Author: TJ Nelson

Ada Mayor Steps Down Before Big Move

Ellefson joined the city council after the flood of 1997 and became mayor in 2000

ADA, Minn. — The mayor of Ada, Minnesota has stepped down. Mayor James Ellefson retired effective last night. His term was set to expire in 2020. Ellefson joined the city council after the flood of 1997 and became mayor in 2000. He took a break from serving between 2012 and 2014. The Ellefson family is moving to Florida this summer….

Governor Burgum Issues Vetoes on Bills Passed by Legislture

Burgum signed 440 bills this session, 10 with line-item vetoes, and vetoed three complete bills

  BISMARCK, ND — Gov. Burgum has vetoed some or all of nine bills passed by the Legislature, including portions of the Public Employees Retirement System budget. One section Burgum struck down would have had the state terminate its six-year health insurance contract with Sanford Health Plan two years early. Sanford began providing coverage in 2015 after out-bidding Blue Cross…

Case Concerning Minnesota’s Sex Offender Treatment Program on Hold

Lawyers for the offenders have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appeals court finding that the program is constitutional

  MINNESOTA — A federal judge has stayed further proceedings in a class-action lawsuit over Minnesota’s sex offender treatment program. Lawyers for the offenders have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appeals court finding that the program is constitutional. U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank declared the program “unconstitutional” in 2015 because only a handful of offenders had ever…

Fight at Garfield Restaurant Ends in Drug Bust, Three Arrests

It spilled out into the parking lot and Walker was seen smashing a vehicle's windshield with a shovel before fleeing the scene

  GARFIELD, Minn. — A fight at the Fire Station Bar and Grill in Garfield, Minnesota on Monday ended in a big drug bust. Witnesses told deputies that Joseph Walker got into an argument with his girlfriend, Kaylee Anderson, at the bar. It spilled out into the parking lot and Walker was seen smashing a vehicle’s windshield with a shovel…

Minnesota Lawmakers Looking for Harsher Penalties for Genital Cutting of Children

Prosecutors say the girls were brought to Michigan by their mothers

Minnesota State Capitol  ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota lawmakers are moving to levy harsh penalties on parents who subject their children to genital cutting after a Detroit-area doctor was charged. Dr. Jumana Nagarwala was charged last week with female genital mutilation and other crimes for allegedly performing the procedure on two seven-year-old Minnesota girls. The manager of the clinic and…

Minnesota Couple Sentenced for Helping Hide Teenagers from Father

A Dakota County judge has sentenced the Dahlens to two years of probation

  HERMAN, Minn. — The couple who helped a mother hide her two teenage daughters from their father on a ranch near Herman has been sentenced to probation. Douglas and Gina Dahlen kept the girls at White Horse Ranch for two and a-half years to hide them during their parents’ bitter divorce. A Dakota County judge has sentenced the Dahlens…

One Injured in Near Head-On Crash in Fargo

That driver was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is expected to be cited

FARGO, ND — A near head-on crash at the intersection of Main Avenue and 42nd Street South sends one person to the hospital. The crash happened just after 3 o’clock when a driver attempted to turn onto 42nd and collided with another vehicle. That driver was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is expected to be cited….

West Fargo Police Lieutenant Being Investigated by the BCI

Lt. Greg Warren is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation

  WEST FARGO, ND — The longest-serving active member of the West Fargo Police Department has been placed on administrative leave. Investigations Lt. Greg Warren joined the department as a patrol officer in 1975. The move is pending the outcome of an investigation on Warren by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The leave comes during the same week…

Six Now Charged in Shooting Death of Bloomington Teen

Police say all six suspects regularly bought drugs from the victim, 19-year-old Corey Elder

  BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — All six arrested suspects have now been charged in the shooting death of a teen in Bloomington. Tarrance Murphy, Maurice Verser, and Alec Streit are charged with murder, burglary and assault. The charges are identical to those that were passed down Monday to the first three suspects-Megan Cater, Noah Peterson and Briana Martinson, despite Verser being…

Area Law Enforcement: Three Sex Offenders on the Move

Tina Haws, Robert Lilley and Colten Pede are all changing addresses and are all registered sex offenders

From Left to Right: Tina Haws, 36, Colton Pede, 32, Robert Lilley, 23  NORTH DAKOTA — Area law enforcement officials want to let people know about three separate sex offenders who are on the move around the state. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said 36-year-old Tina Haws is now living at 4404 147th Street Southeast in Wheatland. Haws was convicted…