Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

COLLEGE STUDENT DEATHS Drowned students were not trespassing Dickinson, N.D. (AP) Police say three college softball players who drowned when their sport utility vehicle went into a pond in a southwestern North Dakota pasture were not trespassing on private property.

Dickinson Police Lt. Rod Banyai (BAN'-yeye) says there were no signs posted on the land telling people to stay out. He says there was nothing legally stopping the students from driving into the pasture.

The bodies of 22-year-old Kyrstin Gemar of San Diego, 20-year-old Afton Williamson of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and 21-year-old Ashley Neufeld, of Brandon, Manitoba, were found Nov. 3 inside Gemar's SUV, which was submerged in about 10 feet of water in the livestock pond about 10 miles northwest of Dickinson.

The women were believed to have gone on a stargazing trip two nights earlier. Authorities said they had not been drinking or using drugs, and likely got lost and drove into the water in the darkness.

Information from: The Dickinson Press, http://www.thedickinsonpress.com BANKERS SURVEY Survey suggests improving economy in Plains OMAHA, Neb. (AP) For the third straight month, a survey of rural bankers in the Midwest and Plains suggests the weak economic conditions are strengthening, if slowly.

A report issued Thursday by economist Ernie Goss of Creighton University says the overall index for the Rural Mainstreet economy rose to 38.4 this month, compared with 37.5 in October and 36.5 in September.

The new figure is well below the growth-neutral score of 50 but far above the record low of 16.9 set in February.

The index runs 0 to 100. Organizers say a score below 50 suggests the economy will contract in the next few months; above 50 indicates the economy will expand.

The survey covers Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

SIOUX NICKNAME-THREATS Police investigate possible threats over nickname Grand Forks, N.D. (AP) University of North Dakota police are investigating whether threats were made against leaders of the University Senate.

The faculty group supports a resolution calling for retirement of the school's Fighting Sioux nickname and logo, which some find offensive.

Police Chief Duane Czapiewski (chuh-PES'-kee) says a caller left a voicemail with "specific language" on the office phone of Senate Vice Chairwoman Kathy Smart. He says police are still trying to decipher and evaluate that language, but that authorities believe it is a threat.

Czapiewski says the same caller left an earlier message on the office phone of Senate Chairwoman Wendelin Hume requesting information from her.

The chief says the caller could face a harassment charge. He would not say if his department has any suspects.

Information from: Grand Forks Herald, http://www.grandforksherald.com SOLDIER HONORED Valley City soldier honored by France VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) A Valley City veteran has received the Legion of Honor award from the French government.

Ninety-year-old Leonard Lucas says it is an honor to be recognized for his service in Europe during World War II, including at Normandy.

The Legion of Honor is the highest award France bestows on those who do great deeds for the country. France's Consulate General office in Chicago says 80 medals have been given to veterans in 13 Midwest states in the past year.

Information from: KOVC-AM, http://www.newsdakota.com Devils Lake Belford wants end to Devils Lake disputes DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) Ramsey County Commissioner Joe Belford says he thinks a commission with both North Dakota and Manitoba officials is needed to put to rest disputes over Devils Lake.

Belford plans to ask Gov. John Hoeven to set up such a group. He says he would prefer it be an expansion of an existing group such as the Devils Lake Outlet Advisory Committee but that a new commission would not be out of the question.

Belford says the lake is becoming a threat not only to the Devils Lake region but also to downstream areas, because if it keeps rising it might overflow the basin naturally and the flow of water would not be controlled as it is now.

A manmade outlet drains Devils Lake floodwaters into the Sheyenne River. Some residents and governments downstream worry that operating changes being considered for the outlet to boost water flows might increase flooding in their areas or degrade their water quality. Belford says those disagreements need to be ironed out once and for all.

Information from: KXPO-AM DICKINSON AIRPORT Dickinson airport has record-breaking month DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) The Dickinson airport set a record for passengers in October.

Officials say 980 people boarded planes last month at the Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport, eclipsing the record of 975 set last December.

Airport officials cite the oil boom in the region, and say hunting seasons are keeping airport activity high this month.

Information from: The Dickinson Press, http://www.thedickinsonpress.com WILTON wind farm Wilton wind farm expands WILTON, N.D. (AP) The Wilton Wind Energy Center north of Bismarck has doubled in size.

Basin Electric Power Cooperative says the last of 33 additional wind turbines began operating in late October, bringing the total number of turbines to 66 and the generating capacity of the wind farm to 99 megawatts. That is enough to power nearly 30,000 residential homes.

The Wilton Wind Energy Center is owned and operated by Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources. Bismarck-based Basin Electric buys all of the power produced at the farm.

The expansion project began in July.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-20-09 1101CST | save this article / add to your favorites list