ND group ordered to repay $124K in federal disaster funds misspent on booze, bonuses, lobbying

BISMARCK, N.D. — A group that represents North Dakota’s ambulance and emergency workers was ordered Wednesday to repay more than $124,000 in federal disaster planning money spent on alcohol, lobbying and other questionable expenses.

ND group ordered to repay $120K in federal disaster funds misspent on booze, bonuses, lobbying

BISMARCK, N.D. — A group that represents North Dakota’s ambulance and emergency workers has been ordered to repay more than $120,000 in federal disaster planning money spent on alcohol, lobbying and other questionable expenses.

Garbanzo bean farmers want improvements to federal program designed to give them a safety net

BISMARCK, N.D. — Garbanzo bean farmers say a federal program that was supposed to provide them with a safety net is largely worthless because the government has underestimated the value of their crop.

Fix the dam _ or just leave? $5M price tag to fix dam in Kathryn, ND, leaves no easy choice

KATHRYN, N.D. — All that’s left of this southeastern North Dakota town is a bar, a church, a post office and about 55 people who call it home — but if floods like the ones that hit last spring begin to rise again, it could be destroyed.

ND thief leaves note admiring man’s ‘amazing taste’ in music, advises car owner to lock up

FARGO, N.D. — A man said it’s a tough way to learn a lesson but he’s a lot wiser. Someone made off with Mark Neary’s driver’s license and other items from his unlocked car early Wednesday, and left a message behind. Neary said he found a note telling him he had “amazing taste” in music.

Air Force discharges 3 North Dakota missile crew members who fell asleep with launch codes

BISMARCK, N.D. — The Air Force discharged three North Dakota ballistic missile crew members who fell asleep while holding classified launch code devices, the military announced Tuesday. Officials said the codes were outdated and remained secure at all times.

Wells in North Dakota’s Bakken shale show promise for huge new oil deposit

BISMARCK, N.D. — Dozens of fruitful wells beneath the rich Bakken shale in North Dakota continue to fuel a hunch among oilmen and geologists that another vast crude-bearing formation may be buried in the state’s vast oil patch.

Former ND nuclear missile launch center opens to public curious about once-top secret site

COOPERSTOWN, N.D. — A former nuclear missile launch center that closed as the Cold War was winding down opened Monday to a public curious to see what life was like at the once-top secret site.

Communities confront ‘ghostbox’ buildings when big-box retailers leave

BISMARCK, N.D. — Hundreds of anxious shoppers watched as city officials used power saws to cut 2-by-4s during Home Depot Inc.’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for its 102,700-square-foot building center in Bismarck. Less than three years later, the home improvement retailer shuttered the underperforming store, leaving a big orange empty eyesore on the outskirts of town.

Rail car maker moves corporate home to North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. — A rail car manufacturer has filed the paperwork needed to move its corporate home to North Dakota and take advantage of a state law that gives more power to company shareholders.

North Dakota woman accused of breast-feeding child while drunk pleads guilty to neglect charge

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — A North Dakota woman accused of breast-feeding her 6-week-old baby while drunk has pleaded guilty to child neglect. Stacey Anvarinia, 36, could face up to five years in prison when she’s sentenced on the felony charge in August.

Rising Red River threatens parks, golf courses in North Dakota, but homes aren’t affected yet

FARGO, N.D. — Two months after eastern North Dakota homeowners worked around the clock on sandbag lines to hold back floodwaters, the Red River is again spilling over its banks, this time threatening mostly just parks and golf courses, but no homes.

Red panda at Red River Zoo in ND has triplets, a rarity for the Asian animals

FARGO, N.D. — The Red River Zoo in North Dakota has welcomed a rare new set of red panda triplets.

Flood-ravaged ND counties maneuvering FEMA have residents waiting on word of possible buyouts

FARGO, N.D. — Craig and Marcia Strehlow’s 4,400-square-foot dream home had been their sanctuary for 23 years, a wooded paradise in North Dakota river country. But after record-breaking spring floods, they and thousands of others are left wondering: Will the federal government help?

