– Wayne Byers Show -Morning – Mar 15

CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow after midnight in the Jamestown area, 20 percent in the Valley City area. Lows around 10. West

winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the south after midnight.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of snow possibly

mixed with freezing rain and in the morning. Highs in the lower

30s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the northwest 10 to

15 mph in the afternoon.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows 15 to 20. West winds

around 10 mph.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 30. Northwest winds around

10 mph.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 10 to 15.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 30.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the lower 20s.

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

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 20s.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown City crews began the full snow plowing program starting this morning at 4-a.m., beginning with the Emergency routes.

City crews will begin plowing residential areas at 11:00 a.m., today…

Crews will continue work during the night with the Downtown district beginning at 11:00 pm.

City Ordinance Section 25-10 requires that a property owner keep the sidewalk adjoining the property clear of snow and ice. Do not deposit snow or ice on the city street after the city plow has cleared the street. These violations are class B misdemeanors under the general penalty and will result in a fine.

Valley City street crews were working on clearing streets on Thursday…

Update Friday morning…

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Public Works informs those residents affected that due to the blizzard and road conditions, there will be NO garbage or recycling collection on Friday, March 15, 2019.

The garbage and recycling from Thursday, March 14, 2019, will be picked up Monday, March 18, 2019 resulting in all collection days for the week of March 18, 2019, to be one day late.

Monday, March 18, Collect garbage and recycling for Thursday routes

Tuesday, March 19, Collect garbage and recycling for Monday routes

Wednesday, March 20, Collect garbage and recycling for Tuesday routes

Thursday, March 21, Collect garbage and recycling for Wednesday routes

Friday, March 22, Collect garbage and recycling for Thursday routes

Please call the City Baling Facility with questions 701-252-5223.

NDDOT Friday afternoon road report..

I29 is now open Canada to South Dakota Border

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) reopened I-94 at 1 p.m. Friday. Motorists must use caution when traveling as I-94 is still covered with areas of ice, compacted snow, and scattered ice and slush. Motorists must slow down and drive for the conditions. Crews are out working and will continue to work on the interstate in addition to two-lane highways which remain blocked and impassable or reduced to a single lane in many places in south central and eastern North Dakota. Please use caution while traveling.

Commercial trucks with oversize loads will be permitted on the interstate only starting at 2 p.m. in the southeast region. No oversize loads will be permitted on secondary two-lane highways in the SE region at this time.

I-29 is now open Canada to South Dakota. Go to ND Road Report for latest map.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) have opened US Highway 2 eastbound and westbound from Devils Lake to Grand Forks.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) have lifted the No Travel Advisory from northeast North Dakota including Devils Lake, Grand Forks, and surrounding areas. Snowplows are working to clear roadways. Snow drifts may still block some roadways. Please be patient as the NDDOT works to clear and open roadways.

Current advisories are

A No Travel Advisory is in effect for all areas of southeast North Dakota due to snow drifts, icy roads, and areas of hazardous driving conditions. Several roadways are blocked and impassible with the greatest impacts to the east-west highways. Cities included in the No Travel Advisory include Jamestown, Valley City, Ashley, Ellendale, Fargo, and surrounding areas. A No Travel Advisory means conditions are such that motorists should not travel in these areas.

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.

On line for road report updates: CSiNewsNow.com

Many two-lane highways in the south central to eastern North Dakota remain blocked and impassable. Crews will continue to clear those roadways to open them. Two-lane highways were greatly impacted by the storm. Motorists will become stranded if they travel on these roads and emergency response will be difficult. Because of the impact of this storm event it is going to take the NDDOT a significant amount of time until these highways can be cleared for traffic.

(CSi) Ten inches (?) of snow was just too much weight for the awning on a Business Loop West building. The west end of the building houses the Salvation Army Thrift Store. The collapse was in front of Electronic Doctors, Thursday.Salvation Army, Major Tim Nauta says he was notified by police. The Thrift Store was closed Thursday, due to the blizzard, so there were no injuries.

