Local News

Fargo’s Pawn America Closes its Doors

The president said all other Pawn America stores in the Midwest will remain open

  FARGO, ND — Pawn America is shutting down its Fargo location after all. The company announced in April that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the president said then that stores would not be shutting down. But employees at the Fargo location on 13th Avenue South were told in May that its store will close by the…

North Dakota Opioid Deaths on the Rise

The state will provide $180,000 to each of six successful community applicants

  NORTH DAKOTA — North Dakota recorded 61 drug-related overdose deaths in 2015. That was an increase from 43 deaths in 2014 and 20 in 2013. The North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division is now encouraging communities to apply for funding to address the opioid crisis. The goal is to identify gaps and strengthen existing community prevention…

Gwinner Man Pulled from Slough Near Cogswell Dies

He was in the water for nearly 20 minutes before he was found

  FARGO, ND — The man pulled from Kraft Slough near Cogswell on Sunday has died in a Fargo hospital. Sargent County Sheriff Travis Paeper says 57-year-old William Vandervoort of Gwinner was with friends when he went under water. He was in the water for nearly 20 minutes before he was found. Paeper says it’s possible a medical condition was…

Judge Convicts Fargo Man in Mapleton Gas Station Sex Assault

A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered before sentencing

  FARGO, ND — A district judge in Fargo has convicted a Fargo man in the sexual assault of an employee at a convenience store in Mapleton. Prosecutors say Abdulrahman Ali forced the female employee into a restroom at Gordy’s Travel Center in December 2015, claiming that she was his wife. Ali gave up his right to a jury trial…

North Dakota to Pay $3 Million for Voluntary Buyouts

Gov. Burgum said the buyouts might limit the need for layoffs

  BISMARCK, ND — North Dakota will pay about $3 million to 158 employees approved for voluntary buyouts. In April, Gov. Burgum gave 17 agency heads the option to offer buyouts to employees. He said the buyouts might limit the need for layoffs. At least 200 people applied for the buyouts, but it was up to the agencies to determine…

LIVE: Viking History Comes Alive At Midwest Viking Festival

Two Vikings Tell Us Why Norse Culture Should Be Celebrated

  Tim Jorgensen and Kyle Jameson show up in period-accurate Viking garb to tell Adam about this weekend’s Midwest Viking Festival at the Hjemkomst Center. The festival will showcase all aspects of Viking culture, from weaponry and ships, to textile making, bowls and shoes. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 23rd and Saturday, June 24th….

Pilot Airlifted To Fargo After Crash

The Mahnomen County Sheriff's Office received a 9-1-1 call reporting a plane crash near the Mahnomen Airport.

MAHNOMEN – A pilot was airlifted to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo Tuesday night after his plane crashed south of Mahnomen. Sheriff Doug Krier says the plane went down in a field near the Mahnomen airport around 8 p.m. Two MN-DOT employees traveling on Highway 59 saw the plane crash and pulled the pilot from the wreck. The man’s name…

Previous Evidence Questioned in ND Death Penalty Appeal Hearing

Alfonso Rodriquez has been on death row for 11 years

FARGO, N.D. — A federal inmate from Crookston convicted of killing UND student Dru Sjodin is appealing his death sentence. Two forensic experts took the stand in the start of what could be Rodriguez’s last appeal. It’s been more than 12 years since 64-year-old Alfonso Rodriguez was federally indicted for the kidnapping, murder and rape of Dru Sjodin. After the…

Local Programs Continue Despite Defunding of BreatheND

The funding will now be housed at the North Dakota Department of Health

FARGO, ND — BreathND is done at the end of the month. The legislature voted to defund the state’s tobacco prevention agency in April. There will no longer be a statewide agency dedicated to tobacco prevention come July 1st. The funding will now be housed at the North Dakota Department of Health. Whether it was providing education or a plan…

Dashcam Video Showing Castile Shooting Released

The video came from a camera in the squad car of Officer Jeronimo Yanez

ST. ANTHONY, Minn. — A warning that what we are about to show you can be very disturbing to some. Dashcam video of the Philando Castile shooting has been made public. The video came from a camera in the squad car of Officer Jeronimo Yanez. It shows what happened after Castile told Yanez that he had a permit to carry…