CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. South winds around 10 mph.

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. South winds 15 to 20 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. South winds

5 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Northwest winds

5 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in

the afternoon. Highs in the upper 50s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance

of rain showers and snow showers. Lows in the lower 30s. Highs in

the mid 40s to upper 50s.

.MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

Highs in the upper 40s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. A 40 percent chance of rain showers in

the afternoon. Highs in the mid 50s.

 

Jamestown   (CSi)  A Special meeting of the Jamestown Public School Board, was held Tuesday, to receive testimony from James Valley Area Career and Technology Center instructors being contemplated for non-renewal.

The Jamestown Public School Board issues contracts for the James Valley Career and Technology Center, as the operating board.

Jamestown Public Schools Superintendent Robert Lech recommended the Reduction in Force, due to lack of funding and uncertainty of funds.

At  the March 28, 2017, meeting, it was determined that there is a need for reduction in force of the three instructors of the James Valley Area Career and Technology Center, and directed the superintendent to determine within the Reduction in Force Policy, which instructors should be contemplated for non-renewal.

A motion was made, and approved unanimously for the board to contemplate the non-renewal of the instructor in the Oakes Farm Business Management program, Lance Brower, and the instructor in the Jamestown Farm Business Management Program, Virgil Dagman.

At this week Tuesday’s Special School Board meeting, the board voted 7-1 to not renew Lance Brower’s contract as instructor of the Oakes Farm Business Management Program. Steve Veldkamp voted in favor of keeping Brower.

The Oakes satellite program of the Farm Business Management Program will not continue past June this year, however the Jamestown program will continue.

The School Board voted 4-4, with rural board member Greg Allen not present, to not renew the contract of  the instructor of theFarm Business Management program at James Valley Career & Technology Center in Jamestown, Virgil Dagman. However, without a majority decision, the School Board voted 5-3 that the reasons for nonrenewal of Dagman’s contract were not substantiated.

 

 

Valley City  (CSi)  Valley City Fire Chief Gary Reterath says three dead calves were found in the Sheyenne River in Valley City over the past ten days.

At the Valley City Commission meeting, Tuesday, City Administrator David Schelkoph said fire and rescue crews extracted the carcasses from the river.  The first dead calf was taken out ten days ago, another one last week and the third one was taken from the Sheyenne River Tuesday.

Valley City Fire Chief Gary Retterath said the dead calves did not have tags, but one cattle producer northwest of Valley City told Retterath that they could have been his calves.

Retterath said he’s isn’t sure how the calves died or how they ended up in the Sheyenne River.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that it is well on its way to fixing problems with its suicide hotline.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Stutsman County Veterans Service Officer, David Bratton said the challenges facing the organization have been resolved.

Prior to opening the new Atlanta call center, the call rollover rate often exceeded 30 percent.

The current call roll over rate is less than one percent, with over 99 percent of all calls being answered by the Veterans Crisis Line.

That number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255), then choose Option 1.

A trained VA profession, specially trained to attend to emotional crises for veterans crises for Veterans Service members.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Great Plains Food Bank is coming to the Jamestown Civic Center, on Friday April 28, 2017 to distribute fresh fruit, vegetables, shelf stable items and more.

The time is set  between 11-a.m., and 1-p.m.

There is no need for a referral, and all in need of food assistance are welcome.

Those attending are asked to bring plastic bags or boxes.

For more information contact Andrea Block, at 701-476-9128.

On line www.greatplainsfoodbank.org

 

Jamestown (CSi)  Freedom Resource Center for Independent Living in Jamestown announces that the Get Smart on SCAMS  presentation will be on Thursday April 27, 2017 from 1:30-p.m.,  to 3:30-p.m., at the James River Senior and Community Center, in Downtown Jamestown.

The presenters will be  North Dakota Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, Investigator, Tonya Hetzler, and Jamestown Police Department, Detective, Dale Ackland.

The program will include details of current scams via telephone, mail, internet, and will include information of the Do Not Call policy, along with identify theft, and an explanation of the laws the Consumer Protection Division enforces.

The class is free.   Registration is encouraged by calling Freedom Resource Center, for Independent Living in Jamestown at 701-252-4693, or E-Mail:  bethd@freedomrc.org

 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota man has been jailed on $1 million cash bond after prosecutors charged him in the death of his wife.

