Bonnie & Friends

After a brutal stretch of 90-degree heat, Bonnie Amistadi and Jace Denman kick off Friday morning with high hopes for much-needed rainfall across the Fargo-Moorhead metro. Chief Meteorologist Dean Wysocki breaks down the afternoon storm trajectory, promising cooler temperatures ahead even as humidity levels stay sticky. The local news block delivers intense stories, including a fake police chief phone scam, a man caught bringing a loaded revolver to the Clay County Courthouse, and a SWAT team standoff in Grand Forks. On the sports desk, Big Game James McCarty joins Jace to recap the Minnesota Twins getting shut out by Kansas City, Byron Buxton's latest hip injury, and the Red Hawks' thrilling walk-off victory. Plus, Lawn & Garden expert Don Kinsler drops by to help save dormant lawns, and the duo explores a unbelievable survival story out of Montana. Key Moments Fake Police Chief Scam Warning: Fargo Police alert residents about a scammer spoofing the department's main phone number and impersonating Police Chief Travis Stefonowitz to demand personal information over fake drug trafficking cases. Courthouse Loaded Gun Incident: A 41-year-old Moorhead man faces four felony charges after bringing a loaded revolver into the Clay County Courthouse during a hearing and making threats against the presiding judge. Grand Forks SWAT Standoff: Police use chemical munitions to arrest a 56-year-old man who barricaded himself inside his apartment and threatened to shoot officers following an argument with a juvenile. 10-Mile Hike with an Impaled Pole: A nurse hiking Montana's Granite Peak survives a freak accident after falling and getting impaled through the armpit by a 44-inch steel-tipped hiking pole—then proceeds to hike 10 miles over six hours to get to a hospital. Red Hawks Walk-Off Win: Trip Clark paces the Fargo-Moorhead offense with two RBIs, including a clutch walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Lincoln Salt Dogs 7-6. Dormant Lawn Survival Guide: NDSU Extension Horticulturist Don Kinsler explains how Kentucky bluegrass lawns hunker down during drought and why dormant grass needs at least a quarter-inch of water every four to six weeks to keep the crown alive. The 20-Year Rotting Fish Mystery: A tiny community near Vancouver, British Columbia finally discovers the source of a 20-year town stench: 110 abandoned tanks containing 330,000 gallons of rotting, fermented fish sauce from a closed factory.

Welcome back to another lively edition of Bonnie & Friends on WDAY Radio, broadcast live from the Corwin Subaru Studios! Hosts Bonnie Amistadi and Jace Denman navigate a humid Red River Valley morning while tracking long-awaited rain chances and temperatures dipping back into the 80s. Today's show delivers a dramatic blend of high-stakes local news, bizarre true-crime briefers, and regional sports updates. The hosts cover a loaded revolver brought directly into the Clay County Courthouse, a major civil lawsuit against a UND department chair for substituting his own sperm in 1980s fertility treatments, and a SWAT team standoff in Grand Forks. On the sports desk, Big Game James McCarty and Jace break down the Minnesota Twins getting shut out by Kansas City, the Fargo-Moorhead Red Hawks' walk-off win, and the Minnesota Lynx's 8-game winning streak. Plus, the duo unearths a mind-boggling story of a Montana hiker walking 10 miles while impaled on a 44-inch walking stick, a 53-year-old message in a bottle, and the "Question of the Morn" exploring daily life hacks. Key Moments Loaded Gun at Clay County Courthouse: A 41-year-old Moorhead man faces four felony charges after bringing a loaded revolver into the Clay County Courthouse during a hearing and threatening staff that he knew where the presiding judge lived. UND Department Chair Sperm Lawsuit: Dr. Dennis Lutz, chair of the UND Obstetrics and Gynecology department, faces a civil lawsuit alleging he substituted his own sperm during a patient's 1980s fertility treatments at a Minot clinic, resulting in two biological daughters. SWAT Standoff in Grand Forks: Police use chemical munitions to flush out 56-year-old Ricardo Sipita after he barricaded himself inside a 1st Avenue South apartment following reports of yelling at a juvenile and threatening to shoot officers. The 10-Mile Impaled Hike: Jace and