Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Apr 28

CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Rain showers likely and chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 60s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation

60 percent, in the Jamestown area, 90 percent in the Valley City area.

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely and chance of

thunderstorms in the evening, then slight chance of rain showers

after midnight. Lows in the lower 40s. Northwest winds 10 to

15 mph. Chance of precipitation 60 percent in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs in

the lower 60s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 40s. Northeast

winds around 5 mph shifting to the south around 5 mph after

midnight.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 70. South winds 5 to

15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 50.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers and

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs in the mid 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the lower 40s.

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

morning, then slight chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in

the afternoon. Highs around 60. Chance of precipitation

20 percent.

 

From the 125th Anniversary Calendar of Jamestown History

This Day In History, April 28, 1944 – Hairdressers must have a license if not,  Jail or a fine.

Hairdressers warning – Law now (in 1944) fixes a $100 fine or 30 days in jail for practicing hair dressing without a license.

 

Jamestown (CSi) the Jamestown City Fire Department was called out Monday evening at 10:11-p.m.   Smoke was reported coming out of a wall of a house, 300 block of 6th St NE.

Lt. Sheldon Mohr says damage was confined to the deck an siding of the house.

The probable cause was smoking material.

No injuries reported.

Four city fire units, and 22 fire fighters were on the scene about 25 minutes.

 

Jamestown  (JPD)  Jamestown Police report that on Sunday, April 26, 2020, at approximately 10:48-p.m.  Assistant Police Chief, Major Justin Blinsky reported, police were dispatched to the 1600 block of 11 Ave NE, to investigate a report of a domestic assault which had just occurred. The female victim reported she had been cut by the female suspect with a knife, in her leg, and had also received death threats from her. The victim told dispatchers she had locked herself and her infant child in a bedroom at the residence and was currently unable to get out of the residence, as the suspect was also still inside.

 

Jamestown Police Officers arrived on the scene and made an immediate forced entry into the apartment. Officers were able to evacuate the 34-year-old victim and her infant child, after entry was made. The female victim and her child were provided medical aid and the victim was transported to Jamestown Regional Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries from her knife wound. Officers determined the victim and suspect know one another and are currently in a domestic relationship.

 

The female suspect remained inside the apartment and had barricaded herself in a different portion of the apartment. The suspect began threatening self-harm with a knife. Officers continued to communicate with the female suspect, trying to get her to come out of the apartment safely. After receiving verification from the victim that no one else was inside the residence, officers set up a perimeter and continued to communicate with the female suspect through the breached apartment door.

At approximately 11:34-p.m., the female suspect walked toward Officers standing in the hallway, while holding the knife in her hand and she refused orders stop or to put the knife down. Officers were forced to use a less-lethal weapon to deploy a less-lethal bean bag projectile at her. The less-lethal projectile was effective as it struck the female suspect and it stopped her from further advancing toward officers. The suspect went back inside the apartment.

 

Crisis Negotiators from the James-Valley Special Operations Team were called to the scene and continued communications with the female suspect.

142-a.m. Monday after lengthy negotiations, the female suspect complied with lawful orders to put down the knife and to come out of the apartment. She was taken into custody without further incident.

 

The female suspect has been identified as 47-year-old Nicole Maree Bearking of Jamestown. Bearking was arrested on suspicion of Aggravated Assault and Terrorizing. She was initially transported to Jamestown Regional Medical Center for medical evaluation and then later transported to Stutsman County Corrections, to await formal charges.

 

The Jamestown Police Department was assisted by the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office and Jamestown Area Ambulance. This incident remains under investigation.

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  North Dakota Governor, Doug Burgum’s Monday COVID-19 News Briefing was held at the State Capital in Bismarck.  Among the topics discussed was the state’s plan for a North Dakota Smart Restart.

 

NDDoH

Reported Mon. Apr. 27, 2020

Positive COVID-19 Test Results
Results listed are from the previous day.

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Man in his 80s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 80s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

 

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TODAY

• Cass County – 34
• Grand Forks County – 36
• Mountrail County – 1
• Ramsey County – 1
• Walsh County – 3

On Monday 1987 Tests were completed

BY THE NUMBERS

22,434 – Total Tested (+1,987 individuals from yesterday)

21,492 – Total Negative (+1,912 individuals from yesterday)

942 – Total Positive (+75 individuals from yesterday)

77 – Total Hospitalized (+6 individuals from yesterday)

23 – Currently Hospitalized (+5 individuals from yesterday)

350 – Total Recovered (+24 individuals from yesterday)

19 – Total Deaths (+2 individual from yesterday)

 

For descriptions of these categories, visit the NDDoH dashboard.

