KX News: Workforce Safety and Insurance

Blunt Case To State Supreme Court

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:48:00 GMT

Former Workforce Safety and Insurance Director, Sandy Blunt, took his case to the State Supreme Court. Blunt was convicted last December of misspending more than twenty-six thousand dollars of WSI money. Blunt was accused of breaking a law whe

Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:...

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:13:00 GMT

Prosecutors have rested their case against a woman charged with manslaughter in the death of her infant daughter. Stevie Buckley's trial began Tuesday. The 18-year-old Buckley is charged in the Feb. 4 death of her 6-month-old daughter, Kyra, who

Supreme Court Hears Blunt Appeal

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:18:00 GMT

Sandy Blunt's attorney asked the North Dakota Supreme Court today to overturn Blunt's conviction. Blunt was North Dakota's Workforce Safety and Insurance director when he was convicted of misspending more than 26-thousand dollars from the agency. But hi

Supreme Court Hears Blunt Appeal

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:23:00 GMT

Blunt Case in ND Supreme Court

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:09:00 GMT

Former Workforce Safety and Insurance Director, Sandy Blunt, takes his case to the State Supreme Court. Blunt was convicted last December of misspending more than twenty-six thousand dollars of WSI money. Blunt was accused of breaking a law w

ND Supreme Court hears appeal of former work comp director...

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:54:00 GMT

North Dakota's Supreme Court is reviewing the appeal of a former state workers compensation director who was convicted of misspending more than 26-thousand dollars in agency money. Sandy Blunt was convicted of a single felony charge last Decemb

ND Supreme Court to hear Blunt appeal Oct. 21

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:01:00 GMT

North Dakota's Supreme Court will hear the appeal of former state workers compensation director Sandy Blunt next month. Blunt is appealing his December conviction on charges that he misspent more than $10,000 in Workforce Safety and Insurance fu

Here is the latest North Dakota news from The Associated Press...

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:20:00 GMT

Gov. John Hoeven says he's adopted an advisory board's recommendation that the state workers compensation agency give no dividend credits on business insurance bills during the 2009-10 billing period. The dividends have cut employers' bills by as muc

Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:...

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:15:00 GMT

North Dakota's college presidents and university system chancellor will get 4 percent raises in the next budget year. The state Board of Higher Education approved employment contracts for the chancellor and top college administrators at its mee

Board: No work comp rate credits for ND employers

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:52:00 GMT

North Dakota's workers compensation advisory board won't approve a new round of dividend credits for companies this year. The decision means many businesses will be paying higher bills. In the past four years, the Workforce Safety and Insurance

Chamber Session for Workers

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:22:00 GMT

Running a business is never an easy task, but being aware of changes in the business world isn't so hard if you're a Chamber of Commerce member. Twice a year, the organization holds Business Update Workshops for its members that provide information on

WSI Director Chosen

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:36:00 GMT

There's been plenty of turmoil at WSI in the past year but today there is good news... Governor Hoeven says who he's chosen a director for the agency... Former North Dakota Highway Patrol commander Bryan Klipfel is the new Director of Workforce Sa

ND legislators not impressed by work comp choice

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:04:00 GMT

North Dakota's House Republican majority leader says the choice of a new workers compensation director is a big mistake. Gov. John Hoeven appointed former Highway Patrol commander Bryan Klipfel as director of the Workforce Safety and Insurance a

Hoeven Appoints Klipfel, Carlson To Manage WSI

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:00:00 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today appointed Bryan Klipfel as director of Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) and Clare Carlson as deputy director and public affairs officer for the agency. Klipfel formerly served as superintendent of

12wsi

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:57:00 GMT

Governor Hoeven names a new state WSI director today. Good Afternoon, I am Sarah Gustin, thanks for joining us. Less than an hour ago Governor Hoeven appointed Former North Dakota Highway Patrol Superintendent Bryan Klipfel as the new Workers Compen

Former Highway Patrol superintendent to be workers comp director...

