Wayne Byers Show – Morning -May 11

CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. North winds 5 to 15 mph.

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s. North winds around 5 mph shifting to the east up to 5 mph after midnight.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Southeast winds

around 10 mph.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers in the

evening, then rain showers likely after midnight. Lows in the

upper 30s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of showers

60 percent.

.WEDNESDAY…Rain showers. Highs in the mid 50s. South winds

10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.  Chance of rain 90 percent.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 40s.

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

Highs in the mid 60s.

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

showers. Lows in the lower 40s.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain

showers. Highs in the mid 60s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

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

The probability and spread of precipitation gradually increases through the day Tuesday and into Wednesday.

Overall expecting general rain showers, with a thunderstorm or two

possible in southern North Dakota on Wednesday afternoon and

evening.

 

The chance of rain returns  with scattered showers and thunderstorms

possible on Friday and into Saturday.

 

Temperatures will continue to be on the rise through the extended

period.

 

This day in history, May 11, 1911 – Gilbert Horton (Architect) arrives in Jamestown . . . .  from the 125th Anniversary Calendar of Jamestown History and The State Historical Society of North Dakota.

Mr Horton designs and supervises construction over 600 structures during 67 years as an architect.

When Gilbert Horton died he left behind not only his firm but also hundreds of buildings, many of which are still in use.

 

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)   Central Valley Health District, Jamestown Public Schools, and South Central Human Service Center were presenters at the Friday May 8, 2020 Stutsman COVID-19 Response News Briefing.  The presentations are made through a virtual platform, in observance of social distancing.

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

Each representative gave updates on their agency, along with information on staying safe during the pandemic.

Central Valley Health District Administrator Robin Iszler said,  As of Friday 12 COVID-19 positive cases have been recorded, in Stutsman County, with three individuals recovered and the balance are being monitored.

1639 COVID-19 tests have been performed in Stutsman County as of Friday afternoon.  No general public testing events are planned at this time.

She said 169 individuals at Alpha Opportunities have been surveillance tested for the virus, with assistance from Jamestown Police, CVHD staff and adjacent health units.

Jamestown Public Schools, Superintendent, Dr. Robert Lech, said Jamestown High School Graduation will be held on May 24, 2020.at 2:30-p.m., at the Jamestown Civic Center, using 12 percent of the facility, to encourage social distancing.  Ventilation will allow air exchange and the facility will sanitized before and after the ceremony, based on guidance by state officials, with the Department of Public Instruction and ND Smart Restart. Also giving feedback were  healthcare providers, and other public agencies. He said other dates were considered, but would have created conflicts for those attending.

He said those attending in person, should wear face masks, and the ceremony will be live streamed.  A maximum of four tickets per family will be in force.  He asks that after the ceremony will there be no congregating of people

He said the Jamestown Public Schools web site will have more specifics next week.

He said guidance is being awaiting on summer program, for in person attendance, 9-12 grades only is being considered.

With the summer food service program the average meals served is about 700 per day, and around 17,000 meals have been served since the program was implemented, Monday – Friday at the middle school, and selected elementary schools,  from 11-a.m, to 1-p.m. free to students, and a $4 charge for adults.

He pointed out that this is teacher appreciation week, and to thank teachers for all they do.

South Central Human Service Center:

Dr. Dan Cramer said, regular hours continue, seeing clients. One change is all Human Service Centers in the state are seeing walk ins with same day assessments.

He talked about Acute Stress Disorder, and its effects, which is similar to PTSD.

He said, when people are approached in a certain way, the stress is less or alleviated in those people in dealing with coping with changes in their lives due to the pandemic.

Those needing support with coping skills should reach out of help. The phone number is 701-253-6300.

Robin pointed out that starting next week, the presentations will be cut back to once a week, on Tuesdays at 2:30-p.m.

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his COVID-19 News Briefing, Friday afternoon at the state capital in Bismarck, including a new development in ensuring an adequate supply of personal protective equipment.

Burgum updated increased testing in Fargo, with the assistance of the Mayo Clinic and an increase of contact tracing.

He said a new capability  will help North Dakota meet demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus pandemic, as the state’s number of recovered COVID-19 cases surpassed the number of active cases.

 

On Monday, May 11, 2020 the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) will begin operation of a Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System for PPE. The mobile decontamination system is self-contained and uses vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate N95 respirator masks.

The system allows North Dakota to provide shipping and N95 decontamination at no charge to health care organizations, EMS agencies, public health, public safety agencies including law enforcement and fire departments, funeral homes, dental offices, and optometry and chiropractic clinics, among others.
Health care systems will collect worn respirators each day in accordance with an approved procedure, and the PPE will be labeled with a bar-coded serial number that will be used for tracking the PPE chain-of-custody throughout the decontamination process. This procedure ensures that the hospital system gets its own respirators back.

State Health Officer Mylynn Tufte Friday, May 8,  issued two amendments to previously issued state health officer orders.

The amendment to the travel quarantine order allows people to travel freely within the United States and releases requirements for everyone except international travelers.

Anyone traveling from another country who is not just passing through the state, must quarantine immediately upon entry to North Dakota for a period of 14 days or for the duration of the time spent in North Dakota, whichever is shorter. Individuals traveling to and from North Dakota from another country for essential work or for essential supplies and services are exempt from the order.

