Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

COAL PLANT MONEY Bismarck co-op to get up to $100M to reduce CO2 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) The Energy Department says Basin Electric Power Cooperative will get up to $100 million in federal stimulus money to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a coal-fired power plant northwest of Bismarck.

Federal Energy Secretary Steven Chu calls it a big step in the fight to reduce emissions from coal-based power plants.

Officials say Basin plans to use ammonia-based technology to capture carbon dioxide at its antelope Valley Station near Beulah.

Fargo FINES Fargo traffic fines settlement gets initial OK FARGO, N.D. (AP) A judge has given preliminary approval to a settlement of a class action lawsuit filed over Fargo's traffic fines.

Under the proposal, the city would pay out a maximum of $1.5 million to about 53,000 drivers.

Fargo had been charging higher traffic fines than state law allowed. The state Supreme Court ruled in March 2008 that cities may not assess fines that exceed state law.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Klein on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to the settlement. A final hearing will be in late November or December, after a period in which people can submit claims.

The two people who sued the city of Fargo over the illegal traffic fines Stephanie Sauby of West Fargo and James Burns of Fargo are seeking $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson will rule on that later, likely before the final hearing on the class action lawsuit settlement.

MIDWEST ECONOMY Economist says Midwest economy shows improvement OMAHA, Neb. (AP) A survey of business leaders in North Dakota and eight other states says the region's economy continues to show signs of improvement, but job losses persist.

The Mid-America Business Conditions index rose to its highest level since last September, to 49.3 in June from 46.6 in May. An index above 50 indicates growth.

Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss conducts the survey. He says North Dakota continues to defy the recession with little or no job losses over the past several months. But Goss says the state has lost 2,000 durable or heavy equipment manufacturing jobs over the past year.

He expects the state's unemployment rate to top out at just under 5 percent when seasonally adjusted.

Goss says the regional economy may have bottomed out but job creation for the region is "just not in the picture for the immediate future." The survey covers the states of ArKansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Mandan SCHOOL BOARD ND AG says Mandan school board members may continue until election BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says four Mandan school board members may continue serving even though their terms have expired.

The Mandan school board postponed its June 9 election because of a foul-up over candidate filing deadlines. The ballot has been rescheduled for Sept. 8.

The board has nine members, and four seats were supposed to be on the ballot last month.

Board members Tom Arenz and Dan Leingang aren't running for re-election. Tim Tausend is running for another three-year term, and board member Jill Goetz is running to serve out the year that's left on her term. She was appointed to the board late last year when another member resigned.

Normally the school board has its elections in June, and the new members take office in July.

Stenehjem says the incumbents can stay in their jobs until the September election is held.

He says the new board members should take office during the board's next meeting on Sept. 21 and Stenehjem says they could take office earlier if that's possible.

OBESITY ND 22nd in obesity ranking BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) A state health official says two-thirds of North Dakotans could stand to lose some weight, and she recommends they look at home, work and school for healthy choices.

The latest rankings from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation put North Dakota 22nd among the states with an adult obesity rate of 26.7 percent.

Deanna Askew is the healthy weight coordinator for the state Health Department. She says 65.6 percent North Dakotans are overweight or obese, and the rate has been gradually increasing.

Askew says people have to look at their environment and figure out how to make healthy choices.

She says the state has 15 community coalitions called "Moving More, Eating Smarter," that are looking at ways to promote healthy eating and physical activity. She says the focus is on: "How can we make it easier?" MIDWEST FLOODING-ROADS ND getting money for road repairs BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) North Dakota is getting nearly $25 million in federal transportation money for flood relief projects across the state.

The state's congressional delegation says the grants from the Transportation Department are the result of the presidential disaster declaration issued after record spring flooding.

The bulk of the money nearly $17 million will go to areas affected by Devils Lake flooding.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-01-09 1601CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list