CSi weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Rain showers and chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the south in the afternoon.

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers and slight

chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the mid 40s. West

winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

.SATURDAY…Decreasing clouds. Highs in the upper 60s. Northwest

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. East winds

around 5 mph shifting to the south after midnight.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy with

chance of rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the

afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers and slight

chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then rain showers likely

after midnight. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of precipitation

60 percent.

.MEMORIAL DAY…Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs in the lower 60s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

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

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain

showers in the evening. Lows in the lower 40s.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

 

There is a slight chance thunderstorms this afternoon and early

evening. Severe weather is not expected.

There is a chance of thunderstorms on Sunday. Some of these

storms could be strong with gusty winds and small hail.

A cold front comes through the area Sunday night, with cooler and drier

conditions expected for Memorial Day.

A slight chance precipitation to the far south central and southern James

River Valley Tuesday.

Through mid week  periodic showers and thunderstorm chances.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Thursday afternoon  Jamestown High School and Two Rivers Activity Center were on lockdown after a report of a male with a gun approaching the school door, but turned away at the door.

  • Gun incident at JHS May 23  CSiNewsNOW Photos Gun incident at JHS May 23 CSiNewsNOW Photos
  • Gun incident at JHS May 23  CSiNewsNOW Photos Gun incident at JHS May 23 CSiNewsNOW Photos
  • Gun incident at JHS May 23  CSiNewsNOW Photos Gun incident at JHS May 23 CSiNewsNOW Photos
  • Gun incident at JHS May 23  CSiNewsNOW Photos Gun incident at JHS May 23 CSiNewsNOW Photos
  • Gun incident at JHS May 23  CSiNewsNOW Photos Gun incident at JHS May 23 CSiNewsNOW Photos
  • Gun incident at JHS May 23  CSiNewsNOW Photos Gun incident at JHS May 23 CSiNewsNOW Photos
     

Jamestown Police Chief Edinger says according to surveillance  video, they could see the suspect approach the doors before leaving the school grounds, adding  when they located the male individual, they found an airsoft gun in his possession.

All Jamestown Schools  and TRAC were on lockdown until about 2:45-p.m.

The call came from the school just after 2-p.m, Thursday saying that an individual on a bicycle with a gun approached the school but turned away from the door.

Officers including the James Valley Special Operations Team, secured the school exits and then alerted TRAC official of the incident that was in progress.

Law enforcement has reported contact with the suspect and had seized the weapon.

The 18 year-old suspect has been detained for questioning under suspicion of terrorizing.  His name would be released if he’s formally charged.

The Jamestown Police Department was assisted by the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office, the North Dakota Highway Patrol, North Dakota Parole and Probation and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Statement from Dr. Robert Lech, Superintendent of Jamestown Public Schools:

News release:  “At approximately 2:00 an individual was observed off campus and entering school grounds with a potential weapon near Jamestown High School. The high school campus was immediately placed on lockdown and law enforcement was notified. Based on law enforcement recommendations all schools were placed on lockdown at approximately 2:20.   Law enforcement determined there was no longer a threat and in consultation with law enforcement the district lifted the lockdown at 2:45.  The district is thankful for the immediate response from Jamestown and Stutsman County law enforcement to ensure the safety of all students.”

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council’s Police & Fire, and Public Works Committee met Thursday evening at City Hall.

Mayor Heinrich was not present, and the meeting was presided over by Council President, Buchanan.

POLICE & FIRE COMMITTEE

INFORMATIONAL: Police Department service update.

 

Chief Scott Edinger said due to the decrease in the number of officers available, some services will be cut such as animal control, general traffic enforcement, and funeral escorts, and parking violation enforcement.

He says there are currently six openings for officers, with five with less than five years of service.

One officer is in field training, and two officers performing light duty.

The police department is down to one detective.

He said the officers currently on the police department are getting “burned out,” from extended hours.

He added that the University of Jamestown’s Criminal Justice graduates have been brought in.

 

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

The Committee recommends approval of the request from Corner Bar for a permit to conduct street dances on 2nd Street SW, from 1st Avenue westward to alley, on Saturday, June 8, 2019, and Saturday, July 20, 2019.

INFORMATIONAL: Garbage collection update.

