Midwest

Minnesota man who joined Islamic State group is sentenced to 10 years in prison

Published

2 years ago

June 16, 2024

Minnesota man who joined Islamic State group is sentenced to 10 years in prison

A Minnesota man who once fought for the Islamic State group in Syria after becoming radicalized expressed remorse and wept in open court Thursday as he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

Abelhamid Al-Madioum, 27, cooperated with federal authorities ahead of Thursday’s hearing, which prosecutors factored into their recommendation for a lower sentence than the statutory maximum of 20 years.

KENTUCKY MAN JOINS ISIS, PLANNED ON SHOOTING PLANES, MARTYRDOM, DOJ SAYS

U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery said among the cases she has presided over in her 40 years on the bench, Al-Madioum’s was “extraordinary.” She cited his confounding path from a loving Minnesota home to one of the world’s most notorious terror organizations and his subsequent collaboration with the government he betrayed.

When Al-Madioum rose to speak before being sentenced, he thanked the U.S. government for giving him another chance. He then turned to address his parents and two young sons, who were rescued from a Syrian orphanage and brought to America with the help of federal authorities.

“I know I put you through so much, and I did with the belief that it was my religious duty,” Al-Madioum said while fighting back tears. “That’s no excuse. My first duty should have been to you.”

This image provided by the Sherburne County Jail in Elk River, Minn., shows Abelhamid Al-Madioum, a Minnesota man who once fought for the Islamic State group in Syria. Al-Madioum expressed remorse and wept in open court Thursday as he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. (Sherburne County Jail via AP)

Al-Madioum, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was among several Minnesotans suspected of leaving the U.S. to join the Islamic State group, along with thousands of fighters from other countries worldwide. Roughly three dozen people are known to have left Minnesota to join militant groups in Somalia or Syria. In 2016, nine Minnesota men were sentenced on federal charges of conspiring to join IS.

But Al-Madioum is one of the relatively few Americans who have been brought back to the U.S. who actually fought for the group. According to a defense sentencing memo, he’s one of 11 adults as of 2023 to be formally repatriated to the U.S. from the conflict in Syria and Iraq to face charges for terrorist-related crimes and alleged affiliations with IS. Others received sentences ranging from four years to life plus 70 years.

Prosecutors had asked for a 12-year sentence, arguing that Al-Madioum’s suffering did not make his crimes any less serious. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Winter said Al-Madioum self-radicalized online and helped IS, also known as ISIS, carry out its goals.

“Young men just like him all over the world … allowed ISIS to flourish,” Winter said.

Manvir Atwal, Al-Madioum’s attorney requested a seven-year sentence. She said Al-Madioum was taken in as an impressionable teenager by a well-oiled propaganda machine. He rejected extremist ideology years ago and had helped the government in other terrorism cases, which prosecutors confirmed.

Montgomery opted for a 10-year sentence, weighing sentencing guidelines with Al-Madioum’s cooperation and letters on his behalf, including one from an unnamed former U.S. ambassador. He has already served over five years and might get credit for that time, Atwal said.

Al-Madioum grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park in a loving and nonreligious family, the defense memo said. He joined IS because he wanted to help Muslims he believed were being slaughtered by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime in that country’s civil war. IS recruiters persuaded him “to test his faith and become a real Muslim.”

Al-Madioum was 18 in 2014 when IS recruited him. The college student slipped away from his family on a visit to their native Morocco in 2015. Making his way to Syria, he became a soldier for IS until he was maimed in an explosion in Iraq. His leg was shattered and his arm had to be amputated. Unable to fight, he used his computer skills to serve the group.

While still a member of IS, he married and had children with two women.

He had thought his second wife and their daughter had died. But in court Thursday, Al-Madioum said he had heard there is a chance she and their daughter might still be alive. That possibility remains under investigation, Atwal said.

Al-Madioum’s first wife died in his arms after she was shot in front of him by either rebel forces or an IS fighter in 2019, the defense said. Al-Madioum said in court that he dug a trench and buried her.

The day after that shooting, he walked with his sons and surrendered to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which held him under conditions the defense described as “heinous” for 18 months until the FBI returned him to the U.S.

He pleaded guilty in 2021 to providing material support to a designated terrorist organization. His sons were eventually found in a Syrian orphanage, the culmination of what he and Montgomery described as a unique effort from U.S. diplomats and other officials.

Al-Madioum’s parents were awarded custody of his sons after they arrived in America. Sitting in the court’s gallery Thursday, his sons, ages 7 and 9, sat on their grandparents’ laps and smiled at their father as he turned to face them.

