– Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Apr 10

Valley City (VCPD) Valley City Police Chief Phil Hatcher informs residents, that Police has noticed an increase in property thefts and crimes of opportunity. Officers have been out 24/7, and police is asking for the public’s help.

He says in some instances, simply locking a door or window may have prevented the theft.

He says, please do a security check of your property. Ensure that all windows are closed and locked. Lock all the doors that enter your home. Check your shed, outbuildings, or unattached garages to ensure they are locked at all times. Lock your vehicles. He says, now may be a great time to look at a security camera system.

He adds, to be extra vigilant during this time of extremes. The “opportunists,” are looking to steal your stuff. Watch out for your neighbors and neighborhood, too. Now is the time for us to ensure our community is safe and continues to be great place to live. Our motto at VCPD is, “Our family, protecting yours.”

To report any suspicious activity, please call, 845-3110, the dispatch center, at 845-8181, or in cases of an emergency, call 9-1-1.

In his news release, Chief Hatcher adds, “If you see something, say something.” Together, we can accomplish so much.

Bismark (NDAC) North Dakota Aeronautics Commission Executive Director, Kyle Wanner says, North Dakota’s eight commercial service airports are currently experiencing a dramatic decline in passenger numbers despite posting a 12% year to date growth through the first two months of the year. The airports recently posted the highest passenger numbers on record for the month of February and the overall trend was pointing towards the potential of a record-breaking year in statewide passenger boardings.

Passenger numbers then noticeably began to drop by the middle of March as a reduction of travel due to the COVID-19 virus began to have an unprecedented and significant impact on airports throughout North Dakota and the rest of the country. Instead of the expected passenger growth to continue; commercial service passenger boardings throughout North Dakota during the month of March dropped 43% or 46,042 passengers from March of 2019.

Commercial airline passenger boardings throughout North Dakota and the rest of the country are currently estimated to be at 5% of their normal passenger boarding numbers. Airports receive most of their operational revenue through passenger facility charges from purchased airline tickets, paid parking, and customer facility charges from car rentals and other on-site concessionaires. The dramatic drop in passengers has in turn, created financial concerns for both airports and airlines that depend on passengers for revenue. The CARES stimulus package that was recently signed into law is expected to provide short term relief for airports and the aviation industry and will help our community leaders continue to work through this crisis.

Airlines have reacted to this lower demand by temporarily grounding aircraft and reducing the amounts of flights at airports throughout the country. North Dakota’s airports have also been experiencing reductions in flights and in the month of April, the state has experienced an estimated 42% loss in overall passenger seats available. These losses are expected to be temporary as the current demand for air travel has been significantly lowered due to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. In the near future, the airlines are expected to maintain a minimal service level to communities throughout the country due to the aid that they will receive from the CARES stimulus package.

All of North Dakota’s commercial and general aviation airports continue to remain operational at this time and the freight of products via air transportation are ongoing without disruption. Our incredible airport staff throughout the state continue to maintain and operate safe facilities for those people who currently need to utilize the safest air transportation system in the world. Airport staff and TSA personnel at our commercial service airports are also being pro-active to sanitize surfaces throughout their airport multiple times a day in efforts to maintain clean facilities and help to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

Wanner says, “Although these are currently difficult times, our airports are helping to ensure the safe transportation of critical materials and personnel who need to travel. They are also working hard to be in a position to help our economy rebound, once the COVID-19 virus concerns have subsided,” Due to the strength that we previously had in North Dakota’s aviation industry and the fact that North Dakota’s airports have tackled so many other significant issues over the years; I am confident that together, we can work through these new issues and hopefully help our communities come out of this situation even stronger than before.”

March Boardings at Jamestown Regional Airport were 590 compared to 958 in March of 2019, down almost 35 percent.

Through March 2020 Jamestown boardings were 2414 compared to 2644 through March of 2019, and downturn of almost 9-percent.

Jamestown (CSi) A COVID-19 Joint Briefing meeting will be held on Friday April 10, 2020, at 2:30-p.m., with representatives giving their presentations from Central Valley Health District, Jamestown Regional Medical Center, City of Jamestown, Jamestown Ministerial Association.

The meeting will be shown live on CSi 67 followed by replays.

Bismarck (CSi) During Thursday’s Daily News Briefing at the state capital in Bismarck, Governor Doug Burgum, introduced First Lady Kathryn Burgum, and provided an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota and discussed behavioral health resources.

