CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph.

.TONIGHT…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…Partly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain

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

Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny. Rain showers possibly mixed with snow

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

afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.

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

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

showers possibly mixed with snow showers in the evening, then

partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the upper 20s.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

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

.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s.

.TUESDAY…Increasing clouds. Highs in the lower 50s.

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

showers after midnight. Lows in the upper 30s.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain

showers. Highs in the mid 50s.

 

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, 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.

Jim Reuther

Fire Chief

 

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. (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.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — 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.”

FARGO, N.D. (KFGO-AM) — Police say a man armed with a machete during an attempted robbery of a Fargo smoke shop fought with an employee and punched an officer in the face. Authorities say police were called to multiple reports of a disturbance in the middle of a street about 7 p.m. Wednesday. KFGO reports the 20-year-old suspect attempted to rob Smoke 4 Less in Fargo and pulled out the machete when an employee confronted him. Police say the suspect fought with the employee and later punched an officer who responded to the scene. The man was arrested when other officers arrived.

In sports…

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPORTS

NFL has plan in place for opening team facilities

UNDATED (AP) — The NFL has set protocols for reopening team facilities and has told the 32 teams to have them in place by May 15.

Commissioner Roger Goodell mapped out several phases of protocols in a memo obtained by The Associated Press. The first phase to deal with the coronavirus pandemic would involve a limited number of non-player personnel. That number initially would be 50% of the non-player employees and up to a total of 75 on any single day being approved to be at the facility. But state or local regulations could require a lower number.

The individual clubs would decide which employees could return to the facility and when, once the buildings reopen. No players would be permitted in the facility except to continue therapy and rehabilitation for injuries that were underway when facilities were ordered closed in late March.

Goodell noted that the league is actively working on the next phase of reopening, which will involve both more staffers and players. He said the players’ union is also being consulted on these steps.

In other developments related to the coronavirus pandemic:

— NBA teams have been asked to help the Mayo Clinic with a study that could help researchers come closer to finding a solution to the coronavirus problem. The NBA and its players are partnering with Mayo Clinic officials who need volunteers for a study largely centered around antibodies. Additional goals of the study include being able to identify more patients who could donate plasma and improve care for patients who are dealing with the coronavirus, plus potentially move researchers closer to a vaccine.

The NBA says some players can voluntarily work out at their team practice facilities starting on Friday, with some very specific conditions and only in places where local and state governments have signed off on such openings. But it’s unclear how many — if any — players will be back on the floor when the league ban gets lifted. Some teams aren’t ready to welcome players back immediately, and many teams aren’t allowed to open yet to because of local rules.

— All but one of the 14 schools in the Southeastern Conference have indicated they plan to reopen their campuses for the fall semester, a step widely believed to be needed to resume football and other sports. South Carolina and Tennessee today became the latest schools in the nation’s top football conference to announce their plans, joining Alabama, LSU and others. Vanderbilt hasn’t announced its plans for the fall.

— The Big 12 has become the first Power Five conference to say it will hold its football media days virtually. About 500 media members are usually credentialed to attend Big 12 media days, which were scheduled to be held July 21-22 at AT&T Stadium near Dallas.

— Four MLS teams allowed players to use team training fields for individual workouts on Wednesday. Sporting Kansas City, Atlanta United, Orlando City and Inter Miami let players in for vigorously controlled voluntary workouts on the first day they were permitted by the league. Nashville, Real Salt Lake, LAFC and Houston are among the league’s 26 teams that plan to start Thursday, with more lined up next week.

— The NCAA has approved a waiver that will allow schools to spend below the minimum level on athletic scholarships required to compete in Division I. The Division I Council Coordination Committee approved two other blanket waivers Wednesday that had been requested by several conferences in recent weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Basketball and football players will be allowed to participate in summer athletic activities without being enrolled in school.

— Fans will be allowed to enter baseball stadiums Friday for games in Taiwan for the first time this season. It is part of a gradual easing of restrictions amid the pandemic. The China Professional Baseball League said up to 1,000 people would be permitted to enter ballparks after an agreement between the league and Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center.