 

For the most updated and timely information and updates related to COVID-19, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus, follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

The latest stop for “Operation Drive-In” was on Saturday in Fargo.  Overall, 1,013 tests were collected. The State Health Department gives, “Special thanks to the ND National Guard, Fargo-Cass Public Health & the City of Fargo for another great day of testing.”

He said the goal is to test daily, 4,000/per day in May 6,000/per day in June.

Burgum said North Dakota still has adequate hospital bed capacity.

Burgum said he said 93 percent of businesses were not affected by the mandatory closures of North Dakota businesses.

With North Dakota Smart Restart he said eight protocols need to be met before reopening, those closed businesses.  Included are increasing the daily tests, growth in contact tracing, overall transmission rates declining, protections for vulnerable population, sufficient health care capacity, adequate Personal Protective Equipment capacity, standard operating procedures, being prepared for a resurgence in Coronavirus.  Also included is testing numbers up, and positive tests, low.

Burgum said North Dakota is in a good position for a Smart Restart.

A recent survey showed about 98 percent of North Dakotans survey were observing safe practices.

He said the current closures of some businesses and business restrictions for others, will expire on Thursday April 30, 2020.  He added on Friday May 1, 2020, executive orders will be implemented for new standard  operating procedures to be in place. This phase, includes, continuing with social distancing, wearing face masks, and hygiene practices.  He added that individual businesses may fully open according to their wishes, and observing the policy under the new executive orders.

Tuesday’s News Briefing will outline further information contained in the May 1, executive order.

A range of options will be studied with school districts, the Department of Public Instruction and state officials, concerning possible options of reopening schools, partial openings, or opening by certain grade levels.

He said over the past weekend  2,336 new jobless claims were filed, bringing the total since March 16, 2020 to Monday to 63,929 jobless claims.

 

In other state news….

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced Monday the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $14,108,992 to 40 providers and health systems in North Dakota through the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund as allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This is the first part of the second tranche of COVID-19 relief funds awarded by HHS. Health care providers in North Dakota have now received $105,173,571 through the CARES Act.

The funds come as part of a $200 billion nation-wide federal funding allocation to respond to COVID-19, with the a second wave totaling $50 billion being delivered Monday. Facilities and providers are allotted a portion of the $50 billion based on their share of 2018 net patient revenue. These are payments, not loans, to health care providers, and will not need to be repaid

 

The North Dakota Department of Human Services wants state residents to know help is available if they are currently having trouble paying their heating bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in household income.

The federally-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help qualifying households by paying a portion of their home heating costs. The regular heating assistance program, which ends on May 31, together with LIHEAP’s year-round emergency crisis program, can assist with ongoing heating costs and immediate needs.

The program also focuses on improving home heating efficiency by offering furnace and chimney inspections and cleanings, furnace repair and replacement, weatherization services like home insulation, weather stripping around doors and windows, and other energy-saving improvements to help lower heating costs for qualifying households.

Both homeowners and renters living in a permanent housing structure can apply for LIHEAP and weatherization services.

Households are encouraged to apply as soon as possible if they need financial help with heating bills, have received a shut-off notice or have been disconnected, are low on fuel or completely out of fuel, or are unable to pay for home heating fuel or services due to an unexpected economic hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency program can assist with unpaid heating costs incurred up to 90 days before the date a household applies for help.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Public Works informs residents that city crews will begin flushing fire hydrants in the SE areas beginning Monday, APRIL 27, 2020 and will continue the work throughout the City during normal working hours until completed.

Please be aware of the possibility of lowered water pressure when flushing of hydrants occurs in the various areas.

Bismarck   (FEMA news release)  – Dickey and Emmons counties were added to the federal disaster declaration issued by President Trump on January 21, 2020 in response to North Dakota flooding from October 9 to October 26, 2019.

As a result of the declaration, federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by flooding. The federal cost share is no less that 75 percent, with the state and local applicant responsible for remaining costs.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.

Areas already included in the disaster declaration were: Barnes, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, Mountrail, Nelson, Sargent, Sheridan, Stutsman, Traill, Walsh, and Wells Counties.

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) — Authorities in western Minnesota say remains recovered from a landfill have been identified as those of a missing 19-year-old woman who prosecutors say was killed and dismembered. Moorhead police said Monday the Ramsey County medical examiner’s office positively identified the remains discovered last week as those of Dystynee Avery. Twenty-seven-year-old Ethan Broad was charged last week with second-degree murder without intent while committing a felony in Avery’s death. Two people were arrested last week on accessory to murder charges, and police said Monday a 33-year-old West Fargo, North Dakota, man also was taken into custody on accessory to murder charges.

