CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Cloudy. A 40 percent chance of rain in the evening in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area.

Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds around 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.

.THURSDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s. North winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the northeast in the afternoon.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers in

the evening, then rain showers likely after midnight. Lows in the

mid 40s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of showers

70 percent.

.FRIDAY…Cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning, then chance

of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs around 60. East winds

around 10 mph shifting to the south in the afternoon. Chance of

showers 70 percent in the Jamestown area 90 percent in the Valley City area.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in the evening. Lows in the mid 40s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in

the afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows around 40.

.MEMORIAL DAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the mid 40s.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs in the mid 60s.

Expect rain through most of the day on Friday, with some embedded thunderstorms.

The next chance for rain begins Thursday evening. Precipitation amount from the next system around 0.75 inches.

Saturday currently looks to be the nicest day with high temperatures in the upper 60s.

Another chance of rain overnight Saturday and into Sunday afternoon. High temperatures will mainly be in the low 60s, with another potential storm entering the plains to start next week.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Stutsman County, Auditor, COO, Nicole Meland announces that the Stutsman County Subcommittee on Social Service Zoning will meet with members of the Barnes County Subcommittee on Social Service Zoning regarding zoning opportunities between Stutsman County and Barnes County Social Services.

The meeting will be held Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. in the Commission Room at the Barnes County Courthouse, 230 4th Street NW, Valley City, ND 58072. County-related business will be discussed.

 

L: Trisha Jungels R: Lisa Schrenk

Jamestown  (JRMC)  — For her contributions, teamwork ethics and passion for people, Jamestown Regional Medical Center celebrates Lisa Schrenk, recipient of the 2019 Nora Melvold Paulson Excellence in Leadership Award. The award recognizes a nurse who consistently embodies a commitment to excellence in nursing education and clinical care.

In her 10 years with JRMC, Schrenk has trained in new employees, instructed ACLS and non-violent crisis intervention courses, served as a preceptor and peer interviewer and often trains nurses and physicians to use EPIC, JRMC’s electronic medical records software.

JRMC, Chief Nursing Officer, Trisha Jungles says, “Lisa is a role model to all around her. JRMC values Lisa’s contributions, teamwork ethics and passion for the work we as nurses do every day to ensure the best outcomes for our patients and families.”

This is the seventh year of the award established by Brian and Nancy Spector through a named-expendable fund with JRMC Foundation. It honors the memory and legacy of Brian’s grandmother, Nora Paulson, RN and her 20 plus years of service excellence in clinical care and nursing education at Jamestown Hospital/Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

Brian Spector grew up in Philadelphia and is now a healthcare consultant. He remembers spending summers in Jamestown with his grandmother.

Brian says “High-quality healthcare was very important to Nana. She was very special to me. This award is one way she can live on in perpetuity.”

The Nora Paulson Award recipient is voted upon by his or her peers. The award provides an annual grant to a JRMC nurse who consistently embodies a commitment to excellence in nursing education and clinical care. A plaque with the names of all recipients is located on the lower level near the education center of JRMC.

JRMC celebrated nurses week with the Nora Melvold Paulson Excellence in Leadership Award, honoring one nurse each year. The award is voted upon by nursing peers and provides a $250 grant to the award recipient. Nurses week was May 6-10, 2019.

Past recipients include:

2013 Renae Lunde, RN

2014 Allison Danzel, RN

2015 Lili Ruby, RN

2016 Courtney Haag, RN

2017 Kacie Pahl, RN

2018 Marla Wegner, LPN

About Jamestown Regional Medical Center

Jamestown Regional Medical Center is located at 2422 20th St. SW, Jamestown, N.D. and serves approximately 55,000 people in nine counties. In 2019, it was named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” for the sixth consecutive year. Modern Healthcare named JRMC a “Best Places to Work in Healthcare” each year since 2017.  For more information, visit www.jrmcnd.com or call (701) 952-1050.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Career & Job Expo will be held on Thursday May 30, from 11-a.m., to 6-p.m., at the Hi-Liner Activity Center, at 493 Central Avenue, North in Valley City.

Valley City/Barnes County Development Corporation Director, Jennifer Feist reports that the event is for those interested in learning about area employers, and are interested in finding a great career path.

At the event, enter for a chance to win door prizes and $500 cash prizes.

