Midwest

North Dakota senator's son to serve 28 years in prison for crash that killed deputy

Published

1 year ago

December 31, 2024

North Dakota senator's son to serve 28 years in prison for crash that killed deputy

The son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., will spend decades in prison after he was convicted of killing a sheriff’s deputy in a crash while fleeing law enforcement.

Ian Cramer, 43, will serve 28 years in prison for the death of 53-year-old Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin, which took place on Dec. 6, 2023.

State District Judge Bobbi Weiler sentenced Cramer to 38 years with 10 suspended, three years of probation and credit for time served. She said he probably will not serve the entire sentence since these are not mandatory minimums, according to The Associated Press.

“These are not mandatory minimums, which means that you’re probably going to serve a small portion of that 28 years and be out on parole, so that’ll … give you an opportunity to have a second chance that Deputy Martin does not have, nor does his family have,” Weiler said, adding that he seek treatment for addiction and mental health.

NORTH DAKOTA SENATOR SAYS SON WAS INVOLVED IN POLICE CHASE, CRASH THAT KILLED SHERIFF’S DEPUTY

Ian Cramer, the son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., will serve 28 years in prison for killing Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin during a crash in while fleeing law enforcement in December 2023. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)

Mercer County State’s Attorney Todd Schwarz said Cramer admitted to using methamphetamine and bath salts the day of the incident, and was experiencing long-term effects of “taking drugs to put himself into a mentally ill state.”

The day of the crash, Cramer’s mother was taking him to a hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota, because of mental health concerns. When she got out of the car, he slid over into the driver’s seat and drove off, smashing through a closed door in the hospital’s ambulance bay.

Deputies confronted him in Hazen, about 70 miles away from Bismarck, but Cramer continued to drive, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. Law enforcement deployed spiked devices, which flattened two tires, but did not stop him.

The crash took place when Cramer swerved to avoid more spikes and hit Martin’s patrol vehicle head on. The deputy was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin, 53, died after he was hit head on by Ian Cramer, who was fleeing law enforcement. (Mercer County Sheriff’s Office)

NORTH DAKOTA SENATOR’S SON FACES UPGRADED CHARGE IN CRASH THAT KILLED SHERIFF’S DEPUTY

Cramer initially pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in April, but changed his plea to guilty in September.

The charges included homicide while fleeing a police officer, fleeing a police officer, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment, driving under suspension, possession of meth, possession of cocaine, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

The homicide charge alone carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Cramer’s mother, Kris, apologized in court on Monday and said she feels “responsible for what happened” the day Martin was killed, The AP reported.

Sen. Cramer has said previously that his son “suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.” He told reporters on Monday that while he commends the officers, court and jail, he is “somewhat disappointed that mental health is so casually dismissed both by the court and by the prosecutor.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., has previously said his son struggles with serious mental health issues. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The senator, who was re-elected to a second term in November, said everyone, including his son, is aware that “they were his choices that led to this, whatever they may be, under whatever condition, choices that go back many years.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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North Dakota

Summit League tournament: Omaha women bounce North Dakota

Published

18 minutes ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Summit League tournament: Omaha women bounce North Dakota

SIOUX FALLS — Ali Stephens had 17 points and 13 rebounds and 8th-seeded Omaha defeated 9th-seeded North Dakota 49-39 in the first round of the Summit League women’s tournament.

The Fighting Hawks had a tough time putting the ball in the hoop all night long, scoring just three points in the first quarter and having only marginally better luck from there.

UND (7-24) shot just 23.5 percent from the floor (12-for-51) and made 1-of-20 shots from outside the arc. Walker Demers and Mackenzie Hughes had 10 points each to lead the Hawks, with Demers adding eight rebounds.

Members of the Omaha women’s basketball team cheer for their teammates during the opening game of the Summit League tournament on March 4, 2026 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live

Regan Juenemann had 10 points and five rebounds for the Mavericks while Avril Smith had seven points and 16 rebounds and Sarai Estupinan eight points, five assists and three rebounds. Omaha (6-26) shot the ball slightly better than the Hawks, going 16-of-53 from the field (30 percent) and 8-of-23 (35 percent) on 3-pointers.