Damages are yet to be assessed.

More information as this story develops.

CSi Photo

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown City crews degan the full snow plowing program starting Friday March 15 at 4:00 a.m. beginning with the Emergency routes.

City crews will begin plowing residential areas at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 15.

Crews will continue work during the night with the Downtown district beginning at 11:00 pm.

PLEASE NOTE:

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

From NDHP

Crash report, truck, snowplow

What: Property

Where: I-94 mm 142, 6 miles west of Mandan

When: March 14, 2019 at 9:12 a.m.

Road Conditions: No Travel Advisory in effect due to blowing and drifting snow.

Weather Conditions: Windy causing blowing and drifting snow.

Crash Involvement: Vehicle/Vehicle

Type of Crash: Rear-End

Agencies Involved: NDHP

Vehicle No. 1: 2018, Volvo, Truck

Driver No. 1: Roberto Cortez, male, 59 yoa, Highland, CA, Not injured

Restraints: Shoulder and Lap Belt Used

Charges: Careless Driving

Vehicle No. 2: 2010, Mack, Truck (NDDOT Snowplow)

Driver No. 2: Jesse Nelson, male, 37 yoa, Bismarck, ND, Not injured

Restraints: Shoulder and Lap Belt Used

Charges: None

NARRATIVE:

Cortez was traveling westbound on I-94 in the driving lane. NDDOT employee Nelson was engaged in road clearing operations traveling westbound on I-94. Cortez’s vehicle struck the back of the snowplow causing Cortez’s vehicle to enter the median. Neither driver was injured in the crash. A no travel advisory was in effect at the time of the crash.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Legislature has slightly increased tax collection expectations for the next two-year budget cycle due to a belief in stable oil prices and increased production.

House and Senate appropriation committees on Thursday predicted general fund tax collections at just under $4 billion. That’s just $25 million more than what the GOP-led Legislature used as a budgetary starting point in January.

Lawmakers based their numbers from a pair of competing revenue forecasts presented earlier this week. The tax revenues estimates lawmakers adopted are closer to the forecast done by state budget analysts and Moody’s Analytics.

That forecast showed the state treasury expects to collect about $4.95 billion in oil tax collections for the budget period that begins July 1. The Legislature’s estimate is about $100 million less than that.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Legislature has endorsed a major spending plan aimed at rebuilding infrastructure projects outside of the state’s oil patch.

The Senate voted 46-0 on Thursday for the House bill aimed at providing $250 million in every two-year budget cycle for counties, cities and airports in non-oil producing areas.

The proposal by the Legislature’s Republican majority leaders has been called “Operation Prairie Dog.”

The legislation assumes that that oil production and prices will hold at the current levels.

The measure now heads to Gov. Doug Burgum.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Trump administration is finalizing plans to ease restrictions on oil and natural gas drilling and other industrial activities that were imposed to protect an imperiled bird species that ranges across the American West.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management Acting Director Brian Steed told The Associated Press the changes still protect greater sage grouse while addressing concerns that policies adopted by former President Barack Obama were too restrictive.

A formal announcement is expected Friday.

Critics say the changes will mean more disturbances to the bird’s habitat, which includes portions of 11 states. Brian Rutledge with the Audubon Society says that will undermine efforts to shore up grouse populations.

The ground-dwelling birds, known for an elaborate mating ritual, have seen steep declines due to energy development, disease and other factors.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Republican-led Legislature has passed a resolution urging Congress to follow the state’s lead and ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Senators passed the House resolution on Thursday.

North Dakota passed a law in 2013 that outlaws abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, based on the disputed premise that a fetus can feel pain by then.

The Red River Clinic in Fargo is the state’s sole abortion clinic. Officials at the clinic say the ban is unconstitutional but it does not apply to North Dakota because no abortions are performed at the clinic after 16 weeks.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Republican-led Senate has defeated a measure that would outlaw sobriety checkpoints in the state.

