BEMIDJI, Minn. — A former assistant principal at Bemidji Middle School has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually exploiting dozens of children. 35-year-old Brandon Bjerknes pleaded guilty in September to coercion and enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography. Federal prosecutors say Bjerknes “repeatedly victimized at least 55 vulnerable young girls and boys over nearly…
SAUK CENTRE, Minn. — A Sauk Centre school bus driver was arrested for driving his route while drunk. Authorities say 63-year-old Thomas Bromen was arrested Monday after the school district received several complaint calls. School officials told police one of their drivers was apparently drunk and driving a bus with about 40 to 50 children on board. The superintendent says…
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) _ An ethics policy is being written for Gov. Doug Burgum and his staff. Spokesman Mike Nowatzki says the policy was being drafted before the Republican governor caught some criticism for watching Sunday’s Super Bowl in Minneapolis in a stadium suite sponsored by Xcel Energy. Nowatzki says the draft has been in preparation for months. He said…
TOWNER, N.D. (KFGO) – Charges have been filed against an Alexandria, Minn. man in connection with the assault of a Fargo Catholic Diocese priest in Anamoose, N.D. Forty two-year-old Chad Legare is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and robbery. Court documents say Legare “strangled and otherwise assaulted” Fr. Robert Wapenski. The criminal complaint says Wapenski was attacked at night…
FARGO, N.D. — Hundreds of people generally come through the doors of the Family Wellness Center to work out and stay healthy. But on December 27, some members noticed something unusual. It was at the Family Wellness Center in Fargo that John Bonicelli fell into sudden cardiac arrest, but luckily for John, several members and staff jumped into action. While working…
MOORHEAD, Minn. — Nineteen precinct caucuses were open across Clay County. Athena Graycyk can still remember how strange it felt to be in a caucus for the first time ever. “I moved here from California and all we had were primaries. I had never heard of a caucus. The first one I went to, I was like a wide–eyed…
FARGO, ND — It’s still under construction, but the new Ronald McDonald house has finally let us inside for a sneak peek. There are many new amenities this home will offer to families visiting their loved ones in the hospital. “So to see it and see it be so much more than I think we could ever dreamed it…
GRAND FORKS CO., ND — A state lawmaker from Minot was hurt in a car crash on Highway 2 near Larimore. The highway patrol says 33-year-old Travis Holt of Grand Forks was attempting to turn onto a residential driveway but crossed too close in front of a car driven by 73-year-old Andrew Maragos. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch….
FARGO, N.D. — The final member of the Happy Hooligans group deployed overseas has returned home to Fargo. Special Master Sergeant Susan Schroeder was greeted by family and her fellow Happy Hooligans at Hector International Airport. Schroeder spent the last six months on deployment in Southwest Asia as a communications flight superintendent. With several hugs from her family and friends, Schroeder…
FARGO, ND — A unique boutique in Fargo is moving to a new location this spring! Others is a local shop that sells all sorts of items, and each piece has a story behind it. It is moving from 8th Street South to North Broadway. 100% of their store profit is donated to local and global causes who are making…