Bonnie share a grotesque survival story out of Montana, where an experienced hiker slipped and was impaled under the armpit by a 44-inch steel-tipped walking stick, proceeding to hike 10 miles over six hours to reach the trailhead for help. Red Hawks Walk-Off Victory: The Fargo-Moorhead Red Hawks defeat the Lincoln Salt Dogs 7-6 thanks to a clutch walk-off RBI double by Trip Clark in the bottom of the ninth inning. Elizabeth Smart to Headline Women Connect: The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber announces that Elizabeth Smart will serve as keynote speaker for the 2026 Women Connect celebration on September 22nd. Fake Police Chief…

Welcome back to another lively edition of Bonnie & Friends on WDAY Radio, broadcast live from the Corwin Subaru Studios! Bonnie Amistadi and Jace Denman hold down the fort as the Red River Valley swelters through an intense July heatwave, tracking 90-plus degree days and looking ahead to long-awaited rain chances. The episode delivers a dynamic blend of regional news, sports shakeups, and unusual headlines. The hosts cover an ongoing SWAT standoff in North Fargo, a multi-thousand-dollar tuition waiver audit at Valley City State University, and an official disaster declaration in South Dakota after heat-related livestock losses. Over on the sports desk, Big Game James McCarty and Jace break down Royce Lewis’s walk-off heroics for the Minnesota Twins, Jose Sermo’s record-shattering 170th career home run, and the Minnesota Lynx’s 8-game winning streak. Plus, the duo unearths the 1952 ocean discovery that birthed modern airline safety speeches, highlights a 50-inch corndog challenge at the Fargo Street Fair, and debates the worst DIY home improvement blunders. Key Moments South Dakota Heat Claims Livestock: Acting South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden issues a stark warning as prolonged 100-degree temperatures cause severe cattle feedlot losses and short hay crops across the state. North Fargo SWAT Standoff Arrest: Police take Christopher Pankowski into custody without incident following a high-stakes SWAT response at a North Fargo residence after previous attempts to locate him on felony warrants failed. Royce Lewis Delivers Walk-Off Win: The Minnesota Twins rally past the Kansas City Royals with a thrilling two-out, two-run walk-off triple by Royce Lewis in the bottom of the ninth to secure a 3-2 victory. Jose Sermo Sets All-Time HR Record: Fargo-Moorhead Red Hawks slugger Jose Sermo launches his 170th career American Association home run, officially surpassing Jabari Henry for the most in league history. 1952 Flight Crash Shaped Airline Safety: Deep-sea sonar searchers locate the 1952 wreckage of Pan Am Flight 526A off Puerto Rico, illustrating how the panic during its ditching directly created modern pre-flight safety demonstrations. The 50-Inch Street Fair Corndog Challenge: To mark the 50th anniversary of the Downtown Fargo Street Fair, organizers host a challenge where contestants must eat 50 inches of footlong corndogs in under five minutes to compete for a $500 prize. 40,000 Visitors at Roosevelt Library: Executive Director Robbie Lau announces that over 40,000 guests have explored the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora since its July 4th debut. DIY…

Welcome back to another scorching summer edition of Bonnie & Friends on WDAY Radio, broadcasting live from the Corwin Subaru Studios! Hosts Bonnie Amistadi and Jace Denman break down the relentless regional heatwave as temperatures push near 100°F across the Red River Valley following Fargo's triple-digit weekend spike. The show is packed with breaking news, sports updates, and fun community stories. Local headlines cover a national blood shortage alert, Governor Tim Walz visiting wildfire operations in Ely, and the dismissal of a longtime broadcast icon. Over on the sports desk, Big Game James McCarty and Jace recap the WNBA All-Star Game, the Minnesota Lynx's hot streak, and Jose Sermo's ongoing home run tear for the Fargo-Moorhead Red Hawks. Plus, Shirley Lipon from Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons drops by the studio for an official cookie-and-chef pairing draft for the upcoming Cookies, Corks, and Brews fundraiser. Key Moments Relentless Regional Heatwave: Bonnie and Jace track ongoing 90-plus