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CSi Weather…
.REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. North winds 15 to 20 mph.
.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. Areas of frost after midnight. Northwest winds around 5 mph with gusts to around 20 mph shifting to the west up to 5 mph after midnight.
.FRIDAY…Areas of frost in the morning. Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Southwest winds
5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain
showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 40s. Southwest winds
15 to 20 mph.
.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then chance of rain
showers in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds
15 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 40.
.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.
.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the mid 40s.
.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers
in the evening, then mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain
showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the lower 40s.
Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain
showers. Highs in the mid 60s.
A potent Albert Clipper will push into northwestern North Dakota
Friday evening, then sweep through the rest of western/central ND
Friday night.
Showers and isolated thunderstorms will move
through western and central ND overnight Friday as a cold front pushes through.
Gusty cold northwest winds Saturday, with northwest winds of 20 to 35 mph. Scattered showers will be ongoing into Saturday morning, focused more into the James River Valley in the afternoon.
Highs will be in the mid to upper 50s.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Police Department is warning the public about a high risk sex offender is residing in Jamestown.
Christopher John Simon lives at the North Dakota State Hospital Transition Home, at 2605 Circle Drive, Jamestown, ND
He presently has no vehicle.
Simon is a 35 year old white male five feet 11 inches tall, weighing 171 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair.
He 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 while on probation molesting a seven year old girl after breaking into her home, to seal undergarments.
Conviction Date: October 2001in Walsh County, North Dakota Juvenile Court.
Disposition: One year custody of DJS.
He is currently on GPS Monitoring.
Simon is not wanted by police at this time and has served the sentence imposed by the Coury.
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 Christopher John Simon 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 Barnes County Sheriff’s Office has identified the body of a man found on Monday April 22nd southeast of Luverne as 57 year old David Palmer, an unattended death investigation.
The Medical Examiners report says, he died of hypothermia.
No foul play was involved in this case.
Barnes County Sheriff Randy McClalin adds that the case was investigated by the Barnes County Sheriff’s Office and the North Dakota State Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Jamestown (CSi) the Jamestown Rural Fire District will be having a ground breaking ceremony on May 21, 2019.
The location is at the new station that is under construction located at 1209 9th Street Southwest.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown High School Girl’s Soccer team will host a Military Appreciation Night on Tuesday, May 14, at the High School, Rotary Soccer Field.
On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Stutsman County Veteran’s Service Office, David Bratton said, all military veterans and active military will be admitted free.
The team is partnering with the North Dakota National Guard.
The Junior Varsity game starts at 5:30-p.m., with the Varsity game set to start at 7:30-p.m.
A half time Most Patriotic Contest will be held, so come dressed in your best red, white and blue. Awards will be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place.
Please be respectful of the American Flag.
Also on our show David pointed out that the Ninth Annual Fargo VA2K event will be held on Wednesday May 15th from 11-a.m. to 1-p.m., to support homeless veterans, including food items, through the VA Homeless Outreach Program. Participants should meet at the flagpole area.
In other updates, David said that the VA has launched a digital campaign encouraging mental health conversations during this May as Mental Health Awareness month. For more information on line go to www.maketheconnection.net
He also said that Disabled veterans with a disability of 50 percent, or greater, with a service related disability and former POW’s are eligible to receive a free North Dakota State Park pass.
A reduced cost annual permit is available for all other veterans with service related disabilities at $28 dollars. His office has more information.
September 8-13 this year, the National Disabled Veterans golf, Tee Tournament will be held in Iowa City, Iowa, with more information as well available at his office.
David added that there is a delay in the opening of the National Veterans Cemetery near Fargo, due to flooding this spring, with the opening now planned this fall. A full-time employee for the cemetery administration position has been hired, with training at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota.
The Stutsman County Veterans Service Office is located in the basement of the Law Enforcement Center in Jamestown, with office hours Monday-Friday from 8-a.m., to noon, and 1-p.m., to 5-p.m.
