Joseph RudTHOMPSON, N.D. (KVRR) — Grand Forks Regional SWAT Team is called out to Thompson, North Dakota after a man barricaded himself in an apartment bedroom. The sheriff’s office was serving an arrest warrant around 10 a.m. on 44-year-old Joseph Rud for violating bond conditions. After confirming he was home, they knocked down the door and found a gun safe…
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — Political leaders are talking about strategies for base retention and enhancement at Grand Forks Air Force Base. It comes as the Air Force is planning to temporarily relocate 17 B-1 bombers and 800 crew members to the base early next year from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. Sen. Kevin Cramer highlighted Space Development…
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — Grand Forks Fire Department is granted an FAA waiver to fly drones beyond the visual line of sight in emergency situations. It will allow them to be able to assess large fires, conduct aerial searches and help locate missing people in challenging environments. Fire Chief Gary Lorenz says the waiver enhances their situational awareness and…
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The Commander of the Air Combat Command is going to be making stops this week in Grand Forks and Fargo. General Kenneth Wilsbach will meet with Grand Forks Air Force Base leadership and community leaders on Monday morning. On Tuesday, Sen. John Hoeven and Wilsbach will hold a counter-UAS discussion with leaders from UND to further…
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — The main floor conference room at The HIVE in downtown Grand Forks is now known as the “O’Leary Ventures Conference Room”. O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary will stop by on Friday to check out his sponsorship agreement with the UAS accelerator. The “Shark Tank” star will tour UND and Grand Sky UAS Park as well…
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — More companies will now be able to test unmanned aerial system flights at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks. Sen. John Hoeven says he secured waivers from the FAA to expand the testing of aircraft that do not have a public designation. Under current rules, a UAS must be designated as a…
By: Jeannie Kopstein ARLINGTON, Va. (KVRR) – Drone technology is the topic of discussion and display at the first UAV Technology USA conference. University of North Dakota President Andrew Armacost chaired the event. “We thought this was just an extraordinary opportunity for UND to be part of the national discussion on UAV technology. It really gives us a chance to…
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE — Senator John Hoeven is marking the completion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s newly-renovated unmanned aerial systems training center at Grand Forks Air Force Base. The project cost $8 million. Customs and Border Protection in Grand Forks is responsible for 900 miles of border. Hoeven says that considering North Dakota’s leadership in UAS,…
GRAND FORKS, ND — Top officials from the Federal Aviation Administration are at UND in Grand Forks to talk about reforming the air traffic control hiring process. Senator John Hoeven recently introduced his bipartisan ATC Hiring Reform Act of 2019. It would enable the FAA to prioritize the hiring of veterans and graduates of FAA certified schools, like UND. The schools…
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — UND hosts the 2019 Collegiate National Drone Championships for the first time ever. KVRR’s Danielle Church tells us why some pilots, judges and UAS professors at the university are calling it a major milestone. There’s nothing quite like aviation, especially when you add a drone to the mix. “Anything in aviation is a blast. Specifically for unmanned…
