CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Partly sunny. Highs zero to 5 above. Temperature falling through the afternoon. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph. Wind chill readings 21 below to 26 below

zero.

.TONIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows around 10 below. Northwest

winds 5 to 10 mph. Wind chills around 25 below.

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

morning. Highs around 5 below. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Wind

chills around 25 below.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 25 below. Northwest

winds around 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 15 below. North winds 5 to

10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 25 below.

.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Highs around 10 below.

Lows 20 below to 25 below zero.

.NEW YEARS DAY…Sunny. Highs zero to 5 above.

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

Highs 5 to 10 above.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 5 below.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs 5 to 10 above.

 

 

Another surge of Arctic air will impact western and central North

Dakota beginning Thursday night and lasting through New Years

Day. Dangerous wind chills as low as 50 below zero are forecast.

The coldest period will be Friday night through Sunday night.

 

 

Jamestown City Street Crews have been plowing the Emergency Snow Routes this morning.

More information on street clearing, posted today at CSiNewsNow.com

 

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Bitter cold weather has taken hold of much of the northern United States and is expected to stay put for days to come.

Forecasters are warning of hypothermia and frostbite from arctic air settling in over the central U.S. and spreading east.

The National Weather Service reports International Falls and Hibbing, Minnesota, set record low temperatures Wednesday. International Falls, the self-proclaimed Icebox of the Nation, plunged to 37 degrees below zero, while Hibbing bottomed out at 28 below.

The freezing temperatures and below-zero wind chills come as people in Erie, Pennsylvania, continue to dig out from a storm that has dumped more than 65 inches on the city.

 

 

 

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.

 

Valley City  (VCPW)  The Valley City  Public Works office and Transfer Station will be closed Monday January 1st for New Year’s.

The Transfer Station will also be closed Saturday December 30th in observance of New Year’s Day.

Monday’s garbage will be picked up on Tuesday. Tuesday and Wednesday’s garbage will be picked up on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday will follow their regular schedule. Garbage should be put out at 7:00 A.M.

 

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.

 

 Hoeven points out,   “Our tax reform legislation provides broad relief for individuals and families in North Dakota, enabling them to keep more of their paychecks.  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.

 

Update…

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Authorities say they arrested three people in North Dakota suspected of stealing dozens of credit cards and driver’s licenses from 32 different individuals.

The Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy arrested the trio after stopping their car last week for license plate violations. The Bismarck Tribune reports the deputy found 46 credit and debit cards, 30 driver’s licenses and eight Social Security cards.

Facing charges are 31-year-old Christina Lee Meyers, 36-year-old Brandon Allen Christian, both from Wisconsin, and 40-year-old Gerald Jarmaine Adderly. Adderly told authorities he was just riding with Christian and Meyers to Montana.

Each faces 30 felony counts of theft of property.

They’re all being held on $100,000 bail.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A former refugee who spent nearly three decades helping legal immigrants with their journey to U.S. citizenship is retiring from North Dakota’s lone resettlement agency.

Lutheran Social Services officials say 66-year-old Tri Phan (tree fan) has worked about 14,000 cases in the Fargo area, which takes in more refugees per capita than most American cities. He began as a bilingual case manager and worked his way up to supervisor of immigration services.

Phan is a former refugee who spent three years in a North Vietnamese prison camp after serving as a tank commander for the South Vietnamese military. He says that experience taught him to make the most of his opportunities.

Phan says he wants to visit some of the native countries of people he’s helped over the years.

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana’s utility regulators want to make sure utility customers benefit from the recently passed tax overhaul that reduces corporate tax rates.The Public Service Commission on Wednesday directed regulated utilities to calculate the change in tax liability they expect under the new tax bill and, by the end of March, offer proposals for how it would apply the savings.

NorthWestern Energy’s electric and natural gas utilities are subject to the requirement as is the electric service of Montana-Dakota Utilities. Energy West’s natural gas and MDU’s natural gas utility will have their rates adjusted for the effect of the new tax law as part of rate cases pending before the PSC.

The commission issued the order before the new tax law takes effect to preserve its authority to determine how the additional revenue should be spent.

 

In sports…

Bismarck  (CSi)  North Dakota Game and Fish reports, that District Game Warden Greg Hastings, stationed in Jamestown is the state’s 2017 Wildlife Officer of the Year.

Hastings was honored recently by the Shikar-Safari Club International, a private conservation organization that annually recognizes outstanding wildlife officers in each state.

In a nomination letter sent to Shikar-Safari, chief warden Robert Timian said Hastings district boasts numerous lakes, rivers, reservoirs, wetlands and public hunting areas.

He says, “There are tremendous fishing, hunting and boating opportunities throughout his district, and warden Hastings makes his presence felt by his dedication and perseverance.

He has strong communication and investigative skills, an understanding demeanor and makes good decisions.”

 

High School Basketball Polls…

BISMARCK (AP) The Fargo Davies boys and Bismarck Century girls basketball teams end the calendar year as the best teams in Class A Basketball, as voted on by members of the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

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

Boys

1. Fargo Davies (13) 6-0 73
2. West Fargo (1) 7-0 53
3. Mandan (1) 4-0 44
4. Bismarck High 6-0 31
5. Minot High 4-1 15

Others receiving votes: Bismarck Century (4-2), West Fargo Sheyenne (5-1).

