North Dakota News

Grand Forks Student Won’t Advance in Scripps National Spelling Bee, Says He’ll Be Back

He says while he didn't make it this time, don't count him out yet. Our Washington, D.C. correspondent, Yarilet Perez reports

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rayne Korsmo of Northwood, who made it through the first two rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, will not be moving on to the next round. Rayne, who is a seventh grader at Greater Grand Forks Home School Association, began spelling with about 300 other students in the competition. He says while he didn’t make it this…

The Most Misspelled Words by State: We’re Wondering About Wisconsin

Google takes their information based on "how to spell" searches

NATIONAL — With students all over the country participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Google has released its list of America’s most misspelled words by state. Google takes their information based on “how to spell” searches. North Dakota’s most misspelled word is “Dilemma” and Minnesota’s most misspelled word is “Beautiful”. The most popular words misspelled in 2017 were “Pneumonia”…

Local Organization Helps Area New Americans Gain Transportation

Organizers say it's all about helping refugee families get started in a new community

WEST FARGO, ND — A local organization is helping New Americans in the area become more independent. Team Boaz for New Americans is a community partnership that gives used bikes in good condition to refugee families. The group takes in donations of used and abandoned bikes from the community, buys spare parts if needed and volunteers donate their time to…

Gate City Bank Gives Generous Donation to YWCA’s New Housing Program

Designs for a new building will help house the homeless in West Fargo

WEST FARGO, ND — A local bank is pitching in a large gift to help house homeless women and children in the metro. Gate City Bank is giving $1.5 million for a new YWCA housing program. A 30-unit home for women and children leaving the YWCA emergency shelter is in the works. The YWCA is working with Lutheran Church of…

Cause of Minot Recycling Plant Fire Still Unknown

It produced heavy smoke that could be seen for miles

  MINOT, ND — Authorities say they will never know what started a large fire at a Minot recycling business, though they have some theories. The blaze at Earth Recycling broke out around noon on May 18. It produced heavy smoke that could be seen for miles. Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Ken Sisk says he couldn’t pinpoint the exact…

Former Wells County Sheriff Released from Custody

He abruptly resigned from office last month

WELLS COUNTY, ND — The former Wells County Sheriff has been released from jail after being arrested on drug charges. Johnny Lawson, 41, was arrested Friday and released from jail on Tuesday on a promise to appear in court. Lawson is charged with conspiracy to deliver meth, bribery, providing false information to a law enforcement officer, neglect of duty by…

Former Bemidji Assistant Principal Facing Federal Child Exploitation Charges

He is charged with the production and distribution of child porn and enticement of a minor

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A former Bemidji assistant principal now faces federal child sexual exploitation charges. Brandon Bjerknes, 34, was arrested Tuesday and appeared today in U.S. District Court in St. Paul. He is charged with the production and distribution of child porn and enticement of a minor. Court documents show Bjerknes posed online as a 13 to 15-year-old male…

Social Security Administration Announces Top Baby Names for North Dakota in 2016

Harper and Olivia tied for the top name for girls, with 65 apiece

  NORTH DAKOTA — There will be a large number of kindergarteners named Oliver, Harper and Olivia in the year 2021. The Social Security Administration says those were the most popular names for babies born in North Dakota last year. There were 73 boys named Oliver born in 2016. Harper and Olivia tied for the top name for girls, with…

U.S. Army Corps Leaders Get Their First Look at the F-M Flood Diversion

Leaders with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are happy with the Diversion project so far

FARGO, N.D. — Leaders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers came all the way from Washington, D.C. to get their first look at the FM Flood Diversion construction. The project, which will take at least six and a half years to finish, recently started near Horace, North Dakota. Army Corps Major General Ed Jackson saw it in person for…

The Ashley Hunter Trial: Nurse Testifies to Hunter’s Alleged Admission to Crime

The medical examiner who conducted autopsies on the victims also took the stand

FARGO, ND — The medical examiner who conducted autopsies on the victims in a 2015 double murder in Fargo said the injuries on the men match the statement that murder suspect Ashley Hunter gave police. Last Thursday, jurors watched a tape where Hunter admitted to the crimes and goes into detail about stabbing one victim and hitting the other with…