Latest news with #GrandForks
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Grand Forks downtown bar murder trial begins with full day of jury selection
Jun. 17—GRAND FORKS — Jury selection for a Grand Forks murder trial lasted all day Tuesday, June 17. Nicholas Jon Narveson, 27, is charged with Class AA felony murder, which has a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Narveson is also charged with two Class C felonies involving the use of a dangerous weapon — terrorizing and reckless endangerment showing extreme indifference. He is accused of fatally shooting 53-year-old James Erwin Jorgenson on July 4, 2024, at Sledsters Food And Brew, a downtown Grand Forks bar. The defense plans to make a self defense argument, while the prosecution will attempt to prove that the shooting was not justified and was, instead, murder. Jury selection for Narveson's trial officially began at 9:23 a.m. Tuesday, with 60 people gathered for voir dire, or questioning prior to trial to ensure an impartial jury. Some potential jurors were dismissed early on due to conflicts of interest including personal and professional proximity to witnesses and past experiences with violence. Others said they read or heard about the alleged crimes in the news, or were downtown that evening and saw the commotion; they remained in the jury pool after agreeing what they learned would not affect their ability to remain impartial. After Judge Kristi Venhuizen, who is presiding over this case, asked more basic questions about potential conflicts, Sam Gereszek, defense attorney in this case, spent approximately two hours asking his own prepared questions of the potential jurors. Some lines of inquiry included potential jurors' opinions on firearms and whether they possessed any, what extent people should be able to go to in the interest of self defense and whether it depends on the level of force used against them, whether they need to be struck first for their response to count as self defense, whether they understand that everyone's perception of threat is different and if they would be biased against a defendant who doesn't testify in their own defense. Prosecutor Andrew Eyre's line of questioning lasted approximately one hour. He asked about potential jurors' legal backgrounds and their ability to set their related knowledge aside and only consider the law as the judge presents it to them, whether they have any bias against the criminal justice system due to previous experiences as the accused or a victim and what level of violence is permitted against someone depending on what threat they are facing. After the defense and prosecution finished their questioning periods and dismissed anyone who appeared to have a conflict, dozens of potential jurors still remained. Both parties then went into the process of narrowing down their selections, which took approximately 45 minutes. Around 4 p.m., the jury of 14 people — which includes two alternates — was selected and everyone else was dismissed. It was decided to wait to begin presenting opening instructions and statements from the defense and prosecution until 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 18. The jury was dismissed for the night shortly after. Throughout the trial, evidence expected to be presented includes video footage from a bar; the firearm, bullets and other weapon paraphernalia; witness statements and police testimony.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Grand Forks teen pleads guilty in child rape case
Jun. 16—GRAND FORKS — A Grand Forks teen accused of raping a 12-year-old girl changed his plea Monday, June 16. Jayden Allen Perales, 18, pleaded guilty to two counts of Class AA felony gross sexual imposition for a forced sexual act. The crimes have a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He originally entered a not guilty plea to both charges in April. No plea agreement has been publicly filed in the case; a pre-sentence investigation will be completely that will likely inform Perales' sentence. The crimes occurred during a June 15, 2024, house party at Perales' residence, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case. Perales, 17 at the time, engaged in two sexual acts with a 12-year-old girl, the affidavit said. The girl told law enforcement Perales forced himself on her despite her refusal. Interviewed by law enforcement, Perales alleged no girls were in his room that night, and said there weren't any girls at the party to begin with. DNA was taken from the girl's clothing, and it was a match to Perales' own DNA, according to the affidavit. Sentencing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Oct. 6.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'We want safety for all users' as finish nears for Greater Grand Forks' streets plan
