Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

DENTIST SLAYING Gattuso grandfather being moved to ND Fargo, N.D. (AP) An Oklahoma man accused of hiring his handyman to kill a North Dakota dentist is being brought to North Dakota to face charges.

Sixty-three-year-old Gene Kirkpatrick of Jones, Okla., was released from the custody of an Oklahoma County jail Wednesday morning and was expected to be in the Cass County jail in Fargo by Friday.

Kirkpatrick late last week waived his right to challenge his extradition back to North Dakota.

Kirkpatrick is accused of paying Michael Nakvinda $3,000 to kill Philip Gattuso, who was Kirkpatrick's son-in-law. The 41-year-old Nakvinda is charged with murder and was transported to Fargo earlier.

Gattuso was found in his Fargo home beaten to death with a hammer Oct. 26. Kirkpatrick allegedly arranged the killing because he did not agree with the way his granddaughter was being raised.

Gattuso's wife, Valerie, died in March after an extended illness.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com WET WEATHER-RANCHERS Wet weather hampers northeast SD ranchers ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) Some northeast South Dakota ranchers are being forced to leave their cattle in pastures longer than normal because they do not have enough feed available back at the ranch.

That is because unusually wet conditions have delayed the corn harvest, and ranchers do not have cornstalks available.

Marshall County livestock extension educator Tyler Melroe says delivery of feed also has been a challenge because of the soggy conditions. Melroe says some farmers have had to leave piles of silage at the ends of their fields.

Dennis Feickert does commercial hay hauling, and says he has to be selective about where he goes because of the muddy conditions.

He expects to still be hauling hay in January.

Information from: Aberdeen American News, http://www.aberdeennews.com WORKERS COMP-AUDIT Auditors to review denied workers comp claims FARGO, N.D. (AP) Auditors will take a new look at denied workers compensation claims in North Dakota and also will study the laws defining eligibility for certain benefits.

The performance audit of Workforce Safety and Insurance will review its operations in 2008 and 2009.

Reviews last year came to different conclusions on whether some claims were appropriately denied.

The new performance audit by a Memphis, Tenn.-based firm also will study North Dakota's laws limiting payment of claims for workers with pre-existing conditions or degenerative diseases such as arthritis.

The findings are expected by late next summer, giving state lawmakers time to draft proposed legislation for the 2011 session if they believe new laws are needed.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com SCHOOLS-CONSOLIDATION Edinburg, Valley schools to merge Grafton, N.D. (AP) Residents of the Edinburg and Valley school districts in northeastern North Dakota have approved a consolidation plan.

The measure got 78 percent approval in Edinburg in Tuesday's vote and 70 percent approval in Valley.

Starting next school year, first- through fourth-graders will attend the school in Hoople, fifth- through eighth-graders will be in Crystal, and high school students will attend classes in Edinburg.

Declining student enrollment and difficulties with teacher recruitment and retention drove the proposal.

An election for a new school board is set for Dec. 15.

Information from: KXPO-AM Grassy Butte FATAL Crash near Grassy Butte kills woman GRASSY BUTTE, N.D. (AP) A collision on U.S. Highway 85 near Grassy Butte has killed a 23-year-old woman.

The Highway Patrol did not immediately identify the victim of the crash that happened shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Authorities say a car and a sport utility vehicle collided. The driver of the car was killed. The SUV driver and a passenger were taken to area hospitals.

McKenzie County FATAL Victim of crash near Mandaree ID'd MANDAREE, N.D. (AP) The Highway Patrol has identified the victim of a rollover crash just south of Mandaree.

Authorities say 29-year-old Timothy Taylor of Dickinson lost control of his car on a curve on state Highway 22 in McKenzie County on Monday night, and the car rolled in the ditch.

Taylor died at the scene. A passenger, 24-year-old Tyler Rice of Dickinson, was not hurt.

HOLIDAY-TROOPERS ND troopers out in force Bismarck, N.D. (AP) North Dakota Highway Patrol troopers plan to be out in force this holiday weekend, and through the rest of the year.

Lt. Jody Skogen says troopers will be looking for drunk drivers, speeders and motorists who aren't buckled up.

In the past five years, 10 people have died on North Dakota roads over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The last time the state had no traffic fatalities over Thanksgiving was eight years ago.

So far this year, at least 127 people have died on North Dakota roads.

Information from: KFYR-AM, http://kfyr.com HOLIDAY TRAVEL-BORDER Border travelers issued reminder Pembina, N.D. (AP) U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are reminding holiday travelers planning trips across the border to have proper documents, and anticipate times of heavy traffic.

U.S. and Canadian citizens 16 and older must have a valid, acceptable travel document that denotes both their identity and citizenship when they enter the U.S. by land or sea.

Acceptable documents include a passport, U.S. passport card, enhanced driver's license or a Trusted Traveler Program card. More information can be found at www.GetYouHome.gov.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-25-09 1101CST | save this article / add to your favorites list