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CSi Weather…
FLOOD WARNING UNTIL 12:30 PM FRIDAY
Forecast…
REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. Northeast winds around
5 mph shifting to the east in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. Southeast winds
5 to 10 mph.
.THURSDAY…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain and snow in the
morning. Highs in the lower 40s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. Southwest
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. West winds 5 to
10 mph shifting to the northeast in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain
showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 30s.
.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain
showers. Highs in the mid 50s.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain.
Lows in the upper 30s.
.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain. Highs
in the lower 50s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the lower 30s.
.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.
.MONDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the lower 30s.
.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.
LaMoure County officials are requesting volunteers to help fill sandbags.
The goal is now to fill 5,000 sandbags.
Upstream of LaMoure, the rising river inundated the LaMoure County Memorial Park in Grand Rapids flooding buildings, roads and a portion of the golf course.
Volunteers should report to the LaMoure County shop with gloves and shovels, and will be asked to sign a release if they help.
The James River at LaMoure is above flood stage and expected to stay that way for several days. Ice jams on the river may cause fluctuations of the river level of up to 1 foot..
Seven ice jams are between Montpelier and LaMoure.
River levels are already comparable to 2011 and fluctuations in water levels are expected.
https://lamourecountynd.com/SpringOutlookandFloodInformation
A mix of rain and snow will be focused across the north central Thursday,
and some accumulations around an inch are possible across the
Turtle Mountains Thursday morning. Much of this may melt later
Mild and dry weather is expected for Friday with an h500 ridge
moving into the region. Widespread 50s and lower 60s look
reasonable Friday, with 40s across the northeast.
The weekend appears to be a little more active, with
chances of showers, and possibly an isolated thunderstorm Saturday night south central.
Precipitation amounts vary ranging from a few tenths to near three quarters of an inch by Sunday afternoon. Precip should be mostly rain, but some rain and snow mix looks likely across the north.
Jamestown (KVLY) 32-year-old Jason Benefiel is charged with one felony count of attempted murder, in Southeast District Court, as well as two felony counts of aggravated assault after an attack at the North Dakota State Hospital on March 29.
Court documents say the victim is a staff member at the facility. The victim told officers that she was cleaning the bathrooms when she felt an arm come around her neck and choke her, making her unable to scream. She said she was drug backwards down a hallway that leads to the showers.
She said she remembers the man hitting her, and then the next thing she remembers is opening her eyes to see staff around her.
Documents say the victim suffered two large lacerations to her face, a fractured septum and had loss consciousness.
Two staff members witnessed the assault and told police they saw Benefiel kick the victim. When the two staffers went to take control of the situation, they told police Benefiel was standing over the victim covered in blood.
Benefiel told police he struck the victim 9 times. Later in the investigation, it was discovered Benefiel had reported to State Hospital staff members that he wanted to kill or assault someone and was struggling to control those thoughts.
Benefiel, is being held in the Stutsman County Correctional Center
Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Police warns residents of a convicted sex offender living in Jamestown.
Patrick Wayne Schmitz lives at 1213 11th Street SE. No. 2, Jamestown, ND
His vehicles are a Green/Blue 1995 Saturn SW2, North Dakota license plate: KOU 872
And a Dbl 2005 Ford Tk, North Dakota license plate: 411 BUU.
He is a 32 year of white male, six feet tall, weighing 210 pounds with blue eyes, and brown hair.
Schmitz has been assigned a high risk assessment by the North Dakota risk level committee of the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office.
Offense; Gross Sexual Imposition when he was 23 involving a 14 year old female he met on line, meeting a month later having sexual intercourse several times, also having sexual contact with another 14 year old female.
Conviction Date: July 201 in Cass County, ND District Court.
Disposition: Count 1 and 2 10 years, 7 years 3 months suspended, 5 years supervised probation, count 1 and 2 concurrent.
Offense: Luring a minor by computer when he was 23 years old, involving a 14 year old female he met on line and sexual contact with a 14 year old friend of the first victim.
Conviction Date: July 2010 in Cass County, ND District Court.
Disposition 10 years, 7- years, 3 months suspended, 5 years supervised probation.
Schmitz is currently on probation with North Dakota Parole and Probation.
Schmitz 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 Schmitz 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) Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Police warns residents of a convicted sex offender living in Jamestown.
