Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment: WILD TURKEYS

Bismarck commissioners looking at bow-hunting wild turkeys

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Bismarck has a bow-hunting season to control deer, and now city commissioners want to do the same for wild turkeys.

Police Chief Keith Witt says complaints about the birds have been increasing over the past few years. Even Mayor John Warford says he has a hen in his back yard that refuses to leave.

Witt says the state Game and Fish Department suggests 25 permits allowing licensed bow hunters to shoot the birds on specified city property -- mainly in the area of the wastewater treatment plant.

He says the turkey hunting permits would be similar to the city's bow-hunting permits for deer, and will be regulated by police.

HYDROGEN FUEL

EERC director says high gas prices may put more emphasis on hydrogen fuel

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - The director of the University of North Dakota's Energy and Environmental Research Center says hydrogen fuel-cell cars could be in showrooms by 2015.

Gerald Groenewold (GROHN'-wold) oversees a national center focusing on hydrogen technology. He says the Grand Forks center has been researching infrastructure for hydrogen cars.

Groenewold says researchers have developed a hydrogen powered forklift and an ice resurfacing machine. He says hydrogen can be made from just about anything.

Groenewold says the new 3 million dollar research center in Grand Forks will be dedicated in September, and he's already trying to raise money to expand it.

CONSTRUCTION ZONE CRASH

Construction zone crash injures 2 in Cass County

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The Highway Patrol says a construction zone crash on Interstate 94 in Cass county last night injured two people and diverted traffic off the interstate for two hours while debris was cleaned up.

Authorities say a tractor-trailer struck construction barrels and pushed two concrete barriers into the opposite lane, where a car was unable to avoid them. It happened about 11:15 last night.

The drivers of both vehicles were hospitalized. Their conditions are not known.

The patrol says the tractor-trailer was driven by 62-year-old Arden Moline of Minto. The driver of the car is identified as 20-year-old Bethany Clark of West Fargo.

NDSU ARENA NAMING

North Dakota State seeks to sell naming rights to arena

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota State University Athletic Director Gene Taylor says he's had a couple of people show interest in the naming rights to a proposed 31 million-dollar arena attached to the Fargodome.

But Taylor says it's not to the level of a formal presentation yet.

NDSU is looking for sponsors who'll help pay for the arena in exchange for naming rights. The school is trying to cover half the cost while the city pays for the other half -- if the City Commission approves it.

The city and NDSU are still discussing whether naming rights can be sold for areas inside the arena as well as outside.

CHINA EARTHQUAKE-SEI

Employees of Fargo company safe after China earthquake

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - An official of call center provider SEI says all 28 employees of the company's office in Chengdu, China, escaped injury from the earthquake that struck the country earlier this week.

SEI Vice President Tom Farrell, in Fargo, said the earthquake struck about 50 miles from the Chengdu office, which opened last year. He said the Chengdu building appears to have no structural damage.

China officials have said the death toll from the earthquake in the central part of the country could be as high as 50,000.

SEI, based in Oak Brook, Ill., began its call center business in 1986. Its Fargo branch opened in 1991. It has offices in the U.S., Europe as well as China.

OBIT-TENNEFOS

Former legislator Jens Tennefos dead at 78

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Longtime North Dakota legislator Jens Tennefos has died at a Fargo hospital. He was 78.

Tennefos, a Republican from Fargo, served in the state House and Senate from 1975 to 1996. He managed construction and property management companies.

State House Majority Leader Rick Berg says Tennefos was a strong believer in local control.

Funeral services are scheduled at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Fargo's Olivet Lutheran Church.

MAAH DAAH HEY EXTENSION

Forest Services seeks to extend Maah Daah Hey Trail north

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) - The U.S. Forest Service is taking public comments through the end of this month on a proposal to extend the Maah Daah Hey Trail nine miles north.

The popular 96-mile hiking, biking and horseback trail already is being extended 45 miles south, from Medora to the Burning Coal Vein Campground near Amidon.

The northern extension would be called the Wolf Trail. It would start just outside the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and head toward Watford City. Two proposed routes would end on the Little Missouri National Grasslands.

BORDER WIND PROJECT

Wind project planned in Rolette, Towner counties

ROLLA, N.D. (AP) - Rolette County officials say a Winnipeg company is planning a wind project that could have as many as 90 turbines.

