CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Mostly sunny.  Highs around

30. East winds 5 to 15 mph.

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 15. East winds 5 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. East winds around

10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows around 15. East winds

5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s. South winds

around 5 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows around 20.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain and snow in

the afternoon. Highs in the mid 30s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. Chance of snow possibly mixed with rain

in the evening, then snow likely after midnight. Lows in the

lower 20s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

.MONDAY…Snow likely. Highs in the lower 30s. Chance of snow

70 percent.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Snow likely in the evening, then

chance of snow after midnight. Lows 15 to 20. Chance of snow

60 percent.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 30s.

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

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

 

Precipitation is expected  as early as late Saturday night/Sunday morning, with better chances Sunday afternoon through Monday with a

wintry mix of rain, freezing rain and snow for the southern half of

the state on Sunday, then all snow Sunday night through Monday

night. Precipitation amounts remain uncertain, but it appears a long

period of light snow Sunday night through Monday night.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  A suspicious package left at the South Central Human Service Center in Jamestown, Tuesday afternoon, contained only a written correspondence, “not of  concern.”

That, according to Jamestown Police Chief Scott Edinger, who told CSiNewsNow.com Wednesday afternoon that police responded to the scene stemming from a call for service, late Tuesday afternoon.

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Edinger said the package was secured by police officers around 5 p.m. Tuesday and taken to the Stutsman County Law Enforcement Center in Jamestown where the Jamestown Fire Department and Hazardous Material Response Team from Fargo, investigated the contents, along with other law enforcement authorities, at the scene.

Chief Edinger said the package(s) and the correspondence was sent to the North Dakota State Health Department as the FBI along with other authorities including the Bureau of Indian Affairs,continue the investigation.

The package is believed to have been sent by a Native American.

He said the health department and state lab will determine and verify  if there may have been any type of residue in the package, that was not seen, or if it may have been dumped out at some point.

He added that no foul play is suspected, and no other suspicious packages had turned up in Jamestown.  He said that during the initial phase of investigations, information is inconsistent until more information is learned.

Authorities are talking with individuals that may have seen something, or possibly been involved in the incident, that will aid in the on-going  investigation.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Police is warning residents of a high risk sex offender who is living in  Jamestown.

Gary Lee Amyotte is a 54 year old American Indian male, five feet seven inches tall, weighing 214 pounds with brown eyes, and brown hair.

He currently resides at 2605 Circle Drive at the North Dakota State Hospital.

He has been assigned a high risk assessment by the North Dakota risk level committee of the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

He was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse  in November of 1998 in U.S. Federal Court, in North Dakota, involving raping an 83 year old developmentally disabled female he encountered while she was walking along a dirt road, dragging her into an area of brush.

Disposition: 120 month, 5 years supervised release.

He was convicted of Gross Sexual Imposition in July of 1989, in Rolette County, North Dakota District Court, involving dragging a woman into trees attempting to rape her.

Disposition:  7 years, to serve remaining 3.5 years.

Amyotte is currently on GPS monitoring.

Amyotte is not wanted by police at this time and has served the sentence imposed by the court.

This notification is meant for public safety and not to increase fear in the community, nor should this information be used to threaten, assault, or intimidate the offender.

Any attempts to harass, intimidate or threaten these offenders, their families, landlords, or employers will be turned over for prosecution.

Printed handouts of the demographics of Gary Lee Amyotee are available at the Jamestown Police Department.

More information on registered sex offenders is available at the North Dakota Attorney General’s web site: www.sexoffender.nd.gov

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  In a show of solidarity, Jamestown High School students, Wednesday morning, joined a  nationwide classroom walkout to protest gun violence following the mass shooting on Valentine’s day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida where 17 were killed, the number of minutes the walkout lasted.

Before a moment of silence, Jamestown High School students gathered on the school’s front sidewalk, as a student read the list of  names of the students and staff killed at Parkland.

Jamestown Public School’s released a statement concerning the Walkouts.

