Local News

Armstrong Announces More Cabinet Appointments Including a Democratic State Representative

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — North Dakota Republican Governor-elect Kelly Armstrong reaches across party lines for one of his latest cabinet appointments. He has named Democratic State Rep. Corey Mock of Grand Forks as Chief Information Officer for the Information and Technology Department. In a statement, Mock said he’s honored to take the position and says technology plays an increasingly crucial…

North Dakota adds 3 staff to help legislators, another 50 by 2029 proposed

The Legislative Management Committee meets Nov. 13, 2024, in the House chamber. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Three full-time staff will join North Dakota Legislative Council ahead of the 2025 session, with more hiring on the horizon if lawmakers approve the council’s plan for an additional 50 positions by 2029. The three new hires – a communications specialist,…

Fargo Public Works Prepares For Transition Into Winter Weather

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — With snow in the forecast, the Fargo Public Works Departments has been getting the streets, and their equipment, ready before the first flakes fly. Fargo Public Works Service Manager Corey Houim says they are transitioning from fall street sweeping to moving and removing snow from Fargo streets. Crews have been working to get snow emergency equipment…

University of Minnesota Crookston Begins Joint Degree Program With Mongolian University

Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause with GLU President Otgonbat BarkhuuCROOKSTON, Minn. (KVRR) — University of Minnesota Crookston is expanding its academic relationships by signing a memorandum of understanding with two Mongolian universities. One is a joint degree program agreement in international business with Global Leadership University of Mongolia. Another is for a partnership with Mongolian University of Life Sciences to explore opportunities…

Witnesses Begin Testifying Second Day of Trial for Human Smuggling Case

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (KVRR) — Prosecutors say Harshkumar Patel and Steve Shand put financial profit over human life when they attempted to smuggle migrants from India across the U.S.-Canada border into Minnesota over five weeks. Daryl Ritchison, a climatologist and director of the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network, testified that temperatures were abnormally cold that January morning with wind chills…

Governor-elect Kelly Armstrong’s Inaugural Ball Is Set for January

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — The Inaugural Ball for Governor-elect Kelly Armstrong is set and the event aims to benefit people across the state. The ball will be held on Saturday, January 18 at 7 p.m. at Bismarck Event Center. A portion of all donations will directly benefit North Dakota FFA Foundation and Great Plains Food Bank. A donation station will…

Bemidji house heavily damaged in early morning fire; No injuries

(Photo: Bemidji Fire Department)BEMIDJI, MINN. (KVRR-KFGO) – A fire early Tuesday morning caused heavy damage to a house in Bemidji. The fire was reported shortly after 4 on the 1200 block of Bemidji Avenue Northwest. Firefighters arrived to find a two-story home with fire and smoke from the second story. Additional firefighters were called in to fight the blaze. Fire…