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:22:00 GMT

Former North Dakota Highway Patrol commander Bryan Klipfel has been named the state's new workers compensation director. Gov. John Hoeven announced the appointment today. Klipfel starts March 16. It's the governor's first hire since North

Bryan Klipfel named ND workers comp director

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:12:00 GMT

Former North Dakota Highway Patrol superintendent Bryan Klipfel has been named the state's new workers compensation director. Gov. John Hoeven announced Friday that he's chosen Klipfel for the job. Klipfel starts March 16. It's the governo

Blunt Sentenced

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:39:00 GMT

The Former Workforce Safety and Insurance Director is sentenced...and will spend no time in jail. Sandy Blunt is given a two year deferred sentence in South Central District Court. In December, a jury found Blunt guilty of misspending public f

Blunt Sentenced

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:16:00 GMT

Blundt Sentenced

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:43:00 GMT

No jail time. That's the sentence for the Former Workforce Safety and Insurance Director. Sandy Blunt was given a two year, deferred sentence after being found guilty of misspending government funds. Judge Bruce Romanick says he received nine

Reaction to Blunt sentence mixed at Legislature

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:35:00 GMT

North Dakota lawmakers have been following the Sandy Blunt case. And they have mixed reactions today to the sentence given to the former state workers compensation director. Blunt was convicted of a felony charge of misspending public money. Tod

Former ND director gets deferred sentence

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:47:00 GMT

North Dakota's former workers compensation director has been given a two-year deferred sentence with no jail time and a $2,000 fine for misspending public money. The deferred sentence means Sandy Blunt's record will be cleared if he breaks no la

Blundt Hopes to Avoid Jail

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:38:00 GMT

The lawyer for former North Dakota workers compensation director Sandy Blunt asked a judge not to sentence Blunt to jail. Blunt is to be sentenced tomorrow in Bismarck for misspending over $10,000 in public money while he was director of the Workforce Sa

ND workers comp monopoly gets ND House support

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:14:00 GMT

North Dakota's workers compensation insurance monopoly still has strong support in the state House. Representatives voted 86-7 Wednesday to defeat a bill that would have allowed North Dakota employers to buy insurance from a private company.

Legislative Headlines

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Here's a look at some of what has happening today in Bismarck at the State Legislature. A group of lawmakers is pushing for a two year tuition freeze a the state's public colleges. The bill would provide 26.5 million dollars to North Dakota's University

Legislative Headlines

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:47:00 GMT

In Legislative News today...North Dakota's House has approved limiting the governor's power to change workers compensation rates. The rates are set every year and North Dakota's Workforce Safety and Insurance agency uses an independent actuary to recomme

Legislative Headlines

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:08:00 GMT

No 'crisis' but ND pension funds took beating last year...

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:25:00 GMT

North Dakota's pension funds for state employees and teachers lost more than 20 percent of their value last year. Steve Cochrane (COCK'-run) runs North Dakota's Retirement and Investment Office. Today he briefed members of the North Dakota

No 'crisis' but ND pension funds take beating

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:12:00 GMT

North Dakota's pension funds for state employees and teachers lost more than 20 percent of their value last year. State investment director Steve Cochrane briefed members of the [[kxtopic:north-dakota-house:t[North Dakota House]:t]] and Senate a

Former ND workers comp director seeks acquittal on felony charge...

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:35:00 GMT

Former North Dakota workers compensation director Sandy Blunt is asking a judge to throw out his felony conviction. Last month, a jury said Blunt was guilty of misspending Workforce Safety and Insurance funds. The charge carries a possible 10-y

Mixed Verdict for Blunt

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:00:00 GMT

The verdict is "guilty" and "not guilty" for Sandy Blunt. Blunt was in charge of North Dakota's department of Workforce Safety and Insurance when he was accused of mis-spending state funds at the agency. And today, a Bismarck jury agreed that Blunt was

