Wayne Byers Show -Morning – Apr 1

CSi Weather…

 

Snow will spread across most of North Dakota Wednesday night
through early Friday morning. Uncertainty remains where the
heavier snow will fall, but at this time it appears much of south central North Dakota and the James River Valley will have the best chance of at least 4 inches of snow during this period. Light freezing rain may also cause light ice accumulations across the
James River Valley on Thursday.

Impacts to travel may occur. Continue to check back for the latest
forecasts.

 

Forecast…

.TODAY…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of drizzle in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area. Highs in the mid 50s. Southeast winds around 15 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon.

.TONIGHT…Cloudy. Chance of drizzle and slight chance of snow in

the evening, then chance of snow after midnight. Lows in the

lower 20s. Northwest winds around 15 mph. Chance of snow

50 percent.

.THURSDAY…Snow. Patchy blowing and drifting snow. Colder. Snow

accumulation around 2 inches. Highs in the upper 20s. North winds

15 to 20 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. Snow likely in the evening, then chance

of snow after midnight. Light snow accumulations. Lows around 20.

Northwest winds around 15 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent in the Jamestown area, 80 percent in the Valley City area.

.FRIDAY…Cloudy with slight chance of snow in the morning, then

partly sunny in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 30s. Northwest

winds 10 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows 10 to 15.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with slight chance of snow

possibly mixed with rain in the evening, then partly cloudy with

slight chance of snow after midnight. Lows in the mid 20s. Chance

of precipitation 20 percent.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain in the

afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain

possibly mixed with snow. Lows in the lower 30s.

.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain and snow in the

morning, then slight chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs

around 50. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain.

Lows in the mid 30s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain. Highs

in the mid 50s.

 

Water level updates  for the …

<Sheyenne River Level Through Valley City

Lake Ashtabula Level

James River level through Jamestown.

Jamestown Dam

National Weather Service 

Water amounts in the snow pack

The Latest Flood Warnings from The National Weather Service

https://ndresponse.gov/flood-region

Fire Danger Map for North Dakota

Jamestown  (CSi)  Another  local  response COVID-19 briefing for Jamestown and Stutsman County was held Tuesday afternoon Mar 31, 2020.

Speakers included from:  Central Valley Health District, The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, Jamestown Regional Medical Center. The Jamestown Ministerial Association, the Jamestown Salvation Army, and The City of Jamestown.

Central Valley Health District Administrator  Robin Iszler said, even though at this time (on Tuesday) no one has been tested positive, yet, for COVID- 19, the coronavirus is likely in the Jamestown community, but has not yet been found.

She also related the governor’s travel quarantine executive order: “All individuals traveling back to North Dakota from international locations and states in the U.S. that have been classified as having widespread disease by the CDC. must quarantine immediately upon reentry to the state of North Dakota and for a period of 14 days.”

If anyone would like to make homemade masks, to contact CVHD, for a pattern, at 701-252-8130.  One agency in Jamestown had indicated the need for masks.

She said May to early June is the likely time frame the pandemic and emergency measures  will be needed and precautions should be taken.

JRMC CEO Mike Delfs said that 35 tests were performed at the hospital and none positive.

He said the hospital has six ventilators, with three dedicated to hospital surgeries if need.

He said supplies are in good shape, and monitored  daily.

Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, pharmacist Matt Perkins said, the lobby is open, with limited access, with prescriptions available at the drive through, curbside pick up, or mail.     Credit or Debit cards may also be used. They plan to stay open through the pandemic.

The Medicine Shoppe is NOT testing for COVID-19.

Jamestown Salvation Army Major Judy Lowder said, it still open with the regular services, with limited access to the lobby, and one person per family at a time, and no children.

Donations are welcome of cleaning supplies, and other items regularly kept in supply.

The Jamestown Salvation Army’s phone number is 701-252-0290.

On behalf of The City of Jamestown, Mayor Dwaine Heinrich thanked the organizers of these news briefings in getting the word out from organizations and unities, with important information.

He reminds residents to social distance, and discourages people from congregating in stores and leave children at home.  Also not to congregate in city parks.