The Border Wind Energy Project is being developed by the Sequoia Energy company in Rolette and Towner counties.

The director of the Rolla Job Development Authority, George Youngerman, says environmental studies are under way.

The project is expected to cover about 32,000 acres. Youngerman says Sequoia has been negotiating short-term agreements with landowners.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-05-15-08 1251EDT

Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment: DROUGHT-LIVESTOCK AID

ND commission sets aside $1 million for livestock water

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota ranchers will have some help in getting water to their dry pastures this spring.

The state Water Commission has set aside 1 million dollars. The money can be used to help dig new wells to supply water for livestock.

Commission engineer Dale Frink says about 100 ranchers already have asked for applications for state aid. They're eligible for as much as $10,500 each.

Frink had suggested a half-(M) million dollars for the program, but the Water Commission voted to double the amount.

Governor Hoeven says it's a first step to help North Dakota ranchers if the drought continues in large parts of North Dakota.

Last week the governor declared a statewide drought emergency. Hoeven says more money could be added later to the livestock watering program.

(SOUND: Sound files have been e-mailed to accompany this story)

BIG STONE-REVIEW

ND regulators asked to suspend review of SD power plant

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Opponents of South Dakota's proposed Big Stone Two power plant want North Dakota regulators to stop their review of the project.

State Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark says the commission probably will take up the request next week.

It comes from the Dickinson-based Dakota Resource Council and an Iowa organization called Plains Justice.

Five utilities want to build the power plant in northeastern South Dakota. The commission has been considering whether it's the best way to provide low-cost electricity.

Last week, two Minnesota administrative law judges said new power lines should not be built in west-central Minnesota to carry the power from the new plant to its customers.

Clark says the Big Stone project probably won't be built if the utilities can't get permission to put up new power lines. But Clark says the North Dakota commission's decisions shouldn't be dictated by actions in other states.

(SOUND: Sound files have been e-mailed to accompany this story)

FARM BILL

$290 billion bill heads to Senate

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - Now it's the Senate's turn to debate a 290 billion dollar farm bill. It sailed through the House yesterday with veto-proof support.

The bill doles out more subsides for farmers and includes money for lawmakers' pet projects. About two-thirds of the bill would pay for nutrition programs such as food stamps and emergency food aid for the needy.

Some 30 billion dollars would pay farmers to leave their land idle and for other environmental programs. About 40 billion dollars would go for subsidies.

The president is promising to veto the five-year bill. He says it's too expensive and gives too much money to wealthy farmers.

Bypassing the president's veto could be even easier in the Senate, where farm states have greater representation than in the House.

INTERSTATE DIESEL SPILL

Authorities say nearly 600-gallon diesel spill is contained

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (AP) - The Highway Patrol now has a figure on the amount of diesel fuel spilled in a semi collision Tuesday on Interstate 94 near Jamestown.

The patrol says it was about 590 gallons, and it was quickly contained to the ditch.

No one was hurt. Cleanup is continuing.

Patrol Lieutenant Eldon Mehrer says one semi struck the other from behind then jackknifed. The wreck blocked both lanes of the interstate about seven miles west of Jamestown. Authorities said the crash punctured the tank of the other semi, spilling the diesel fuel.

Mehrer said the driver of the semi that struck the other one has been cited for care required. He's identified as 34-year-old Keith Terry of Clayton, Washington.

DEVILS LAKE OUTLET

Devils Lake outlet not likely to operate much this year

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) - State officials don't expect the Devils Lake outlet to be running much this year. They say the Sheyenne River is too low.

The outlet started operating in late April to move excess water into the river from Devils Lake. It stopped operating last week.

Water Commission engineer Dale Frink says if the river stays low, the outlet won't be moving much water this year.

He also says Devils Lake's elevation has fallen more than two feet in the last two years, and that means there's less threat of flooding.

(SOUND: Sound files have been e-mailed to accompany this story)

TAX FRAUD CHARGE

Dickinson-based sand and gravel contractor indicted on federal charges

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Two officers of a Dickinson-based company have pleaded not guilty to federal tax fraud and conspiracy charges.

Fisher Sand and Gravel vice president Michael Fisher and chief financial officer Amiel (uh-MEEL') Schaff entered the pleas yesterday in Bismarck. The company is accused of evading income tax payments between 2001 and 2004.

Comptroller Clyde Frank says he's confident the company will be cleared.