Sanitation foreman Roger Mayhew said all garbage trucks are back in service, as an engine was replaced in one is back in service.

He said the recent citywide cleanup was a “nightmare,” with residents not complying with the rules of items being put out for collection.

He said this year, 433 tons were collected, compared to 206 tons last year and 209 tons collected in 2017.

At the landfill, an increase in garbage collection tonnage has increased the past two months, 1,094 tons in March this year, 1,319 in April.

With roughage, 476  tons of garbage were collected in March, 548 tons in April.

INFORMATIONAL: Recycling collection update.

Recycle North Dakota, Manager, Ralph Freibel said  a second cover has been added to the second recycling collection truck to aid in keeping recycling material from blowing around when the bins are emptied.  About 120,010 pounds of recycling material was collected in March this year.

INFORMATIONAL: A public hearing for the request to vacate a section of 26th Street SW east of 3rd Ave SW, adjacent to Lot 1, Block 3, and Lot 8, Block 4, all I-94 Business Park Addition, to the City of Jamestown, Stutsman County, North Dakota, is scheduled at the June 3, 2019, City Council meeting.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67 followed by replays.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The City of Jamestown is currently accepting applications for three openings on the Planning Commission — 5 year terms to August 2024

Anyone interested in serving should complete an “Application for Appointment”. The application may be obtained in person at City Hall, 102 3rd Ave SE, Jamestown, ND, by calling 701-252-5900 or online at jamestownnd.org and select government tab/city committees to download the form.

 

The application should be returned by July 12,2019 to:

City of Jamestown

Attn: Appointments

102 3rd Avenue SE

Jamestown, ND

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — Authorities have identified the man who died at an oilfield worksite near Williston.

Williams County sheriff’s officials say 34-year-old Jesus Herrera died Saturday when he was struck in the head by a heavy rod. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating his death.

Herrera was an oil field hand for Brigade Energy Services in Williston.

OSHA’s last investigation of an oilfield-related fatality in North Dakota was in February 2018.

 

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Bismarck police have arrested a man on possible terrorizing charges after he was accused of pointing a rifle at his neighbors.

Officers were called to a mobile home park Wednesday about 7 p.m. Authorities say one of the neighbors disarmed the man who went back inside his residence. Police set up a perimeter around the home. The SWAT team responded with four tactical vehicles and the bomb squad.

The man was eventually arrested.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge has granted a reprieve to the owners of a Mandan bar fighting to preserve a mural at their business.

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland granted a temporary restraining order Wednesday two days after the owners of Lonesome Dove filed a lawsuit against the city of Mandan over the mural city officials ordered removed.

Bar owners Brian Berube and August “Augie” Kersten were cited for have an unpermitted, Western-themed mural on the outside of the bar. The Bismarck Tribune says Berube and Kersten were unaware of the permit, later applied and were denied because city ordinance states “no mural may be placed on the front of the building.”

The judge says “such a content-based restriction on speech as Mandan has enacted is unlikely to survive constitutional muster.” He scheduled a settlement conference for June 4.

 

 

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Federal officials say they’re reducing the hours that three U.S.-Canada border crossings in Montana are open each day.

However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection temporarily backed off a plan to close the 24-hour crossing near Plentywood daily at midnight after backlash by residents and politicians.

The border patrol agency said in a statement Thursday the ports of Scobey, Morgan and Opheim will operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. year round starting June 1.

Those ports are currently open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer.

The Port of Raymond north of Plentywood will remain a 24-hour port this summer while the agency “continues discussions with the Canadian government and local stakeholders.”

Farmers and residents protest that re-routing 24-hour border traffic 100 miles (160 kilometers) away to North Dakota would be inconvenient and hurt economic activity.

 

 

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Trump administration is withdrawing a proposal for freight trains to have at least two crew members, which was drafted in response to explosions of crude oil trains in the U.S. and Canada.

Department of Transportation officials said Thursday that a review of accident data did not support the notion that having one crew member is less safe than multi-person crews.

Under President Barack Obama, regulators said having two or more crew members would be worth the extra cost even if it prevented a single accident.

That proposal followed explosive oil train derailments including in Lac Megantic, Canada in 2013, when 47 people were killed in a 2013 derailment. Other derailments have occurred in Oregon, Montana, Illinois, Virginia and other states.