degree temperatures across North Dakota and Minnesota, following a weekend where Fargo hit 101°F for the first time in four years and Bismarck reached a record 107°F. National Blood Shortage Warning: The American Red Cross declares a national blood crisis for only the second time in history, citing a four-year summer low in donations and an urgent need for Type O blood. Boundary Waters Wildfire Response: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz visits Ely as over 1,000 state, federal, and National Guard personnel battle lightning-sparked wildfires that have consumed more than 64,000 acres in Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties. Cookies, Corks, and Brews Draft: Shirley Leiphon, Director of Development for Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons, joins the studio to reveal chef and brewery pairings for the 5th Annual Cookies, Corks, and Brews event, matching local culinary talent with Thin Mints, Samoas, and the new "Exploremore" cookie. 53-Year-Old Message in a Bottle: The hosts share a heartwarming story out of New Jersey, where a man cleaning up wetlands discovered a 1973 glass bottle containing a quirky message written 53 years ago by a 9-year-old girl about "ruthless sponge fishermen". Jose Sermo's Record Run: Red Hawks slugger Jose Sermo launches his 24th home run of the season, extending his all-time career American Association home run record to 169. Purple Rain Heading to Broadway: The Schubert Organization officially announces that a stage musical adaptation of Prince's iconic film Purple Rain will begin previews on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre in…

Welcome back to the Corwin Subaru Studios for a hot Monday edition of Bonnie & Friends! Hosts Bonnie Amistadi and Jace Denman recap a scorching weekend across the Fargo-Moorhead metro after local temperatures topped 101°F for the first time in four years, while Bismarck set a blistering record at 107°F. The show covers an array of local news, regional developments, and sports updates—including the Twins' high-scoring victory over the Athletics, the Minnesota Lynx returning to action with Napheesa Collier back on the court, and the Winnipeg Goldeyes edging out the Fargo-Moorhead Red Hawks. Over in regional news, the hosts detail a cybersecurity notification from the Fargo Park District, a fatal train accident, a tragic loss for the Medora Musical cast, and the emergence of West Nile virus cases in Cass County. Plus, the duo explores hilarious small-town law enforcement Facebook posts, a daring Space Needle base-jump, an ill-fated gas station sign repairer stranded 130 feet in the air, and Minnesota's brand-new pet medication donation law. Key Moments Record Triple-Digit Scorcher: Bonnie and Jace review the weekend heatwave as Fargo officially hit 101°F—the first triple-digit reading in four years—while Bismarck reached a record-breaking 107°F. Fargo Park District Data Breach Notice: Notifications have been mailed to individuals potentially impacted by an unauthorized access incident at the Fargo Park District that occurred between September and October of last year. Tragic Loss in Medora: The Medora Musical community mourns the sudden passing of Michael Lewis Smith, key member and keyboardist for the Coal Diggers Band, leading to weekend show cancellations and special memorial performances. West Nile Virus Reappears in North Dakota: Health officials confirm West Nile virus cases appearing across the state, including two confirmed human cases in Cass County, prompting warnings to take precautions against mosquitoes. Minnesota Lynx Welcome Back "Queen Phee": The Minnesota Lynx ride a 7-game winning streak with the best record in the WNBA (22-6), while star forward Napheesa Collier makes her highly anticipated season return. Stranded 130 Feet in the Air: A worker fixing a gas station sign in Illinois became trapped inside a 130-foot sign structure for five hours after his lift failed, requiring state troopers to bring in a specialized boom lift when fire department ladder trucks couldn't reach him. Chisago County's Viral Police Blotter: Jace and Bonnie share hilarious Facebook posts from the Chisago County Sheriff's Office, featuring sarcastic pro-tips for suspects wearing dog collars and…