Call 701-252-9043.
Valley City (CSi) The Barnes County Sheriff’s Office has identified the body of a man found on Monday April 22nd southeast of Luverne as 57 year old David Palmer, in an attended death investigation.
The Medical Examiners report says, he died of hypothermia.
No foul play was involved in this case.
Barnes County Sheriff Randy McClaflin adds that the case was investigated by the Barnes County Sheriff’s Office and the North Dakota State Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
LISBON, N.D. (AP) — An investigation into a February shooting death in North Dakota is continuing despite the weekend death of a person of interest in a Missouri police shootout. Thirty-four-year-old William Galusha was found dead at a rural Milnor home Feb. 27, and authorities deemed the death suspicious. Ransom County Sheriff Darren Benneweis (BEHN’-uh-wys) says that an autopsy report he received Monday classified the death as a homicide.
Update…
MONTPELIER, N.D. (AP) — A two-vehicle crash in LaMoure County has killed an 80-year-old Montpelier man.
The Highway Patrol says the man, Darrel Kirschenman was driving a Jeep that was rear-ended by a pickup truck on state Highway 46 about 6:30 p.m. Monday. The Jeep rolled in the ditch 6 miles south of Montpelier, and he died at the scene.
The driver of the pickup, Damon Smith of Litchville was treated at Jamestown Regional Medical Center for undisclosed injuries and released. No charges were filed.
Jamestown (CSi) A SCORE Workshop is set in Jamestown for Thursday May 16 from 6:30-p.m., to 9-p.m., at the University of Jamestown’s Sheldon Unruh Building, with free admission.
New of existing business looking to start up or expand their business are invited with three of Jamestown’s leading business advocates.
Jennifer Bollingberg from Schauer & Associates will speak on Basic Record Keeping, Sales Tax Compliance, Data Management For Tax Filing, Payroll Setup For Record Keeping and Quickbooks.
Unison Bank President, Kelly Rachel will speak on, Steps to Securing A Business Loan, and Financing Your Business.
Timothy Ottmar for Ottmar & Ottmar Law Firm, Attorneys at Law, will speak on, The Pros and Cons Of The Different Types Of Business Legal Entities, LLC’s, Partnerships, Sole Proprietorship and other topics.
SCORE is a group of mostly retired business owners and executives who are volunteering their time to help new of existing businesses get started or expand their operations. They provide confidential mentoring and counseling on developing a business plan, marketing a business and other topics.
Contact the Jamestown SCORE office at the South Central Dakota Regional Council, at 429 2nd Street Southwest. Call 701-952-8050. Contact Dave Smette at 701-320-6268.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Arts Center is partnering with the Great Plains Food bank to offer students a summer meal program at the Hansen Arts Park, starting June 3rd. The Arts Center is providing space to store the meals and a location for distribution.
North Dakota Farmers Union, Unison Bank, The Jamestown Sun and First Community Credit Union have volunteered to help distribute the meals Monday – Thursday at 12:00 pm.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence plans two tour stops in Minnesota to talk about the stalled trade deal with Mexico and Canada. He’s likely to hear differing opinions on part of the plan to replace NAFTA.
Pence is scheduled to begin his day today at a farmstead 10 miles east of Fargo, where some agriculture leaders plan to ask about lifting steel and aluminum tariffs. Farmers say the tariffs are hurting them and the chances of passing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA,
Pence will then travel to St. Paul and a give a speech at Gerdau Ameristeel, one of the mills that the administration’s tariffs are meant to help.
U.S. Republican Rep. Pete Stauber, whose district includes the Minnesota Iron Range, says the USMCA does not pit farmers against steel workers.
MANDAREE, N.D. (AP) — Federal authorities have accused a man of deliberately setting a house fire that led to another person’s death on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
The Bismarck Tribune reports Donavan White Owl is charged in U.S. District Court with arson and murder in the April death of Winnifred Smith.
