North Dakota
Ethics Commission investigates film grants complaint
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – A group of North Dakota filmmakers are still awaiting answers on the motion picture recruitment grants administered through the Department of Commerce and how one private business was able to receive all of the grant funding given out over two legislative sessions.
North Dakota filmmaker Matt Fern said he submitted an ethics complaint in February after complaining and then not hearing from Governor Burgum and Attorney General Wrigley. He said the ethics complaint he submitted is against the owner of Canticle Productions, Daniel Bielinski. Fern said he asked the commission to investigate the possibility that Bielinksi acted as an unregistered lobbyist and also had attempted to influence the legislative assembly.
“Since submitting the ethics complaint earlier this month in August, I received an update from the Ethics Commission that the complaint had moved into the investigation stage,” said Fern.
Fern said the North Dakota Auditor released a report on the Department of Commerce identifying concerns with inconsistent timelines for the 2023 grant application process. He said he and his group are now waiting to receive a report from the Ethics Commission on its findings.
Previous Coverage: Grant concerns film makers
Copyright 2024 KFYR. All rights reserved.
MANDAN, N.D. (KVRR-KFGO) – Former North Dakota Game & Fish Director Terry Steinwand has been charged with molesting a child.
The Class “A” misdemeanor was filed after a Morton County District Court judge rejected a proposed plea agreement to a felony charge and prosecutors dismissed the charge while retaining the right to file an amended charge.
Steinwand is from Mandan. The 72-year-old is now charged with one count of sexual assault-offensive contact. The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
Steinwand was originally charged in September, 2025, when police say he admitted to sexual misconduct.
Steinwand worked for the Game & Fish Dept. for 40 years. He led the agency for about 15 years and retired in 2021.
(KNOX) – The North Dakota Board of Higher Education is being asked to weigh in on the reconstruction of Ray Richard’s Golf Course in Grand Forks. The upgrades and deferred maintenance improvements are the result of the pending DeMers Avenue/42nd Street Underpass project.
UND sold 6.5 acres of the nine hole course to the North Dakota Department of Transportation for the grade separation. During the road construction the golf course will be realigned and reduced to a par 34 course. UND will also address underground utilities and irrigation systems. The total cost is around 4.5 million dollars.
The course will close for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The goal is to reopen in 2028. SBHE is expected to approve the design at its April 30th meeting.
Crews are expected to begin preliminary work on the $90 million dollar underpass project this week. The initial phase will have minimal impacts to traffic on both 42nd Street and DeMers Avenue. Larger impacts are expected later this summer.
MAPLETON, N.D. (Valley News Live) – Casselton Fire responded to a shop fire in rural Mapleton on Saturday afternoon, according to Casselton Fire Chief John Hejl.
Casselton Fire was dispatched to the scene at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Windy conditions escalated the fire before crews arrived, Hejl said.
Firefighters used defensive and offensive lines to control the fire upon arrival.
Casselton Fire was assisted by Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Casselton Ambulance, West Fargo Police Department, Davenport Fire and Mapleton Fire.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
-
Culture3 minutes agoBook Review: ‘Permanence,’ by Sophie Mackintosh
-
Lifestyle9 minutes agoHow ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Red Carpet Looks Came Together
-
Technology21 minutes agoThe Vergecast Vergecast, 2026 edition
-
World27 minutes agoMexico pyramid shooter who took hostages and killed 1 is identified
-
Politics33 minutes agoByron Donalds cracks down on persistent border blind spot leaving US vulnerable to overstays
-
Health39 minutes agoHealthy diets spark lung cancer risk in non-smokers as pesticides loom
-
Sports45 minutes agoPGA Tour signals new era with axing of Hawaii events from schedule
-
Technology51 minutes agoAlexa+ lets you order food like a real conversation