“Students in some communities are planning protests against gun violence. We know that the issue of guns in our society is a controversial and divisive issue. We will neither encourage nor prevent student participation in such activities although we will treat these like any other school absence. We will strive to keep school as normal as possible, and to discourage activity within school that creates conflict. We encourage parents to talk with their children about the right to protest, and about how they will respond to requests to participate, or how they will respond to those that choose to do so.”

Principal Adam Gehlhar says around 50 of their 650 students joined in the walkout, peacefully.

He said some (students) did not follow the protocol for parents excusing the absence and consequences will be enforced as per our policy.

Students in Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck and Mandan were among those who took part in the walkout.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Public Works is informing residents that due to the changing weather conditions causing extremely muddy conditions in the alleys, the City Sanitation Department announces that effective Monday, March 19, 2018, the City Sanitation crews will no longer be picking up garbage in the alleyways.

Until further notice, please place garbage containers on the boulevard no further than 3’ from the curb on your scheduled pick up day.

Please place garbage out for pick up by 7:00 a.m. Trucks WILL NOT return to the area due to missed garbage placed out after the scheduled garbage route has been completed.

 

Jamestown  (CSi) This year’s Ice Show’s theme is “Magnificent Musicals.”

Show dates and times at John L. Wilson Arena are:

Friday March 16th at 7-p.m.

Saturday March 17th 2-p.m., and 7-p.m.

Sunday March 18th  2-p.m.

Tickets are available in advance at $8 for adults, $6 for students, and two dollars more at the door.  Advance tickets must be purchased by Thursday afternoon, March 15th.

Advance tickets from any skater, along with Neighborhood Grocery and Gifts from the Heart, in Jamestown.

Elementary school students are being given tickets allowing free admission if accompanied by a paying adult.

Returning to the Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Judy Jorgenson said, a special addition to this year’s ice show, is the Alumni Skate.  Out of the five alumni skaters two are currently stay at home mom’s, one with three young children and another with one child.  One skater is currently in college, one recently finished college and will be working in forestry/conservation, and one other attending law school in Boston, and is currently practicing in a Jamestown law firm.

On our show a returning alumni skater, Chelsea Huber said the alumni skaters have put together their routine, and have been rehearsing the past week.

Chelsea is currently a Junior at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Judy added that there will be three seniors performing this year’s show, choreographed by Club Professional and Coach Mark Vasarhelyi.

Musical numbers this year will have the members skating and performing in a wide variety of music styles, and features solo numbers, and group skates.

The Jamestown High School hockey teams will have representatives performing in the show as well.

She said the James River Figure Skating Club was in competition last weekend in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

She said after this last performance of the season the JRFSC collected:

10 fourth place metals, 25 third place, 34 second place, and 70 first place metals.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown airline boarding in February this year, and year to date numbers are off slightly from a year ago.

The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission reports, in February this year Jamestown boardings were 1,036 compared to 1,199 in February 2017, a decrease of about 13 percent.

Through February this year Jamestown airline boardings were 1,956 compared to 2,061 through February of 2017.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A former LaMoure police chief is awaiting sentencing on several child sex crimes in three southwestern North Dakota counties.

KXMB-TV reports 52-year-old James Watson entered an Alford plea Tuesday to multiple charges related to child sexual abuse in Hettinger and Stark counties. The plea is not an admission of guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a conviction.

A jury in Golden Valley County last month convicted him of continuous sexual abuse of a child.

The charges date back to 2011.

Watson faces life in prison without parole. A sentencing date has not been set.

 

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Police say a fight involving a number of people resulted in gunfire and one arrest in Grand Forks.Officers responded to a report of gunshots about 7 p.m. Wednesday. KFGO reports several shots were fired from a rifle during a fight involving people in two vehicles. Police say those involved knew each other. No one was hurt.A 20-year-old man was arrested on a possible charge of reckless endangerment. Police say while serving a search warrant on the suspect’s home, officers found what appeared to be an explosive device. Residents in the area were evacuated while a regional bomb team secured the device.

 

 

HORACE, N.D. (AP) — An armed standoff in the Horace area southwest of Fargo ended peacefully.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says a man with a gun went into a home about 5 a.m. Tuesday and threatened another man and woman whom he knew.