Those attending are invited to bring along their resumes. Those interested in hosting a booth must register and submit a $100 registration fee to the VCBCDC at 250 West Main Street, Valley City, ND, 58072.

For more information call 701-490-3530.

 

Washington DC  Tripnet.org reports that Eleven percent of North Dakota’s rural bridges are rated as poor/structurally deficient.

It’s  the 12th highest share in the U.S. Bridges that are poor/structurally deficient, have significant deterioration to the major components of the bridge and are often posted for lower weight or closed to traffic, restricting or redirecting large vehicles, including agricultural equipment, commercial trucks, school buses and emergency services vehicles.

The report finds that 19 percent of North Dakota’s rural roads are rated in poor or mediocre condition. The rate of traffic fatalities on North Dakota’s non-Interstate, rural roads is nearly four-and-a-half times higher than the fatality rate on all other roads in the state – 1.83 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel vs. 0.42.

North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO, Arik Spencer says, “The TRIP report demonstrates the need for increased and continued investment in North Dakota’s transportation system, particularly our network of rural roads and bridges, which provide a vital link for the state’s agricultural, energy extraction and tourism sectors and keep our economy moving in the right direction.”

North Dakota spokesman for AAA-The Auto Club Group, Gene LaDoucer says, “Rural roads play a critical role in supporting the transportation needs of North Dakotans every day. Damaged and structurally deficient bridges and deteriorating roadways impact everyone, and it’s time to focus on these critical needs. Making the necessary improvements to rural roads and bridges will help move our economy forward and save lives.”

The TRIP report finds that the U.S. needs to implement transportation improvements that will improve rural transportation connectivity, safety and conditions to provide the nation’s small communities and rural areas with safe and efficient access to support quality of life and enhance economic productivity.

 

Bismarck (NDDOT) Road construction will be located on highways throughout the state. Major NDDOT reconstruction and rehabilitation work occurring this year include:

  • I-94 rehabilitation from Mandan west to ND 25
  • I-94 reconstruction west of Valley City
  • I-94 reconstruction east of Hebron
  • I-29 reconstruction between Fargo and Wahpeton
  • US 2 reconstruction and rehabilitation through the city of Devils Lake
  • US 83 Bypass construction near Minot
  • Demers Ave reconstruction in Grand Forks
  • Main Ave reconstruction in Fargo
  • Sheyenne St reconstruction in West Fargo
  • Completion of New Town Northwest Truck Reliever Route

Valley City District:

Stutsman, Barnes, Logan, Lamoure, McIntosh, Dickey, Kidder, Foster, Steele and Ransom counties. Major projects include:

  • Asphalt overlay on ND 13 from Lehr to E Jct ND 56
  • Minor rehabilitation in Valley City Central Ave from Main to 12th St
  • Milling and overlay of US 281 from South Dakota state line to the township line
  • Milling and overlay of US 281 from Edgeley north to Jct ND 46
  • Milling and overlay of I-94 from east Dawson Interchange to Crystal Springs
  • Reconstruction of I-94 from west Eckelson to east of ND 1 Oakes

NDDOT reminds motorists that slowing down and driving distraction free are some of the easiest things motorists can do behind the wheel during this busy travel season. Other tips for motorists are:

  • Follow signage and be aware that traffic configurations often change in work  zones.
  • Be patient. Work zones aren’t present to inconvenience drivers, they’re an important part in maintaining and rebuilding our state’s infrastructure.
  • Stay alert. Dedicate your full attention to the roadway.

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — The owners of a Mandan bar have filed a federal lawsuit over a mural that city officials ordered removed.

Lonesome Dove owners filed their lawsuit against the city Monday in U.S. District Court, seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to allow the artwork on the bar’s front wind block.

The Bismarck Tribune says the mural depicts a rearing horseman against brown hills at sunset. The Mandan City Commission ordered the bar to remove it because the business doesn’t have a permit for the outdoor artwork. The Mandan Architectural Review Commission later denied their permit application, because city guidelines state that no mural may be placed on the front of the building.

 

In sports…

Baseball…

Due to wet playing conditions, the eight-team West Region baseball tournament has been moved from Municipal Ballpark to all-turf Sanford Sports Complex in Bismarck to be held Thursday-Saturday, May 23-25. Game locations on Friday and Saturday depends on weather and playing conditions.   On  Thursday May 23 the Blue Jays start WDA tournament action in game three of the day,about 5-p.m., versus Bismarck Century.