Girls

1. Bismarck Century (12) 6-0 72
2. Fargo Davies (3) 5-1 59
2. Fargo Shanley 5-0 43
4. Mandan 3-1 26
5. Bismarck St. Mary’s 5-0 22

Others receiving votes: Grand Forks Red River (5-1), Devils Lake (4-2).

 

Class B

BISMARCK (AP) The Langdon-Edgmore-Munich girls and Stanley boys basketball teams will end 2017 as the best teams in Class B Basketball, as voted on by members of the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportscasters Association.

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

Girls

  1. Langdon-Edmore-Munich (14) 7-0 165
    2. Bismarck Shiloh Christian (2) 7-0 150
    3. Thompson (1) 6-1 128
    4. Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier 8-0 124
    5. LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 8-0 110
    6. Carrington 7-1 83
    7. Rugby 7-1 54
    8. Medina-Pingree-Buchanan 6-2 36
    9. Kindred 6-2 29
    10. Trenton 6-0 13

Others receiving votes: Des Lacs-Burlington (6-1), Grant County (6-2), Velva (6-2), Hettinger-Scranton (6-2), Killdeer (5-2), Bowman County (5-1), Grafton (6-3).

Boys

  1. Stanley (11) 5-0 159
    2. Minot Bishop Ryan (3) 4-0 139
    3. Thompson (2) 4-0 138
    4. St. John 6-0 108
    5. Oak Grove 4-0 83
    6. Hillsboro-Central Valley (1) 3-0 69
    7. Carrington 3-1 57
    8. Grafton 5-0 54
    9. Bismarck Shiloh Christian 1-1 50
    10. Dickinson Trinity 4-1 20

Others receiving votes: Beulah (2-2), Maple Valley (5-0), Minot Our Redeemer’s (3-0), New Town (4-0), Hettinger-Scranton (5-1), Wyndmere-Lidgerwood (4-0), Mohall Lansford-Sherwood (5-0), Bottineau (3-0), Solen (6-0).

 

 

Boy’s Hockey…

West Fargo 2, Detroit Lakes/Perham, Minn. 0

Grand Forks Tournament
First Round

Fargo North 2, Ft. Frances, Ontario, Minn. 2, OT (tie)

Little Falls Tournament
First Round

Sheyenne 5, Little Falls, Minn. 4

Rochester Kiwanis Tournament
Blue Division
First Round

Fargo South 4, Rochester Lourdes/Dover-Eyota, Minn. 0

GIRLS HOCKEY

Central Wisconsin, Wis. 8, Mandan 0

Grand Forks Knightriders 3, Park Rapids Area, Minn. 0

Blaine Tournament

Hopkins/St. Louis Park, Minn. 5, Bismarck High 4

Crookston Tournament

Jamestown 5, Crookston Pirates, Minn. 2

Warroad Tournament

Warroad, Minn. 20, Minot 0

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The fourth annual Class B  University of Jamestown Basketball Shootout is Friday and Saturday December 29, 30, 2017  at Harold Newman Arena and Jerry Meyer Arena, at Jamestown High School.

The Shootout is sponsored in part by Jamestown Tourism.

Jamestown Tourism Director Searle Swedlund says the Shootout will bring in a number of out of town guests to Jamestown.

25 girls and boys teams from North Dakota and Minnesota will compete in  21 games.

Friday’s Games will start at noon, on Saturday the action starts at 1-p.m.

Top-ranked Langdon-Edmore-Munich girls (7-0) will play sixth-ranked Carrington (6-1) Saturday at 6 p.m. at Harold Newman Arena.

All Tickets  sold at the door with the  proceeds going to the Hatton-Northwood Thunder Booster Club.

For more information call 701-659-0499.

 

 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 12 of Minnesota’s 14 points in overtime and finished with a season-high 39 to lift the Timberwolves to a 128-125 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Andrew Wiggins made five 3-pointers and scored 21 points for Minnesota, which won its fifth straight.

 

Final Dallas 98 Indiana 94

Final Boston 102 Charlotte 91

Final Atlanta 113 Washington 99

Final Oklahoma City 124 Toronto 107

Final Chicago 92 N-Y Knicks 87

Final New Orleans 128 Brooklyn 113

Final Sacramento 109 Cleveland 95

Final Memphis 109 L.A. Lakers 99

Final Golden State 126 Utah 101

 

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Mikael Granlund scored the tiebreaking goal in the second period and the Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars 4-2. Jared Spurgeon, Eric Staal and Jason Zucker also scored for Minnesota, which won for just the second time in six games.

 

Final OT N-Y Islanders 3 Buffalo 2

Final Carolina 3 Montreal 1

Final Boston 5 Ottawa 1

Final SO Pittsburgh 5 Columbus 4

Final New Jersey 3 Detroit 1

Final Nashville 2 St. Louis 1

Final SO N-Y Rangers 1 Washington 0

Final Winnipeg 4 Edmonton 3

Final Arizona 3 Colorado 1

Final Vegas 4 Anaheim 1

 

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UNDATED (AP) — The top-ranked Villanova men’s basketball team remains perfect this season after capturing its Big East opener.

