– Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Apr 3

CSi Weather…

..WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED…FOR BARNES COUNTY…Conditions will continue to improve Friday morning.

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY...EXPIRED STUTSMAN COUNTY…

Snow will continue to diminish Friday morning. Therefore the winter

weather advisory was allowed to expire.

.REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.TONIGHT…Clear. Lows 5 to 10 above. West winds around 5 mph shifting to the south after midnight.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s. Southeast winds

5 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20. South winds 5 to

10 mph.

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

20 percent chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in the lower

40s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain in the evening,

then slight chance of rain, freezing rain and sleet after

midnight. Lows in the lower 30s. Chance of precipitation

30 percent.

.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 40s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain in the

evening, then chance of rain possibly mixed with snow after

midnight. Lows in the mid 30s. Chance of precipitation

30 percent.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain possibly

mixed with snow in the morning. Highs in the mid 50s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

Valley City (CSi) Grab and Go meals will still be available in Valley City today on a limited bases due to the snow storm.

Go to Valley City Junior High from 11:30-a.m. to 12:30-p.m., access through the east door, number 6.

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.

Burgum continues to express frustration that some residents aren’t taking social distancing seriously as as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state continues to rise. The state reported a total of 159 cases Thursday, which is up a dozen from the day prior. Burgum has so far has refrained from declaring a stay-at-home order, as governors in most states have done. Burgum applauded a move by Blue Cross Blue Shield that announced that it will waive out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 testing and treatment. Blues insures or administers claims for about 375,000 people, or roughly half of the state’s population.

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.

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.

Valley City (CSi) Valley City Public Schools and the Hi-Liners invite the community on Saturday, April 4, to a Drive-In Movie, at Eagle Creek parking lot, on Winter Show Road.

Two 16 foot LED Screens will show the movies.

At 2-p.m., the movie will be Malana, 5-p.m. Aladdin, and at 8-p.m., Spiderman Far From Home.

With approval from the City of Valley City and City-County Health of Barnes County, the free event for all the children and students in Valley City. Free Will Donations will be accepted from individuals and businesses to support the event and other possible future events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Only individuals from your household may be with you in the vehicle at the movie.

Very strict social distancing guidelines will be enforced, and NO ONE will be allowed to leave their vehicles during the showings. If anyone needs to leave their vehicle, including restroom breaks, vehicle you will be required to drive out of the parking lot.

Donation can be made by contacting sheila.kriewald@k12.nd.us or ashley.kellogg@k12.nd.us or call VCPS at 845-0483. Payments can be mailed to VCPS Central Office at 460 Central Ave North.

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 sports….

VIRUS…

UNDATED (AP) — British Open organizers say postponement is an option for this year’s tournament at Royal St. George’s.

The 149th edition of the Open Championship is scheduled to take place July 16-19. The last time the Open wasn’t played was in 1945 because of World War II.

The R&A released a short statement in response to media speculation about the staging of the event. Chief executive Martin Slumbers says the “process is taking some time to resolve” because of a range of external factors.

On Wednesday, Wimbledon was canceled for the first time since World War II. The All England Club announced Wednesday after an emergency meeting that the oldest Grand Slam tournament in tennis will not be held in 2020.

In other developments related to the pandemic:

— The Senior PGA Championship in Michigan has been canceled. The PGA of America says it based its decision on Michigan’s stay-at-home order that was enacted March 23. The Senior PGA in Benton Harbor, Michigan, was to be played May 21-24. It will be held next year at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It will return to Benton Harbor the following year.

— Former baseball All-Star Jim Edmonds says he tested positive for the new coronavirus and for pneumonia. Edmonds says in a video posted on Instagram that he is symptom free now and doing “really well.” He thanked people for their well wishes. The 49-year-old played 17 major league seasons from 1993-2010, mostly for the California and Los Angeles Angels and St. Louis Cardinals. He hit 393 home runs.

— The New England Patriots’ private team plane is returning to Boston from China carrying more than one million masks critical to health care providers fighting to control the spread of the coronavirus. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker secured the N95 masks but had no way of getting them to the U.S. Team owner Robert Kraft stepped in and offered the plane. The Boeing 767 painted in the team’s colors and logo is usually used to carry the team to and from NFL games.

— Alabama football coach Nick Saban doesn’t believe extending preseason camp for college teams around the country is necessarily the best way to get them ready for the season. Saban says that he’d prefer some “teaching sessions on the field” over the summer to prepare for camp, even if it is in shorts and T-shirts. The coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of spring sports, including football practices, across the nation.

