Wayne Byers Show Weekdays on CSi 2

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Increasing clouds. Areas of fog. Lows in the lower

30s. East winds around 5 mph.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Areas of fog in the morning. Highs in

the mid 50s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the mid 30s.

Southeast winds around 5 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. Southeast winds

5 to 10 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in

the mid 30s. Highs in the mid 50s.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain in the

evening, then slight chance of rain and snow after midnight. Lows

in the mid 30s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

Highs in the lower 50s.

 

There are a few chances for precipitation this week, but only with

very light amounts. The next chance for precip is Tuesday night

into Wednesday, however the latest model runs are rather low and

sparse with respect to precipitation There’s a better chance for

precipitation Friday into Saturday.

 

St. Paul  (CSi) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is preparing to support local flood fight efforts in North Dakota.

 

The Corps received a request for assistance from the state of North Dakota March 24. The Corps mobilized its contractor, Tunheim Construction, from Moorhead, Minnesota, to support flood fight operations near Grafton, North Dakota, which is along the Park River. The Corps plans to build temporary emergency levees within the city to protect critical infrastructure. The work is expected to begin today, March 27, and should finish Friday, March 31.

 

In addition to activities in northeastern North Dakota, the Corps is monitoring conditions within the Souris River basin and is coordinating with federal, state and local officials as the spring snowmelt gets closer. The Corps sent a reconnaissance team to the basin March 22 to get a better understanding of the conditions.

 

The nearly 600 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, employees working at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states serve the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. Through the St. Paul District Fiscal Year 2016 $78 million budget, nearly 1,250 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $120 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.

 

LIDGERWOOD, N.D. (AP) – Two brothers suffered hypothermia but survived following an attempt to rescue a dog from a lake in Richland County.

Sheriff Larry Leshovsky says a dog belonging to one of the brothers broke through the thin ice on Grass Lake Sunday. One man attempted to rescue the dog and broke through the ice. The  second man tried to rescue his brother and also went through the ice.

Leshovsky says that by chance the brothers’ shouts for help could be heard some distance away because there was little wind. Lidgerwood firefighters responded to a 911 call and pulled the men, Jeff and Jesse Lyons, from the water. They were taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Breckenridge. The dog did not survive.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has vetoed a measure that would limit employee bonuses from the governor.

Burgum on Monday rejected the bill, saying it “places unprecedented and intentional restrictions” on a governor’s ability to recruit and retain key employees.

It was Burgum’s first veto of a bill since the Republican won the governorship in November.

The measure was spurred after then-Gov. Jack Dalrymple approved nearly $100,000 in retention bonuses for five staffers in 2015. It was the first time a governor had used the bonus program.

Leaders of both parties criticized the bonuses, and the president of the union that represents more than 11,500 public employees said the bonuses to Dalrymple’s inner circle hurt state employees’ morale.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Legislature has endorsed a bill that relaxes rules for reporting oil field spills.

The Senate approved the bill 31-14 on Monday that no longer requires companies to report spills 10 barrels or less that are contained at a well site. A barrel is 42 gallons.

The House passed the measure in January. Companies are still required to report spills that escape from a well site, and they must clean up all spills.

Northwest Landowners Association Chairman Troy Coons says his group of more than 500 ranchers, farmers and property owners opposed the bill. Coons says all spills should be reported.

State data show there were more than 1,250 spills contained to well sites last year, and more than half of them were less than 10 barrels.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Hollywood actress Shailene Woodley has reached a plea deal that calls for no jail time over her involvement in protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline in North Dakota.

The “Divergent” star was among 27 activists arrested Oct. 10. She livestreamed her arrest on Facebook.

She initially pleaded not guilty to criminal trespass and engaging in a riot, misdemeanors carrying a maximum punishment of a month in jail and a $1,500 fine.

Woodley signed a court document Friday agreeing to plead guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct, serve one year of unsupervised probation and forfeit $500 bond. The agreement is awaiting a judge’s approval. Woodley was scheduled to stand trial this Friday.

Opponents of the $3.8 billion pipeline worry about potential environmental damage. About 750 protesters have been arrested since August.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Spring has arrived, and that means load restrictions on North Dakota roads.

The state Transportation Department says load limits are in effect beginning this week on all highways in North Dakota.

The weight restrictions guard against damage to roads made susceptible by the spring thaw. They’re lifted when roadbeds have stabilized enough to handle normal traffic.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — More parents in North Dakota are opting for private schools and homeschooling at a time where the debate regarding school choice has grown into a national conversation.

The  North Dakota Legislature considered launching a two-year study this year on the feasibility of a more formal school choice program. The bill passed into the House but was later turned down in the Senate.

While there are no charter schools and very few virtual schools in the state, recent data shows more parents are already choosing an alternative education for their kids.

Light of Christ Catholic Schools president Gerald Vetter says more parents are choosing private schools because they better align with the family’s philosophies and religious beliefs.

A Department of Public Instruction report shows nearly 2,000 students enrolled in Burleigh County private schools this year.

 

 

In sports…

PHOENIX (AP) — NFL owners approved the Oakland Raiders’ move to Las Vegas at the league meetings on Monday.

The vote was a foregone conclusion after the league and Raiders were not satisfied with Oakland’s proposals for a new stadium, and Las Vegas stepped up with $750 million in public money. Bank of America also is giving Raiders owner Mark Davis a $650 million loan, further helping convince the owners to allow the third team relocation in just over a year.

The Rams moved from St. Louis to Los Angeles in 2016, and in January the Chargers relocated from San Diego to LA. The Raiders likely will play two or three more years in the Bay Area before their $1.7 billion stadium near the Las Vegas strip is ready.

Las Vegas, long taboo to the NFL because of its legalized gambling, also is getting an NHL team this fall, the Golden Knights.

 

In world and national news….

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is calling on Russia to immediately release all peaceful protesters arrested over the weekend during a large anti-government demonstration. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the U.S. “strongly condemns the detention of hundreds of peaceful protesters throughout Russia.” Spicer says people everywhere deserve a transparent and accountable government, as well as “the ability to exercise their rights without fear of retribution.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is continuing its tough talk against “sanctuary cities,” which shelter people living in the country illegally by refusing to help the federal government enforce immigration laws. Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he is “urging states and local jurisdictions to comply with these federal laws.” He says the Justice Department will require compliance with immigration laws in order for the cities to receive grants through the Office of Justice Programs. The Obama administration had a similar policy in place.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A fire official in Oakland, California, says one person has died in a fire at a three-story residential building. Battalion Chief Erik Logan says 15 people were rescued and four were taken to hospitals with non-critical injuries. Officials say 50 or 60 residents lived in building that was still smoldering as firefighters continued to pour water to douse the flames. The building is in a mixed-use area with warehouses and some homes.

NEW YORK (AP) — A white racist accused of fatally stabbing a 66-year-old stranger on a Manhattan street because he was black says he’d intended it as “a practice run” in a mission to deter interracial relationships. James Jackson says in a jailhouse interview with the Daily News that his ideal society is “1950s America.” The victim, Timothy Caughman, was alone and collecting bottles for recycling when he was attacked from behind last week. Jackson’s lawyer has said there are “obvious psychological issues.”

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Adele fans who didn’t catch her on her world tour that’s winding down may be out of luck in the future. The New Zealand Herald reports Adele told the audience during Sunday night’s show in Auckland that “touring isn’t something I’m good at” and she doesn’t know if she “will ever tour again.” The concert was Adele’s last one before she formally finishes the tour in her hometown of London with four sold-out dates at Wembley Stadium this summer.