– Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Dec 27

CSi Weather…

BLIZZARD WARNING TILL 6-AM FRIDAY

Norman-Clay-Wilkin-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland-

Including the cities of Ada, Twin Valley, Halstad, Moorhead,
Breckenridge, Mayville, Hillsboro, Hatton, Portland, Valley City, Fargo, Lisbon, Enderlin, Gwinner, Milnor, Forman, Rutland, and Wahpeton

Foster-Kidder-Stutsman-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey-
Including the cities of Carrington, Steele, Tappen, Jamestown,
Napoleon, Gackle, Lamoure, Edgeley, Kulm, Wishek, Ashley, Oakes, and Ellendale

WHAT…Blizzard expected. Heavy snow ongoing. Additional snow
accumulations of 2 to 6 inches, in the Jamestown area, 5-10 inches in the Valley City area. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph Thursday afternoon through .

Winds will increase on Thursday with the potential for blizzard conditions Thursday afternoon and overnight.

* WHERE…Portions of south central and southeast North Dakota. *

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Travel will be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Cold wind chills Thursday night as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

Forecast…

.REST OF TODAY…Snow. Areas of blowing and drifting snow late in

the morning. Blowing and drifting snow in the afternoon.

Visibility one quarter mile or less at times in the afternoon.

Windy. New snow accumulation around 2 inches in the Jamestown area,

New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches in the Valley City area. Highs around 15.

North winds 25 to 35 mph. Gusts up to 55 mph in the afternoon.

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Snow likely in the evening. Blowing and

drifting snow through the night. Windy. Visibility one quarter

mile or less at times in the evening. Snow accumulation up to

1 inch. Storm total 3 to 4 inches. Lows near zero. North winds

25 to 35 mph with gusts to around 55 mph. Chance of snow

60 percent. Lowest wind chills around 25 below after midnight.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Areas of blowing and drifting snow in the

morning. Highs zero to 5 above. North winds 15 to 25 mph with

gusts to around 40 mph shifting to the northwest 10 to 15 mph in

the afternoon. Wind chills around 25 below.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 10 below. Southwest

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Sunny. Not as cold. Highs 15 to 20. Southwest winds

10 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows around 15.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow.

Lows 5 to 10 above.

.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs 5 to 10 above.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 10 below.

.NEW YEARS DAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 5 below.

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

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 20s.

Bismarck (National Weather Service) A high-impact winter storm continues through Thursday night. The main hazard Thursday and Thursday night is blowing snow with blizzard conditions.

Part 2 of the winter storm arrives on Thursday

The associated surface low is forecast to move from eastern Nebraska into southern Minnesota Thursday into Thursday night. This places the wrap-around band of moderate to heavy snow in the southeast ND counties, with lighter snow/flurries to the north and west. Additional accumulations in the James River Valley is expected to be in the 2 to 6 inch range, additional snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches in the Valley City area which results in 2-day storm total snow amounts of 10 to 14 inches, 10 to 18 inches expected in the Valley City area.

The bigger concern for Thursday, though is that winds start to ramp up
over south central into eastern North Dakota Thursday afternoon,
reaching a peak around sunset. With several inches of
fresh snow on the ground and snow still falling, combined with those
winds, blizzard conditions are possible, if not likely. Due to the
fact that blizzard conditions would not start until Thursday
afternoon and there is a 24 hour period of hazardous winter weather
beforehand.

There are 2 main weather features of interest in the extended
forecast beyond the storm system. The first is Arctic high pressure
building in behind the departing storm system for Friday into
Saturday. Expect much of the area to see single digit highs and
subzero lows during this timeframe. Wind chills may drop as low as
25 below. The second feature is a clipper type system moving through
Sunday into Monday, bringing a brief warmup and chances for rain and
snow.

Motorist should monitor the forecast and adjust their travel plans as needed. Even after the snowfall stops, areas that receive significant amounts will experience blowing and drifting snow.

The weather service recommends that people who must travel have emergency kits in their vehicles and follow winter-driving rules.

Update…

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Public Works informs residents that snow Removal-Downtown-Business Areas-Residential will begin with the full snow plowing program starting with the Emergency routes beginning approximately at 5:00 a.m., Friday, December 28, 2018.

City crews will begin plowing residential areas at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 28, 2018. Crews will continue work during the night with the downtown district beginning at 11:00 pm, Friday night.

