BISMARCK, ND — Gov. Doug Burgum now says he will reimburse Xcel Energy $37,000 for Super Bowl tickets. The governor and first lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum watched the game at no cost from a suite provided by Xcel Energy at U.S. Bank Stadium. Burgum says in a statement he will pay back Xcel Energy “to eliminate even the perception of…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A Super Bowl sex sting resulted in dozens of arrests in the Twin Cities. More than three dozen people are facing possible felony charges for attempting to solicit children for sex or for trafficking victims. 14 women were rescued from sex trafficking situations. 7 people were booked for sex trafficking and the promotion of prostitution. The sting…
State Rep. Paul Thissen is dropping out of the Minnesota governor’s race after a poor showing in Tuesday night’s caucuses. The former House speaker was part of a crowded field of Democrats hoping to succeed Gov. Mark Dayton. But he finished at the bottom of a six-candidate field in the caucus straw poll, well behind U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, the…
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…
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…
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…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — More than 30 police officers have been subpoenaed as part of a grand jury investigation into the fatal police shooting of an Australian woman in Minneapolis. The grand jury began its work as prosecutors decide whether to charge Officer Mohamed Noor in the July death of 40-year-old Justine Damond. She was shot in an alley as Noor…
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, Minn. — A judge has sentenced a New York Mills man to four-and-a-half years in prison for his 28th DWI conviction. 64-year-old Danny Bettcher was arrested in September after an off-duty Otter Tail County deputy saw him leave the New York Mills VFW and drive off. Bettcher was going 10 miles per hour and swerving on Highway…
The F–M Diversion was the topic of discussion at this month’s Eggs & Issues hosted by the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber. Mayor Tim Mahoney of Fargo and Mayor Williams of Moorhead along with city engineers addressed the status of the flood protection project and took questions from the community. Both mayors said that the task force was very beneficial…
