Wayne Byers Show Weekdays on CSi 2

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Lows in the mid 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of snow after

midnight. Lows around 15. East winds 5 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Cloudy. Chance of snow in the morning, then snow

likely in the afternoon. Colder. Light snow accumulations. Highs

15 to 20. East winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent in the Jamestown area, 70 percent in the Valley City area.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. Snow likely in the evening, then

chance of snow after midnight. Lows zero to 5 above. North winds

15 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent, in the Jamestown area, 70 percent in the Valley City area.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of snow in the

morning. Highs 5 to 10 above.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows near zero.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the

afternoon. Highs 15 to 20.

.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. Lows near zero. Highs

10 to 15.

.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY…Mostly cloudy. Lows

around 10 below. Highs 5 to 10 above.

 

 

There is the potential for  widespread snowfall

accumulations Tuesday night through Wednesday night. At this

time, the favored area for the most snowfall is along and north

of US Highway 2, where 3 to 4 inches of snow is possible. Snowfall

amounts are expected to decrease to less than an inch from the

I-94 corridor to the South Dakota border.

 

For Thursday through Christmas, much colder conditions are

forecast as an Arctic airmass overtakes the region. Dangerous sub-

zero wind chills are expected, especially this coming weekend

through at least Christmas. Those with travel plans should stay up

to date at www.weather.gov/bismarck.

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation of a Monday morning collision between a City of Jamestown garbage truck, and an individual operating a scooter, about 8-a.m., on First Avenue North just north of the railroad tracks.

Since the accident involved a city vehicle the sheriff’s office is investigating, with more information when the report is filed.

Bismarck  (NDFU)  More than 750 North Dakota Farmers Union members participated in the organization’s 91st annual state convention Dec. 15-16, 2017 in Bismarck. A mix of educational speakers, entertainment, elections, youth achievement recognition, and policy debate highlighted the event.

Velva farmer Mark Watne was reelected president of the state’s largest farm organization, a position he has held since 2013. Terry Borstad of Devils Lake, Wes Niederman of Sioux County, and Ronda Throener of Cogswell were reelected to the board of directors. Of special note were three special orders of business that were adopted by delegates.

The first called on Congress and the Trump administration to implement emergency action to alleviate the ongoing farm crisis. Low commodity prices, catastrophic drought, and increasing interest rates have made it difficult for many farmers to obtain operating capital for 2018, especially for young and beginning farmers. The special order called for short-term low interest loans, temporary waiving of cash-flow and collateral requirements for FSA operating loans, and increased disaster payments.

Farmers Union members also called for increased use of ethanol, specifically E30 to be used in state fleet vehicles. Watne says tests show E30 to be the best blend for maximizing fuel economy and cost, adding,  “We believe if auto owners try E30 for one week, they will see better performance than with regular unleaded fuel. Every time ethanol goes in the tank, it helps stimulate the rural economy.”

Delegates also called on the state legislature to reassess its elimination of the state’s 12 percent property tax buydown, calling for a legislative fix. Since 2007, the state has provided more than $2 billion in property tax relief through the buydown and K-12 school aid formula. Many counties are facing significant property tax increases, which will affect farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp addressed the implications of federal tax cuts to the bottom line of family farmers and ranchers, when she spoke to convention-goers.  She says, “The tax bill we are advancing really focuses on getting money to the richest Americans.  If this blows up the budget, it could result in billions in cuts” to farm programs, marketing programs and ag research. “It’s wrong for rural America.”

Sen. John Hoeven sent video greetings from Washington, D.C. Tom Brusegaard of Sen. Hoeven’s office spoke about a fix to Sec. 199 in proposed tax legislation that would impact cooperatives and producers.

Miss America Cara Mund, the first Miss North Dakota to wear the crown of royalty, spoke to the 2017 Torchbearer Class. She encouraged young people to never stop believing in themselves and shared her journey to becoming Miss America. Twenty youths earned the Torchbearer award, the highest honor that can be achieved in the Farmers Union youth program.

Recipients, listed by county, include:

BARNES – Nita Peterson, Valley City. BOWMAN – Michaela Fischer, Bowman. BURLEIGH – Ben Wood, Lincoln. CASS – Riley Lebahn, West Fargo. EMMONS – Katherine Theisgen, Strasburg, and Mya Vetter, Linton. LAMOURE – Shaun Heier, Edgeley. MCLEAN – Jaden Reiser, Turtle Lake. MORTON – Mary Westberg, St. Anthony. MOUNTRAIL – Jessica Rosencrans, Powers Lake. STARK – Shaylyn Lefor, Gladstone, and Gracie Morel, Dickinson. STUTSMAN – Madisyn Kleven, Medina, Dalton Lacina, Ypsilanti, and Alyssa Michel, Jamestown. WARD – Elizabeth Geyer, Minot, Sydney Larson, Norwich, and Payton Smith, Minot. WELLS – Nicole Willey, Cathay. WILLIAMS – Cassidy Donnelly, Ray.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A man convicted of fatally assaulting a woman behind a Bismarck store last year has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.

