Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

JAIL ESCAPE FOILED Williston jail foils escape attempt WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) The Williams County sheriff's office says four prisoners in the Williston jail failed in their attempt to escape.

Detective Lt. Verlan Kvande (KWON'-dee) says the inmates planned to stab one another with makeshift knives so they would be brought to a hospital, where they could try to overpower law officers and escape.

He says jail personnel discovered the plot.

The four inmates all are charged with conspiracy to commit escape, a felony that carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison. One of the four also is charged with possessing a weapon in a correctional facility, which could bring 10 years.

Kvande did not immediately say on what charges the four are currently jailed.

Fargo Moose Law enforcement surroUND moose at Fargo hotel FARGO, N.D. (AP) Law enforcement in the Fargo area have a moose surrounded at a local hotel.

Sgt. Jeff Skuza says officers with the Fargo and West Fargo police departments and the state Highway Patrol have the moose contained in a courtyard area at the Mainstay Suites in the western part of Fargo, and so far it has not caused any problems other than tying up staff. A total of 13 officers are on the scene.

Skuza says an animal expert likely will be brought in to tranquilize the moose.

He says moose typically follow the Red River, but occasionally they wander into the city. Skuza says Fargo-area authorities deal with moose incidents a couple of times a year.

FARGO WIND PROJECT Proposed Fargo wind project appears dead FARGO, N.D. (AP) A proposed wind turbine project involving the Fargo Park District and Fargo School Board appears to be dead.

The plan was to build the turbine near Oriska and sell the power on the electric grid. Park District spokesman Jim Larson says that after two-years of study, officials realized it's not feasible.

Money to build the turbine would have come from renewable energy bonds.

Information from: KFGO-AM, http://kfgo.com WINTER WEATHER ND getting freezing rain, snow Bismarck, N.D. (AP) Freezing rain and snow are moving into North Dakota.

The National Weather Service has posted a winter weather advisory for the state through Thursday morning. Forecasters say some areas could get as much as four inches of snow Wednesday, with more possible on Thursday.

Freezing rain was causing problems in southwestern North Dakota Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Law enforcement in Bowman County advised no travel late Tuesday because of the hazardous traveling conditions.

BEET HARVEST American Crystal halts sugar beet harvest Grand Forks, N.D. (AP) American Crystal Sugar Co. has halted its sugar beet harvest in the Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota due to the weather.

Company spokesman Jeff Schweitzer says none of the five factory districts dug beets Tuesday because of temperatures that dropped below 20 degrees. At those temperatures, the beets can freeze, and frozen beets do not store well.

The Agriculture Department says the Red River Valley beet harvest was a little more than half done as of Sunday, slightly behind average.

Crystal officials announced this week that growers can harvest all of their planted acres. In recent years, including this season, growers have been told to set aside 10 percent of their beet acres for possible destruction, because the Moorhead, Minn.-based cooperative has been producing so well it sometimes can't process all of the beets grown.

Information from: Grand Forks Herald, http://www.grandforksherald.com CAMPUS PRESIDENT'S TRIP N. Dakota St. pres spent $22,000 on trip FARGO, N.D. (AP) Documents show North Dakota State University President Joseph Chapman spent more than $22,000 to take his family to President Barack Obama's inauguration in January. The money came from the NDSU Development Foundation, which is funded with donations.

Chapman took a $17,420 charter flight to Washington, D.C., using money from the foundation's discretionary fund, according to foundation documents provided to The Forum. NDSU spokeswoman Najla Amundson says the university-owned plane needed maintenance and was not available.

Chapman says the inauguration and related events gave him a chance to meet with members of the new administration, agency heads and other officials. He said his children also represented NDSU at events.

A University of North Dakota spokesman says UND spent $2,176 for President Robert Kelley's trip to the inauguration.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE CHARGE Beet truck driver accused of negligent homicide Wahpeton, N.D. (AP) The driver of a sugar beet truck involved in a crash that killed a Wahpeton woman has been charged with negligent homicide.

Fifty-two-year-old Cathleen Dean of Barney faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted. She has not yet entered a plea.

The Highway Patrol says Dean's truck ran a red light at an intersection on Wahpeton's western edge Sept. 29 and collided with a car driven by 18-year-old Annie Gjesdal.

Gjesdal was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Information from: WDAY-TV, http://wday.com RAMP REPAIRS Missouri River ramp to get repairs BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) The Fox Island boat ramp on the Missouri River in south Bismarck is being closed for repairs.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department says the closure will last for about three weeks.

The upgrade is similar to what has been done at Kimball Bottoms and Little Heart Bottoms. It will include extending the bottom end of the ramp, along with replacing deteriorated portions of the existing ramp.

The project is timed to coincide with lower water releases from Garrison Dam upstream.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-14-09 1057CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list