Mikal Bridges scored 20 points and Phil Booth added 17 and six assists as the Wildcats whipped DePaul 103-85 in Chicago. Villanova was 15-for-31 from 3-point range, with Bridges and Booth hitting four apiece in coach Jay Wright’s 399th victory at the school.

The only other top-25 team in action Wednesday was No. 6 Xavier, and the Musketeers rode Trevon Blueitt’s 23 points to a 91-87 win at Marquette. J.P. Macura scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half to help Xavier pick up its eighth straight win and improve to 13-1.

 

UNDATED (AP) — Wednesday’s college football schedule began with Florida State’s victory in the Independence Bowl.

James Blackman threw three of his four touchdown passes to Auden Tate in the Seminoles 42-13 rout of Southern Mississippi. Blackman completed 18 of 26 passes for 233 yards to help the Seminoles finish 7-6 and avoid their first losing season in 41 years.

Cam Akers led Florida State with 94 yards rushing, and Jacques Patrick added 61 yards.

In other bowl action:

— Drake Kulick’s only carry in the Pinstripe Bowl was a one-yard touchdown run with 3:09 remaining to send Iowa past Boston College 27-20. Kulick’s go-ahead TD came after Hawkeyes defensive end Anthony Nelson hit Darius Wade to cause a fumble that was recovered by Parker Hesse at the Eagles 45. The 8-5 Hawkeyes ended a five-game bowl losing streak and finished 8-5.

 

— Elijah Sindelar threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Mahoungou with 1:44 remaining to give Purdue a 38-35 victory over Arizona in the Foster Farms Bowl. Sindelar threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns, with Mahoungou and Gregory Phillips each providing two TD catches and over 100 yards. The Boilermakers had squandered a 17-point halftime lead when Khalil Tate threw his fifth TD pass with 3:21 remaining to give the Wildcats the lead.

 

— Shane Buechele (boo-SHEHL’) and Sam Ehlinger each threw touchdown passes and freshman running back Daniel Young had 112 total yards as Texas tamed Missouri 33-16 in the Texas Bowl. Young Young had 64 yards receiving with a touchdown and added 48 yards on the ground. Tigers quarterback Drew Lock passed for 269 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw an interception and lost a fumble as both teams finished 7-6.

 

Vikings…

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith is the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Smith intercepted two passes and made seven tackles _ five solo _ as the Vikings shut out interstate rival Green Bay 16-0 on Saturday night. It’s the first NFC Player of the Week award for Smith in his career, and the third player of the week honor for the Vikings this season.

 

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford could return to practice next week as he recovers from a knee injury from Week 1. Bradford has been out since a brief return in Week 5 against Chicago, which Minnesota plays Sunday in the regular-season finale. Bradford was taken out at halftime and was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 8.

 

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

HOUSTON (AP) — Reigning American League MVP Jose Altuve (al-TO’-vay) has been named AP Male Athlete of the Year after leading the Astros to their first World Series title.

Altuve picked up the franchise’s first MVP trophy in more than two decades, a couple of weeks after helping the club beat the Dodgers in the Fall Classic. He led the AL with a .346 average and 204 hits while providing 24 homers, 81 RBIs and 112 runs scored.

 

 

In world and national news…

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan president Ashraf Ghani has called the attack on a Shiite Muslim cultural center in Kabul a “crime against humanity.” In a statement released by the presidential palace, Ghani says: “The terrorist have killed our people. The terrorists have attacked our mosques, our holy places and now our cultural center.” He called them attacks as against Islam and “all human values.”

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Goodhearted neighbors heartbroken over the rising number of homeless in their communities are feeding and showering those in need, hoping to make a difference. But some question whether they’re doing more harm than good by helping the homeless get some of their most basic needs met outdoors. It’s the chicken-or-egg question of homelessness: Do you restrict services fearing they attract people or provide them because people need help?

MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — The Iraqi government estimates $100 billion is needed nationwide to rebuild after three years of destructive war to uproot the Islamic State group, but in truth the cost is incalculable. So far, no one if offering to foot the bill. In Mosul, scene of the worst damage, some 40,000 houses need rebuilding and some streets are knee-deep in rubble. Many Iraqis dip into savings to rebuild their lives.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Roy Moore is going to court to try to stop Alabama from certifying Democrat Doug Jones as the winner of the U.S. Senate race. Moore filed a lawsuit Wednesday evening in Montgomery Circuit Court. The filing occurred about 14 hours ahead of Thursday’s meeting of a state canvassing board to officially declare Jones the winner of the Dec. 12 special election.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In this season of giving, charity seems to be getting an extra jolt because the popular tax deduction for charitable donations will lose a lot of its punch next year. Charity executives and experts say changes in the new tax law that will make it less advantageous for people to donate to charity in 2018 may be sparking a year-end stream of fattened contributions. Many taxpayers who now itemize deductions will find it’s no longer beneficial for them to do so.