CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow late in the morning. Highs in the upper 20s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.

.TONIGHT…Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Lows in the lower 20s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain and snow in the

afternoon. Highs in the mid 30s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Lows in

the lower 20s. South winds around 5 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s. Northwest winds

5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 20.

.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 30s.

Lows in the lower 20s.

.MONDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

.MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

Highs in the mid 30s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow.

Highs around 30.

 

Another clipper shifts through late Sunday night into Monday morning.

Another system is slated for Tuesday night and Wednesday. Once

this system shifts through, very cold air is then forecast to pour

into the northern high plains, and continue

 

So from Thursday of next week, through the Christmas

Holiday.  Much below normal temperatures remain on

track.

 

Remember under the light dusting of snow, there is a coating of ice from Wednesday evening’s freezing rain.  Pavement and sidewalks and parking lots are slippery.

While driving slow down and allow extra braking distances at intersections.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Airline boardings have surpassed the 11-thousand mark, through November this year.

The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission reports through November 2017 there were 11,941 boardings, compared to 10,283 through November of 2016 an increase of 16.12 percent.

In November this year boardings at Jamestown Regional Airport were 1,051 compared to 932 in November of 2016 an increase of 12.17-percent.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Tourism has planned new programs that will involve the community in 2018.

On a recent Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund said, an Interpretive Staffing Grant of $600 has been approved for anyone who wants to suggest an idea and work on the plan.  An application form can be found on the tourism web site. www.DiscoverJamestownnd.com

Also planned for 2018 is a Louis L’Amour project with several agencies cooperating in highlighting the life of the Jamestown native.

Swedlund said the project requires providing a space for visitors to visit and learn more.

He added that Fort Seward is looking at plans to develop a video presentation.

He said two kiosks were installed in 2017 at the Pipestem and Overlook trails.

He pointed out that Jamestown Tourism is working with the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation with the JSDC Workforce Development program.

Looking back on 2017, Swedund pointed out the improvements to the National Buffalo Museum including the new buffalo video presentation and viewing space, along with other remodeling that was done, and the return of the preserved White Cloud, located at the museum.

He said this year the museum had doubled its visitors.

He added that in 2017 tourism has update the grant request process to include requests from non-profit entities .

He said tourism continues to work with Newman Arena at the University of Jamestown and The Two Rivers Activity Center, with hosting athletic events.

He pointed out that the Jamestown Civic Center is working on booking events outside of athletic events, such as concerts and conventions.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  In a news release, the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce says, that it prides itself on its support for the local Jamestown community, including the numerous small business that reside in the area. When they thrive, we thrive.

The news release states, “That’s why the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) on small businesses healthcare needs to be immediately prevented from taking effect in 2018.”

Becky Thatcher-Keller, Executive Director of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, says,  “Many of our members are small businesses who offer health care plans as one of their many benefits. This tax will hurt them when it comes to their annual budget, forcing them to use funds reserved for other capital improvements to paying this tax.  We just cannot afford such a tax hike, especially before the holiday season when so many small business owners are planning out their budgets for next year, and working to grow their businesses.”

 

It goes on to say,  this federal tax is a component of the Affordable Care Act, a burdensome component that will hurt many small businesses and their employers. Employers who purchase certain health care plans for their employees will be affected, as will those who are self-employed and the employees who are receiving health coverage as part of their benefit. There will be an average hike of $500 in premiums during 2018 if the tax goes into effect.

Senator Heidi Heitkamp is a sponsor of a piece of legislation calling for a 2-year delay of the Health Insurance Tax. The chamber urgse Senator Hoeven and Congressman Cramer to join her to prevent this small business tax hike from coming back in 2018.

 

Valley City  (Chamber of Commerce)   The Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce informs residents that those  not able to attend one of the Streetscape Public Input Meetings, still have one more opportunity to voice thoughts or questions regarding the project.

Chamber Executive Kay Vinje says to E-mail Chad Petersen at KLJ with “Public Input Meeting” in the subject line:  chad.petersen@kljeng.com  or fill out the form attached to the chamber Email sent to members, to the same address.  The deadline to submit comments is December 26, 2017.