Authorities discovered her body in a basement room in the house on April 4. An autopsy determined smoke inhalation to be the cause of death.
White Owl made an initial court appearance in Bismarck this week but didn’t immediately enter a plea. His attorney didn’t immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Spring planting in North Dakota continues to lag after a wet end to winter.
The Agriculture Department in its weekly crop report says the seeding of all crops is behind or well behind the average pace.
The state’s spring wheat crop is 13% planted, compared with 37% during a typical year. Corn and potatoes both are at 3%, canola at 4%, barley at 8% and sugar beets at 17%. Normally, 62% of the sugar beet crop would be in the ground.
Soil moisture continues to be in good supply. Topsoil moisture supplies statewide are rated 90% adequate to surplus, and subsoil moisture is 80% in those categories.
The winter wheat crop and pasture and range conditions both remain rated mostly fair to good. Stock water supplies are mostly adequate.
Update…
MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — Authorities have charged four teenagers with multiple felonies in adult court in what they described as a riot last year at North Dakota’s youth prison.
The four are accused of assaulting staff while trying to escape on Jan. 28, 2018, from the Youth Correctional Center outside of Mandan. Five workers in supervisory or security roles received medical attention for minor injuries.
The Bismarck Tribune reports 17-year-old Elijah Barse, of Rapid City, South Dakota, appeared in court Tuesday and had bond set at $100,000. Court documents don’t list an attorney for him.
Gavin Johnson and Starson Buckles, both of Mandan, have pleaded not guilty and are set for trial July 10. Julian Wolf, of Bismarck, pleaded guilty in March and awaits sentencing.
Update…
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Auditor Joshua Gallion has carried out performance audits that have uncovered waste and misuse of resources at about twice the rate of his predecessor.
But now he must get lawmakers’ permission to conduct them.
Republican Rep. Keith Kempenich pushed the legislation that was signed by Gov. Doug Burgum. He says some lawmakers had problems with Gallion’s zeal and wanted to “reel him in.”
Backers initially said the legislation had nothing to do with the new aggressiveness Gallion brought to the job after he was endorsed by Republicans and elected in 2016.
Kempenich says the legislation was not intended to punish Gallion, but rather to make sure legislators were informed on what he was doing.
Gallion says he is doing “what taxpayers expect.”
In sports…
(VCSU) The Valley City State University softball team is headed to Columbia, Missouri, as a No. 1 seed for the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round.
The seedings and pairings for the 10 opening round sites were announced Tuesday afternoon by the NAIA national office. The Vikings – ranked No. 6 in Tuesday’s final Top 25 Coaches’ Poll – will be the No. 1 seed for the Columbia Bracket hosted by Columbia College at Antimi Sports Complex in Columbia, Mo.
NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll – May 7
Valley City State (51-3, NSAA Tournament Champion) will play their first game of the tournament against No. 4 seed Madonna (Mich.) (35-13, WHAC Regular Season Champion) at 1:30 p.m. on May 13. The Vikings and Crusaders met once earlier this season in Tucson, Ariz. Valley City State won that game 8-7 on a walk-off home run by Riley Perryman.
Also in Valley City’s bracket is No. 2 seed Columbia College (Mo.) (35-10, AMC Tournament Champion) and No. 3 seed Brenau (Ga.) (34-10, AAC Tournament Champion).
Each opening round site is a four-team, double-elimination tournament running May 13-15. The winner of each opening round site advances to the 10-team NAIA Softball World Series, May 23-29 in Springfield, Mo.
A total of 40 teams qualify for the NAIA Opening Round. Valley City State earned its spot after winning the North Star Athletic Association Postseason Tournament, claiming the conference’s automatic bid to the national tournament. Bellevue University (44-16) will also represent the North Star Athletic Association as an at-large selection. The Bruins are the No. 3 seed in the Dodge City (Kan.) bracket and will face No. 2 seed Houston-Victoria (Texas).