Frank says the company operates in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Colorado and Arkansas.

The defendants are accused of making fake entries on the company's corporate books. Prosecutors say that allowed them to conceal payments to Fisher and his family members for construction expenses, credit card bills, vacations and other expenses.

The company's Web site says Fisher Sand and Gravel has annual sales topping 40 million dollars.

JAMESTOWN FARES

Dorgan says Northwest lowering some air fares to Jamestown

UNDATED (AP) - Senator Byron Dorgan says Northwest Airlines is lowering some fares to and from Jamestown as it starts new nonstop service to Minneapolis.

Dorgan says Northwest reviewed the fares at the request of city officials. He says the change takes effect immediately.

Dorgan says ticket prices are a critical to rural communities.

PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL

Law enforcement officers remembered

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Today is a day to remember law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

A memorial service is scheduled this afternoon on the state capitol grounds.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says 57 North Dakota officers who have given their lives since statehood are being remembered.

The ceremony will include a roll call, a memorial wreath and a 21-gun salute.

HIGHER ED-BOARD MEMBER

Hoeven says he backed Board of Higher Education member's quest for second term

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Governor Hoeven says he supported a Board of Higher Education member who is being forced off the board.

John Q. Paulsen of Fargo is president of the board. He applied for a second term -- but a screening committee didn't recommend him for another four years.

Hoeven has a list of three finalists to choose from. He says he wants to pick Paulsen's successor within a few weeks. The new person will join the board on July First, and Paulsen will have to leave the board.

Hoeven says he expected Paulsen to be among the finalists -- but he says he didn't do any lobbying on Paulsen's behalf.

Paulsen believes he was forced off the board because of a dispute with North Dakota legislators over his role in the ouster of former university system chancellor Robert Potts.

(SOUND: Sound files have been e-mailed to accompany this story)

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-05-15-08 0331EDT

Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment: TAX FRAUD CHARGE

Dickinson-based sand and gravel contractor indicted on federal charges

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A Dickinson-based contractor that operates in ten states has been indicted on federal tax fraud and conspiracy charges.

U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley says Fisher Sand and Gravel is accused of avoiding income tax payments between 2001 and 2004. He says the company is charged with eleven counts of conspiracy and tax fraud.

Company vice president Michael Fisher and chief financial officer Amiel (uh-MEEL') Schaff also are named in the indictment. They're due in court in Bismarck today.

Comptroller Clyde Frank says the company is disappointed in the grand jury indictments. He says the company will defend itself, and is confident it will be exonerated.

The company's Web site says Fisher Sand and Gravel has annual sales topping 40 million dollars, and that the company is in the top third in sales volume among the nation's producers.

Frank says the company operates in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Colorado and Arkansas.

DATE RAPE DRUGS

GF police investigate possible date rape drug assaults

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - Grand Forks police say they're investigating three possible cases of date rape drug assaults against women.

The so-called date rape drug is usually slipped into a woman's drink. It incapacitates a woman and makes her vulnerable to sexual assault.

Grand Forks police say they're continuing to investigate the cases, so they're not releasing any details.

But they're reminding the public about the dangers of date rape drugs.

EMERGENCY DELIVERY

Baby born after crash taken off life-support; outlook remains guarded

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A baby boy delivered by emergency Caesarean section following a two-vehicle crash in northwestern Minnesota is recovering and has been taken off a life-support machine at a Fargo hospital.

But Jordan's parents and doctor say his outlook remains guarded, despite his progress.

Jordan was born to 20-year-old Aimee Aguilar of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, after she was involved in a crash on May 3. The newborn was airlifted to Fargo's MeritCare Hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition.

Parents Joe and Aimee Aguilar say they're grateful for the prayers the family has received. Amy Aguilar credits them with keeping her son alive.

The doctor in the case says it's still not known what type of brain function Jordan will have, and says the child is at a high risk for problems such as cerebral palsy.

BISON KILLED

Roaming bison from national park killed by southwest ND rancher

MEDORA, N.D. (AP) - Two bison bulls that breached the fence surrounding Theodore Roosevelt National Park in southwestern North Dakota were shot and killed by a Billings County rancher.

Park chief ranger Tom Cox declined to name the shooter, who hasn't been charged in the case.

Cox says the man told him the bison were distressing his cattle.