With the win, the Mavs earn a date with top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
The Bison won both regular season matchups by more than 50 points.

North Dakota’s Mataeya Mathern goes up for a shot during the opening game of the Summit League tournament on March 4, 2026 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

Oral Roberts 84, Kansas City 62 — Don’t look now but the team that started the conference season 0-10 and at one point lost 15 of 16 games might be the hottest in the Summit League.

Oral Roberts picked up their fourth straight victory on Wednesday night in the conference tournament opener, routing Kansas City at the Premier Center in the 8/9 “play-in” game.

Ty Harper had 22 points to lead the Golden Eagles (10-22), who took a 44-21 lead by halftime and never looked back. ORU shot 50 percent from the floor and made 13-of-27 3-pointers while the Kangaroos shot just 34 percent and made 6-of-24 from deep. Martins Kilups had 17 points for the Eagles and Connor Dow added 14.

Jayson Petty had 14 points to lead the Kagaroos, who finish the season 4-27. It was their final game under coach Marvin Menzies, whom the school announced earlier this season would not return next year.

With the win ORU advances to face top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Golden Eagles lost to NDSU 86-58 in Tulsa on Jan. 24 but they took the Bison to overtime in Fargo on Jan. 3 in a 79-77 loss.

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.

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Ohio

Jardy: Three quick takes from Ohio State’s blowout win at Penn State

Published

24 minutes ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Jardy: Three quick takes from Ohio State’s blowout win at Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Here are three takeaways from Ohio State’s 94-62 win against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Ohio State continues to show late-season growth

The first five minutes of this game felt eerily similar to Ohio State’s prior road game. On Feb. 25, the Buckeyes jumped out to a double-digit lead in the opening minutes at Iowa but fell apart when the Hawkeyes punched back and steadily buried Ohio State with a massive run to close the half. At Penn State, the Buckeyes scored the first seven points of the game but then went empty on six straight possessions while turning it over three times.

Penn State scored on four straight possessions to take an 8-7 lead with 15:32 left in the half, but that was the high-water mark for the home team. When John Mobley Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 14:15 left to break the drought and give Ohio State a 10-8 lead, it started a 26-3 run in the next 10:32.

Mobley capped that one, too, with a 3-pointer that made it 33-11 with 3:43. Penn State’s Mike Rhoades called two timeouts in a little more than a minute to try and slow down the Buckeyes, but the rout was on. Ohio State led 45-21 at the half and it would’ve been more if not for a few mental mistakes in the final minute that allowed the Nittany Lions to put together a 7-0 run.

Bruce Thornton is set up for a special senior day

Ohio State’s senior captain entered the game 29 points shy of tying Dennis Hopson for the program’s all-time scoring record of 2,096 points. Against the Big Ten’s worst-rated defense, he walked into the Bryce Jordan Center with a legitimate opportunity to set the new record.

He scored 18 against the Nittany Lions in only 32 minutes and was removed for good with 5:13 left and Ohio State ahead 84-48.

Maybe if he was wired a little differently, Thornton could have easily gotten to that mark by looking for his own shot and forcing the issue. Instead, he has the chance to surpass Hopson at the Schottenstein Center against Indiana on March 7. Not only is it senior day, but the first 2,000 fans will get Thornton bobbleheads, and Hopson is expected to be in attendance.

He needs 12 points to set the new record.

John Mobley Jr. continues to shine despite hand injury

Ohio State’s sophomore guard has played three games since missing three with an injury to the pinky finger on his right (shooting) hand. At Iowa, he was 3 for 4 from 3. Against Purdue, he was 5 for 11. Against Penn State, he set a career high for makes and finished 7 for 8 from deep.

His previous career high was six made 3-pointers against UCLA on Jan. 17. He’s done it in the past three games while playing with his right pinky and ring fingers taped together.

Against the Nittany Lions, Mobley had 28 points and was 8 for 9 from 3-point range.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for March 4, 2026

Published

60 minutes ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing

07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from March 4 drawing

33-38-39-47-51, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from March 4 drawing

02-18-22-30-32

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing

12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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