Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment: (STATIONS: Please use in place of right now that moved at 4 p.m. This CORRECTS the snow forecast in the first item.)

DAKOTAS SNOW

Parts of Dakotas deal with snow, cold

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Snow and cold is socking parts of the Dakotas.

The National Weather service said northeastern South Dakota and southeastern North Dakota will likely receive 1-to-2 inches of additional snow by Tuesday, with strong winds blowing it around.

Many schools in the region delayed or canceled classes and sporting events Monday.

On icy Interstate 94 in North Dakota, three paramedics and a patient were taken to a Fargo hospital Monday afternoon when an ambulance from Jamestown rolled on its way to Fargo. The extent of injures was not immediately known.

Wind chill advisories also were posted for much of the two states, with the combination of wind and low temperatures making it feel as cold as 35 degrees below zero.

ABORTION-RIGHTS PLATES

Advocates push abortion-rights license plate in Va

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Abortion-rights advocates have been unable to halt the "Choose Life" license plates in nearly two-dozen states including North Dakota, so now they're working to balance the bumper debate.

Activists are pushing a "Trust Women/Protect Choice" license plate in Virginia. The state would become only the fourth to offer a pro-choice plate and the first to require legislative approval for it. Most other states have administrative agencies approve specialty plates.

Supporters have threatened to sue if lawmakers don't give drivers the option.

Opponents, including the state's attorney general and governor, say they oppose diverting money from plate fees to Planned Parenthood - not necessarily the plates themselves.

A state Senate committee could vote on the proposal this week.

Last year, Virginia became the 23rd state to approve the "Choose Life" plate. The plates should be on the roads in Massachusetts, Delaware and North Dakota by the end of March.

TRAFFIC FINES

118 people in ND lawsuit list owe child support

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A check of the names of people who are owed refunds for excessive traffic fines in Fargo has turned up 118 people who owe child support totaling $1.3 million.

Department of Human Services child support director Mike Schwindt says the agency will now attempt to track down those people.

A federal judge last month said the state's child support enforcement program should receive a list of people who joined in a class action lawsuit over the excessive traffic fines in Fargo, as long as the program paid for the list and kept the information confidential.

The ruling affected about 14,000 people who filed valid claims for reimbursement because the city was charging more for traffic fines than state law allows.

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Information from: KFGO-AM, http://kfgo.com

AIRPORT AUTHORITY-THEFTS

Former ND airport official gets prison for theft

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A former chairman of the Tioga airport authority in northwestern North Dakota has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing more than $300,000.

Eugene Knutson stole federal grants that were intended to pay for airport improvements and to buy equipment for Tioga's rural fire department.

U.S. District Judge Dan Hovland ordered Knutson to start serving his sentence on March 9.

During Knutson's sentencing hearing on Monday, Hovland described Knutson as a con man. He said Knutson shifted ownership of vehicles, planes and other assets to his brother to avoid paying judgments.

Federal prosecutor Rick Volk said Knutson used some of the stolen money to buy more than 400 guns. Knutson claimed the gun purchases were investments.

ND DRUG BUST

Drug bust in ND nets 7 pounds of meth

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Two men from Washington state face felony drug charges in North Dakota after a big drug bust.

Highway Patrol Capt. Eldon Mehrer (MARE) said Tuesday that the street value of the 7 pounds of methamphetamine is between $350,000 and $500,000.

Mehrer said the bust happened during a routine traffic stop near Casselton on Interstate 94, in southeastern North Dakota.

He said it is one of the largest meth busts in the patrol's history. Authorities believe the shipment of drugs was headed to Minneapolis-St. Paul.

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Information from: KFGO-AM, http://kfgo.com

BADLANDS BIGHORNS

Bighorn sheep to be transplanted in badlands

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota wildlife officials plan to capture and move as many as 15 bighorn sheep in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Game and Fish biologist Brett Wiedmann (WEED'-man) says the goal is to help stem disease among the growing herd and reduce crashes involving sheep and vehicles on U.S. Highway 85.

The animals will be released in one group about 20 miles northeast of the park, or half will be released in the northern badlands and half in the southern portion.

The operation involves netting the sheep from helicopters. It is planned for Saturday.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-02-08-10 1814EST

Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment: DAKOTAS SNOW

Parts of Dakotas deal with snow, cold

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Snow and cold is socking parts of the Dakotas.