The ranger says he doesn't know how long the bison had been gone from the park, but that the animals are capable of covering a lot of distance in a short time.

The bison will be donated to Badlands Ministries, a Lutheran bible camp south of Medora.

ENDERLIN FIRE

Enderlin business fire ruled undetermined

ENDERLIN, N.D. (AP) - The cause of a fire that destroyed a large pile of railroad ties at Fraedrich Transport in the southeastern North Dakota town of Enderlin has been ruled undetermined.

Monday afternoon's blaze sent smoke into the air that could be seen almost 20 miles away.

Company owner Dwight Fraedrich says he thinks a spark from a grinder hit the ties and started the fire. Authorities have closed their investigation.

The company grinds railroad ties and other wood waste into wood chips. It also was the site of an early April fire that destroyed a shop and more than a million dollars worth of equipment.

GRADUATION THREAT

Trial set in Bismarck graduation threat

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A man accused of making a threat that delayed last year's Bismarck Century High School graduation at the Bismarck Civic Center will go to trial on a terrorizing charge.

Twenty-one-year-old Brian Brandner had been slated to change his plea to guilty on the felony charge. Now he's changed his mind.

South Central District Judge David Reich scheduled the trial for August 12 and 13. Brandner could face up to five years in prison if he's convicted.

The graduation ceremonies last May 27 were delayed for about an hour while the Civic Center was evacuated so a bomb team could go through it. Nothing was found.

WIZARDS-POWELL

Wizards star Powell arrested in South Carolina

FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) - Former South Carolina basketball star and Dakota Wizards member Carlos Powell was arrested and jailed over the weekend on weapons and alcohol charges.

Powell was an all-star forward for the Wizards in Bismarck this past season.

The sheriff's office in South Carolina's Florence County says Powell was charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol and having an open container of beer or wine in a motor vehicle. He was arrested Saturday night and released Sunday morning.

The 24-year-old Powell played with the Gamecocks from 2002 to 2005 and left as the school's sixth-highest career scorer. He was Dakota's first-round pick and the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA D-League draft.

BOVINE TB

NW Minn. deer herd thinned in effort to stop bovine TB spread in cattle

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Sharpshooters have killed nearly 1,000 deer in northwestern Minnesota as part of an effort to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis in cattle.

The Department of Natural Resources says federal and private sharpshooters - shooting from the ground and a helicopter - killed 962 deer. The sharpshooting started in February and ended Friday.

The deer killed by sharpshooters exceeded the number of deer estimated to inhabit the 164-square-mile core area in January.

The DNR says the total deer killed since September is 2,656. That includes deer shot by sharpshooters, hunters and landowners during the hunting season and after it.

Officials hope the deer kill will curb the spread of bovine TB to cattle herds.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-05-14-08 1201EDT

Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment: FIRE DEATHS-SENTENCING

Judge says Wells County couple's death a tragedy for everyone

FESSENDEN, N.D. (AP) - The judge who sentenced a man and his fiancee to life in prison for the deaths of a Wells County couple says the killings were a tragedy for everyone involved.

Judge James Bekken sentenced Aron Nichols yesterday to two life prison terms without parole. Tamara Sorenson also was sentenced to life, but with the possibility of parole.

The 29-year-old Nichols and the 30-year-old Sorenson were convicted last month by a jury in Devils Lake.

Nichols was convicted of murder and Sorenson was convicted of being his accomplice in the deaths of 70-year-old Donald Willey and his 67-year-old wife, Alice, in April 2007.

Bekken said there was no reason for the killings. He said the Willeys only wanted a relationship with their granddaughter.

Sorenson was the mother of the Willeys' 8-year-old granddaughter, and fought them over visitation rights to the child.

Sorenson's attorney says he plans to appeal. Nichols' attorney says he had not decided on whether to appeal.

Prosecutor Kathleen Trosen called Nichols "the puppet who pulled the trigger" and Sorenson the "puppeteer who pulled the strings."

HIGHER ED-PAULSEN

Paulsen says he's disappointed, not surprised

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The president of the state Board of Higher Education says he's being blamed for the resignation of the former state chancellor.

A nominating committee did not include John Q. Paulsen among three finalists for Paulsen's seat on the board. He was eligible for another four-year term.

Paulsen says he's heard complaints from legislators and others about what he calls his "presumed role" in the 2006 resignation of Robert Potts. Paulsen says that's unfair.

