Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Apr 17

CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 50s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s. Northwest

winds 5 to 15 mph.

.SUNDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the mid 30s.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

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

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the upper 30s.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain in the

afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s.

 

Friday afternoon, the combination of low relative humidity and
gusty southwest winds may result in near critical fire weather
conditions.

 

Valley City (CSi) At a special Thursday evening , the City Administrator Selection Committee unanimously approved three finalists for City Administrator of Valley City.

Gwendolyn Crawford, Barnes County, North Dakota
Darcy Long, Gladstone, Michigan.
Larry Thompson, New Ulm, Minnesota.

Initial interviews will be conducted at a special meeting of the Valley City Board of Commissioners on Thursday, April 23, starting at 3:00 p.m.

 

Jamestown (CSi) A COVID-19 Joint Briefing with Jamestown/Stutsman County representative will be held on Friday April 17, 2020, at 2:30-p.m.

Scheduled presenters are from: Central Valley Health District, JRMC, City of Jamestown, and Community Action.

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

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his daily News Briefing at 4-p.m., at the State Capital in Bismarck.

Thursday, April 16, 2020 – 11:05am

Categories: Coronavirus

POSITIVE TEST RESULTS

• Man in his 40s from Burleigh County, household contact
• Man in his 50s from Burleigh County, under investigation
• Man in his 30s from Cass County, community spread
• Man in his 40s from Cass County, close contact
• Man in his 40s from Cass County, under investigation
• Man in his 30s from Cass County, close contact
• Man in his 30s from Cass County, community spread
• Woman in her 20s from Cass County, community spread
• Man in his 60s from Cass County, household contact
• Woman in her 30s from Cass County, community spread
• Woman in her 40s from Cass County, community spread
• Male age 0-9 from Cass County, close contact
• Man in his 20s from Cass County, household contact
• Woman in her 40s from Cass County, community spread
• Man in his 30s from Cass county, close contact
• Man in his 40s from Cass County, close contact
• Man in his 20s from Cass County, close contact
• Man in his 30s from Cass County, under investigation
• Man in his 30s from Cass County, community spread
• Woman in her 40s from Dunn County, community spread
• Man in his 40s from Grand Forks County, under investigation
• Man in his 40s from Grand Forks County, under investigation
• Man in his 20s from Grand Forks County, under investigation
• Man in his 40s from McKenzie County, under investigation
• Man in his 50s from Richland County, community spread
• Man in his 30s from Stark County, household contact
• Woman in her 50s from Stark County, household contact
• Woman in her 30s from Stark County, household contact

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

 

BY THE NUMBERS

11,704 – Total Tested (+387 individuals from yesterday)

11,311 – Negative (+359 individuals from yesterday)

393 – Positive (+28 individuals from yesterday)

45 – Hospitalized (+1 individual from yesterday)

14 – Currently Hospitalized (+1 individual from yesterday)

163 – Recovered (+21 individuals from yesterday)

9 – Death (+0 individual from yesterday)

Governor Burgum says the testing backlog has been eliminated, with a tech from Abbot Lab addressing the issue.

He said anyone ill and wanting a test, to get one, and the state lab will assist if necessary, there’s no charge for a COVID-19 Test.  The state is looking to ramp up tests, doubling up capacity.

Burgum said officials with CDC are in North Dakota working on case investigation, tracing efforts and other areas of the pandemic.

Burgum participated in a conference call with President Trump and Vice President Pence, Thursday, on plans to reopen America, involving the newly formed Task Force.  He said Trump is planning to explain the present plans on Thursday night.

Congress is examining reloading funds expended in the Payroll Protection Plan, and some SBA loans.  A bill in Washington aims to reload $250-billion.

Burgum added that the Bank of North Dakota has assisted in deferring student loans for six months.

The CARE-19 tracing app has 18,500 downloading it.  The androided version has been delay until next week.

With unemployment, between March 16, 2020 and Thursday the filing numbers are 53,444 plus over 400 pandemic unemployment filings were noted.

With fishing, Burgum reminding anglers to observe social distancing, on shore being a fishing pole apart.  Family members only in fishing boats, to practice social distancing from others.

Game & Fish will be observing at fishing locations to make sure the protective measures are being followed.

The next news briefing will be at 3:30-p.m., Friday.

 

(AP)  The North Dakota Department of Commerce encourages all North Dakota residents to participate in the North Dakota COVID-19 Community Impact Survey.