Senators voted 36-10 to kill the House bill on Thursday. It would have required “reasonable suspicion for certain traffic stops.”

Bismarck GOP Rep. Rick Becker was the measure’s primary sponsor. He says sobriety checkpoints are ineffective and don’t act as a deterrent.

Opponents of the bill say the checkpoints are effective and probably save lives.

Becker unsuccessfully pushed similar legislation two years ago.

PROSECUTOR SHORTAGE

Ward County attorney’s office facing prosecutor shortage

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — The Ward County State’s Attorney’s Office says it expects to be functioning with only about half of its assigned staff by the end of March, highlighting a prosecutor recruitment and retention problem in western North Dakota.

The Minot Daily News reports that Ward County State’s Attorney Rozanna Larson says her office will have openings in four of its eight assistant attorney positions with the looming departure of an attorney at the end of the month. Larson says the vacancies happen because veteran prosecutors find better pay in larger communities or choose to work in private practice.

Larson says her office plans to hire contract attorneys to fill the staffing void. Contract attorneys would mostly deal with trials for some of the property, traffic and drug offenses.

In Sports…

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=

^Class B State=

^Quarterfinal=

Bishop Ryan 62, New Rockford-Sheyenne 56

Richland 65, Powers Lake 63

Shiloh Christian 54, Beulah 46

Thompson 58, Ellendale 49

Friday’s Pairings…

Consolation

G5: Beulah vs. Powers Lake, 1 p.m.

G6: Ellendale vs. New Rockford-Sheyenne, 2:45 p.m.

Semifinals

G7: Shiloh Christian vs. Richland, 6:30 p.m.

G8: Thompson vs. Bishop Ryan, 8:15 p.m.

(VCSUVikings.com)- VCSU junior Jorun Hamre has been named the North Star Athletic Association Baseball Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

North Star Athletic Association Baseball Player-of-the-Week
Jorun Hamre – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6’3″ – Junior – Outfield – Leonard, N.D. – Hamre recorded four multi-hit games as Valley City State (N.D.) posted a 2-4 record for the week in Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational Games. He batted .550 (11-of-20 at the plate) and registered a slugging percentage of .800 (two doubles, home run and eight singles). Hamre also drove in seven runs, including four RBIs versus North Central (Minn.). He hit a home run versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).

Valley City (VCSUVikings.com)- A record start has led to a record national ranking for the Valley City State University softball team.

The Vikings are ranked No. 11 in the nation with the release of the first 2019 NAIA Softball Top 25 Coaches’ Poll on Tuesday. It is the highest national ranking in program history as the Vikings moved up 14 spots from their preseason No. 25 ranking.

Valley City State started the season with a school-record 15 straight wins and currently holds a 20-1 overall record. The Vikings are one of just four teams in the nation that have reached 20 wins already. VCSU has wins against two teams in this week’s poll: No. 23 St. Francis and No. 25 University of Jamestown.

So far this season, the Vikings are outscoring their opponents 160-39, averaging almost eight runs per game while allowing less than two. VCSU’s 1.54 team ERA ranks 11th in the nation, and Viking pitchers have struck out a nation-leading 167 batters. The Vikings rank 10th in the country with a .970 fielding percentage, and their team batting average of .367 ranks 13th.

VCSU has two games left on its spring trip to Tucson, Ariz., this week. Following that, the Vikings are scheduled to start conference play March 23-24 against Dakota State University.

T25 MEN’S BASKETBALL…

Cavs, Heels, Devs, Noles play on in ACC Tournament

UNDATED (AP) — The ACC semifinals are set following wins by second-ranked Virginia, third-ranked North Carolina, No. 5 Duke and No. 12 Florida State.

