CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 10 mph.

.TONIGHT…Clear. Lows in the upper 50s. Northeast winds 5 to

10 mph shifting to the south after midnight.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds around 5 mph

shifting to the east in the afternoon.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 60. Southeast winds

around 5 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds 5 to

10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower

60s. Highs in the mid 80s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers

and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 60.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with chance of showers and slight

chance of thunderstorms. Lows around 60. Chance of precipitation

30 percent.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers in the

morning. Highs in the lower 80s.

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)   Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist says Stutsman County Commission Chairman, Mark Klose Tuesday  signed a drought emergency declaration for Stutsman County.

Bergquist says, the intent of the declaration is to document to the State of North Dakota and to the public the extent of the worsening dry conditions.  Since early spring, Stutsman County has experienced very limited rainfall with some areas of the County approaching six inches below average precipitation.  Lack of rainfall has severely stressed or damaged pasture land and crops, along with feed and water supplies for livestock.

The declaration also takes into account the heightened potential for rural fires and the adverse economic impacts on Stutsman County’s agribusiness.  The dry conditions constitute an eminent threat of unrecoverable losses, damages and hardship to the local economy where recovery is no longer possible for the 2017 growing season.

According to state law, the drought declaration signed by Commissioner Klose can only remain in effect for seven days without approval by the entire County Commission. The continuation of the declaration will be discussed at the regular meeting of the Stutsman County Commission on Tuesday, August 1st.

An aerial photo of the burned area was taken by Medina Fire Chief, Brian Rau.

The fire started as a result of normal haying operations and burned approximately 170 acres.

Stutsman County has not yet been in the Very High and/or Extreme Fire Danger Ratings.  But, Bergquist says,for anyone haying CRP, it would be a good idea to have firefighting tools on hand such as water and a shovel etc.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office looking for  a fugitive possibly hiding in the Jamestown or Carrington areas.

42 year old Robert Teron Lee, has active warrants from the sheriff’s office for felony possession of controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor contempt of court and misdemeanor fleeing or eluding a police officer.

Lee currently has a suspended driver’s license.

No information was available on the type of vehicle he is driving.

Lee is described as a black male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 222 pounds, has a stocky build, with brown eyes and black hair.

Any person who spots Lee is urged to use caution and call 9-1-1 or Stutsman County Communications at  701-252-1000.

 

Valley City (CSi)  Crazy Daze in Valley City is today with food, games,  prizes and entertainment.

Merchants will offer bargains throughout the day as well.

 

Update…

Jamestown  (CSi)  On Tuesday July 18, 2017, at 4:25 a.m., a 1996 Dodge 3500 rolled on Interstate 94, about 5 miles east of Jamestown. The vehicle was eastbound on I-94 when it entered the median and rolled.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports, there were two occupants, 17-year-old Daniel Short, Belcourt, and 54-year-old Wilmer Nadeau, Fargo.

Short was ejected during the crash and died on scene. Nadeau suffered minor injuries and was transported to Jamestown for medical treatment. After his release, Nadeau was initially charged with misdemeanor DUI.

He was later charged with five felonies including two counts of criminal conspiracy, two counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle and one count of child neglect. He also faces one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

He is currently held at the Stutsman County Jail.

The Dodge was stolen from a rural residence in the Spiritwood area. The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigating agency for the stolen vehicle and are assisting the NDHP with crash investigation.

 

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council Meeting  in Special Session on Tuesday at City Hall, unanimously   approved a request from the JSDC for the City’s share of  $2,847,502.71 from Economic Development  Funds, paid from the City Sales Tax Fund, to create the Airport Business Park.

 

The cost to develop that land is estimated at $2.8 million.

The funding is on a 90/10 city and county split. The city’s share is $2,238,502.71.  The county share at $284,750.28.

Around 87 acres on Highway 20 North would be developed into industrial and aeronautical use lots.

