Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

Flu-SCHOOLS ND school closings not 1st option for flu fight Bismarck, N.D. (AP) A North Dakota disease specialist says closing schools is not the best way to help prevent the spread of swine flu.

Kirby Kruger told the Legislature's interim education Committee that students should get flu shots when they're available, and young people who come down with the flu should stay home.

But Kruger said the state Health Department does not encourage shutting down schools to deal with an outbreak. He also said special school cleanings are not needed, although it's a good idea to give extra attention to frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs and keyboards.

Kruger says so far, young people are more vulnerable to the swine flu than older North Dakotans. He says the effects aren't much different from regular seasonal flu.

North Dakota school superintendent Wayne Sanstead says he believes the state's schools are doing a good job of monitoring the flu threat.

FLYING ON FAT Hold the mayo? Not when it comes to astute pilots Grand Forks, N.D. (AP) Running a marathon, grab a carbohydrate bar. Lifting weights, gulp a protein shake. But climbing into a fighter jet? Try butter-soaked lobster.

That was the surprising finding of a new military-funded study that sought to figure out what types of foods were best for pilots if missions restricted when and what they could eat.

University of North Dakota researchers tested student pilots and found that those who ate the fattiest foods had the quickest response times in mental tests. They also made fewer mistakes when flying in tricky conditions.

Those on a high-carbohydrate diet came in a close second and high-protein dieters were third.

Follow-up tests will begin this spring to determine how elements in the food and other factors affected the results.

Minot TRUCK STOP FIRE Kitchen fire spreads at Minot truck stop MINOT, N.D. (AP) Authorities say a small kitchen fire got out of control at a truck stop west of Minot, forcing about 30 people to leave the restaurant and gas station. No injuries were reported.

The fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Behm's Truck Stop.

Ward County Sheriff Vern Erck saw smoke and flames coming out of exhaust vents on the roof of the building. He said he emptied seven fire extinguishers into the vents but the fire continued to burn.

Firefighters from Minot's rural fire department and Burlington got the fire under control.

Erck said the damage could be heavy and the truck stop likely will need a complete renovation to reopen.

Information from: KMOT-TV, http://kmot.com Dickinson SHOOTING Man facing murder trial in Dickinson DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) Authorities say a man charged with killing another man in a Dickinson apartment last July may have felt he was defending his home. Prosecutors said the shooting was not justified.

Michael Reisenauer is accused of shooting 19-year-old Kyle Goodbird to death in an incident that officials say started with six friends partying.

He pleaded not guilty on Monday.

Witnesses said the 22-year-old Reisenauer brought out his assault rifle to show off and Goodbird got his hands on it. They said Reisenauer got the gun back but Goodbird blocked the entrance to the home.

Authorities said Reisenhauer counted down to zero before shooting Goodbird in the chest.

Prosecutor Jim Hope said Goodbird was a "big jerk" but could not be considered an intruder because he had been invited into the home.

Information from: KXMB-TV, http://kxmb.com MOTORCYCLE CRASH CHARGE Man pleads not guilty in fatal motorcycle crash MINOT, N.D. (AP) A man charged in a fatal motorcycle crash last summer has pleaded not guilty to a negligent homicide charge.

Connor Crowdus of Minot entered his plea Monday. Judge Gary Lee found enough evidence for a trial.

Authorities said Crowdus was drunk when the motorcycle he was driving rear-ended a sport utility vehicle in Minot on June 20.

The crash killed 18-year-old Victor Mercado, of Schertz, Texas, who was a passenger on the motorcycle.

Crowdus' attorney, Carl Flagstad, suggested in court that Crowdus tried to lay the bike down before he struck the SUV.

The negligent homicide charge is a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison with a one-year mandatory minimum because alcohol was involved.

Information from: Minot Daily News, http://www.minotdailynews.com WEED SURVEY Weeding out the worst offenders BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) The state Agriculture Department is asking North Dakotans to help compile a list of noxious weeds.

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the designation is important because much of the money spent on weed control each year targets plants that are considered the biggest problem.

The department is taking public comment through a survey on its Web site.

Goehring said the Legislature mandated a review of the state's noxious weed list by the end of the year.

coal ZONING Rezoning for coal drying plant goes forward DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) The county zoning board approved a rezoning and special use permit for a coal drying plant, sending the matter back to the Stark County Commission.

The zoning board unanimously agreed Monday to rezone land near South Heart from Agricultural to industrial for a plant already under construction.

If approved by the county commission, the rezoning will allow GTL Energy USA Ltd. to begin operating the plant about 13 miles west of Dickinson.

The same rezoning request was passed by the zoning board and the county commission last year, but a judge later ruled the county did not follow proper steps and it was overturned. The commission then changed wording in the zoning ordinance that had blocked the company.

Information from: The Dickinson Press, http://www.thedickinsonpress.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-06-09 1608CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list