He said information on the Forgivable loan program for small business is on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce web site.

On another topic, he said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has informed him that the expected combined releases from the Jamestown and Pipestem Dams this spring will be 750-cfs, well below a flood threat.  He said last fall the combined release was 1200 cfs that required sandbagging in some areas of the city.

Representing the Jamestown Ministerial Association, Pastor Eric Weber from St. John’s Lutheran Church said, virtual church services and radio and T.V. Services are substituting for in church services.  He said churches are in touch with their congregation through  E-Mails as well.  He says plans are developed for funeral services regarding social distancing.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67, followed by replays including CSi 10 The Replay Channel.

The next meeting is planned for Friday April 3, 2020 at 2:30-p.m.

Bismarck (CSi) Governor Doug Burgum held his Tuesday News Briefing in Bismarck with updates and news on the state’s coronavirus fight. He began with updates on the latest COVID-19 case numbers from the State Health Department, as of 3-p.m., Tuesday.

The North Dakota Department of Health Tuesday confirmed 17 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 126 confirmed cases as of 3-p.m., Tuesday. Twenty-one individuals have been hospitalized, 30 have recovered, and three people have died. A total of 4,257 tests have been completed.  He said not everybody that has COVID-19 has yet been found, with the data lagging with results.

He stressed the basics of washing hands, and social distancing,  and stay home if you are sick.

From NDDoH:

COVID-19 Positive Test Results for March 31, 2020 

P.M. POSITIVE TEST RESULTS | March 31 at 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• Man in his 40s from McKenzie County, under investigation
• Man in his 50s from Burleigh County, under investigation
• Woman in her 20s from Stark County, close contact
• Man in his 30s from Williams County, under investigation
• Male age 10-19 from Grand Forks County, community spread

Categories: Travel, Possible Travel, Community Spread, Close Contact, Under Investigation

BY THE NUMBERS

4257 – Total Tested (+348 individuals from yesterday)

4131 – Negative (+331 individuals from yesterday)

126 – Positive (+17 individuals from yesterday)

21 – Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

30 – Recovered (+10 individual from yesterday)

3 – Death (+0 individuals from yesterday)

For the most updated and timely information and updates related to COVID-19, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus, follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

 

Burgum was on a conference call Tuesday with critical care hospital officials which included accommodating additional bed space at various new locations, if it becomes necessary.

The call included The National Guard and FEMA, in the planning.

With the Workforce Coordination Center he said volunteers are needed in a range of services with those with previous experience, some paid positions.  He said the National Guard is also seeking recruits.

With hand sanitizer, Burgum said some North Dakota vendors are making sanitizer to be distributed to health care facilities, and then the public.

The public schools, Burgum said on April 1, public school were required to have their virtual classrooms on line, and 98 percent of the state’s students will be on line, with approved programs. Other schools will need to still be approved.

School will still be closed until further notice.

With working at home, he said, internet capacity is being met and there is not a danger of the internet crashing with the additional use.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum Tuesday announced the activation of North Dakota’s Workforce Coordination Center (WCC) to serve emergency workforce needs in support of health care providers, industries and agencies affected by COVID-19.

The WCC, which was set up through collaboration between several state agencies, is seeking individuals willing to help with the COVID-19 situation who have experience in the following sectors:

• Health care and public health
• Law enforcement, public safety and first responders
• Emergency shelters, congregate living facilities, drop-in centers
• Child care
• Food and agriculture
• News media
• Energy
• Water and wastewater
• Critical manufacturing.

Those who are out of work, retired or just want to help are asked to consider volunteering during this emergency situation. The WCC is seeking both volunteers and paid staff. Applicants will be matched with a business or agency that needs their help.

The WCC also will facilitate businesses’ need for workers for COVID-19-releated services. North Dakota businesses that have a workforce need related to the COVID-19 situation are encouraged to contact the WCC. The WCC will work to connect businesses with the volunteers and workforce they need to fit their needs for these critical skill sets.

To get started, contact the Job Service North Dakota Workforce Center at (701) 328-0400, or go to www.jobsnd.com/covid-19.