The Cavaliers rolled to a 76-56 victory over North Carolina State as Kyle Guy drained seven 3-pointers while scoring 29 points. Big man Jack Salt provided a career-high 18 points for the top-seeded Cavaliers, who trailed by two at halftime before shooting 63 percent after the break.

The Tar Heels earned an 83-70 victory over Louisville as Coby White furnished 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Luke Maye had 19 points and nine rebounds for North Carolina, and Cameron Johnson scored all of his 14 points in the first half as the Heels ran their winning streak to eight games.

Zion Williamson returned from his six-game injury absence and scored 29 points on 13-for-13 shooting in the Blue Devils’ 84-72 victory against Syracuse. RJ Barrett added 23 points and six rebounds to help the Blue Devils earn a third meeting with North Carolina this season.

The Seminoles pulled out a 65-63 triumph over No. 16 Virginia Tech on Terrence Mann’s off-balance runner with 1.8 seconds left in overtime. Devin Vassell scored 14 points to lead the Seminoles, including a contested 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining in regulation.

There was a stunner in the Big 12 quarterfinals as 10th seed West Virginia knocked off seventh-ranked Texas Tech, 79-74. Emmitt Mathews scored a career-high 28 points for the Mountaineers, who blew a 16-point lead in the final nine minutes before rallying to drop the Red Raiders to 26-6.

Also in the Big 12, Devon Dotson scored 17 points and Dedric Lawson added 16 to send No. 17 Kansas past Texas, 65-57. David McCormack added 13 points and a career-best nine rebounds for the third-seeded Jayhawks, who will face West Virginia on Friday.

Xavier Snead scored 19 points and 15th-ranked Kansas State rallied from a slow start to beat TCU 70-61 to advance to the semifinals. Barry Brown added 12 points, Kamau Stokes had 11 and Makol Mawien had 10 for the tournament’s top seed.

In other conference tournament games involving ranked teams:

— Jazz Johnson scored 20 points and Caleb Martin had 19 to send No. 14 Nevada to a 77-69 victory and a berth in the Mountain West semifinals. Tre’Shawn Thurman added 17 points to help the top-seeded Wolf Pack tie a school record with their 29th win.

— Jeremy Harris scored 23 points and No. 18 Buffalo opened its postseason with an 82-46 thumping of Akron in the Mid-American Conference quarterfinals. Dontay Caruthers added 12 points for the 29-3 Bulls, who built a 20-point lead in the first half and held Akron to 24 percent shooting for the game.

— Unranked Nebraska pulled off the first surprise of the Big Ten Tournament as James Palmer scored 24 points in a 69-61 victory against No. 21 Maryland. Glynn Watson Jr. added 19 points and Isaiah Roby finished with 15 while helping the Cornhuskers hold the Terrapins to 36 percent shooting.

— Bryce Brown scored all 17 of his points in the second half as No. 22 Auburn beat Missouri, 81-71 to reach the SEC quarterfinals. Chuma Okeke added 12 points and helped the Tigers end a three-game skid in the tournament.

— No. 23 Marquette ended its four-game losing streak as Markus Howard scored 12 of his 30 points in a game-breaking 23-2 second-half run that carried the Golden Eagles to an 86-54 romp over St. John’s in the Big East quarterfinals. Fellow guard Sacar Anim added 13 points in helping Marquette reach the conference semifinals for the first time in nine years.

— And 25th-ranked Villanova reached the Big East semifinals behind Eric Paschal’s (PAS’-kulz) 20 points and 10 boards in a 73-62 verdict over Providence. Collin Gillespie added 19 points and six assists for the top-seeded and two-time defending champion Wildcats, who capitalized on a 17-5 run.

T25 MEN’S BASKETBALL-NEWS

Wade suspension continues

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU says Will Wade won’t resume his duties as men’s basketball coach unless he speaks to university officials about the reports of an FBI wiretap that resulted in his suspension.

Thursday’s statement comes amid reports that Wade wants to resume his duties as the ninth-ranked Tigers prepare for the postseason.

