongoing severe drought which has stretched for months across nearly half of the state….

Senator Hoeven Says GOP Health Care Bill Needs Improvement

He is just the latest member of his party to criticize their plan to repeal and replace Obamacare

  GRAND FORKS, ND — Sen. John Hoeven says he “doesn’t support” the current GOP health care bill. The Republican made the comment during a discussion Wednesday at UND. He is just the latest member of his party to criticize their plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. Hoeven said he’s hopeful that the legislation can be improved to lower premium…