Wayne Byers Show – Evening – May 6

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in the evening. Lows in the mid 30s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Clear. Lows in the upper 20s. North winds 5 to

15 mph.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. A 30 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the mid 30s.

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

then rain showers likely in the afternoon. Highs in the lower

50s. Chance of showers 60 percent.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers in

the evening, then partly cloudy with slight chance of rain

showers and snow showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s.

Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Slight chance of rain showers and snow

showers in the morning, then slight chance of rain showers in the

afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s. Chance of precipitation

20 percent.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 30.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

 

The next weather system arrives Friday night in the form of an

Alberta Clipper type system.

Temperatures well below normal expected by Sunday morning. Chances for snow will accompany the rain expected.

Rain/snow chances continue through Sunday.

Temperatures remain cooler through the end of the period with highs in the upper 40s and 50s common Saturday through Monday.

Valley City  (CSi)  City/County Health in Valley City hosted another COVID-19 News Briefing,

Wednesday evening at 5:30-p.m., at City Hall in Valley City.  Participates were observing social distancing

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

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.

 

Officials from City-County Health District, Valley City Public Schools and City Government spoke.

Speakers included:

City-County Health Administrator, Theresa Will

Valley City Public Schools Superintendent, Josh Johnson

Valley City Mayor, Dave Carlsrud

Valley City Parks and Recreation Director. Tyler Jacobson

CHI Mercy Health Valley City President, Keith Heuser

 

City-County Health Administrator, Theresa Will said call to find out about the availability  of face masks, and to wear face masks in public places.

She said Barnes County has four individuals that tested positive, one is active.  She said Sheyenne Care Center residents an staff all tested negative for the virus, last week.

CHI Mercy Health Valley City President, Keith Heuser said the hospital is now allowed to perform elective surgeries.  Supply channels include getting in more PPP equipment to protect the community, and patients.  No visitors are allowed, with certain exceptions.

Staff is screened daily upon their arrival.

The hospital is beginning to review a time line to move to a more normal hospital operation, using CDC and State Health Department and parent company guidelines.

Evaluations are being conducted concerning the Smart Start reopenings on the community and possible increase in positive numbers, and plans if necessary to go back to the previous restrictions.

 

Valley City Public Schools Superintendent, Josh Johnson thanked the parents, students and community on the distance learning that’s been in effect the past eight weeks.  He thanked health department the City of Valley City, VCSU in creating the PPP equipment, and Essentia Health.

He said the decision was made last week to keep in building learning, and sports closed for the remainder of the school year.

Wednesday May 13, 2020 at 6:30 PM the Senior Class parade will be held on Central Avenue from Hanna Field to Main Street.

On Wednesday May 21 students and parents can pick up personal items from school buildings.

2020 commencement will be on June 11, 2020 at Hanna Field.

Mayor Carlsrud said, the changes in life style is a learning experience, and will be remembered in the future, and to observe social distancing.

Valley City Parks and Recreation Director. Tyler Jacobson said the Gaukler Wellness Center is open with several areas open, and that sanitation occurs several times per day.

Parks are open, playgrounds are closed. The golf course is open. Observe social distancing at outdoor activities.

Credit cards, or debit cards are to be used, and no cash transactions.

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.

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held a COVID-19 news briefing on Wednesday afternoon at the State Capital.  Joining Burgum were State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler,  Cass County COVID-19 Task Force members,Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, West Fargo Mayor, Bernie Dardis and Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson

NDDoH

Reported Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – 11:04am

Categories: Coronavirus

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

Multiple days have been co-mingled in the numbers

• Woman in her 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 100s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 50s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 90s from Grand Forks County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY

• Burleigh County – 10
• Cass County – 43
• Grand Forks County – 1
• Mountrail County – 1
• Ransom County – 1
• Sargent County – 1

BY THE NUMBERS

38,632 – Total Tested (+2,211 individuals from yesterday)

37,309 – Total Negative (+2,154 individuals from yesterday)

1,323 – Total Positive (+57 individuals from yesterday)

NEW! 2.6% – Daily Positive Rate of Completed Tests

97 – Total Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

32 – Currently Hospitalized (+1 individuals from yesterday)

582 – Total Recovered (+23 individuals from yesterday)

31 – Total Deaths (+6 individual from yesterday)

Burgum said the testing backlog amounts to 1800 as of Wednesday.

He said a Red River COVID-19 Task Force has been formed, for the prevention and mitigation of Community spread within Cass County, and to get the Cass County positives down to the state average.  It includes deeper tracing of positive individuals, and ramping up testing.  Every day testing is planned in Fargo.  Long term care facilities will be getting assistance to support staff, through organizations.