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KFGO-AM) — A foster mother is charged in Minnesota with killing a young boy in her care. Thirty-five-year-old Kellie Jo Anderson is facing a charge of second -degree murder. The Burnsville woman was arrested in Fargo, North Dakota last week for felony neglect. That charge was amended Monday in Clay County. Authorities have not released the child’s age or identity. KFGO reports court documents say the boy was “blue and lifeless” and had multiple bruises on his face, head and body when Anderson brought him to the Fargo Sanford emergency room last Thursday. Court records do not list an attorney for Anderson.

In sports…

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have repaid a loan of roughly $4.6 million from a coronavirus relief program after learning the program’s funds had been depleted.

The Lakers applied for the loan under the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, and they received it in the first round of distribution.

The team returned its loan after the fund ran out of money in less than two weeks. So did several wealthier businesses that had applied for the funds, including Shake Shack and AutoNation.

The Lakers qualified for the program because they have only about 300 employees. But the team is thought to be the NBA’s second-most valuable franchise, with Forbes estimating a value of $4.4 billion.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NBA FACILITIES

NBA pushes plan to reopen facilities until May 8 at earliest

MIAMI (AP) — The NBA has pushed back plans that would allow teams to reopen their practice facilities for at least one week.

The NBA had decided over the weekend to have teams open their gyms for voluntary player workouts on Friday, if local and state laws made such a move permissible. But on Monday the league revised that potential opening date until May 8, at the earliest.

The NBA says the May 8 date is far from firm, warning teams that it “may push this timing back if developments warrant.”

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BASEBALL

New Rangers park among possible MLB ideas for season start

UNDATED (AP) — The new Texas Rangers ballpark is among possible venues Major League Baseball could use if it decides to start the season with groups of teams in different areas.

Among the different plans looked at by Major League Baseball is to use Texas as a mid-American hub.

Having all 30 teams based in Phoenix has been examined. So has having groups of teams in Arizona, Texas and Florida.

All of those areas have climate-controlled MLB stadiums, and other nearby ballparks. The Rangers still haven’t played a game in their new stadium with a retractable roof.

NFL NEWS

McVay’s Rams begin virtual learning in unusual NFL offseason

UNDATED (AP) — Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay has big plans for an offseason of virtual learning for his players.

The Rams will hold four 90-minute virtual sessions of teaching per week, learning their new assignments and schemes on computers and tablets instead of the grass. McVay will spice up the sessions with guest speakers, including Clippers coach Doc Rivers and hopefully Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

The Rams have plenty of work to do during the offseason although they finished 9-7 last year for their third straight winning season under McVay. Along with several major roster changes, McVay hired a new offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

— The Cleveland Browns have exercised the fifth-year contract options on star defensive end Myles Garrett and tight end David Njoku. The decision on Garrett was no surprise. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft. He’s developed into one of the NFL’s premiere pass rushers and was on his way to another big season in 2019 before he was suspended for striking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with a helmet. Njoku missed 10 games last season after breaking his wrist.

— The Washington Redskins have exercised the fifth-year option on defensive lineman Jonathan Allen’s rookie contract. The team announced the expected move in the aftermath of the NFL draft. Allen was Washington’s first-round pick in 2017 and has started 36 games. The Alabama product has 139 tackles and 15 sacks so far as a pro. He was voted defensive captain in his third season and has emerged as one of the Redskins’ leaders in his mid-20s.

— Patriots fullback James Develin is retiring from the NFL because of complications from the neck injury that caused him to miss the final 14 games of last season. He announced his decision in an Instagram message. The 31-year-old has been a staple of both New England’s offense and special teams since joining the team in 2012. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2017 as a fullback.

— The Atlanta Falcons have added more help on offense in reaching agreements with 20 college free agents. The Falcons focused on defense in the NFL draft. Among the college free agents who agreed to terms were three wide receivers, two tight ends, one fullback and five offensive linemen. Jalen McCleskey of Tulane, Chris Rowland of Tennessee State and Juwan Green of Albany are the three wide receivers in the group. The Falcons also reached deals with tight ends Jared Pinkney of Vanderbilt and Caleb Repp of Utah State.

— The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms with 18 undrafted free agents. The list includes running backs James Robinson and Tavien Feaster. Robinson or Feaster should have a decent shot at making the team’s 53-man roster because Jacksonville didn’t address the position in free agency or the NFL draft. Robinson ran for 4,444 yards and 44 touchdowns during four seasons at Illinois State. Feaster played three years at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina. He was the Gamecocks’ leading rusher last year, finishing with 572 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

— The New York Giants have agreed to contract terms with 15 players who were not taken in the NFL draft this weekend. Among the players who reached agreements were two Ohio State receivers, Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor.