This will be Valley City State’s first appearance in the national tournament since 2006. That year, the Vikings won a regional tournament that qualified them for a 20-team national tournament featuring pool play brackets. The NAIA changed to its current 40-team opening round format in 2013. VCSU’s best national tournament finish came in 1982 when the Vikings placed seventh at the tournament in Kearney, Neb.
Valley City State set a school record for wins earlier this season and is now 51-3 overall and riding an 18-game winning streak. The Vikings have the fourth-best winning percentage (.944) in the nation.
VCSU’s first opponent, Madonna, earned its spot in the tournament as the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Regular Season Champion. Madonna has a 35-13 overall record. No. 2 seed Columbia College is 35-10 overall this season and qualified for the tournament as the American Midwest Conference Tournament Champion. No. 3 seed Brenau (Ga.) has a 34-10 overall record and won the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament to qualify for nationals. Columbia is ranked No. 18 in the final poll, while Brenau is ranked No. 25.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (uj.edu) — Four University of Jamestown softball players earned spots on GPAC All-Conference teams as the conference office announced its postseason awards Wednesday.
Mikayla Frost (JR/Melba, ID) was named to the first team, marking the third consecutive season the Jimmie shortstop has earned first-team honors. Frost led the Jimmies with a .418 average and 10 stolen bases. She also posted a career-best .939 fielding percentage and became the sixth UJ player to record 200 hits (203) in a career.
Outfielders Meghan Ramage (SR/Grand Forks, ND) and Allie McCain (SR/Duvall, WA) were named to the second team. Ramage earned all-conference honors for the second consecutive season while batting .322 this season. Ramage’s 48 hits were third-most on the team and her 32 RBI were second-most. McCain batted .331 this season with 57 hits, good for second on the team. McCain was one of five Jimmies with 24 or more runs batted in this season and she was credited with six sacrifice hits.
Infielder Morgan Geiszler (SO/Horace, ND) earned honorable mention honors. Geiszler led UJ with 59 hits, 15 doubles, 37 RBI, and 34 runs scored while batting .337 in her second season.
The Jimmies finished the season 31-20, advancing to the best-of-three GPAC Championship Series against Morningside (Iowa).
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (uj.edu) — The University of Jamestown had three GPAC first team All-Conference selections, as the conference announced its postseason honors Wednesday.
First baseman Drake Pilat (SR/Winnipeg, MB, Canada), third baseman Jaden Yackley (SR/Lynnwood, Wash.), and outfielder Tanner Roundy (SR/Henderson, NV) were all named to the first team.
Pilat lead the Jimmies with a .363 batting average and a .474 on-base percentage. His 32 walks this season are the fourth-most in a season, and he is just seven away from tying the UJ single-season record of 39.
Yackley currently has a team-best 64 hits, 18 doubles, and .524 slugging percentage. His .346 batting average trails only Pilat, and he is one of five Jimmies with 15 or more stolen bases.
Roundy set the Jimmie single-season record for stolen bases with 34 and is third on the team with a .341 batting average. His 40 runs batted in are a team best, and he is tied with Yackley for the team lead in runs scored with 45.
Three Jimmies were named to the second team–outfielder Chase Hacker (JR/Millcreek, WA), pitcher Kensaku Akiya (JR/Kawasaki, Japan), and pitcher Tanner Roundy.
2019 GPAC All-Conference Teams
Khris Middleton was among seven Bucks to score in double-figures, finishing with 19 while grabbing eight boards. Eric Bledsoe chipped in 18 points and George Hill came off the bench to add 16 for Milwaukee.
The Bucks dropped the opener by 22 points before sweeping the next four.
Kyrie Irving led Boston with just 15 points and shot just 6-for-21 in what might have been his final game with the Celtics.
The Bucks will take on either Toronto or Philadelphia in the next round.