Jamestown  (JPS)  Following is a brief update on plans for JPS and progress made towards a formalized virtual learning plan, From Superintendent, Dr. Robert Lech.

“As you know, Governor Doug Burgum declared that all schools were closed through March 31 and directed all schools to create a virtual learning plan by April 1st.  The purpose of this plan was to allow the option to educate our students remotely instead of making up each day missed, beyond 3/31.

This plan had to address a number of issues including ensuring equitable services and the district’s plan to provide a high-quality, effective, and standards-based education through distance/virtual learning.   It can be viewed through this attachment and can also via our school district’s alert center.  Over the past week with our virtual learning pilot, we have already learned so much about what works and what does not.  Thank you for your patience as we continue to improve our instruction in this environment.

I am happy to announce that the Jamestown School District was one of the first Virtual Learning Plans approved by the Governor’s Office.  The process was a three-step approval (Department of Public Instruction review team, Superintendent Baesler, and Governor Burgum).  Credit truly goes to all staff that has worked so diligently to get an excellent plan in place to educate our students virtually.

With the approval of this plan, and Governor Burgum’s executive orders, the district will plan to provide virtual learning for the foreseeable future.  If guidance from the Governor’s Office changes, the district may consider other alternatives, but, for now, the Jamestown School District will be continuing the virtual learning plan.  If circumstances change, we will provide additional communications to families as soon as possible.

Lastly, please note that with the transition of schools to an online platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this also means that school common areas, such as the MS green space, and school playgrounds are closed to the public.  We look forward to a time, hopefully in the near future, when we are able to see children enjoying that equipment and organizing time to congregate together.  Until then, however, we ask that all consider those places closed to the public.”

Valley City  (VCSU) Officials at Valley City State University have postponed its spring 2020 commencement ceremony, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 16.

Citing public health and safety concerns, President Alan LaFave made the announcement in an email to the campus community March 31.

“Like so many of the other decisions we’ve needed to make recently, this one doesn’t come easy,” said President LaFave. “Celebrating the educational achievements of our undergraduate and graduate students and awarding them their diplomas is one of the most significant university events, befitting the traditional pomp and circumstance that accompanies the ceremony. But this year’s unique circumstances dictate that we delay that celebration.”

Although LaFave indicated that VCSU hopes to have an in-person ceremony at a later date, no specific date has been set for the event. Alternate plans for recognizing graduates at the end of spring semester are in the development stages.

Valley City  (CSi)  The door to the Barnes County Senior Center is now locked.  Call ahead to make an appointment to enter the building.

Those picking up meals should drive into the loading zone in front of the building and staff members then bring your meals out to vehicles.

Also, the Senior Center will pick up groceries and prescription medications and deliver them to homes. Call 845-4300 for more details.

Also individuals  need to call in their order and pay first before delivery. When picking up prescriptions they will ask you for your date of birth, which can be given to the Senior Center dispatcher when you call in the  order.

Jamestown  (JPD)  The Jamestown Police Department has identified the victim of the vehicle/pedestrian fatality accident on March 29, 2020, as 16-year-old Ava Donegan of Jamestown, ND. The crash still remains under investigation.

Her full Obituary is now posted at CSiNewsNow.com

….Ava Donegan, 16, of Jamestown, ND, passed away Sunday night, March 29, 2020, at her home.Visitation: 9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2020 at Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown, ND.

Graveside Service: 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 3, 2020 at Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The City of Jamestown informs residents that the city Baler and Recycle ND will be closed on Friday and Saturday April 10,11, the Good Friday Holiday.

Valley City  (Chamber)  Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce, Executive, Kay Vinje says  a survey from the ND Department of Commerce to help them better understand how the Coronavirus is impacting your business and others across North Dakota is available.   She asks business to please take a few minutes to complete the survey.  Scroll down and select the 2^nd link which will take you directly to the survey.

Also, you may register for Business Briefing call that is held each  Thursday at 11:00 am.  As you register, please submit questions you’d like addressed during the call.  Here’s the link to register for this call, and all following Business Briefing calls:

https://ndresponse.gov/covid-19-resources/covid-19-business-and-employer-resources

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Parks and Recreation and On TRAC Learning Center participate in the Childcare Emergency Operations Grant Program through  the North Dakota Department of Human Services. As a multi-licensed child care center, On TRAC Learning Center, looks to meet the child care needs of essential service workers in the community.