 

Valley City  (CSi) The Valley City Public Works office will be closing at noon, Friday. December 22, 2917 in observance of Christmas Eve, and will be closed all day Monday. Dec. 25th for Christmas Day.

The Transfer Station will be closing at 11:30 Friday, Dec. 22nd all day Saturday the 23rd, in observance of Christmas Eve and Monday December 25th for Christmas.

Friday’s garbage will be picked up Friday morning. Monday’s garbage will be picked up on Tuesday. Tuesday and Wednesday’s garbage will be picked up on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday routes will follow the regular pick up schedule.  Garbage should be put out by 7:00 AM

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A state medical examiner says the cause of death for a Bismarck jail inmate who died a week after having a siezure was heart disease.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that 47-year-old Mike Lang died in a hospital on Sept. 13. He had the siezure at the Burleigh Morton County Detention Center on Sept. 6 and went into a coma.

No further details of the autopsy were released. State health department officials say they can’t say more because the Bureau of Criminal Investigation is looking into Lang’s death.

Lang’s family members say he also had pneumonia, low blood sugar, a cut on the back of his head, a broken nose, broken cheek bones and broken ribs.

Lang was arrested in August on a charge of felony luring.

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — No one was hurt in a fire that prompted the evacuation of a dormitory on the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks.

Authorities say West Hall was cleared of students about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when an overloaded dryer started on fire.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and cleared smoke from the building. Students were allowed back in about an hour later.

Several dryers had fire damage, and the dorm’s first floor suffered smoke damage.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A judge has blocked a proposed merger between Sanford Health and Mid Dakota Clinic until a Federal Trade Commission hearing next month.

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says a U.S. District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction Wednesday blocking the proposed merger.

Stenehjem and the FTC allege the deal would violate antitrust law by significantly lessening competition for health care services in the Bismarck-Mandan area.

In a statement, Stenehjem says competition in the marketplace “benefits consumers, including when that competition is for medical care.”

Sanford and Mid Dakota called the decision disappointing, and said the government’s case “rests on theories that are at odds with reality here in North Dakota.”

The two providers agreed to merge earlier this year. Dakotas-based Sanford has 45 hospitals and nearly 300 clinics in nine states and three countries.

 

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — School administrators in the Bismarck area are being trained to use an antidote commonly carried by first responders for cases of opioid overdoses.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health is offering training and free doses of Narcan to area colleges and school districts in response to the region’s opioid crisis.

Narcan is the nasal form of the drug naloxone, which can be administered in the event of a known or suspected drug overdose.

Public Health Director Renae Moch says the initiative is a way to introduce a response program at the schools.

Bismarck Public Schools Superintendent Tamara Uselman says Narcan is just one way to respond to the crisis. She says schools and community stakeholders need to continue working on prevention and education.

 

 

 

NEW TOWN, N.D. (AP) — Anonymous contributions have more than doubled the amount of a reward for information about a missing woman on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota.

Olivia Lone Bear, a mother of five, disappeared in late October. Additional donations to the reward fund in recent days have pushed the total to $21,000.

The woman’s brother, Matthew Lone Bear, tells the Bismarck Tribune no organized search began until Nov. 1. He says his family has tried to maintain a civil relationship with Three Affiliated Tribes police despite tension over the search and resources.

The 32-year-old woman was last seen the evening of Oct. 24 leaving a New Town restaurant.

 

 

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s top federal prosecutor has been honored for his work on drug cases.

U.S. Attorney Chris Myers was selected as prosecutor of the year by the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Awards Program, or HIDTA. He will travel to Washington D.C. in early 2018 to receive the award.

Myers is currently involved in prosecuting an international fentanyl-trafficking operation that was responsible for an overdose death of a North Dakota man in January 2015.

The investigation is dubbed Operation Denial. It has resulted in more than 20 arrests, including two men from China accused of separately running chemical labs that produced fentanyl and other illegal opioids that were sold to Americans.

The HIDTA program provides assistance to various law enforcement groups in regions throughout the U.S. known for drug trafficking.

 

 

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — The Minot Public School District is disputing the amount of money it owes in a pending civil lawsuit over unpaid flood cleanup expenses.

The Minot Daily News reports the district says it owes $1.1 million rather than $1.9 million claimed by a company resulting from the 2011 Souris River flood.