From NDDoH

Thursday, April 9, 2020 – 10:58am

Categories: Coronavirus

POSITIVE TEST RESULTS

Woman in her 20s from Burleigh County, community spread
Woman in her 60s from Burleigh County, possible travel
Woman in her 40s from Burleigh County, under investigation
Woman in her 60s from Burleigh County, under investigation
Man in his 40s from Cass County, community spread
Woman in her 20s from Cass County, close contact
Woman in her 80s from Cass County, close contact
Man in his 30s from Cass County, community spread
Woman in her 30s from Cass County, close contact
Man in his 40s from Cass County, under investigation
Man in his 50s from McKenzie County, community spread
Woman in her 30s from Morton County, under investigation
Woman in her 60s from Richland County, close contact
Man in his 60s from Stark County, travel
Man in his 30s from Ward County, close contact
Woman in her 30s from Ward County, under investigation
Male age 0-9 from Ward County, community spread
Man in his 20s from Williams County, under investigation

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

Man in his 60s from Stark County with underlying health conditions who acquired COVID-19 through community spread

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

BY THE NUMBERS

8990 – Total Tested (+438 individuals from yesterday)

8721 – Negative (+420 individuals from yesterday)

269 – Positive (+18 individuals from yesterday)

34 – Hospitalized (+0 individuals from yesterday)

14 – Currently Hospitalized (-2 individuals from yesterday)

101 – Recovered (+3 individual from yesterday)

5 – Death (+1 individuals from yesterday)

Governor Burgum at his Thursday afternoon news briefing said another person had died from COVID-19, bringing the total deaths to six. He said the updated information will be released on Friday, after family has been notified.

First Lady Kathryn Burgum said, during this time, people can feel along, and suggests to reach out and connect with other, though social media. Behavioral Health support is available on line, and features support meetings, and a recovery talk section.

Governor Burgum urges training in the use of Narcan, in the event that someone has an opioid drug overdose, and the Behavioral Health web site had more information, in obtaining a Narcan kit, and related information.

With the 2020 census, Burgum said Harwood, ND ranks 7^th nationwide in returning census forms. Burleigh County, ND is the top ranked area in state so far in returning forms, 61^st in the nation.

With unemployment 1562 jobless claims were filed, Wednesday, 43,924 since March 16 this year. Jobsnd.com is the web site.

He pointed out that the Care19 app through the Apple Store is adding more people, and the android version should come on line this weekend.

Burgum asks those at grocery stores to self distance, limit one member per family per trip,

Avoid social gatherings in stores. The North Dakota Grocers Association has a policy in place where grocery store employees are to wear face masks.

Valley City (CSi) Barnes County has announced road closures due to changing road conditions.

On Thursday officials announced that due to a failing culvert, Barnes County Road 37 is closed approximately a quarter mile south of the intersection of Barnes County Road 38 near Lucca,North Dakota.

No detour is provided. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes and to exercise caution while traveling on rural roadways as conditions are changing rapidly.

Barnes County 38 is closed about one mile east of ND Highway 1 to four miles west of the City of Kathryn No detour will be provided. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes.

Jamestown (CSi) The Ballot Rotation Drawing for the upcoming June 9, 2020 Primary Election in Stutsman County was held on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 10:00 AM in the Commission Conference Room of the Stutsman County Courthouse.

The video with the name drawings at CSiNewsNow.com with print out of the names.

The drawing determined the ballot order for candidates for:

State Legislator:

Governor:

State Auditor:

State Treasurer:

Insurance Commission:

Public Service Commissioner:

Superintendent of Public Instruction:

Justice of the Supreme Court:

Judges of the District Court :

Southeast Judicial District:

County Commission:

On Monday, March 30, 2020 Governor Burgum issued Executive Order 2020-16 amending Open Meeting requirements for public bodies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order allows governing bodies to provide a call-in number or electronic link that gives real time or livestream public access to meetings rather than physical access to meeting locations. This is a response to public health needs and social distancing recommendations and will be in effect for the duration of the declared state of emergency.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Fargo officials say plans are in place to convert North Dakota’s largest sports stadium into a field hospital in case it’s needed for COVID-19 patients. The Fargodome seats 19,000 fans for North Dakota State University football games and has held major concerts and other events. Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney says the state is prepared to set up about 200 beds in the indoor facility. The National Guard has already set up more than 200 cots at the University of Mary Fieldhouse in Bismarck. Meanwhile, officials reported Thursday that two more people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died, raising the state’s total to six deaths.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The University of Mary Fieldhouse is being transformed to a hospital for coronavirus patients. With students gone from the university, the North Dakota National Guard and state health officials have set up more than 200 cots and health stations in the fieldhouse. Similar plans are underway for the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University. The Bismarck Tribune reports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent out teams last week to assess potential sites in Bismarck and Fargo. Health officials would only turn to the university facilities if hospitals couldn’t handle a surge in patients.