Alton Grant Mitzel Aliases…Alton Red Fox, Tony Red Fox….now lives at 1530 6th Avenue Southeast, Jamestown, ND
He presently has no vehicle
He is a 40 year old American Indian male,5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.
Mitzel has has been assigned a high risk assessment by the North Dakota risk level committee of the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office.
Offense: Gross Sexual Imposition involving a 13 year old girl forcibly using a a knife.
He was terminated from treatment for non-participation and refusing to accept responsibility.
Conviction Date: June 2002 in Morton County, North Dakota, District Court.
Disposition: 5 years, first serve 3 years, 2 years suspended for 4 years, 13 days credit, 4 years supervised probation.
Mitzel is currently on Federal Probation.
Mitzel 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 Mitzel 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
Valley City (CSi) The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session, Tuesday evening at City Hall. All members were present.
RECOGNITION OF MAYOR FOR A DAY… FOR CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK…
Valley City 3rd graders wrote 70 essays, about being mayor of Valley City.
Journey was given a plaque in recognition of the honor of being Mayor for a Day.
8th Grade students will also be involved with city government.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK PROCLAMATION WAS READ BY MAYOR CARLSUD.
A PRESENTATION WAS MADE OF THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT THAT WAS GIVEN, BY THE NORTH DAKOTA WATER COMMISSION.
WADE HESCH RECEIVED THE CERTIFICATE ON BEHALF OF THE VALLEY CITY WATER DEPARTMENT.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.
Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $1,729,048.34
Approved was an Application to Block off Street for Sheyenne Valley Backing the Badge 6K Run on May 4, 2019 for route as submitted
Approved an Application to Block off Street for Sheyenne Valley Soapbox Derby on June 8-9, 2019 on Central Avenue from 3rd Street N to 9th Street N
Approved Raffle Permits for Education Foundation for Valley City Public Schools, Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce
Approved Tree Trimming & Removal Service License for Mike’s Construction & Repair
Approved a Raffle Permit of APLC.
PUBLIC COMMENTS No One Spoke
RESOLUTION
City Commissioners approved a Resolution Approving Final Plans and Specifications for Permanent Flood Protection Phase 2A and Permanent Flood Protection Phase 3 and Authorizing Engineer to Advertise for Bids.
NEW BUSINESS
Approved the Valley City Fire Department, Officer List from Fire Chief Scott Magnuson.
Commissioner Duane Magnuson abstained from the vote.
That was followed by:
The Oath of Office administered for the Assistant Fire Chief Lance Coit was sworn in by mayor Dave Carlsrud, and the Presentation was made of VCFD Officers,by Fire Chief Scott Magnuson.
City Commissioners approved the bid for new sander truck. City Administrator Schelkoph . City Administrator Schelkoph said there were multiple bids, with the bid recommended for acceptance by Jeff Differding to Sanitation Products at $147,010, around $20,000 under budget. The truck’s life expectancy is 12-15 years.
Approved was the 2019 City Forester Contract with Willis Wager.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
David Schelkoph said there have been 4-5 days of a good slow snow melt.
He said Barnes County Emergency Manager, Sue Lloyd requested a Flood Emergency Declaration from the Barnes County Commission, that was approved in order have paper work in place in the event a flooding event occurs and needs state and federal funds in a flood fight.
Schelkoph added as of Wednesday Bald Hill Dam is releasing between 1,000 1,200 cfs of water, and is likely to be increased.
The water flow through Valley City on the Sheyenne River is currently at 1,600 t0 2,000 cfs. He said present river level is below the flood action stage. The pool level of Lake Ashtabula is at an elevation of 1260.9 feet. Baldhill Creek was at 9.65 feet, and there is no closure of the storm sewers.
He added that if sandbagging becomes necessary, the City and Barnes County will work together.
Schelkoph said he will give weekly hydrologic updates.
The meeting was shown live on CSi 68 followed by replays.
Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Tourism is working with the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse, Committee, in developing an “Escape Room,” in the basement at the location.
On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund said, that Escape Rooms are popular and another means of visiting the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse, and other historical areas of Jamestown.
The Escape Room is being planned at the old sheriff’s apartment and jail cell adjacent to the 1883 Courthouse.