— The Ivy League has decided not to allow its spring-sport athletes to have an additional year of eligibility despite having their seasons shortened by the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was consistent for the Ivy League, which hasn’t allowed athletes who received medical redshirts to play for a fifth year. The NCAA Division I Council voted Monday to give spring-sport athletes a way to get back the season they lost regardless of their year in school, but it did not guarantee financial aid to the current crop of seniors if they return to play next year.

— A survey of more than 100 athletic directors across the country finds deep concern for academics and athletic department finances amid the pandemic. Some 75 percent say they are concerned about a drop in donations and nearly as many are worried about ticket sales and money that comes from games and other fan events.

— McLaren’s Formula One drivers Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lando Norris have agreed to take pay cuts as part of protective cost-cutting during the coronavirus pandemic. The team is furloughing other employees. McLaren said that both drivers and senior management all agreed to voluntary pay decreases. No figure was given but McLaren said the percentage of the cut is the same figure for all employees who are not furloughed.

— The coronavirus pandemic has left rugby on its knees over the last two weeks and there is the prospect of more pain to come because of the uncertainty over whether leagues, tours and international competitions can resume or go ahead. USA Rugby has filed for bankruptcy and the Australians are facing a black hole of more than $70 million. English rugby leaders have drawn-up worst-case scenarios of an even bigger financial hit.

— The CEO of World TeamTennis says the league has sent $1,000 each to about 60 players and coaches as a “gift” to help them deal with the financial hardships presented by the coronavirus pandemic. The nine-team league was founded by Billie Jean King in the 1970s. League CEO Carlos Silva says the payments were not an advance of salary. Rather, they are a way to say thank you and to be used for rent or groceries or anything else the players might need. All professional tennis events have been postponed or canceled until early July because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

— World Sailing has canceled the World Cup Series Final in Enoshima, Japan, in June because of the coronavirus outbreak. The regatta was to give valuable competition for the Olympic classes just over a month before the start of the Tokyo Games. The Olympics have been postponed to 2021.

— A European plan is being formed to resume football around July and August, with domestic leagues told Thursday not to abandon competitions yet due to the coronavirus pandemic. The aspiration was outlined in a letter that has been seen by The Associated Press and was signed by UEFA (yoo-AY’-fah), the European Club Association and European Leagues body and was being sent to their members. Competitions, including UEFA’s Champions League and Europa League, were put on hold last month as the COVID-19 outbreak spread across Europe.

— The French Grand Prix scheduled for May 17 in Le Mans has been postponed, becoming the sixth MotoGP race to be called off because of the coronavirus outbreak. The motorcycling series has yet to start its season.

— The governor of Tokyo is talking about the possibility of using the under-construction Olympic Athletes Village as a temporary hospital for coronavirus patients. The massive village on Tokyo Bay will house 11,000 Olympic and 4,400 Paralympic athletes and staff. The complex will eventually grow to 24 buildings and is expected to remain empty with the Olympics delayed for 16 months.

NFL-NEWS

Henry accepts franchise tender

UNDATED (AP) — Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry has signed a franchise tender that puts him under contract for the 2020 season as the two sides work toward reaching a long-term deal with the 2019 NFL rushing leader.

The Titans gave him a franchise tag March 16, a move that means he will be paid $10.2 million in the 2020 season unless they sign him to a long-term deal by July 15.

Henry rushed for an NFL-leading 1,540 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry while earning his first Pro Bowl invitation last season.

In other NFL news:

— The Saints have agreed to bring back free agent cornerback P.J. Williams. Terms of the new contract haven’t been released. Williams has spent his whole career with the Saints, who selected him in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft out of Florida State. He has four interceptions in 47 career games.

— The Packers have signed wide receiver Devin Funchess as he tries to bounce back from an injury-shortened 2019 season. Funchess played for the Indianapolis Colts last year but went on injured reserve after breaking his collarbone in a season-opening 30-24 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Funchess had his best season in 2017 with 63 catches for 840 yards and eight touchdowns.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-NEWS

Ohio State’s Wesson intends to enter NBA draft

UNDATED (AP) — Ohio State star Kaleb Wesson has announced in a tweet that he would forego his final year of eligibility and declare for the NBA draft.