NHL PLAYOFFS-SHARKS/AVALANCHE
Pavelski returns as Sharks win series
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) _ It will be the San Jose Sharks taking on the St. Louis Blues in the NHL’s Western Conference final.
Captain Joe Pavelski returned from a gruesome head injury to deliver a goal and an assist as the Sharks ousted the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2 in Game 7. Pavelski hadn’t played since being leveled to the ice after taking a faceoff in Game 7 of the first-round series against Vegas. He opened the scoring and assisted on Tomas Hertl’s goal as the Sharks advanced to their fourth conference final this decade.
Pavelski took less than six minutes to provide more than just inspiration, deflecting Brent Burns’ point shot past Philipp Grubauer.
Joonas Donskoi (YOH’-nuhs DAHN’-skoy) ended a 39-game goal drought and Martin Jones made 14 of his 27 saves in the third period to help the Sharks seal the victory.
Mikko Rantanen and Tyson Jost scored for the Avalanche, who were trying to make their first conference final since 2002. Philipp Grubauer made 24 saves.
MLB…
UNDATED (AP) – Minnesota completed a three-game sweep in Toronto as Jorge Polanco had five hits, including a two-run home run in the Twins’ 9-1 dismantling of the Blue Jays. Eddie Rosario hit his AL-leading 13th home run for the Twins, who also received two runs shots by CJ Cron and Jonathan Schoop (skohp). Kyle Gibson allowed one run on two hits while fanning a career-high 11 over six innings to win for the third time in four starts.
_ Seattle crushed the Yankees, 10-1 as Ryon Healy homered and hit three doubles to help the Mariners win for only the second time in 10 games. Mitch Haniger and Edwin Encarnación (ehn-kahr-nah-see-OHN’) also went deep as Seattle snapped a seven-game losing streak in the Bronx and avoided dropping below .500 for the first time since the end of the 2017 season. Yusei Kikuchi (YOO’-say kih-KOO’-chee) pitched three-hit ball over 7 2/3 innings to get a victory in his Yankee Stadium debut.
_ Hunter Renfroe snapped a 2-2 deadlock with a solo homer in the seventh inning to lift the Padres past the Mets, 3-2. Eric Hosmer also homered and Matt Strahm scattered six hits while striking out seven over 6 1/3 innings of a no-decision. Strahm was bailed out when when Manuel Margot robbed Pete Alonso of a potential tiebreaking homer in the sixth.
_ Hunter Pence launched a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning and Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled home the go-ahead run in the ninth as the Rangers turned a 6-2 deficit into a 9-6 victory at Pittsburgh. Pence’s home run followed three walks by reliever Michael Feliz (feh-LEEZ’). Joey Gallo and Rougned Odor (ROOG’-nehd oh-DOHR’) belted two-run homers, with Odor’s blast capping the scoring in the ninth.
_ Stephen Piscotty homered leading off the bottom of the 13th inning as the Athletics topped the Reds, 5-4. Piscotty also had an RBI double, Jurickson Profar homered for the second consecutive day and Ramon Laureano added three hits for the A’s. Oakland’s bullpen tossed seven shutout innings of three-hit ball.
_ Andrew Benintendi homered in the 12th inning to send the Red Sox to their fifth win in six games, 2-1 at Baltimore. The tiebreaking blast came after Chris Sale struck out 14 and allowed one run, three hits and no walks over eight brilliant innings for Boston. Heath Hembree struck out the side in the 12th for his first save, putting the Bosox at .500 for the first time since the second game of the season.
_ The Indians stopped a three-game skid when Jose Ramirez slammed a two-run homer with two out in the bottom of the ninth to send Cleveland past the Chicago White Sox, 5-3. The Indians had scored just once in 27 innings before plating three in the fourth, capped by Tyler Naquin’s (NAY’-kwihnz) two-run single off starter Reynaldo López. Indians starter Shane Bieber took a 3-1 lead into the seventh but couldn’t hold it.
