CSi Weather…  A TORNADO WATCH  IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM THURSDAY CDT INCLUDES BARNES and STUTSMAN . . .

 

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers and thunderstorms likely after midnight. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Lows in the upper 60s. East winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning in the Valley City area. Highs in the mid 80s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the upper 50s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 60.

 

.INDEPENDENCE DAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

More numerous thunderstorms are expected Thursday  evening and into the over night across a larger portion of western and central North Dakota.

Thunderstorms that form  through  Thursday night are likely to
become severe. Very large hail to around baseball size, damaging
winds to near 75 mph, a few tornadoes, and localized flash
flooding are the primary threats.

After midnight, the greatest risk for severe storms will arrive. These
storms will mainly affect areas along and north of the Interstate
94 corridor, but could also affect areas to the south as well.

These storms will have the potential to produce hail of 2 inches
in diameter or larger, wind gusts of 75 mph or greater, isolated
tornadoes, and localized heavy rain.

Since the greatest risk for storms will occur when most people are sleeping tonight, plan to have a way to receive watches and warnings if and when they are issued. Have a plan of action before going to bed tonight!

The chance for thunderstorms continues Friday and Saturday across
much of western and central North Dakota. A few storms could be
strong Friday across the far south central and James River
Valley, but severe weather is not anticipated at this time.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s taxable sales and purchases for the first quarter of 2018 increased nearly 10 percent over the same time period the previous year.The state Tax Department says it was the largest growth from one year to the next since 2014. Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger (RAW’-shun-bur-gur) says it’s a good measure of economic activity in the state.Taxable sales and purchases for January, February and March totaled nearly $4.1 billion, a 9.6 percent increase over the three-month span in 2017.Nine of the 15 major industry sectors reported gains over the year. The mining and oil extraction sector increased by nearly $53 million, or about 78 percent. The wholesale trade sector increased by nearly $146 million, about an 18 percent jump. 
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Board of Higher Education has extended the contract for the university system chancellor, over the objections of an outgoing board member worried about criticisms from a staff survey and an ongoing lawsuit with a former employee.The board voted 7-1 Thursday to extend Mark Hagerott’s contract through June 2020. Board member Mike Ness, whose term is expiring, recommended that the decision be delayed for six months.Ness cited a 2016 survey with staff he said contains “very concerning” issues and a labor complaint by former vice chancellor Lisa Feldner, who was fired by Hagerott last year.Board member Kathleen Neset said the survey has been addressed by the board and she finds Hagerott to be approachable and open to constructive criticism.Hagerott makes $372,000 a year. 
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has been elected vice chairman of the Western Governors’ Association.Burgum will hold the post for the next year. The vice chairman has traditionally served as chairman the following year.The association includes the governors of 19 western states and three U.S. territories. Burgum was elected vice chairman during the group’s annual meeting in Rapid City, South Dakota, this week. Topics discussed at the meeting included the opioid epidemic, wildfires and workforce development.Hawaii Gov. David Ige was elected chairman for the coming year.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A new report says the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands has made progress addressing deficiencies identified in 2016 performance audits, but more work needs to be done.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that the State Auditor’s Office updated the interim Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee on Wednesday about the department’s progress following three critical audits.

The department manages the permanent educational trust funds and assets under the control of the Board of University and School Lands.

An audit found the department assigned trusts to the wrong tracts of land, resulting in royalty payments and investment income going to the wrong trust.

Commissioner Jodi Smith says the agency is making improvements, but that the department still needs to replace its outdated computer systems.

 

In sports…

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — More than 3,000 doe licenses remain after North Dakota’s deer gun license lottery.The state Game and Fish Department says applicants who were unsuccessful in the first lottery can apply for remaining licenses beginning July 11. The deadline for applying is Aug. 8.The first lottery application process had more than 113,000 applicants, with only about 55,000 being successful. Results are available on the Game and Fish website.The agency says the lottery drawing was held more than a month earlier than in previous years, thanks to the move to an all-online application process.

 

In world and national news…

 

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Multiple people were shot Thursday at a newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, with a witness saying a single gunman fired into the newsroom.A reporter at The Capital tweeted that a single individual shot multiple people. Phil Davis, who covers business and politics for the newspaper, tweeted that the gunman shot through the glass door to the office and opened fire on multiple employees.

He added, “There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you’re under your desk and then hear the gunman reload.”

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was responding to reports of the shooting.

Anne Arundel County Police Department spokesman Marc Limansky said officers were searching the building where the shooting was reported. He said the situation is “active and ongoing.”

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President Joe Biden is urging Americans to “rise up” to demand President Donald Trump nominate a “consensus candidate” to the Supreme Court. Biden said, “so many of our fundamental rights, freedoms, and liberties — and the rule of law — are all at risk.” Trump is expected to nominate soon a replacement for Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced he will retire.

 

 

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Melania Trump is visiting a short-term holding center for migrant minors in Tucson, Arizona. Mrs. Trump listened to officials talk to her about the facility. It’s her second trip to the border amid outrage over President Donald Trump’s now-suspended policy of separating migrant children from their families when they cross the border illegally.

 

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Hundreds have gathered for a rally outside a federal courthouse in South Texas to protest the separation of thousands of migrant children from their parents. Thursday’s rally organized by the ACLU and other groups drew busloads of people to the Brownsville courthouse where judges hear immigration cases of those who are seeking asylum or have entered the country illegally. The rally comes two days after a judge ordered the reunification of more than 2,000 immigrant kids with their families.

ARSAL, Lebanon (AP) — Hundreds of displaced Syrians are leaving Lebanon for their war-torn homeland in a repatriation that will reunite them with relatives they have not seen for years. But many of them also are leaving behind loved ones who are staying in the tiny Arab nation that has become home to the highest percentage of refugees in the world.

MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) — Rescuers have punched a hole into the side of a mountain in a desperate attempt to drain rising water from a flooded cave in northern Thailand where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been missing for five days. But the effort appeared unsuccessful and the situation remained dire, with no guarantee that the water will soon recede from the cave with months left in Thailand’s rainy season.