The CEOG Program will allow On TRAC Learning Center to care for additional children 3 years old-5th grade with priority given to families working in essential services such as health care, safety and lifeline jobs.

Local officials say, the health and safety of children in On Trac’s care and the staff will continue to be a priority throughout this pandemic. On TRAC Learning Center will be following the Modified Operating Practices as required by the North Dakota Department of Human Services.

Contact Tammy Mewes, On TRAC Learning Center director, at tammy@jamestownparksandrec.com or 952-8723 for more information and/or to enroll your child in this program. The number of children who can be enrolled is limited.

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Essentia Health has placed 500 employees on unpaid leave as it deals with the financial impact of canceled surgeries and appointments because of the coronavirus pandemic. The move affects about 3% of the health care provider’s workforce and involves non-medical staff. The Duluth, Minnesota-based health care provider says it’s projecting a 20% to 40% decrease in revenue due to fewer patients because of COVID-19. In a news release, Essentia said staffing levels will be evaluated continually. Some states have mandated an end to elective surgeries and nonessential appointments in order to deal with COVID-19 cases.

MANDAN, N.D. (Bismarck Tribune) — A Mandan man is facing criminal charges after police say he crashed his vehicle while heavily intoxicated with his young son inside. Thirty-six-year-old Tarrell Littlebear is charged with felony child neglect. Police say he was found standing outside the vehicle last Saturday after it got stuck in a ditch in Mandan. Authorities had received a call from the mother of the 1-year-old child that Littlebear was driving drunk with their son and had crashed the car but wouldn’t say where he was. The Bismarck Tribune reports the father had a blood alcohol content of 0.27, more than three times the legal limit to drive. Court documents do not list an attorney for him.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A survey of supply managers in a nine-state region of the Midwest and Plains is showing more signs of the coronavirus pandemic’s disruptive economic impact. A report released Monday says the Mid-American Business Conditions index sank in March to 46.7 — its lowest reading since September 2016. The survey’s confidence index plunged to a record low of 14.5. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Authorities have put down a wild mountain lion in West Fargo. Police responded around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday after the mountain lion was sighted. Officers arrived and found the mountain lion in a tree line near Rendezvous Park next to Aurora Elementary School. North Dakota Game and Fish also arrived. Authorities say they decided the animal needed to be put down because it was within feet of occupied buildings and not showing normal behavior, and that the mountain lion could not be relocated. North Dakota Game and Fish supported the police department’s decision. No people were hurt.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (Bismarck Tribune) — The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation Board is endorsing some U.S. Forest Service land near Medora as the site for the Roosevelt library. The 60-acre site is west of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation’s Burning Hills Amphitheatre. The Bismarck Tribune says the board evaluated 11 sites in and around Medora and considered criteria such as land acquisition, regulatory compliance and infrastructure. Library CEO Ed O’Keefe on Monday stressed the library’s site selection is far from final because the land has to be acquired from the U.S. Forest Service.

 

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A Canadian company says it plans to start construction of the disputed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline running from Canada through the U.S. Midwest in April. Calgary-based TC Energy says the provincial Alberta government will invest over $1 billion to cover construction costs through 2020. The company plans to begin at Montana’s border with Canada. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says the province’s resource-dependent economy could not afford for Keystone XL to be delayed any longer. But Montana Gov. Steve Bullock says he’s worried about an influx of an estimated 100 workers during the coronavirus pandemic. The project is bitterly opposed by environmentalists and some American Indian tribes.

In sports…

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The North Dakota High School Activities Board of Directors met on Tuesday, March 31 via conference call for a regularly scheduled meeting.

