CSi Weather…

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT  TO NOON CST SATURDAY…

.REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs around 10 below. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

 

TONIGHT…Partly cloudy in the evening, then cloudy with a 20 percent chance of light snow after midnight in the Valley City area, 30 percent in the Jamestown area. Lows 20 to 25 below. Temperature rising overnight. West winds around 5 mph shifting to the east after midnight. Wind chill readings 34 below to 39 below zero.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of snow in the

afternoon in the Valley City area, 40 percent in the Jamestown area. Highs near zero. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Lowest wind chills around 35 below in the morning.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in

the evening. Lows around 15 below. Northeast winds around 10 mph.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of snow in the

afternoon. Highs near zero. Northeast winds around 10 mph.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of light snow

in the evening. Lows zero to 5 below. Lows around 10 below.

.MONDAY…Cloudy. Slight chance of snow in the morning, then snow

likely in the afternoon. Patchy blowing and drifting snow in the

afternoon. Highs 10 to 15. Chance of snow 70 percent.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Snow. Lows zero to 5 above.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy. Snow likely in the morning, then slight

chance of snow in the afternoon. Patchy blowing and drifting snow

through the day. Highs around 10. Chance of snow 70 percent  in the Valley City area,  40 percent in the Valley City area.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Patchy blowing and drifting snow

in the evening. Lows around 5 below.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs zero to 5 above.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 10 below.

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

 

Accumulating snowfall with blowing snow looks likely Monday
through Tuesday across western and central North Dakota. The
greatest accumulations and lowest visibilities are expected across
the James River Valley at this time. See www.weather.gov/bis for
updates.

More information as the forecast firms up closer to the forecast period.

 

Jamestown  (JPD)  Jamestown Police is investigating  the appearance of small blue pills that contain Fentanyl.

The drugs have a capital “M” on one side and the other has the number 30.

The news release says, the blue pills were seized by law enforcement and then tested positive for synthetic opioids containing Fentanyl, which is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine.

The addictive drug is deadly due to its opioid properties.

The pills resemble the prescription medication Oxycodone.

 

Police Lt. Robert Opp says the pill is an illegal narcotic and appear to be made for illegal sales.

Anyone who encounters the pills should contact local law enforcement immediately.

 

 

Jamestown  (Chamber-YPJ)  Members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee and the Young Professionals of Jamestown presented the Customer Service Award for February to Dani Paul of Sabir’s Buffalo Grill for her outstanding customer service.  The chamber honors individuals who demonstrate a consistent commitment to delivering products or services that satisfy customers by exceeding their requirements or expectations.

Dani’s letter of nomination stated, “I receive great customer service from Dani every time I go to Buffalo City Grille, but Friday’s service stuck out to me.  It had been awhile since I had been in but she remembered me right away and knew I liked Diet Coke and asked if I wanted a Diet Coke right away. She is a great server and usually by herself. She handles the tables with ease, never seems flustered, always brings refills and your bill in a timely manner. I never have to ask for anything because she is always on the ball. It is hard to find great service and Dani never disappoints! I would love Dani to receive this award because she deserves the recognition for the great job she does every single day.”

Congratulations to Dani, who along with all the other monthly winners, will be recognized at the Chamber’s annual banquet in January 2020.  Customer Service Award nomination forms are available at the Chamber office and on their website at www.jamestownchamber.com or call 701-252-4830.

 

Bismarck  (NDDOT)  The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is seeking comments on amendments to the 2019-2022 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for inclusion of previously-unpublished projects in 2019

 

  1. Milling and asphalt overlay in Devils Lake on 1st St NE from 6th Ave to 8th Ave, 8th Ave NE from 1st St to Railroad Ave, and Walnut St E from 8th Ave to Elks Dr.

