Mich., Pa. put limits on families seeking food aid, especially if they own too much

HOWELL, Mich. — The 2010 Buick Enclave parked in her garage kept Michigan resident Renee Moore from getting food stamps for two months last year, even though her family's income had dropped to below the poverty level, her husband's Ford Explorer had 300,000 miles on it and her family had less than $1,000 in the bank.

House Dems: Federal drilling policies on public lands inconsistent

WASHINGTON — Federal policing of oil and natural gas on public lands is lax and inconsistent, with only 6 percent of violations resulting in monetary fines over 13 years, House Democrats said in a report Wednesday.

North Dakota pumps record 153 million barrels of oil in 2011

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota oil drillers produced a record 152.9 million barrels of crude in 2011, or nearly 40 million more barrels than the previous record set a year earlier.

Testimony continues in Jamestown murder trial

JAMESTOWN, N.D. — Witnesses testifying in the case of a Jamestown woman charged with beating and stabbing to death a Somali immigrant say she and a man charged in the death were with the victim the night he died.

Big Sky 'concerned' but continues to monitor UND nickname drama

GRAND FORKS - The University of North Dakota’s status within the Big Sky Conference won’t change immediately as a result of this week’s tentative restoration of the university’s Fighting Sioux nickname, Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said today.

Finding lost moon rocks is his mission

HOUSTON - Alaska's moon rocks disappeared on Sept. 6, 1973. A fire set by an arsonist had torn through the state transportation museum in Anchorage, where the four rocks had been on display.

• Gary Lofgren reviews moon rocks

Boehner: Congress to overturn birth control policy

WASHINGTON — House Speaker John Boehner accused the Obama administration Wednesday of an “unambiguous attack on religious freedom,” promising that Congress will reverse a new policy requiring religious schools and hospitals to provide employees with free birth control if the president doesn't.

Minnesota man charged with having 2 wives

ALBERT LEA, Minn. — A man in Freeborn County is charged with bigamy for having two wives.

UPDATED: Santorum slows Romney nomination express

ST. PAUL - About 22,000 Minnesota Republicans helped Rick Santorum slow down what many had seen as a Mitt Romney domination of the Republican presidential race.

• Rick Santorum
• Support for Ron Paul high at Moorhead caucus

UPDATED: Dispute over signs roils residents in Little Falls, Minn.

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — Robin Hensel says it's only fair that since the city of Little Falls ordered her to take down signs in her yard supporting the Occupy Wall Street and peace movements, the city should have to remove its “We Support Our Troops” banner from a downtown bank.

Suspect testifies in North Dakota gun-in-courtroom case

FARGO, N.D. — A man accused of brandishing a gun in a North Dakota courtroom and unsuccessfully trying to kill jurors, a sheriff and a prosecutor says he doesn't remember trying to pull the trigger.

Moorhead man accused of rape takes plea offer before second day of trial

MOORHEAD – A Moorhead man accused of raping a 22-year-old woman in his home pleaded guilty to a reduced charge this morning before the second day of his trial in Clay County District Court.

• Jesse Lee Paskey

Man kicked out of Nestor over jukebox fight accused of returning to slash bartender

FARGO – A 53-year-old man who was kicked out of The Nestor bar in down-town Fargo is accused of returning and attacking a bartender with a utility knife on Monday.

28 more airports will test lower-hassle screening

WASHINGTON — A new passenger screening program to make check-in more convenient for certain travelers is being expanded to 28 more major U.S. airports, the government said Wednesday. There will be no cost to eligible passengers, who would no longer have to remove their shoes and belts before they board flights.

• Locations of current and proposed screening changes

Fargo elementary school counselor receives state honor

FARGO – Jefferson Elementary School counselor Laura Sokolofsky was honored by students and staff today after being named the Outstanding Counselor of the Year by a state counselors’ group.

• Laura Sokolofsky