The Escape Room game, is where players compete against each other solving a series of puzzles that will lead to freedom and occasionally, prizes. Jamestown Tourism is interested in supporting starting a game at the courthouse that would then be operated the courthouse staff.
The game requires a space, to hold it, along with a book of clues, technical document, and could consist of several puzzles, for possible multiple participating groups.
Individuals acting as historical characters could be included.
Searle also pointed out that another Escape Room is in development in the Basement of Meidinger Square in Downtown Jamestown.
On another topics Searle pointed to the success of the recent NAIA Women’s National Wrestling Tournament held at the University of Jamestown Campus, along with the recent Runnin O’ the Green in Jamestown.
He added that the new Tourism Guide Book has been published and is now available, along with the new Louis L’Amour Walking Tour pamphlet, showing where you can visit sites and places of Louis L’Amour’s youth, including Historic Franklin School, along with Louis L’Amour’s Home Site, located across from City Hall. Also included is the Alfred Dickey Public Library, where inside, is the exhibit depicting Louis’s life as a youth in Jamestown, his family and his professional career. The exhibit is a 30 minute self-guided tour.
Sites on the walking tour include, the present Gladstone Inn location, and the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse, and First United Methodist Church.
For more information contact Jamestown Tourism at 701-251-9145, on line www.discoverjamestownnd.com, E-Mail info@discoverjamestownnd.com
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Police in Grand Forks are investigating the death of a man found in a parking lot near a park.
Authorities say officers on routine patrol in the area of Bringwatt Park discovered the man’s body about 1 a.m. Wednesday. Police say they have few details on the victim and the circumstances of his death, but believe there is no danger to the public.
MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — Some clients of a North Dakota property management company owner who was killed along with three employees say he was kind and hard-working.
Police say 52-year-old Robert Fakler owned RJR Maintenance and Management Company in Mandan. He was killed along with fellow employees 42-year-old Adam Fuehrer, 45-year-old Lois Cobb and her husband, 50-year-old Bill Cobb.
Ann Farrell, of Bismarck, fought backs tears as she talked about a conversation she had with Fakler the night before he was found dead. She said he was “very cheerful, very much in a good mood.”
Farrell’s brother, Rolf Eggers, says Fakler was “kind and cheerful” and he wishes he could turn back time and warn him.
Police have not identified a suspect or a motive. They also have not said how the victims died.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Some Republican North Dakota House members have abstained from an opening floor session prayer by a Hindu cleric.
Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, offered prayer as the guest chaplain in the House on Tuesday. He delivered the prayer in the Senate on Monday without incident.
Lutheran pastor and freshman Rep. Jeff Hoverson of Minot sat at the back of the chamber to “protest” the prayer. A few other lawmakers also stood or sat at the back of the chamber during the prayer.
Hoverson says he didn’t want to pray to a “false god.” He says he met with Zed prior to floor session to tell him his protest “was nothing personal.”
The Senate and House convene daily with a prayer by the chamber’s guest chaplains.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Federal officials are reviewing the Fargo Public School District’s use of seclusion and restraint on children with disabilities.
The district must provide two years of data on its practices by Friday, and the agency review could take up to a year.
The Department of Education has asked its Office of Civil Rights to evaluate the use of restraint and seclusion in one school district in every state to ensure compliance with federal laws, so the review doesn’t mean Fargo is necessarily at fault.
However, an advocate for people with disabilities in Fargo says there has been an increase this year in parent complaints about the treatment of upper grade and middle school students. Brenda Ruehl says most of the complaints involve the restraint of students on the autism spectrum.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum won his first veto fight of the session with the North Dakota Legislature, after the GOP-led House sustained his veto of a bill that would have raised driver’s license fees for the first time in more than 30 years.
Only 44 of the 94 House members voted Tuesday to override the first-term governor, well short of the two-thirds necessary. The vote came after the GOP-led Senate voted 41-4 to override Burgum last week.
The House and Senate easily passed the legislation that raises commercial and non-commercial driver’s license fees from $15 to $30.
Burgum says the increase in fees “imposes an unnecessary additional burden on our residents.”
Burgum vetoed parts or all of 13 bills last session. Attempts to override four of the vetoes failed.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s House has reconsidered and passed a resolution that would expand the state’s higher education board from eight to 15 members.
The House approved the Senate resolution 50-41 on Tuesday, one day after defeating it 46-42.