Downtown merchants and all public/private schools are asked to have their sidewalks shoveled by 9 p.m. Friday, December 28, 2018.

PLEASE NOTE:
The above schedule is contingent upon changing weather conditions and snow accumulation totals.

Update..

Travel Alert lifted in portions of western North Dakota but remains in effect on many state highways across the state.

NDDOT and NDHP have lifted the Travel Alert for the northwest North Dakota including Williston, Minot, Dickinson and surrounding areas.

A Travel Alert remains in effect for many state highways across North Dakota including Bismarck, Valley City, Fargo, Devils Lake, Grand Forks and surrounding areas due to reduced visibility and snow fog creating “whiteout” conditions when meeting and passing vehicles. The Travel Alert has been lifted for portions of northwest North Dakota including Williston, Minot, Dickinson and surrounding areas.

NDDOT releases information to inform the public about travel conditions throughout the state. The three categories are as follows:

TRAVEL ALERT – Motorists can still travel but may encounter areas of challenging winter weather driving conditions on roadways. Motorists should allow extra time to reach their destination and be alert to conditions that may make travel difficult, change rapidly, or cause travel delays. A TRAVEL ALERT has the potential to change to a NO TRAVEL ADVISED if conditions deteriorate.

NO TRAVEL ADVISED – Motorists should not travel due to hazardous conditions which may make it unsafe to travel. Snowplows may be pulled from the roads during severe conditions. Motorists should take NO TRAVEL ADVISED seriously as those motorists who choose to travel at their own risk may become stranded and emergency responders may not be able to reach them safely. A NO TRAVEL ADVISED has the potential to change to a ROAD CLOSED OR BLOCKED if conditions deteriorate.

ROAD CLOSED OR BLOCKED – Motorists are not allowed to travel on a closed road due to life threatening conditions. The road may be impassible or blocked. Motorists who drive past a road closure device may be fined up to $250.

Motorists are encouraged to reduce speeds, drive according to the conditions and always wear your seat belt. All travelers are encouraged to monitor road conditions as weather conditions occur and use caution while traveling. For road information, call 511 from any type of phone or go to the Travel Information Map at www.dot.nd.gov.

Please be advised that road condition information on 511 and the travel map is updated daily from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. CDT. The road report is based upon the information available to the NDDOT at the time of preparation and is provided solely as a public service. Conditions may vary from those reported.

Update…

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City and Rural fire departments were called out to the WAPA Jamestown Substation, south of the State Hospital, Wednesday night just after 11-p.m. Law Enforcement Center reports of large blue flashes were seen coming from there.

Jamestown City Fire Chief Jim Reuther says, the Jamestown Rural Fire Department took over at the scene, with four city fire units and 24 fire fighters on the scene until 11:53 p.m.

He says, maintenance work was in progress at the substance.

A representative of WAPA was also on scene, to address any issues.

The equipment was turned off and the fire call was made as a precaution.

Video submitted by Corey Bayer, available in this story on line at: CSiNewsNow.ocm

Jamestown (NDHP) To increase public awareness of impaired driving & related motor vehicle crashes, and to deter citizens from choosing to drive impaired, the ND Highway Patrol, Stutsman County Sheriff’s Department, and Jamestown Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, Dec. 29 at a predetermined location in Stutsman County.

In conjunction to the sobriety checkpoint, saturation patrols will be conducted on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29 in Stutsman and Barnes Counties.

The primary purpose of a checkpoint and saturation is to deter drinking and driving. This year, approximately 33 percent of fatal crashes have been alcohol-related. Through Dec. 8 of this year, 31 of the 100 fatalities on North Dakota roadways have occurred in alcohol-related crashes.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol reminds the public to plan ahead, always designate a sober driver, and drive distraction free as we all work together toward Vision Zero: zero fatalities on North Dakota roads.

Jamestown (UJ) Two students from University of Jamestown were selected to play in the National Small College Intercollegiate Band in Tempe, Ariz. in February.

The National Small College Intercollegiate Band provides students from band programs at smaller colleges the opportunity to perform high quality literature at a national conference under a renowned conductor.

Laura Lynch, D.A., Assistant Professor and Director of Instrumental Music, says “The students, Kyle Glander and Anthony Vereen, will represent our program, our school, and our state since no one else is attending from North Dakota.”

