– Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Jul 18

CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. West winds around 10 mph.

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning in the Valley City area. Highs around 80. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear in the evening, then mostly cloudy

with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after

midnight. Lows around 60. West winds around 5 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest

winds around 5 mph.

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

showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the upper 50s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain showers

and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s.

.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 60.

.TUESDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s.

.WEDNESDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible from 2 pm to 8 pm
today. The main hazards will be quarter sized hail and 60 mph
wind gusts. Isolated tornadoes are also possible.

The chance of thunderstorms returns to most of western and
central North Dakota this weekend.

Dazey (Valley News Live)- Following an unofficial 4-6-inches of rainfall early Wednesday, residents in Dazey, North Dakota faced major street flooding, which led to sewer lines being knocked out, and leaving them with flooded streets, and basements.

Pumps were being used to help relieve the flooding.

Residential water was shut off until Thursday, July 18 with the city lift station unable to keep pace with the demand.

The community center was opened until 10-p.m. on Wednesday, where clean up kits are available, provided by the American Red Cross, along with bottled water

Porta potties are also available until further notice.

Update… Carrington (Valley News Live)- Human remains found in Carrington, North Dakota are believed to be from an old grave.

Authorities with the Carrington Police Department tell us they received a call from a local contractor that was digging a trench for a new sewer line on 4th St. S and 14th Ave.

The contractor indicated that while digging the trench, they found what appeared to be human bones.

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called to assist in the retrieval of the bones. They say, it appears that it’s an old grave and foul play is not suspected.

The bones will be sent to an analyst Grand Forks to determine age and origin.

Jamestown (CSi) Jessie Veeder will perform July 18 at the Downtown Arts Market – Veeder has been a symbol of folk music in the badlands of Western North Dakota. With unique and interestingly beautiful vocals, her lyrics swell with references to her own life experiences growing up on a working cattle ranch in the rugged land of Western ND. Veeder’s ability to captivate audiences with stories of her love for the landscape, the culture and the people of small town America is what pulls at the heartstrings of audiences across the globe.

With: Shadd Piehl (cowboy poet) & Walter Piehl (artist)

Valley City (CSi) The Valley City community is invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony, on Thursday July 18, at 3-p.m., celebrating the Permanent Flood Protection Projects in Valley City.

The location will be on Main Street near the City Park footbridge

Invited to the celebration are, North Dakota Lt. Governor Brent Sanford and other dignitaries including Valley City officials.

Valley City (CSi) The Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce announces that Sanford Health has organized the new series, “Summer Nights, On Central.”

On a recent Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, the Valley City Chamber’s, Event Coordinator, Mikayla Gustafson said, the musical entertainment will feature three area bands on Thursday July 11, 18, and 25 on Central Avenue, from 6-p.m., to 9-p.m., with vendors setting up at 5:30-p.m.

The band lineup includes

July 18: October Road
July 25: Slamabama

Enjoy live music, fun for the kids, late-night shopping and food from a variety of vendors. Beverages will be served by the Valley City Eagles Club (wristbands required for ages 21-plus). Vendors open at 5:30 p.m. and concerts run from 6-9 p.m. on Central Ave.

Admission is free with all ages welcome.

She also pointed out that Crazy Daze in Valley City is July 24, and the Valley City Chamber office has more information.

Jessie Veeder will perform July 18 at the Downtown Arts Market – Veeder has been a symbol of folk music in the badlands of Western North Dakota. With unique and interestingly beautiful vocals, her lyrics swell with references to her own life experiences growing up on a working cattle ranch in the rugged land of Western ND. Veeder’s ability to captivate audiences with stories of her love for the landscape, the culture and the people of small town America is what pulls at the heartstrings of audiences across the globe.

With: Shadd Piehl (cowboy poet) & Walter Piehl (artist)

HAWLEY, Minn. (AP) — Federal investigators say a passer-by saw a gyroplane descend nose-down and crash into the ground at a western Minnesota airport this month, killing the pilot.

According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board, the gyroplane crashed 300 feet from the departure end of the single runway at Hawley Municipal Airport on July 11.

The pilot, 69-year-old Bradley Gibb of Vergas, was the only person aboard and died at the scene.

The crash left a 30-foot ground scar. Conditions were dry and clear when the daytime crash happened.

(AARP) Jamestown, Forman, and West Fargo were awarded a 2019 AARP Community Challenge grant. A total of nearly $1.6 million will be distributed to fund 159 “quick action” projects across the country, helping communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to support residents of all ages.

