Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Apr 22

CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 40. Northeast winds around 5 mph with gusts to around 20 mph shifting to the south after midnight.

.THURSDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of rain showers in

the afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s. Southeast winds 5 to

10 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and

slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows around 40. North winds 5 to

10 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers in the morning,

then chance of rain and slight chance of thunderstorms in the

afternoon. Highs in the upper 50s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny. Chance of rain showers and slight

chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 60. Chance

of precipitation 40 percent.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in

the afternoon. Highs in the mid 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain

showers in the evening. Lows in the mid 40s.

.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 60s.

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

showers. Lows in the mid 40s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny with a 30 percent chance of rain showers.

 

Near critical fire weather conditions are possible across much of

the west and central Wednesday afternoon with minimum relative humidity

values bottoming out in the 15 to 20 percent range across the

western half of the state. However, unlike previous days, not as

much wind will be available to mix down to the surface, even with

dry forecast soundings in place.

The fire danger rating is in the high category today.

 

A Burn Ban is in effect in Stutsman County

A full version of the burn ordinance can also be found at the website under Departments, choose Zoning, and click on “Burn Ban Ordinance” on the left-hand side of the page.Because of the dry conditions, expect a series of days where burning will be restricted until the countryside greens-up. For more information contact the Stutsman County Emergency Manager’s Office at 701-252-9093

Burn Ban Map

Thursday through Friday  rain amounts  ranging from 0.25 to 0.50 inches across portions of the central and James River Valley. However, with the convective nature of the showers and thunderstorms, locally higher amounts will certainly be possible under heavier cores.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Hugo’s  Family Marketplace in Jamestown closed between Monday evening  and Tuesday morning for a deep cleaning, and disinfection by a professional service following an employee who tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition to increased cleaning and sanitizing, they have been cleaning all services nightly.

Hugo’s Communications Director, Lisa Swanson says, “The Hugo’s team member tested positive for COVID-19 and is now quarantined at home.”

The individual and any other Hugo’s team member who is required to self-isolate will be paid for their time away from work.

She adds,“In conjunction with the North Dakota Department of Health, close contacts have been notified and were asked to self-isolate for 14 days from the date of contact. We have been communicating with the North Dakota Department of Health and are following all of their directives.”

Hugo’s has taken several steps to ensure the safety of their employees and public, implementing guided isles and markers indicating six feet apart.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Stutsman  COVID-19  Response Public Health Joint Briefing with Jamestown & Stutsman County representatives was held on Tuesday April 21 at 2:30, with the participants in a virtual format to observe self distancing.   The meeting airs live with replays on CSi TV 10 -The Replay Channel & CSi 67.   To view the briefing online, view it here at CSiNewsNOW.com or go to the CSi LiveStream at Facebook.

At the meeting were:  Representatives from Central Valley Health District, and  Eventide Senior Living, Center in Jamestown.

Central Valley Health District Administrator, Robin Iszler opened the briefing by saying, Stutsman County has two recent additions to the positive cases category, bringing the total to three. Those individuals were infected by community spread.  She said more COVID- 19 positives are likely in the community, being asymptomatic, people who have the virus, but not showing symptoms.  She said as of Tuesday 283 people were tested, 25 in Logan County.  With reopening, CVHD has not received any direction from the state.  She also reminded viewers about social distancing, wearing face masks, and regular hand washing to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

She said while in public settings, such as in stores, an individual is likely to be infected with COVID-19 if they are within six feet of a COVID-19 positive person, within 15 continuous minutes.

From Evenntide, Toni said its been six weeks since the building occupants have been limited to essential staff, and residents are tested for the virus twice a day.  Staff are screened in before their shifts, and are wearing surgical face masks, and would switch to N-95 masks if a person tests positive, which are fit tested.  Staff are told to stay home if they are sick.

Outside healthcare providers are seen via teleconference..  Outside healthcare providers are seen via teleconference.

Procedures are updated regularly, from the State Health Department.

Executive Director, Doug Panchot said as of Tuesday Eventide Jamestown has recorded zero positive cases.   Residents can visit with families virtually. He the staff is retrained regularly.

No visitors are allowed, with the exception of those residents at end of life. He said the staff engages with residents and family, daily.  Residents through technology participate with outside activities.

