Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

WINTER STORM Storm might bring heavy rain, snow to ND Fargo, N.D. (AP) The National Weather Service says a winter storm system in the Plains is expected to drop significant rainfall in the southern Red River Valley of North Dakota.

Forecasters say up to 1 1/2 inches of rain could fall, and it will run off quickly into rivers and streams because of already saturated soil. Some rivers might rise above flood stage, including in the Fargo area.

The rain is expected to change to snow by Thursday night, and there is a chance of significant accumulations in southwest, south central and parts of eastern North Dakota.

FISHER-TAX FRAUD 2 sentenced in Dickinson tax fraud case Bismarck, N.D. (AP) Two former employees of a North Dakota construction materials company have been sentenced to probation for their roles in a tax fraud case.

Amiel Schaff and Clyde Frank pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to commit tax fraud. Schaff was the chief financial officer and Frank was the controller for Fisher Sand & Gravel of Dickinson.

Authorities say the case involved about $630,000 in unpaid taxes. The company's vice president, Micheal Fisher, has pleaded guilty to nine felony charges. A sentencing date for Fisher has not been set.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland sentenced Schaff and Frank this week to 12 months probation, including electronic home monitoring.

Cass County-FLOOD CONTROL Cass County group supports ND diversion WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) Cass County officials are supporting a Red River diversion project around Fargo for flood protection.

A member of the county's joint watershed board, Tom Fischer, said a diversion project on the North Dakota side of the river would protect people around the Maple and Sheyenne Rivers from overland flooding.

The joint watershed district can create a taxing authority if property owners approve.

The Army Corps of Engineers is considering diversion options on the Minnesota and North Dakota sides of the Red River. Cost estimates range from around $1 billion to nearly $1.4 billion.

The City Council in Dilworth, Minn., has voted to oppose a diversion channel on the city's east side.

The joint water board plans to discuss flood control options with Cass County commissioners Monday.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com HOSPITAL MERGER MeritCare-Sanford merger gets ND approval FARGO, N.D. (AP) North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem (STEN'-jum) has signed off on the merger of the two largest health systems in the Dakotas.

Fargo's MeritCare health system plans to merge with Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health. Stenehjem reviewed financial records and a consultant's study and concluded the merger would be in MeritCare's best interest.

Sanford vice president Mark Johnston says the Sanford and MeritCare boards are expected to meet soon, with an announcement expected Monday.

Once united, the Sanford-MeritCare service area will cover about 100,000 square miles, with a population of almost 1 million in parts of five states North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.

Stenehjem says his review authority was limited by law and he was not able to evaluate the effect of the merger on services.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com CAMPUS PRESIDENT'S HOUSE Interim N Dakota St pres to rent apartment FARGO, N.D. (AP) North Dakota State University's new interim president says he plans to rent an apartment in Fargo to live in, and use the new NDSU president's house for social functions.

Richard Hanson is now the president of Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. He was hired as interim NDSU president last week.

Cost overruns drove up the price of the new campus president's house to more than $2 million, and it was one of the issues leading to the resignation of the current NDSU president, Joseph Chapman.

The cost of the house had been projected at $900,000.

Hanson says he thinks the "whole house thing needs to cool down," and says there's nothing to be gained by moving into the new home as an interim president.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com Minot BARS Minot officials reject longer bar hours MINOT, N.D. (AP) A Minot bar owner's request for longer hours is not getting support from city officials.

Fred Mueller says city bars should be allowed to stay open until 2 a.m. That's an hour later than the current closing time.

The City Council's Liquor and Gambling Control Committee discussed longer hours for New Year's Eve, and it's recommending the full council reject the idea. The council meets Monday.

Mueller says longer hours would generate more revenue. He says bars have bills to pay, just like other businesses.

Police Chief Jeff Balentine told the committee Wednesday that an extra hour would put officers on the streets longer. He also said the number of drunken driving arrests already is on pace to set a record.

Information from: Minot Daily News, http://www.minotdailynews.com ALERUS CENTER Grand Forks events center expects loss GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) The executive director of the Grand Forks events center says the center is expected to finish the year with a $123,000 loss.

Executive Director Steve Hyman says the figure is conservative because such things as better attenDance at future events and deeper cuts in expenses could change it.

The Alerus Center says it was $508,000 in debt as of Sept. 30.

Under the city's contract with the management firm VenuWorks, whatever losses the Alerus Center incurs on its operational side, the firm must pay back out of its management fee. The fee is based on revenues rather than expenses. Last year, it totaled $175,000 and, this year it is projected to total $183,000.

Information from: Grand Forks Herald, http://www.grandforksherald.com PANTRIES VENISON Pantries aim for donations of 700 deer BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) A North Dakota program that distributes venison to the needy hopes to get 700 deer from hunters this fall.

The North Dakota Community Action Partnership, which administers the Sportsmen Against Hunger Program, accepted only deer killed with arrows last year, fearing that firearm-shot meat might contain lead fragments. The group says it will resume accepting deer killed with lead bullets.

Officials in North Dakota and other states have warned about eating venison killed with lead ammunition since last year, when a Bismarck physician conducting tests using a CT scanner found lead in samples of donated deer meat.

State health officials continue to recommend that pregnant women and children younger than 6 avoid meat from deer killed with lead bullets.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-29-09 1059CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list