Heavy rain brings back flooding problems to central North Dakota; bowling alley roof collapses

BISMARCK, N.D. — Heavy rain pounded flood-weary North Dakota for a second day Tuesday, swamping streets, stressing storm sewers and stalling vehicles. Roads were shut down, and the roof of a bowling alley collapsed under the weight of water.

Judge upholds North Dakota’s anti-corporate farming law, says nonprofit can keep wildlife land

BISMARCK, N.D. — A judge has ruled that a nonprofit foundation can keep more than 1,700 acres of wildlife habitat it owns in three North Dakota counties, while upholding the state’s law against corporations owning or leasing farmland.

Investors not rushing to incorporate in North Dakota despite ’shareholder friendly’ law

BISMARCK, N.D. — Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has found a new corporate home for a railroad car manufacturer he controls — in North Dakota.

Farmers protected against price drops with federal expansion of sunflower insurance program

BISMARCK, N.D. — The federal government is expanding an insurance program for sunflower farmers — two years after almost killing it — in a move that could help protect growers against fluctuating prices and low crop yields.

Shootout with Alabama escapees jolts tiny ND town; police told residents to lock their doors

GLADSTONE, N.D. — Residents in this tiny North Dakota town were jarred from their sleep with calls from authorities: Lock your doors.

BLM denies request to boost bond for oil company after big saltwater spill

BISMARCK, N.D. — The federal government has rejected an environmental group’s request to boost the bond required of an Oklahoma company after a pipeline spilled nearly 1 million gallons of saltwater into a creek in northwestern North Dakota.

ND regulators seek change in federal rules on wind power cost sharing

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota’s wind development boom may force utility customers to pay higher electric bills unless rules on sharing transmission costs are changed, state regulators say.

Bobcat suspending work for part of June, July at plants in Bismarck and Gwinner, ND

BISMARCK, N.D. — Bobcat Co. said Wednesday its plants in Bismarck and Gwinner will be idle for part of June and July due to the sluggish worldwide economy.

Veteran Fargo race car driver killed in crash at West Fargo speedway

WEST FARGO, N.D. — A crash during a feature race at the Red River Valley Speedway has killed longtime Fargo race car driver John Schulz.

Army Corps of Engineers says it has picked up its final sandbags in Fargo, ND

FARGO, N.D. — The Army Corps of Engineers says it has picked up its last sandbags in Fargo after record spring flooding.

Journalist Roxana Saberi welcomed home to ND after release from prison in Iran

FARGO, N.D. — Journalist Roxana Saberi’s first time back to her hometown since she walked out of an Iranian prison left her fighting back tears as she thanked friends and supporters.

Journalist Roxana Saberi welcomed home to ND after release from prison in Iran

FARGO, N.D. — Journalist Roxana Saberi, released from prison in Iran earlier this month, is back in North Dakota.

Journalist Roxana Saberi says she wants to return to North Dakota, write a book

BISMARCK, N.D. — Journalist Roxana Saberi, freed earlier this month from an Iranian prison, says she wants to return to North Dakota and write a book.

American Indian farmers prepare for trial in discrimination lawsuit, despite talk of settling

BISMARCK, N.D. — An attorney for American Indian farmers suing the government over alleged farm loan discrimination says the group continues to prepare for a trial despite statements by the Obama administration indicating a willingness to resolve such disputes.

Friends, neighbors of North Dakota journalist imprisoned in Iran elated by news of her release

FARGO, N.D. — The first joyous day of summer vacation for one of Roxana Saberi’s college journalism instructors started earlier than expected with news that Saberi would be freed from an Iranian prison.

After the water runs, sand remains: ND, Minn. officials ponder future of 6 million sandbags

FARGO, N.D. — Millions of bags filled with sand were used to battle record flood crests in Fargo and neighboring Moorhead, Minn. But now that the flood risk is over, city leaders wonder: Where will the sand go?