Softball…

Because of  persistent rain and wet field conditions at Dickinson,the West Region softball tournament on May 23-25 has been moved from Dickinson to Minot’s South Hill Complex High School Softball Complex.

Quarterfinal games are set for Thursday beginning at 11 a.m.

GIRLS SOCCER

The Sixth-Seeded Blue Jays face No. 3 Mandan  in a state-qualifying game on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.  at Mandan’s Dacotah Centennial Park.

Carrington advances to the 2019 State Class B Baseball Tournament, at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 30, 31 and June 1. Tournament pairings to  be announced Friday morning

 

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says President Donald Trump “took a pass” on working together with Democrats to address the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.

Pelosi spoke at the Capitol after a brief meeting with Trump at the White House. After the meeting, Trump said he won’t work with Democrats as long as they are moving ahead with investigations of his administration.

Pelosi said congressional Democrats went to the White House “in a spirit of bipartisanship to find common ground” on infrastructure. She told reporters afterward: “For some reason, maybe it was lack of confidence on his part. … he just took a pass.”

She added that “In any event, I pray for the president of the United States.”

Hours earlier, Pelosi had told reporters that Trump is involved in a “cover-up.”

 

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — As tensions with the U.S. mount, Iran’s supreme leader has said the country’s president and foreign minister didn’t act as he wished in implementing the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

The comments Wednesday night, posted on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s official website, are the first time he’s blamed both President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif by name in his concerns about the deal.

Khamenei said: “In some extent, I did not believe in the way that the nuclear deal was implemented. Many times I reminded both the president and the foreign minister.”

Khamenei has final say on all matters of state. His remarks show the internal pressure both Rouhani and Zarif now face amid the U.S. tensions.

 

 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The young Californian who became known as the American Taliban after he was captured by U.S. forces in the invasion of Afghanistan is set to go free after nearly two decades in prison.

But conditions imposed recently on John Walker Lindh make clear that authorities remain concerned about the threat he could pose once free.

Lindh’s release is slated for Thursday.

He joined the Taliban before the Sept. 11 attacks and was brought back to the U.S. after being captured in a battle with U.S.-aligned Northern Alliance fighters. He got 20 years, but had three years knocked off for good behavior.

Some have expressed concern that Lindh is still actively radical.

He will serve his supervised release under restrictions including monitoring of his internet devices and that he cannot leave the country.

 

 

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is reiterating his denial that he’s in a racist photo that appeared on his 1984 medical school yearbook page.

Northam made the comments Wednesday after an investigation commissioned by Eastern Virginia Medical School failed to determine whether Northam is in the yearbook photo of a man in blackface next to someone in a Ku Klux Klan hood and robe.

The Democratic governor initially acknowledged he was in the picture when it surfaced in February. He then reversed course the next day, saying he was convinced he wasn’t in the photo.

Northam said Wednesday he was sorry for how he responded and said he’s working on addressing longstanding racial inequities.

 

 

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state lawmakers have passed legislation that would allow President Donald Trump’s state tax returns to be released to Democrats in Congress.

The legislation now goes to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo after final passage Wednesday in the Democrat-controlled Senate and Assembly.

The bills don’t target Trump by name but would allow the leaders of three congressional committees to access any New York returns filed by elected officials and top appointed officials.

A bill that originally passed the Senate would have allowed Congress to request any state taxpayer’s returns. The measure was later narrowed, prompting the Senate to vote again Wednesday.

New York Republicans have denounced the legislation as a politically motivated attack on privacy.

The proposed changes to state law were made amid a battle going on in Washington over Trump’s federal returns.

 

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Attorney Michael Avenatti has been charged with ripping off porn star Stormy Daniels, the client who made him famous.

The allegations against Avenatti were revealed in charges filed Wednesday in New York.

Federal prosecutors say Avenatti took money Daniels was supposed to get from a book deal.

Daniels isn’t named in the court filing, but the details of the case make it clear that she is the client involved in the case.

Avenatti rocketed to fame representing Daniels when she sued to be released from a non-disclosure agreement involving an alleged tryst with President Donald Trump.

Avenatti was previously charged in New York and Los Angeles with trying to extort money from Nike and stealing millions of dollars from clients.

He has denied all the allegations.