The National Weather service said as much as 8 inches of snow could accumulate in northeastern South Dakota and southeastern North Dakota by Tuesday, with strong winds blowing it around. Many schools in the region delayed or canceled classes and sporting events Monday.

Icy roads were a problem across the region Sunday. The North Dakota Highway Patrol said it responded to 55 vehicles in the ditch.

Wind chill advisories also were posted for much of the two states, with the combination of wind and low temperatures making it feel as cold as 35 degrees below zero.

ABORTION-RIGHTS PLATES

Advocates push abortion-rights license plate in Va

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Abortion-rights advocates have been unable to halt the "Choose Life" license plates in nearly two-dozen states including North Dakota, so now they're working to balance the bumper debate.

Activists are pushing a "Trust Women/Protect Choice" license plate in Virginia. The state would become only the fourth to offer a pro-choice plate and the first to require legislative approval for it. Most other states have administrative agencies approve specialty plates.

Supporters have threatened to sue if lawmakers don't give drivers the option.

Opponents, including the state's attorney general and governor, say they oppose diverting money from plate fees to Planned Parenthood - not necessarily the plates themselves.

A state Senate committee could vote on the proposal this week.

Last year, Virginia became the 23rd state to approve the "Choose Life" plate. The plates should be on the roads in Massachusetts, Delaware and North Dakota by the end of March.

TRAFFIC FINES

118 people in ND lawsuit list owe child support

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A check of the names of people who are owed refunds for excessive traffic fines in Fargo has turned up 118 people who owe child support totaling $1.3 million.

Department of Human Services child support director Mike Schwindt says the agency will now attempt to track down those people.

A federal judge last month said the state's child support enforcement program should receive a list of people who joined in a class action lawsuit over the excessive traffic fines in Fargo, as long as the program paid for the list and kept the information confidential.

The ruling affected about 14,000 people who filed valid claims for reimbursement because the city was charging more for traffic fines than state law allows.

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Information from: KFGO-AM, http://kfgo.com

AIRPORT AUTHORITY-THEFTS

Former ND airport official gets prison for theft

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A former chairman of the Tioga airport authority in northwestern North Dakota has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing more than $300,000.

Eugene Knutson stole federal grants that were intended to pay for airport improvements and to buy equipment for Tioga's rural fire department.

U.S. District Judge Dan Hovland ordered Knutson to start serving his sentence on March 9.

During Knutson's sentencing hearing on Monday, Hovland described Knutson as a con man. He said Knutson shifted ownership of vehicles, planes and other assets to his brother to avoid paying judgments.

Federal prosecutor Rick Volk said Knutson used some of the stolen money to buy more than 400 guns. Knutson claimed the gun purchases were investments.

ND DRUG BUST

Drug bust in ND nets 7 pounds of meth

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Two men from Washington state face felony drug charges in North Dakota after a big drug bust.

Highway Patrol Capt. Eldon Mehrer (MARE) said Tuesday that the street value of the 7 pounds of methamphetamine is between $350,000 and $500,000.

Mehrer said the bust happened during a routine traffic stop near Casselton on Interstate 94, in southeastern North Dakota.

He said it is one of the largest meth busts in the patrol's history. Authorities believe the shipment of drugs was headed to Minneapolis-St. Paul.

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Information from: KFGO-AM, http://kfgo.com

BADLANDS BIGHORNS

Bighorn sheep to be transplanted in badlands

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota wildlife officials plan to capture and move as many as 15 bighorn sheep in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Game and Fish biologist Brett Wiedmann (WEED'-man) says the goal is to help stem disease among the growing herd and reduce crashes involving sheep and vehicles on U.S. Highway 85.

The animals will be released in one group about 20 miles northeast of the park, or half will be released in the northern badlands and half in the southern portion.

The operation involves netting the sheep from helicopters. It is planned for Saturday.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-02-08-10 1714EST

Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

DAKOTAS SNOW

Parts of Dakotas deal with snow, cold

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Snow and cold is socking parts of the Dakotas.

The National Weather service said as much as 8 inches of snow could accumulate in northeastern South Dakota and southeastern North Dakota by Tuesday, with strong winds blowing it around.