— A person with knowledge of negotiations tells The Associated Press the Maryland Jockey Club and NBC Sports have set aside three possible dates for the running of the Preakness. The NBC affiliate in Baltimore reported the Preakness will be run Oct. 3. The person tells the AP that is one of the three possible dates, along with one each in July and August. The Preakness was originally set for May 16 as the second jewel of the Triple Crown. The uncertain timeline allows for the possibility of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont being run out of order.

— The head of the Australian Open says various contingency plans are being considered for the Grand Slam tournament scheduled for January 2021. They include scrapping it altogether because of the pandemic or allowing just spectators from the host country. Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley tells the Australian Associated Press that tournament organizers have “modeled everything.” He says the “worst-case scenario” is no tournament at all next year. He says the “best-case scenario at this point” is having an Australian Open with only Australian fans. Wimbledon has been canceled for the first time in 75 years, the French Open has been moved from May to September, and a decision on this year’s U.S. Open is expected next month.

— Germany’s Bundesliga (BOON’-dehsh-lee-guh) has been given the go-ahead to resume its top two soccer divisions this month. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (AHN’-geh-lah MEHR’-kuhl) announced a loosening of a range of containment measures Wednesday after meeting with the country’s 16 state governors. Pressure to relax the rules had been growing as the rate of daily infections in the country has dropped. Matches in the two divisions will be able to resume without spectators and with a range of other conditions designed to prevent another outbreak. Players will be tested and teams will also have to spend time in quarantine before games can restart. The earliest the league can resume is May 16.

— Soccer players in Spain have returned to their team’s training camps for the first time since the country entered a lockdown nearly two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. Players for Barcelona, Real (ray-AL’) Madrid, Atlético Madrid and other clubs started preparing for the return to training this week. They are all expected to be tested for COVID-19 and should be cleared to practice once the results are back. Most clubs are expected to resume practicing by the end of the week.

— The Spanish soccer federation is proposing an end to this season’s women’s league because of the coronavirus pandemic. The proposal is expected to be approved by the federation’s board on Thursday.

— Belgium’s prime minister says all sporting competitions in the country will remain suspended until July 31 because of the pandemic. The Belgian soccer league says it will respect the decision by the national security council. The league recommended last month ending its season with the current standings declared final.

— The Turkish soccer league plans to resume on June 12, a month and a half after it was suspended because of the outbreak. The president of the Turkish soccer federation says he hopes to finish the season by the end of July and host the Champions League final in Istanbul in August. The games will be played without spectators and the Turkish health ministry and its scientific advisory council will determine the conditions and guidelines under which the games will go ahead.

NFL-TITANS-JOSEPH

Titans agree to terms with veteran CB Johnathan Joseph

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph as they continue to revamp their secondary.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection spent the last nine seasons with the Houston Texans after beginning his career with a five-year stint in Cincinnati.

The 2006 first-round draft pick from South Carolina has 750 tackles and 31 interceptions in his 14-year career.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-KENTUCKY-SARR

Ex-Wake Forest center Olivier Sarr transferring to Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Former Wake Forest center Olivier Sarr says he’s transferring to Kentucky.

The move gives the Wildcats a veteran 7-footer after the team’s entire starting lineup declared for the NBA draft.

Sarr is a 255-pounder from France who was the Demon Deacons’ leading rebounder and second-leading scorer last season. He announced his decision to play for the Wildcats on social media. He also called former Demon Deacons coach Danny Manning and his staff “family.” Manning was fired last month and replaced by Steve Forbes.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-EAST TENNESSEE STATE

ETSU picks Shay to replace Forbes

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — East Tennessee State has filled the loss of men’s basketball coach Steve Forbes by promoting Jason Shay to the post.

Shay spent the last five years as an assistant to Forbes, who left to take over the Wake Forest basketball program. The Buccaneers went 130-43 during that time for the program’s best record over a five-year stretch in school history.

ETSU set a single-season record for victories this past season, going 30-4 and winning the Southern Conference’s regular-season and tournament titles.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-UCONN-OLLIE

NCAA rejects former UConn coach’s appeal over violations

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — An NCAA panel has rejected an appeal by former UConn men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie, who sought to overturn findings that he violated ethical conduct rules while leading the Huskies.

