CSi Weather:

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT FRIDAY…

INCLUDES STUTSMAN COUNTY.
…WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED…

* WHAT…Mixed precipitation. Additional snow accumulations of 1
to 3 inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

* WHERE…Portions of south central and southeast North Dakota.

* WHEN…Until 7 AM CDT Friday.

* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy blowing
snow could significantly reduce visibility.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

.WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL …1-P.M. FRIDAY… BARNES…

* WHAT…Snow, with total accumulations of 5 to 9 inches. Some
blowing and drifting snow, especially in open country.

* WHERE…Portions of northwest Minnesota and northeast and
southeast North Dakota.

* WHEN…Until 1 PM CDT Friday.

* IMPACTS…Travel will be very difficult. Many ditches are full
of ice cold water from the snowmelt. Sliding off the road into
one of these ditches could be disastrous.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.

The latest road conditions for North Dakota can be found at
dot.nd.gov/travel and for Minnesota at 511mn.org, or by calling
5 1 1 in either state.

Forecast…

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Light snow. Snow accumulation around 1  inches , in the Jamestown area, 2 inches in the Valley City area . Total snow accumulation 3 to 5 inches. Lows 15 to 20. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 80 percent.

.FRIDAY…Sunny, a 30 percent chance of light snow in

the morning, in the Valley City Area. Highs in the upper 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows 5 to 10 above. West winds 5 to

10 mph shifting to the southwest after midnight.

 

.SATURDAY…Sunny in the morning then partly sunny. Highs in the

mid 30s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of light

snow in the evening. Lows 15 to 20.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Slight chance of light rain and snow.

Highs in the mid 30s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. Chance of light snow. Lows 25 to 30.

.MONDAY…Cloudy. Chance of light rain and snow. Highs in the mid

40s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. Chance of light rain, possibly mixed with

snow. Lows in the mid 30s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain, possibly mixed

with snow. Highs 45 to 50.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of light rain and

snow. Lows in the mid 30s.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 30 to 35.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. Slight chance of light rain. Highs in

the mid 50s.

Bismarck  (NDDOT)  The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) along with the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) have issued a Travel Alert for central North Dakota due to snow, blowing snow, and icy conditions making driving hazardous. Cities included in the Travel Alert are Tower City, Valley City, and Jamestown.

A Travel Alert means conditions are such that motorists can still travel in these areas, but should be advised of rapidly changing conditions. Motorists are encouraged to reduce speeds and drive according to the conditions. Please be advised that road condition information on 511 and the travel map is updated daily from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. CDT. The road report is based upon the information available to the NDDOT at the time of preparation and is provided solely as a public service. Conditions may vary from those reported.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A powerful spring storm is generating winter-like weather conditions in the Dakotas and northwestern Minnesota with record snowfall and heavy winds. The Rapid City Regional Airport in South Dakota closed Thursday morning as crews working to clear a runway. The National Weather Service said more than 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow that fell in Rapid City Wednesday broke an old record for the date of 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) set in 1927. Pennington County Administrative Offices and the 7th Circuit Court in South Dakota were closed Thursday as the snow continued to fall. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather warning for the Dakotas and northwestern Minnesota through Friday.

Bismarck  (CSi) Governor Doug Burgum’s Thursday afternoon daily News Briefing contained more information on the coronavirus updates, with numbers tested, and positives, along with other related updates and announcements.

He was joined by Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and North Dakota Community Foundation (NDCF) President and CEO Kevin Dvorak.

 

POSITIVE TEST RESULTS | April 1 from 3 p.m. – Midnight

The report is now released once a day at 11-a.m.

The Friday report will be for a 24 hour period, and will show higher numbers.

  • Woman in her 60s from Cass County, close contact
  • Woman in her 40s from Cass County, close contact
  • Man in his 70s from Cass County, close contact
  • Man in his 70s from Cass County, close contact
  • Woman in her 80s from Cass County, close contact
  • Woman in her 60s from Cass County, possible travel
  • Woman in her 40s from Mountrail County, community spread
  • Woman in her 20s from Mountrail County, under investigation
  • Man in his 50s from Stark County, community spread
  • Woman in her 60s from Stark County, community spread
  • Woman in her 70s from Ward County, under investigation
  • Man in his 30s from Williams County, possible travel

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

BY THE NUMBERS

4980 – Total Tested (+353 individuals from yesterday)

4821 – Negative (+341 individuals from yesterday)

159 – Positive (+12 individuals from yesterday)

28 – Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

43 – Recovered (+4 individual from yesterday)

3 – Death (+0 individuals from yesterday)

ND Positive percentage rate is 3.2%, positives of all tests taken.  Data is about 10-days behind.

