Wayne Byers Show Weekdays on CSi 2

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Snow. Not as cold. Snow accumulation around 2 inches.

Lows near zero. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Slight chance of snow in the morning.

Highs zero to 5 above. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Wind chills

around 20 below.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 10 below. Northwest

winds around 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny. Highs around 5 below. Northwest winds

10 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows around 20 below.

Highs 5 below to 15 below zero.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 20 below.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 5 below.

.SUNDAY NIGHT AND New Years Day…Mostly clear. Lows around

15 below. Highs 5 below to 5 above zero.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 5 below.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs 5 to 10 above.

 

Chances for snow in the overnight hours Wednesday into Thursday. Accumulations will range between a trace in the west and range from 1
to 2 inches from the Turtle Mountains through the James Valley,
while the rest of central ND may see 1/2 inch to 1 inch.

Wind chill values may again drop below -25F late Wednesday night,
especially across northwestern North Dakota.

Another surge of Arctic air is expected Thursday through the
weekend. Dangerous wind chills are likely across all of western
and central North Dakota. The coldest time frame appears to be
Friday night through Sunday.

 

 

Valley City  (Greg Vanney)  – Valley City business entrepreneur Bob Bergan and Valley City State University alumnus, received the VCSU Distinguished Service Award at a reception at City Lights Supper Club on Thursday, December 14, 2017.

Family members, friends, and representatives of the VCSU Foundation Board and Booster Board gathered at City Lights for the surprise presentation.

Bergan, a 1982 VCSU graduate in business administration was honored for his longtime commitment to Valley City State University, which he has served as both a member of the Booster Board and the Foundation Board. He is also one of the founders of the Viking Scramble Golf Outing and the Viking Fish Fry, fundraisers that benefit the VCSU athletic program.

Bergan says, “My passion for VCSU has always been there.  As a businessman, I understand what the university means to the community. As a family, we want to help out the university and give back to the community.”

A native of Carrington, ND, Bergan began his business career at Farmers and Merchants Bank (now Dacotah Bank) in Valley City following graduation from VCSU. He and his wife, Joni, a 1983 VCSU graduate, purchased and brought a Taco John’s franchise to Valley City in 1985. The Bergan’s added to their restaurant interests, the purchase of City Lights Supper Club in 2012 and the establishment of the Pizza Ranch franchise in 2014.

Bergan also has interests in rental property; he operates Berkel Properties, which he founded with Wayne Keller. Bergan has also developed the Pinnacle Condominiums in Valley City.

The Bergans’ eldest son, Tommy, serves as general manager of all three restaurants in Valley City. Son Chad is a dentist in Fargo, and daughter Jossy works in corporate IT recruitment in Denver, Colo.

The Distinguished Service Award, is VCSU’s highest honor, and is given at the discretion of the president in recognition of exceptional contribution to the university’s vision. Bergan is the 26th recipient of the award.

 

 

 

Fargo  (CSi)  – Senator John Hoeven Wednesday was joined by Tom Astrup, American Crystal Sugar President and CEO; Jake Joraanstad, a tech entrepreneur and Myriad Mobile’s co-founder and CEO; David Mueller, a farmer from Hillsboro; and Vikki Schneeberger, a local teacher, to outline how the tax relief plan benefits North Dakota workers, businesses and families. The new law lowers rates across-the-board for hard-working American families and provides relief for North Dakota small businesses, farmers and ranchers. The senator successfully worked to include an amendment in the bill to ensure fair treatment of cooperatives.

 

          “Our tax reform legislation provides broad relief for individuals and families in North Dakota, enabling them to keep more of their paychecks,” said Hoeven. “At the same time, we lower the tax burden on our small businesses, farmers and ranchers. We included important provisions for producers, like raising the estate tax exemption and expanding and making permanent the Section 179 deduction. We also worked very hard to ensure cooperatives and their members are treated fairly so that tax reform works for our state’s agriculture industry.”

 

Highlights of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

 

Middle-class Americans will see a tax cut of:

  • More than $1,300 for a single parent with one child earning $41,000.
  • More than $2,000 for a median income family of four earning $73,000.
  • More than $2,600 for a married small business owner earning $100,000.

 

Cuts Tax Rates Across the Board for Hardworking Individuals and Families

  • Increases the standard deduction, which means that Americans will not be taxed on the first $12,000 of income for individuals, $24,000 for married couples and $18,000 for a single parent with dependents.
  • 9 out of 10 taxpayers will likely use the expanded standard deduction.
  • Maintains the state and local tax deduction up to $10,000 for individuals and families.
  • Doubles the Child Tax Credit to $2,000 per child
  • Preserves the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
  • Encourages businesses to provide paid family and medical leave by providing a tax credit
  • Preserves the Adoption Tax Credit
  • Retains Retirement Savings Options
  • Continues tax deductions, including for:
    • Student Loan Interest and Tuition Waivers
    • Medical Expenses
    • Charitable Contributions
    • Home Mortgage Interest

