HOT TUB-CHARGES: 

Another Highway Patrol officer charged in hot tub party . .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Another North Dakota Highway Patrol officer has been charged with misdemeanor sexual assault in connection with hot tub parties in 2020. The Bismarck Tribune reported Thursday that 40-year-old Travis Skar has been accused of inappropriately touching a woman in a hot tub during a party in the summer of 2020.  Former patrol officer Steven Johnson faces a misdemeanor sexual assault charge stemming from another hot tub party in December 2020.  A woman accused him of inappropriately touching her at the party. Johnson was fired in November 2021. His attorney called the charges an act of revenge by someone with a vendetta. Court documents don’t list an attorney for Skar.

WINTER WEATHER-MIDWEST

Near zero visibility closing interstates, highways

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Strong winds are whipping up blizzard-like conditions and closing sections of interstates and highways in North Dakota and Minnesota. The North Dakota Department of Transportation closed Interstate 29 from Canada to the South Dakota border because of near-zero visibility and icy conditions, but later reopened a section from Fargo to Grand Fork. Travel is also prohibited on Highway 13 from Interstate 29 to Wahpeton. In Minnesota, the State Patrol advised no travel in northwestern Minnesota due to near whiteout conditions. Interstate 94 between Moorhead and Fergus Falls was closed along with sections of seven highways. The National Weather Service posted a blizzard warning Friday for eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota.

COAL PLANT SALE

Sale of largest coal plant in North Dakota reapproved

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (AP) — Great River Energy’s cooperatives have once again approved the sale of the company’s Coal Creek power plant in North Dakota and an accompanying power line, despite opposition from its largest member. The sale of Coal Creek, near Underwood, North Dakota, was initially approved last June with 27 member co-ops voting in favor and Connexus Energy, of Ramsey, Minnesota, voting against it. The sale had to be reconsidered after some terms of the contract with Rainbow Energy Marketing, of Bismarck, North Dakota, were changed following last year’s vote. Connexus contends the sale won’t generate the savings originally expected, nor would it cut greenhouse gas emissions since the coal plant would remain open.

WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT

BIA officer dismissed from wrongful death lawsuit in ND

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — One of two Bureau of Indian Affairs officers has been dismissed from a federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a man who was fatally shot on the Standing Rock Reservation in 2017. A federal judge has signed an order dismissing Gary Sandland Jr. from the lawsuit filed by the family of George “Ryan” Gipp Jr. The family claims Gipp was unarmed and obeyed instructions when officers used a Taser on him and shot him as he stumbled into a road ditch near Fort Yates. Sandland maintained he didn’t use his stun gun or his firearm, according to a document filed jointly by attorneys for Gipp’s family, the BIA and the officers.

POLICE FIGHT-DEATH LAWSUIT

Family of man who died after traffic stop sues city, police

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The family of a Mandan man who died after a traffic stop two years ago has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and several police officers. The federal lawsuit was filed Tuesday on the second anniversary of John “Ernie” Prudente’s death. The suit seeks unspecified money damages. Police stopped Prudente on Feb. 8, 2020 but Prudente drove off. When police caught up with Prudente, he started fighting with the officers and was handcuffed. He became unresponsive and died at a hospital. An autopsy found Prudente died of “excited delirium” as a result of methamphetamine use and underlying conditions.

HYDROGEN PROJECT-TRIBES

North Dakota tribe to supply natural gas to hydrogen plant

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Natural gas that’s being burned off and wasted as a byproduct of oil production on an American Indian reservation in North Dakota will be used as a feedstock for a proposed plant to produce carbon-free hydrogen. Bakken Energy and Mitsubishi Power Americas announced the deal Wednesday with the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation to be the natural gas supplier for its Great Plains Hydrogen Hub in western North Dakota. The $2 billion project was announced in June to produce clean hydrogen. Gov. Doug Burgum has hailed the project a key part of the state’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2030.