Glander, a senior accounting major, plays the euphonium. Vereen, a senior music and business major, plays the bass trombone. As members of the National Small College Intercollegiate Band, Glander and Vereen will practice during the biannual College Band Directors National Association conference and perform a concert.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Some Republican lawmakers are pushing a bill that would give the North Dakota Legislature final say on successful citizen-led initiatives that amend the state constitution, something opponents believe usurps the will of the people.

The legislation was inspired, in part, by a string of successful ballot measures funded largely by out-of state interests, said Minot Republican Sen. David Hogue, the bill’s primary sponsor.

“We need to have a higher bar for constitutional amendments than what we currently have,” said Hogue.

The measure would require endorsement by the Legislature in each of the two sessions following voters’ approval. Public hearings would be held to provide input on the legislation, Hogue said, adding that a successful citizen-initiative “would be reviewed by the people and reviewed by the Legislature, as well.”

Citizen initiatives allow residents to bypass lawmakers and get proposed state laws and constitutional amendments on ballots if they gather enough signatures from supportive voters. North Dakota is among about two dozen states with some form of an initiative process.

Hogue’s bill would require a majority in both chambers before going to voters, since it also is a constitutional amendment, said John Bjornson, director of the Legislative Council, which is the Legislature’s research arm.

MEDORA, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s national parks are being affected by the partial federal government shutdown. The National Park Service says Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is mostly closed. Roads, lookouts, and trails at Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site are accessible, but emergency and rescue services will be limited.

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Bird enthusiasts in Minot are helping the National Audubon Society compile data by counting and identifying birds in their hometown.

Organizer Ron Martin told the Minot Daily News that bird numbers have been trending down since the city’s first Christmas Bird Count in 1981. Martin added that the bird counts give “a nice comparison to see where things are going these days.”

The National Audubon Society began its international Christmas Bird Count in 1900.

In sports…

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s free ice fishing weekend is scheduled for Dec 29-30.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department says resident anglers may fish that weekend without a license. All other ice fishing regulations apply.

Those interested in darkhouse spearfishing must register with the department before the free weekend. Registration is available on the department website, www.gf.nd.gov , or through any Game and Fish office. Northern pike and nongame species are legal for spearfishing.

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=

Mandan Holiday Tournament=

First Round=

Flasher 66, Hettinger/Scranton 39

New Salem-Almont 60, Wilton-Wing 53

Shiloh Christian 73, Bottineau 62

Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky 64, Grant County 51

Boy’s Hockey…

Fargo South/Shanley 6, Rochester Lourdes/Dover-Eyota, Minn. 3

Class A Basketball Polls…

Fourth poll

Boys

Team Rec. Pts. LW

1. Fargo Davies (10) 7-0 58 1

2. Jamestown (2) 5-0 50 2

3. West Fargo Sheyenne 8-0 36 3

4. Mandan 4-2 20 4

5. Minot 4-1 8 NR

Others receiving votes: Bismarck Legacy (5-1) and Bismarck High (5-2).

Girls

Team Rec. Pts. LW

1. Bismarck Century (12) 7-0 60 1

2. Devils Lake 6-0 42 2

3. Mandan 5-1 37 3

4. Bismarck Legacy 6-0 27 4

5. Fargo Shanley 6-1 12 5

Others receiving votes: Jamestown (3-2).

NHL-WILD-DUMBA

Dumba out at least three months

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba is expected to be out at least three months following surgery to repair a ruptured right pectoral muscle.

Dumba hasn’t played since the first period of the Wild’s 2-1 loss to the Flames on Dec. 15. He leads all NHL blueliners with 12 goals and has 22 points in 32 games.

BUENA, N.J. (AP) — An attorney for a New Jersey high school wrestler forced by a referee to cut his dreadlocks before a match to avoid a forfeit says the boy’s family won’t pursue legal action.

The Buena (BYOO’-nah) Regional school board held an emergency meeting Wednesday night.

The board said the Buena High School wrestling team won’t compete in events officiated by referee Alan Maloney.

Wrestler Andrew Johnson had his dreadlocks cut minutes before the match Dec. 19.

Johnson, who is black, had a cover over his hair, but Maloney, who is white, said that wouldn’t do. Maloney didn’t respond to requests for comment.

At Wednesday’s packed meeting, the school’s board said its investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The Press of Atlantic City reports Johnson’s family didn’t attend the meeting.