The withdrawal also pre-empts states from regulating crew sizes.

 

In sports…

Thursday

Girls Soccer…

State Tournament Qualifier Game

Jamestown 3 Mandan 2

The Jays will face either Fargo Shanley/Oak Grove or Fargo Davies, Thursday next week at 12-noon, in the state quarterfinals in Jamestown.

Softball…

West Region Quarter Finals

Dickinson 7 Jamestown 4

Loser Out Game…

Jamestown 3 Mandan 2

Valley City 2 Sheyenne 0

Hi-Liners face West Fargo Saturday at 3-p.m., in Championship Game

Baseball…

Opening Round, Quarterfinal Game, West Region Baseball Tournament

Bismarck Century 8 Jamestown 0

Blue Jays will play Minot Friday at 1-p.m. in a loser-out game, weather permitting.

Dickinson 9 Minot 2

Visit CSiNewsNow.com Sports for any weather related schedule changes…

 

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION…

Thursday’s Games

Fargo-Moorhead 5, Milwaukee 3

Fargo-Moorhead 3, Milwaukee 0

 

NBA PLAYOFFS-RAPTORS/BUCKSRaptors rally past Bucks for 3-2 leadMILWAUKEE (AP) _ The Toronto Raptors are within one victory of advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard scored 35 points and the Raptors rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Bucks, 105-99 in Milwaukee to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Leonard showed no obvious signs of the leg soreness that bothered him the previous two games, hitting five 3-pointers and finishing with seven rebounds and nine assists.The Raptors chipped away after the Bucks carried a 10-point lead in the second quarter. The deficit was down to three by intermission, but Toronto still trailed before outscoring Milwaukee 33-24 in the final period. Leonard provided 15 points in the fourth quarter.Fred VanVleet scored all 21 of his points from downtown, going 7-9 while Toronto was hitting 18 treys. Kyle Lowry added 17 for the Raptors, who have handed the Bucks their first three-game losing streak of the season.Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-the-toh-KOON’-poh) had 24 points for Milwaukee.Game 6 is Saturday in Toronto.NBA-NEWSNo Durant for Game 1 of Finals

UNDATED _ Kevin Durant is yet to progress to on-court work in his recovery from a strained right calf.

That means he won’t be ready to return for Golden State in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on May 30. Durant was injured during Game 5 of the conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets.

However, big man DeMarcus Cousins might be healthy for the series opener against either Milwaukee or Toronto as he works his way back from a torn left quadriceps muscle.

In other NBA news:

_Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh) and James Harden were unanimous selections to an All-NBA team that could mean big payoffs for Damian Lillard and Kemba Walker. Both of those guards were voted to one of the three squads announced Thursday, making them eligible for supermax contract extensions from their teams. Rounding out the first team were Stephen Curry, Paul George and Nikola Jokic (NEE’-koh-lah YOH’-kich). LeBron James also was voted to the third team, tying the NBA record with his 15th All-NBA selection.

_ Suns big man Richaun Holmes has been arrested for misdemeanor possession of cannabis after a Miami-area traffic stop. The 25-year-old was arrested Tuesday night along with former Brooklyn Nets forward James Webb III after authorities say the found a recently used marijuana joint inside their vehicle.

 

MLB…

Twins throttle Angels

UNDATED (AP) _ The Minnesota Twins continue to own the best record in the major leagues after tying a team record for home runs in a game.

Jonathan Schoop (skohp) and Miguel Sano (sah-NOH’) each belted two of the Twins’ eight home runs in a 16-7 dismantling of the Los Angeles Angels. The Twins also received longballs from ex-Angel CJ Cron, Jorge Polanco, Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler while completing their first sweep in Anaheim since 1996.

Minnesota crushed 22 home runs while going 6-1 on their road trip through Seattle and Anaheim.

Martin (mahr-TEEN’) Perez allowed two runs over five innings to help Minnesota improve to a major league-best 33-16.

Tommy La Stella belted a grand slam in the ninth for the Angels, his 12th home run of the year.