The meeting airs live with replays on CSi TV 10 -The Replay Channel & CSi 67.   To view the briefing online, view it here at CSiNewsNOW.com or go to the CSi LiveStream at Facebook.

The next Stutsman County briefing is planned for Friday, April 24, 2020 at 2:30-p.m.

 

Bismarck   (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his daily COVID-19 News Briefing, Tuesday afternoon, from the state capital in Bismarck.  Also speaking were Commissioner Michelle Kommer and Department of Human Services (DHS) Executive Director Chris Jones to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota.

Click here for recorded video fromNDDoH

With updates on testing from the State Health Department:

Tuesday, April 21, 2020 – 11:18am

Categories: Coronavirus

COUNTIES WITH POSITIVE CASES

• Cass County – 10
• Grand Forks County – 5
• Morton County – 1
• Mountrail County – 1
• Sioux County – 1

 

BY THE NUMBERS

14,987 – Total Tested (+240 individuals from yesterday)

14,343 – Negative (+223 individuals from yesterday)

644 – Positive (+18 individuals from yesterday)

* Please note that a previously reported positive case from Cass County was from out of state and was removed from our positive total.

54 – Hospitalized (+1 individuals from yesterday)

17 – Currently Hospitalized (+0 individuals from yesterday)

214 – Recovered (+25 individuals from yesterday)

13 – Deaths (+0 individual from yesterday)

Department of Human Services (DHS) Executive Director Chris Jones  discussed the COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota.

He said when care givers become positive with the virus, DHS will be working more closely with those providers.  He pointed out the agency will be working with transferring residents, that are positive.

Tuesday  Burgum and the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) in partnership with ProudCrowd, announced that the Care19 app is now available for Android users to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in North Dakota.

 

Care19 was recently launched to help the NDDoH reduce the spread of COVID-19 by more efficiently and effectively identifying individuals who may have had contact with people who have tested positive. This app is completely voluntary and developed with a privacy-first mindset. The information collected is not associated with a phone number or any personal information.

The state plans to increase widespread testing and contact tracing for the coronavirus in order to help protect vulnerable residents and meet White House guidelines to put people back to work.

Care19 will become a hub of key information in the state as continued enhancements will include infection statistics, a symptom checker, a test site finder and more. ProwdCrowd continues to improve the app and the latest version updates include:

With Step by step reopening: Burgum introduced ND Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer.  She said, the commerce department is working with businesses on reopening, forming working groups of businesses closed by executive order.  She said the state will determine a time to reopen concerning when it’s safe, in not continuing to spread the virus.

With unemployment, the latest claim numbers are 1329, and 470 pandemic claims.

Since March 16, 2020 to Tuesday, a total of 53,773 claims have been made.

An executive order was signed giving local health officers more authority responding to COVID-19 positive individuals regarding isolation or quarantining.

He said 1100 individuals are being supported in the area of behavioral health.

A North Dakota company is working with universities and a medical school on using unmanned aerial vehicles in the fight against the coronavirus. SkySkopes, based in Grand Forks, has launched demonstrations to show a variety of ways in which its drones could be used in the pandemic.

In other news…

Family members and friends are adjusting to visitor restrictions and other changes put in place to protect the health and well-being of the 9,600 individuals who reside in long-term care facilities in North Dakota. Residents of nursing homes, basic care, assisted living and hospital swing bed facilities are at higher risk of COVID-19 complications.

In March, the North Dakota Department of Health’s Health Facilities Division team visited long-term care facilities to review infection control practices and provide technical assistance. The agency has continued to support facilities by providing information about Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations on screening individuals for symptoms, social distancing in group care settings, cleaning and sanitizing and other measures.

Long-term care facility residents and their loved ones who have concerns about health, safety, well-being and residents’ rights are encouraged to continue to reach out the North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. Program staff advocate on behalf of long-term care residents and work with residents, families, facilities and state health department partners to open the lines of communication and resolve issues.

Burgum  called an emergency meeting to discuss ways to aid the state’s oil producers that are wracked by falling oil prices due to meager demand amid the coronavirus outbreak. The three-member, all-Republican North Dakota Industrial Commission headed by Burgum discussed options Tuesday. The Republican governor has said one option is to consider classifying oil and natural gas produced at a loss a “waste.” By doing so, producers would not be penalized under state rules for cutting production. The price of U.S. benchmark crude that would be delivered in May fell to historic lows Monday.