The airport will lease the land from JSDC, and the airport  tenants will be direct lessee.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67 followed by replays.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Following Special Jamestown City Council meeting, the Council’s Finance & Legal Committee, Building Planning & Zoning Committee, and Civic Center & Promotion Committee met at City Hall.

 

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE BUSINESS:

 

Considered any action deemed necessary concerning communications received from the Frontier Village Association and Jamestown Tourism.

At the June 20, 2017  Jamestown City Council Civic Center and Promotion Committee meeting, Frontier Village Association, President Nellie Degen appeared, handing out material  in a seven-page document, including a copy of a letter of appeal concerning a decision by the Jamestown Tourism Board of Directors to not fund some projects at the village.

At the March 16, 2017 Tourism Capital Construction grant application meeting, the Tourism Board, voted unanimously to grant the General Store project, with $12,750 coming from the Capital Construction Fund, and $5,250 from the Grant Requests Fund. The board tabled the request for the Depot Building project, in the amount of $7,205.

 

The Tourism Grant/Exeuctive Board has discussed the FVA’s policies as they relate to Tourism funding and the Association’s accountability of grant dollars, along with general operational issues at Frontier Village.

 

At Tuesday’s City Council Committee meeting, Council Member Pam Phillips who holds the Civic Center and Promotion Committee portfolio said the committee has reviewed the information.

Nellie Degen said, any grant funding requests will also be submitted to the City Council for review.

She claimed that City Council Member Phillips has a conflict of interest.

However, Phillips said she is not a member of the Tourism Advisory Board, and attends meetings as a City Council representative and does not vote on grant requests.

Frontier Village Secretary Tina Busche read a letter from museum official Skip Drake, highlighting accomplishments by the FVA and Jamestown Tourism. He recommends ending any conflict between the two entities.

He disagrees with Tourism taking over the management of Frontier Village.

Busche said the FVA will be requesting $14,702 in grant funding for projects, in the next Capital Construction grant request period.

 

Jamestown Tourism Director Searle Swedlund outlined the budget requests, approvals and denials, and reapplication of the Depot building project request.

 

Mayor Andersen said the city has approved Capitol Construction Guidelines and feels comfortable with the guidelines, adding that Jamestown Tourism has abided by the guidelines, concerning allocation of funds and does not feel the guidelines need changing.

The city committee took no action of the Frontier Village appeal at Tuesday’s meeting.

Mayor Andersen said the city may look into any potential conflict of interest that Council Member Phillips may have.

In her opinion Phillips has no conflict of interest.

 

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE BUSINESS:

The committee recommends approval of the 2018 JSDC Budget.  CEO Connie Ova said salaries and expenses are the only increases showing in the budget, with the dollars requested the same as in 2017’s budget.

 

The committee will look into amending a Section of the City Code pertaining to Temporary Alcohol Permits.

 

The committee recommends the City assuming the cost of all special assessments currently assessed and to be assessed as part of Paving District #16-42 in exchange for the deed of proposed Lot 1, Eastwood Second Subdivision (a replat of Lots 1 & 2, Block 1, Eastwood Estates Subdivision).

 

The committee recommends moving to the city council without recommendation entering into a license agreement with Arvig Enterprises, Inc., to place 10,634 feet of conduit and fiber optic cable within the City right-of-way as specified in the license agreement.  Clarification will be made concerning the project possibly in connection with Verizon Wireless.

Arvig is a subcontractor for Century Link.   Century Link has yet to come to an agreement with the city with the franchise agreement.

The committee recommends a flat two percent fee.

 

The committee recommends approving  the request from Stutsman Harley-Davidson for a dance permit in the parking lot located at 2501 3rd Ave SW on September 9, 2017.

 

Informational: The Second Reading of an Ordinance to amend and re-enact Chapter 5, Sections 5-1 and 5-11.1, of the City Code pertaining to Alcoholic Beverages, is scheduled for the August 7, 2017, City Council meeting.