Led by Commerce’s Main Street Initiative team in partnership with other state agencies, the survey opened to the public this week and already has provided valuable input that will help structure future programs and outreach.

The goal of the survey is to understand how the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting communities and individuals across the state. Survey participants will be asked to provide experiences since March 13 when Gov. Doug Burgum declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“By understanding exactly how this pandemic is impacting individuals and households in communities around North Dakota, Commerce and partner agencies will be able to effectively leverage assets, resources and programs to support North Dakotans during this challenging time,” Deputy Commerce Commissioner Shawn Kessel said. “We encourage every North Dakotan to share their thoughts.”

 

In addition to the community survey, Commerce is also leading a similar effort to better understand the experiences of businesses in North Dakota. The business survey is currently closed but will re-open in a few weeks.

 

The North Dakota COVID-19 Community Impact Survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NDCOVIDCommunityImpact

For more community resources and information please visit https://belegendary.link/NDCommunities

Valley City  (CSi)   A classic vehicle cruise will be held on Central Avenue in Valley City Friday night Friday April 17, 2020, starting at 6:30-p.m.

Everyone is welcome to join the cruise, with RV’s, tractors, motorcycles or any vehicle.

Bridge City Cruisers spokesman Myron Vanbruggen says the cruise is  a great way to take the blues out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and  a way to support local food establishments.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism Grant/Executive Board met by teleconference Thursday.

Those in attendance by phone included, Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund and Board Members, President Matt Woods, Taylor Barnes, Tena Lawrence, and Paulette Ritter.

Ex-Officio Member:   Pam Phillips representing the Jamestown City Council.

Those requesting grant funding were:

Jamestown Arts Center..Summer Series Downtown Arts Market

Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce…Buffalo Days

Fort Seward…Big Guns of the Old West, during Buffalo Days

Jamestown Drag Racing Association…For a Tent

Jamestown Downtown Association…Rods & Hogs

Frontier Village…Saloon Paint & Signage

 

The board for the most part considered the requests based on if each event will be held,  if social distancing regarding the COVID-19 pandemic is still in effect during the date(s) of each event.  The allocations approved may have to be adjusted, if the event(s) are cut short, or not held.

The Arts Center Director, Mindi Schmitz requested $10,000 for the Downtown Arts Market, planned to be held each Thursday evening this summer, including cultural performances, art education, artisan vendors, and more.  She said 12 dates are set, hopefully starting Jun 4, 2020, through the end of August in conjunction with the UJ Block Party.  Each Arts Market cost $1500 to $2,000.

The calendar will be adjusted depending on the length time the social distancing is in place.

She said $5,000 is anticipated from Business Sponsors, and $2,000 from other donations.

It was suggested that  funding be granted on a per-event basis, based on holding ten events.

The board to grant the full amount to $10,000 to be adjusted if less that 12 events are held, due to any social distancing that may still be in place.

 

The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce represented by Executive, Emily Bivens requested $3,650

For 2020 Buffalo Days advertising, and $650 for adverting  the Ft. Seward First U.S. Artillery Regiment  proposal for a Gatlin Gun for   Big Guns of the Old West, during Buffalo Days July 25, 26.

She said the Chamber does not gain financially from Buffalo Days.

Any profits go back into next year’s event.

Emily reiterated that Buffalo Days is scheduled to be held in Jamestown July 25, 26, throughout the city.  She said the Chamber’s additional resources come from the vendors show in the park, estimated at $300.

The Board granted, to fund the $3,650 total, for Buffalo Days, and the Ft. Seward request.

 

Jamestown Drag Racing Association, represented by Mike Trautman, requested $2,500 to purchase a used Anchor Brand metal framed canvas tent for the Drag Races, planned to be held July 11, 12, at Jamestown Regional Airport.

The 2019 local business sponsors funded $10,300.   Racer entry fees accounted for $11,600.  The Drag Races generate a total of $187,500 in local economic impact.

The Drag Races in 2019 were cancelled due to rain and wet grounds.

He added JDRA has the approval of Jamestown Regional Airport to hold the races there, and is still on, awaiting FAA approval.

For the tent request, the request failed due to a lack of a motion by the board.

 

JDRA also requested $7,000 for advertising the event, including media, billboards and posters.

The Board grant the full amount for Marketing.

 

Jamestown Downtown Association, represented by President, Lynn Lambrecht, requested  $1,000  for advertising,  for the  sixth annual, Downtown Rods & Hogs activities this summer, planned for June 13, on First Avenue.  If that date becomes unavailable, due to social distancing still in effect at that time, the event will be suspended until next year.