Forty-three-year-old Irving Jumping Eagle appeared in court Wednesday following his arrest in the death of 33-year-old Alicia Jumping Eagle. She was found dead in the couple’s Sioux Falls apartment Monday.

Irving Jumping Eagle is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and four counts of manslaughter. His public defender did not return a phone call for comment.

Police allege Irving Jumping Eagle had blood on himself Monday afternoon while at a gas station about 300 miles away near Streeter, North Dakota.  The car he was driving hit a bridge pillar Tuesday morning in Deuel County, in eastern South Dakota. He was taken to a hospital and then jailed in Sioux Falls.

 

BELCOURT, N.D. (AP) — Authorities have detained suspects in unrelated threat incidents that prompted the school in Belcourt to go on lockdown two days in a row.

The  school was locked down Tuesday due to a gun threat on social media. On Wednesday, a person created a fake Facebook account to post threatening messages. Turtle Mountain Chippewa leaders said the incidents weren’t related.

Names of the suspects haven’t been released. The school district says  neither threat involved a student from the school.

 

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Left-leaning voters in North Dakota are grappling with Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp’s support of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee.

Most party faithful don’t expect much of a backlash over her approval of Neil Gorsuch, given that Heitkamp will likely face an intense re-election battle in a conservative state. But some have had enough.

Longtime Democrat Willy Kirschner, a Fargo attorney, says he believes Heitkamp favors too many Republican policies and he will no longer be supporting her.

Democrat Dan Spiekermeier, a farmer near Sheldon in southeastern North Dakota, is still unhappy at the way Republicans prevented President Barack Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland from getting a vote. But he says he thinks Heitkamp made the right call because it appears to him that Gorsuch is going to “judge fairly.”

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Two Democratic U.S. senators want the chief of the Army Corps of Engineers to explain the agency’s decision-making that ultimately paved the way for completion of the disputed Dakota Access oil pipeline.

Delaware Sen. Tom Carper and Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell are ranking Democratic members on Senate environment and energy committees. They sent a letter to Corps Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite Monday asking for a host of information including communications between the agency and Trump administration officials.

President Donald Trump pushed for the pipeline’s completion shortly after taking office in January, despite the desire of American Indian tribes that wanted more environmental study.

Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners last month finished building the $3.8 billion pipeline, which should be fully operational later this month and moving North Dakota oil to Illinois.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Standing Rock Sioux tribal leader is on trial on child sex abuse charges.

Fifty-four-year-old Cannon Ball District Chairman Robert Fool Bear has pleaded not guilty in federal court in Bismarck. He’s accused of repeatedly raping and physically assaulting a girl over the course of five years. He says the girl made up the story.

The Bismarck Tribune reports Fool Bear faces a minimum of 30 years in prison if convicted on the five felony counts against him.

 

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota farmers are gearing up for the spring planting season.

The weekly crop report from the federal Agriculture Department says producers are getting equipment ready and that April 19 is likely to be the average starting date for fieldwork in the state.

Topsoil moisture supplies are rated 95 percent adequate to surplus, and subsoil moisture is 92 percent in those categories.

North Dakota’s winter wheat crop is rated 79 percent in good to excellent condition.

In the ranching community, calving is 41 percent done and lambing is 60 percent complete.

 

(CSi)  President Donald Trump and North Dakota Governor, Doug Burgum have encouraged U.S. and state flags to be flow at half-staff Thursday April 6, 2017, as a mark of respect for the memory of astronaut and public servant John Glenn, who died Dec. 8, 2016 at the age of 95.  He will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday.

The Governor’s directive is in accordance with a proclamation issued by the President and will remain in effect until sunset Thursday, April 6, the day of Glenn’s interment.

 

 

In sports…

MLB…

INTERLEAGUE

Final Boston 3 Pittsburgh 0, 12 Innings

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Eduardo Escobar homered and drove in four runs and Miguel Sano added a bases-loaded triple to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 9-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

Hector Santiago (1-0) gave up one run and four hits and struck out four in five innings for the Twins. After starting last season 0-9 to set the stage for a miserable 103-loss season, the Twins are 2-0 for the first time since 2007.

Ian Kennedy (0-1) gave up three runs and three hits with five strikeouts and five walks in five innings for Kansas City. Paulo Orlando drove in the lone run for the Royals, who walked nine Twins batters on the day.