Cass County COVID-19 Task Force members, include:  Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, West Fargo Mayor, Bernie Dardis and Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson

Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney said, the partnership is a good example of governmental entities working together to fight COVID-19.  Data is being reviewed in detail for concerning not only testing but also contact tracing efforts being stepped up.  Congregate living facilities are being targeted.

West Fargo Mayor, Bernie Dardis emphasize good hygiene practice, and also noted the partnerships.

Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson noted Cass has the state’s highest population in long term care facilities, and homeless.

He said the area is partnering with the state in the COVID-19 fight, and said controlling the pandemic in the Cass County area, is imperative to control the spread of the virus in North Dakota.

The North Dakota Long term Care Association is collaborating with the task force.

 

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said with high school graduations around North Dakota:

She said the state has set graduation guidelines for local consideration, as part of the Smart Restart Plan, the phased in plan to safely reopen the state.

School district leaders should consider the number of positive COVID-19 cases, and if there is a surge in any area, to cancel.

Graduation can be held in school facilities, with safety precautions, including social distancing and cleaning of the school building.   Virtual, live stream, drive in, outdoor field driving-in ceremonies along with parades, can be considered, with social distancing in force, at in person graduations.  Those sick or at risk should not attend the in person ceremonies.

The guidelines will be posted at the DPI websites.

She added that a statewide virtual graduation celebration will take place later this month, live streamed on line, and over the statewide ABC T.V. stations.  More details also on the DPI website, in conjunction with Burgum’s Executive Order.

Burgum pointed out that The Department of Mineral Resources has established the Bakken Restart Task Force to facilitate rapid recovery of the oil and gas industry and supporting sectors impacted by COVID-related demand shock.

The task force includes Mineral Resources, Public Service Commission, Environmental Quality, Trust Lands, Pipeline Authority, Office of Management and Budget, Tax Department, Commerce, Bank of North Dakota and input requested from various industry subject matter experts.

The federal Administration for Community Living (ACL) has awarded the North Dakota Department of Human Services a $300,000 grant to help meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities as communities continue working to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to bring services and provide support to people at increased risk of COVID-19.

The  Grant funding will be focused on addressing and preventing isolation, which we know can negatively impact individuals’ health and well-being, and on ensuring older adults and people with disabilities can access the care, support services and supplies they need to remain living in the community.

The department, is partnering with ND Assistive to provide technology solutions to nursing homes and basic care facilities – especially those in rural areas – so that facility residents, their families and caregivers can stay connected.

The Long-Term Care Association is surveying its members to identify technology and other communication needs. Based on those results, ND Assistive will be distributing assistive technology devices and equipment and will provide training if needed to participating facilities.

With unemployment, 2,013 regular claims have been filed, Tuesday, pandemic related claims.

Since March 16, 2020 through Tuesday there have been a total of 71,864 claims filed.

In other state news..

The North Dakota Department of Commerce received more than 11,300 responses from the North Dakota COVID-19 Community Impact Survey.

Commerce in partnership with other agencies, issued the statewide survey in April to gain a better understanding of how the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting communities and individuals across the state.

Information gleaned from responses will be used to inform state and partner efforts to support North Dakotans during this challenging time.

A report of survey results can be found at https://belegendary.link/NDCommunitySurvey. More resources for communities are available at www.mainstreetnd.com.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  Valley City officials remind motorists that Starting Monday, May 11th 5th Avenue NW will be closed from Main Street through the intersection of 7th Street NW.

During the duration of the closure a minimum of one of the following intersections will remain open to traffic, 2nd Street NW and/or 6th Street NW. The closure will remain in effect until the corridor is reconstructed. Estimated date for reopening is July 31st.

A detour route will be in effect for the entire length of the project. The detour will run from Main Street to 9th Avenue NW and then back to 5th Avenue NW by way of 12th Street NW.

Updated maps for all road closures will be posted on the City of Valley City’s webpage http://www.valleycity.us/engineers/ when they are taking affect.

Questions regarding the project, by  contacting KLJ Engineering at (701)-845-4980.

Jamestown (CSi)  The City of Jamestown Sewer Department would like to remind residents that the only thing to go down the toilet, besides human waste, is toilet paper. Items that say ‘disposable’, are not flushable. Some items may be labeled as flushable but can still cause problems to the sanitary sewer system. The strong fibers do not allow these items to biodegrade before the water returns to the river.

