Local News

Man sentenced to life in prison for death of five-year-old

Chief Judge Peter Welte handed down the sentence to Erich Longie, Jr. of Tokio.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — One of the two people involved in the death of a five-year-old girl on the Spirit Lake Reservation has been sentenced to life in prison. Chief Judge Peter Welte handed down the sentence to Erich Longie, Jr. of Tokio, North Dakota in federal court. Longie, Jr. plead guilty multiple felony charges involving First-Degree Felony Murder, Child…

Purchase of N.D. Farmland By Group Tied to Bill Gates Under Scrutiny

FOX News (Photo by Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)FARGO, N.D. (AP) —  The sale of prime North Dakota farmland to a group tied to Bill Gates has stirred emotions over a Depression-era law meant to protect family farms and raised questions about whether the billionaire shares the state’s values. State Attorney General Drew Wrigley has asked the trust that acquired the land…

Man reported missing in Beltrami Co. found

UPDATE: The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office says Gary Schyma was found in Waubun, Minnesota and has been reunited with his family.   HAGALI TOWNSHIP, Minn. (KVRR) – Authorities are searching for a missing man in Beltrami County. Gary Schyma was driving a 2013 black Chevy Silverado with Minnesota license plate EJE313. Schyma was last seen wearing crocs, gray sweatpants, and…

Airboat Recovered From Bottom of Maple Lake in Mentor

POLK CO., Minn. (KVRR) — A Polk County Sheriff’s Office airboat that tipped and sank in Maple Lake in Mentor on Wednesday morning is now out of the lake. Crews removed the airboat around 8 Wednesday night with the help of LePier’s Dock and Boat Lift Service and Advanced Tire out of Crookston. They say all fluid containers were intact…

Gov. Burgum Asks For Presidential Disaster Declaration For Spring Storms

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — A presidential major disaster declaration is being requested by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. The declaration would cover severe spring storms and flooding. The storms broke precipitation records, knocked out power thousands of people and caused over $57 million in damage across the state. Burgum has requested that a major disaster be declared for 40 counties: Adams, Barnes,…

Cass officials changed course on citizenship verification on Election Day

FARGO (KVRR-KFGO) – After getting complaints from voters, campaigns, and advocacy groups, Cass County elections officials changed course on primary Election Day from requiring documentation for voters who were flagged as non-citizens when their IDs were checked, to simply allowing those voters to verbally attest to their citizenship. The updated guidance came from States Attorney Birch Burdick around noon. Cass…