Valley City  (CSi) The Valley City Commission met Tuesday, April 21, via Microsoft Teams.

Board Members may attend from alternate locations to minimize group size and contact, as recommended by state and federal government officials due to COVID-19 and as allowed in ND Executive Order 2020-16. Members of the public may view the meeting online. The meetings can be seen live followed by replays on CSi Cable 68.

All members were present.

Mayor Carlsrud read a Proclamation on the Arbor Day observance, on May 1, 2020.

Consent Agenda Items:

Approved a Raffle Permit for CHI Mercy Health Foundation

Approved Electrician, Plumber and/or Mechanical Contractor Licenses for Bentson Electric, Sullivan Construction, Inc., and all others.
Public Comments:  No One Spoke

During the COVID-19 emergency, members of the public may request to make a public comment regarding city business by contacting City Hall (701) 845-1700 by 12 NOON on the day of the meeting to make arrangements.

Attorney General’s “A Citizen’s Guide to North Dakota Open Records & Open Meetings Laws” *A member of the public does not have the right to speak to the governing body at an open meeting.  The public is only entitled to see and hear what happens at a meeting, and to record or broadcast those observations.

• No personal attacks to persons present or not
• No inflammatory language used during time that you have the platform
• 5 minute maximum or as directed by the chair
• Thank you for participating in City Government.

Public Hearing

A Public Hearing for Rezoning Block Plecity Mobile Home Park Addition.  City Attorney Martineck  said the Planning Commission previously approved the rezoning.  No correspondence was received.

Following the Public Hearing, City commissioners approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 1053, Rezoning Block 3 Plecity Mobile Home Park Addition.

Resolution

Approved was a Resolution Approving the Replat of Greenline Deere Second Addition.  City Attorney Martineck said the Planning Commission previously approved the replat.
New Business

Approved was  $500,000 funding from Bank of ND for the I-94 Regional Development Corridor water and sanitary sewer line extension project. City Auditor Richter the funds are to be used for the extension of Valley Plains Equipment. Annexation and other items need to be approved, including Tax Increment Financing  and then address the funding.  If not used the funding will be de-obligated.

City Updates & Commission Reports

KLJ gave project updates, and bids to be received on the next phase of the StreetScape project.

City Assessor Sandy Hansen thanked city officials to allow her to work from home.

She is consulting with other City Assessors, on how to carry out regular business, including drive by assessements she’s planning.

Commission Magnuson said Valley City residents are for the most part observing safety measures to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and urged them continuing to do so.

Mayor Carlsrud said to visit with family members by various on line opportunities.

He thanked city employees for carrying with work, some working from home and others still working at City Hall, which remains closed to the public.

He urges resident to stay vigilant in observing social distancing, including when participating in outdoors activities.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 68 followed by replays.

Valley City  (CSi)  The Barnes County Commission has approved going ahead with the bid process for a new jail.

An option  includes or excludes a law enforcement center, regarding the cost of the bids submitted to the county over the next two months. Bids would be let on May 18th.

Under the proposed plan, a new jail and law enforcement center would be constructed east of the existing National Guard facility along the I-94 frontage road in Valley City.

The new estimate to build a jail and sheriff’s office is now at $15.9 million compared to $18.3 million released last month.

Barnes County Commission President Bill Carlblom says the commission will make a final decision when they see what the lowest bid is on the total construction cost.

Barnes County Auditor Beth Didier says the county would seek a 30 year bond to pay for the new jail at a cost of $805,000 annually to keep the project within the 10 mill requirement by the county.

In 2019, the Department of Corrections said the 112 year old jail is unsafe for staff and inmates and no longer meets state required standards.

Valley City  (CSi)  The City of Valley City will host a COVID-19 Response briefing Wednesday evening, at City Hall, closed to the public in observance of Social Distancing, providing accurate information.

Each organization provided updates and information pertaining to recent developments in the COVID-19 community response.

Speakers:

City-County Health District, Administrator, Theresa Will,

 

State Senator, District 24, Larry Robinson

 

Valley City Mayor, Dave Carlsrud

The meeting airs live with replays on CSi TV 10 -The Replay Channel & CSi 68.   To view the briefing online, view it here at CSiNewsNOW.com or go to the CSi LiveStream at Facebook.