Jun. 14—GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization will be opening public comment on the final draft of its Safe Streets for All Plan on June 16. The plan has been in the works for more than a year to identify community needs, actionable steps and projects that Grand Forks and East Grand Forks can take to address traffic safety. The Safe Streets For All, or SS4A, plan isn't just one by the MPO, but a plan for which both cities applied and received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct. "A lot of work has gone into this, everything from lots of conversations from various entities and organizations across the region, but also just a lot of engagement," Blue Weber of Bolton and Menk, one of the consultants helping with the plan, told the East Grand Forks City Council on June 10. "It's been a blast." The public will be able to leave comments on the plan's website: . Once adopted by both cities, the plan will open funding opportunities for safe street improvements, along with potentially making grant and other traffic funding applications stronger. The SS4A program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, which set aside $5 billion in funds between 2022 and 2026 to reduce roadway deaths across the country. "An important part with the safety action plan with the SS4A funding is to try to bundle some of these projects," Weber told the Grand Forks City Council on June 9. "You never want to just go after one, because this is an awesome, huge pot of money that you really want to try to sell this story of implementing safety within your community." Since starting the plan in May 2024, seven public engagement events have been held to allow residents to comment on their priorities for traffic safety and to learn more about the plan. Those ranged from traditional open houses where people could take in information and ask questions to staff and consultants, to more interactive events, like a walking audit of 17th Avenue South in Grand Forks. Final adoption of the plan is proposed for sometime in July or August after public comment and both city councils have met in a joint meeting to provide their input. Another in-person engagement event is planned for later in June to allow for more comments. The plan is split into eight chapters and follows a format similar to other traffic plans that the MPO has created, like the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. It includes an overview of demographics, peer community reviews, how it was created, data and implementation strategies. Roads like 32nd Avenue South and Washington Street in Grand Forks and Bygland Road in East Grand Forks received some of the most comments from the public about potential improvements. Additionally, creating better pedestrian and bike connections across Greater Grand Forks was desired. "This is a community plan. This is not just something that MPO filed for themselves. Both the communities of East Grand Forks and Grand Forks really had to partake in this," Weber said in East Grand Forks. "One of the biggest things that came out of all our engagement with the community is we want safety for all users."
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'No Kings Day' protest planned for June 14 in Grand Forks
Jun. 11—GRAND FORKS — Protestors in Grand Forks will gather June 14 near the Sorlie Bridge, joining thousands of others across the country in protesting the Trump Administration's deportations and threats made against courts in a protest called "No Kings Day." The peaceful protest will begin at 1:30 p.m. and is a non-partisan event, the organizers said in a statement. The nationwide protest will occur on Flag Day and as President Donald Trump is hosting a military parade in Washington. That military parade also coincides with his birthday and will cost upwards of $45 million to the U.S. Army, not including costs to the city of Washington for event cleanup, Reuters reported. It also comes as the federal government has sent in the National Guard to Los Angeles as people there protest actions and deportations done by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, often known as ICE. The Grand Forks event is hosted by Indivisible Grand Forks, which has organized other protests against Trump and his administration since his inauguration in January. To date, these events in Grand Forks have been peaceful and organizers said keeping them peaceful is their core mission. Across the country, protests will be occurring. In northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, rallies are planned for Devils Lake and Thief River Falls in addition to Grand Forks. Nationwide, the rallies have been planned and organized by organizations like Indivisible, American Federation of Teachers, ACLU, Public Citizen, and the Human Rights Campaign, among several pro-democracy organizations.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Grand Forks Fire Department responds to multi-family residence fire
Jun. 8—GRAND FORKS — Fire crews found heavy smoke upon arriving on a fire call Saturday in Grand Forks. The incident occurred at 1:43 a.m. on June 7 at 821 Fourth Ave. S. after fire alarms sounded at a multi-family residence. According to a release from the Grand Forks Fire Department, the fire was extinguished by the initial arriving crews. There was significant damage to the unit of origin and moderate smoke and heat damage in the second-floor hallway. The GFFD responded with five engines, one truck, a command vehicle and 18 personnel. Three occupants of the building were evaluated by Altru Hospital staff, with one being treated and released on scene. The GFFD was assisted by Altru Ambulance, the Grand Forks Police Department, Grand Forks Housing Authority and the American Red Cross.