Total Cost: $1,036,000

 

  1. Storm Sewer installation in Valley City on Wintershow Rd and 8th Ave SW.

Total Cost: $1,586,000

 

  1. Pipe replacement on the I-29 crossroad at Exit 212.

Total Cost: $230,000

 

  1. Pipe installation on ND Highway 20 seven miles north of Jamestown.

Total Cost: $80,000

 

  1. Lighting, pavement marking and signing on US Highway 83 at the junction of 128th Ave NW at Ruthville north of Minot.

Total Cost: $150,000

 

  1. Pavement marking and signing in Minot on 3rd Ave SE & 3rd St SE and Burdick Expressway & 13th St SE.

Total Cost: $40,000

 

  1. Pavement marking and signing in Center on ND Highway 48 & 3rd St and ND Highway 25 near Pope Ave.

Total Cost: $35,000

 

  1. Pavement marking, signing, and Dynamic Message Signs on US Highways 2 and 52 from Brooks Junction to south of Velva.

Total Cost: $2,750,000

 

  1. Pavement marking, signing, and Dynamic Message Signs on US Highway 85 from Watford City to Alexander

Total Cost: $1,675,000

 

  1. Pavement marking and signing on passing and climbing lanes at various locations on ND Highways 8, 22, and 23.

Total Cost: $155,000

 

  1. Pavement marking and signing on passing and climbing lanes at various locations on ND Highways 8, 22, 23, 200, and 1804.

Total Cost: $420,000

 

  1. Milling and asphalt overlay on ND Highway 30 from the junction of ND Highway 66 north to the junction of US Highway 281.

Total Cost: $2,400,000

 

The public is invited to view the current STIP on the NDDOT’s website at www.dot.nd.gov by clicking on “Publications” on the top of the page, then clicking on the “2019-2022 Final STIP (Statewide Transportation Improvement Program)” link under the Plans and Reports section.

Comments should be sent no later than February 22, 2019 to Chad M. Orn at NDDOT, 608 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505-0700, or sent via email corn@nd.gov  with “2019 State Federal-Aid Roadway Projects” in the subject line.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Public schools  parent teacher conferences have been rescheduled Monday Feb 11, 4-p – 9-p.

The original date was postponed due to school being closed due to weather issues.

 

Valley City  (VCSU)  “A Tribute to the African-American Journey”—a traveling exhibit from the True Black History Museum in Troy, Michigan will be hosted in the Student Center lounge on the Valley City State University campus from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13. That afternoon, museum founder Fred Saffold III will speak on the African-American experience at 12:30 p.m. in the VCSU Student Center Skoal Room.

The exhibit features more than 150 artifacts and original documents dating from the late 1600s through the 21st century from historic figures such as Booker T. Washington, Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, Angela Davis, Martin Luther King Jr., President Barack Obama, and many other African-Americans.

Saffold, a retired Detroit police officer and instructor in the Wayne County Community College District, founded the True Black History Museum in 2010 “to preserve the history of African-American people and to educate others of the many great contributions that African-Americans have made to humanity.”

The exhibit and Saffold’s presentation, both open to the public free of charge, are sponsored by the Viking Campus Activities Board and VCSU Residence Life.

More information about Saffold and the True Black History Museum can be found online at www.trueblackhistory.com.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Board of Adjustment Meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 8:00 a.m. – Thursday, February 14.

The topic will be a Building Code Variance Request  at 1101 15 ½ Ave SW, side yard setback variance.

 

Sports news….

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — U.S. Sen. John Hoeven says President Donald Trump has invited the national champion North Dakota State football team to the White House.Hoeven says Trump extended the invitation after the two of them talked about the Bison winning their seventh Football Championship Subdivision title in the last eight years. The Bison defeated Eastern Washington in January’s title game in Frisco, Texas.Hoeven says North Dakota State’s winning history makes for a fitting visit and he will work with the president to coordinate details.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — As North Dakota’s Health Department enters the final stages of implementing a statewide distribution system for medical marijuana, state lawmakers are considering proposals that would make it easier for patients to get doctor approval for the drug.

Medical marijuana advocates are applauding, especially after more than two years of waiting for the drug approved by voters in November 2016.

“At this point, we’ll take anything that makes it easier for providers to certify any patient that they feel would benefit,” said Anita Morgan, spokeswoman for North Dakota Compassionate Care, which pushed for legalization of medical marijuana.

A proposal that appears headed for a floor vote in the House would add physician assistants to the list of medical professionals who can certify patients. The list currently includes physicians and advanced practice registered nurses.

Another important proposed change would help ease the concerns of doctors who must give their approval before patients can get state-approved medical marijuana cards.