The following items should NOT be flushed:
• Cat litter
• Condoms
• Cotton swabs
• Dental floss
• Diapers
• Facial tissue, including anti-bacterial tissues
• Feminine hygiene products
• Gloves, masks and syringes
• Hair
• Paper towels
• Rags
• Wipes
The only item to be flushed is toilet paper. Proper flushing practice can prevent costly sewer backups and unnecessary sewer maintenance and repairs

Jamestown  (CSi)  New Hope Free Lutheran Church in Jamestown will resume worship at its church beginning Sunday, May 10.

In order to maintain social distancing, the church will add a second service to its Sunday morning schedule. The 9 a.m. service will feature hymns and prayers along with the preaching of God’s word, and the 10:30 a.m. service also incorporates contemporary praise and worship songs, led by a praise team. Protocols (such as taping off every other pew) have been adopted to minimize contact and maximize sanitation of surfaces.

The Rev. Steve Berntson and the members of New Hope invite all who are seeking Christian fellowship to attend worship in person, or, if not able to do so, to attend on Sunday mornings at New Hope Free Lutheran Church Facebook page, where its 10:30 a.m. service is livestreamed.

New Hope is located at 1545 4th Ave. NW in Jamestown.

Jamestown  (Chamber)  The Jamestown Area Chamber Beautification Committee is launching the Yard of the Week Award Program for 2020. The Yard of the Week program has been established to recognize and share appreciation for individuals that take pride in helping beautify our community.

Nominate homes in the City of Jamestown that you feel are doing a great job on their yards.  The program begins June 1st and runs through August 24th with yards awarded weekly.

This year’s award program is sponsored by Menards in Jamestown. The winners will receive a $20 gift certificate to Menards and will be featured in local media and the Jamestown Area Chamber Monthly Newsletter. They will also have a Yard of the Week sign to display in their yard for the week of recognition.

Visit www.jamestownchamber.com or call 701-252-4830 to nominate a neighbor today!

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown City Fire Chief, Jim  Reuther says the Jamestown Volunteer Firefighter’s Annual Pancake Breakfast in cancelled this year.

Reuther says,  “As our state and country go through these trying times with COVID-19, and not knowing what changes will be made in the future. We have made the decision to cancel our 2020 Annual Pancake Breakfast that has been held at our main fire station for the past 10 years. Our department has served over 1,200 people in 5 hours in some years. We feel that it is in the best interest not to put the public at risk of the COVID-19 or the firefighters.

Our department thanks everyone that has attended and supported of department. We will be back next year stronger and ever to make pancakes for you all.

Thank you understanding, and see you all next year.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   As businesses across North Dakota begin reopening with Governor Burgum’s loosening of Covid-19 related restrictions, The Arts Center is in planning for a safe reopening June 1, 2020.

Arts Center Director, Mindi Schmitz says,  “Our primary concern is for the public’s safety and for our employees and their families. At this time The Arts Center is doing a deep cleaning of all surfaces within our two facilities. We’ve also completed a Spring cleanup of the Hansen Arts Park. We want to make sure we open our doors to the community as safely as possible June 1

Jamestown   (JSDC)  Newman Signs typically manufactures and distributes signs for a wide range of traffic, urban and outdoor advertising. As the demand for billboards, window decals, vehicle graphics, art canvas, banners, posters and other specialty signs dried up with COVID-19 uncertainties, the company has repurposed their manufacturing capabilities to produce acrylic barriers for a wide range of businesses. The company has learned literally raising barriers to combat the virus has been in great demand. So great, in fact, that the raw material may not last much longer.

“Those with a need for this type of product for their business need to order soon,” said Ramone Gumke, operations manager at Newman Signs. “In about three weeks, we and similar manufacturers will be out of the raw acrylic.”

As a division of Newman Signs in Jamestown, North Dakota, Newman Print is a commercial printing business. In a normal year, their peak production season typically begins in March, but that has definitely taken a detour this year. In reaction to the COVID-19 crisis, Newman has repurposed their acrylic cutting equipment to supply barriers for businesses having customer interfaces. They’ve been able to produce free-standing clear acrylic sheets that can be set up in business environments to provide a barrier between employees and customers.  The sheets can be easily taken down or moved around. And business has been quite hectic, said Gumke.

“Now that states like North Dakota are beginning to open back up, businesses are in a mad scramble to prepare to open,” he said. “Everyone with the manufacturing capability is trying to produce these products.”

Demand has been so high that the supply of uncut raw sheets of acrylic is now backordered to as much as 120 days. Newman has taken orders from across the country from customers such as the U.S. Postal Service, Sanford Health and doctor offices.