— The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on contracts with 12 college free agents. That’s after the record haul of 15 draft picks they made over the weekend. Texas A&M wide receiver Quartney Davis was one of the priorities, as one of the top-rated undrafted prospects. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Davis skipped his final season with Texas A&M to turn pro. He had 616 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games for the Aggies in 2019.

— Each of the NFC East teams will carry an international player on its practice squad in the upcoming season. As part of its developmental program, the NFL has assigned Mexico’s Isaac Alarcon to Dallas, Germany’s David Bada to Washington, Australia’s Matt Leo to Philadelphia, and Austria’s Sandro Platzgummer to the New York Giants. The division was chosen as part of a random draw.

NHL NEWS

Blackhawks fire team president McDonough in surprising move

UNDATED (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have fired team president John McDonough, ending a wildly successful run that included three Stanley Cup championships.

The surprising move comes with the NHL season on pause because of the coronavirus pandemic. And it raises questions about the direction of one of the league’s marquee franchises. McDonough had been supportive of general manager Stan Bowman despite three straight seasons of lackluster results.

Owner Rocky Wirtz says it was a difficult move, but he thinks it’s the “right decision.” The owner’s 43-year-old son Danny Wirtz is replacing McDonough on an interim basis. Danny Wirtz is a vice president with the team.

In other NHL news:

— Longtime NHL forward Joel Ward has retired. The 39-year-old Ward last played in the NHL in 2018 for the San Jose Sharks. He went to training camp with Montreal the following season but was unable to get another shot. Ward started his career with Minnesota and also played for Nashville and Washington in his 11-year career.

NASCAR

All eyes on NASCAR as it races toward restart

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR is racing toward a restart that could come as early as mid-May.

The stock car series is trying to put together a schedule that allows it to race in states that have started re-opening without spectators. The series is working on safety protocols that other racing leagues will be watching.

Teams could be back at work in North Carolina race shops by the end of the week when local stay-at-home orders expire.

SPORTS-VIRUS OUTBREAK

Golf to resume in Washington State

UNDATED (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has announced that golf can resume in the state beginning May 5.

The announcement on Monday was part of a partial resumption of outdoor activities that includes fishing, hunting and use of state parks and state lands for day trips.

Inslee said that the Golf Alliance of Washington has established several rules, including spacing out of tee times, limits on the number of people playing golf together, and allowing take-away food and beverage service only.

Inslee said that if the state sees an uptick in infections of the new coronavirus, or if people don’t continue to take safety measures while recreating, the activities could again be restricted. Public gatherings and events, team sports and camping are all still prohibited under the current stay-at-home order that has been in place since March 23.

In other coronavirus-related sports developments:

— The head of Japan’s medical association thinks it will be difficult to hold the Olympics without an effective coronavirus vaccine. Japan and the International Olympic Committee agreed to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games until July next year due to the global pandemic. Japan is under a monthlong state of emergency amid a rapid increase of infections throughout the country, where hospitals are overburdened. Japan Medical Association President Yoshitake Yokokura says even if infections are under control in Japan by next summer, it would still be hard to stage the games unless the pandemic is over in the rest of the world. Experts have said it could take 12-18 months or longer to develop a vaccine that is safe and effective for clinical use.

— The American Hockey League is “quite likely” to cancel the rest of its season because of the new coronavirus pandemic. That is according to a person with direct knowledge of league discussions who commented anonymously because the person was not authorized to discuss the plans of the NHL’s top minor league. The AHL responded by saying there’s “nothing imminent” in terms of calling off the remainder of the season. Last week, AHL President and CEO David Andrews said the league was “pivoting” to the 2020-21 season but added nothing was official.

— Arsenal has reopened part of its training ground for players to run alone as the English Premier League accelerates planning for “Project Restart” with the British government. It comes amid increased scrutiny of Downing Street downplaying the potential for sports to exacerbate the coronavirus outbreak seven weeks ago. It took Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi testing positive for COVID-19 on March 12 for the league to be suspended. Now the decision to allow sports to restart will be informed by experts who said there was “no rationale” to closing them down in the first place.

— Clemson has canceled all of its in-person, on-campus athletic and academic camps due to the coronavirus pandemic and will remain closed until May 8. The cancellations include two weeks of coach Dabo Swinney’s football camps, which have been popular stops for young people eager to gain instruction and contacts with Clemson coaches in all sports. Swinney and his staff have done well in attracting some of the nation’s top players.