Attorney says Blunt shouldn't do time for felony

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:55:00 GMT

An attorney for Sandy Blunt says the former North Dakota workers compensation director shouldn't serve any time in prison. A jury found Blunt guilty today of a single felony count of misspending public funds while he was chief executive officer

Blunt Case To The Jury

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:55:00 GMT

Is how Sandy Blunt spent WSI money illegal? The decission is now up to jurors. After hearing testimony in the Sandy Blunt case for four days Jurors are now making their decission. The former CEO of Workforce Safety and Insurance is accused of miss

Jurors return to deliberate fate of Sandy Blunt

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:23:00 GMT

Jurors in Bismarck have started deliberating their first full day of deliberating the fate of former North Dakota workers compensation director Sandy Blunt. The jury of six women and six men got the case shortly after 3 p.m. yesterday. They left

Blunt Case To The Jury

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:12:00 GMT

Blunt

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:17:00 GMT

Is how Sandy Blunt spent WSI money illegal? The decision is now up to jurors. After hearing testimony in the Sandy Blunt case for four days, jurors are now making their decision. The former CEO of Workforce Safety and Insurance is accused of misspendin

Interim workers comp chief staying on longer

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:01:00 GMT

The interim chief executive officer of the North Dakota workers compensation agency will be staying on a little longer than he had planned. Former Fargo mayor Bruce Furness has been on the job since March as the interim CEO of the Workforce Safe

Trial of former workers comp director wrapping up

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:06:00 GMT

Attorneys are preparing their final arguments in the felony trial of former North Dakota workers compensation director Sandy Blunt. Prosecutors finished presenting their case with testimony from the top attorney at the Workforce Safety and Insur

9 names submitted for workers comp board

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:17:00 GMT

A nominating committee has submitted the names of nine people to Gov. John Hoeven for four open seats on the state workers compensation board of directors. Hoeven has until the end of the year to fill the seats on the 11-member board that overse

Former workers comp director begins defense in felony case...

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:44:00 GMT

North Dakota's former workers compensation director is starting his defense in his felony case. Prosecutors accuse Sandy Blunt of misspending almost $50,000 in agency funds when he was running the Workforce Safety and Insurance agency. They say

Prosecutions question agency spending

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:15:00 GMT

Witnesses in the trial of former workers compensation director Sandy Blunt say Blunt allowed a former Workforce Safety and Insurance administrator to collect more than $7,000 in sick leave pay even though he was not sick and planned to resign.

Testimony in Blunt trial focuses on grant

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:44:00 GMT

A lawyer for North Dakota's workers compensation agency says former director Sandy Blunt offered a $150,000 grant to a firefighters group before a grant program was in place. Anne Green testified at the trial of Blunt, who is charged with two f

Blunt Goes To Trial

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:09:00 GMT

Former Workforce Safety and Insurance CEO Sandy Blunt is charged with two counts of misspending funds at WSI. Today he stood before a jury as opening statements got underway in his trial. Donnell Preskey has the details. (Lloyd Suhr) "with great power

Blunt Trial - Day 1

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:09:00 GMT

Sandy Blunt lead a state agency... today he's on trial for misspending your money... The trial starts today for the former CEO of Workforce Safety and Insurance, Sandy Blunt... He's charged with two counts of misapplication of entrusted funds

Prosecutor outlines 'illegal' bonuses for WSI employees...

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:25:00 GMT

A prosecutor is telling jurors today that former North Dakota workers compensation director Sandy Blunt paid more than 75-hundred dollars in illegal bonuses. Assistant Burleigh County state's attorney Cynthia Feland says the money went to three

Blunt on Trial

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:06:00 GMT

Did the Former Director of WSI, Sandy Blunt, misuse state dollars? He goes on trial for the crime today... Good Afternoon, I am Sarah Gustin, thanks for joining us. Sandy Blunt is charged with two counts of misapplication of entrusted property.