The district hired the ServPro company to clean up flood-damaged schools. The Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursed all but $1.9 million of the expense.

Minot Public Schools contends Servpro said it wouldn’t charge more than what FEMA paid. ServPro disputes that.

A federal judge ruled in September that the contract was breached, but he didn’t rule on resulting damages. A trial is set for January.

The district wants a nine-day trial, though a judge only wants it to last three days.

 

In sports…

Class A Basketball Polls…

BISMARCK (AP) No changes to the number one teams in Class A basketball in the state of North Dakota, according to the state’s Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. The Bismarck Century girls, and Minot High boys are still ranked in the top spot.

First place votes are in parenthesis, followed by the team’s record, and the number of total points received.

Girls

1. Bismarck Century (10) 4-0 66
2. Fargo Davies (3) 2-1 47
2. Fargo Shanley (1) 2-0 47
4. Mandan 0-1 17
5. Grand Forks Red River 4-0 15

Others receiving votes: Bismarck St. Mary’s (2-0), Devils Lake (2-1),  Williston (2-0)

Boys

1. Minot (13) 3-0 69
2. Fargo Davies (1) 3-0 55
3. West Fargo 3-0 35
4. Mandan 1-0 32
5. Bismarck Century 3-1 12

Others receiving votes: Bismarck (3-0)

 

Women’s Basketball Poll…

Valley City  (Mark Potts)  The undefeated Valley City State University women’s basketball team continues to attract national attention as the Vikings moved up to No. 19 in this week’s NAIA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll released Tuesday.

Four days after knocking off No. 16 Mayville State University, the Vikings supplanted the Comets as the second North Star program ranked in the Top 20. The Vikings were receiving votes in the previous poll. The new rankings set up a Top 25 clash Friday night in Valley City as the No. 19 Vikings (10-0, 3-0 NSAA) host No. 6 University of Jamestown (13-2, 4-0 NSAA) at 5:30 p.m.

Valley City State University is off to a 10-0 start this season, which is the best start in program history. VCSU is one of just eight undefeated teams remaining in NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball.

The No. 19 ranking is VCSU’s first appearance inside the Top 25 since finishing the 2012-13 season ranked No. 25. It is VCSU’s highest national ranking since being No. 13 on Jan. 15, 2013. The Vikings were ranked as high as No. 12 that season.

Valley City State is slated to play ranked opponents in two of the next three games: Friday vs. No. 6 University of Jamestown and Dec. 29 at No. 17 Tabor College (Kan.)

Three North Star Athletic Association teams are ranked this week. University of Jamestown is No. 6; VCSU is No. 19; and Mayville State stayed in the poll at No. 23.

 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Final L.A. Clippers 106 Orlando 95

Final Oklahoma City 100 Indiana 95

Final Washington 93 Memphis 87

Final Portland 102 Miami 95

Final Boston 124 Denver 118

Final Chicago 103 Utah 100

Final New Orleans 115 Milwaukee 108

Final Toronto 115 Phoenix 109

Final Houston 108 Charlotte 96

 

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

Final Dallas 5 N-Y Islanders 2

Final Ottawa 3 N-Y Rangers 2

Final OT Boston 3 Detroit 2

Final Nashville 7 Vancouver 1

 

 

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Final (1) Villanova 87 Temple 67

Final (9) Texas A&M 113 Savannah St. 66

Final (24) Texas Tech 82 Kennesaw St. 53

 

Brad Davison’s free throw with two seconds to go lifted Wisconsin to an 81-80 win against Western Kentucky. Darius Thompson tear-drop jumper tied the score at 80-80 for Western Kentucky with two seconds left in regulation.

 

TWINS…

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins agreed to a $10 million, two-year contract with former New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda, a right-hander recovering from Tommy John surgery. He will miss most or all of 2018.

 

NBA…

UNDATED (AP) — The NBA has chosen Indianapolis to host the 2021 All-Star Game.

The only other time Indiana has hosted All-Star weekend was in 1985 when the game was played at the RCA Dome.

The Pacers plan to use their home arena as well as Lucas Oil Stadium, which is just a short walk away. Fan festivities will be held at the city’s nearby convention center.

