BLUNT

Jury debating Blunt’s case

Jurors in the criminal trial of former Workforce Safety and Insurance CEO Charles “Sandy” Blunt deliberated about two hours Thursday before recessing for the evening. They are to begin again at 8:30 a.m. today.

By By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , December 19, 2008

Blunt trial ready for jury

BISMARCK — Closing arguments in the trial of former Workforce Safety and Insurance CEO Charles “Sandy” Blunt were scheduled for 12:30 p.m. today after the defense rested and prosecutors called one rebuttal witness this morning.

By Janell Cole , December 18, 2008

WSI witnesses testify spending was wrong

The prosecution rested its case Wednesday afternoon against former Workforce Safety and Insurance CEO Charles “Sandy” Blunt, a few hours after a former procurement officer testified she did little to rein in questionable spending at WSI because “there was a culture of fear there.”

By By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , December 18, 2008

WSI worker, state official tell of questionable spending

BISMARCK — A former procurement officer at Workforce Safety and Insurance testified this morning at Charles “Sandy” Blunt’s trial that she did not do more to put a stop to questionable spending at the agency because “there was a culture of fear there.”

By Janell Cole , December 17, 2008

Stories vary on Blunt’s sick-leave spending

A controversial former manager at Workforce Safety and Insurance testified Tuesday that it was not Charles “Sandy” Blunt who told him he could take paid sick leave when he was ousted at the agency. Two others testified on Tuesday that it was Blunt’s idea.

By By Janell Cole , N.D. Capitol Bureau , December 17, 2008

WSI official describes suspicious sick leave

BISMARCK — Former Workforce Safety and Insurance CEO Sandy Blunt allowed a controversial executive at the agency to collect several weeks of paid sick leave when he was not sick because Blunt felt sorry for him, a witness said this morning.

By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , December 16, 2008

State making more of a case against Blunt

BISMARCK — Burleigh County prosecutors upped the ante this morning at the start of the criminal trial for the former Workforce Safety and Insurance executive director.

By Janell Cole , December 15, 2008

Blunt’s trial to begin today

BISMARCK — Opening arguments in the criminal trial for the former executive director of the North Dakota workers’ compensation agency are scheduled to get under way today in Bismarck, weather permitting.

By Janell Cole , December 15, 2008

Attorneys pick jurors for Blunt trial

North Dakota’s former workers compensation director prepared for the start of his felony trial Monday after attorneys took less than a day to choose the jurors who will hear his case. Sandy Blunt faces two felony charges for allegedly misspending funds at North Dakota’s Workforce Safety and Insurance agency. The more serious of the two carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

By By Dale Wetzel, The Associated Press , December 12, 2008

Stenehjem won’t give AG’s opinion on payment to Blunt

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has declined to resolve an argument about whether North Dakota’s former workers compensation director was entitled to almost $128,000 worth of severance benefits. State Auditor Robert Peterson had asked Stenehjem whether the payment was legal in light of evidence that Sandy Blunt resigned shortly before the directors of Workforce Safety and Insurance voted on Dec. 6 to dump him. North Dakota law prohibits severance payments to employees who quit on their own. During followup work on an earlier audit, state auditors discovered an e-mail from Blunt that prompted questions about whether he quit before the board’s vote.

By By Dale Wetzel, The Associated Press , November 15, 2008

Lawmakers demand auditors’ Blunt records

Some legislators want to see what role state auditors may have played in the decision to prosecute former Workforce Safety and Insurance CEO Sandy Blunt. The Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee voted Monday to demand documents that have flowed between state Auditor Bob Peterson’s office and the Burleigh County state’s attorney’s office since July 1, 2005. The committee put a Dec. 1 deadline on its request.

By By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , October 23, 2008

Legislators move to legalize Blunt-style spending

Lawmakers are moving to clarify and expand the ability of all state agencies to provide employee service awards, bonuses, tuition reimbursement professional dues.

By Janell Cole , October 22, 2008

Auditor disputes payment to fomer WSI director

A new report says North Dakota’s former workers compensation director may have been ineligible for a $150,000 severance package because he resigned before the agency’s board of directors approved the payment.

By By Dale Wetzel, The Associated Press , October 20, 2008

N.D. Supreme Court reinstates charges against Blunt

BISMARCK — The state Supreme Court today reinstated felony criminal charges against former workers’ compensation chief Charles “Sandy” Blunt.

By By Janell Cole , June 30, 2008