 

Public Hearings on and final approval of special assessments are scheduled for the August 7,

2017, City Council meeting on the following districts:

  1. Seal Coat , Patching, Construction and Reconstruction District #16-41
  2. Sanitary Sewer & Water District #16-31 & #16-61
  3. Southwest Water Main Replacement District #16-62

Departmental and financial reports were presented.

 

The committee discussed a procedure to fill the City Administrator’s position with the retirement of City

Administrator Jeff Fuchs, effective December 31, 2017.

The required a six month notice was served by Fuchs to the city.

Fuchs serves as City Administrator and City Auditor.

 

Mayor Andersen pointed out a service provided by a firm to handle the advertising, background check and other provisions is available, including interviews if the city so chooses.  Another option is to conduct a service in-house.

The committee recommends hiring a firm previously used by the city, AE2S

 

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE

The committee recommends approving the plat of Eastwood Second Subdivision, a replat of Lots 1 & 2, Block 1, Eastwood Estates Subdivision.

 

Chairman of the City Planning Commission, Dave Hillerud spoke relative to Planning Commission action items for 2017.  He said the Planning Commission wants to compare its priority list with the city, and receive any input from the city.  He said SRF Consultants is available for input.

He said the Planning Commission will present the action items to the City Council, for consideration for the city Ordinance.

The committee recommends  working with the Planning Commission.

The committee meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67, followed by replays.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  An Impasse Hearing with the North Dakota Education Fact Finding Commission as been set for Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 4-p.m. at the Jamestown Middle School’s  Thompson Community Room.

Students, teachers, school employees and interested citizens are welcome to attend.

The commission will hear all sides of the impasse and provide a recommendation for both sides to review within 20 days of the hearing.

An impasse was declared July 19, 2017, when negotiations ended on a two-year agreement between the Jamestown Education Association and Jamestown Public School Board.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Bikers For Kids Ride, will benefit the Community Action Weekend Backpack for Kids Program.

The Ride takes place on Saturday August 5, 2017 with registration at 10-a.m., kickstands up at 12 noon, starting from Double D’s Hydrosealing & Landscaping, at 1513 Business Loop East.

$15 per driver, and $10 per passenger.

All motorcycles and cars welcome.

Lunch will be served after the run.

Monetary donations can be sent to:

Dan Pausing, Vice President

324 3rd Avenue, SW

Jamestown, ND  58401

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  On  Wednesday September 6, 2017 R.M. Stoudt in Jamestown offers the Ford Drive 4 UR Community program, to benefit Disabled American Veterans.

From 5-p.m.,to 7-p.m., every no obligation test drive taken in a 2017 Ford model, Ford and R.M. Stoudt will donate $20 to the DAV.

Ford has been loyal friend of DAV since 1922, when Henry Ford provided 50 Model T Fords to help disabled World War I veterans attend the organization’s Second National Convention.

 

 

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) — A truck driver is being treated for life-threatening injuries after a crash in the western North Dakota oil patch.

The Highway Patrol says 62-year-old Raymond Sosinski failed to negotiate a curve on a McKenzie County road shortly before 4:30 a.m. Monday. The semitrailer he was driving overturned.

Sosinski was injured and flown to a Minot hospital for treatment.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Firefighters have rescued two men trapped in a fishing boat on the Red River in Fargo.

The boat got stuck on some rocks in the river Tuesday while the water rushed around it. Rescuers used ropes to move the men to safety, an effort that took about an hour. The men were not hurt.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Bismarck man and woman are facing felony charges for allegedly passing out drunk in a van and leaving two toddlers unattended.

Officers found the 1-year-old boy and 2-year-old boy playing alone Thursday. Police said the children were in overly dirty diapers and one was covered with rotten milk.

Officers say they found an open jug of milk in the van, along with food, dirty diapers, a bottle of vodka and an unmarked pill bottle.

Authorities allege 40-year-olds Andrea Addison and Gary Pulido both were drunk and passed out. Addison is the grandmother and caretaker of the two children, who were turned over to Social Services.