Potts quit after clashes with North Dakota State University president Joseph Chapman. Paulsen was viewed by some people as a Chapman supporter.

NDSU spokesman Prakash (per-KAHSH) Mathew says it would be unfortunate if the issue with Potts cost Paulsen his position on the board.

The three finalists for Paulsen's seat are Mike Haugen of Fargo, a former North Dakota National Guard commander; attorney Robert Harms, who has represented Hoeven and former Gov. Ed Schafer; and Duane Pool of Bismarck, a scientist with The Nature Conservancy.

LEAD CONFERENCE

Group says student confirms lead fragments in venison

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - An Idaho group that's working to eliminate lead from ammunition says a new study shows ground venison from 80 percent of deer killed with high-velocity lead bullets contains metal fragments.

The Peregrine Fund and researchers from Washington State University say the study of 30 deer in Wyoming is evidence that people who eat meat from game animals shot with lead bullets risk toxic exposure.

The North Dakota Health Department and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are planning to study nearly 700 people who eat wild game harvested with lead bullets. They want to determine if there are any health risks.

The suggestion that lead bullets could make venison unsafe for humans has outraged pro-hunting groups like the Connecticut-based National Shooting Sports Foundation.

ALTRU LAWSUIT

Grand Forks doctor suing Altru

(Casey Wonnenberg, WDAZ, Grand Forks)

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - A Grand Forks doctor is suing the Altru health system, saying it wrongly barring him from seeing patients there.

Doctor Khaled Rabadi (KAH'-led, ROB'-buddy) has a two-year contract to see patients at Altru's dialysis facilities. He says that right after he opened a new dialysis center at the Aurora Medical Park, he was barred from seeing patients at Altru.

Rabadi says that kind of competition does not focus on the patient's care. A judge issued a temporary restraining order last week to allow Rabadi to see his patients at Altru.

Officials at Altru say Rabadi is not barred from providing dialysis services, since he has his own center, and that he can still see in-patients.

WIND CENTER DEDICATION

Langdon Wind Energy Center being dedicated

(Scott Karnik, KXPO, Grafton)

UNDATED (AP) - The Langdon Wind Energy Center is being dedicated today.

Energy and government officials will be on hand to dedicate the 159-megawatt center southeast of Langdon, in Cavalier County.

Otter Tail Power spokeswoman Cindy Kuismi (KWIZ-mee) says Otter Tail gets 60-megawatts of electricity from it. She says it helps balance the company's resource mix.

Kuismi says Otter Tail has a purchase agreement with Florida Power and Light for 19.5 megawatts. Otter Tail also owns 40.5 megawatts of the electricity generated.

FPL Energy built the Langdon Wind Energy Center. MinnKota Power also gets electricity from it.

Plans are in place to expand the wind farm to produce up to 200-megawatts of power.

CONGRESS-ENERGY

Congress halts oil shipments to gov't reserve

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress has voted to halt oil shipments into the government's emergency petroleum reserve, saying the oil ought to be put on the market to lower energy prices.

Both the House and Senate voted for the halt yesterday.

The White House says President Bush is against stopping the shipments, which amount to about 70,000 barrels a day - and believes such a small amount would not affect gasoline prices.

Democrats and Republicans joined in the call to suspend the shipments for the rest of the year. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve contains 701 million barrels of oil, about 97 percent of its maximum capacity.

Some lawmakers say it makes no sense for the government to essentially purchase oil for a reserve that's nearly full when crude is costing more than $120 a barrel.

Senator Byron Dorgan says the government is buying the most expensive crude oil in history and storing it while American consumers are hurting from high energy prices.

FARM BILL-FOOD CRISIS

Farm bill has little aid for needy children abroad

WASHINGTON (AP) - Critics say a five-year farm bill in Congress this week does little to address the growing global food crisis.

Instead, they say it diverts money that could be spent feeding poor children abroad, to give more subsidies for U.S. farmers now enjoying record high crop prices and incomes.

The 300 billion dollar bill was crafted by House and Senate negotiators.

The bill has widespread bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, but President Bush has promised to veto it.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer says the bill is incompatible with the world economy. He says poor weather, high fuel prices and growing need are contributing to higher food prices and severe hunger in developing nations.

Bush contends the bill is too expensive and too generous to wealthy U.S. farmers.