The House last month rejected legislation supported by Gov. Doug Burgum to change the state’s higher education governance from one board to two.
Burgum wanted multiple boards, saying it would make North Dakota’s 11 colleges and universities more accountable.
Backers say the resolution to extend the board was a compromise.
Voters must ultimately approve any changes to the higher education board because its structure is outlined in the state constitution.
In sports…
MITCHELL, S.D (uj.edu) — Matt Meraz (JR/Aurora, CO) went 3-for-3 and drove in three runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh, as the University of Jamestown baseball team defeated Dakota Wesleyan University 4-3 Tuesday afternoon.
The Jimmies took three of four games from the Tigers and improve to 18-10 overall and 8-4 in Great Plains Athletic Conference action. Dakota Wesleyan falls to 11-16 overall and 5-7 in the GPAC.
DWU’s Ethan Davis and UJ’s Tanner Roundy (SR/Henderson, NV) traded zeroes on the scoreboard as the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth.
Grant Okawa (JR/Mississauga, ON) singled with one out, then one batter later Meraz homered to make it 2-0 in favor of the Jimmies. Jaden Yackley (SR/Lynnwood, Wash.) doubled in another run as UJ pushed the lead to 3-0.
The Tigers got back-to-back singles from Drew Demers and Chandler Bakley to open the seventh against Roundy, then Reed Harter connected on a three-run home run to tie the game. Joe Harris (SO/Recluse, WY) (3-1) relieved Roundy and struck out the side to end the DWU rally.
In the Jamestown seventh, Roundy led off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Drake Pilat (SR/Winnipeg, MB, Canada) singled, moving Roundy to third. Grant Okawa grounded out but allowed pinch-runner Ben Pedigo (SO/Olympia, WA) to move up a base. Meraz then came through with a single to bring home Roundy and give the Jimmies their third straight victory and sixth in their last seven games.
Pilat, Roundy, and Okawa all went 2-for-4. Chase Hacker (JR/Millcreek, WA), Braxton Hewitt (FR/Carrington, ND), Brock Anderson (SO/Cheyenne, WY), and Jared Bentley (JR/Washougal, WA) also had hits for Jamestown.
Next up for the Jimmies is a doubleheader at Dordt (Iowa) College on April 6.
Tuesday…
High School Baseball…
Game One…
In Bismarck
Jamestown 10 Bismarck Legacy 0
Game Two…
Jamestown 2 Bismarck o
Other Class A Scores
Watford City 9, Bismarck St. Mary’s 8 (9 innings); Watford City 15, Bismarck St. Mary’s 5.
Williston 9, Dickinson 5; Williston 9, Dickinson 4.
CLASS A SOFTBALL
Mandan 15, Watford City 4 (5 innings); Mandan 29, Watford City 4.
Minot 15, Bismarck Legacy 9; Bismarck Legacy 5, Minot 4.
Bismarck Century 9, Dickinson 7; Bismarck Century 15, Dickinson 13 (darkness).
CLASS B SOFTBALL
Heart River 10, Harvey-Wells County 0 (6 innings).
Yankton, SD (Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan) Mount Marty College announced today (Tuesday) that it will add football, targeting full varsity competition in the 2022 season.
“We’re extremely excited to bring college football back to Yankton after a 35-year absence and we look forward to the growth it will foster,” said MMC President Marcus Long. “The use of Crane-Youngworth Field is a great partnership between the Yankton School District and Mount Marty College to improve sports offerings in the area.”
College football has not been played in Yankton since Yankton College closed in 1984, with the exception of the 2001 University of South Dakota season opener. USD played Wayne State in Yankton that season due to delays in the construction of the permanent roof on the DakotaDome.
”This is a great move for the Lancers, not only will the addition of football bring us into alignment with the offerings at other GPAC (Great Plains Athletic Confernece) schools, but the need for additional athletes will allow us to expand our recruitment footprint in the region,” said MMC Athletic Director Chris Kassin . “We have a lot to offer these students; by the fall of 2020 the fieldhouse will be complete, and our players will benefit from training in that first-class facility. They’ll also be privileged to call the excellent facilities at Crane-Youngworth Field their home turf.”