A jury in September found 35-year-old Morris Brickle-Hicks guilty of beating 40-year-old Misty Coffelt and leaving her to die behind Runnings in April 2016. Brickle-Hicks was charged with felony murder.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that defense attorney James Loraas asked for life with the possibility of parole. Loraas said Brickle-Hicks asked him to request a 20-year sentence.

Prosecutor Julie Lawyer told the court that Brickle-Hicks’ lack of remorse and violent behavior called for the maximum sentence.

Loraas said a psychological evaluation shows that Brickle-Hicks has “low intellectual functioning” and would require accommodations in prison.

 

 

In sports…

Valley City  (VCSU) Valley City State University athletics had 12 student-athletes earn the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete award during the fall semester.

The NAIA Scholar-Athlete award recognizes students who demonstrate consistent success in the classroom while handling the heavy time demands of a student-athlete. In order to qualify for this honor, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.

Awards have been announced for volleyball, cross country and football. VCSU student-athletes earning the NAIA Scholar-Athlete award in those sports include:
Cross Country: Orin Rambow
Football: PJ Peterson, Tyler Masat, Tyler Ukestad, Marc Wagner, Dakota Johnson, Cole Kelly, Jake Peterson
Volleyball: Polette Medina, Autumn Johnson, Mikayla Mellem, Clarissa Olson.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Game and Fish Department has set tentative opening dates for next year’s hunting seasons.

The dates become official with the governor’s approval.

Tentative 2018 opening dates for some major seasons include spring turkey on April 14, mountain lions on Aug. 31, grouse on Sept. 8, waterfowl on Sept. 29, pronghorn on Oct. 5, pheasants on Oct. 6, fall turkey on Oct. 13 and deer gun on Nov. 9.

(AP)  The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 17, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and previous ranking:

Record Pts Prv
1. Villanova (45) 11-0 1602 1
2. Michigan St. (15) 10-1 1560 2
3. Arizona St. (5) 10-0 1429 5
4. Duke 11-1 1390 4
5. North Carolina 10-1 1332 7
6. Miami 9-0 1308 6
7. Kentucky 9-1 1231 8
8. Texas A&M 9-1 1156 9
9. Xavier 10-1 1073 10
10. West Virginia 9-1 1040 11
11. Wichita St. 8-2 851 3
12. Gonzaga 9-2 831 12
13. Virginia 9-1 796 16
14. Kansas 8-2 791 13
15. TCU 10-0 789 14
16. Purdue 11-2 706 17
17. Oklahoma 8-1 691 —
18. Arizona 8-3 396 23
18. Baylor 9-2 396 21
20. Cincinnati 9-2 314 25
21. Tennessee 7-2 308 20
21. Texas Tech 9-1 308 24
23. Seton Hall 9-2 223 15
24. Florida St. 9-1 164 19
25. Creighton 8-2 144 —

Others receiving votes: Arkansas 83, Notre Dame 73, Clemson 35, Louisville 28, Texas 21, Nevada 13, Minnesota 9, Oklahoma St. 9, Alabama 5, SMU 5, Auburn 4, Virginia Tech 3, Rhode Island 2, Syracuse 2, Florida 2, Michigan 1, Towson 1.

 

In world and national news…

DUPONT, Wash. (AP) — A man who was driving on a highway alongside a train that derailed in Washington state says he and his friend rushed to help the victims. Daniel Konzelman says they saw train cars with the roofs ripped off or tipped upside down Monday. He says they climbed into train cars and found injured passengers, some who were pinned underneath the train and others who appeared to be dead.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says a new era of competition is underway and that the U.S. will follow his 2016 campaign doctrine of “America First.” He says “America is in the game, and America is going to win.” Trump spoke Monday on the nation’s new security strategy. He said that the United States “will stand up for ourselves and our country like we have never stood up before.” He called for competing “with every instrument of our national power.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is not considering firing Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating possible ties between the Trump election campaign and Russia. But the president is plenty upset about the way the investigator obtained and is using thousands of emails sent and received by Trump officials before the start of the administration. The president says he can’t imagine there’s anything bad on the emails because there was “no collusion.”

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Power’s top executive apologized for the power outage that crippled Atlanta’s airport, saying he realized that it inconvenienced thousands of people. CEO Paul Bowers said in a phone interview Monday that a switch gear failed, causing a fire that then spread to cables coming in from two substations.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — While negative news dominated headlines in 2017, the year was also filled with awe-inspiring moments that united us and warmed the heart. The first total solar eclipse to cross the U.S. in a century bought millions together in what some described as a primal experience. And thousands of immigrants took the oath of citizenship, realizing their dreams of becoming Americans. One adorable baby, Fiona the hippopotamus, overcame the odds and tumbled into our hearts.