5 things to know today: Mall fire, Mask policy, UND lawsuit, Construction resumes, Foundation Fellows

051121.N.FF.Fire.3.jpg — A strip mall is hit with water from different directions Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at 25th Street and 32nd Avenue South, Fargo. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor

By InForum and Eric Bolin

May 12, 2021 at 6:00 AM

1. Crews contain blaze that ripped through part of south Fargo strip mall

A fire that burned through the southern half of a south Fargo strip mall Tuesday afternoon, May 11, severely damaged a physical therapy center and a business serving people with Down syndrome.

There were no civilian injuries, but a firefighter suffered a minor injury, according to a report released by the Fargo Fire Department.

At 1:21 p.m. Tuesday, emergency dispatchers received a report of a fire that broke out in the attic of Bodyworks Physical Therapy, 3242 20th St. S., a business at the south end of a strip mall just off of 32nd Avenue South.

2. Smart Restart to be suspended, masks off outside

Fargo resident Kelly Turner speaks to the Fargo School Board about discontinuing mask wearing on Tuesday, May 11.jpg — Fargo resident Kelly Turner speaks to the Fargo School Board about discontinuing mask wearing on Tuesday, May 11. C.S. Hagen / The Forum

In a board room crowded with concerned parents, the Fargo School Board voted to suspend the district’s Smart Restart Plan starting June 7, and to end mask usage by elementary students while in the playground and for middle and high schoolers while involved in outdoor activities starting Wednesday, May 12.

3. UND denies claims made in Title IX sexual harassment, assault lawsuit

The University of North Dakota is denying claims made against it in a federal sexual discrimination lawsuit filed earlier this year, instead claiming that a former UND student had a consensual relationship with former UND Professor Andrew Quinn.

In a court document filed last week, UND claims that the March 4 federal lawsuit “contains false and intentionally inflammatory allegations.”

4. Construction resumes on Prairie St. John's project in Fargo

Prairie St. John's project resumes — Work is resuming on Prairie St. John's new behavioral health facility at 510 4th St. S. in Fargo. Courtesy Prairie St. John's.

Prairie St. John's announced Monday, May 10, that construction has resumed on its new behavioral health facility at 510 Fourth St. S., in Fargo.

The work had paused briefly this spring due to the pandemic.

5. Two North Dakota women named 2021 Bush Foundation Fellows

BushFellowship winners2 (1).jpg — Courtney Schaff (left) and Jodi Rave Spotted Bear. Special to The Forum

Two women from North Dakota were awarded Bush Foundation fellowships to help further their leadership and community outreach goals.

Courtney Schaff of Fargo and Jodi Rave Spotted Bear of Twin Buttes received Bush fellowships, which provide each of them with up to $100,000 to aid their leadership efforts and create change in their communities.