Trial for former workers comp director starts

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:06:00 GMT

A prosecutor says North Dakota's former workers compensation director ignored rules and ran the agency like a private company. Sandy Blunt is on trial for allegedly misspending funds at Workforce Safety and Insurance. He was the agency's directo

Blundt Jury Chosen

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:44:00 GMT

A jury has been seated in the trial of former North Dakota Workers Compensation Director Sandy Blunt. Blunt is facing two felony charges saying he misspent money for the Workforce Safety and Insurance agency and gave improper bonuses to some executives.

Workers comp board chairman stepping down

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:22:00 GMT

The chairman of the state workers compensation agency's board of directors says he won't seek another term on the board. Mark Gjovig is a businessman from Williston. His six-year term on the Workforce Safety and Insurance board ends in December.

WSI says premiums lowest in country

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:15:00 GMT

North Dakota's workers compensation agency says a national study has found it has the lowest premiums in the country. Workforce Safety and Insurance says the study undertaken every two years by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Ser

Workers comp extends application deadline

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:43:00 GMT

North Dakota's workers compensation agency has extended until Dec. 12 the deadline for people to apply for four open seats on the board of directors. The agency says it received only six applications, and was hoping for 12. Officials say p

Stenehjem says workers comp surplus not properly figured...

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:44:00 GMT

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says the state workers compensation agency fund surplus has grown higher than state law allows, and the agency has not figured it properly. Stenehjem issued a legal opinion today to state Auditor Robert Peterson,

AG says workers comp surplus too high

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:31:00 GMT

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says the state workers compensation agency fund surplus has grown higher than state law allows, and the agency did not include all its assets in figuring the amount. Stenehjem issued a legal opinion to state Audi

Judge won't move trial of former WSI director

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:06:00 GMT

A judge has denied North Dakota's former workers compensation director's request to move his criminal trial out of Burleigh County. Sandy Blunt faces two felony charges that accuse him of misspending Workforce Safety and Insurance funds during h

Blunt

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:37:00 GMT

A Burleigh County judge rules that Sandy Blunt the former director of Workforce Safety and Insurance will go on trial in Bismarck. Judge Bruce Romanick denied the defenses request to move the trial to Cass County because of publicity. Blunt is cha

Schafer on WSI

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:04:00 GMT

North Dakota voters have given control of Workforce Safety and Insurance back to the Governor. This comes after nearly two years of turmoil at WSI that led to criminal charges against former director Sandy Blunt. Eleven years ago the legislature took WS

Schafer on WSI

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:11:00 GMT

North Dakota voters give control of Workforce Safety and Insurance back to the Governor. This comes after nearly two years of turmoil at WSI that led to criminal charges against former director Sandy Blunt. Eleven years ago the legislature to

ND gov regains power to hire work comp director

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:35:00 GMT

North Dakotans have endorsed a proposal to allow the governor to hire the state's workers compensation director. An 11-member board now appoints the chief executive of the Workforce Safety and Insurance agency. Critics of WSI put an initia

Measures For Your Consideration

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:52:00 GMT

On your ballot Tuesday you'll find three initiated measures and one constitutional measure. Two of the four are quite contentious Measures One and Two. We look into them tonight. Here is Perry Olson. Measure one a constitutional amendment w

Measures For Your Consideration

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:25:00 GMT

Measures For Your Consideration

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:26:00 GMT

Sandy Blunt

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Former North Dakota workers' compensation director Sandy Blunt asking a judge to move his criminal trial from Bismarck to Fargo. Sandy Blunt faces two felony charges that accuse him of misspending Workforce Safety and Insurance funds during his time as t

Former ND workers comp director wants trial moved

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:55:00 GMT

A former North Dakota workers' compensation director is asking a judge to move his criminal trial from Bismarck to Fargo. Sandy Blunt faces two felony charges that accuse him of misspending Workforce Safety and Insurance funds during his time as

Auditor: Morale improvement in ND workers comp agency...