Icy roads were a problem across the region Sunday. The North Dakota Highway Patrol said it responded to 55 vehicles in the ditch.

Wind chill advisories also were posted for much of the two states, with the combination of wind and low temperatures making it feel as cold as 35 degrees below zero.

STORM-FEDERAL AID

FEMA teams in ND to survey storm damage

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be in North Dakota this week evaluating damage from the ice storm that hit the state late last month.

Gov. John Hoeven earlier declared a statewide winter storm disaster and asked FEMA teams to assess the financial impact of the storm, which downed thousands of power lines, damaged more than 1,800 power poles and at one point left about 6,200 people without power.

The FEMA visit is the first step toward a presidential disaster declaration that would help communities, tribes and rural electric cooperatives recover costs associated with the storm.

Emergency Services Department spokeswoman Cecily Fong says damage will easily surpass the $1 million threshold for federal disaster eligibility.

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Information from: KCND-FM, http://www.prairiepublic.org

STRESS MAP

AP analysis: US economic stress hit a peak in Dec.

UNDATED (AP) - Weakness in Western energy-producing states helped raise the average U.S. county's economic stress in December to its highest point since the recession began in December 2007.

But the Dakotas continued to see relatively low stress levels.

The Associated Press' monthly analysis of conditions says Alaska, Wyoming and Montana lost jobs related in part to a drop in energy and mining exploration. Those states in the past had generally defied the national economy's weakness.

The AP's Economic Stress Index found that the average county's score in December was 10.8, compared with 10.2 in November.

Under a rough rule of thumb, a county is considered stressed when its score exceeds 11.

North Dakota (4.99) was again the least-stressed state in December. Next were South Dakota (5.47) and Nebraska (5.63).

FLIGHT DELAY

Fargo flight delayed by 'bomb' investigation

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A flight at the Fargo airport was delayed for about three hours over the weekend when federal security officers at Hector International Airport apparently mistook photographic equipment for a possible bomb.

Bismarck videographer Chris Klein said he and San Diego photographer Jesse Knutson were preparing to fly from Fargo to Los Angeles when Transportation Security Administration employees found a piece of equipment in Knutson's luggage that they thought might be a bomb.

The TSA declined to discuss the incident. Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney confirmed that a police bomb squad was called to the airport on Saturday and that a flight was delayed but he did not provide details.

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Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com

MINING MOVE

Mining equipment move to close highway

UNDERWOOD, N.D. (AP) - A four-mile stretch of N.D. Highway 200 east of Underwood will be temporarily closed on Tuesday to allow for movement of large mining equipment at the Falkirk Mine.

The state Transportation Department says traffic will be detoured.

The closure of Highway 200 will be between U.S. Highway 83 and state Highway 200A.

Highway 83 between Washburn and Underwood was closed briefly late last month for the same reason.

TRIBE-MEETINGS

Tribe plans meetings for off-reservation members

NEW TOWN, N.D. (AP) - The Three Affiliated Tribes Business Council plans informational meetings in three North Dakota cities and the Minneapolis area for tribal members who live off the Fort Berthold Reservation.

The meetings are planned for March 9 at the Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, Minn.; March 15 at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck; March 16 at the Fargo Holiday Inn; and March 29 at the El Rancho Motor Hotel in Williston.

Tribal Chairman Marcus Levings says council representatives will give updates about oil development on the reservation, among other topics.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA INITIATIVE

Crosby man pushing medical marijuana measure

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A Crosby man is proposing an initiative to make it legal to use marijuana for medical reasons in North Dakota.

Del Snavely says the proposal isn't likely to make it to a vote this year, but he's hoping to put it on the ballot in 2012. He says it's been tough to get sponsors from North Dakota's larger cities.

Snavely used to live in Washington state, where medical marijuana is legal. He used it there as a medication to fight chronic back and leg pain. He says marijuana is a better alternative than addictive, narcotic painkillers.

More than a dozen states have made marijuana use legal for some ailments. The federal Justice Department has said it won't target medical marijuana dispensaries if they're complying with state law.

DL MUSEUMS

Devils Lake museums seeking more money

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) - Ramsey County residents in June will vote on whether to give more tax money to the Lake Region Heritage Center museums in Devils Lake.