A total of 1,661 applications, including 27 from North Dakota, were received from non-profits and government entities for the program, now in its third year. North Dakota grants were awarded as follows:

Jamestown Parks and Recreation Department ($3,000) to fund a pop-up demonstration bike path as part of Walk/Bike 2019! and to gauge public support for a permanent multi-use path.
City of Forman ($1,700) to help create a public green space on a vacant lot on the city’s Main Street.
City of West Fargo ($10,900) to install an assortment of games in the new city-owned, downtown plaza along Sheyenne Street to foster social connections among people of all ages.

Each of the projects is designed to achieve one or more of the following outcomes:

Create vibrant public places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities.
Demonstrate the tangible value of “Smart Cities” by engaging residents and policymakers in accessing, understanding and using data to increase quality of life for all.
Deliver a range of transportation and mobility options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability, wayfinding, access to transportation options and roadway improvements.
Support the availability of a range of housing that increases accessible and affordable housing options.

The full list of grantees can be found at www.aarp.org/communitychallenge.

PORTLAND, N.D. (AP) — A Texas woman accused of shooting two men in Portland has been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

KFGO reports 32-year-old Sadie Rix, of Austin, made her first appearance in Traill County court Wednesday. She’s charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

Prosecutors say Rix shot the two men in late June and held officers at bay during a several hour standoff. The men survived the shooting. Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 31.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Fargo authorities say a man who died in a fire in a rental storage unit over the weekend apparently was living inside the unit.

Authorities said Wednesday the fire appears to be accidental.

Crews were called to the fire early Sunday and found 58-year-old Jonathan Wayne Liles of Fargo dead inside the storage unit.

The fire was contained to the single rental unit. Authorities say the investigation continues and no additional information will be available until the investigation is completed in a month or two.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A lawmaker who pushed a measure that requires that state auditor to get approval from the Legislature to conduct performance audits is now calling the law a “mistake.”

Republican Rep. Keith Kempenich tells The Associated Press that he will introduce legislation when lawmakers meet again in 2021 that will strike the requirement to have the auditor get lawmakers’ permission.

Approval of the measure, which came during the legislative session’s final days in April, has drawn widespread criticism and spurred a referral campaign to ask voters to strip the legislation from the books.

The law had drawn strong support from both Republicans and Democrats, and was signed by GOP Gov. Doug Burgum. But Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued an opinion last month that says the new law is likely unconstitutional.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Attorneys general for North Dakota and Montana have petitioned the Trump administration to overrule a Washington state law that imposes safety restrictions on oil shipped by rail from the Northern Plains.

Montana Attorney General Tim Fox and North Dakota’s Wayne Stenehjem said in a Wednesday petition to the U.S. Department of Transportation that federal authority over railroads should pre-empt the state law.

The Washington law requires oil shipped by rail through the state to have more volatile gases removed to reduce the risk of explosive and potentially deadly derailments.

Opponents say it will make Pacific Northwest refineries off-limits to crude from the Bakken region, one of the nation’s most productive oil fields straddling the North Dakota-Montana border.

Representatives of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee did not immediately respond for comment.

In sports…

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION…

Gary Southshore 5, Fargo-Moorhead

MLB..

UNDATED (AP) _ Dominic Smith put the New York Mets in front with his pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh inning, and Pete Alonso padded the lead in the eighth with a two-run shot in a 15-4 victory over Minnesota. That gave the Twins their first three-game losing streak of the season. Amed Rosario went 4 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs for the Mets, who posted their highest score of the year and matched a season best with their fourth consecutive victory.

Josh Hader struck out Ozzie Albies with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth to preserve the Milwaukee Brewers’ 5-4 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Josh Donaldson had a two-run homer in the eighth and a two-run single in the ninth as Atlanta’s rally fell short.

Christian Yelich (YEH’-lihch) hit his 34th homer of the season to tie the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger for the major league lead. It was Yelich’s third home run in four games.

In other MLB action:

_ Six Dodgers pitchers combined on a two-hitter spanning a 2 hour, 37 minute rain delay, and Los Angeles beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2. David Freese and Justin Turner homered, and A.J. Pollock and Kiké Hernandez also drove in runs for the NL-West leading Dodgers, who improved their MLB-best record to 64-34 while remaining 14 games in front of Arizona. The Phillies didn’t register a hit until Scott Kingery’s bloop single to center in the sixth.