LSU suspended Wade indefinitely last week following reports that FBI wire-tap captured his telephone conversations with a person convicted last year of funneling money to the families of basketball recruits.

NBA-SCHEDULE

Pacers rally past Thunder

UNDATED (AP) — The Indiana Pacers are right on the verge of clinching an NBA playoff berth following a comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The magic number is one after the Pacers erased an 18-point deficit over the final 15 minutes of a 108-106 triumph against the Thunder. Wesley Matthews capped the rally by tipping in a basket with 1.8 seconds left.

Domantas Sabonis scored 26 points against his former team to help Indiana move into third in the Eastern Conference by a half-game over Philadelphia.

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had 19 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Paul George had a team-high 36 points for Oklahoma City, which fell back into a fourth-place tie with Portland in the West.

Checking out Thursday’s other NBA action:

— Nikola Jokic (NEE’-koh-lah YOH’-kihch) hit a falling one-handed shot as time expired to lift the Nuggets over the Mavericks, 100-99. Jokic scored 11 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out eight assists and shot 4-for-4 in the fourth quarter to help Denver come back from 12 down in the final period. The comeback leaves the Nuggets one game behind the West-leading Warriors.

— The Raptors beat the Lakers for the ninth straight time as Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard scored 25 points in a 111-98 decision at Toronto. Norman Powell had 20 points and Pascal Siakam (see-A’-kam) had 16 as the Raptors moved back within 2 ½ games of East-leading Milwaukee.

— Kyrie Irving recorded his second career triple-double with 31 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in Boston’s 126-120 comeback win over the Kings. Marcus Morris chipped in 21 points for Boston, which trailed by 17 in the first half before winning for the fourth time in five games.

— Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Jae Crowder and two other Jazz players had double-doubles in a 120-100 rout of the Timberwolves. Derrick Favors had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Ruby Gobert contributed 10 points and 13 boards as Utah moved a half-game ahead of the eighth-place Clippers in the West.

— Aaron Gordon scored 21 points and D.J. Augustin added 20 with seven assists in the Magic’s 120-91 laugher against the Cavaliers. Nikola Vucevic (NEE’-koh-lah VOO’-cheh-vihch) had 19 points and 11 rebounds as Orlando won for just the second time in six games to get within 1 ½ games of a playoff berth.

NHL-SCHEDULE

Caps, Isles, Pens win

UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Capitals remain two points better than the New York Islanders atop the NHL’s tight Metropolitan Division race.

Brett Connolly scored twice and Tom Wilson notched his 20th goal of the season in the Capitals’ eighth win in nine games, 5-2 at Philadelphia. Connolly came away with three points for the Caps, who broke it open when Connolly and Wilson scored 65 seconds apart to make it 4-1 midway through the second period.

Lars Eller and Evgeni Kuznetsov (kooz-NEHT’-sahv) also scored for Washington, which has played one more game than the Isles.

Anders Lee’s goal with 2:57 remaining broke a 1-1 stalemate in the Islanders’ second straight win, 2-1 over the Canadiens. Adam Pelech (PEH’-lihk) also scored and Thomas Greiss (grys) handled 33 shots as New York moved eight points clear of a playoff berth with 12 games remaining.

Carey Price made 36 saves for the Canadiens, who remain ninth in the Eastern Conference.

The Penguins stayed four points off the Metro lead as Jake Guentzel (GEHNT’-sul), Phil Kessel and Nick Bjugstad (BYOOG’-stad) each provided a goal and an assist in a 5-0 shutout of Buffalo. Casey DeSmith turned back 26 shots in his third shutout of the season and Pittsburgh’s sixth victory in seven games.

Elsewhere on NHL ice:

— Nikita Kucherov (KOO’-cheh-rahv) scored twice in a four-goal third period that propelled the Lightning past the Red Wings, 5-4. Steven Stamkos scored his 383rd goal to tie Vincent Lecavalier (leh-KAV’-ul-yay) for Tampa Bay’s career lead.