Farm-state lawmakers say a robust farm economy, including a safety net in case prices drop, will help economies worldwide. Senator Kent Conrad says farmers then can do what they do best, which is to grow food.

PSC-XCEL

Public Service Commission wants to take a closer look at tariff

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The state Public Service Commission wants to take a closer look at a proposal from Xcel Energy that would charge North Dakota electric customers another 40-cents a month to save them money.

It's called a "demand side management" tariff.

Xcel says it wants to spend about one million dollars on conservation rebates and energy efficiency information. Customers could get discounted energy audits, low-cost compact fluorescent lighting and breaks on controlling heating and air conditioning.

To pay for that, Xcel wants to increase electric bills an average of 40-cents a month for an average customer.

The PSC suspended the tariff. Commissioner Tony Clark says the commission will be looking at the costs versus the benefits.

Xcel serves about 86,000 customers in North Dakota, mainly in Fargo, Minot and Grand Forks.

MAIL FISHING PLEA

Second man pleads guilty in "fishing" mail scheme

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Authorities say a second Minot man has pleaded guilty in a scheme involving a glue-covered weight lowered into a mail box to fish out money.

They say 27-year-old Joseph Minnifield of Minot lowered the weight into at least one blue mail collection box to pull out mail with checks and money orders.

The U.S. attorney's office says Minnifield has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and weapons charges. He's scheduled to be sentenced July 31st.

Prosecutors say 22-year-old Charles Price of Minot will be sentenced June 18 for mail theft. He pleaded guilty in March.

Authorities say Price bought a 2 1/2-pound weight and a shoestring for the scheme last September. They say it was uncovered when a postal carrier found the weight.

MARY PRESIDENT

Mary president says retirement coming at the right time

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The University of Mary president, Sister Thomas Welder, says next year is the right time for her to retire.

The 68-year-old Welder's plans were announced last week, though she did not attend the news conference.

Welder gets kidney dialysis treatment three times a week, but she says her health was not the reason she decided to retire.

NORTHWOOD SCHOOL

Feds to contribute nearly $5 million for Northwood school

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - State officials say the Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide nearly 5 million dollars to rebuild the school in the town of Northwood.

The Grand Forks County town was left in ruins after a tornado last August.

Officials say the total cost of rebuilding the school is more than 14 million dollars. The state has put up about half that through the State Fire and Tornado Fund.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-05-14-08 0332EDT

Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment: LEAD-VENISON

State, federal officials plan venison test

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Health Department and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are planning a study on nearly 700 people who eat meat from wild game harvested with lead bullets.

Health Department epidemiologist Stephen Pickard says the study will investigate whether there are any health risks for people who eat the meat.

Bismarck doctor and hunter William Cornatzer earlier this year used a CT scan to examine venison from local food giveaway programs and found 60 percent had multiple lead fragments. North Dakota and Minnesota officials instructed food bank operators to clear their shelves of deer meat donated by hunters.

Some organizations that donate venison to the needy say the growing concerns about lead bullet fragments in meat are premature.

The Peregrine Fund on Tuesday planned to release preliminary findings of a study done by Washington State researchers on packaged venison from deer killed with high-velocity ammo.

PLAYER CHARGED

Former North Dakota College of Science basketball player to be deported

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A former North Dakota State College of Science basketball player from Algeria is facing deportation.

Touhumi Ghazoul (Too-HAH'-mee Gah-ZOOL') pleaded guilty in February to theft of property for making phone calls on a school-issued calling card. He was given a suspended one-year jail sentence, spent 10 days in jail and was ordered to repay more than $36,000.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Tim Counts says the agency considers a theft conviction with a one-year sentence an aggravated felony. He says that under federal law, someone with a temporary visa who is convicted of an aggravated felony is deported and does not have the right to a hearing.

NDSCS faculty member Harvey Henderson calls the situation "tragic." He says Ghazoul was on track to complete most of his coursework and had an offer to play basketball at the University of Idaho.

CONGRESS-ENERGY

Lawmakers want Bush to stop shipping oil to emergency reserve

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - At a time of skyrocketing oil and gas prices, members of Congress are telling President Bush now is not the time to top off the tank of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Both the House and Senate are expected today to approve, with bipartisan support, legislation directing Bush to temporarily halt the shipment of about 70,000 barrels of oil a day to the reserve.