The homeowners were able to escape, and the man who threatened them remained inside the home.

The 51-year-old man was arrested without incident about 10 a.m., on charges including terrorizing and felonious restraint. No shots were fired and no one was hurt.

During the standoff, some area residents were evacuated by law enforcement and others were told to stay inside their homes.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A group seeking to raise North Dakota’s minimum wage to $15 can begin circulating petitions to try to bring the issue to voters.

Secretary of State Al Jaeger approved the format of the petition on Wednesday. Supporters need to gather and submit at least 13,452 valid signatures by July 9 to get a proposed measure on November ballot.

Scott Nodland of Bismarck is chairman of the petition’s sponsoring committee. He has said that people are living at poverty level if they are paid the state’s current $7.25 minimum wage.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Democrats are preparing for an annual convention featuring speeches from Sen. Heidi Heitkamp and former Vice President Joe Biden as they look toward a midterm election expected to be favorable for their party nationwide.

The party’s outlook in North Dakota is challenging.

Heitkamp faces a tough re-election fight against Rep. Kevin Cramer in one of the nation’s mostly closely watched Senate races. Three Democrats are trying for the House seat Cramer is leaving.

But the party has no declared candidates for attorney general and agriculture commissioner. Democrats are also trying to recruit candidates for many legislative races.

Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen says she expects all spots to be filled and the party hopes to chip away at Republican supermajorities in both legislative chambers.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s U.S. senators say the federal Education Department has awarded two grants to build new elementary schools serving the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Sioux communities.

The Solen School District is getting $5.3 million for a new school at Cannon Ball, and the Oberon School District is getting $4.7 million for a new school in that town.

Sens. John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp say the existing schools were built decades ago and are in poor condition.

 

 

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Congressional committees and farm groups have crafted language to fix a provision in the federal tax overhaul that gave an unintended tax advantage to farmers who sell their crops to cooperatives instead of other buyers.

Both sides are now trying to get it included in a massive spending bill that needs to pass by March 23 to avert another federal government shutdown.

The deal announced Tuesday is meant to keep the playing field level between co-ops and other crop buyers, ranging from local companies to agribusiness giants such as Cargill and ADM.

The complex language is the product of weeks of negotiations among committee leaders and staffers with farm groups, including the National Grain and Feed Association and the National Council of Farm Cooperatives.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture endorses the agreement, but the National Farmers Union opposes it.

 

 

In sports…

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Midway Township board has discussed land that the Jamestown Drag Racing Association wants for a drag strip, that would be North Dakota’s first quarter mile strip.

In a prepared statement the JDRA said, “We have worked out a deal with the current landowners to purchase an approximate 26 acre parcel, contingent on the zoning changing from agricultural to commercial. We look forward to the future which will include much more work but we are confident we have the crew willing to put in the effort.”

On a 3-0 vote the township agreed to  change the zoning.

Construction could start in 3 to 5 years depending on fundraising efforts.

The property is owned by Jane Trautman,

The planned location is west of the junction of the Highway 281 ByPass and County Road 40. Once built, it would be the state’s first 1/4 mile drag strip.

 

 

Bismarck  (NDHSAA)  Team seeding and drawing for the 2018 North Dakota High School Activities Association’s State Class B Boys Basketball Tournament are set.

The top five teams were ranked through an online voting process by coaches of the participating schools with the remaining three teams being randomly drawn to determine quarterfinal matchups.

Matchups for Thursday, March 15 in Bismarck:

1:00 p.m. – #2 Seed St. John vs. Wyndmere/Lidgerwood (Second Random Draw)
2:45 p.m. – #3 Seed Bishop Ryan vs. Shiloh Christian (Third Random Draw)
6:30 p.m. – #1 Seed Hillsboro/Central Valley vs. Beulah (First Random Draw)
8:15 p.m. – #4 Seed Stanley vs. #5 Seed Carrington

The 2018 NDHSAA sponsored State Class B Boys Basketball Tournament will be held March 15-17 at the Bismarck Event Center located at 315 South 5th Street, Bismarck, ND 58504. Dave Zittleman, Activities Director for Bismarck Public Schools, will be the tournament manager.