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:20:00 GMT

A state auditor says morale in North Dakota's workers compensation agency has improved. But Gordy Smith says there's still work to do to improve the agency's operations. Smith spoke today to the Legislature's interim Audit and Fiscal Review Comm

Insurance Commissioner Candidates Debate

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:52:00 GMT

On the state level the two candidates for Insurance Commissioner squared off tonight in a debate in Bismarck. Republican Adam Hamm and Democrat Jasper Schneider met in a debate organized by the League of Women Voters. Topics covered included what the

Bar at odds with workers comp

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:30:00 GMT

State workers compensation officials say a bar-restaurant in the Pembina County town of Crystal is defying court orders to buy workers compensation coverage for its workers. The Workforce Safety and Insurance Agency says it investigated a tip th

Report says claims not wrongly denied

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:39:00 GMT

The interim chief executive of the state's workers compensation agency say he's pleased with a new consultants report that found no evidence Workforce Safety and Insurance wrongly denied injured workers claims. Interim CEO Bruce Furness says the

WSI Leader Says Agency is Recovering

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:55:00 GMT

Though there's still a bit of wound-licking going on...the interim director the state's Workforce Safety and Insurance agency says things are gradually getting back to normal. Bruce Furness told members of Minot's Rotary today work performance is on the

Former ND workers' comp exec challenges firing

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:18:00 GMT

A former North Dakota workers' compensation executive is suing his former agency. James Long says he was illegally fired last March for helping an investigation into alleged criminal behavior at North Dakota's Workforce Safety and Insurance agen

ND work comp board's pay talk violated law

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:07:00 GMT

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says members of a North Dakota workers' compensation panel broke the law with private discussions about raising their own pay. Stenehjem says an e-mail exchange between two board members about the pay changes sho

Workers Comp Ballot Measure

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:30:00 GMT

Secretary of State Al Jaeger says a proposal to change how North Dakota's workers compensation agency is run will be on the statewide ballot in November. Jaeger says he has reviewed petitions submitted by the measure's supporters, and they contain eno

Work comp measure to be on ND ballot

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:16:00 GMT

ND AG says WSI meeting was illegal

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:09:00 GMT

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says directors of North Dakota's workers compensation agency broke the law by meeting in a restaurant without public notice. Stenehjem ordered the Workforce Safety and Insurance Governance Committee to draft minu

Schneider for Insurance Commissioner

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:38:00 GMT

The campaign season continues to gain momentum across the country and here at home. Today Democratic candidate for State Insurance Commissioner, Jasper Schneider, was in Minot touting his proposal for a state disaster fund. Schneider says natural disas

Hearing Set for Blunt

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:14:00 GMT

A court hearing for the former director of Workforce Safety and Insurance will be held later this month. Sandy Blunt faces felony charges of misapplication of entrusted property. Blunt's attorney has indicated his client will plead not guilty to

Blunt hearing set for Aug. 25

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:37:00 GMT

A court hearing is scheduled later this month for Sandy Blunt, the former state workers compensation director facing felony charges of misapplication of entrusted property. Blunt's attorney, Michael Hoffman, has indicated Blunt will plead not g

ND workers comp proposal submitted for ballot

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:43:00 GMT

Supporters of putting the governor in charge of North Dakota's workers compensation agency have turned in petitions to put the idea to a vote in November. The initiative would give the governor power to appoint the director of Workforce Safety a

ND workers comp proposal submitted for ballotmasg

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:08:00 GMT

Supporters of changing how North Dakota's workers compensation agency is run have turned in petitions to put their idea on the November ballot. The initiative would put the governor in charge of appointing the director of Workforce Safety and In

ND workers comp agency changes appeals process

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:15:00 GMT

North Dakota's workers compensation agency will resume using independent judges to review disputes over injury benefits. The agency's director says Workforce Safety and Insurance will use North Dakota's Office of Administrative Hearings to handl

ND Supreme Court revives workers comp charges

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:57:00 GMT

North Dakota's Supreme Court has reinstated two felony charges against former North Dakota workers' compensation director Sandy Blunt. A district judge dismissed the charges last year. The high court ruled South Central District Judge Robert Wef