Author: TJ Nelson

Trial Begins for Man Accused of Killing His Fergus Falls Father

Jurors listened to a 911 call made on the day of the killing who told authorities her son had shot his father

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. — The trial is underway for a man accused of killing his father in Fergus Falls. Dustin Defiel’s attorney says there’s not enough evidence to prove that he killed his father. The body of Rick Defiel was found in his house east of Fergus Falls last June. Jurors listened to a 911 call on that day from…

Governor Burgum Asked to Leave Senate Floor

Burgum's spokesman said the governor "meant no disrespect to the chamber rules"

  BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was asked to leave the Senate floor Wednesday for wearing jeans. His attire was in violation of chamber rules. Burgum had just finished posing for a photo with some students on the Senate floor when he was asked to leave. His spokesman says the governor “meant no disrespect to the chamber…

Gov. Burgum Issues Evacuation Order for Main DAPL Protest Camp

Gov. Burgum said the garbage left at the camp is a threat to the Missouri River system

  BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum isn’t waiting. He has issued an evacuation order for people at the main Dakota Access protest camp in Morton County. The governor held a late-afternoon press conference in Bismarck to make the announcement. He said the U.S. Army Corp’s initial timeline of February 22nd to clear the camp out is no…

South Dakota Considers Lawmaker Approval on Refugee Resettlement

States across the country are looking into similar bills after President Trump issued the travel ban earlier this year

  SOUTH DAKOTA — South Dakota lawmakers are considering taking more control of refugee resettlements in the state. The Senate State Affairs Committee approved amending a bill that would require state lawmakers’ seal of approval on refugee resettlements. The bill would require private refugee resettlement groups to provide certain information about the process, like services provided, demographics and the number…

UMD Student Identified in Fatal Shooting

Police say they have identified a possible motive but have not made an arrest

FacebookDULUTH, Minn. — A man who was fatally shot in Duluth has been identified as a student at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Police say the victim is 22-year-old William Grahek of Duluth. He was the son of a St. Paul police officer. Authorities were called to a house in the East Hillside neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. Grahek was taken to a…

Missing Thief River Falls Man Found Dead

Orvin Sund was found in a building during a search of his building

  THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. — An elderly Thief River Falls man who went missing on Tuesday, has been found dead. Orvin Sund, 80, who suffered from dementia, was reported missing around 11 a.m. from his home on Conley Avenue. Police asked the community to look for Sund last night. He was found dead in a building on his property…

Thief River Falls Woman Identified in Fatal Crash

Mary Reierson died after another vehicle slid into her lane and hit her vehicle

  PENNINGTON COUNTY, Minn. — A woman is dead after a crash on an icy highway in northwestern Minnesota. Mary Reierson, 62, of Thief River Falls, was driving on an icy stretch of Highway 32 five miles south of the city around 5 p.m. Tuesday. The state patrol says a pickup pulling a Skid Steer trailer slid into the lane…

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sending Cleanup Crew to Main DAPL Protest Camp

Officials say they are concerned about an environmental disaster zone after early spring melting is mixing with human waste and garbage

  MORTON COUNTY, N.D. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is sending a crew to help cleanup the main Dakota Access protest camp. Sen. Hoeven says the Corps has agreed to have a crew on site by the end of the week. He says the area needs to be cleared to help prevent an environmental disaster if the area…

Morton County Facing Potential Environmental Disaster from Cleaning Protest Camps

Officials say the melting conditions are combining with human waste and trash, which could create a possible disaster

  MORTON COUNTY, N.D. — Officials are now worried about a potential health and environmental disaster in Morton County. Rapid melt and runoff at the pipeline protest camps is hampering efforts to cleanup the area. The wet conditions are combining with human waste and trash to create a possible disaster. Maj. French Pope of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers…

Audubon Robbery Suspects Arrested within 20 Minutes of the Crime

The three suspects fled with an undetermined amount of money and other merchandise

AUDUBON, Minn. — Three men who authorities say held up Orton’s Convenience store in Audubon shortly after 1 a.m. did not get very far. John Greywind, 22, of Bismarck, 23 year-old Dylan Beckman of Lengby and 23-year-old Steven Golden of Moorhead were captured within 20 minutes of the robbery. The Becker County sheriff says two of the men held the…