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.

He gave updates on positive cases in other geographical locations.

He thanked those following orders he put in place to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, saving lives.

He said outdoor social distancing in Bismarck is being observed, with no more than ten individuals a group.

The North Dakota Community Foundation is accepted donation to non-profit organizations.

(NDCF) President and CEO Kevin Dvorak, said ND.Response.Gov has more information.

Burgum said personal protective equipment donations can be dropped off at District NDDOT locations. (Including Valley City.)

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem talked about scams that are being reported.

He said there’s been an incredible increase in phone scam in the state, including false information about winning the Publishers Clearing House.  They ask the “winner,” to pay a fee, which can never be retrieved if sent by wire.  Another the scam is the Grandparents scam, when a so-called grandchild calls an asks for something, usually money.  Stenehjem says hang up.

Another scam involves the stimulus check coming from the federal government.  He stresses there is no fee involved in receiving the checks.   Another scam is false cures, masks purchases and medical equipment.

He said never click on those links, in spam E-Mail or give out any person information.

He said to give wisely, and make sure a donation to a charity is legitimate.

Burgum added that a new Executive Order allows local school boards to hold elections this year by mail in only, and eliminates the requirement to have one physical polling location.

The North Dakota Grocers Association asks customers to observe social distancing while shopping in stores, using sanitizing stations when available, and avoid social gatherings in stores, all to limit the spread, of COVID-19.  Some stores offer free delivery of groceries.

With unemployment claims, 2806 were filed Wednesday, bringing the total to 30,047 claims since March 16, 2020.

In other state news…

Dakota Department of Health this week to deliver medical supplies
to hospitals around the state.  NDDOT provided six drivers to haul 40 percent of the personal protective equipment
in the state medical cache to 49 hospitals across North Dakota. Some of the
equipment included gowns, gloves and masks.

North Dakota Medicaid will hold a third webinar on Friday, April 3, from 1 to 2 p.m. Central Time, to provide updated information and answer Medicaid-related questions concerning Medicaid services and COVID-19. North Dakota Medicaid providers, advocacy organizations and other stakeholders are invited to participate.

The webinar will be available through Skype video conference at https://bit.ly/39DEQPT. Attendees can join from any computer or mobile device. The webinar will be recorded and available for later viewing on the department’s website at www.nd.gov/dhs/info/covid-19/program-policy.html.

The meeting will begin with an update on a disaster Medicaid state plan amendment submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to temporarily amend the existing Medicaid state plan due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Department officials will also discuss online resources available for providers and members. Other webinar topics include updates on provider enrollment and Medicaid temporary eligibility policies.

Bismarck  (Sen. Cramer’s Office)   – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced Thursday that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $32,648,856 to the state of North Dakota for Coronavirus (COVID—19) response and relief efforts. Below is the listing of federal funding apportioned through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act:

  • Rural Area Apportionments (Sections 5311 and 5340) –  $17,996,449
  • Urbanized Area Apportionments (Section 5307) – $15,075,108
  • Fargo – $7,936,636
  • Bismarck – $3,766,362
  • Grand Forks – $3,372,110
  • Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Formula Apportionments (Section 5311(c)) – $986,307
  • Standing Rock Public Transportation – $426,059
  • Spirit Lake Tribe – $369,016
  • Turtle Mtn. Nutrition & Support Services & Trenton Indian Service Area Aging Program & Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian – $191,232

The FTA investment comes as part of a $25 billion nation-wide federal funding allocation to the transit industry following President Trump’s signing of the CARES Act, a bill crafted in the Senate which Senator Cramer helped pass. The total available amount for each program is based on funding appropriated under the Act. The CARES Act directs FTA to allocate funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus through the existing Urbanized Area Formula Grants Program, Rural Area Formula Grants Program, and the Tribal Transit Formula Grants Program.