Welcome back inside the Corwin Subaru Studios! On this Wednesday edition of Bonnie & Friends, Bonnie Amistadi returns from a brief break to rejoin Jace Denman and Big Game James McCarty. The crew enjoys a pleasant 81°F day before an intense weekend heatwave threatens to push local temperatures near 100°F. Today's show covers major local developments, from police responding to a wild Pokemon card release at a local warehouse club to the shocking dismissal of a legendary University of North Dakota sports broadcaster. On the sports desk, the team tracks the Minnesota Lynx preparing for a star player's return, the Red Hawks sweeping a doubleheader, and a tough stretch for the Twins. Plus, the hosts unpack historical aviation discoveries, bizarre retail security measures, and agricultural technology shifts. Key Moments Sam's Club Pokemon Chaos: Dozens of eager shoppers gathered outside the Fargo Sam's Club for an exclusive Pokemon card release, drawing police response after the set sold out in under 30 minutes and disappointed crowds attempted to open new memberships on the spot to bypass purchase limits. UND Broadcaster Tim Hennessey Dismissed: University of North Dakota hockey radio broadcaster Tim Hennessey was let go after 45 seasons behind the microphone, confirming in an exclusive interview that Athletic Director Bill Chaves cited compensation concerns during his dismissal meeting. Mourning Coach Coleman Lind: The Jamestown community mourns the tragic loss of 24-year-old University of Jamestown women's basketball graduate assistant coach Coleman Lind, who was killed in a three-vehicle crash on I-94 in Grant County, Minnesota. 1952 Pan Am Crash Wreckage Located: Deep-sea sonar searchers finally located the wreckage of Pan Am Flight 526A off the coast of Puerto Rico, highlighting how the tragic 1952 crash and subsequent passenger panic directly birthed modern commercial airline pre-flight safety demonstrations. Red Hawks Sweep RailCats: The Fargo-Moorhead Red Hawks earned a doubleheader sweep over the Gary SouthShore RailCats (winning 10-9 and 7-4), with Jose Sermo launching his 24th home run of the season to continue his dominant stretch. Napheesa Collier's Anticipated Return: Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa "Queen Phee" Collier was listed as probable to make her long-awaited season debut against the Seattle Storm following offseason surgeries on both ankles. Garbage Truck Oxygen Explosion: The team reviews shocking footage from Milwaukee where a garbage truck compactor ignited a sudden explosion after pressurized oxygen tanks were improperly thrown in the trash, injuring a sanitation worker. Steak Cages at Walmart:…

Welcome back to another lively Tuesday edition of Bonnie & Friends on WDAY Radio, broadcast live from the Corwin Subaru Studios! With Bonnie taking a couple of days off, hosts Jason Denman and Big Game James McCarty hold down the fort to break down local sports, bizarre news, and upcoming station giveaways. The guys unpack a packed sports slate, including the Minnesota Lynx extending their win streak to six games, a tough loss for the Twins in Cleveland, and Jose Sermo's ongoing home run tear for the Fargo-Moorhead Red Hawks. On the regional and national news front, the show covers a heart-wrenching sentencing error in Colorado, a record-breaking 400-year-old Virginia farm, and NDSU's major $3 million research grant. Plus, James shares an unforgettable wedding story involving cutoff shorts and a two-piece bow tie, while the show explores the latest Guinness World Record for head-balancing toilet paper. Key Moments Lynx Keep Rolling in Seattle: James recaps an electric 105-102 victory for the Minnesota Lynx over the Seattle Storm. Kayla McBride poured in 33 points and rookie sensation Olivia Miles added 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists to push Minnesota's win streak to six games. Jose Sermo's Home Run Barrage: The Fargo-Moorhead Red Hawks edged out the Gary SouthShore RailCats 7-6. Slugger Jose Sermo launched his 24th home run of the season—his 7th in just four games since the All-Star break—extending his American Association career home run record to 169. The Bow Tie & Keg Run Blunder: Answering the "Question of the Morn" about strange wedding experiences, James recounts helping set up a friend's wedding venue. After struggling for an hour to learn how to tie a two-piece bow tie, he drove around town picking up kegs and supplies wearing cutoff basketball shorts and a formal bow tie. The Miscalculated Prison Release: The hosts discuss the case of Colorado inmate Bill Haley, who spent 17 years in prison, entered a community corrections program, obtained an apartment and a job, only to be sent back to prison for 3.5 additional years after a state audit found his sentence credits were miscalculated. 