The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee ruled Ollie failed to prove that information he presented alleging witnesses against him lied outweighed the information that supported the violation findings.

In July 2019, the NCAA Committee on Infractions placed the UConn program on two years of probation and sanctioned Ollie individually for numerous violations of NCAA rules during his tenure.

MISSISSIPPI WELFARE MISSPENDING

Auditor: Favre received welfare money for no-show speeches

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre (fahrv) is repaying $1.1 million in welfare money that he received for multiple speeches where he did not show up.

Auditor Shad White said his office received $500,000 from Favre on Wednesday, plus a commitment that Favre will repay the other $600,000 in installments over the next few months. Favre’s effort to repay the money came two days after White released an audit of spending by the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The audit showed Favre had been paid by Mississippi Community Education Center, a nonprofit group whose former leader has been indicted in a welfare embezzlement scheme.

The audit was released months after a former Human Services director and five other people were indicted on state charges of embezzling about $4 million. They have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial in what White has called one of Mississippi’s largest public corruption cases in decades.

HORSE RACING-HALL OF FAME

Trainer Mark Casse among 7 elected to Racing Hall of Fame

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Trainer Mark Casse, jockey Darrel McHargue, thoroughbred Wise Dan, and owner George D. Widener, Jr. have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Also elected were racehorse Tom Bowling, owner Alice Headley Chandler, and J. Keene Daingerfield, Jr., a trainer who became one of the most respected stewards in the sport.

The induction ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 7 in Saratoga Springs, New York. The museum is monitoring state and health regulations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Mark Esper is taking new steps to highlight and defend a Pentagon approach to fighting the coronavirus pandemic that some Democrats have criticized as slow and disjointed. Esper is flying to the headquarters of U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to meet with Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, who is spearheading the military’s support for civilian agencies combating the virus. It is Esper’s first trip beyond Washington since he visited Norfolk, Virginia, in late March to join President Donald Trump in sending off the hospital ship Comfort. Thursday’s trip comes as Trump pushes to reopen the country.

 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Trump administration has shelved a set of detailed documents created by the nation’s top disease investigators meant to give step-by-step advice to local leaders deciding when and how to reopen public places during the still-raging pandemic. Those public places include mass transit, day care centers, restaurants and bars. The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was supposed to be published last Friday. A CDC employee tells The Associated Press that agency officials were told the report “would never see the light of day.” The Trump administration has been closely controlling the CDC’s release of information during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

HYDERABAD, India (AP) — A gas has leaked from an LG chemical plant in southern India, leaving people struggling to breathe and collapsing in the streets as they tried to flee. At least 11 people died and about 1,000 suffered breathing difficulties and other problems. Officials say the synthetic chemical styrene leaked from the LG Polymers plant in a city on India’s eastern coast while workers were preparing to restart the facility after a coronavirus lockdown was eased. Police say the gas leak was later halted and the air has cleared. About 3,000 people were evacuated from the area around the plant and 100 people are hospitalized.

 

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Wildfires raging in the Florida Panhandle have forced nearly 500 people to evacuate from their homes, authorities said. One wildfire that broke out Monday afternoon in Santa Rosa County has been named the Five Mile Swamp fire as high winds and low humidity caused the blaze to expand 10 times in size, the Florida Forest Service said in a statement. The fire started as a prescribed burn but quickly grew out of control, according to The Tampa Bay Times. Firefighters are also battling another 575-acre fire in Walton county. Authorities said approximately 500 people were evacuated from the area and multiple structures were lost in that fire.

 

TOKYO (AP) — European shares have opened higher after China reported its exports rose 3.5% in April from a year earlier. Stocks rose in Paris, London and Tokyo but fell Thursday in Hong Kong and Shanghai. While the latest Chinese trade data were encouraging, forecasters warned that strength is unlikely to last as the coronavirus pandemic depresses global consumer demand. Comments by President Donald Trump raising the possibility of further trade friction with Beijing have rattled investors hoping for better times as economies begin to reopen from pandemic shutdowns. Markets are awaiting more bad news in the form of U.S. unemployment data.