Highlights of the March 31 NDHSAA Board of Directors Meeting included:

• The Board of Directors voted to extend the active suspension of Spring Sports indefinitely in accordance with Governor Burgum’s Executive Order 2020-10 requiring the closure of all public and non-public K-12 school facilities until further notice. The Board’s Tournament Committee will meet to review currently suspended Winter Basketball State Tournaments and Fine Arts contests and will report back to the Board on April 14, 2020.
• The Tournament Committee approved sites for the 2021 Winter Regional Tournament Sites and future Fine Arts State Sites. List of approved NDHSAA Tournament Sites for the 2020-21 season found here: https://ndhsaa.com/calendar/tournament-sites/current. Be sure to click the “2020-21 Tab” at the Bottom of the Current NDHSAA Tournament Sites Page.
• The Football Committee reported to the Board. The Guidelines and Preliminary Division Assignments for the 2021 NDHSAA Football season were approved. Teams will have until September 18, 2020 to option up or down a division.APPROVED FOOTBALL GUIDELINES (STARTING FOR 2021 SEASON)
  PRELIMINARY FOOTBALL DIVISION ASSIGNMENTS (STARTING 2021)
• The Board officially welcomed two new Member Schools – West Fargo Horace High School and Kensal High School – for the 2020-21 school year.
• Board Member Mark Rerick presented an esports update to the Board. Esports has operated in North Dakota at the club level this school year. The Board formed an ad hoc committee to develop a recommendation to the full Board of Directors at a future meeting.
• The Board received a formal request from Hettinger Superintendent Ryan Moser requesting the Board to consider the addition of girls wrestling as a separate division in accordance with the current Board Regulation of Sponsoring a new activity. The Board approved a motion to review girls wrestling as a NDHSAA-sponsored sport for the 2021-22 school year in March 2021.
• The Board accepted the resignation of Fessenden-Bowdon Principal Warren Strand effective at the end of the academic year. Strand is in his third year of a four-year term on the NDHSAA Board of Directors representing the North Dakota Association of Secondary School Principals. The Board appointed previous NDASSP representative Dr. Todd Bertsch, principal at Fargo South to serve the remainder of Strand’s term on the Board.
• With the suspensions of remaining 2020 Winter State Basketball Tournaments being extended, refunds for the 2020 NDHSAA Class B Boys Basketball State Tournament are being accepted through Bismarck Event Center and its online ticket distributor Etix.

2020 Class B Boys Basketball State Tournament Refund Policy:
The 2020 Class B Boys Basketball Tournament remains suspended indefinitely.  Ticket holders may obtain a refund if desired via Etix’s Phone Center (1-800-514-3849) or at the Box Office.  If requested, we anticipate that credit card refunds should be made in the next 30 days. Tickets purchased with cash at the Box Office will need to be returned to the Box Office for a refund. At this time, the Box Office is not open for business due to the COVID-19 Pandemic so cash refunds will be made after it reopens.

(Field Level Media)  The NBA has plans for a players-only NBA 2K video game tournament to be shown on ESPN, CSi Cable 14, Yahoo Sports reported Monday evening.

COVID- 19 Virus affecting sports…

UNDATED (AP) — NFL team owners have voted to expand the playoffs by one team in each conference for next season.

During a conference call to discuss league business after the annual meetings were canceled because of the new coronavirus pandemic, the owners also awarded one of those extra games to CBS and one to NBC.

Only the teams with the best record in the AFC and NFC will get a bye under the new format; the top two teams skipped wild-card weekend in the past.

UNDATED (AP) — The NHL is extending its self-quarantine recommendation for players and staff to April 15.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the extension in an email to The Associated Press. The league had previously sent out a memo recommending self-quarantining until April 4.

So far, four NHL players have tested positive for COVID-19. The league and teams are hoping to get players together to skate in small groups once the isolation period is over. State, provincial and local lockdown regulations across the U.S. and Canada could push back the opening of team facilities.

In other sports-virus outbreak news:

— San Jose Sharks President Jonathan Becher says the team made the best decision with the information at the time when it played three home games following a recommendation by the county against large gatherings in early March. Becher says the team is continuing to pay full and part-time employees and anticipates a financial hit from the suspension of the season. He also says the team has delayed the Tuesday deadline for season-ticket holders to renew their packages.