Bush has refused to do so. He argues that this small amount of oil won't impact prices and that for security reasons he wants to increase the stockpile to its full capacity of 726 million barrels. It's now about 97 percent full, equal to nearly two months of oil imports.

Many Democrats and Republicans say it doesn't make sense for the government to essentially purchase oil for a reserve that's nearly full when crude is costing more than $120 a barrel.

Senator Byron Dorgan calls it "nuts."

GUARD-BORDER

ND National Guard soldiers heading to Arizona to help with border security

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) - About 100 National Guardsmen from western North Dakota are heading to Arizona next month to help with security on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The soldiers are with the Williston-based 818th Engineer Company and the Dickinson-based 816th. They'll help build and improve roads used by the U.S. Border Patrol.

About 50 soldiers with the 818th are to leave June 1, and 50 members of the 816th are to depart on June 20. Each group will be gone 20 days.

POST OFFICES CLOSING

Post offices closing in northeastern North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota

PISEK, N.D. (AP) - The post office in the small northeastern North Dakota town of Pisek is closing.

The same fate awaits the post office in the northwestern Minnesota community of Halma.

Gloria Hauge, a regional manager with the U.S. Postal Service, says operations in the two towns will be suspended and the post offices eventually shut down because there aren't qualified employees to run the facilities.

Halma Mayor Shane Olson says losing the post office is like losing the town's identity.

BURGLARIES-SENTENCE

Fargo man sentenced in burglary, vandalism spree

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A judge has sentenced a 21-year-old Fargo man to four years in prison for a string of burglaries and vandalism that caused nearly $80,000 in damage.

East Central District Judge Douglas Herman also ordered Michael Friesen to serve 10 years of supervised probation and pay restitution to his victims.

The sentence follows a plea deal prosecutors negotiated with Friesen that led to nearly a dozen guilty pleas on felony charges.

Assistant Cass County State's Attorney Cherie Clark says prosecutors dropped three charges and agreed not to charge Friesen with 50 burglaries he has admitted to committing. The victims in those cases may still seek restitution.

Two other men are charged in connection with the incidents from last winter. They have court hearings within the next week.

POLICE AUCTION-THEFT

Bismarck man caught stealing at police auction

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A Bismarck man learned a valuable lesson over the weekend -- a police auction isn't the best place to try to steal something.

Police say they caught the 40-year-old man during their annual auction Saturday with a screwdriver set and a piece of jewelry.

Authorities say the man admitted taking the items. He's being charged with theft of property.

ENDERLIN FIRE

Enderlin business hit by another fire

ENDERLIN, N.D. (AP) - A business in the southeastern North Dakota town of Enderlin has been hit by fire for the second time in less than two months.

Yesterday afternoon's blaze at Fraedrich Transport destroyed a large pile of railroad ties, and sent smoke into the air that could be seen almost 20 miles away.

An early April fire destroyed a shop and more than a million dollars worth of equipment.

The business grinds up railroad ties and other wood waste, turning it into wood chips.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-05-13-08 1216EDT

Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment: SUITCASE BABY-SENTENCE

Woman sentenced for killing infant

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A White Shield woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing her newborn son in 1998 and leaving his body in a suitcase and leaving it in a ditch.

Thirty-five-year-old Dana Deegan pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge in December. She admitting leaving her newborn boy alone in her Mandaree home for about two weeks, then putting his body in a suitcase and leaving it in a ditch.

Judge Daniel Hovland sentenced Deegan yesterday. He says it was one of the most tragic cases he's ever seen.

He ordered Deegan to turn herself over to federal authorities on May 30th.

Deegan has admitted giving birth to the baby boy in Mandaree in October 1998, then leaving him alone for about two weeks to die. She put his body in a suitcase and left the suitcase in a ditch near her home.

The suitcase and the child inside were found in November 1999, by a rancher repairing fences.

STUDENT DEATH

College student found dead in Wahpeton

WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) - Authorities are investigating the death of a North Dakota State University student in Wahpeton, where he was visiting friends.

Police Chief Scott Thorsteinson says 20-year-old Carter Erdle of Hebron was found dead in an apartment shortly before 11 o'clock Saturday morning. He says the body has been taken to Bismarck for an autopsy.

The police chief says authorities don't suspect a crime, even though they don't know the cause of death. In his words, "We don't have any reason to believe there is a killer on the loose."