 

Final Baltimore 3 Toronto 1

Final Tampa Bay 4 N-Y Yankees 1

Final Cleveland 9 Texas 6

Final Houston 5 Seattle 3, 13 Innings

Final L.A. Angels 5 Oakland 0

Detroit at Chi White Sox 2:10 p.m., postponed

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Final Washington 6 Miami 4

Final Cincinnati 2 Philadelphia 0

Final Atlanta 3 N-Y Mets 1, 12 Innings

Final Milwaukee 6 Colorado 1

Final Arizona 8 San Francisco 6

Final L.A. Dodgers 3 San Diego 1

Chi Cubs at St. Louis 1:45 p.m.

 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Russell Westbrook wound up scoring 45 points, tying his career-high with eight 3-pointers, and handing out 10 assists and just nine rebounds in a 103-100 win over Memphis. So the triple-double watch continues for another game after the Thunder guard missed taking the NBA record from Oscar Robertson.

 

Final Miami 112 Charlotte 99

Final Toronto 105 Detroit 102

Final Houston 110 Denver 104

Final Cleveland 114 Boston 91

Final L.A. Lakers 102 San Antonio 95

Final Golden State 120 Phoenix 111

Final L.A. Clippers 112 Dallas 101

 

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

Final Buffalo 2 Montreal 1

Final Washington 2 N-Y Rangers 0

 

BREWERS MOVES

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have claimed utilityman Nick Franklin off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays.

To make room on the 40-man roster Wednesday, the Brewers designated right-hander Michael Blazek for assignment.

Franklin is expected to report to the Brewers on Friday when they open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs. At that point, a player will need to be trimmed from Milwaukee’s 25-man roster.

Franklin was drafted 27th overall by Seattle out of high school in 2009. He hit .270 with six home runs and 26 RBIs in 60 games last season for the Rays. For his career, the switch-hitter has batted .219 with 22 home runs and 84 RBIs in 234 games.

Blazek was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs this spring. He was 3-1 with a 5.66 ERA in 41 games for Milwaukee last season.

 

MASTERS

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Masters favorite Dustin Johnson fall down a staircase at his rented home further scrambled what was already predicted to be a wild first round. Augusta National can bedevil the world’s best in tame conditions, but a forecast calling for steady winds between 20-30 mph — with gusts up to 40 mph — will put a premium on hitting fairways and greens. And if the already treacherous greens dry out, putting could border on the comical.

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and former U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson spent much of soggy Par 3 Contest playing with their children.

 

In the first major championship since Arnold Palmer’s death last September, the Masters is going all out to remember his impact on the club where he won four times and spent his later years hitting the ceremonial opening tee shot.

 

 

In world and national news…

BEIRUT (AP) — President Bashar Assad took an enormous gamble if his forces were behind the chemical attack in northern Syria: committing a war crime just as the U.S. and most Western leaders made clear they are no longer seeking his immediate removal. Though Assad can count on the backing of his top allies, Russia and Iran, he has revived international outrage, at a time when the Trump administration is still formulating its policy on Syria.

BEIRUT (AP) — Turkey’s justice minister says results from autopsies conducted on three Syrians brought to Turkey after this week’s assault in Idlib province show they were subjected to a chemical weapons attack. The statement comes as international outrage is growing over the harrowing attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in northern Syria. In France, the country’s foreign minister is urging that President Bashar Assad’s government be prosecuted over its alleged use of chemical weapons.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Key votes are set today in the escalating Senate battle over President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch. Forty-four Democrats and independents will try to block Gorsuch by denying Republicans the 60 votes needed to proceed to final passage. Republicans intend to respond by unilaterally changing Senate rules to remove the 60-vote filibuster requirement for Gorsuch and all future Supreme Court nominees, reducing it to a simple majority in the 100-member Senate.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The battle over Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to replace the late Justice Anontin Scalia on the Supreme Court is posing a special challenge for Democrats in states Donald Trump carried comfortably in the presidential election. Deciding which way to vote poses considerations beyond solidarity with the party caucus. It’s a particularly tense environment for 10 Democrats.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump hosts President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the world’s two largest economies and carbon polluters are taking dramatically divergent paths on climate policy. With Trump threatening to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord, Xi is poised to become the world’s foremost leader on climate change.