— San Jose’s six-game winning streak is over after Mike Hoffman scored a tiebreaking goal and assisted on an insurance tally in the Panthers’ 4-2 victory over the Sharks. The Sharks still lead the West by one point over Calgary after failing to become the first team in the conference to clinch a playoff berth.

— Mark Scheifele (SHY’-flee) scored once and added a pair of assists as the Jets handed the Bruins their third straight loss, 4-3. Blake Wheeler had a goal and assist as Winnipeg kept its one-point lead over Nashville in the Central Division.

— The Predators earned a 3-1 win at Los Angeles as Colton Sissons delivered a goal and an assist. Viktor Arvidsson and Craig Smith also scored, and Pekka Rinne (PEH’-kuh REE’-nay) stopped 25 shots as Nashville stopped a two-game skid.

— Radek Faksa, Roope Hintz and Joel L’Esperance scored in a span of 2:22 early in the second period to push the Stars to a 4-1 win over the Wild. Anton Khudobin (koo-DOH’-bihn) stopped 14 of the 15 shots in relief of Ben Bishop, who ran his shutout streak to a team-record 240:53 before exiting with a lower-body injury.

— Vinnie Hinostroza’s (hihn-oh-STROH’-zahz) first career hat trick sent the surging Coyotes to a 6-1 thumping of the Ducks. Jason Demers added a goal and an assist for the Coyotes, who have won 10 of 12 to move three points ahead of Minnesota for the second Western Conference wild-card spot.

— Anders Nilsson turned back 35 shots as the Senators sent the Blues to their third consecutive loss, 2-0. Christian Wolanin (who-LA’-nihn) and Christ Tierney did the scoring to back Nilsson’s second shutout of the season.

NFL-FREE AGENCY

Latest on NFL free agency

UNDATED (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks are keeping a key piece to their offense from last year’s playoff team.

According to a person with knowledge of the deal, the Seahawks have reached agreement on a two-year deal with offensive linemen D.J. Fluker. Fluker was a key influence in Seattle’s resurgence as the top running team in the NFL.

Among other moves:

— Running back Le’Veon (LEH’-vee-ahn) Bell has officially signed with the Jets after agreeing to terms early Wednesday morning. The deal is for four years and $52.5 million. The Jets have released running back Isaiah Crowell, an expected move after the team acquired Bell.

— The Raiders have released 2018 leading wide receiver Jordy Nelson and backup quarterback AJ McCarron to create salary cap space after going on a spending spree earlier this week.

— The 49ers have signed free-agent wide receiver Jordan Matthews to a one-year contract.

— The Dallas Cowboys have reached agreements on one-year deals to keep receiver Tavon Austin and add defensive tackle Christian Covington.

— The Pittsburgh Steelers have added depth at wide receiver, signing former Jaguar Donte Moncrief to a two-year deal. The team also re-signed veteran backup Eli Rogers to a two-year contract.

— The Lions have signed a trio of free agents to address pressing needs: defensive end Trey Flowers, cornerback Justin Coleman and tight end Jesse James.

— The Patriots have completed a trade with the Eagles for defensive end Michael Bennett and Philadelphia’s seventh-round pick in 2020. New England is sending a fifth-round draft pick in 2020 in exchange for the 33-year-old veteran edge rusher.

— The Falcons have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with tight end Luke Stocker. Also, the Falcons have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with running back Kenjon Barner, who played a combined nine games with Carolina and New England in 2018.

— A person familiar with the discussions says the Bills have agreed to sign return specialist and receiver Andre Roberts. Roberts has eight seasons of NFL experience and earned his first All-Pro honors last season after leading the NFL with 1,174 kickoff return yards with the Jets.

— Defensive tackle Malcom Brown has agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Saints after spending all four of his previous seasons with the Patriots.