Jamestown  (CSi)  St. John’s Academy is adapting well to changes in learning brought on by school classes being held on line through distance learning.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Principal Jeff Trumbauer said that St. John’s Academy had in place the on line learning curriculum a week before state Department of Public Instruction mandate, with St. John’s Academy having the curriculum in place on March 23.

He said the teachers and staff are credited with the rapid transition, and thanked parents and students for adapting to the distance learning from home, process.

He said a virtual dashboard on line was created, for each grade level.

Jeff said that the distance learning on line classes are being revised regularly.

He pointed out that the “Summer Express,” summer learning  program with projects  is still be planned, whether virtually or being postponed, with in person students and staff is yet to be decided.

In place of a sixth grade graduation, plans may include and Ice Cream Social, where the graduates can meet and get together, yet to be decided.

He said the new construction at St. John’s Academy is moving ahead with interior work which includes the new addition to the west, and half of the existing first floor being remodeled to become the administration offices.  The school will also have a chapel in the building.

He said last October’s HOPE Dinner & Auction fundraiser was postponed a day due to the blizzard that weekend.  Even so attendance was high, with some driving  a distance, as the event netting a good amount of dollars, in support of St. John’s Academy.

Anyone with questions about the distance learning, or enrollment, may call St. John’s Academy at 701-252-3397.

 

HAWLEY, Minn. (KFGO-AM) — Law enforcement officers are searching a landfill in western Minnesota in connection with a dismemberment slaying.

Twenty-seven-year-old Ethan Broad was charged this week in Clay County with second-degree murder without intent while committing a felony. According to a criminal complaint, Broad killed 19-year-old Dystynee Avery, cut up her body with a saw, put the remains into garbage bags and dumped them in bins near his apartment. Broad told police he killed and dismembered Avery in self-defense. Moorhead Police Capt. Deric Swenson tells KFGO that local and state officers are searching for evidence at the landfill near Hawley. But, authorities were not more specific.

 

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s top oil regulator says nearly a third of the state’s wells have been idled and crude production has slid by more than 20% in recent days amid the COVID-19 outbreak. State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms told the North Dakota Industrial Commission tuesday that some 5,000 wells have been shut down in recent weeks, accounting for about 300,000 barrels of lost oil daily. Helms estimated the state has lost up to 60,000 barrels of oil production in “the last 24 hours” as oil prices crashed. Gov. Doug Burgum has called it a potential “economic Armageddon for North Dakota.”

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An investigation has found no wrongdoing of an agency that allegedly violated state law. North Dakota Auditor Joshua Gallion released a report last year that said the Department of Commerce violated the law on bidding uncompetitive contracts for the state’s “Be Legendary” logo and associated “rebranding” effort for the state. The agency promotes tourism and economic development. The logo sparked criticism when the contract for it was awarded to a Minnesota firm headed by a woman who once worked for Gov. Doug Burgum’s old Fargo software business. Burleigh County State’s Attorney Julie Lawyer says she did not find any criminal violations.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Strong winds fueled a fire that destroyed two mobile homes in Minot. All occupants of the homes got out safely Monday. Officials say someone in one of the homes was cooking lunch when the fire started at Jefferson Mobile Home Park Monday. Three engines, one ladder truck, and one command vehicle responded to the call about 12:40 p.m. Authorities say the fire had quickly spread to an adjacent mobile home. The fire was contained in about 30 minutes with firefighters staying on scene to put out hot spots. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

In sports….

VIRUS AFFECTS ON SPORTS…

Bismarck    The American Legion Department of North Dakota has canceled the upcoming season.

Teams across the state were informed Tuesday via email. North Dakota’s Department Executive Committee initially canceled the season in early April, but then decided to revisit that decision April 20.

North Dakota American Legion, Department Commander, Kenny Wiederholt, sent out the following statement:

“North Dakota American Legion Baseball Chair Russ Kroshus gave a very informational update regarding the baseball committee’s thoughts on the legion’s baseball season and some of the actions taking place to prepare for it. The DEC then held a lengthy discussion, with the main focus concerning safety. The final decision to suspend the 2020 baseball season was a unanimous decision by all seven of the voting members on the Department Executive Committee. Although this decision is regrettable, it was made solely to preserve the safety and health of everyone associated with this program. The department and I applaud the many people who have worked endlessly to shape this great program over the years into that which we know it today. We also wish to thank those who continue to mentor these young athletes. In this time where the government urges wearing masks anywhere in public, I ask that we all remain responsible and keep the health of those around us first and foremost.”