 

NCAA

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The last team to make the NCAA Tournament gets to play at least one more. Credit Syracuse’s fabulous freshman forward and its legendary zone defense for getting a cringe-worthy win.

Freshman Oshae Brissett had his 13th double-double while leading Syracuse’s second-half comeback, and the Orange — the last team to make the NCAA Tournament — held on for a 60-56 victory over Arizona State on Wednesday night in the First Four.

The 11th-seeded Orange plays No. 6 seed TCU (21-11) on Friday in Detroit in the Midwest Region.

 

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Texas Southern got its first ever NCAA Tournament win, a 64-46 rout of North Carolina Central in a First Four game on Wednesday night.

Demontrae Jefferson, a 5-foot-7 guard, scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lift No. 16 seed Texas Southern, which became the first team with a losing record to win a tournament game. The Tigers started the season 0-13 against a rough schedule and didn’t win a game until Jan. 1. Now they move on face No. 1 seed Xavier on Friday.

 

NBA

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jonathon Simmons scored a career-high 35 points, D.J. Augustin added 32 and the Orlando Magic bounced back from an embarrassing defeat to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 126-117 on Wednesday night.

Simmons was 7 of 12 from 3-point range and Augustin hit 6 of 9, three of them in the fourth quarter to help Orlando pull away.

Nikola Vucevic had 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for the Magic, who were routed 108-72 Tuesday night in San Antonio, their fifth straight loss.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 38 points for Milwaukee, which has lost seven of 10.

In other NBA action:

— De’Aaron Fox made a layup at the buzzer to force overtime, Zach Randolph scored the first three points of the extra period and finished with 22, and the Sacramento Kings recovered after blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter to beat the Miami Heat 123-119. Randolph added a key block on Justise Winslow with 1:19 remaining in OT as Sacramento swept Miami for the first time since 2001-02.

— Kevin Durant scored 26 points and the injury-plagued Golden State Warriors pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 117-106 while missing Stephen Curry on his 30th birthday and their two other All-Stars. Zaza Pachulia returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the All-Star break and had 10 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for the banged-up defending champions, who already had clinched a sixth straight playoff berth this week without playing.

— Bradley Beal scored 34 points, including a three-point play with 1:25 left in the second overtime, and the Washington Wizards beat the short-handed Boston Celtics 125-124. Jayson Tatum missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer that could have won it for the Celtics, who were without six players and missed several opportunities to put away the Wizards.

In NBA news:

— The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Antonius Cleveland to a multiyear contract.

—The Los Angeles Clippers have signed guard Sean Kilpatrick to a second 10-day contract.

 

NHL SCHEDULE

TORONTO (AP) — Mitch Marner scored the winner in the shootout to lift Toronto to a 6-5 victory over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night, extending the Maple Leafs’ franchise-record home winning streak to 11 games.

Marner beat Kari Lehtonen in the third round of the shootout, completing Toronto’s comebacks from 4-2 and 5-4 deficits in the third period.

James van Riemsdyk had his third career hat trick, and Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau also scored in regulation for the Maple Leafs.

Elsewhere on the ice:

— Mika Zibanejad scored the tying goal late in the third period and then got the winner 2:53 into overtime to rally the New York Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Chris Kreider had a goal and three assists for his first career four-point night, and Jesper Fast also scored to help the Rangers get their second straight win after a three-game skid.

— Jason Chimera got his first goal and assist with Anaheim, and defenseman Brandon Montour scored twice to lead the Ducks over slumping Vancouver 3-0, extending the Canucks’ scoreless streak to 10 periods. The victory left the Ducks tied with Los Angeles for third place in the Pacific Division at 82 points. Anaheim has played one more game than the Kings.

—Tomas Hertl had a pair of goals, including the overtime winner, as the San Jose Sharks pulled out a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. Logan Couture and Brenden Dillon also scored for the Sharks (38-23-9), who have won two straight.