— Former Oakland Athletics infielder and current minor league manager Webster Garrison is hospitalized in Louisiana and on a ventilator with the coronavirus. His fiancee posted an update on social media that the 54-year-old Garrison still required a ventilator to fight COVID-19 but hadn’t declined in his battle. Garrison managed the Class A Stockton Ports last season and was expected to manage in the Arizona Fall League this year.

—Goran Dragic of the Miami Heat says he is prepared to forgo his annual offseason move back to his native Slovenia if that is what the NBA schedule necessitates. Dragic, his wife and their two children are in Miami and have no plans to leave for Slovenia amid the global coronavirus pandemic. His parents recently left Miami to return home.

—FIFA is looking to use its vast financial reserves to provide assistance to a soccer industry ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic wiping out games and creating unexpected economic hardship in the world’s biggest sport. Having amassed reserves it last reported to have swelled to $2.745 billion, FIFA has the resources to now provide much-needed financial help to the game at many levels.

— Hungarian Olympic swimmer Boglarka Kapas says she has tested positive for COVID-19. The 26-year-old Kapas writes in an Instagram post that she had to submit to testing in order to return to training. She is staying in quarantine at home for two weeks.

— Two-time mixed doubles champion Jamie Murray says he believes Wimbledon will be canceled. The All England Club board will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the fate of the 2020 tournament.

—The Santa Anita Derby is off, for now. The West Coast’s major prep for the Kentucky Derby was to be run this weekend. However, it will be postponed until later in the season while Santa Anita remains closed for live racing during the coronavirus pandemic on orders of the Los Angeles County Health Department.

— NASCAR star Joey Logano has established a $1 Million COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.The fund is from the Joey Logano Foundation in partnership with Elevation Church. The money will be used to address a variety of needs, including educational equity and access, medical supplies, food distribution, and financial shortages throughout the greater Charlotte, North Carolina area and communities across the United States.

NFL news:

—The Chicago Bears have finalized a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for 2018 Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. The Bears are banking on the quarterback to bounce back from an injury-riddled season with Jacksonville. The Jaguars parted with the 31-year-old Foles just over a year after signing him to a four-year contract. He broke his left collarbone in the season opener, missed the next eight games and got benched in his third game back. Foles helped Philadelphia win a Super Bowl.

—Disgruntled Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (yah-NEEK’ en-GAH’-kway) is making another public plea to be traded. This one comes on his 25th birthday. Ngakoue says in a Twitter post: “it’s obvious my time is up in my current situation. Let’s both move on.” The Jaguars placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Ngakoue, which guarantees him nearly $18 million in 2020.

— The Seattle Seahawks cleared a chunk of salary cap space by waiving safety Tedric Thompson and releasing veteran tight end Ed Dickson. Both moves were expected after each player seemed to fall out of favor with the Seahawks. The moves will clear more than $5 million worth of cap space for Seattle.

— The Cincinnati Bengals have released starting cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. It’s another move to overhaul the Bengals’ secondary after a 2-14 season. Kirkpatrick was a first-round pick in 2012 and started 67 games in eight seasons. He missed 10 games last season with a knee injury.

— The Chicago Bears have re-signed safety DeAndre Houston-Carson to a one-year contract. Houston-Carson has played primarily on special teams since the Bears drafted him out of William & Mary in the sixth round in 2016.

— A person familiar with the decision tells the AP the Cleveland Browns intend to sign free agent defensive end Adrian Clayborn to a two-year contract. Clayborn has agreed to a deal worth $6 million. He must pass a physical for the contract to be finalized. The 31-year-old had four sacks in 15 games last season with the Atlanta Falcons. He won a Super Bowl title with New England in 2018.

MLB ADVANCE SALARIES

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole, Mike Trout and other veteran major leaguers will receive $4,775 per day in advance pay for the first 60 days of the season during the stoppage caused by the coronavirus, a total of $286,500.

That’s just 2.5% percent of the $193,548 the New York Yankees pitcher and Los Angeles Angels outfielder were scheduled to earn each day from their $36 million salaries, tied for the major league high.

The daily total was obtained by The Associated Press after it was confirmed by MLB and the players’ association following their agreement on how to proceed during the stoppage.