_ Michael Brantley homered twice and Brad Peacock allowed three hits while striking out a career-high 12 over seven innings of the Astros’ 9-0 thumping of the Royals. George Springer and Carlos Correa also homered to give the Astros 16 in their past five games. Kansas City’s Jorge Lopez allowed six hits and six runs while walking three in 2 1/3 innings to remain winless in eight starts this season.
_ Ronny Rodriguez drove in a career-high four runs and Matthew Boyd limited the Angels to one run and three hits over six innings of the Tigers’ 10-3 rout. Rodriguez put Detroit ahead with a two-run triple in the first before adding an RBI double and a run-scoring single. Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (SHOH’-hay oh-TAH’-nee) was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a hit-by-pitch on his right elbow, one day after going 0-for-4 in his season debut.
_ The Rockies and Giants were rained out in Denver, creating a split doubleheader on July 15.
MLB NEWS
Phils chairman dies
PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Longtime Phillies executive David Montgomery has died at 72 following a five-year battle with cancer, according to the team. Montgomery started in the sales department in 1971 and rose to become chairman, spearheading the team’s transition from Veterans Stadium to Citizens Bank Park in 2004. He led the organization during its most successful period from 2007-2011 as the ballclub won the NL East each season, two pennants and the 2008 World Series.
SOCCER-CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Tottenham reaches CL final
AMSTERDAM (AP) _ It will be an all-British matchup in soccer’s Champions League final.
Tottenham has advanced by rallying for a 3-2 victory over Ajax to earn a meeting with Premier League rival Liverpool. Spurs trailed 1-0 at halftime and 3-0 on aggregate until Lucas Moura completed a hat trick, the last goal coming in the sixth minute of injury time.
Although the two-game semifinal ended in a 3-3 aggregate, Tottenham captured the series based on road goals.
Spurs and Liverpool will square off June 1 in Madrid, the first all-English final since Manchester United beat Chelsea in 2008.
PREAKNESS-FIELD
Improbable gets Smith aboard for possible Preakness run
BALTIMORE (AP) _ Improbable will have Triple Crown-winning jockey Mike Smith aboard if the colt runs in the Preakness on May 18.
Trainer Bob Baffert says he was making the switch from Irad Ortiz Jr. because “Mike and I have a little luck together.”
Baffert and Smith teamed with Justify to win the Triple Crown last year.
Ortiz rode Improbable to a fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and the colt was moved up to fourth following Maximum Security’s disqualification.
COLLEGE CORRUPTION
2 convicted in college basketball corruption trial
NEW YORK (AP) _ An aspiring sports business manager and an amateur basketball coach have been convicted of bribery conspiracy at a trial that showed top college coaches were paid off to steer NBA-bound athletes to favored handlers.
Wednesday’s verdict capped a two-week trial of Christian Dawkins and youth basketball coach Merl Code in a case that forced the NCAA to confront corruption affecting basketball players at elite universities. The two were convicted on a single conspiracy count, but acquitted of some other charges.
Four former assistant basketball coaches have pleaded guilty in connection with the scandal and await sentencing.
MICHIGAN-LIMITED CONTACT
Michigan high schools to limit full-contact practice
The organization that governs Michigan high school athletes has voted to trim the amount of full-contact football practice from a maximum of 90 to 30 minutes per week and to drastically reduce the amount of full contact allowed in preseason workouts.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association voted this week on the reductions for full-contact practices, joining New Jersey as the second state to implement rules favored by Practice Like Pros, a nonprofit devoted to reducing injuries in youth football.
In world and national news…
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Chinese negotiators are set to resume trade talks just hours before the United States plans to raise tariffs on Chinese imports in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.
China says it will retaliate if President Donald Trump follows through, though the Commerce Ministry in Beijing offered no specifics.
The negotiations starting up again Thursday were thrown into disarray after U.S. officials accused the Chinese of reneging on commitments they’d made in earlier rounds of talks. In response to the backsliding, the United States is raising tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports from 10% to 25% at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Friday.