—The Bears have signed former Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to a one-year contract.

—The Chiefs have agreed with defensive end Alex Okafor (OH’-kah-fohr) to a three-year, $18 million package, according to a source.

—The Bengals have inked former Giants cornerback B.W. Webb to a three-year deal.

MLB-NEWS

Sipp signs with Nationals

UNDATED (AP) — Left-handed reliever Tony Sipp has passed his physical and signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals.

The deal guarantees him $1.25 million and includes a mutual option for 2020.

The 35-year-old Sipp was 3-1 with a career-best 1.86 ERA in 54 games for the Houston Astros last season, with 42 strikeouts and 13 walks in 38 2/3 innings.

In other baseball news:

— Brewers pitcher Jhoulys Chacin (joh-LEES’ cha-SEEN’) will make his third Opening Day start when he takes the mound against St. Louis on March 28. The 31-year-old right-hander was 15-8 with a 3.50 ERA in 35 starts last season.

— Major League Baseball and its players’ union have agreed to discuss renegotiating their labor contract that has three seasons left. This is part of a deal that includes modest rule changes for 2020 and drops pitch clocks until 2022 at the earliest. Players have been furious at slow free-agent markets during the first two offseasons of the five-year labor contract.

— A New Jersey appeals court has upheld a $1.5 million jury award to former Phillies pitcher Mitch Williams over his firing by the MLB Network. The former closer nicknamed “Wild Thing” for his on-field antics was fired in 2014 after reports about his conduct at a youth game where he was coaching his son’s team. MLB Network fired Williams, citing a morals clause in his contract.

— Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer will not pitch in games in the near future, focusing on lower-body mechanics. Fulmer won AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2016 but has struggled to return to that form. He was 3-12 with a 4.69 ERA last year, his season cut short in mid-September because of knee problems.

PGA-PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Fleetwood, Bradley share lead

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tommy Fleetwood and Keegan Bradley each shot 7-under 65s to take the first-round lead at The Players Championship in Florida.

Fleetwood finished with three straight birdies and Bradley had an eagle on the par-5 16th hole as the pair finished their round one shot ahead of Brian Harman and Byeong Hun An.

Tiger Woods is five strokes back.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS-BRIBERY

URI got positive Georgetown coach recommendation

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) —The University of Rhode Island says its athletic director called Georgetown University’s AD this year before hiring a tennis coach now implicated in a college admissions scheme and received a positive recommendation from Georgetown.

Court documents allege Gordon Ernst was paid more than $2.7 million and designated at least 12 applicants as recruits, facilitating their admission to Georgetown. Georgetown has said an investigation found Ernst violated university admissions rules.

In world and national news…

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush says the death toll has increased to 49 in shootings at two mosques.

Bush told a news conference that a man has been charged with murder and will appear in court tomorrow. He would not say whether the same shooter was responsible for both attacks.

A man who earlier claimed responsibility said he was a 28-year-old Australian and described anti-immigrant motives in a manifesto.

Police earlier said four people had been taken into custody, and one had been identified as Australian. However, Bush didn’t mention the other people.

Bush clarified that police had found two improvised explosive devices in one car. He said they had disabled one and were in the process of disabling the second.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Gulf Arab states are condemning an attack on mosques in New Zealand that killed at least 49 people.

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all offered their sympathies Friday over the attack.

Saudi Arabia said one of its citizens was lightly wounded in the attack, but survived.

Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, tweeted his condolences, noting that “on a day of peace like Friday and at a place of worship like the mosque, we witnessed the most heinous crime of religious hatred.”

Noon prayers on a Friday are an integral part of Islamic life, a day when all practicing Muslims join congregations to listen to a sermon.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The third test match between New Zealand and Bangladesh scheduled to begin Saturday has been canceled after the Bangladesh cricket team had a narrow escape from a mass shooting at a mosque in Christchurch.

A New Zealand Cricket spokesman confirmed the cancellation two hours after the shootings on Friday.

