Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Apr 30

Jamestown  (JPD) On Thursday morning at 7:45 a.m., Jamestown Police responded to a report of shots being fired in Northeast Jamestown, after an altercation between 2 males.

Assistant Police Chief, Major Justin Blinsky reports, that he 911 caller who reported this to police was involved in this incident, but had left the location, prior to calling.

An initial investigation determined the 700 block of 2 Avenue, Northeast, was the location of the shots being fired. Two males were identified as being involved in an altercation which escalated into shots being fired. Those males are currently being questioned about the incident and there is no reason to believe there is any further risk to the public.

The Jamestown Police Department was being assisted by the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information about this incident or anyone that would have home video surveillance footage which shows vehicular travel within a 2-block radius of this location is asked to contact the Police Department at 701-252-2414. This incident remains under investigation.

Jamestown (CSi)   Jamestown Police is warning the public about a convicted sex offender living in Jamestown.

Michael Allan Nelson resides at 1018 4^th Avenue SW Jamestown Motel Room 36, Jamestown, ND

He is a 30 year old white male five feet nine inches tall, weighing 185 pounds with blue eyes and blond hair.

Nelson has been assigned a high risk assessment by the North Dakota Risk Level Committee of the Office of the North Dakota Attorney General.

Offense:  Corrupt/Solicitation of a minor.  The reports says, Nelson was drinking with a 14 year old girl, and took her to a bedroom and had intercourse with her.  The two had not been dating before the incident.

Disposition:  365 days, 121 days credit.

Nelson is not wanted by police at this time, and has served the sentence imposed by the Court.

This notification is meant for public safety and not to increase fear in the community, nor should this information be used to threaten, assault, or intimidate the offender.

Any attempts to harass, intimidate or threaten these offenders, their families, landlords, or employers will be turned over for prosecution.

Printed handouts of the demographics of Nelson are available at the Jamestown Police Department.

More information on registered sex offenders is available at the North Dakota Attorney General’s web site: www.sexoffender.nd.gov

Valley City (VCPS) Valley City Public Schools will close school for the remainder of the school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Superintendent Josh Johnson says distance learning will continue.

Statement from Josh Johnson:

Students, Staff, Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,The past seven weeks have created many challenges for us in our homes, schools, and communities. Whether it is the closure of our schools and/or local businesses, these abrupt changes have forced us all to function differently.

We cannot express enough our appreciation and gratitude for your support of the school district during these uncertain times. The care, compassion, and kindness that was shared from all of you has been amazing and will be a lasting memory from the 2019-2020 school year and the 2020 Pandemic.

This week Governor Burgum communicated plans to end restrictions that have previously been in place during the pandemic. He has established new procedures and plans for the re-opening of our business communities. Late in the evening on Wednesday, April 29th, school leaders were presented with a draft of the Department of Public Instruction guidelines and recommendations for the re-opening of our schools. We anticipate that this will be presented by the governor to the public in the next few days.

Valley City Public Schools has had the opportunity to review this plan and we believe that it will serve as a guide and framework for our district re-opening in August 2020. Therefore, Valley City Public Schools has made the difficult decision to continue with the closure of our schools thru the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This decision is being made following the guidance from our local health officials and with the best interest of the health and safety of our students, staff, parents, and community.

Please know that we understand that this decision places the responsibility on many of you to continue to support your children with distance learning for the remaining three weeks of the school year. This has not been an easy task for our students,staff, or parents over the past seven weeks. We will continue following our modified school calendar and focus on our four priorities of Relationship, Mental Health, Health and Safety, and Academic Opportunity.

I have directed our administration at Valley City Public Schools to begin making ‘modified’ plans for the successful completion of the 2019-2020 school year. This will include: graduation, the exchange of educational resources and student’s personal items, refunding options for 4thquarter pre-payments, and other student and/or school activities (i.e. Scholarship and Senior Activity Awards Night, National Honor Society, and Prom).

Please continue to follow your email notifications and be looking for additional communications coming very soon regarding these plans.Thank you again for your support of our school district and the difficult decisions that are being made during these challenging times. We will remain VCSTRONG and continue to rally our community in the days and months ahead.

Superintendent Josh Johnson

Valley City Public Schools

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his daily COVID-19 News Briefing, Thursday afternoon at the State Capital in Bismarck.  He was joined by Senator Kevin Cramer to discuss the Main Street Lending Program and Department of Human Services Executive Director Chris Jones to outline protections for vulnerable populations.

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

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED THURSDAY

• Burleigh County – 1
• Cass County – 21
• Grand Forks County – 7
• Pembina County – 2
• Stark County – 3

 

BY THE NUMBERS

27,460 – Total Tested (+1,924 individuals from yesterday)

26,393 – Total Negative (+1,890 individuals from yesterday)

1,067 – Total Positive (+34 individuals from yesterday)

85 – Total Hospitalized (+3 individuals from yesterday)

30 – Currently Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

458 – Total Recovered (+21 individuals from yesterday)

19 – Total Deaths (+0 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.

Burgum said, a record number of people are hospitalized, adding a good availability of ventilators, and the availability of hospital beds, is also good.