Analysts have projected him as a second-round pick. Wesson can sign with an agent for exploratory purposes and still protect his final year of eligibility. He has until June 3 to make a decision.

Wesson averaged 14 points and 9.3 rebounds in leading Ohio State to a 21-10 record and 11-9 in the Big Ten Conference.

In other college basketball news:

— DePaul men’s basketball coach Dave Leitao (LAY’-toh) has accepted a contract extension through the 2023-24 season after a year in which the Blue Demons opened 12-1 and finished 16-16. Leitao has a 122-132 record over eight seasons and two stints at DePaul. The NCAA suspended Leitao for the first three games and placed the program on probation for three years, saying he should have done more to prevent recruiting violations by his staff.

— Gonzaga and Michigan were the standouts in a study that seeded men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament brackets based on graduation rates, academic success and diversity in the head-coaching ranks. Gonzaga was a No. 1 seed in both brackets released Thursday by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida. Michigan was a 1-seed for the men and a 3-seed for the women. Arizona State was the only other school to appear in the top 16 of both brackets. The report focused primarily on each team’s Graduation Success Rate and Academic Progress Rate scores for seeding purposes.

— North Carolina athletics director Bubba Cunningham is joining the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee that selects the field for the 68-team NCAA Tournament. Cunningham is UNC’s first-ever appointee. He begins a five-year term in September and replaces Duke athletics director Kevin White, whose term ends Aug. 31.

COLLEGE HOCKEY-HOBEY BAKER FINALIST

Hobey Baker finalists announced

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — North Dakota forward Jordan Kawaguchi (kah-wah-GOO’-chee), Minnesota Duluth defenseman Scott Perunovich and Maine goalie Jeremy Swayman are the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the most outstanding player in college hockey.

Kawaguchi ranked second nationally with 45 points and Perunovich became the first defenseman to lead the NCHC in scoring. Swayman was 18-11-5 and the nation’s second-best save percentage at .939 despite facing the highest number of shots.

MLB-OBIT-FARMER

Ed Farmer, White Sox broadcaster, former pitcher, dies at 70

CHICAGO (AP) — White Sox broadcaster and former Chicago reliever Ed Farmer has died at 70.

Farmer was 30-43 with a 4.30 ERA and 75 saves while pitching for eight teams over 11 seasons. He was an All-Star for the White Sox in 1980, when he set a club record with 30 saves.

Farmer joined Chicago’s radio booth on a part-time basis in 1991 and became a full-time analyst in 1992 alongside play-by-play announcer John Rooney. He assumed play-by-play duties in 2006 and completed his 29th season in 2019.

The White Sox say he died Wednesday night in Los Angeles following complications from an illness.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is sending financial help to millions, but the timing of those payments may vary. The government expects to begin making payments to millions under the new stimulus law in mid-April, but some people without direct deposit information may not get checks until mid-August or later. A 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.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a record 113 straight months of hiring, the government’s monthly jobs report Friday is expected to show that the American jobs machine came to a sudden halt in March as a result of the coronavirus. Economists have forecast that the government will say employers shed about 150,000 jobs and that the unemployment rate rose from a half-century low of 3.5% to 3.9%, according to FactSet. But the jobs figure will vastly understate the magnitude of last month’s losses because the government surveyed employers before the heaviest layoffs struck in the past two weeks. Nearly 10 million Americans have since applied for unemployment benefits.

(AP) The Asian Development Bank forecasts that the coronavirus pandemic will cost the world economy as much as $4.1 trillion, or nearly 5% of all economic activity. The regional lender said Friday that growth in developing Asia would likely fall to 2.2% in 2020 from 5.2% last year. Finance officials in China have promised to ensure that entrepreneurs who are China’s economic engine get the loans they need to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. And in France, one of the largest auto insurers says costs are crashing as drivers stay home in coronavirus shutdowns. Accidents are down by as much as 80% as people keep their cars parked.

MADRID (AP) — Coronavirus deaths are mounting with alarming speed in Spain, Italy and New York, the most lethal hot spot in the United States. Also growing is the pandemic’s economic toll, with 10 million Americans thrown out of work in just two weeks in the swiftest, most stunning collapse the U.S. job market has witnessed. In New York City, which has seen 1,500 virus deaths, one funeral home had 185 bodies stacked up — more than triple normal capacity. French prime minister said he is “fighting hour by hour” to ward off shortages of essential drugs used to keep COVID-19 patients alive in intensive care.