“It seems like every order this week has been a different dentist or orthodontist office,” said Gumke. “With the supply dwindling, if they don’t get their orders in soon, they will have to wait quite a while.”

Jamestown and JSDC help

Newman has been located in Jamestown 60 years, where it has benefitted from a central location both within the state and the country. But the company knows it has been extremely fortunate with the available workforce found in the city. Gumke said without the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation (JSDC), the community would not continue to grow and Newman would not have access to that high quality workforce.

“The JSDC has been a great partner, bringing in complementary businesses to keep the community vibrant,” he said.

While the company leans on its acrylic capabilities as a way to get through the current crisis, Gumke expects their regular print business to come back. Once businesses and individuals are more financially secure, they’re going to need to play catch-up with their advertising to maximize their sales and profits, he said.

“With all our different product divisions hosting customers with a big need for advertising, I expect business to be busier than a normal year,” said Gumke.

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO-AM) — A new study by the North Dakota State University presents a grim outlook for North Dakota’s economy as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The special report was done by Jeremy Jackson, director of the Center for the Study of Public Choice and Private Enterprise at NDSU. KFGO says it uses a forecasting model that indicates total wages and salaries are likely to decline by 20% to 60%. The study predicts North Dakota’s labor force will decline by 7.5% to 15% and that the unemployment rate could increase by as much as 20%. The model predicts North Dakota’s total tax collections may decrease by more than 50%.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Backers of paid family leave for North Dakota workers will again push legislation to establish a program in the state. The North Dakota Women’s Network and the North Dakota AFL-CIO says the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of its need. Paid family leave legislation in North Dakota has failed in the Republican-controlled Legislature over the years, including in 2019. The state’s largest business organization was among the groups that opposed the legislation last year. Greater North Dakota Chamber President and CEO Arik Spencer said many companies already offer paid family leave programs “without any government mandate.”

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A group attempting to get a wide-ranging measure on the November ballot has filed a lawsuit to waive North Dakota’s ban on electronic signature gathering amid the coronavirus pandemic. The federal lawsuit filed Wednesday by North Dakota Voters First also asks the state to temporarily waive its requirement for “in-person petition circulators.” The group argues the coronavirus makes it impossible to comply with the laws. The group’s constitutional amendment includes shifting the responsibility of drawing political districts from the Legislature to the state Ethics Commission. It also would create a paper record for every vote cast.

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) — The parents of two brothers who died in a 2015 crash during a school trip have filed a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety alleging misconduct on the part of the state trooper who investigated the accident. Ray and Kathie Kvalvog claim Sgt. Rod Eischens failed to disclose his close ties and friendships with administrators at their sons’ school, Park Christian in Moorhead, KFGO reported. Zach and Connor Kvalvog of Moorhead were on their way to a basketball camp in Wisconsin when their pickup crashed on I-94 near Dalton. The Kvalvogs say Eischens’ final report on the accident has many errors and should be changed.

 

In world and national news…

DETROIT (AP) — People of color have not only been hit harder by the deadly coronavirus than have Americans overall, but they’re also bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s financial impact. That’s according to a recent survey from the The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found that 61% of Hispanic Americans say they’ve experienced some kind of household income loss as a result of the outbreak. That’s compared with 46% of Americans overall. Thirty-seven percent of Latinos and 27% of black Americans say they’ve been unable to pay at least one type of bill. Only 17% of white Americans say the same.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says most COVID-19 patients coming into New York hospitals are not working and not traveling daily and tend to be older than 50. The governor released a survey that found retirees accounted for 37% of hospitalizations during the survey period and another 46% were unemployed. Almost three-quarters were 51 years or older. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says rising coronavirus infection rates outside of the New York metropolitan area show that other states may be reopening too quickly.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The outlines are emerging on Capitol Hill for a Democratic-driven bill to aid states and local governments, the Postal Service, and boost contact tracing to track the coronavirus. Democratic leaders promise that the House will deliver the legislation to again respond to the COVID-19 crisis as early as next week. In the Republican-controlled Senate, Republicans face internal divisions over spending and how ambitious to be in the upcoming round to respond to Depression-era jobless levels. Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, said Wednesday the measure would bail out the Postal Service, contain funding for absentee voting this fall, and other priorities like advanced tracing to monitor the virus as states try to open up.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge nominated to the nation’s second-most powerful court says he was writing as an academic and commentator when he criticized as “indefensible” a Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act. Justin Walker is a 37-year-old protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He says he will have an open mind on the Obama-era health care law if it comes before him. At a hearing Wednesday on his nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Walker declined a request by Senate Democrats to recuse himself on matters related to the health care law if he’s confirmed.