_ Gerrit Cole struck out 11 over seven innings, Jake Marisnick had three hits amid a chorus of boos and the Houston Astros got back on track by beating the Los Angeles Angels 11-2. Marisnick has drawn the ire of Angels’ fans this series after he ran over catcher Jonathan Lucroy in a home-plate collision July 7 in Houston. Lucroy suffered a concussion and is out for at least the next three weeks after having surgery on his broken nose.

_ Eduardo Escobar homered twice and the Arizona Diamondbacks tied a franchise record for a nine-inning game with 21 hits while thumping the Texas Rangers 19-4. The 19 runs were Arizona’s most since setting a franchise record with 20 against San Diego last July. Escobar’s first homer sparked a seven-run first inning against right-handed starter Jesse Chavez, who got 2 outs. The switch-hitting Escobar added a three-run homer batting right-handed against Kyle Bird in the sixth and had five RBIs.

_ Danny Duffy pitched a strong six innings and ended a nine-start winless streak, and Jorge Soler and Nicky Lopez hit back-to-back RBI singles twice as the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 7-5. Duffy scattered six hits and struck out five in sending Chicago to its season-worst sixth straight loss.

_ Josh Hader struck out Ozzie Albies with two outs in the ninth to preserve the Milwaukee Brewers’ 5-4 win over the Atlanta Braves. Josh Donaldson had a two-run homer in the eighth and a two-run single in the ninth as Atlanta’s rally fell short.

_ Trey Mancini hit two home runs and Baltimore pummeled the Washington Nationals’ ineffective bullpen in a 9-2 victory that provided the Orioles with a split of the two-game interleague series. The defeat _ only the fourth in 17 games for the Nationals _ kept them 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Braves in the NL East. Adam Eaton drove in both runs for Washington, which suffered its most lopsided loss in over a month.

_ Paul Goldschmidt hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off Michael Feliz in the seventh inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Pittsburgh 6-5, dealing the Pirates their fifth loss in six games. St. Louis trailed 4-3 when Tommy Edman singled off Francisco Liriano with one out in the seventh and José Martinez walked. Feliz relieved, and Goldschmidt followed with his 18th homer. John Brebbia struck out four in two perfect innings and Carlos Martínez gave up an RBI single to Bryan Reynolds in the ninth.

_ Yu Darvish tossed six innings of two-hit, shutout ball to finally earn his first win at Wrigley Field as a Cub and lead Chicago past the Cincinnati Reds 5-2. Kris Bryant and Addison Russell homered for the only hits off Sonny Gray as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games.

_ Homer Bailey shook off a rocky start to go six innings in his Oakland debut, Mark Canha and Jurickson Profar both homered twice and the Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 10-2. Chad Pinder and Ramón Laureano also went deep as the A’s matched their season high with six home runs despite losing Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman to an ankle injury after two innings.

_ Donovan Solano had four hits, including a tie-breaking home run leading off the sixth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Rockies 11-8 to complete a four-game series sweep, their first at Colorado in nearly eight years. Pablo Sandoval sparked a three-run first inning with a two-run double and Stephen Vogt also homered for the surging Giants, who have won five straight and 12 of their last 14.

_ Rookie right-hander Chris Paddack took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and two relievers got the final four outs to complete a three-hitter and help the San Diego Padres beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 Wednesday night.. The Padres, who played their first game in 1969, are the only team in the majors to never throw a no-hitter. Paddack opened the eighth having thrown 82 pitches. Castro lined the second pitch of his at-bat over the wall in left.

_ Mike Clevinger matched his career high with 12 strikeouts in six innings, Oscar Mercado drove in two runs and the Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 7-2. Clevinger struck out the side in the first two innings and had nine strikeouts through four _ one against each batter in Detroit’s lineup. Cleveland moved within four games of AL Central-leading Minnesota.

_ Rafael Devers hit a solo homer and drove in four runs, Eduardo Rodríguez pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox sent Toronto’s Aaron Sanchez to his 13th straight loss, beating the Blue Jays 5-4 on Wednesday night. Devers also had a two-run double and RBI single, Brock Holt added a run-scoring hit — one of his three singles — for the Red Sox, who had dropped three of four since a five-game winning streak.

_ The scheduled game between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees has been postponed due to a forecast of thunderstorms and severe weather. Though no rain was falling yet on a humid evening at Yankee Stadium, the game was called about 35 minutes before it was supposed to start. It will be made up Thursday as part of a single-admission doubleheader.