195 Rolls of Toilet Paper: Serial Guinness World Record holder David Rush recaptured a bizarre title by successfully balancing 195 rolls of toilet paper on his forehead for 30 seconds. Mainland Farm's 400-Year Legacy: Ag Director Bridgette Riedel drops in to share that "Mainland Farm" in James City County, Virginia, holds…

Welcome back to the Corwin Subaru Studios for a jam-packed Thursday edition of Bonnie & Friends! Waking up to an overcast 71°F and a suffocating, tropical 71-degree dew point, hosts Bonnie Amistadi and Jace Denman navigate a historic regional weather double-whammy. The National Weather Service has locked down a Heat Advisory alongside a dangerous, air quality alert as trailing smoke from massive lightning-sparked wildfires in the Boundary Waters blankets the Red River Valley in a hazy, unhealthy red category. The local ledger updates a tragic high-profile cold case, a major multi-million dollar Red River infrastructure boost, and upcoming community openings. Over on the sports desk, Jace celebrates a career milestone for Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, reviews the Results of the MLB All-Star Game, and previews the highly anticipated launch of NDSU's video game challenge. Plus, the duo unearths a bizarre campground sunglasses extraction, details a viral 1,000-pound forest outlaw, and explores a hidden family monument in the Amistadi addition. Key Moments The Unhealthy Boundary Waters Smog Alert: Bonnie alerts listeners to a historic air quality alert hitting Clay and Wilkin counties. Fueled by dry conditions and high winds, smoke and low-hanging haze from 17 active forest fires in the Boundary Waters have plummeted regional breathing conditions into the unhealthy red zone, prompting high-speed water-bombing plane responses up north. The Homicide Arraignment: Legal briefs update a major downtown Fargo cold case after 23-year-old J. Von Allen officially enters a plea of not guilty to charges of murder, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment following his extradition from a Minneapolis jail cell. The $24 Million Red River Bridge Boost: US Senator John Hoeven pushes through a massive federal grant from the Department of Transportation to replace three structurally deficient and weight-restricted bridges spanning the Red River across Cass and Traill counties. Reeve Claims the Crown: Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve secures her spot as the absolute winningest coach in WNBA history. Fueled by a hard-fought 86-80 comeback victory over the Connecticut Sun, Reeve notched her historic 380th regular-season win. The Stolen Rain Conspiracy: Ag Director Bridgette Riedel drops by to highlight a bizarre federal crop insurance fraud case out of Colorado. Local ranchers systematically vandalized 16 separate public rain gauges—punching holes in collection bowls and sealing funnels with silicone—to block precipitation data and collect $8.5 million under a weather-index forage plan. The High Roller Las Vegas Sweepstakes: Jace breaks down…

Welcome back inside the Corwin Subaru Studios for a hot, sticky Tuesday edition of Bonnie & Friends! Bonnie Amistadi and Jace Denman recap a rocky night of severe weather that brought a confirmed EF-2 tornado to Becker County and dropped nearly an inch of rain across parts of the metro. While things have calmed down this morning, the region is still locked under an Extreme Heat Warning with heat index values threatening to hit a stifling 105°F. The show is firing on all cylinders with massive offseason sports updates, headlining a wild offseason blockbuster trade rumor that would send LaMello Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In local news, the team updates a major downtown Fargo cold case arrest, a supreme court blocking of state term limit alterations, and upcoming metro community project openings. On a lighter note, the