Elsewhere around the majors:

_ The Yankees blew a 5-1 lead in the eighth inning before Aaron Hicks walked with the bases loaded in the ninth to complete the Bombers’ four-game sweep of the Orioles in Baltimore, 6-5. Clint Frazier and Luke Voit (voyt) went deep to give the Yankees 13 home runs in the series and 35 in 12 games versus the Birds this season. The Yanks won for the 14th time in 17 games despite Renato Nunez, who tied it with a three-run drive in the eighth.

_ An outfield collision allowed Kevin Kiermaier to leg out a three-run, inside-the-park homer in the Rays’ 7-2 victory at Cleveland. Tommy Pham, Avisail (av-ih-sah-EEL’) García and Willy Adames (ah-DAH’-mehs) hit solo homers off Adam Plutko as Tampa Bay improved baseball’s best road record to 16-7. Ryan Yarbrough allowed two runs and four hits in a career-high 7 1/3 innings after being recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Durham.

_ Steve Pearce was 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and three RBIs against his ex-team as the Red Sox whipped the Blue Jays, 8-2 in Toronto. Ryan Weber (WEE’-bur) was reached for just one run on three hits over six innings of his first big league start since in two years. Rafael Devers (DEH’-vurz) had two hits, two RBIs and scored twice to help Boston improve to 11-3 in its past 14 road games.

_ Lucas Giolito scattered four hits and struck out a season-high nine in his first major league shutout as the White Sox downed the Astros, 4-0. Rookie Eloy Jiménez hit his third homer in two games to cap the scoring in the fourth inning. Yoán Moncada had an RBI double and Tim Anderson added a run-scoring single to help Chicago gain a four-game split with the AL West leaders.

_ The Phillies earned a four-game split at Wrigley Field as Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto homered off Jon Lester in a 9-7 win over the Chicago Cubs. Andrew McCutchen added two hits and two RBIs as Philadelphia won for the fifth time in seven games. Aaron Nola pitched 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball to improve to 5-0.

_ Austin Riley supplied the tying and winning hits as the Braves outlasted the Giants, 5-4 in 13 innings. Riley singled home the go-ahead run after delivering a tying, two-run blast in the eighth. Tyler Flowers also homered and Riley finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs in Atlanta’s third win in San Francisco in four days.

_ The Mets completed a four-game sweep as Carlos Gomez smacked a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning of a 6-4 victory against the Nationals. The blast came a half-inning after Robert Gsellman (guh-ZEHL’-man) surrendered three runs to put the Nats in front. Steven Matz left with a 3-1 lead despite allowing 10 hits over six innings.

_ Josh Bell, Bryan Reynolds and Starling Marte all homered in the seventh inning to help the Pirates set a season high for runs in a 14-6 assault on the Rockies. Bell finished with three hits, including a double, a walk and two RBIs in addition to his 10th homer this month. Gregory Polanco also homered for the Pirates, who scored just three times in the first two games of the series.

_ The Marlins pulled out a 5-2 win over the Tigers on Garrett Cooper’s grand slam in the ninth inning. Marlins starter Trevor Richards struck out six over 5 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and one run. The Tigers completed an 0-9 homestand by allowing Miami to pick up its sixth straight win and second series sweep since a seven-game losing streak.

 

MLB-NEWS

Mets add Canó, McNeil to injured list; Cespedes to miss entire season

UNDATED (AP) — The Mets have added infielders Robinson Canó and Jeff McNeil to the 10-day injured list.

Canó strained his left quad running out a grounder in the third inning of a 6-1 win over Washington Wednesday night. McNeil has a tight left hamstring, which he thinks occurred while trying to steal second base in the ninth inning of a 6-5 win Tuesday. Luis Guillorme and Ryan O’Rourke were recalled from the Triple-A Syracuse Mets.

The Mets also announced that slugger Yoenis Cespedes (yoh-EHN’-ehs SEHS’-peh-dehs) is expected to miss the entire season after having ankle surgery Thursday.

In other major league news:

_ Indians ace Corey Kluber had the hard cast protecting his broken right arm removed and the two-time Cy Young winner is healing as hoped. Kluber underwent imaging texts that showed that his ulna is mending properly. Manager Terry Francona said Kluber can begin range of motion and that he will be re-examined in two weeks.

_ The Yankees have put CC Sabathia (suh-BATH’-ee-uh) on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation. Sabathia pitched five innings against the Orioles last night and complained about knee soreness afterward. He earned the victory despite allowing five runs and six hits.