He added the number of recovered people is climbing.

Burgum reminded residents as ND Smart Restart reopenings begin on Friday, that the virus is still present, adding that the customer is responsible to join the business owners in being safe, and courteous to the owner, such as wearing a face mask, and social distancing, as in restaurant table space, and availability.  He urges if people are sick to stay home, and observe hygiene practices.  ndresponse.gov has more information.

COVID-19 testing will continue this weekend at various locations.   He said as of Thursday, no state run correctional facility has reported a positive case.

Department of Human Services Executive Director Chris Jones outlined protections for vulnerable populations.  The information is available at ndresponse.gov

The Vulnerable Population Protection Plan includes limiting congregate housing visitations.

With housing, federal housing dollars are being targeted, and home heating assistance, and rental assistance, is available, along with providing shelter for the homeless.  Mortgage and rental payment support is also available.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer spoke to discuss the Main Street Lending Program.

But, before that, he noted that the North Dakota Department of Human Services has expanded access to telehealth services to provide medically-necessary behavioral health services to vulnerable North Dakotans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth services are offered by the department’s eight regional behavioral health clinics and four satellite clinics in the state. Each clinic offers behavioral health services focused on chronic disease management and behavioral health crises services.

North Dakota leads the nation in loans, secured, under the Payroll Protection Program.

With the Main Street Lending Program, Cramer said the Federal Reserve on Thursday expanded the program, enabling borrows and businesses more flexibility in financing.

North Dakota Ag-Commissioner Doug Goehring said, the ethanol industry is getting boost from the Bank of North, noting that a backstop guarantee is in place. His office’s website has more information.

Burgum said with behavior health, a new app is available, “COVID Coach,” from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, that accesses mental health resources for all residents.

With the 2020 census, North Dakota response is at 54 percent.  North River, North Dakota residents has a 100 percent response.  October 31, 2020 is the new deadline date to respond.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he’s anticipating a major economic rebound in the coming months and a “spectacular” 2021. While economists are warning of serious long-term damage as the country plunges into recession because of the coronavirus, Trump is predicting a strong fourth quarter thanks to pent-up demand. He says, “I think we can actually surpass where we were,” while allowing he was relying on his gut. Trump’s comments Thursday are the latest sign that he is trying to turn the page on the virus, even as the nation’s death toll continues to climb and jobless claims rise.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says state and local governments are seeking up to $1 trillion for coronavirus costs. It’s an eye-popping sum for the next relief package that’s certain to run into opposition from Senate Republicans. Pelosi said Thursday the “heroes” fund would help prevent layoffs of nurses, bus drivers and other front-line workers as governors and mayors stare down red ink in their budgets. The new marker comes after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shifted tone and said he’s “open” to additional funding for the states. But McConnell says any new bill must include liability protections from an “avalanche” of lawsuits against businesses that reopen.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has agreed to let former primary rival Bernie Sanders keep hundreds of delegates that Sanders would otherwise forfeit by dropping out of the presidential race. The move was detailed to The Associated Press on Thursday. It’s s a major step as the two campaigns work to avoid the acrimony between the party establishment and progressive insurgents that marked Democrats’ 2016 battle between Sanders and nominee Hillary Clinton. In that campaign, Clinton and Sanders battled for delegates until the end of the primary calendar and then jousted over the party platform and rules well into the summer.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden is facing his first real challenge as the Democrats’ presidential nominee, as an allegation of sexual assault against him is drawing renewed media focus and Republican attacks. The charge by Biden’s former Senate staffer Tara Reade that her boss assaulted her in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building in the 1990s gained fresh attention this week when two women publicly corroborated aspects of Reade’s story. The new interviews, from Reade’s former neighbor and coworker, have Democrats grappling with how to respond as Republicans accuse them of hypocrisy for their silence.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says reports of sexual assaults across the military increased slightly last year, with the Air Force showing the biggest jump of all the services. The annual report shows an overall increase of 3% in the number of reports filed by or about military members during 2019. That percentage is much smaller than the previous year’s jump of 13%, which fueled congressional complaints that the Pentagon’s was failing to adequately address the problem. Nate Galbreath is acting director of the Pentagon’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. He’s cautiously optimistic that the lower increase suggests a trend in declining assaults, but says it’s too difficult to tell because the crime is vastly under-reported.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is voicing strong support for his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, raising speculation that a pardon may be coming. Trump’s comments Thursday come after Flynn’s lawyers disclosed internal FBI documents they claim show the FBI was trying to entrap him. Trump has long said he is considering pardoning Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in 2017 about his conversations with the Russian ambassador. Trump said at the White House on Thursday that believed Flynn had been “tormented” and “destroyed” by the FBI.

NEW YORK (AP) — Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz is urging the Justice Department “to closely monitor New York City” for potential religious discrimination amid the pandemic after its mayor singled out “the Jewish community” following the breakup of a large gathering of Orthodox Jews. Cruz made his request in a Thursday letter to Attorney General Bill Barr, who this week asked federal prosecutors to keep watch on state and local orders crafted to help stop the coronavirus that risk infringing on individuals’ civil liberties.