Addison and Pulido face felony child neglect charges. Court documents don’t list an attorney for them. A telephone listing for Pulido isn’t in service.

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Residents of a North Dakota apartment building that suffered five electrical fires in three days are allowed back home.The Minot Daily News reports that residents of the 152 units in North Highlands Apartments in Minot were permitted to return Friday, following repairs and a final inspection.

City Fire Marshal Brian Anderson issued an evacuation order July 12.

The first fire happened when water entered the building through a leak in the foundation and compromised the electrical system in the elevator equipment room. That was followed by four fires in electric clothes dryers.

Anderson says the underground wiring and service main breakers will be replaced. He has said no one is to blame for the fires.

A North Highlands representative apologized to residents and said their patience was appreciated.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Crop scouts are touring North Dakota this week to get a better idea of just how the drought will affect wheat supplies.

North Dakota is a top producer of wheat. Farmers, seed company representatives, wheat millers and others are surveying fields to determine how much of the crop will be available.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s in-field survey for July pegs the national average for spring wheat yields at 40.3 bushels per acre compared to about 47 bushels per acre last year.

The Bismarck Tribune says the estimated averages in North Dakota are down from 46 bushels to 38 bushels per acre, likely helped by fields in the northeast corner of the state that haven’t been affected by the drought.

 

 

In sports..

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Parks Program will be hosting the first ever inter-Park Kickball Tournament at Al Boelke Fields (McElroy Park) on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at 1:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.  Those who regularly attend the Parks Program, are asked to wear the color corresponding with your park: McElroy – light blue, Meidinger – hot pink, Nickeus – green, Leapaldt – royal blue.  If you do not usually attend a particular park, you will be assigned to a team.

There will be no supervised Parks Program activities at Meidinger Park, Nickeus Park, and Leapaldt Park Tuesday afternoon.  Please provide transportation for your child. Supervision will run from 1:30-4:00 at McElroy Park. If you have any questions, call the Parks and Recreation office 252-3982.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   GOLF “fore” ANGELS is a fun event with a heartbreaking cause.   The news release from Jamestown Regional Medical Center says, every year, families experience the loss of an infant due to miscarriage or some other unexpected and unforeseen circumstance. To help those families, Dave and Dr. Mandy Sorlie created a fund to help pay medical bills for those parents at Jamestown Regional Medical Center Foundation.

The Sorlies created the Advocating for Neonatal Grief and Early Loss Support (ANGELS) fund in 2015. The fund is available to anyone who experiences an infant loss at JRMC at the gestation of 16 weeks or greater due to unavoidable circumstances. Grant amounts and recipients are determined by the availability of funds. The grant covers the labor and delivery charges after insurance payments.

GOLF “fore” ANGELS supports those grants. Last year, the event raised $7,000.

Dr. Sorlie says, “Losing a child is devastating. We hope the ANGELS fund can help a family grieve by reducing the burden of medical expenses.”

Shotgun for GOLF “fore” ANGELS is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, August 5, 2017, at Jamestown Country Club. The event also includes a luncheon, raffle, auction and wine pull at 1 p.m.

The public doesn’t have to golf to get involved, said JRMC Foundation Director Lisa Jackson. In lieu of registering, participants can also donate a silent auction item or bottle of wine, become a sponsor, make a tax-deductible gift directly to the fund, bring a team to golf or attend the luncheon only.

To volunteer, sponsor or participate, contact the JRMC Foundation at (701) 952-4880 or foundation@jrmcnd.com.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The University of Jamestown men’s basketball team is hosting a 3-on-3 tournament on Saturday, August 12, 2017.

The Tournament is for boys and girls ages 4-12 with an adult division (18 and older). Cost is $80 per team. Deadline to register is Aug. 7. Four players max per team. Divisions will be divided by gender and grades entering the 2017-18 school year.

Games will be played at the Larson Center and Hansen Center on the UJ campus.