Additional funding includes:  $2,500 from sponsors, $1,500  from registrations, and $250 from vendors.

Th economic impact is estimated at $62,500.

The Board granted the full amount requested of $1,000.  Lynn said the dollars will not be spent if a decision is made not hold the event.

Frontier Village requested $1,000 for the Saloon Building, Paint & Signage.

Searle Swedlund said the building will be the focus of giving out information to tourists and be where the greeters will be located.  He said the Village will open depending on when the social distancing is  eliminated, and it’s safe for the public.   The typical dates are from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The Board granted, the full amount requested, $1,000.

 

Executive Board Meeting

Declaration of Conflict of Interest: None

Taylor Barnes gave the Financial Report.  Searle Swedlund added the finances are able to be sustained at this time.  The effect of social distancing on the hospitality business,  taxes and Motel taxes will be taken into account in the future.  The report was accepted.

Tourism Report:  Director, Searle Swedlund  said that her and Office Manager Allison Limke are working from home, with the Tourism Office closed to the public, but they are accessible by phone.  He said a student from NDSU has been hired to inventory the contents of Frontier Village.  The ownership or loan status of the contents is yet to be determined.  He added, at this point the City of Jamestown owns that property.  He said he’s considering closing the Tourism Office, on the weekends, as a cost savings option, and to direct tourists to the Saloon Building for information, when the Frontier Village is open.

The water trail project will have dollars applied for in a possible grant from Garrison Diversion.

Ex-Officio reports:  Pam Phillips gave a report on the Board of Equalization meeting, with four property owners, requested the city look into to modifying it’s decision on valuations.

She said City Hall is closed to walk ups, but is staffed, and can be reached by phone.  She added the City Council meets virtually in observance of social distances.

 

New Business:

Request for Direction for $1,000 for the Buffalo City Pool Tournament Association represented by Rory Hoffmann.  The tournaments, previously scheduled included, the Third Annual, Buffalo City Shootout,   and Downtowner Tournament.  The Shortcut was rescheduled for April 3, 4, 2020, and postponed until December 11,12, 2020.

The Downtowner Tournament is planned with Cabin Fever Days.

Searle said the previous allocation was $200 short of the full grant amount, and not enough dollars were expended on marketing and advertising.

The Board voted to move the request, for clarification to the full board meeting.

 

Also discussed was the Request for Direction for $4,350, to be allocated from the $5,000 previously allocated, for the  UJ Basketball Shootout, the unused portion of the advertising requirement because of bad weather, that cancelled the event  last December 27, 28, and unused portion of 30 percent, the advertising requirement.   Searle said the marketing dollars expended were also short in using the funding.

To Board Voted to also move the meeting to the full board meeting.

 

Jamestown  (CSi) Stutsman County Emergency Manager, Jerry Bergquist, on Thursday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, updated topics concerning water watch and other information:

The water releases from the two dams that were recently completed.

 

The spring water releases that began on Monday include, Pipestem Dam releasing 50 cfs, and Jamestown Dam continues to ramp up releases, on Thursday at 600 cfs, to reach 800 cfs, in increments of 200 cfs.   The combined release will then by 850 cfs.  That compares to last fall’s combined release of 2400, cfs, that required sandbagging along sections of the James River.  He said those sandbags remain in place at this time. On Thursday the Jamestown Reservoir was about 16 feet into the flood storage area, and Pipestem Reservoir was about 30 feet into the flood storage area.

 

He said, the overland flooding issues not related to river flooding especially in the western half of the County has parts of western Stutsman County looking like a big lake.

Jerry said  parts of Western Stutsman County is “pothole country,” full of closed drainage basins where the water has continued to rise, flooding much of the countryside. Bergquist said many rural roads are underwater, in some area’s four to five feet deep.

He said a water problem area at this time remains northwest and southwest of Medina.

Bergquist says there’s nowhere for the water to drain, adding, and the water just doesn’t go anywhere until it gets to an elevation where it overtops and moves into another closed basin.

Flooding is damaging roads while cutting off access to rural homes and hampers first responders.

Detours have been set up on rural roads, that in some cases moves traffic about 20 to 25 miles around the flooded roadways.

He pointed out that the Crystal Springs rest area has the threat of going under water.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation is working on raising two areas along I-94 east of Cleveland and an area west of the Streeter exchange. Bergquist says those locations could go underwater.