— Blake Coleman scored twice, Michael Grabner and Nico Hischier each had a goal and an assist, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Vegas Golden Knights 8-3. Taylor Hall, Travis Zajac, Stefan Noesen and Kyle Palmieri also scored for the Devils, who improved to 9-6-0 in their last 15 and moved one point ahead of idle Columbus for the top wild card in the Eastern Conference. Keith Kinkaid stopped 39 shots.

 

NHL-WILD-SPURGEON OUT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon will miss a minimum of four weeks due to a partial tear of his right hamstring, a big blow to a team trying to maintain control of a playoff spot.

The Wild announced the news Wednesday, after Spurgeon was hurt against Colorado Tuesday. They recalled forward Zack Mitchell and defenseman Ryan Murphy from the AHL, in advance of their game on Friday against Vegas.

The 28-year-old Spurgeon has nine goals and 28 assists in 61 games for Minnesota this season.

 

 

NFL-SIGNINGS AND TRADE ANNOUNCEMENTS

— A person with knowledge of the deal says the Seattle Seahawks are turning to former first-round pick Barkevious Mingo to try to address a growing need on defense. The person said Mingo and the Seahawks agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $10.1 million on Wednesday.

— The Chicago Bears have agreed to contracts with linebacker Sam Acho and cornerback Prince Amukamara. Meanwhile, quarterback Mike Glennon, receiver Marcus Wheaton and defensive back Marcus Cooper were released on Wednesday. At the same time, quarterback Chase Daniel indicated on Twitter that he is headed to Chicago. Daniel played for Kansas City and has spent time with New Orleans and Philadelphia.

— A person with knowledge of the deal says the Minnesota Vikings are negotiating a trade with the Denver Broncos to acquire quarterback Trevor Siemian. He would give the Vikings a capable backup who started 24 games for the Broncos over the last two seasons.

— A person familiar with the negotiations says the New York Giants have an agreement with offensive tackle Nate Solder, who will be the NFL’s highest-paid lineman. The 29-year-old was considered the top offensive lineman available in free agency.

— The Cincinnati Bengals have confirmed that they swapped first-round draft picks with the Buffalo Bills to get offensive tackle Cordy Glenn.

—People with direct knowledge the decision confirm that the Buffalo Bills have agreed to sign free agent defensive end Trent Murphy to a three-year contract. He spent the past four seasons in Washington. Also, the Bills agreed to a two-year contract with quarterback A.J. McCarron, who backed up Andy Dalton in Cincinnati for the last four seasons.

— A person familiar with negotiations says the Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to a contract with free-agent cornerback D.J. Hayden. The person says the Jags have also agreed to a contract with free-agent safety Don Carey. Carey spent the last seven years in Detroit.

— The Philadelphia Eagles and linebacker Nigel Bradham have agreed on a five-year contract.

— A person familiar with the negotiations says the Cleveland Browns are expected to sign free agent running back Carlos Hyde. Also, the Browns star left tackle Joe Thomas has retired after 11 seasons in the NFL. The 10-time Pro Bowler was injured last season.

— The Panthers announced they have re-signed free agent defensive end Julius Peppers to a one-year contract. The 38-year-old Peppers, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, will be entering his 17th NFL season, including his 10th with the Panthers. Peppers’ 154 ½ sacks are the fourth-most in NFL history.

— Five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been released by the Miami Dolphins and the team announced trades to acquire defensive end Robert Quinn and send Jarvis Landry to the Cleveland Browns. Miami also released tight end Julius Thomas.

— The Detroit Lions have released Eric Ebron on a quiet first day of free agency. Poor hands and inconsistent play made him a target for boos at Ford Field.

—The Washington Redskins say they’ve completed their trade for veteran quarterback Alex Smith. He joined the Skins from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a third-round pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller. Smith replaces Kirk Cousins as the Redskins’ No. 1 quarterback.

In other NFL news:

—The man convicted of manslaughter in the 2016 road-rage shooting death of former NFL running back Joe McKnight faces sentencing in Louisiana. Fifty-six-year-old Ronald Gasser could get up to 40 years in prison when court convenes Thursday in suburban New Orleans.