MMC will play its home games at historic Crane-Youngworth Field, currently home to Yankton High School football and soccer, as well as Mount Marty soccer. As part of an arrangement with YHS, MMC agreed to contribute money toward the installation of an artificial turf playing field in exchange for access to the field for sports practice and competition. Additionally, in December 2018, MMC was gifted with funds to purchase land adjacent to Westside Park. This practice field, located east of campus, will serve as a practice field for the football and soccer teams.
NIT…
NEW YORK (AP) — Garrison Mathews is the kind of player only the most die-hard basketball fans would know, his prolific scoring seldom on any sports highlight clips. With the college basketball spotlight blasted on Madison Square Garden, Mathews put the sport on notice and buried a shot in the clutch that sparked madness for tiny Lipscomb.
Mathews swished his ninth 3-pointer of the game in front of an exuberant Lipscomb bench for the lead with 1:10 left in the game to send the Bisons on their way to the NIT championship in a 71-64 win over Wichita State on Tuesday night.
NEW YORK (AP) — Kerwin Roach II is the Texas guard’s name, the numerals not part of the running tally marker for his season suspensions.
Back on the roster, Roach stayed in the game and kept the Longhorns in the hunt to end the season in New York with a championship.
Roach turned a season marred by suspension into a can’t-miss performance in the first half to help Texas get comfortable at Madison Square Garden and beat TCU 58-44 on Tuesday night for a spot in the NIT championship.
Nelson Cruz got a second chance and delivered a go-ahead single with two outs in the 10th inning, giving the Minnesota Twins a 5-4 victory over the sloppy Kansas City Royals. Trevor Hildenberger got the final out of the ninth inning for Minnesota, and Blake Parker breezed through the bottom half of the 10th to earn the save.
The Carolina Hurricanes leapfrogged Columbus with a 4-1 road win in Toronto. Justin Williams and Dougie Hamilton each banked in goals from behind the Maple Leafs’ net. Jordan Staal also scored for the Hurricanes, while Hamilton added an empty-netter. The victory also pulled the Canes within two points of the Penguins for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Pittsburgh missed out on a chance to clinch a playoff spot when Tyler Bertuzzi led the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-1 home victory. Bertuzzi had two goals and an assist as the Red Wings earned their sixth consecutive win.
In other NHL action:
— Tanner Pearson scored twice, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-2 comeback win over the San Jose Sharks. The loss added to a tough stretch for the Sharks, who are 1-8-1 in their past 10 games and haven’t had a regulation win since March 12.
— Jack Campbell made 49 saves, Trevor Lewis scored 3:29 into the third period, and the Los Angeles Kings hurt Arizona’s playoff chances with a 3-1 victory over the Coyotes. Tyler Clifford had a goal and an assist for Los Angeles (30-41-9), which had dropped three of four. Drew Doughty added an empty-netter with 44.4 seconds left.
— The Dallas Stars clinched their first trip to the playoffs in three years, getting two goals and two assists from Alexander Radulov in a 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Jason Dickinson, Esa Lindell, Tyler Pitlick and Blake Comeau also scored for the Stars. Dallas holds the first wild-card spot with 91 points.
— Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie scored a minute apart during a four-goal second period, helping the playoff-chasing Colorado Avalanche rally for a 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Down 2-0 after the opening period to an Edmonton team already eliminated from postseason contention.
— Ryan Johansen scored the go-ahead goal 6:32 into the third period, and the Nashville Predators stayed in the hunt for the Central Division title with a 3-2 win over the slumping Buffalo Sabres. P.K. Subban had a goal and assist and Craig Smith also scored in upping the Predators’ point total to 96 with two games left.
NBA…
— Russell Westbrook became just the second player in league history to have 20 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists in a game as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-103. Wilt Chamberlain is the only other player to accomplish the feat. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Lakers with 23 points.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Kevin Durant emphatically showed who is still No. 1 in the West, delivering a pair of jarring dunks late in the first half and finishing with 21 points and six assists before being ejected to lead the Warriors past the Denver Nuggets 116-99 in a matchup of the top two teams in the conference.
DeMarcus Cousins had a season-best 28 points for the Warriors, who have a two-game lead and the tiebreaker on Denver with five games to go in the chase for the Western Conference’s top playoff seed.