MLB-NEWS

O’s to reimburse Red Sox for up to $2.5M in Cashner bonuses

UNDATED (AP) _ Baltimore has agreed to reimburse Boston for up to $2.5 million of Andrew Cashner’s performance bonuses as part of last weekend’s trade that sent the 32-year-old right-hander to the Red Sox.

Cashner made his Boston debut on Tuesday night and took the loss in a 10-4 defeat to Toronto, allowing six runs — five earned — and eight hits over five innings. That dropped him to 9-4 with a 4.09 ERA in 18 starts and 101 1/3 innings this season.

As part of Saturday’s trade, Baltimore received a pair of 17-year-old prospects and agreed to send Boston close to $1.8 million to cover most of what Cashner was due from his $8 million salary this year.

Baltimore already was responsible for $500,000 in performance bonuses Cashner has earned and for Cashner’s $3 million signing bonus. Cashner’s deal includes a $10 million option for 2020 that would become guaranteed if he pitches at least 187 innings this year.

Elsewhere around the majors:

_ Philadelphia Phillies closer Héctor Neris has been suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed fine for intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head of David Freese (freez) of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Joe Torre, Chief Baseball Officer for Major League Baseball, announced the suspension and fine a day after the incident in the ninth inning of the Phillies’ 9-8 home victory.

_ The Philadelphia Phillies have placed veteran outfielder Jay Bruce on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique and recalled outfielder Nick Williams from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Bruce was injured on a checked swing in the third inning of the Phillies’ 9-8 comeback win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.

_Los Angeles pitcher Noé Ramirez has been suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount for throwing a pitch in the area of Houston outfielder Jake Marisnick’s head, and Angels manager Brad Ausmus has been suspended a game and fined. Marisnick was playing his first game against Los Angeles since his violent home plate collision with catcher Jonathan Lucroy.

_ The Cleveland Indians say pitcher Corey Kluber threw a successful bullpen session at Progressive Field, the right-hander’s first time throwing from a mound since fracturing his right forearm on May 1. The team said the two-time Cy Young Award winner fired 20 fastballs, as scheduled, before Cleveland’s game against Detroit on Wednesday.

_ The Chicago White Sox have placed rookie outfielder Eloy Jiménez on the 10-day injured list with an ulnar nerve contusion in his right arm. The move comes a day after Jiménez collided with outfielder Charlie Tilson in the first inning Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals. In the hours after the game, Jiménez was experiencing numbness down his arm and into his fingers. The organization is optimistic Jiménez could only miss a couple of weeks.

_ The Kansas City Royals placed shortstop Adalberto Mondesi on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder injury. Mondesi injured his shoulder in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game against the White Sox when he attempted to make a diving catch on the warning track in shallow left field.

WNBA…

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Natasha Howard scored a career-high 33 points, Sami Whitcomb made five of Seattle’s 12 3-pointers and the Storm closed the game on a 10-0 run to beat the Minnesota Lynx 90-79 on Wednesday night.

OBIT-PUMPSIE GREEN

Pumpsie Green, 1st black player on Boston Red Sox, dies

BOSTON (AP) _ Elijah “Pumpsie” Green, the first black player on the Boston Red Sox, has died. He was 85. Green played parts of four seasons with the Red Sox and one with the New York Mets from 1959-63, batting .246 with 13 homers and 74 RBIs.

But his place in history was made when he stepped on the field as a pinch-runner against the Chicago White Sox on July 21, 1959. The Red Sox were the last team in the major leagues to field a black player.

OBIT-ERNIE BROGLIO

Ernie Broglio, 21-game winner traded for Lou Brock, dies

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ernie Broglio, a 21-game winner in 1960 who is remembered most as the player traded by the St. Louis Cardinals for Hall of Famer Lou Brock, has died. He was 83.

Broglio’s daughter, Donna Broglio Cavallaro, confirmed her father’s death on social media. Another daughter, Nancy Broglio Salerno, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Broglio had been battling cancer and died Tuesday night.

Broglio tied for the major league lead in victories and finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting in 1960 with St. Louis. He pitched solidly for the Cardinals until being sent to the Chicago Cubs for Brock during the 1964 season. Brock broke out after the trade, hitting .348 with 33 stolen bases and helping St. Louis win that year’s World Series.

The right-handed Broglio struggled with injuries and went 7-19 over 2½ seasons with the Cubs. He didn’t pitch in the majors after 1966 and finished his career 77-74 with a 3.74 ERA.