BACKGROUND CHECKS

Background checks optional for schools

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says North Dakota schools are allowed to perform criminal background checks on employees. But they are not required to do so.

State school Superintendent Wayne Sanstead asked Stenehjem to explain a new law that requires FBI background checks for some professions.

Stenehjem says the law allows public and nonpublic schools to request the criminal history of current and prospective employees as well as volunteers who have unsupervised contact with students. He says legislators removed language requiring the checks.

The legislation was prompted by the killing of Valley City State University student Mindy Morgenstern. Officials say former Barnes County jailer Moe Gibbs, who was convicted in her death, was hired at the jail without an FBI background check.

WIND ENERGY

Wind energy expected to grow dramatically

WASHINGTON (AP) - An Energy Department report concludes that wind turbines can produce a fifth of the nation's annual electricity needs within about two decades. That is about the same share of electricity produced today by nuclear power.

Wind energy today accounts for only about 1 percent of the nation's electricity. The government report to be released Monday said by 2030 wind energy could account for 300,000 megawatts of power, or about 20 percent of the total electricity generated.

The report envisions more than 75,000 new wind turbines, many of them larger than what is in use today, and expansion of transmission systems to move power from high-wind areas to other parts of the country.

FIRE DEATHS-SENTENCING

Sentencing set for Nichols, Sorenson

FESSENDEN, N.D. (AP) - Sentencing is set today for Aron Nichols and Tamara Sorenson in the deaths of a Wells County couple.

Nichols and Sorenson, of Fargo, were convicted last month by a Devils Lake jury.

Nichols was convicted of murder and Sorenson, his fiancee, was convicted of being his accomplice in the deaths of 70-year-old Donald Willey and his 67-year-old wife, Alice, in April 2007.

Sorenson was the mother of the Willeys' 8-year-old granddaughter, and had fought them over visitation rights to the child.

Authorities said Nichols shot the Willeys before setting their home on fire near Sykeston.

CROP REPORT

Cool, wet weathers slows planting, crop progress

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The Agriculture Department says wet weather hurt planting progress and cool weather slowed crop growth in North Dakota.

The agency says in its weekly crop report that emergence was behind average for all small grains.

Spring wheat is 81 percent seeded, which is ahead of the long-term average.

Durum was 52 percent seeded, compared with 50 percent last year and 43 percent on average.

Planting progress was behind the average for canola, corn, dry edible beans, potatoes, soybeans and sugar beets.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 44 percent adequate to surplus.

Pasture and range conditions were rated 46 percent very poor or poor.

WILD HORSE-AUCTION

Wild horse round-up scheduled in park

MEDORA, N.D. (AP) - Officials at Theodore Roosevelt National Park are holding a wild horse auction today.

It's being held this morning at the Stockmen's Livestock Exchange in Dickinson.

Park officials plan to sell 10 horses at the auction.

Park superintendent Valerie Naylor says the wild horses are relatively tame because they have been staying close to a campground for the last few years.

Naylor says they should make good riding horses.

Wild horses have been in the park ever since it was acquired and fenced more than 60 years ago.

NORTHERN BORDER PATROLS

US military eyes more northern border patrols

WASHINGTON (AP) - The chief of the U.S. Northern Command says the Pentagon is working with civilian authorities to increase monitoring of the northern border.

Air Force General Gene Renuart (REN'-yoo-ahrt) says defense officials are working with the Federal Aviation Administration and Canadian authorities on the project.

He told The Associated Press the groups are trying to determine how unmanned aircraft can be used without interfering with busy commercial air traffic routes.

The U.S. and Canada plan to use unmanned aerial vehicles along the more than 5,000-mile long northern border. The military has chosen a base in Grand Forks to base the Predator drones for that mission.

Pentagon officials say the increased military presence on the northern border is in response to shrinking arctic ice, which is expanding the amount of navigable waters. That makes it easier for security threats to sail from overseas and travel over land south into the United States.

FRONTIER FARGO

Frontier serving Fargo again

(Paul Jurgens/KFGO)

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Frontier Airlines is serving Fargo again.

The airline is offering two flights daily between Fargo and Denver, with 74-seat turboprop airplanes through its Lynx Aviation subsidiary.

Frontier served Fargo from 1975 to 1986 and again from 1994 to 1996. The Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation provided a $125,000 grant to help lure the airline back.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-05-13-08 0331EDT