BISMARCK, N.D. (Bismarck Tribune) — A Bismarck man will stand trial in July after pleading not guilty to charges of kidnapping a woman at knifepoint and assaulting her. Thirty-two-year-old Carlos Mendez Jr. was charged in March with felony kidnapping, burglary and three other counts, including violating a protection order. The woman told police she returned to her home to find Mendez there holding a knife. Court documents say Mendez threatened to kill her if she didn’t listen to him, then made her drive him to another residence and struck her several times as they drove. The Bismarck Tribune reports Mendez entered the pleas at his Thursday preliminary hearing. A judge scheduled a trial to start July 15.

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — Mandan police say two officers did not use excessive force and won’t be charged after a 36-year-old man died after fighting with the officers following a traffic stop in February. Police stopped John Michael Prudente Jr. of Mandan on Feb. 8, but Prudente drove off. When police caught up with Prudente, he started fighting with the officers and was handcuffed. He became unresponsive and died at a hospital. An autopsy found Prudente died of “excited delirium” as a result of methamphetamine use and underlying conditions, and there was no evidence of excessive use of force. The Morton County State’s Attorney’s Office determined the officers did not commit a crime and won’t be charged. The two officers were on administrative leave but will return to full service.

In sports…

Jamestown (uj.edu) University of Jamestown seniors Kylee Voigt and Kensaku Akiya have been selected as the Kennedy S. Wanner Memorial Trophy winners for the 2019-20 academic year.

Voigt, a native of Richardton, N.D., is a sprinter on the Jimmie women’s track and field team while Akiya, from Kawasaki, Japan, is a pitcher for the UJ baseball team.

The Kennedy S. Wanner Memorial Award was established by the brothers and sisters of Kennedy S. Wanner, a Jamestown College student killed in World War I.

The recipients of the Kennedy S. Wanner Memorial Trophy are selected by department’s coaching staff in consultation with the Athletic Director and Chairman of the Kinesiology Department. Selection is based on the student’s scholastic record, participation in intercollegiate athletics, and high ideals.

Kensaku Akiya is majoring in Health and Fitness was selected as a College Fellow and twice has made the Dean’s List.

In 2019, Akiya had a 7-0 record on the mound for the Jimmie baseball team while earning Great Plains Athletic Conference all-conference honors. He played a large role in helping Jamestown win the GPAC Tournament Championship. This spring Akiya was lauded by Collegiate Baseball as one of its pre-season players to watch.

“Kensaku is a first class individual and has been a team leader on and off the field for the Jimmies,” said head coach Tom Hager. “He is everywhere on our campus and community—work-study, fundraising, peer tutoring, and community service. He truly makes our team, school, and community a better place!”

Voigt is a seven-time NAIA Track and Field national qualifier (4×400-meter relay in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and outdoor nationals in the 4×400-meter relay in 2018 and 2019; indoor 400-meter dash in 2019 and 2020), seven-time conference champion (indoor 200-meter dash and 4×400-meter relay and outdoor 4×400-meter relay in 2017; indoor 400-meter dash and 4×400-meter relay and outdoor 400-meter dash in 2018 and outdoor 4×400-meter relay in 2019), and finished in the top eight of individual events or top three in relays 26 times to earn all-conference honors. Voigt is part of the school record 4×200 and 4×400-meter relay teams and has the second fastest time ever in the 400-meter dash and fifth best time in the 200-meter dash in school history.

She is majoring in Exercise Science and has been admitted to the University of Mary School of Physical Therapy. Voigt has been named to the Dean’s List five times, and is a two-time winner of the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athlete Award.

“Kylee will go down as one of the best ever Jimmie track and field performers,” said head coach Megan Kuehl. “Her dedication on both the track and in the classroom has paid off. She has set a high standard for future Jimmies to uphold.”

VIRUS AFFECTING SPORTS..

NBA players to get paid next week

UNDATED (AP) — The NBA says players will receive their full checks when the next payday for most of them arrives on April 15 despite no games having been played for more than a month at that point.

The league and the National Basketball Players Association have been in talks for weeks about the status of salaries during the game’s shutdown.

The last NBA games were played March 11, the day that Utah center Rudy Gobert (goh-BEHR’) became the first player in the league to test positive for the coronavirus. The pandemic will lead to the delay of at least 259 regular-season games through April 15, what would have been the end of the regular season.