 

NASCAR-CHARLOTTE QUALIFYING

Byron youngest to Coca-Cola pole

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) _ Charlotte native William Byron has become the youngest driver ever to capture the pole for the Coca-Cola 600.

The 21-year-old Byron turned a lap of 183.424 mph in his No. 24 Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway to start out front Sunday in NASCAR’s longest race.

Aric Almirola will start alongside Byron on the front row in his No. 10 Ford. It is one of six Fords starting in the top 10.

Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon and Kevin Harvick round out the top five qualifiers.

Byron has six top 10 finishes in 49 career Cup Series starts without a victory.

 

NHL-NEWS

Islanders keep Nelson

UNDATED (AP) _ The New York Islanders have agreed to terms with center Brock Nelson on a six-year contract through the 2024-25 season.

Nelson scored 25 goals and set career highs with 28 assists and 53 points last season to help the Islanders make the playoffs. He committed to the Islanders before reaching free agency, an important development considering former captain John Tavares hit the open market last summer and signed with his childhood team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In other NHL news:

_ The Penguins have re-signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a two-year deal worth about $700,000 a season. The 29-year-old Ruhwedel played in 18 games for the Penguins in 2018-19, scoring one goal and one assist while averaging more than 16 minutes of ice time.

_ An arbitrator has upheld Slava Voynov’s one-season NHL suspension but is giving him credit for serving half of it in 2018-19. Voynov will now be eligible to return midway through next season. Commissioner Gary Bettman suspended the former Kings defenseman for the upcoming season and the 2020 playoffs after determining he committed acts of domestic violence.

_ Mike Modano has decided to return to his NHL roots in Minnesota. The Hall of Fame center was named on Thursday as the executive adviser to Wild owner Craig Leipold and president Matt Majka.

 

HOCKEY-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Canada escapes; US, Sweden fall in world hockey

KOSICE, Slovakia (AP) _ Damon Severson and Mark Stone helped Canada escape to the world hockey championship semifinals while the United States and defending champion Sweden dropped out.

Canada beat Switzerland 3-2 in overtime. Severson tied it with 0.4 seconds left on a goal. Stone ended it at 5:07 of the 3-on-3 overtime.

Meanwhile, Russia defeated the United States 4-3, Finland beat Sweden 5-4 and the Czech Republic topped Germany 5-1.

In the semifinals Saturday, Canada will face the Czech Republic, and Russia will play Finland.

 

NFL-NEWS

McCoy to visit Browns

UNDATED (AP) _ Free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy will visit the Cleveland Browns, who hope to sign the six-time Pro Bowler.

General manager John Dorsey says that McCoy will be at the team’s facility Friday after being released earlier this week by Tampa Bay in a cost-cutting move. The Buccaneers tried to trade McCoy, who was set to make $13 million next season.

In other NFL news:

_ Jaguars rookie defensive end Josh Allen sat out practice Thursday after bruising his right knee during the team’s first practice of organized team activities. Coach Doug Marrone says there’s “zero” concern for his long-term health.

_ The NFL has suspended Bengals guard Alex Redmond for the first four games of the 2019 regular season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Redmond will sit out the first month of the regular-season schedule.

_ Defensive tackle Adolphus Washington has signed with the Dolphins, his fourth team since the start of last season. Cut by the Bills last September, he was later on the Cowboys’ practice squad and played four games for the Bengals before being slowed by a knee injury.

 

GOLF…

PGA-COLONIALFinau up by 1 through 18FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) _ Tony Finau (FEE’-now) shot a 6-under 64 to take a one-shot lead over local favorite Jordan Spieth (speeth) and Roger Sloan at Colonial in Fort Worth.Finau had five birdies over seven holes before closing with five straight pars. He hasn’t finished higher than 60th in three tournaments since tying for fifth at the Masters.Spieth ended up with seven birdies in a span of 10 holes, the other highlight a 46-foot putt on No. 4.PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS-SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIPParel tops senior majorPITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) _ Scott Parel took advantage of ideal scoring conditions Thursday morning to shoot a 4-under 66 and take the first-round lead in the weather-delayed Senior PGA Championship.The gusting afternoon wind hadn’t yet fully arrived when Parel closed with birdies on the par-4 17th and 18th.Retief (reh-TEEF’) Goosen, Marco Dawson and Ken Tanigawa are a stroke back.PGA-MEMORIAL-WOODS

Tiger Woods commits to play Memorial

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Tiger Woods has decided to play in the Memorial next week ahead of his next chance in a major.

