AP photographer sees kids pulled from Okla. school

MOORE, Okla. — I left the office in Oklahoma City as soon as I saw the tornado warnings on TV. I had photographed about a dozen twisters in the past decade, and knew that if I didn't get in my car before the funnel cloud hit, it would be too late.

By Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press , May 21, 2013

VIDEO: Obama pledges complete help for Okla. tornado victims

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama promised on Tuesday to make available all necessary U.S. government resources to Oklahoma to help in the rescue and recovery effort in the aftermath of a devastating tornado.

By Reuters , May 21, 2013

Do you know anyone in the path of the Oklahoma tornado?

The Forum is looking for people with Fargo-Moorhead area connections who might have been in the path of Monday's tornado in Moore, Okla.

By Forum staff reports , May 21, 2013

Medical examiner: 24 dead in Oklahoma twister

MOORE, Okla. — The state medical examiner's office has revised the death toll from a tornado in an Oklahoma City suburb to 24 people, including seven children.

By Associated Press , May 21, 2013

Parents plead not guilty to charges of child abuse

DICKINSON, N.D. - Parents of an infant who died less than two years ago with illegal drugs in its system pleaded not guilty to child abuse charges Monday at a preliminary hearing in Southwest District Court in Dickinson.

By Betsy Simon, Forum News Service , May 21, 2013

Historic Minnesota session ends with funding for Capitol, flooding and veterans

ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Legislature ended a historic 2013 session seconds before midnight Monday after voting to renovate the state Capitol building, help communities fight floods, give veterans a new facility and provide disaster assistance.

By Don Davis, Forum News Service , May 21, 2013

VIDEOS: Crews dig through night after deadly Oklahoma twister

MOORE, Okla. — Search and rescue crews worked through the night after a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood. At least 51 people were initally reported killed, including at least 20 children, and those numbers were expected to climb, officials said Tuesday.

By Associated Press , May 21, 2013

Toddler stabbed in Rochester last year has died

ROCHESTER, Minn. — The young boy critically injured in a stabbing attack in Rochester last year has died at a hospital in Nebraska.

By Associated Press , May 21, 2013

Planting conditions much improved in Minnesota

ST. PAUL — A miserable start to spring planting for Minnesota farmers has greatly improved with a stretch of better weather.

By Associated Press , May 21, 2013

SWAT team leader fired after assault conviction

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis police SWAT team leader has been fired following his conviction for assaulting a man while off-duty at a bar in Andover.

By Associated Press , May 21, 2013

Hearing scheduled today in motion for Alfonso Rodriquez Jr. appeal

FARGO — Federal prosecutors want the notes of mental health professionals who examined a man convicted of killing of a University of North Dakota student more than nine years ago.

By Associated Press , May 21, 2013

Richard Burns

Richard “Dick” C. Burns, 79, formerly of Underwood, Minn. died Wednesday, May 8, 2013, in the United Kingdom.

He was born on the farm near Walcott, N.D. on Sept. 5, 1933. He grew up on the farm and attended school in the Colfax school system.

May 21, 2013

Howard "Gib" "Hoot" Gibson

SKCM Howard "Gib" "Hoot" Gibson, USN (Ret.), age 71, of Middleburg, FL passed away Saturday, May 18, 2013. He was born April 27, 1942 in Fargo, ND. Raised in Minnesota, he was a graduate of Ulen High School. He retired from The United States Navy after 24 years of honorable and dedicated service. Gib was a member of the Fleet Reserve and loved spending time in his 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard William Gibson and Clarice Evelyn Gibson Jahr nee Knutson and by two children: Ginny Gibson and Dwayne Gibson. Survivors include his beloved wife of 36 years, Melanie J. Gibson; son, Carl Kroppman (fiancée, Stephanie); 3 grandchildren: Haley, Reagan, and Kendall Kroppman, all of Orange Park, FL; 2 sisters, Marsha Olson (Richard) of Ulen, MN and Julie Anderson (John) of Hitterdal, MN; 1 brother, John Jahr of Willmar, MN; and his step-father, Donald Jahr of Ulen, MN.

May 21, 2013

Jolene Bakkila

Jolene Ann Bakkila, 66, Moorhead, MN, lost her battle with cancer on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at Elim Care Center, Fargo, ND.

Jolene was born December 19, 1946, to Joseph and Lovera (Harrum) Settelmeyer at New Rockford, ND. After graduating from St. James Academy, New Rockford, she briefly attended Bottineau (ND) Nursing College where she met and married John D. Biby of Munich, ND. They had two children and resided wherever his job took him.

May 21, 2013

Judith (Judy) Belle Roe

Judith “Judy” Belle (Martinson) Roe, age 71, of North Mankato, died May 18, 2013, at PathStone Living in Mankato after courageously living with Lewy Body Dementia for several years.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, May 22, at Centenary United Methodist Church in Mankato. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, May 21, at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary, and 1 hour before the service at the church. Burial will be Union Cemetery, in St. Paul. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Lewy Body Dementia Association.

May 21, 2013