Broglio played high school ball in California with Elijah “Pumpsie” Green, who was the first black player with the Boston Red Sox, baseball’s last team to integrate. Green died Wednesday.

NBA-NEWS

Kemba Walker joins Celtics

UNDATED — Kemba Walker will try to make the Boston Celtics’ rebuilding period a short one.

The former Charlotte Hornets guard was introduced at the Celtics’ practice facility in Boston on Wednesday. He replaces Kyrie (ky-REE’) Irving, who was acquired amid much excitement two years ago. Walker will wear No. 8, meaning fans with Antoine Walker jerseys from the late 1990s can bring them out at the Garden again.

Also Wednesday, the team made the signing of center Enes Kanter official. He will wear the No. 11 that was worn last year by Irving.

Elsewhere in the NBA:

_ The Detroit Pistons have claimed Christian Wood off waivers. The 6-foot-10 Wood appeared in 21 games last season for Milwaukee and New Orleans, averaging 8.2 points per game. He’s averaged 5.3 points in 51 career NBA games for Philadelphia, Charlotte, Milwaukee and New Orleans.

NFL-CARDINALS-HARRISON RELEASED

Cardinals cut OT Harrison after arrest warrant issued

UNDATED (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals released tackle Desmond Harrison on Wednesday after police in North Carolina issued a warrant for his arrest on assault charges. Police say the investigation has just begun and no additional details are available, including when the alleged assault occurred. It was reported on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Harrison was claimed last month by the Cardinals after he was cut by the Cleveland Browns.

When he attended Texas, he was suspended from the team several times. Harrison started eight games last season for the Browns before being benched. The Browns released him after he missed the first day of their minicamp in early June.

Elsewhere in the NFL:

_The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a four-year, $57 million contract extension with linebacker Deion Jones. The deal includes $34 million in guaranteed salary. Jones missed most of last season with a broken right foot. He is expected to be ready when the team opens training camp on Monday.

NHL-NEWS

A look around the NHL

UNDATED (AP) _ A police report says the death of former Nashville Predators captain Greg Johnson was an apparent suicide, according to the Detroit News. The paper says it obtained a Rochester Police report, and that Johnson was found by his wife shortly before 10 a.m. on July 7. A gun and a single bullet were found near him. No suicide note was left. The Oakland County Medical Examiner declined to discuss findings from an autopsy.

Johnson was with Nashville for the franchise’s first season in the league. He spent the last seven years of his career with the Predators. He also played for Detroit, Pittsburgh and Chicago during his 12 years in the NHL.

Johnson was 48.

Elsewhere in the NHL:

_ Forward J.T. Compher signs a four-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. The 24-year-old scored 16 goals last season. He also had four goals and two assists in the playoffs. Selected by Buffalo in the second round of the 2013 draft, Compher was acquired by Colorado in 2015. He has 60 points in 156 regular-season games and nine points in 18 playoff games.

_ The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed defenseman Joe Hicketts to a two-year contract. Hicketts played in 11 games with the Red Wings in 2018-19. He also had 27 points in 64 games with Grand Rapids of the AHL.

NCAA-SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS

Payments from $208 million NCAA settlement begin in August

UNDATED (AP) _ Next month, more than 50,000 former college athletes will begin collecting portions of a $208 million class-action settlement paid by the NCAA. It is part of a case that challenged the association’s caps on compensation.

Hagens Berman, the law firm representing the plaintiffs, says 53,748 Bowl Subdivision football players and Division I men’s and women’s basketball players who competed between 2010 to 2017 are eligible to receive compensation.

The law firm said payments will range from $5,000 to $7,500 for those who competed for four years and checks will start being distributed in late August. Distribution was held up by one objector to the settlement, who missed a July 17 deadline to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

COLLEGE CORRUPTION

Former Auburn assistant basketball coach avoids prison

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Auburn University assistant basketball coach Chuck Person has avoided prison in a bribery scandal that has touched some of the biggest schools in college basketball. Person was sentenced on Wednesday to serve community service during two years of supervised release.

Prosecutors say Person accepted $91,500 in bribes to steer top players to a government cooperator posing as a financial adviser. Sentencing guidelines called for two years in prison, though three other coaches who pleaded guilty to the same charge received leniency.

BRITISH OPEN

An emotional return to Irish soil for British Open

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — Rory McIlroy went out of bounds on his first shot of the British Open, then left his ball unplayable in thick brush near the green and ended up with a quadruple-bogey 8.