In other MLB news:

—Prominent orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews has temporarily halted Tommy John operations at his Florida medical center in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Some have questioned whether a reconstructive elbow surgery for a ballplayer is an essential procedure at this time. Stars Chris Sale, Noah Syndergaard and Luis Severino are among the pitchers who have had Tommy John surgery since spring training started, performed by different doctors.

TOKYO-FLAME

Olympic flame to stay a month in Fukushima; next stop unsure

TOKYO (AP) — The Olympic flame will be on display until the end of April in Japan’s northeastern prefecture of Fukushima.

Tokyo Olympic and prefecture officials held an official “handover ceremony” today at the J-Village National Training Center in Fukushima.

The public will have limited access to view the flame, and organizers hope to limit the crowd size because of restrictions in place for the coronavirus.

Olympic officials have postponed the Tokyo Games until next year with the opening now set for July 23, 2021.

Officials have not said where the flame will go at the end of the month.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is urging Americans to heed his administration’s guidelines for responding to the coronavirus pandemic, calling it “a matter of life and death.” The president’s warning on Tuesday came with new projections that there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. even if social distancing guidelines are maintained. Public health officials stressed that the number could be less if people bear down on keeping their distance from one another. The coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, Dr. Deborah Birx, says officials believe the nation can do much better than the grim forecast if everyone takes seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease.

 

ROME (AP) — Facing intense surges in the need for hospital ICU beds, European nations are on a hospital-building and medical worker-hiring spree. They are throwing together makeshift hospitals and shipping coronavirus patients out of overwhelmed cities via high-speed trains and military jets. The key question is whether they will be able to get enough healthy medical staff to make it all work. The virus has slowed its growth in overwhelmed Italy, but the U.S. and Britain are bracing for waves of desperately ill people. Russia, meanwhile, sent medical aid to the U.S. as sick patients overwhelmed New York hospitals. Authorities say up to 240,000 Americans could die in the pandemic even if social distancing guidelines are followed.

 

The Scottish government has dropped controversial plans to temporarily bring an end to trial by jury during the coronavirus lockdown. Constitution Secretary Mike Russell told Scottish lawmakers that the government was withdrawing the proposals from emergency legislation, and that discussions with interested parties about alternatives will now take place. Russell said new proposals over the justice system will be brought forward this month. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had previously said that bringing a temporary end to jury trials was necessary so serious criminal trials did not halt entirely.

 

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — How should the U.N. General Assembly and its 193 member states respond to the coronavirus pandemic? Members have been sent two rival resolutions for consideration. And under new voting rules instituted because the global body isn’t holding meetings, if a single country objects a resolution is defeated. One resolution, which has more than 135 co-sponsors, supports the World Health Organization and calls for “intensified international cooperation” to defeat the pandemic. The other, sponsored by Russia with support from four countries, also recognizes WHO’s leading role, but it says unilateral sanctions must not be applied without U.N. Security Council approval

 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California nursing home has been hit hard by the coronavirus, with more than 50 residents infected — a troubling development amid cautious optimism that cases in the state may peak more slowly than expected. San Bernardino County authorities say 51 residents and six staff members of a Yucaipa nursing home had the COVID-19 virus, and two residents have died. Tuesday’s announcement came as California Gov. Gavin Newsom said extraordinary efforts to keep people home have bought the time needed to prepare for an expected peak surge of cases, now likely to occur in May. On Tuesday, California had at least 8,200 cases and 173 deaths.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The bipartisan partnership that propelled a $2.2 trillion economic rescue package through Congress just days ago is already showing signs of strain. And that is raising questions about how quickly calls for massive followup legislation may bear fruit. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is collecting ideas for Congress’ next stab at stabilizing an economy knocked into free fall by the coronavirus outbreak. But top congressional Republicans say that first, it’s time to pause and see how the $2.2 trillion measure is working. Republicans will have their own ideas about what the next bill should look like.

 

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An earthquake struck north of Boise on Tuesday evening, with people across a large area reporting shaking. The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude 6.5 temblor struck just before 6 p.m. It was centered 73 miles northeast of Meridian. A restaurant owner in Stanley near where the quake hit said his whole house was rattling from the force of it. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.