NBA…UNDATED (AP) —— Derrick Rose had 24 points and eight assists against his former team as part of the Timberwolves’ 119-94 rout of the Bulls in Chicago. Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points and 20 rebounds as Minnesota win its second straight on the road.The Toronto Raptors are an NBA-best 26-10 after rallying from a 14-point halftime deficit.Danny Green’s 3-pointer with 22.7 seconds left put the Raptors ahead for good in a 106-104 triumph over the Heat at Miami. Green had 18 points for the Raptors, who survived a wild fourth quarter that saw 13 lead changes and three ties.Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard poured in 30 points and Fred VanVleet added 16 as Toronto ended the Heat’s five-game winning streak.Justise Winslow finished with 21 points for Miami.Checking out Wednesday’s other NBA action:— The Pacers made it 10 wins in their last 12 games as Thaddeus Young scored 21 points in a 129-121 victory in Atlanta. Domantas Sabonis and Tyreke Evans each added 19 to help Indiana overcome Kent Bazemore, who tied a career high with 32 points.— Detroit won for just the third time in 12 games as Blake Griffin had 23 points and nine rebounds in the Pistons’ 106-95 victory over the Wizards. Langston Galloway scored 22 points off the bench, and Andre Drummond added 16 points and 11 boards in his 10th consecutive double-double.— DeMar DeRozan had 30 points and LaMarcus Aldridge provided 27 as the Spurs earned a 111-103 win over the Nuggets to move into a virtual tie with Houston for the Southwest Division lead. Bryn Forbes added 15 points in San Antonio’s eighth victory in 10 games.— The Clippers nearly squandered a 27-point lead before holding off the hard-charging Kings 127-118. Lou Williams scored 24 points, Montrezl (MAHN’-trehz) Harrell added 22 for Los Angeles.— The Mavericks’ six-game losing streak is over after Luka Doncic scored 21 points, including the tiebreaking free throws with 30 seconds left in a 122-119 win against the Pelicans. Dallas center DeAndre Jordan had 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting and 12 rebounds for his 22nd double-double.— Marc Gasol’s (gah-SAHLZ’) 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists carried the Grizzlies past the Cavaliers 95-87. Mike Conley contributed 15 points and eight assists for Memphis, which held on after a 16-point, fourth-quarter lead shrank to four with 1:19 remaining.— Joe Harris made the tiebreaking layup with 3.4 seconds left in double-overtime to push the Nets to their ninth win in 10 games, 134-132. Harris finished with a season-high 27 points and Spencer Dinwiddie had 37 points and 11 assists for Brooklyn.— Devin Booker scored 35 points and T.J. Warren added 24 in the Suns’ fifth win in seven games, 122-120 in overtime at Orlando. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 19 points and Josh Jackson chipped in 10 as Phoenix dealt the Magic their fourth consecutive loss.NBA NEWSJames injury not too badUNDATED (AP) — LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers received some good news Wednesday.An MRI showed that the Lakers forward merely strained his left groin during Tuesday’s 127-101 rout of the Golden State Warriors. James had to leave the game early in the third quarter after slipping underneath the Warriors basket while going after a loose ball. The four-time NBA MVP ahead had 17 points and 10 rebounds when he headed to the locker room 4:50 into the second half.

The Lakers say James will miss Thursday’s game at Sacramento, ending his consecutive games streak at 156, including the postseason.

Also in the NBA:

— The NBA had its most-watched Christmas schedule since 2011, with 10.2 million viewers tuning in for the Lakers’ victory over Golden State. ESPN says the audience for that game was its fifth-largest for one on Christmas. The five games Tuesday averaged 5.8 million viewers, an increase of 14 percent from last year.

COLLEGE BOWLS

Gophers take Quick Lane Bowl

UNDATED (AP) — Minnesota ends the season with a winning record after winning their bowl game.

Mohamed Ibrahim ran for career-high 224 yards and two touchdowns as the Golden Gophers silenced Georgia Tech, 34-10 in the Quick Lane Bowl at Detroit. Ibrahim’s three-yard TD put Minnesota ahead, 20-3 midway through the third quarter.

The Gophers limited Georgia Tech to 206 yards on the ground after it led the nation with 335 yards rushing per game.

In Wednesday’s other bowl games:

— Jonathan Song kicked a 27-yard field goal in overtime to send TCU past California, 10-7 in the Cheez-It Bowl at Phoenix. Song came through after he was replaced by Cole Bunce on a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation, a 44-yard kick that was missed. Sewo Olonilua ran for 194 yards and a touchdown for the Horned Frogs.