 

MLB-NEWS

UNDATED (AP) — Right-hander Jose De Leon has become the second Tampa Bay Rays’ pitching prospect in less than a month to have Tommy John surgery.

De Leon’s torn ulnar collateral ligament was repaired Tuesday by Dr. James Andrews. The 25-year-old made a pair of one-inning appearances in spring training this year, on Feb. 26 and March 3.

Right-hander Brent Honeywell, the MVP of last year’s All-Star Futures Game, was hurt pitching batting practice on Feb. 22 and tweeted on Feb. 28 that he had undergone Tommy John surgery with Andrews.

 

In other baseball news:

— Kyle Schwarber gets a $604,500 salary in the major leagues as part of the one-year contract the Chicago Cubs announced last weekend.

— The Los Angeles Dodgers have renewed the contracts of 2017 NL Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger for $585,000 and of 2016 NL Rookie of the Year Corey Seager for $605,000.

— The Marlins say third baseman Martin Prado will begin the season on the disabled list while he recovers from right knee surgery.

— Milwaukee Brewer catcher Stephen Vogt will not be ready for the season opener because of a shoulder strain.

— Right-hander Dylan Bundy has agreed to a $1.64 million, one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Lebanese-American businessman who is cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe is a convicted pedophile and served time in a Czech Republic prison more than a decade ago.

George Nader was convicted by Prague’s Municipal Court of sexually abusing minors and sentenced to a one-year prison term in 2003. A court official says the crimes occurred between 1999 and 2002.

Nader met with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and strategist Steve Bannon at Trump Tower in December 2016.

Mueller’s team has been examining that meeting — and another gathering involving Nader in the Seychelles a month later — as part of its investigation into possible Trump-related wrongdoing connected to Russia.

 

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump freestyled with the facts when talking trade with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Republican described the discussion during a fundraising speech in St. Louis on Wednesday.

According to audio obtained by The Washington Post , Trump insisted that the United States runs a trade deficit with Canada.

Trump said Trudeau told him there was no trade deficit. Trump said he replied, “‘Wrong, Justin, you do.’ I didn’t even know. … I had no idea. I just said, ‘You’re wrong.'”

Trump claimed the figures don’t include timber and energy.

However, the Office of the United States Trade Representative says the United States has a trade surplus with Canada.

 

 

 

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian state-run TV and pro-government stations are broadcasting footage of civilians streaming out of the besieged town of Hamouria in the opposition-held eastern Ghouta region, heading into government-held territory near the capital, Damascus.

The al-Ikhbariya TV and Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen and al-Manar channels say the civilians are eastern Ghouta residents whom government forces have “liberated” from rebel rule.

The broadcasts appear to show hundreds of men, women, and children walking out of the town. Al-Mayadeen showed buses waiting to pick up civilians. Al-Ihkbariya says they will be taken to a center for identification and relief.

Men interviewed on camera praised the Syrian army and President Bashar Assad and said armed groups had humiliated them and held them against their will in eastern Ghouta.

The exodus is a major media victory for the Syrian government.

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Iran nuclear deal was in near terminal condition and on life support even before President Donald Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. His dismissal this week may hasten its demise.

As CIA chief and Iran hawk Mike Pompeo prepares to run the State Department, the Trump administration is weighing a speedier withdraw from the agreement than even the president has threatened. That’s according to two U.S. officials and two outside advisers briefed on the matter.

While such a scenario is unlikely, the fact it is being floated as an option may give U.S. officials more leverage in negotiations with European signatories to salvage the accord by toughening it. Two such negotiating sessions have already been held and a third is set for Thursday in Berlin.

 

 

 

STOCKHOLM (AP) — North Korea’s foreign minister is visiting Sweden, a move that can be seen as a first step toward the Scandinavian country hosting a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry says Ri Yong Ho will meet his Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom during his rare trip abroad Thursday.

The ministry said talks “will focus on Sweden’s consular responsibilities as a protecting power for the United States, Canada and Australia,” but also will also address the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.”

It added that a statement summarizing the talks will be made available Friday.

Sweden has had diplomatic relations with North Korea since 1973, and is now one of the few western countries to have an embassy in Pyongyang.