In other NBA action:
— DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points and the San Antonio Spurs defeated Atlanta 117-111, their 21st straight win at home over the Hawks. Spurs point guard Derrick White added 23 points after scoring 12 total points in his previous two games. San Antonio remains seventh in the Western Conference at 45-33.
— James Harden had 36 points and 10 assists, Houston matched its season high with 26 3-pointers and the Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings 130-105 Tuesday night. Eric Gordon and Danuel House Jr. each scored 19 points, Kenneth Faried added 12 points and 11 rebounds, and P.J. Tucker scored 13. The Rockets have won 17 of 20.
NBA-NEWS
Ernie Grunfeld fired as president of the Washington Wizards
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ernie Grunfeld has been fired as president of the Washington Wizards after 16 seasons in charge of the team. The Wizards announced his dismissal on Tuesday with four games left in a disappointing, no-playoffs season.
Washington is 32-46 and in 11th place in the 15-team Eastern Conference. The club went 568-724 during Grunfeld’s tenure with eight postseason appearances. But Washington never made it past the second round of the playoffs.
Tommy Sheppard will take over Grunfeld’s duties for now and will be a candidate to replace him permanently.
In other NBA news:
— Golden State Warriors teammates Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have been fined by the NBA for criticizing the officiating. Green was fined $35,000, Curry $25,000 and Durant $15,000. The discipline stems from the Warriors’ 131-130 overtime loss at Minnesota.
MLB-NEWS
Braves agree to 8-year deal with Acuna
UNDATED (AP) — Outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Atlanta Braves have agreed to a $100 million, eight-year contract, the largest deal for a player under club control with less than one year of major league service.
The NL Rookie of the Year, Acuña agreed to a deal with two team options that, if exercised, would raise the value to $124 million over 10 years.
He made his major league debut last April 25 and began Tuesday with 165 days of service. Acuña would have been eligible for free agency after the 2024 season.
In other baseball news:
— Nationals shortstop Trea Turner broke his right index finger in a loss against Philadelphia Tuesday night and will be out indefinitely. Batting in the first inning, Turner squared to bunt against Zach Elfin. The fastball hit a finger on his right hand, which was wrapped around the bat. The injury was determined to be a nondisplaced fracture. Turner was batting .385 and coming off a game against the Mets in which he hit two home runs, including a game-ending solo shot.
— Outfielder Kevin Pillar was traded by the veteran-shedding Toronto Blue Jays to the San Francisco Giants for infielder Alen Hanson, right-hander Derek Law and minor league pitcher Juan De Paula. Pillar had been Toronto’s longest-tenured player, in his seventh season with the Blue Jays. Known for stellar defense in center field, the 30-year-old has a .260 average with 55 home runs and 231 RBIs in 695 games. Pillar has a $5.8 million salary and can become a free agent after the 2020 season.
— The Blue Jays have signed outfielder Randal Grichuk to a new five-year agreement. Grichuk had been eligible for free agency after the 2020 season. Grichuk gets salaries of $7 million this year, $12 million in 2020 and $9,333,333 in each of the final three seasons.
— Rockies first baseman Daniel Murphy probably will be sidelined for at least a month, Colorado manager Bud Black said Tuesday. The 34-year-old Murphy went 1 for 10 in two games after signing a $24 million, two-year contract. He was injured diving for a sharp grounder in the fourth inning Friday night against Miami.
— Indians All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor (lihn-DOHR’) will miss more time because of a sprained left ankle that has delayed his season debut. Lindor was making a steady recovery from a strained right calf when he injured his ankle running the bases during a minor league scrimmage last week in Arizona. He visited a specialist on Monday as his teammates won their home opener without him.
— Major League Baseball’s is taking over the former Dodgertown spring training camp in Vero Beach for its amateur development initiatives. It will be re-named the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. The sport is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Robinson, who broke baseball’s color barrier with the Dodgers on April 15, 1947.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
Duke freshmen Williamson, Barrett top AP All-America team
UNDATED (AP) — Duke’s Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett are the second freshman teammates to earn first-team All-America honors.
Williamson and Barrett headed The Associated Press All-America team released on Tuesday, joined by Tennessee’s Grant Williams, Murray State’s Ja Morant and Cassius Winston of Michigan State.
The Blue Devils’ duo are the 11th pair of teammates to be named to the AP first team and first freshman teammates since Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall in 2010.
