BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The Latest on Gov. Doug Burgum’s Super Bowl trip:
4:15 p.m.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum says he will reimburse an electric utility $37,000 for tickets the company provided for him and his wife for Sunday’s Super Bowl in Minneapolis.
The governor and first lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum watched the game at no cost from a suite provided by Xcel Energy. The utility serves more than 90,000 customers in Grand Forks, Fargo and Minot.
Burgum says in a statement he will pay back Xcel Energy “to eliminate even the perception of any conflict.”
Burgum caught some criticism from within his own party.
GOP Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner says Burgum’s presence in the Xcel suite sent “a bad message.”
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12:39 p.m.
An ethics policy is being written for Gov. Doug Burgum and his staff.
Spokesman Mike Nowatzki says the policy was being drafted before the Republican governor caught some criticism for watching Sunday’s Super Bowl in Minneapolis in a stadium suite sponsored by Xcel Energy.
Nowatzki says the draft has been in preparation for months. He said he’s not sure when it will be done.
Burgum said before the game that he planned to use the opportunity to talk with Xcel officials about their service and infrastructure in North Dakota.
GOP Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner says Burgum’s presence in the Xcel suite sends “a bad message.”
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