In other developments related to the coronavirus:

— The chief executive of the Tokyo Games says he can’t guarantee the postponed Olympics will be staged next year because the coronavirus continues to spread in Japan. The country issued an emergency declaration this week to battle the virus. The Olympics were postponed last month with a new opening set for July 2021.

— The Los Angeles Clippers are getting together for workouts while the NBA season is suspended — via video conference calls. Up to 10 players at a time tune in to do workouts led by the team’s performance staff since the league shut down practice facilities because of the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve also been using workout equipment tailored for each player and provided by the team. Coach Doc Rivers says that’s led to trash talking while watching each other work out.

— Louisville athletic director Vince Tyra says head coaches and senior department staffers will take 10% salary cuts. The reductions are expected to save about $15 million to offset anticipated revenue shortfalls because of event cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Approximately $10 million of that estimated savings comes from salary reductions for men’s basketball coach Chris Mack, football coach Scott Satterfield, women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz and baseball coach Dan McDonnell.

— UFC 249 has been canceled after ESPN and parent company Disney stopped UFC President Dana White’s plan to keep fighting amid the coronavirus pandemic. UFC 249 was scheduled for April 18, and White planned to follow it with weekly fight cards from Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino on tribal land in California’s Central Valley.

— Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano is back in New York after completing his quarantine period following a positive test for the coronavirus. Castellano tested positive for COVID-19 last month as part of a physical mandated by Gulfstream Park to determine if he could be cleared to ride in the Florida Derby on March 28. He quarantined in Florida and said he was largely asymptomatic throughout his time with the virus.

— Australia’s rugby league championship plans to restart on May 28, more than two months after it was suspended. The governing ARL Commission also says it intends to play a full three-game State of Origin series. Commissioner Wayne Pearce says they wanted to set a date and then work on finalizing a competition. Pearce says “a date is to give certainty to players and their schedules, clubs and thousands of people who are out of work through clubs and millions of fans.”

— The World Curling Federation has canceled its championships this year. The men’s, women’s, mixed doubles and senior championships will not be held in 2020. The WCF has adjusted its qualifying for the 2021 world championships and the 2022 Winter Olympics to compensate for the missing tournaments.

— The International Tennis Federation is putting about half of its staff on furlough and cutting other employees’ salaries because of the coronavirus pandemic. The move includes a 30% pay drop in 2020 for ITF President David Haggerty and reductions of 10% or 20% for others.

— The Kentucky Derby Museum is looking to unload all merchandise for the 146th Derby dated May 2. The race has been postponed from that date to Sept. 5 because of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, over 300 Derby 146 items with the old date will be available for online sale from April 15 to May 3. The museum will donate 20% of sales proceeds to two funds that help those affected by COVID-19.

In world and national news…

BANGKOK (AP) — World shares have held steady in quiet Good Friday trading after Wall Street closed out its best week in 45 years thanks to the Federal Reserve’s titanic effort to support the economy. Shares rose in Tokyo and Seoul but fell in Shanghai. The long weekend offers a respite from the drama that has wracked markets for weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak. OPEC and other oil producing nations including Russia were struggling to reach a deal to boost oil prices after ending marathon talks early Friday. OPEC said that approval of a proposal for cutting output hinges on gaining Mexico’s agreement.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — OPEC says a proposed cut to oil production “is conditional on the consent of Mexico” after a marathon teleconference ended without a decision. The statement Friday from OPEC confirmed figures earlier offered by Saudi Arabia. The proposal calls for a 10 million barrels per day cut until July, then an 8 million barrels per day cut through the end of the year. Beginning in 2021, a 6 million barrels per day cut will last for 16 months. Both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait earlier blamed Mexico for endangering the proposal. Mexico has not directly acknowledged that.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Southeast Asian foreign ministers have endorsed the setting up of a regional fund to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. They also discussed a planned teleconference summit of their leaders with counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea on April 14. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila says the top diplomats of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations linked up by video in a meeting led by Vietnam. The ministers endorsed several collective steps to fight the pandemic, including the establishment of a COVID-19 ASEAN response fund, the sharing of information and strategies and ways to ease the impact of the global health crisis on people and the economy.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations secretary-general is warning that the coronavirus pandemic is threatening international peace and security. Antonio Guterres warned the U.N. Security Council this can potentially lead “to an increase in social unrest and violence that would greatly undermine our ability to fight the disease.” The council is the U.N.’s most powerful body and it has been silent on COVID-19 since it started circling the globe in January. But after Thursday’s meeting the council issued its first brief press statement. It expressed “support for all efforts of the secretary-general concerning the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to conflict-affected countries.”