Williamson electrified college basketball with his array of massive dunks and soaring blocks, earning unanimous selection to the first team from 64 voters. He averaged 22.1 points while Barrett scored 22.9 per game.
Morant, who led the nation with 10 assists per game, is the first Murray State player to be a first-team AP All-American.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-HALL OF FAME
Olson, Majerus headline college hoops Hall of Fame class
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Longtime coach Lute Olson and the late Rick Majerus headline the 2019 class of six former players and three influential coaches selected Tuesday for the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Joining them during the induction ceremony this November are former Indiana star Calbert Cheaney, Duke’s Shane Battier, Purdue’s Terry Dischinger, Ernie DiGregorio of Providence, UNLV’s Larry Johnson, Stanford standout Todd Lichti and longtime Valparaiso coach Homer Drew.
Olson won 781 games during a decorated career at Long Beach State, Iowa and Arizona, taking the Hawkeyes to the Final Four and the Wildcats to a trio of Final Fours and winning the 1997 title.
Majerus, who died in 2012, won 517 games at Marquette, Ball State, Utah and Saint Louis. He was best known for his time with the Utes, leading them to the national championship game in 1998.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-BOSTON COLLEGE-BOWMAN
Boston College star Ky Bowman declaring for NBA draft
BOSTON (AP) — Ky Bowman is foregoing his senior season at Boston College and declaring for the NBA draft.
The point guard announced his decision on Instagram, calling it a lifelong dream to play in the NBA and expressed gratitude to his teammates and coaches at BC.
Bowman was an Associated Press All-ACC first-team selection this season. He averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and four assists in an NCAA-high 39.4 minutes per game for an Eagles team that finished 14-17.
Bowman also put his name in for draft consideration following last season but did not sign with an agent and eventually returned to school. He is expected sign with representation this time around.
AAF-SUSPENDED
AP Source: AAF suspending operations 8 games into season
UNDATED (AP) — The Alliance of American Football is suspending operations eight games into its first season.
A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the eight-team spring football league is not folding, but games will not be played this weekend. The decision was made by majority owner Tom Dundon, who also owns the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.
The league was co-founded by former NFL executive Bill Polian and television and film producer Charlie Ebersol. Polian says he’s “extremely disappointed” but and all he’s heard is “that it’s about the money.”
The AAF aspired to be a league for players with NFL hopes, but it could not reach agreement with the NFLPA to use players at the end of NFL rosters.
NFL-NEWS
Broncos’ Harris a no-show
UNDATED (AP) — Star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. skipped the start of the Denver Broncos’ offseason program. Harris is angling for a new contract. General manager John Elway is expected to begin negotiations with Harris’ agent by summertime. One of the NFL’s most versatile defensive backs, Harris is due $7.8 million next season in the final year of his team friendly, five-year, $42.5 million contract that he signed in 2015.
The perennial Pro Bowl selection who is equally adept at playing the slot, on the outside or even at safety has said since the end of last season that he doesn’t want to play in 2019 without an extension.
In other NFL news:
— The Jacksonville Jaguars are adding some offensive depth. They signed running back Benny Cunningham and offensive tackle Josh Wells today. The 5-foot-10 Cunningham is entering his seventh NFL season and likely will help mostly on special teams. The 6-foot-6, 306-pound Wells re-signed with Jacksonville. He has appeared in 39 games with eight starts since signing with the Jaguars an undrafted rookie in 2014.He missed more than half of last season with a groin injury and then a concussion.
— The Arizona Cardinals have signed cornerback Tramaine Brock to a one-year contract. The 30-year-old Brock has played nine NFL seasons with Denver, Minnesota and San Francisco. He played seven seasons with the 49ers after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Belhaven College in 2010. Brock had a career-high five interceptions in 2013 and played 12 games with the Broncos last season, finishing with 21 tackles and six passes defended.
SPORTS BETTING-FALLING SHORT
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — An Associated Press analysis shows that the tax revenue from sports betting has so far failed to hit projections in most of the states that legalized wagering after the Supreme Court cleared the way last year.
Only New Jersey and Delaware are bringing in the money they expected. Mississippi, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are falling short.
The reasons vary by state, from slower-than-expected rollouts and the unavailability in some places of mobile betting, to an all-too-predictable Super Bowl. When the Patriots won the Super Bowl again — and covered the spread, too — all of New England was delirious, with the possible exception of Rhode Island’s tax collectors.