For more information, please visit our COVID-19 webpage here.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Rescue Squad was called out about 9:30- a.m., Thursday to a location 10 miles south of Cleveland where a vehicle was in the water.  The caller said an individual was still inside the vehicle with water up to his chest.

The rescue squad was called back enroute.

Stutsman County Sheriff’s Deputy Casey Yunck said Medina Ambulance and Rescue arrived on the scene along with the Cleveland Fire Department.  First on the scene was a Medina first responder in a private vehicle.  The occupant of the car, a 78 year old Gackle man was taken out of the vehicle, and put in a Sheriff’s squad car, and brought to the I-94 exit where he was taken to JRMC and treated for exposure.

Yunck said the man drove off the roadway and into a ditch where the vehicle was angled with the front end downward into the water.  He said the water never got above the man’s chest.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota officials say they’re confident the state will have enough hospital beds and equipment to handle the coming flood of coronavirus cases. The one thing they’re worried about is having enough health care workers. Officials say the state should have 2,400 beds available by using existing facilities. They say the state could add 4,000 more beds by building temporary hospitals. The state Department of Health has stockpiled emergency supplies over the years. So there appears to be enough ventilators and protective gear for workers. However, doctors and nurses may need to come out of retirement if field hospitals are needed in Fargo and Bismarck.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Major construction projects are moving forward along both U.S. borders and raising fears that the influx of workers could spread the coronavirus. Along the northern border, a Canadian company says it will start work this month on a disputed oil pipeline that could bring thousands of workers to rural areas in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Along the southern border, workers travel every day from camps in New Mexico to build President Donald Trump’s border wall. Residents, tribal leaders and state officials worry that the work could make problems worse in rural areas with little or no medical infrastructure capable of handling an outbreak.

In world and national news…

NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus outbreak has triggered a stunning collapse in the U.S. workforce, with 10 million people losing their jobs in the past two weeks and economists warning unemployment could reach levels not seen since the Depression. The economic damage from the crisis is piling up around the world. And the competition for scarce ventilators, masks and other protective gear is becoming fierce.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — About half of all working Americans say they or a member of their household have lost some kind of income due to the coronavirus pandemic, with low-income Americans and those without college degrees especially likely to have lost a job. That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey found that 60% of Americans now say the national economy is “poor,” an alarmingly swift reversal from the 67% who called it “good” just two months ago. The spike in pessimism has followed a stock market collapse and the closures of businesses around the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government expects to begin making payments to millions of Americans under the new stimulus law in mid-April, but some people without direct deposit information may not get checks until mid-August or later. That’s according to a memo obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. The document from the House Ways and Means Committee says the IRS will make about 60 million payments to Americans through direct deposit in mid-April, likely the week of April 13. The IRS has direct deposit information for these individuals from their 2018 or 2019 tax returns. Paper checks will be issued, starting May 4, but could take up to 20 weeks.

 

(AP) Nursing homes across the country have been in lockdown for weeks under federal orders to protect their frail, elderly residents from coronavirus. But a wave of deadly outbreaks nearly every day since suggests the measures including a ban on visits and daily screenings of staffers either came too late or were not rigorous enough. Recent outbreaks in Tennessee, New Jersey, Ohio and Maryland have pushed nursing home deaths to at least 450 and highlight the biggest gap: Screenings of workers don’t involve testing but the taking of temperatures or asking health questions that still allow asymptomatic people to slip through.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is making it easier for gay men and other groups to give blood because of the coronavirus outbreak. That’s to help meet a shortage in the nation’s blood supply. The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it was cutting the abstinence period required for men who’ve had sex with men from one year to three months. The new policy also applies to people who have gotten tattoos and piercings. Canceled blood drives have decimated donations to the American Red Cross and other nonprofits that collect blood. Officials say the changes should permit thousands more Americans to give blood.

 

SEATTLE (AP) — Federal authorities have proposed a $611,000 fine for a Seattle-area nursing home connected to at least 40 coronavirus deaths. State regulators and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services conducted an inspection of the Life Care Center of Kirkland on March 16, finding serious infractions that they said placed residents in immediate danger. Authorities said Life Care had at least partially fixed the most serious problems by the time they conducted follow-up inspection last weekend. In a letter to Life Care on Wednesday, CMS proposed a fine of $611,000, but said that could be adjusted up or down based on how Life Care continues to correct remaining problems.