The Health Department hopes to have medical marijuana dispensaries operating in the state’s eight major cities by fall. Medical marijuana grown at a state-approved Bismarck manufacturing facility could be available at either the Grand Forks or Fargo dispensary within weeks, according to Jason Wahl, director of the department’s Medical Marijuana Division.

The state estimates that as many as 4,000 residents will legally be using the drug by summer 2021. But so far, it has issued fewer than 100 medical marijuana cards to patients and caregivers. Applications have been accepted since late October.

 

PAGE, N.D. (AP) — It was a close call for three people in a car that got stuck in the snow on a railroad crossing in Cass County.Authorities say the three were working to free the Mazda from the snow Friday morning on Highway 38 near Page when an eastbound train approached.The three were outside of the car trying to push it from the tracks when the Burlington Northern Santa Fe came barreling down the tracks. The North Dakota Highway Patrol says the trio moved away to safety and weren’t hurt when the train, unable to stop, smashed into the car. It was catapulted into the railroad right of way.Two people on the train were not hurt.A no travel advisory had been in effect for more than 24 hours when the crash occurred about 3 a.m.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — National Guard soldiers from the Upper Midwest who served about a year of duty in Afghanistan will be honored this weekend.A public “welcome home” event is scheduled at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Fargo for members of the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 191st Military Police Company.Nearly 30 members of the company returned home late last year. The soldiers are from 20 communities in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

 

In world and national news…

NEW YORK (AP) — Wells Fargo’s problems with its online and mobile banking services, as well as its ATMs, is lingering into a second day as the bank continues to recover from a possible fire at one of its data centers.The San Francisco-based bank said Friday most of the disrupted services have been restored, but both the bank’s employees and its customers had trouble accessing information on their direct deposits earlier in the day. The bank said that issue has now been corrected.The problems started early Thursday when Wells Fargo said smoke was reported at one of its data centers. Customers complained that they were unable to access online and mobile banking, and some customers reported they were unable or restricted in their ability to withdraw cash.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has declined to answer a question about whether special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation is a “witch hunt.”

President Donald Trump has repeatedly called the Russia probe a “witch hunt.” Asked by Democratic Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen on Friday if he also thought it was, Whitaker declined to answer, citing the ongoing investigation.

Asked by Cohen if he would stop a “witch hunt,” Whitaker said it would be “inappropriate” to answer that question. Whitaker oversees the Mueller probe.

Trump’s permanent pick for attorney general, William Barr, has said he does not believe Mueller would be involved in a “witch hunt.”

Democrats are eager to press acting Whitaker during his first testimony to Congress on his interactions with Trump and his oversight of the special counsel’s Russia investigation.

 

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors in New York are probing whether the National Enquirer’s parent company violated a cooperation agreement in its handling of the story regarding Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

Bezos claims American Media Inc. threatened to publish intimate photos of him unless he stopped investigating how the tabloid obtained his private exchanges with his mistress.

Two people familiar with the matter tell The Associated Press that prosecutors are looking at whether an email exchange Bezos published shows AMI violated an agreement it struck to avoid prosecution for alleged campaign finance violations. The people were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The agreement requires AMI commit no crimes for three years. AMI did not respond to requests for comment.

— Jim Mustian and Michael R. Sisak

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court has stopped Louisiana from enforcing new regulations on abortion clinics in a test of the conservative court’s views on abortion rights.

The justices said by a 5-4 vote late Thursday that they will not allow the state to put into effect a law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s four liberals in putting a hold on the law, pending a full review of the case.

President Donald Trump’s two Supreme Court appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, were among the four conservative members of the court who would have allowed the law to take effect.

 

 

MILAN (AP) — Director Spike Lee says he will no longer wear Gucci or Prada until the brands hire some black designers, following a pair of blackface fashion fails.

Lee said on Instagram Friday that “It’s Obvious To Da Peoples That They Don’t Have A Clue When It Comes To Racist, Blackface Hateful Imagery. WAKE UP.”

Spike said the brands needed to have black designers “To Be In Da Room When It Happen.”

The personal boycott in the midst of movie awards season was a powerful message to luxury fashion houses that are already suffering backlashes for designs evoking racist images.

Gucci this week apologized for a high-neck black wool sweater that featured bright red lips when pulled over the face, while Prada apologized for a monkey bag charm resembling blackface in December.