hosts explore a quirky scientific study involving window-smeared Greek yogurt, a copycat air-fryer hack for Omaha's famous "Monster Twinkie," and the underground history of 1980s government cave cheese. Key Moments The EF-2 Twister Aftermath: The hosts review the survey results from the National Weather Service, confirming that an 115 mph EF-2 tornado carved an 800-yard wide path through Floyd Lake, leaving significant property damage and three non-life-threatening injuries in its wake. Fargo’s Full-Time Reorganization: A historic shift takes place at Fargo City Hall as Josh Boschee officially takes his oath of office as the city's first-ever full-time mayor, leading his first commission meeting alongside newly sworn-in commissioners Nikki Gullickson and Chad Peterson. The Double-Time Red Card: Jace recaps a heartbreaking 4-1 World Cup exit for Team USA against Belgium, noting a dramatic pre-game twist where FIFA officially revoked Folarin Balogun's automatic suspension, allowing him to play under a strict one-year probationary period. The Window Yogurt Cooling Hack: Jace highlights an eccentric scientific experiment conducted by Dr. Ben Roberts in the UK. The study verified that painting plain, 10% fat Greek yogurt onto home windows can create a solar-radiation film that cools a house by over six degrees during extreme heatwaves. The Underground 1980s Cave Cheese: Jace takes a nostalgic trip into federal agriculture policies from the late 1970s and 80s, revealing how the US government built up massive dairy stockpiles to protect milk prices, resulting in millions of pounds of five-pound processed cheese blocks stored away in limestone caves across Missouri. Pringles Hot Dog Buns: Jace shares a bizarre food trend making…

Welcome inside the Corwin Subaru Studios for a sticky, sleep-deprived Monday edition of Bonnie & Friends! Hosts Bonnie Amistadi and Big Game James McCarty (filling in early for Jace) track a dangerous summer heatwave. With a morning start already at a humid 74°F, an Extreme Heat Warning is locked down as heat index values look to climb to a staggering 110°F. The local news block is heavy with big transitions and bizarre traffic disruptions, detailing the public swearing-in of Fargo’s first full-time mayor and a messy, 12-bison carcass spill that entirely shut down I-94. Over on the sports desk, the team celebrates a series finale victory for the Minnesota Twins heading into the All-Star Break. Plus, Ag Director Bridgette Riedel drops a shocking legal brief exposing a massive, multi-million dollar federal insurance fraud operation where local ranchers systematically sabotaged public weather gauges to pretend it wasn't raining. Key Moments The 110-Degree Heat Wave: Bonnie issues an urgent safety warning for the FM metro, tracking a stifling setup of 100°F temperatures mixed with an incredibly sticky 69-degree dew point. Listeners are urged to self-monitor for heat exhaustion, check on neighbors, and keep kids and pets out of vehicles. Bison Carcass Highway Spill: Commuters on eastbound I-94 face absolute chaos after a semi-truck pulling an open trailer braked suddenly in the West Fargo construction zone, launching 12 to 15 bison carcasses and remains across the only open lane. Fargo Restructures City Hall: A historic shift takes place at Fargo City Hall as Josh Boschee officially takes his oath of office as the city's first-ever full-time mayor, leading his first commission meeting alongside newly sworn-in commissioners Nikki Gullickson and Chad Peterson. The Stolen Rain Conspiracy: Ag Director Bridgette Riedel details a jaw-dropping federal crop insurance fraud investigation out of Colorado. Two local ranchers systematically vandalized 16 separate National Weather Service rain gauges—punching holes in brass collection bowls, cutting wires, and sealing funnels with silicone—to illegally collect $8.5 million in payouts under a forage plan that triggers when rainfall drops below historic levels. Twins Complete the Series Run: James breaks down a dominant 4-2 series finale victory over the Los Angeles Angels heading into the All-Star Break, fueled by seven quality innings from Taj Bradley on the mound and a solo home run from Trevor Larnick. The Thousand-Pound Forest Outlaw: A bizarre federal crime ledger reveals the arrest of a squatter inside the Tonto…