 

Meanwhile other topics included:

The daily fire danger concern as the wait for the area to green up.  On Thursday the Fire Danger Index was in the Moderate Category.

 

Jerry added that Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week is the week of April 27, with more information coming from his office.

 

This is National Telecommunicator Week  (April 12-18) where at the LEC, dispatcher are being saluted for their important work.

 

Valley City  (Chamber)  Wondering how customers can get more involved?

Chamber executive, Kay Vinje, says, tell them about VC Strong Bingo! Its a great way to help encourage your customers to help support local businesses during these uncharted waters. Its simple to play!

Save and copy your phone from either Facebook or Mondays addition of the Times Record.

Get a Bingo and post it to the Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page to be entered in $25 weekly Chamber Bucks Drawings, through May 22nd.

Kay says, if your business would like to display this logo in their window please let us know and we will be happy to get you one.

Visit:  https://valleycitynd.org/index.php where you will find, Business financing and Employer Resources from VCBC Development, Service and retail sources, and Barnes County COVID-19 Relief Fund information.

Also…

The Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce announces, the Quick and Easy Restaurant Guide.

The Chamber also continues to update the COVID-19 Business Guide. The Chamber has been compiling a list of Businesses and what they are doing during the COVID-19 outbreak.

A reminder the Valley City DMV is currently closed to the public until
further notice. We are doing invoiced renewals over the phone from 9 am to 3 pm with card payment. Title transfer work and any other work that requires signatures has to be mailed into the state. Anyone with questions please call the office and they will assist you the best we can at this time 701-845-3812.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A group of health officials and National Guard members spent several hours screening people for the coronavirus after eight positive tests were confirmed among workers at a North Dakota wind turbine plant that employs a large number of immigrants from African countries. The drive-thru screenings outside the LM Wind Power in Grand Forks took place on a day when state officials reported a record number of new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day. A total of 52 cases were confirmed in the last two days, including 28 on Thursday. Cars were lined up in four lanes outside the LM plant, where officials administered 424 tests to people who came in close contact with the infected workers.

DICKINSON, N.D. (Bismarck Tribune) — The Stark County State’s Attorney has determined the use of deadly force was necessary by police officers who fatally shot a man they were attempting to arrest in Dickinson. The U.S. Marshals Service High Plains Fugitive Task Force was seeking 25-year-old Dakota Chlarson on a warrant for armed robbery. Authorities say two task force members, Bismarck officers Casey Bosch and Tom Grosz, fired their weapons when Chlarson charged at them with a scissors following a standoff at a Dickinson apartment Feb. 13. The Bismarck Tribune reports Grosz and Bosch were placed on administrative leave after the shooting, but have now returned to duty.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Native American tribes and environmental groups are pressuring a federal judge to shut down work on the construction of an oil pipeline from Canada to Nebraska less than two weeks after it started. They say pipeline sponsor TC Energy is rushing ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic, trying to complete significant work to make the pipeline harder to stop. President Donald Trump has championed the $8 billion line and last year gave it a special presidential authorization to circumvent a 2018 court ruling that blocked it. The same judge in Montana who made that ruling was presiding over a Thursday hearing to decide if construction should be halted.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of bankers in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states shows the vast majority expect the coronavirus outbreak to push their local areas into recession. The overall index for the region plummeted to 12.1 in April from March’s already anemic 35.5. It was the lowest index recorded since the survey began in January 2006. Any score below 50 suggests a shrinking economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said more than nine in 10 bankers surveyed expect the measures being taken to fight the coronavirus to lead to a recession. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

In sports…

VIRUS AFFECTING THE SPORTS WORLD…

UNDATED (AP) — One of the NFL’s top players is being treated for the coronavirus.

Von Miller’s agent says the Denver Broncos linebacker has tested positive for the coronavirus and wanted to come forward with his diagnosis to show doubters how serious the disease is. Joby Branion tells The Associated Press that Miller is in good spirits while resting at his home in Denver and that Miller plans to speak publicly about his diagnosis on Friday.

Miller told KUSA-TV in Denver that he developed a cough a couple of days ago. When his nebulizer for his asthma didn’t clear things up, he decided to get tested for the coronavirus.

Miller said last week he trained in San Francisco before returning home to Colorado when the stay-at-home measures went into effect to contain the virus.

Miller was recently a unanimous pick to the NFL’s All-Decade team of the 2010s.

