COVID-19

U.S.-Canada Border Hours To Be Extended At Three Crossings in N.D.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — An agreement has been reached to extend the hours of service at three border crossings in North Dakota after months of pushing by state leaders. Canada dropped all COVID-19 restrictions for travelers on October 1, but some border hours remain reduced. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency will temporarily expand operating…

N.D. AG Seeks Court Approval On Settlement With Glasser Images

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley is seeking court approval for a settlement with Glasser Images. Owner Jack Glasser closed the business abruptly in October 2021 leaving customers with no way to get a refund or their pictures and videos. The agreement includes an admission that Glasser and a former employee engaged in consumer fraud. The…

Minnesota Offers 4 More Free COVID-19 At Home Tests

ST. PAUL (KVRR) — Minnesotans can now get four more free COVID-19 at-home rapid tests. The state is making them available before the busy Thanksgiving holiday. They can be ordered online at mn.gov/covid19. Food banks, local public health agencies and other community health groups may also have free tests available. You can walk in or schedule an appointment for a…

ND Health Department stored thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses at wrong temperature

BISMARCK, N.D. – A state audit says the North Dakota Health Department stored thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses at incorrect temperatures or without temperature data over the past two years – and that some of the vaccine was administered to patients. The health department disputed the audit released Tuesday. Tim Wiedrich, who heads the agency’s virus response, says no non-viable…

North Dakotans 5-11 Can Get COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters Next Week

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — COVID-19 booster vaccines for kids from 5 to 11 will be available next week in North Dakota. Health and Human Services has ordered an initial allocation of 5,600 pediatric bivalent booster doses from the federal government. They are for those kids who completed the primary series at least two months ago. The latest vaccine protects against…

Minnesota frontline worker payments of nearly $500 start go out this week

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Bonus payments for Minnesota frontline workers will start going out this week, with over 1 million people receiving nearly $500. Gov. Tim Walz on Monday announced that 1,025,655 Minnesota frontline workers will receive $487.45 to “recognize their work on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” a news release said. State officials will begin sending out the payments…

North Dakota teams up with neighboring states as an option for international travelers

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau sent an ambassador to Frankfurt, Germany to pitch visitors to stop by the F-M region and surrounding states. In multiple meetings with international travel agents, Charley Johnson, the President and CEO of the F-M CVB, says agents are starting to book trips for their clients for the summer of 2023….

Canada Ending COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Saturday, U.S. Urged To Follow Suit

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Canada is getting rid of pandemic-related border restrictions that have been in place for two and a half years. Canadian officials say they are removing all COVID-19 travel restrictions starting October 1. That includes testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for people entering Canada. A transportation official says travelers will also no longer be required to undergo…

Walz fights to give frontline bonus pay to Minnesotans working in other states

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – Governor Tim Walz said, if elected to a second term, he will fight to allow Minnesotans working in other states to get frontline worker bonus pay. Walz’s original plan gave $1 billion to those workers and $1 billion to workers and businesses in the hospitality industry. That was modified by the Legislature. Only workers living in…

47 people charged in $250 Million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme

MINNEAPOLIS (KVRR) — The founder of Feeding Our Future and 46 others have been charged in what federal officials are calling the largest pandemic fraud in the country. U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger of Minnesota announced charges against founder Aimee Bock and others that include conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery. Authorities allege the massive fraud scheme took at least…