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Nebraska

Nebraska State Patrol investigates attempted murder/suicide in Kearney County

Published

4 minutes ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska State Patrol investigates attempted murder/suicide in Kearney County

MINDEN, Neb. (KSNB) – The Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office and Kearney County Attorney’s Office, is investigating an attempted murder/suicide in rural Kearney County.

The Kearney County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene Saturday afternoon.

According to NSP, three children and a woman had gunshot wounds, with the woman found dead.

The three children were transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and treated for their injuries. Two of the children have since been transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

NSP said all three children are expected to survive. The children are all under the age of 12.

This investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

According to NSP, names are not being released at this time to protect the identities of the victims.

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North Dakota

After falling short a year ago, West Fargo United wins ND girls hockey state title

Published

40 minutes ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

After falling short a year ago, West Fargo United wins ND girls hockey state title

FARGO — One season ago, a Cinderella run for the West Fargo United girls hockey team came up just short in the state championship game.

United, the No. 7 seed, fell to Legacy/Bismarck in the 2025 final.

This time around, the team had momentum swaying in its favor, riding nine consecutive wins into Saturday’s title game against Grand Forks at Scheels Arena.

Led by goals from a pair of senior captains, United capped its redemption season with a 10th straight victory, fending off the KnightRiders 2-1 to claim the North Dakota girls hockey state tournament championship.

“It just means everything,” said United’s Payton Stocker, whose goal at the 12:31 mark of the second period gave her team a 1-0 lead. “We’ve worked so hard and throughout the season, it’s just been such a battle. Winning and coming out on top is just such a great feeling.”

West Fargo United captains react as they are presented the team’s 2026 state championship hockey trophy after defeating Grand Forks on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Scheels Arena in Fargo.

Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald

Stocker was followed up in scoring by United captain Rachel Spanier. The defenseman fired a slap shot from the left point that beat Grand Forks goaltender Kylie Schmaltz to make it 2-0 with 35 seconds remaining in the middle frame.

Reagan Wilson locked things down in net for United, finishing with 23 saves and picking up an all-tournament team nod.

“This is my first year of high school hockey,” the sophomore goaltender said. “I can’t believe coming in here and winning a state title with all of these girls. I just love them so much.”

While it was the senior duo of Stocker and Spanier finding the net for United on Saturday, contributions were seen across the board.

Sophomore Emma Hassler also put forth an all-tournament campaign with five goals and an assist for six points over the three-day stretch.

030226 WFGOUnited3.jpg — Grand Forks’ Dustee Balek’s shot is blocked by West Fargo United goalie Reagan Wilson in the North Dakota girls hockey state championship game on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Scheels Arena.

Freshman Kaylee Augdahl finished the tournament with four points — including

a double-overtime winner

over Fargo North/South in Friday’s semifinals — and junior Liana Williamson added three assists.

“It wasn’t just us (seniors),” said Stocker, who joined Hassler and Wilson on the all-tourney team. “It was everyone collectively. Being seniors, it feels a lot better. It was a great feeling.”

United, the No. 5 seed this year, capped its season with a record of 17-9-0.

“These girls are awesome,” first-year United head coach Kennedy Blair said. “They’ve worked super, super hard since last April. Wake up early in the mornings, go into off-ice training, on-ice training and all that.

“This group of girls is really special. They’re a really close-knit group, and they trusted our coaching staff coming in as a first-year group.”

030226 WFGOUnited2.jpg — West Fargo United players pose for the camera as they wait for the 2026 state championship hockey trophy after defeating Grand Forks on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Scheels Arena.

Blair knows a thing or two about winning championships. She was a North Dakota state champion goaltender with the former Bismarck Blizzard co-op and also won an NCAA Division I national title with the Wisconsin women’s program in 2021.

Yet, she never imagined ending her first year as a high school varsity coach with a state championship.

“No, I didn’t,” said Blair, who also won North Dakota High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year honors. “But I had belief in these girls that we could get to the state championship again.”

It’s the United co-op’s first-ever state title — which consists of West Fargo, West Fargo Sheyenne and West Fargo Horace high schools.

Prior to Saturday, the last time a West Fargo girls program won the state title was in 2014 when it was still a standalone program competing as the Packers.

“It’s amazing considering United hockey has never won a championship game,” Wilson said.

Grand Forks, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, ended its campaign with a 21-5-0 record.

Ella Yahna’s fourth goal of the tournament — which came on a 2-on-1 rush with the assist from teammate Reese Meagher, put the KnightRiders within one shot with 8:17 remaining in the third.