Woods is a five-time winner at Muirfield Village. He has never missed it when healthy, except in 2006 when he took time off after his father’s death. The Memorial is two weeks before the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Woods missed the cut at the PGA Championship.

Justin Thomas also has entered the Memorial, his first tournament since the Masters.

 

In world and national news…

LONDON (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has praised Theresa May’s “courageous work” on Brexit after the British prime minister announced her resignation.

“It’s too soon to speculate on the consequences of this decision”, Macron said, according to a statement from the French presidency. “France is ready to work with the new British prime minister on all European and bilateral issues.”

Macron sent May a personal message of support and appreciation, the statement said.

As European parliament elections are being held in the bloc until Sunday, Macron said “this must also remind us, at a time of important choice, that rejection votes with no alternative project lead to an impasse.”

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is stepping up his effort “to investigate the investigators.” He directed the U.S. intelligence community on Thursday to “quickly and fully cooperate” with Attorney General William Barr’s investigation of the origins of the multi-year probe of whether his 2016 campaign colluded with Russia.

The move marked another effort in Trump’s efforts to undermine the findings of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe amid mounting Democratic calls to bring impeachment proceedings against Trump.

Press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Trump is delegating to Barr the “full and complete authority” to declassify documents relating to the probe.

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The enmity between President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is ratcheting up, with each questioning the other’s fitness for duty.

Personal attacks flowed on both sides Thursday after a dramatic blow-up at the White House a day before.

Pelosi openly questioned Trump’s fitness to remain in office, suggesting a staff or family “intervention” for the good of the nation.

Trump responded by calling her “Crazy Nancy.”

As for himself, he declared, “I’m an extremely stable genius.”

Both the Republican president and Democratic leaders dug in a day after Trump stalked out of the Cabinet Room demanding an end to all congressional probes before he would work with Congress on crumbling U.S. infrastructure and other matters.

 

 

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Iran’s foreign minister is being quoted as warning of anarchy in the Mideast if world powers do not unite to stop what he called U.S. aggression — Iran’s official parlance for Washington’s pressure on Tehran.

The official Iranian news agency IRNA says Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke in Islamabad, where he held talks Friday with top Pakistani officials.

Zarif says “we are witnessing today how the U.S. ,with its bullying approach, is putting sanctions on Iran” and adds that “regional states have to stand up against the sanctions for their own interests.”

Zarif has been criticized by name this week by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said he and President Hassan Rouhani failed to implement Khamenei’s orders over Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police officers are now using virtual reality to learn the best ways to interact with people who suffer from autism and de-escalate situations that could quickly turn awry.

A new training simulation using virtual reality headsets is being rolled out by Axon, the company best known for developing the Taser. The company is partnering with Chicago police to train its officers and plans to make it available to police departments across the U.S.

The officers can experience a situation from both the perspective of an autistic person and responding police officers.

David Kearon with the advocacy group Autism Speaks says it can be a “really fine line” for police to identify someone with autism as opposed to someone who could pose a risk.

(AP)  Even as abortion opponents celebrate passage of tough bans in several states, they are divided over making exceptions for victims of rape and incest.

Many Republicans, including President Donald Trump, support such exceptions.

The debate pits those who believe any abortion is immoral against those fearing a no-exception stance could hurt the GOP’s election prospects.

A 2018 Gallup poll found that 77% of Americans support exceptions for rape and incest.

Divisions over rape and incest exceptions have existed within the anti-abortion movement for many years, but have become more apparent this year as several states in the South and Midwest enacted tough bans on abortion.

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says the “unprecedented charges” against his client threaten all journalists looking to inform the public about actions taken by the American government.

Assange was charged in a new 18-count indictment Thursday with soliciting and publishing classified information.

Barry Pollack, his lawyer, says the indictment charges Assange with “encouraging sources to provide him truthful information and for publishing that information.”

Pollack says the case poses a threat to all journalists doing their job.