WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) The FBI has formally announced that it will establish a regional office in the western North Dakota oil patch.
The federal agency says it anticipates the Williston office will be fully staffed and operational later this year. FBI spokesman Kyle Loven says it's unclear how many agents will be stationed there but that it will likely have similar staffing levels to other regional offices.
Senators Heidi Heitkamp and John Hoeven have been petitioning the federal government to open a permanent office.
Heitkamp said Thursday the region needs more federal support to fight crime ``right in the eye of the storm.'' She said the announcement of a permanent office is a needed step in controlling crime in the region as its population increases.