| FARGO FOG Fog advisory posted for Dakotas, western Minnesota FARGO, N.D. (AP) — It was a third straight day of tricky travel and flight delays in the region because of fog. The National Weather Service had issued a dense fog advisory for areas of eastern North and South Dakota and west-central Minnesota Saturday morning. Conditions had improved by noon in many areas. Some flights in and out of Fargo's Hector International Airport early Saturday were either cancelled or delayed, but the airport had resumed normal operations by mid-morning. The weather service says the fog is a result of light winds and low-level moisture. VETERAN-PURPLE HEART Iraq War veteran from ND honored with Purple Heart FARGO, N.D. (AP) — An Iraq War veteran was honored Saturday with a Purple Heart medal, more than three years after he was wounded in combat. Local, state and National Guard officials presented Rusty Ouart with the decoration during a ceremony at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Fargo. Ouart suffered a traumatic brain injury from a mortar attack in 2008. It required extensive medical treatment. The Purple Heart is awarded to any member of the U.S. military who has been wounded, killed or died as a result of wounds received in action. Ouart joined the North Dakota National Guard in 2006. North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple (DAHL'-rimp-ul) said Saturday that Ouart "proudly answered this country's call to duty and willingly put his life on the line to protect our homeland and our ideals." FARGO PARKING Study shows that Fargo has enough parking spaces (Information in the following story is from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com) FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Officials in North Dakota's largest city say there are enough downtown parking spots to meet demand, but the spaces are not necessarily where people want them. An updated parking study by Fargo planners show there are about 500 more parking spots than are actually needed for the number of people who park downtown. But officials tell the Forum most of those are on the fringe of downtown. Officials say the most coveted parking spots are along Broadway and the areas near North Dakota State University's downtown campus. The study recommends that the city consider a new downtown parking ramp. FIGHTING SIOUX PETITIONS ND nickname backers say they're close on petition (Information in the following story is from: Grand Forks Herald, http://www.grandforksherald.com) GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Organizers of a plan to restore the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname say they are within 1,000 signatures of the 13,500 needed to force a statewide vote on the issue. The group has two petitions. One would restore a state law that requires UND to keep the nickname, which is due at midnight Tuesday. Minot attorney Reed Soderstrom, who is leading the campaign, tells the Grand Forks Herald that he's happy with the effort, but says there's still "a mountain to climb." The other proposal would change the North Dakota Constitution to say UND teams will always be known as the Fighting Sioux. That petition is due in August. The school is phasing out the nickname, which was retired in December. CAMPUS COLLAPSE-LAWSUIT ND college files lawsuit over building collapse (Information in the following story is from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com) FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota State University is suing three Fargo contractors over the 2009 collapse of an academic building. The Forum newspaper reports that the complaint accuses JLG Architects, Heyer Engineering and Northern Technologies Inc. of breach of contract and negligence for their work on Minard Hall. The suit seeks unspecified damages. The companies deny the allegations. Portions of Minard Hall collapsed in the midst of an expansion project in December 2009 when the northwest wall failed. NDSU also is suing the State Fire and Tornado Fund for rejecting a claim filed by the university. GAEDE COMPLAINT ND inmate wants new hearing on dental work lawsuit BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A man convicted of killing and dismembering a Wisconsin man is asking a judge to reconsider his ruling on a federal complaint over Gaede's medical treatment at the North Dakota state penitentiary. Dennis Gaede, convicted of killing Timothy Wicks in 2001, says he requested a root canal and crown after he cracked a tooth, but the tooth was pulled instead. Gaede accused state officials of cruel and unusual punishment. A judge last week threw out the case. Gaede said in a motion filed Friday that he's willing to pay for the costs of dental work and claims there's new evidence that shows the tooth needs to be crowned. Gaede is serving a life sentence without parole. LOAN SCHEME Woman says she will plead guilty in ND loan scheme GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — A woman accused of stealing the identity of another person and using it to obtain student loans says she will plead guilty in North Dakota. Ngwisang Anyangwe is charged in federal court with mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and false claim of United States citizenship. She was arrested in Houston on Oct. 31. Authorities say the 28-year-old Anyangwe used the stolen identity to defraud Sallie Mae out of $48,000 in student loans. She allegedly received three separate checks for $10,000 and one for $8,000. A sentencing hearing has not been set. FIDDLE FESTIVAL Fiddle festival brings music students to Bismarck BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Fiddle and violin students from across the state are in Bismarck for a festival named after a late North Dakota governor. The fourth annual Arthur A. Link Fiddle Festival started Saturday at the Former Governor's Mansion. The Bismarck Tribune reports that it's held in honor of Link's lifelong love of music. Link was a violin player who met his wife, Grace, at a dance while he was playing violin in a band. Grace Link was to speak at the festival that's free and open to the public. It's sponsored by the Society for the Preservation of the Former Governor's Mansion. Art Link died in June 2010 at the age of 96. NORTH DAKOTA-TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN Maree leads Pan American past North Dakota 70-58 EDINBURG, Texas (AP) — Jared Maree had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead Texas-Pan American to a 70-58 victory over North Dakota on Saturday night. North Dakota (10-12, 2-3) got 15 points from Brandon Brekke and 10 from Jamal Webb. Texas-Pan American trailed 48-45 with 10:50 left in the game after Jordan Allard converted a three-point play for the Fighting Sioux. But Maree answered with a layup that began a stretch of 13 straight points for the Broncs. Cleveland had five points during the run, capping it with a dunk that put Pan American ahead 58-48 with 5:30 remaining in Edinburg, Texas. ORAL ROBERTS-N DAKOTA ST Morrison, Oral Roberts top North Dakota St. 85-76 FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Dominique Morrison's 36 points led Oral Roberts to an 85-76 victory at North Dakota State on Saturday night. Morrison made 10 of 17 shots, including two 3-pointers, and went 14 of 16 from the free throw line for the Golden Eagles (21-5, 13-1 Summit League). Morrison's 27 points in the second half included all 14 free throws. In losing for only the second time at home, the Bison (15-8, 8-5) were paced by 19 points from Mike Felt. Lawrence Alexander had 16 points and nine assists, while Taylor Braun scored 13, Marshall Bjorklund 12 and Eric Carlson 10.
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