Grand Forks, however, was unable to find the equalizer as its bid for a first state championship came up just short.

“I thought we came out in the first and we had a tough time,” Grand Forks head coach Kelly Kilgore said. “I felt we battled some nerves. I really liked our second period … We carried the play and tilted the ice a little bit back in our favor. The shots kind of started to really turn in our favor.”

Stocker said she wouldn’t have wanted to win a state title as a senior with any other group of teammates.

“(They mean) everything,” Stocker said. “We’re so tight and they’re all my friends. Leaving them is going to be hard. But they mean everything to me. We’re all so close and I love them a lot.”

FIRST PERIOD: No scoring.

SECOND PERIOD: 1, WFU, Stocker (Augdahl, Hassler), 12:31. 2, WFU, Spanier (Augdahl, Stocker), 16:25.

THIRD PERIOD: 3, GF, Yahna (R. Meagher), 8:43.

SAVES: WFU, Wilson 7-13-3—23. GF, Schmaltz 7-3-14—24.

030226 KnightRiders2.jpg — Grand Forks’ Reese Meagher skates past West Fargo United’s Reaghen Mathias in the first period of the North Dakota girls hockey state championship game on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Scheels Arena.

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Ohio

Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel – Mar 1

Published

46 minutes ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel – Mar 1

Data Skrive

The No. 8 Purdue Boilermakers (22-6, 12-5 Big Ten) will try to continue a three-game road winning streak when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (17-11, 9-8 Big Ten) on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Value City Arena. The matchup airs at 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

The Boilermakers are a 5.5-point favorite against the Buckeyes when the Boilermakers and the Buckeyes meet. The game’s over/under is set at 150.5.

Continue scrolling to get all the information before betting on the Purdue-Ohio State clash.

Purdue vs. Ohio State How to Watch & Odds

When: Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET
Where: Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio
TV: CBS
Live Box Score: FOX Sports

Boilermakers vs Buckeyes Betting Information
Favorite	Spread	Favorite Spread Odds	Underdog Spread Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Boilermakers	-5.5	-114	-106	150.5	-110	-113	-277	+220

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Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction

Pick ATS: Purdue (-5.5)
Pick OU: Over (150.5)
Prediction: Purdue 79, Ohio State 73

Learn more about the Purdue Boilermakers vs. the Ohio State Buckeyes game on FOX Sports!

Purdue vs. Ohio State Betting Insights

Betting Line Implied Predictions

Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the encounter is Boilermakers 78, Buckeyes 72.
The Boilermakers have a 73.5% chance to claim victory in this meeting based on the moneyline’s implied probability.
The Buckeyes sit with a 31.2% implied probability to win.

Key Spread Facts

Purdue has covered 13 times in 28 games with a spread this season.
Ohio State has won 13 games against the spread this season, while failing to cover 15 times.
When playing as at least 5.5-point favorites this season, Purdue has an ATS record of 9-12.
When playing as at least 5.5-point underdogs this season, Ohio State has an ATS record of 3-2.

Key Total Facts

In 15 games this season, the Boilermakers and their opponent have combined to score more than 150.5 points.
There have been 15 Buckeyes games this season with more than 150.5 points scored.
The Boilermakers and Buckeyes combine to average 162.1 points per contest, which is 11.6 more than the total for this game.

Key Moneyline Facts

Purdue has been the moneyline favorite 24 times this season. They’ve gone 19-5 in those games.
Ohio State has won two, or 18.2%, of the 11 games it has played as underdogs this season.
When it has played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -277 or shorter, Purdue has a record of 16-1 (94.1% win percentage).
Ohio State has not won as an underdog of +220 or more on the moneyline this season in four games with those odds or longer.

Purdue vs. Ohio State: Recent Results

Boilermakers vs Buckeyes Recent Games
Date	Favorite	Spread	Total	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Result
1/21/2025	Boilermakers	-9.5	140.5	-549	+403	73-70 OHIOST

Purdue vs. Ohio State: 2025-26 Stats Comparison

	Purdue	Ohio State
Points Scored Per Game (Rank)	82.6 (48)	79.5 (100)
Points Allowed (Rank)	69.5 (66)	73.1 (159)
Rebounds (Rank)	10 (102)	7.7 (311)
3pt Made (Rank)	9.4 (66)	7.8 (175)
Assists (Rank)	19.8 (3)	14.1 (159)
Turnovers (Rank)	8.8 (11)	9.9 (64)

Purdue 2025-26 Key Players

Ohio State 2025-26 Key Players

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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