The state’s sportsbooks lost $2.35 million when they paid out on the winning bets. That, in turn, cut into Rhode Island’s tax revenue.
In world and national news…
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot’s resounding victory is a clear call for change at City Hall and a historic repudiation of the old-style, insider politics that have long defined the nation’s third-largest city.
Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor who’d never been elected to public office, defeated Cook County Board President and former Alderman Toni Preckwinkle on Tuesday. She won with backing from voters across the city.
Lightfoot also made history, becoming the first black woman and the first openly gay person to be Chicago mayor.
She told a cheering crowd people are seeing “a city reborn.”
Lightfoot pledged to break the cycle of corruption in city government, reduce violence and help low-income and working-class residents in the city’s neighborhoods.
But she faces major challenges, including Chicago’s deep financial problems.
LONDON (AP) — European Union lawmakers say British citizens should be allowed to travel in Europe visa-free after Brexit but only if the U.K. grants the same right to EU citizens, as the bloc prepares for Britain’s possible departure without a deal.
The EU’s Civil Liberties Committee voted overwhelmingly Wednesday — 38 votes in favor, 8 against and 3 abstentions — to allow tourism or business trips.
The move permits stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but does not grant the right to work. The full parliament is likely to endorse the decision Thursday.
EU officials say it is “very likely” that Britain will depart without a deal, bringing potentially devastating political and economic consequences.
The Europeans are publicly stepping up their no-deal planning, increasing pressure on the U.K. parliament to find a compromise.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a nearly 48-hour manhunt, police arrested the suspect they say gunned down Nipsey Hussle in front of the popular rapper’s South Los Angeles clothing store.
LA County sheriff’s deputies detained 29-year-old Eric Holder Tuesday, two days after the shooting and 20 miles away from the crime scene. LAPD detectives quickly arrived to verify that he was the suspect whose name and face they’d been publicizing in hope of catching him.
The focus now shifts from the streets to the courtroom. Holder is likely to be charged with killing Hussle and to appear in court in the next two days.
Police Chief Michel Moore said before Holder’s capture that the suspect and victim knew each other, and had some kind of personal dispute in the run-up to the rapper’s killing.
SINGAPORE (AP) — New Islamic laws that took effect in Brunei on Wednesday, punishing gay sex and adultery by stoning offenders to death, have triggered an outcry from countries, rights groups and celebrities far beyond the tiny Southeast Asian nation’s shores.
The penalties were provided for under new sections of Brunei’s Sharia Penal Code, instituted in 2014 to bolster the influence of Islam in the oil-rich monarchy of around 430,000 people, two-thirds of whom are Muslim.
Even before 2014, homosexuality was already punishable by a jail term of up to 10 years.
But under the new laws, those found guilty of gay sex could be stoned to death. Adulterers risk death by stoning too, while thieves face amputation of a right hand on their first offense and a left foot on their second.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says his campaign has raised $18.2 million in the 41 days since he launched his 2020 bid.
Campaign manager Faiz Shakir said Tuesday that it came from about 900,000 first quarter contributions. He says the average donation was $20, and Sanders’ campaign has $28 million cash.
The senator from Vermont was expected to post the largest fundraising haul among the Democratic field.
Sanders fueled his unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign with grassroots giving. There was little surprise Sanders would have a strong first quarter. The latest results cement Sanders as a financial front-runner in a field of more than a dozen candidates.
South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg (BOO’-tuh-juhj) launched an exploratory committee two months ago and said Monday he’d raised more than $7 million.
DETROIT (AP) — U.S. pet owners are increasingly feeding fresh food to their dogs and cats.
Online companies are delivering pre-proportioned meals of meat and vegetables or frozen raw meat. This spring, Petco will open a kitchen in New York where it expects to make 2,000 pounds of fresh pet food every day.
Nielsen says U.S. sales of fresh pet food in groceries and pet stores jumped 70 percent between 2015 and 2018, to more than $546 million. That doesn’t include online sales or people making their own fresh pet food.
Proponents say fresh foods preserve nutrients and improve pets’ health.
But some veterinarians question the trend, saying established products are backed by decades of research.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also warns that raw meat has a higher risk of contamination.
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