Earlier, members of the Bangladesh cricket team described on social media their narrow escape from the mass shooting on New Zealand’s South Island.

Players and members of the team’s coaching staff were reportedly on their bus, approaching the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Hagley Park when the shooting broke out.

Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal tweeted “entire team got saved from active shooters. Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers.”

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says it struck 100 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight in response to rocket fire.

The army said early Friday that targets included an office complex in Gaza City, an underground complex that served as Hamas’ main rocket-manufacturing site, and a center used for a Hamas drone program.

The airstrikes followed a rare rocket attack on the Israeli metropolis of Tel Aviv late Thursday. Israel says Hamas fired the rockets, though Hamas and a smaller militant group, Islamic Jihad, both denied involvement.

The fighting broke out amid Egyptian efforts to broker an expanded cease-fire deal between the bitter enemies, who last fought a war in 2014.

Several barrages of rocket fire continued during the night.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The contours of the Democratic presidential primary came into clearer focus this week with Texan Beto O’Rourke’s entry into the race.

O’Rourke’s candidacy is one of the final puzzle pieces in a contest that will be shaped by questions about race and gender, political ideology and generational change. Vice President Joe Biden is now the only major contender still on the sidelines.

The field has been awaiting O’Rourke’s decision for months. He narrowly lost the Senate race in conservative Texas in November, but became a political celebrity in the process, demonstrating an easy connection with voters and an eye-popping ability to raise money from small donors.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a stunning rebuke, a dozen defecting Republicans have joined Senate Democrats to block the national emergency that President Donald Trump declared so he could build his border wall with Mexico. The rejection capped a week of confrontation with the White House as both parties in Congress strained to exert their power in new ways.

The 59-41 tally Thursday, following the Senate’s vote a day earlier to end U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen, promised to force Trump into the first vetoes of his presidency. Trump had warned against both actions. Moments after Thursday’s vote, the president tweeted a single word of warning: “VETO!”

Two years into the Trump era, a defecting dozen Republicans, pushed along by Democrats, showed a willingness to take that political risk.

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — A senior North Korean official says the United States threw away a golden opportunity at the Hanoi summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and suggested the North Korean leader will decide soon whether to keep talking with the U.S. and maintaining his moratorium on missile launches and nuclear tests.

Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui told a meeting of diplomats and foreign media in Pyongyang on Friday the North has no intention of compromising or continuing talks unless the U.S. takes measures that are commensurate to the changes it has taken — such as the 15-month moratorium on launches and tests — and changes its “political calculation.”

Choe said Kim would make a decision soon on whether to continue the launch and test moratorium.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Iran says it has banned from its airspace Boeing 737 Max 8 planes alongside other nations.

The transportation ministry announced the ban on Friday. The decision comes after two fatal crashes involving the model in the past six months.

An Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed Sunday and killed all 157 people aboard. A previous crash involving the Boeing model killed 189 people in Indonesia last year.

Iran has no Boeing 737 Max 8 planes due to decades-long U.S. sanctions on the country.

NEW YORK (AP) — The federal official who appeared at Michael Cohen’s congressional testimony to counter Cohen’s assertion that President Donald Trump is a racist has spent the past month bunking with tenants in New York City public housing complexes.

Housing official Lynne Patton says she wanted to shine a spotlight on public housing ills such as mold and heat and hot water outages by spending a week at a time in four different complexes run by the New York City Housing Authority.

After delays caused in part by the 35-day government shutdown, Patton toted an air mattress to the Patterson Houses in the Bronx on Feb. 11. She then went on to stay at public housing developments in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn.

Along the way she joined a Zumba class, got stuck in an elevator and defended her appearance at the Cohen testimony.

Many tenants who met Patton said they hoped her presence would spur officials to fix their crumbling buildings, but others were more skeptical.

One tenant at the Queensbridge Houses said Patton’s visits were “all a show.”