County Auditor Elizabeth Fischer says that under the proposal, the owner of property valued at $100,000 would pay an additional $2.25 per year.

The County Commission voted unanimously to put the measure on the June ballot.

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Information from: Devils Lake Journal, http://www.devilslakejournal.com

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-02-08-10 1158EST

Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment: GUARD-FLOODING

North Dakota Guard prepares for spring flooding

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - About 50 members of the North Dakota National Guard have been trained to deal with flooding in anticipation of such an event this spring.

The Guard held a three-day training exercise in Bismarck over the weekend that included several flooding scenarios.

Lt. Col. Rick Smith, director of the Public Information Office, says it incorporated lessons learned from last year's record flooding. In 2009, the Guard spent nearly 100 days on active duty helping state and local authorities fight flooding.

The Guard says it has about 2,700 members available to respond to flooding or other possible threats. It also has access to bulldozers, dump trucks, helicopters, pumps, generators and other equipment that would be needed for a flood.

HOSPITAL CEO

Williston hospital closer to new CEO

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) - The hospital in Williston hopes to have a new chief executive this spring.

A final round of candidate interviews is scheduled for April, with a new CEO named by May 1.

Spokeswoman Leslie Sullivan says applications have come from people both inside and outside the Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives organization that owns Mercy Medical Center.

The hospital is filling the position of former CEO Dennis Goebel, who resigned Oct. 1. Chief Financial Officer Kerry Monson is serving as interim CEO.

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Information from: Williston Herald, http://www.willistonherald.com

MINOT FLIGHTS

Minot, ND, airport seeking westbound flights

MINOT, N.D. (AP) - Minot airport director Andrew Solsvig says he and the city's air service consultants will be talking with at least five airlines over the next several weeks about westbound service from the city.

Meetings are planned with SkyWest Airlines, Allegiant, Southwest, Frontier and American Eagle. Officials also are seeking a meeting with United Airlines.

Minot received a $500,000 federal grant to lure an airline with revenue guarantees and other incentives. The three-year grant will expire Jan. 31, 2011.

Delta Airlines flies between Minot and Minneapolis to the east.

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Information from: Minot Daily News, http://www.minotdailynews.com

DICKINSON-RECYCLING

Dickinson, ND, to form recycling committee

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) - City officials in Dickinson are forming a recycling committee.

The move follows a survey last year on interest in recycling that City Administrator Shawn Kessel says drew a big response.

The committee will look into the business aspects of a recycling program and what the benefit might be to the community.

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Information from: The Dickinson Press, http://www.thedickinsonpress.com

WFARGO-FIRE STATION

West Fargo could get second fire station

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The growing city of West Fargo could be getting a second fire station as early as next year.

City commissioners have approved a 30-year land lease with the fire department for a new station in the southern part of the city.

Fire Chief Roy Schatschneider says construction could begin in May and firefighters could begin using the building by 2011.

West Fargo is North Dakota's fastest-growing city. It has seen a boom in population during the past decade and now has more than 24,000 residents. It can take fire crews up to 10 minutes to respond to some calls.

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Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com

ND DRONES

ND hearings slated for unmanned aircraft

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota's congressional delegation says public hearings have been slated this week to discuss the environmental impact of positioning unmanned aerial vehicles at the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy say it's an important step toward basing the drones at Grand Forks.

The Air Force's draft environmental impact statement covers infrastructure improvements at the Grand Forks base, and modifications to airspace to accommodate the drones.

The hearings will be held on Monday in Grand Forks; Tuesday in Devils Lake; Wednesday in Carrington; and Thursday in Langdon.

COLLARED LION

Collar malfunction complicates ND lion tracking

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has been having trouble tracking a mountain lion since its satellite collar malfunctioned.

Game biologist Brett Wiedmann says the collar was put in place in March and stopped giving data on Jan. 3. The lion can still be tracked by plane using high-frequency signals, but that's a more complicated process.

The lion is the only one being tracked by the state. There are no plans for a new collar.

The male lion was caught in a foothold trap in December 2006 north of Medora. Known as M-12, he is being monitored to provide information to biologists on mountain lion habits and habitat.

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Information from: The Dickinson Press, http://www.thedickinsonpress.com

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-02-08-10 0301EST