The 2014 champion holds the course record at Royal Portrush, shooting a 61 when he was 16 in the North of Ireland Amateur.

McIlroy went out of bounds left in an internal area of the course off the tee. After hitting his provisional left again into the rough, his approach cleared a bunker but landed in a patch of thick grass and he was forced to drop. He chipped onto the green but missed a 6-foot putt.

Heading into this year’s tournament, the first in Northern Ireland since Royal Portrush hosted the event in 1951, McIlroy was considered to be a strong contender for a second British Open title.

In other action:

_ Emiliano Grillo hit the first hole-in-one of this year’s British Open. The 26-year-old Argentine put his shot on the green and it pitched left, rolled down the bank and dropped in the hole on No. 13, putting him at even par.

_ Darren Clarke hit the opening tee for the first Open in his native Northern Ireland since 1951.

WORLD CUP-THE KOREAS MEET

South Korea faces potential WCup qualifier in North Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean men’s national soccer team’s path to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will include a crucial road match against North Korea, but it’s unclear whether a rare match between the Koreas in Pyongyang will materialize considering the political tension between the rivals.

With the Koreas, there’s never a separation between sports and politics. The North has previously refused to allow South Korean players to enter the country for World Cup qualifiers, forcing FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, to relocate its home games to China.

Drawn to the same Asian qualifying group on Wednesday, the Koreas are scheduled for a match in the North on Oct. 15 and in the South on June 4 next year.

Inter-Korean relations have cooled amid a deadlock in nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang.

In world and national news…

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump is going after four freshman Democratic lawmakers one by one after previously tweeting that they should “go back” to their home countries if they have complaints about the U.S., even though they are all American citizens.

At a rally Wednesday night in Greenville, North Carolina, Trump began by verbally attacking Rep. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota as the crowd chanted, “Send her back!” Omar came to the United States as a refugee from war-torn Somalia when she was a child.

Trump also mentioned Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. Of Tlaib, he complained that she is “not somebody who loves our country” because she had referred to impeaching him using an expletive.

The president’s rhetoric on Wednesday echoed similar language he employed to rile up his base in 2016.

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump has placed racial animus at the center of his reelection campaign, and even some of his critics believe it could deliver him a second term.

Every successful presidential campaign in the modern era has been built on the notion of addition, winning over voters beyond core supporters. Trump has chosen division on the belief that the polarized country he leads will simply choose sides over issues like race.

On Wednesday, he intensified his attacks, blasting four congresswomen of color during a North Carolina rally. The crowd responded by chanting, “Send her back!” echoing Trump’s weekend tweet in which he said the lawmakers — all American citizens — should “go back” to the country from which they came.

The president believes the strategy carries more benefits than risks.

TOKYO (AP) — The president of a popular Japanese animation production company that was gutted in a deadly fire has said his company has received anonymous death threats.

Hideaki Hatta, head of Kyoto Animation, told reporters the company had gotten threats by emails in the past but responded “sincerely” each time.

Japanese fire officials said at least 13 people have been confirmed dead and more than 10 others were presumed dead in Thursday’s suspected arson.

Hatta asked, “Why on earth did such violence have to be used?”

Japanese fire department officials said at least 13 people have been confirmed dead and more than 10 others were presumed dead in the suspected arson at the studio Thursday.

A man suspected of starting the fire Thursday was also injured and being treated in a hospital.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s state TV says Revolutionary Guard forces have seized a foreign tanker with 12 crew accused of smuggling oil.

The seizure comes as tensions mount between the United States and Iran over the unravelling nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

Thursday’s report says the tanker was smuggling fuel from Iranian smugglers to foreign customers and was intercepted south of Iran’s Larak Island in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The TV didn’t identify the tanker or say which country the crew were from.

An oil tanker based in the United Arab Emirates traveling through the Strait of Hormuz drifted off into Iranian waters and stopped transmitting its location over two days ago.

U.S. officials have expressed suspicion that the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Riah had been seized in Iranian territorial waters.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is slamming the Democrat-controlled House’s vote to hold Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt for failing to comply with subpoenas related to a decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham is calling the move “ridiculous and yet another lawless attempt to harass the President and his Administration.”

Grisham says the departments of Justice and Commerce have produced more than 31,000 pages of documents on the issue, and that senior officials from both agencies have spoken on record to address the matter.

The vote is largely symbolic because the Justice Department is unlikely to prosecute Barr and Ross.

Trump last week abandoned his effort to add a citizenship question into the 2020 census after the Supreme Court blocked the move.