The two countries are sparring over U.S. allegations that China steals technology and pressures American companies into handing over trade secrets.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has issued a new law requiring all Catholic priests and nuns around the world to report clergy sexual abuse and cover-ups by their superiors to church authorities, in a groundbreaking new effort to hold the Catholic hierarchy accountable for failing to protect their flocks.
The church law published Thursday provides whistle-blower protections for anyone making a report and requires all dioceses around the world to have a system in place to receive the claims confidentially. And it outlines procedures for conducting preliminary investigations when the accused is a bishop, cardinal or religious superior.
It’s the latest effort by Francis to respond to the global eruption of the sex abuse and cover-up scandal that has devastated the credibility of the Catholic hierarchy and his own papacy.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The animated video begins with a photo of the black flags of jihad. Seconds later, it flashes highlights of a year of social media posts: plaques of anti-Semitic verses, talk of retribution and a photo of two men carrying more jihadi flags while they burn the stars and stripes.
It wasn’t produced by extremists; it was created by Facebook. In a clever bit of self-promotion, the social media giant takes a year of a user’s content and auto-generates a celebratory video. In this case, the user called himself “Abdel-Rahim Moussa, the Caliphate.”
“Thanks for being here, from Facebook,” the video concludes in a cartoon bubble before flashing the company’s famous “thumbs up.”
Facebook likes to give the impression that it’s staying ahead of extremists by taking down their posts, often before users even see them. But a confidential whistleblower’s complaint to the Securities and Exchange Commission obtained by The Associated Press alleges the social media company has exaggerated its success. Even worse, it shows that the company is inadvertently making use of propaganda by militant groups to auto-generate videos and pages that could be used for networking by extremists.
Update…
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s military says North Korea has fired two suspected short-range missiles.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier said North Korea fired at least one projectile from its western province on Thursday afternoon.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said later that the North fired what appeared to be two short-range missiles. It says they flew 420 kilometers (260 miles) and 270 kilometers (167 miles), respectively.
It says South Korean and U.S. authorities are trying to find out more details about the launches.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Under President Donald Trump, visits by championship teams to the White House have often become politicized.
That’s happening to the Boston Red Sox, who steamrolled to a World Series crown last October and are poised to visit the White House on Thursday.
Team manager Alex Cora announced last week he would not attend, citing his frustration with the administration’s efforts to help his native Puerto Rico recover from a devastating hurricane.
Nearly a dozen players have said they will join him in skipping the ceremony.
All of those bypassing the White House are players of color. Every white player on the team is expected to attend.
The Red Sox have stressed that the clubhouse has not been divided on the issue.
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has told the annual military Victory Day parade in Red Square that the country will continue to strengthen its armed forces.
The parade on Thursday marked the 74th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany. It included about 13,000 servicemen and 130 pieces of military equipment, ranging from a T-34 tank — renowned for its effectiveness in World War II — to lumbering Yars ICBM launch units.
Putin said in his speech that “we have done and will do everything necessary to ensure the high combat capability of our armed forces.”
He added: “At the same time, Russia is open for cooperation with all who are ready to resist terrorism, neo-Nazism and extremism.”
Dozens of other cities also held parades for Russia’s most significant secular holiday.
PARIS (AP) — Notre Dame Cathedral’s melted roof has left astronomically high lead levels in the plaza outside and adjacent roads.
Paris police say lead levels from the roof were found to be between 10 and 20 grams per kilogram of ground — between 32 and 65 times the recommended limit by French health authorities of 0.3 grams per kilogram. The areas closest to the cathedral are currently closed.
The statement Thursday said the main danger is lead dust that could coat surfaces of nearby homes and businesses. To avoid lead poisoning, authorities have recommended a good cleaning with a damp cloth, and that pregnant women and children wash hands frequently.
Hundreds of tons of lead were used in Notre Dame’s frame, as well as the church spire that burned and collapsed.
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