Meanwhile, the North Dakota High School Activities Association effectively suspended all sports and activities indefinitely on March 13 with the halting of state high school basketball tournaments that were in progress. The NDHSAA plans to revisit the suspension of winter tournaments and spring sports on May 1.

 

Djokovic says he may reconsider stance on vaccination

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Novak Djokovic has reiterated he is against taking an anti-coronavirus vaccination if it becomes mandatory to travel, but says he’s open to changing his mind.

The top-ranked Djokovic caused a stir when he suggested in a live Facebook chat over the weekend that if a vaccination becomes compulsory on the world tennis tour then he “wouldn’t want to be forced by someone” to take it.

Djokovic says in a statement emailed to the AP that despite his personal objection to a vaccine, “if it becomes compulsory, I will have to make a decision whether to do it or not.”

OLYMPICS-POSTPONEMENT COSTS

Conflict over who will pay for the Olympic delay

TOKYO (AP) — An open conflict has broken out between Tokyo Olympic organizers and the IOC over who will be paying for the unprecedented year-long postponement.

Tokyo spokesman Masa Takaya says the organizing committee asked the Switzerland-based IOC to remove a comment from its website suggesting that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed that Japan would pay most of the postponement costs.

Media reports in Japan estimate the year-long delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic will cost $2 billion to $6 billion.

Takaya says it was not appropriate for Abe’s name to be linked. The IOC removed the reference.

In other sports…

Valley City  (Parks Dept)  Valley City Town & Country Club will be opening for the 2020 Season on Wednesday, April 22. Tee times will start at 10am and will spread out every 15 minutes.

NO ACCESS to the upstairs clubhouse (all transactions go through the pro shop) at this time. For all food & beverage orders 701-845-4626.

A reminder The CDC, ND State Health Department, and local authorities are allowing Golf Courses in North Dakota to operate with approved “social distancing” practices. It is called “Park & Play” program for a reason! They EXPECT people to go from your vehicle to course and back home with VERY LIMITED human interaction under the prescribed social distancing guidelines (6 Ft. Rule). This DOES NOT mean loitering/socializing and unnecessary gathering! Simply put, get your exercise, have some food & drink, enjoy the outdoors, go home & be safe.

Please DO NOT go golfing if you are feeling any symptoms of sickness AT ALL! “We reserve the right to remove anyone who is not following these regulations or may be demonstrating any symptoms of illness.”

NFL-BUCCANEERS-GRONKOWSKI

Bucs acquiring Gronk

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rob Gronkowski spent nine seasons catching passes from Tom Brady in New England. The two are about to reunite in Tampa Bay.

Gronkowski’s agent says the tight end is about to come out of retirement and has accepted a trade to the Buccaneers. The Patriots also would send a seventh-round pick to the Bucs for a fourth-rounder.

The deal is pending a physical and would give Brady one of his most dependable pass-catchers. Brady signed a two-year, $50 million contract with the Bucs last month.

Gronkowski has caught 521 passes for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns in 115 regular-season games. The five-time Pro Bowl selection has another 81 catches for 1,163 yards and 12 TDs in 16 playoff games.

The tight end position already was considered one of Tampa Bay’s biggest strengths, with O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate teaming with Pro Bowl receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. They form the best collection of targets Brady has had to work with in more than a decade.

MLB-A-ROD-METS

A-Rod interested in buying Mets

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets were very interested in acquiring Alex Rodriguez through free agency almost 20 years. The situation is now reversed.

A-Rod and fiancee Jennifer Lopez have retained J.P. Morgan to represent them in raising capital for a possible bid for the Mets. The move was first reported by Variety and confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the decision.

The three-time AL MVP retired in August 2016 with 698 home runs, a .295 average and 2,086 RBIs in 22 years. He was suspended for the 2014 season for violations of Major League Baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract.