 

Benefits to Small Businesses, Farmers and Ranchers

  • Includes Hoeven’s amendment to ensure the fair treatment of cooperatives and their members.
  • For the first five years, allows full expensing or writing off the cost of new investments, which is phased down over an additional four year period.
  • Expands the Section 179 expensing of equipment on a permanent basis.
  • Doubles the estate tax exemption, while maintaining the step-up in basis for capital gains.
  • Maintains interest deductibility and the property tax deduction for small businesses, farmers and ranchers.
  • Creates a tax deduction of 20% for qualified pass-through income, which reduces the tax burden for small businesses set up as partnerships or pass-through entities.
  • Reduces the tax rate for C corps from 35% to 21%, making the U.S. tax system more competitive globally and bringing more capital and investment back to the U.S.
  • Maintains the IC-DISC program, which enables small and medium businesses, including manufacturers, to reduce taxes on portions of their export income.
  • Includes Hoeven’s amendment to allow implement and auto dealers to fully expense interest on inventory.

 

Tax relief, combined with regulatory relief, will empower economic growth leading to greater government revenues. While some have claimed the legislation will lead to cuts under pay-go rules, these rules have never been enforced and Congress voted to waive the rule last week. Over time the tax relief bill will help grow the economy and will generate more revenue not less.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge says prosecutors can cite threatening statements that a Denver woman made after she allegedly shot at police during Dakota Access oil pipeline protests in North Dakota.

Attorneys for Red Fawn Fallis wanted to suppress evidence and statements obtained during her arrest last year. But a federal judge denied the requests on Friday.

The Bismarck Tribune reports the 38-year old woman is accused of shooting a handgun at officers during a confrontation in October 2016. Testimony from officers quoted Fallis as saying, “All pigs deserve to die” and “If I wanted to kill you, I would have shot you in the head.”

The judge ruled that Fallis’ alleged statements were voluntary and weren’t derived from interrogation.

Fallis is facing weapons charges. She’s scheduled for trial next month.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A prosecutor has ruled that a Bismarck police officer was justified in shooting a man outside a motel.

Burleigh County State’s Attorney Richard Riha says Officer Justin Antonovich “acted appropriately under the circumstances” when he shot and wounded 51-year-old Donald Miller.

Police say Miller punched Antonovich and gouged his eyes before Antonovich shot him on Oct. 15. Antonovich was responding to an unrelated call.

Police initially didn’t release Antonovich’s name because the officer invoked a new law that expands the rights of crime victims. Bismarck Police Chief Dan Donlin says police are now following guidance from the state attorney general’s office that the so-called Marsy’s Law does not protect the officer’s name.

 

Update…

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Bismarck residents opposed to demolishing a 134-year-old railroad bridge say BNSF Railway officials should allow them to turn it into a walking and biking trail.

More than 75 residents are suggesting railway officials transfer ownership of the bridge to a group that can preserve it. The residents pitched the idea during a meeting last week.

BNSF Railway is considering demolishing the bridge to build a new one over the Missouri River in Bismarck. Officials say a new wider deck plate bridge is needed to have more stability.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Donald Trump fired James Comey in May, he said he was acting on the recommendation of Justice Department leaders. They had faulted the FBI director for releasing “derogatory information” about Hillary Clinton at the conclusion of the email server investigation. Yet with each tweet about the Clinton probe, Trump seems to be further undermining his administration’s stated rationale for a termination that’s central to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation

SANDY HOOK, Ky. (AP) — Elliott County, Kentucky, had voted for the Democrat in each and every presidential election since it was founded 147 years ago. Until Donald Trump. Nearly a year into his presidency, his supporters in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains say they remain resolutely behind him, despite his declining approval ratings in national polls and failures on health care reform.

WASHINGTON (AP) — He’s been in Washington for almost a year. Yet in all that time, President Donald Trump has yet to enjoy a single non-working meal at a restaurant that doesn’t pay him rent. He hasn’t taken in a performance at the Kennedy Center; hasn’t been to a sporting event; hasn’t toured the sights. It’s one of the peculiarities of the Trump presidency and one of a long list of ways in which he’s changing the office, as well as its relationship with Washington.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — As snow continues to pile up in Erie, Pennsylvania, forecasters warn of frigid, sub-zero arctic air and dangerously cold wind chills in much of the northern U.S. A storm in Erie brought more than 60 inches since Christmas Day, with an additional 2 to 4 inches predicted Wednesday as residents dug out in frigid temperatures. Wind chill advisories or warnings are in effect for much of the northern plains, New England and Great Lakes states.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A senior Muslim cleric is denouncing a plan for a railway tunnel under Jerusalem’s Old City. It would end at the Western Wall with a station named after President Donald Trump, who’s been hailed in Israel for his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Israel’s transportation minister is pushing ahead with plans for the tunnel, which would pass near sites holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims. The Muslim cleric says naming the station after Trump won’t give it “any legitimacy.”