HOME HEATING HELP

North Dakota receiving record funds for home heating costs

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota is getting a record $46.4 million from the federal government to help low-income residents cover heating costs this winter, which is more than twice what the state gets in a typical year. The Biden administration is distributing an additional $4.5 billion nationwide for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and cold-weather states are receiving the largest share. Minnesota received nearly $274 million in home energy assistance for needy residents. The funding boost is part of last year’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan coronavirus relief package. It has more than doubled the normal funding level of the program nationally.

BANK ROBBERY-CHARGES

Man charged with robbing bank in downtown Fargo

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A homeless man has been charged with robbing a bank in downtown Fargo. Police say 57-year-old Troy Michael Maynard walked into Wells Fargo Bank just before 3 p.m. Thursday, handed a teller a paper bag, and demanded money. He did not display a weapon. Authorities say Maynard fled the bank on foot with $1,634. Court documents allege Maynard  robbed the bank to get enough money to obtain housing in Iowa. He planned to hitchhike back to Iowa, but no one would give him a ride.  Authorities said he got cold and decided to turn himself in.

FATAL SHOOTING

1 dead, 2 arrested following shooting in Custer County

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — One person is dead and two people are in custody following a shooting in Custer County. Authorities say the shooting happened Thursday near Red Shirt Table in eastern Custer County.  The state Division of Criminal Investigation says the shooting was related to a separate incident on the Pine Ridge Reservation involving an Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Safety officer. The officer was unharmed. No other information about the victim or people in custody has been released.

AP-US-ATTORNEY-GENERAL-NORTH-DAKOTA

Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota’s longest-serving AG, dies

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has died at age 68, just hours after he was hospitalized. Stenehjem’s spokeswoman Liz Brocker says he died about 6:20 p.m. Friday at a Bismarck hospital. Brocker said she could not provide additional details. Stenehjem’s brother, Allan, told KFYR-TV that Stenehjem had been taken to a hospital Friday morning after a medical call to his home. Allan Stenehjem told KFYR that his brother had been dealing with an ulcer, but later told the Bismarck Tribune that his brother had no known health issues. Gov. Doug Burgum said his fellow Republican “embodied public service” both as a legislator and as the longest-serving attorney general in the state.

RV PARK-LAWSUIT

Federal judge dismisses indoor RV park licensing lawsuit

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit alleging state officials blocked an indoor recreational vehicle park in Watford City from operating. The Bismarck Tribune reports an attorney for ND Indoor RV Park filed a voluntary dismissal last week. The North Dakota attorney general’s office filed a similar motion for dismissal about six weeks ago. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland dismissed the case Monday without prejudice, leaving the door open for future legal action. The park alleged that state officials improperly denied the park’s 2021 license because the park failed to correct spacing violations and fire concerns. The park complained that complying with the changes would cost too much.

SHOOTING SENTENCE

North Dakota man gets 5 years for shooting man in the face

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A North Dakota man accused of shooting a St. Paul man in the face has been sentenced to five years in custody. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Ramsey County Judge Reynaldo Aligada Jr. sentenced 46-year-old Eddie Lee Washington of Fargo on Friday to a little  over three years in prison and 20 months on supervised release. Washington was charged with shooting Delance Montgomery in the jaw on Sept. 20. Montgomery told the court through a victim impact statement that he was driving home from work when he saw Washington walking on the sidewalk when Washington opened fire on him. He complained that the sentence doesn’t fit the crime.