BASEBALL-MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACTION

Minor leagues prepared to accept contraction plan

NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that the minor leagues are prepared to agree to Major League Baseball’s proposal to cut guaranteed affiliations from 160 to 120 next year.

The plan would impact hundreds of prospects and cut player development expenses. An electronic negotiating session is scheduled for Wednesday.

MLB last year proposed cutting 42 affiliates. The minors have fought the plan, but the new coronavirus pandemic has changed the dynamic and sapped minor league teams of revenue and willingness to fight.

 

 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-NEWS

Bulls punished for recruiting issues

UNDATED (AP) — The University at Buffalo men’s basketball team has been placed on one-year probation after a former assistant coach was found to have forged recruiting documents.

Buffalo also was fined $5,000, agreed to a two-week ban on communicating with potential recruits and reduced its recruiting days by five for the 2020-21 season.

The decision was announced by the NCAA and the Mid-American Conference school as part of a negotiated resolution reached today. The school said it self-reported the infractions in October and cooperated with the NCAA investigation.

In other college basketball news:

— Ball State guard K.J. Walton will return for his sixth college season after receiving a waiver from the NCAA and the approval of the Mid-American Conference. The former Missouri player sat out the 2017-18 because of college basketball’s transfer rule and played just 10 games last season because of an ankle injury that required surgery. He has started 35 games of the 42 he’s appeared in with the Cardinals and averages 11.7 points and 4.5 rebounds.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-NCAA RULES

NCAA alters video reviews, targeting rules

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA has announced a pace-of-play guideline for instant replay officials to complete video reviews in less than two minutes of a college football game.

The Playing Rules Oversight Panel also approved the rules change no longer requiring players to head to the locker room after being penalized for targeting. All other aspects of the rule discouraging above-the-shoulders contact remain the same.

SOUTH KOREA-BASEBALL

South Korean season to begin in May without fans

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s professional baseball league has decided to begin its season on May 5.

The games will be played without fans until the risk of infection from the coronavirus is gone.

The league plans to maintain a 144-game regular-season schedule but has decided scrap its all-star game and shorten the first round of the playoffs from a best-of-five to best-of-three series.

The KBO says it could shorten the regular season if infections erupt. The league will advise players to wear face masks in locker rooms and require them to download smartphone apps to report their daily health status to league officials.

SOCCER-BARCELONA STADIUM

Naming rights to be sold to iconic Barcelona stadium to benefit virus fight

BARCELONA (AP) — Barcelona’s soccer team will sell the title rights to its famed stadium for one year in an effort to raise money for the fight against the coronavirus.

The Spanish club’s executive board says it will donate the entire fee raised by selling the title rights to the Camp Nou to fighting the global pandemic. The Camp Nou has never had a sponsor since it opened in 1957.

In other virus-related developments:

— Reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson admits it was “bad timing.” The Baltimore Ravens quarterback threw footballs to teammate Marquise Brown and former NFL star Antonio Brown during an informal workout in Florida on April 1, without regard to social distancing. Jackson told reporters today that he’s now working out alone.

— The deputy head of Germany’s national disease control center has cautioned against coronavirus testing for soccer players in order to restart the league. Regular testing of players and team staff is a key element of a plan to resume German soccer in empty stadiums next month. Robert Koch Institute vice president Lars Schaade says he doesn’t “see why certain sections of the population … should be routinely screened.” Schaade says he would prefer testing to be focused on people who show symptoms or who are linked to an outbreak of the virus.

— The men’s and women’s professional tennis tours plan to create a player relief fund to help those in the sport dealing with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The ATP and WTA say they are in discussions with the International Tennis Federation and the four Grand Slam tournaments. Neither tour provided any specifics about how much money they are pooling or how it will be distributed. No tournaments will be played before mid-July at the earliest.

— The Associated Press has learned the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is bracing for cuts of 10% to 20% because of the coronavirus pandemic that has pushed the Olympics back one year and triggered losses across the nation’s sports organizations. The AP received a copy of a letter CEO Sarah Hirshland sent to leaders across the U.S. Olympic world in which she said the exact nature of the cuts would be determined by the end of May.