— There won’t be any sun or sand for beach volleyball pros amid the coronavirus pandemic. The AVP tour has created a public service announcement to urge its fans to stay home to help fight the spread of the disease. Olympic medalists April Ross and Todd Rogers and a handful of the tour’s other stars recorded videos at home that were assembled for the spot that debuted on Monday.

— The title sponsor of New Orleans’ canceled PGA Tour event is donating $1.5 million to the tournament’s primary charitable foundation. The donation matches the amount raised during the 2019 Zurich Classic, which was played in a team format and won by the tandem of Ryan Palmer and Jon Rahm. For more than six decades, the New Orleans-area PGA Tour event’s primary charity has been The Fore!Kids Foundation, which raises money through golf events and distributes funds to area children’s service organizations.

— USA Swimming has announced its plans for a return to competition, beginning with a series of regional events in August before the national schedule begins in early November at Richmond, Virginia. The governing body is canceling all national events in July and early August because of the coronavirus pandemic. The regional events will be held in August, with an eye toward limiting the need for travel and promoting a safer environment for athletes, coaches, officials and families.

— UEFA is paying $255 million in advance to its national federations and easing requirements on how they spend it during the pandemic. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says the money “can be used as our members see fit to rebuild the football community.” Ceferin says “this is a responsible decision to help as much as we can.”

— FIFA wants to let soccer teams use five substitutes to cope with expected schedule congestion caused by the coronavirus pandemic. FIFA says the temporary plan could help prevent more injuries due to “potential player overload” as soccer competitions catch up with a backlog. The proposal gives competition organizers the option of letting teams use five substitutes in 90 minutes and a sixth in knockout games that go to extra time. FIFA says the rule could be used by all competitions finishing this year and next and all national team games through 2021.

— Formula One chairman Chase Carey says he is “increasingly confident” the season can start in July despite the first 10 races being canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The French Grand Prix decided to call off its race on June 28 rather than postponing it. That means the earliest start date is now the Austrian GP on July 5. F1 plans to start racing in Europe “through July, August and beginning of September, with the first race taking place in Austria.” Carey expects the early races to be without fans but hopes they “will be part of our events as we move further into the schedule.”

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Partisanship as well as uncertain scheduling may hamper if not halt work on a new coronavirus relief package. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says it might be time to consider a “guaranteed income” for Americans and insists that the next bill must provide aid to state and local governments to pay police, fire and other front-line “heroes.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell counters that his priority is to shield business owners from onerous laws. Leaders announced Congress will return May 4, but some lawmakers are being warned that full operations may not be able to resume for a year.

 

DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler is backing off a planned May 4 restart at its North American factories because it could conflict with stay-home orders in some states. The move likely means that factories of all three Detroit automakers will be idled for at least another two weeks as they negotiate reopening terms with the United Auto Workers union. Ford, General Motors and FCA factories have been idled for over a month due to fears of spreading the coronavirus. Detroit auto companies employ about 150,000 factory workers mainly in the industrial Midwest, but there are factories from New York to Tennessee and Texas.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — With some states gearing up to lift coronavirus restrictions, a new poll finds a potential obstacle to keeping new infections tamped down. Nearly 1 in 10 adults say cost would keep them from seeking treatment if they thought they were infected. The Gallup-West Health Healthcare Costs Survey out Tuesday found that younger people, members of minority groups, people with less than a college degree, and those making less than $40,000 a year were more likely to say they would avoid seeking treatment. That could create a blind spot for governors trying to calibrate economic reopening plans to keep watch for potential virus flare-ups.

 

SEATTLE (AP) — Workers exposed to the coronavirus at a troubled psychiatric hospital in Washington state tell The Associated Press that a flawed testing process likely produced inaccurate results and exposed them to the virus again. They say they were crowded into a small space where few wore masks and told to swirl a swab inside their noses. The method is meant only for people showing symptoms, and the staffers say none of them did. They say it’s another failure to protect staff and patients. The facility has a pattern of attacks and lost its federal funding after multiple investigations. Officials defend the test as accurate and say they’re working to regain employees’ trust.

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The first major test of an almost completely vote-by-mail election during a pandemic is about to unfold in Ohio, offering lessons to other states about how to conduct one of the most basic acts of democracy amid a health crisis. The Tuesday primary also could provide a preview of a November election that might still be marred by the coronavirus outbreak. Joe Biden has all but locked up the Democratic presidential nomination since the state’s March 17 primary was delayed. Instead, the spotlight has shifted to the process. Ohio law guarantees that voters who don’t receive a ballot they requested by the legal deadline can vote in person.