— The First Responder Bowl had to be canceled due to the threat of severe weather after a delay of nearly 90 minutes. Boston College was leading Boise State 7-0 with 5:08 remaining in the first quarter when play was stopped. The delay came not long after AJ Dillon ran 19 yards for a touchdown. NCAA spokesman J.D. Hamilton said via email that it was believed to be the first bowl canceled by weather.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-NEWS

UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray has missed his scheduled media availability at the Orange Bowl because of what the team says is an illness.

Murray was able to practice with the Sooners on Tuesday, and the nature of his illness was not disclosed. However, there doesn’t seem to be much concern about him missing time.

— Brandon Wimbush is practicing with Notre Dame to be the No. 2 quarterback for the third-ranked Fighting Irish in the Cotton Bowl amid questions about his future with the team after the College Football Playoff. Several media reports say Wimbush has notified Notre Dame that he intends to transfer. The senior already has a degree and could transfer to another school and play immediately as a graduate transfer.

— No. 2 Clemson is preparing to play without star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence when it faces No. 3 Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. Lawrence and two teammates failed an NCAA test for performance-enhancing drugs.

— Michigan right tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty has become the Wolverines’ fourth draft-eligible player to pull out of the Peach Bowl against Florida. The fifth-year senior didn’t travel with the team to Atlanta and joins running back Karan Higdon, defensive end Rashan Gary and linebacker Devin Bush Jr. among the Wolverines who are missing the game.

NFL NEWS

Mariota working to play Sunday

UNDATED (AP) — Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (mar-ee-OH’-tah) says he’s doing everything in his power to start Sunday night’s important game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Mariota did not practice Wednesday with what the Titans listed as neck and foot injuries. He declined to detail what symptoms he’s still dealing with after being hurt on a sack late in the first half of Tennessee’s win over Washington last Saturday.

The winner will earn at least an AFC wild-card berth. The AFC South title would be up for grabs if the Texans lose to Jacksonville.

In other NFL news:

— Jaguars coach Doug Marrone says Blake Bortles will start the season finale at Houston, giving the embattled quarterback a chance to close out the season on a positive note. Bortles came off the bench at Miami last Sunday and led Jacksonville to the go-ahead score in a 17-7 victory.

— The Panthers have placed quarterback Taylor Heinicke on injured reserve with an elbow injury. Kyle Allen is expected to start this Sunday against the Saints with Carolina eliminated from the playoffs.

— Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson was held out of practice for what coach Todd Bowles calls “an in-house matter.” Both Bowles and Johnson declined after practice to discuss details of their conversation, saying only that it was between them.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has returned to the U.S. from an unannounced trip to Iraq, his first visit to a danger zone abroad. Air Force One landed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland at 5:12 a.m. Trump had been hearing from critics that it was past time for him to go abroad and see troops in harm’s way.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Back from a 29-hour trip to visit U.S. troops in Iraq, President Donald Trump is returning his attention to the ongoing partial U.S. government shutdown. In a morning tweet, Trump says “we desperately need” a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, funding for which has been a flashpoint between the White House and Congress ever since Trump took office. The shutdown, now in its sixth day, affects hundreds of thousands of federal workers.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon Democratic congressman says 2018 was the year that the marijuana movement “crested.” U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who’s been working for decades to overturn the federal ban on pot says, “It’s clear that this is all coming to a head.” In 2018, California became the largest legal U.S. marketplace, U.S. drug regulators approved the first marijuana-based pharmaceutical to treat kids with a form of epilepsy and billions of investment dollars poured into cannabis companies.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — It has been a wretched year for Pope Francis, whose blind spot on clergy sex abuse conspired with events beyond his control to threaten his legacy and throw the Catholic hierarchy into a credibility crisis. Francis’ eyes were forced open in 2018 when he admitted he was wrong about a case in Chile, made amends, and laid groundwork for the future by calling an abuse prevention summit next year.

UNDATED (AP) — The Trump administration has announced it will keep a tent city holding more than 2,000 migrant teenagers open through early 2019 and will increase number of beds at another facility for children in Florida. The announcement was made Wednesday about the Tornillo facility, which opened in June in an isolated corner of the Texas desert with space for up to 360 children. It later expanded into a guarded detention camp that on Christmas held some 2,300 boys and girls, mostly from Central America.