— A staff member of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee has tested positive for COVID-19. Tokyo organizers say it’s a male employee in his 30s who worked at the headquarters building in a part of Tokyo known as Harumi. Organizers say the man is in quarantine at home. The Tokyo Olympics were postponed last month until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

— The general manager of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya says Formula One organizers are open to renegotiating hosting fees for races that may take place without fans this season because of the coronavirus pandemic. Joan Fontseré tells The Associated Press that Liberty Media is “conscious” that if races need to go on without fans then the contracts with event promoters will have to be somehow renegotiated. Nine of the 22 races this season have already been postponed or canceled.

NFL-OBIT-CURTIS

Former Colts linebacker Mike Curtis dead at 77

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The hard-hitting, no-nonsense linebacker Mike Curtis has died. He died Monday in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Son Clay says on Twitter his father died of “complications from CTE,” a degenerative brain disease.

Curtis helped the Colts win a Super Bowl during a 14-year career spent predominantly in Baltimore. He earned the nickname “Mad Dog” because of his fierce play in the middle of a strong Baltimore defense. His interception in the waning minutes of the 1970 Super Bowl set up the winning field goal in the Colts’ win over Dallas.

 

In world and national news…

NEW YORK (AP) — A barrel of oil now costs less than a cheap bottle of wine. Oil tanks are filling up and producers are finding there’s nowhere to put the once-valuable commodity as global demand craters and prices sink to new lows. U.S. benchmark crude was trading around $6.50 a barrel Tuesday. That’s more than 80% lower than the start of the year. The dizzying drop reflected stark suffering in the global economy that has left vastly diminished demand for oil. Some brokers were betting that storage would be more valuable than oil next month, leading some on Monday to pay potential buyers to take oil off their hands.

BEIJING (AP) — China is slamming a lawsuit brought against it by the U.S. state of Missouri over the coronavirus pandemic as “very absurd.” Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang says the legal action has “no factual and legal basis at all,” and is defending China’s response to the outbreak, which has largely subsided in the country where it was first detected. China’s government has strenuously denied accusations that officials delayed reporting on the extent of the outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, despite reports that worries over political stability were placed above public health concerns.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is sprinting to approve a $483 billion coronavirus aid package. The deal backed by the White House would replenish a small-business payroll fund and pump more money into hospitals and testing programs. President Donald Trump is urging swift passage this week. The bill is Washington’s fourth in response to the crisis, but it’s not expected to be the last. Lawmakers are taking unprecedented steps to confront the virus and prop up communities nationwide during the health crisis. The Senate approved the package Tuesday. The House is asking lawmakers to return for a Thursday vote.

 

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin health officials say they have identified at least seven people who may have contracted the coronavirus from participating in the April 7 election. They would be the first such cases since the state held in-person voting despite widespread concern about the health risks. The conditions of the seven, all in Milwaukee, weren’t immediately available. City health commissioner Jeanette Kowalik says six are voters and one is a poll worker. Voters in Milwaukee stood in long lines, many for hours, to cast ballots after the city was forced to pare nearly 200 voting locations down to just five due to a shortage of poll workers.

 

BEIJING (AP) — The price of oil remains under pressure after falling by almost 50% in the past five days. The price of U.S. oil was down another 5 cents at $11.52 a barrel on Wednesday, highlighting concerns about a glut of supply, a lack of storage space in the U.S. and crashing demand for energy around the globe. The volatility in oil markets weighed heavily this week on stock markets as well. They recovered their poise on Wednesday. European indexes are up by almost 1% after Asia largely closed higher, while Wall Street futures point to moderate gains on the open.

 

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard says it has launched a military satellite into orbit amid wider tensions with the U.S. The Guard made the announcement on Wednesday morning on its official website. It said the two-stage satellite launch took off from Iran’s Central Desert, without elaborating. It called the launch “a great achievement.” The launch comes amid tensions between Tehran and Washington over its collapsing nuclear deal and after a U.S. drone strike killed Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in January. Iran has suffered several failed satellite launches in recent months.

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Health officials say two people died with the coronavirus in California weeks before the first reported death from the disease. Officials said the people died at home weeks before the first death in the nation was reported on Feb. 29 in Kirkland, Washington. The announcement came as California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to update on the state’s plans to reopen. Newsom is scheduled to give an update on Wednesday about the state’s ability to test people for the coronavirus. He says the state is averaging 14,500 tests per day. That’s an increase from the 2,000 tests per day the state was averaging.