For more information contact Michael Iseman (Michael.iseman@uj.edu or Danny Neville (dneville@uj.edu).

Registration forms can be mailed to: UJ Men’s Basketball, 6096 College Lane, Jamestown, N.D., 58405. Tournament schedule and rules will be emailed to contact person for each team by Aug. 9.

 

Williston  (CSi) The Jamestown Post 14 legion team on Tuesday evening in Williston, was defeated 13-2 by Mandan in the play-in game to reach the state tournament. Mandan got off to a 8-0 lead with a seven-run second inning and never looked back.

The 2017 season ends for Post 14, as Jamestown finishes with a 7-20 record. Mandan will play Fargo Post 2 Wednesday in Williston.

 

PRONGHORN POPULATION

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s pronghorn population and the popular hunting opportunity it provides both have taken a blow this year.

A summer survey conducted by the Game and Fish Department concluded pronghorn numbers are down 14 percent from last year. The agency is offering 410 licenses for the fall hunt — a 44 percent drop from 2016.

Big Game Management Supervisor Bruce Stillings cites both a tough winter and extreme drought this summer.

Pronghorn in recent years have rebounded from harsh winters in the early 2000s that decimated the population and prompted Game and Fish to cancel hunting seasons four years in a row.

State Wildlife Chief Jeb Williams says this year is a setback. But he and Stillings say there’s reason for optimism, especially with good fawn production this year.

 

MLB…

 

INTERLEAGUE

 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Taylor hit two run-scoring doubles and the Los Angeles Dodgers became baseball’s first team to reach the 70-win mark with a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night. Kenta Maeda pitched five solid innings for the Dodgers, who have won four straight and 35 of their last 41.

Final Chi Cubs 7 Chi White Sox 2

Final N-Y Yankees 4 Cincinnati 2

Final Houston 5 Philadelphia 0

Final Texas 10 Miami 4

 

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Final Toronto 4 Oakland 1

Final Tampa Bay 5 Baltimore 4

Final Kansas City 3 Detroit 1

Final Cleveland 11 L.A. Angels 7, 11 Innings

Boston 4 Seattle 4 (Top 13th)

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Final Milwaukee 8 Washington 0

Final St. Louis 3 Colorado 2

Final Atlanta 8 Arizona 3

Final N-Y Mets 6 San Diego 5

Final San Francisco 11 Pittsburgh 3

 

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Maya Moore scored a season-high 27 points, Lindsay Whalen made a go-ahead baseline jumper with 47.7 seconds left and the Minnesota Lynx beat the New York Liberty 76-75 on Tuesday night. Sylvia Fowles had 18 points and nine rebounds for Minnesota. Whalen finished with 12 points.

Final Washington 85 San Antonio 76

Final OT Atlanta 99 Phoenix 91

Final Connecticut 93 Chicago 72

Final Dallas 84 Indiana 82

Final L.A. Sparks 68 Seattle 60

 

United…

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota United’s new soccer stadium in St. Paul will be called Allianz Field. The Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America has committed as the official sponsor of the stadium, slated to open in 2019.

 

Bison Preseason Poll…

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Perennial Football Championship Subdivision power North Dakota State sits atop this year’s Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll, but narrowly. The Bison received 21 first-place votes and 380 total points to edge South Dakota State, which got 19 first-place votes and 379 total points. The two schools were conference co-champions last season.

 

NBA-WARRIORS-CURRY

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry has finalized his new contract, signing his $201 million, five-year deal after he reached agreement when the free agency period began July 1.

His contract initially was the richest ever, until James Harden topped it with a $228 million extension from the Houston Rockets.

NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant also signed his new contract worth approximately $53 million over the next two years.

On Tuesday, NBA champion Golden State announced its other signings of returning free agents.

Starting center Zaza Pachulia has a $3.5 million, one-year contract. Andre Iguodala, the 2015 Finals MVP, received a three-year contract with $48 million guaranteed; fellow key reserve Shaun Livingston is getting $24 million and three years, and David West earned a one-year deal for the veteran minimum $2.3 million.