In other developments related to the coronavirus pandemic:

— The PGA Tour has hopes of a restart to the season at Colonial on June 11-14 and keeping fans away for at least the first month. Tour officials said Thursday that if government and health authorities give golf the green light, the tour will have an official event every week through Dec. 6 except for the week of Thanksgiving.

— The start of the horse racing season at Belmont Park has been postponed indefinitely from the original April 24 date because of the coronavirus. However, the New York Racing Association says it’s committed to holding the Belmont Stakes this year.

— The new CEO of the U.S. Tennis Association says he expects a decision on the status of the 2020 U.S. Open to be made by June. Mike Dowse said in a conference call with reporters Thursday that “time is on our side at this point” because the U.S. Open is not scheduled to begin until late August.

— The International Skating Union has formally canceled its figure skating and short track world championships because of the pandemic. Both events were originally scheduled for last month but had already been postponed in the early days of the worldwide lockdown.

— The NCAA is permitting coaches in all Division I sports to hold up to eight hours per week of virtual meetings and instruction with their players, beginning Monday and lasting through the end of May. Athletes will be required to have at least one day off per week and required physical activities continue to be prohibited.

— Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar says his three players that tested positive for the novel coronavirus are feeling better. Bednar said in a teleconference call the players followed the recommended guidelines and self-isolated.

— Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen says he tested positive for COVID-19 three weeks ago. Allen is the first active NFL player to acknowledge testing positive during the coronavirus pandemic. He’s not hospitalized and is “feeling good,” according to a statement issued by the team.

— UEFA (yoo-AY’-fuh) is hoping the Champions League final can be played at the end of August in Istanbul, three months after the competition’s showpiece was due to be staged. A person familiar with the planning tells The Associated Press the aim is to play the final on Saturday, Aug. 29. However, the person said that date is only feasible if European leagues are able to resume playing around July or August.

— Tokyo Olympic organizers and the International Olympic Committee will try to cut many of the extras out of next year’s postponed games. IOC member John Coates says the IOC priority was to direct “several hundreds of millions of dollars” to help struggling international sports federations and national Olympic committees stay afloat.

— An Oakland Athletics minor league manager with COVID-19 has resumed breathing completely on his own for the first time in more than three weeks, according to his fiancee. Nikki Trudeaux says Webster Garrison no longer requires a ventilator but remains weak and unable to speak after having a tube down his throat. Garrison skippered the Class A Stockton Ports last season and is scheduled to manage in the rookie level Arizona League this year.

— Family members say a former amateur boxer who in 1984 became the sport’s first black boxing referee and judge at the Olympic games has died. Carmen Williamson died from COVID-19 complications on April 8 at a hospital in Toledo, Ohio. He was 94.

— Soccer player Norman Hunter, a former Leeds defender who was part of England’s World Cup-winning squad in 1966, died today of COVID-19. He was 76. Leeds says Hunter was admitted to the hospital last week.

NFL-NEWS

Browns GM refutes Beckham trade report

UNDATED (AP) — Cleveland Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta has dismissed a report the team is trying to trade star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Minnesota Vikings, saying it’s “completely false.”

DePodesta says he knows Beckham is excited about the possibilities of what this offensive system could bring for him, adding that he’s excited to have Beckham.

Beckham was injured during his first season with the Browns after arriving from the New York Giants in a blockbuster trade 13 months ago.

Also in the NFL:

— The Saints have re-signed reserve running back and special teams regular Dwayne Washington. The four-year NFL veteran out of Washington has spent the past two seasons with New Orleans, carrying 35 times for 214 yards in that span. He also has had five special teams stops, a deflected punt and a blocked punt recovery in 29 games with the Saints.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA-DANIELS

Daniels looking to transfer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California quarterback J.T. Daniels has entered the transfer portal, although head coach Clay Helton says he’d welcome him back if he decides to stay at USC.

Daniels immediately became the Trojans’ starter as a freshman in 2018, passing for 2,672 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions during an inconsistent season. He won the starting job again out of camp last summer but lost it to Kedon Slovis when Daniels injured a knee.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-NBA DRAFT

Mahoney leaving Creighton for NBA

UNDATED (AP) — Denzel Mahoney has joined Creighton teammate Ty-Shon Alexander in declaring for the NBA draft.

Mahoney played 21 games for the Bluejays after transferring from Southeast Missouri, averaging 12 points and 3.1 rebounds as a reserve wing.

He can return to Creighton after going through the evaluation process by league executives as long as he doesn’t sign with an agent and withdraws from the draft by June 3.

Sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu also announced he is leaving Illinois to enter the draft. Dosunmu was named a first team All-Big Ten selection last year and was fifth in the conference in scoring at 16.6 points, shooting 48.4 percent in the process.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-TRANSFERS

Aaron Cook, Trey Murphy among latest hoops transfers

UNDATED (AP) — College basketball players continue to switch teams through transfer rules.

Gonzaga says Southern Illinois point guard Aaron Cook will be eligible to play for the Bulldogs next season. The 6-foot-2 Cook played in just six games last season before breaking his shooting hand against Murray State. Cook was leading the Salukis with 15 points and 3.3 assists a game when his season was cut short.

Virginia coach Tony Bennett says Trey Murphy III has joined the Cavaliers as a transfer from Rice. The 6-foot-8 Murphy averaged 13.7 points as a sophomore and made 75 3-pointers for the Owls.

Wake Forest has announced that Ian DuBose would play next year as a graduate transfer from Houston Baptist. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 19 points to lead the Southland Conference last season while also becoming that league’s men’s basketball student-athlete of the year with a 3.84 GPA.

UConn has added guard Tyrese Martin, a transfer from Rhode Island. The 6-foot-6 rising junior started all 30 games for the Rams last season, averaging 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

Jamarius Burton has signed with Texas Tech after starting 52 games the past two seasons at Wichita State. Burton averaged 10.3 points and 3.4 assists per game as a sophomore for the Shockers last season.

East Tennessee has added guard Jalen Johnson as a graduate transfer from Tennessee. Johnson started two of 31 games he played for the Vols last season, averaging 3.5 points and two rebounds.

NHL-BLUES-SCANDELLA

Blues extend Scandella

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues have worked out a four-year extension with newly-acquired defenseman Marco Scandella.

The deal is worth $13.1 million and has an annual salary-cap hit of $3.275 million through the 2023-24 season. Scandella played 11 games with St. Louis and recorded one assist after coming over from Montreal in February before the trade deadline.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Efforts to replenish the funding for a small-business program are having trouble, Lawmakers are struggling to break a stalemate over the Trump administration’s request for $250 billion to shore up the program. The Small Business Administration announced Thursday that the Paycheck Protection Program had reached its $349 billion funding limit and no more applications would be accepted. The program gives grants to small businesses so they can maintain payroll and pay rent during the virus outbreak. Both parties agree the fund needs to be replenished, but Democrats want to add money for hospitals and states and local governments dealing with the crisis. Republicans say those items can wait for future legislation.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s official death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has jumped sharply. The hardest-hit city of Wuhan announced a major revision that added nearly 1,300 fatalities. The new figures result from of an in-depth review of deaths during a response that was chaotic in the early days. The revised numbers push up China’s death toll to 4,632. The higher numbers are not a surprise. It is virtually impossible to get an accurate count when health systems are overwhelmed at the height of a crisis. The increase also confirms suspicions that many more people died in China than had been previously reported.

 

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A new U.N. report says children have so far largely escaped the most severe symptoms of COVID-19 but the social and economic impact “is potentially catastrophic” for millions of youngsters. It said the coronavirus pandemic is turning into “a broader child-rights crisis.” The report launched Thursday said “all children, of all ages, and in all countries, are affected.” But it said some are destined to bear the greatest costs including those living in slums, refugee camps, conflict zones and the disabled. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged families everywhere and leaders at all levels to protect children.

 

MADRID (AP) — China has announced that the coronavirus death toll in the outbreak epicenter of Wuhan was some 50% higher than previously reported. The revision highlights just how seriously current infection and death toll figures may be understating the true toll of the pandemic around the globe. The economic toll also is rising. Unemployment in the United States rose by a staggering 5.2 million, bringing the four-week total to 22 million, while China’s economy shrank 6.8% in the quarter ending march from the same period a year ago, its worst contraction since before market-style economic reforms began in 1979. The United States reported the nation’s highest daily death toll yet at nearly 4,600.

 

 

HOUSTON (AP) — A detained immigrant who says he’s tested positive for COVID-19 was required to call in for a court hearing even after a guard said he was too weak to talk. An attorney for Salomon Diego Alonzo says that when a judge asked his name Thursday, the guard answered that Alonzo didn’t have the lung capacity to respond. His case provides new insight into how U.S. immigration authorities are dealing with a steadily rising number of coronavirus cases among roughly 32,000 detainees. Alonzo’s final asylum hearing was postponed after a call that lasted for about two hours. Immigration authorities declined to comment.