 

MLB NEWS

A person familiar with the contract says free-agent reliever Anthony Swarzak has reached a deal with the Mets on a two-year, $14 million contract, pending a physical. Swarzak was a combined 6-4 with two saves and a 2.33 ERA in 70 games last season for the White Sox and Brewers.

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — A prominent major league player agent says CEO Derek Jeter and the Miami Marlins’ new ownership group are turning the franchise into a pawn shop.

Scott Boras criticized the Marlins just as a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that Miami is sending left fielder Marcell Ozuna (oh-ZOO’-nuh) to the Cardinals.

Ozuna is coming off his finest major league season as he set career highs by hitting .312 with 37 home runs and 124 RBIs. He would be the third All-Star to be jettisoned by the Marlins this month, coming on the heels of Giancarlo Stanton’s departure to the Yankees and Dee Gordon’s trade to the Mariners.

Center fielder Christian Yelich could be the next to exit the downsizing Marlins, bought by Bruce Sherman’s group on Oct. 2.

Boras felt the Marlins had the foundation for a successful ballclub. He now assesses team ownership by saying: “So you’re not a jewelry store that’s coveting your diamonds, you now become the pawn shop that is trying to pay the rent of the building, rather than focusing on the diamonds and growth that you covet.”

 

— The Angels have added another bat to their lineup by getting second baseman Ian Kinsler from the Tigers for minor leaguers pitcher Wilkel Hernandez and outfield prospect Troy Montgomery. The 35-year-old Kinsler hit .236 with 22 home runs and 52 RBIs in 139 games last season.

— Free agent reliever Joe Smith has accepted a two-year pact with the Astros. The 33-year-old right-hander was 3-0 with 71 strikeouts in 54 innings over 54 appearances for the Blue Jays and Indians this year.

 

NFL…

— An NFL spokesman says Commissioner Roger Goodell views the agreement reached on an extension last week as his final contract overseeing the league. Spokesman Joe Lockhart says Goodell “has been clear that he views this as his last contract” and that it will allow him to — quote — “deal with some of the important issues that we know are on the horizon.” They include a labor deal and TV contracts.

 

 

FRICK AWARD-COSTAS

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Bob Costas has won the Ford C. Frick Award presented by the baseball Hall of Fame for broadcasting excellence.

Popular and successful at calling the Olympics and other sports, the 65-year-old Costas continues to flourish over four decades of baseball work, using his familiar voice to paint word pictures of the national pastime.

Costas will be honored on July 28 during induction weekend at Cooperstown, New York.

In world and national news…

NEW YORK (AP) — He’s come under fire from fellow Republicans, blamed for coughing up a safe Senate seat in deep-red Alabama and for foisting damaging political advice on President Donald Trump. But in the aftermath of the stinging defeat, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon shows no signs of abandoning his guerrilla war against the GOP establishment.

NEW YORK (AP) — As the federal government prepares to unravel sweeping net-neutrality rules that guarantee equal access to the internet, advocates of the regulations are bracing for a long fight. The Thursday vote scheduled at the Federal Communications Commission could usher in big changes in how Americans use the internet. Its proposal would roll back restrictions that keep broadband providers like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T from blocking or collecting tolls from services they don’t like.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans would be delivered in a sweeping overhaul of the tax laws, under a new agreement crafted by Republicans in Congress. Middle- and low-income families would receive smaller tax cuts, though President Donald Trump and Republican leaders have billed the package as a huge benefit for the middle class. The agreement reached by House and Senate GOP leaders also calls for scrapping a major tax requirement of the “Obamacare” health law.

UNDATED (AP) — In the decade since the recession began, the nation as a whole has staged a heartening comeback: The unemployment rate is at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent, down from 10 percent in 2009. And last year, income for a typical U.S. household, adjusted for inflation, finally regained its 1999 peak. Yet the rebound has failed to narrow the country’s deep regional economic disparities and in fact has worsened them, according to data analyzed exclusively for The Associated Press.

JERUSALEM (AP) — President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has stirred defiance and new fears of marginalization among the city’s Palestinian residents. Trump has said he simply acknowledged reality with his nod to Israel, but omitted a specific mention of Jerusalem’s large Palestinian minority, or 37 percent of the population. Despite Israel’s portrayal of Jerusalem as united, stark differences have emerged on the ground between Arab and Jewish neighborhood.