 

BRAIN DISEASE-FOOTBALL…

CHICAGO (AP) — Research on 202 former football players found evidence of a brain disease in nearly all of them, from athletes in the NFL down to high school.

It’s the biggest update on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (ehn-sehf-uh-LAH’-puh-thee), or CTE. The disease has been linked with repeated head blows and the results confirm that it can happen even in young players. But the report only reflects high occurrence in samples at a Boston brain bank and many donors contributed because of troubling symptoms before death.

CTE was diagnosed in 177 former players or nearly 90 percent of brains studied.

Researchers still don’t know how common it is in football or the general population. Some players with repeated concussions never develop it.

The report is in Tuesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association.

 

NFL-PATRIOTS-HAWKINS RETIRES

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Receiver Andrew Hawkins says he is retiring from the NFL and donating his brain to research.

The six-year NFL veteran signed with the New England Patriots in May as a free agent. But he said in a video on uninterrupted.com that his body isn’t responding as he prepared for training camp.

The Concussion Foundation says Hawkins has pledged his brain for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. The degenerative disease is known to cause cognitive and behavioral problems in athletes, members of the military and others who sustained repeated head trauma.

The 31-year-old undrafted free agent out of Toledo played three seasons each with the Bengals and Browns. In 2014 he had career highs of 63 catches and 824 yards. He also helped the Montreal Alouettes win back-to-back Grey Cup championships in the Canadian Football League.

 

SWIMMING-WORLD RECORDS

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Lilly King of the United States, Kylie Masse of Canada and Britain’s Adam Peaty all broke swimming world records Tuesday at the world championships.

Peaty, in fact, did it twice.

Olympic gold medalist King eclipsed the 4-year-old mark in the 100-meter breaststroke, again beating Russian rival Yulia Efimova with a time of 1 minute, 4.13 seconds. The previous record of 1:04.35 was set by Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte.

Masse took down a mark from the rubber-suit era when she won the women’s 100 backstroke in 51.10 — 0.02 better than Britain’s Gemma Spofforth’s at 2009 worlds in Rome.

Peaty set a pair of marks in the 50 breaststroke, a non-Olympic event. He went 26.10 in the morning preliminaries, shaving 0.32 seconds off the standard he set two years ago in Kazan. He went even faster during the evening semifinals, touching in 25.95.

Five swimming world records have fallen in Budapest.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is attacking a Republican senator who opposed moving forward with long-promised legislation to repeal and replace “Obamacare.” Trump says on Twitter Wednesday that Sen. Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, “really let the Republicans, and our country, down yesterday. Too bad!” Murkowski was one of two Republicans who on Tuesday voted against allowing debate of GOP legislation to repeal much of the Affordable Care Act.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman will not be testifying Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, as originally scheduled, after the committee rescinded its subpoena. The committee withdrew its subpoena for Paul Manafort late Tuesday after Manafort agreed to turn over documents and to continue negotiating about setting up an interview with the panel. That’s according to Taylor Foy, a spokesman for Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Judiciary Committee chairman.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A senior Muslim official in Jerusalem says worshippers will not return to a contested shrine until Israel removes the new railings and cameras it installed after a deadly attack there. Ikrema Sabri, the head of the Supreme Islamic Committee, said that even after Israel removed metal detectors at the site more steps were required.

NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have long been able to make specific changes in DNA, but some researchers are now pursuing the more radical route of building an organism’s DNA from scratch. A lab in New York is heading an international effort do to this in yeast, a stepping stone to tackling human DNA.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The father of a former Marine killed in Syria says his son “had a mission” to advance democracy, which is why he joined the battle against the Islamic State group. The U.S. State Department told David Taylor Sr. of Florida that his son, 25-five-year-old resident David Taylor, died last month while fighting for a Kurdish militia. The militia group released a video saying Taylor was killed on July 16.