It is recommended that individuals who are in quarantine after traveling recently in the United States still fulfill their 14-day quarantine, but it is no longer required.

“Although the travel quarantine order now allows for domestic travel, the NDDoH continues to strongly recommend that North Dakotans limit travel to essential errands, travel necessary for essential work and to provide medical or home care to others,” Tufte said.

Individuals should continue to stay home as much as possible and avoid close contact, especially if you are at higher risk of severe illness. When traveling:

• wash your hands often with soap and water
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• avoid close contact with others and remain six feet apart
• cover coughs and sneezes
• wear a cloth face covering

In addition, Tufte also amended an order that reflects new guidance from the CDC updating the amount of days an individual must isolate after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms from 7 days to 10 days AND seventy-two (72) hours after becoming fever free and with symptom improvement.

The amended orders can be found on the NDDoH website at health.nd.gov/coronavirus.

The NDDOT has started the phased in restart accessibility to DMV offices starting Monday May 11, 2020.

Check with local DMV offices for specific information about making arrangements for in person visit appointments.  On line registration renewals are possible.

Driver licenses and motor vehicle tabs due March 1, 2020 until disaster declaration has ended, remain valid and do not need to be renewed at this time, per the Governor’s Emergency Declaration, that waived expiration dates.

 

Driver License services offered at this time by appointment only include:

• Commercial Driver License (CDL) Knowledge and Road tests
• H2-A (temporary Ag workers)
• CDL renewal with HazMat
• Regular Driver License (Class D) Knowledge and Road tests
• Work permits (Temporary Restricted License)
• License expired before March 1 (65+, regular renewals)
• Out of state transfers
• Motorcycle knowledge tests
• ID cards for voting

 

Motor Vehicle services offered at this time by appointment only include:

• Vehicle Title work – all types of titles
• Truck weight changes
• Large trucks 2290 required

Motor vehicle services such as license plates and titling can also be done by mailing-in paperwork. Vehicle renewals can be done online, at a self-service kiosk or by mail. Motor Vehicle kiosk fees for renewing your vehicle are waived until the emergency declaration has ended. Call local Motor Vehicle offices for service information at that location or check NDDOT’s website.

Access to all state run agencies is by appointment only.

With unemployment claims a total of 1026 were filed on Wednesday and Thursday.  Pandemic related claims were 300, for a total of 77,000 since March 16, 2020 through Thursday, 11,000 pandemic related claims in that time frame.

 

In Other State Announcements:

North Dakota’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and Department of Human Services have teamed up with support from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services (USDA FNS) to provide food assistance during the pandemic emergency for children who participated in or qualified for the free and reduced-priced school lunch program prior to pandemic-related school closures.

USDA approved the state’s plan on May 1 to operate the new Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program (P-EBT), which was authorized by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act. An estimated 39,670 North Dakota children ages 3-18 will benefit from the program.

“It is beyond difficult for a student to learn when he or she is hungry,” said Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota’s state school superintendent. “We are honored to partner with the Department of Human Services on this program, which is an important step toward preventing child hunger and helping our students to continue learning at home during a time when their schools are closed.”

Families of children who participate in the child nutrition program at their school will receive a benefit amount on a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT card, which is a specialized debit card. The benefit amount is intended to replace the value of the food in free and reduced-priced school meals.

 

The North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced that the Innovate North Dakota program is again accepting new enrollments and resuming the program’s offerings with current participants.

Commerce announced in March that the Innovate ND program was placed on hold in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With our economy shifting to recovery and rebuilding, it is more important than ever to utilize the programs that we already have in place to restart and grow our economy,” Commerce Head of Investments and Innovation Josh Teigen said. “Supporting our entrepreneurial ecosystem will open new opportunities for business growth and job creation throughout the state.”

Innovate ND is a voucher and grant program available to entrepreneurs in North Dakota. The program provides resources to assist with turning an innovative idea into a profitable business.

For more information and to enroll please visit https://belegendary.link/InnovateND .

Jamestown  (CSi)  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports, Pipestem Dam water levels are high, but not a problem, according to Pipestem Dam Manager James Dixon.

He says water levels will remain elevated through the middle of June.

The release from Pipestem Dam is at 50 cubic feet per second.

The release from Pipestem Dam is planned to increase June 15, 2020  and  planned to be lowered to the normal winter elevation by September.

The level  is at 1480 feet before releases begin.

The highest elevation recorded at Pipestem Dam was 1,492.3 feet in April 2009.

Releases from Jamestown Dam are presently at 800 cfs but planned to end about June 1 when Jamestown reservoir reaches its normal level.

Valley City  (VCPS)   Valley City Public School  Superintendent Josh Johnson reports that Valley City Public Schools will be collecting textbooks, library books, technology devices, etc. from students at Jefferson and the Junior/Senior High Schools on May 21st.

Those issued a school technology device ‘specifically’ for Distance Learning, to please return the device on this date. This is also the opportunity for students to pick-up any personal belongings that they may have left in a locker, desk, or at the schools.

Johnson said “Please read the attachment for specific instructions on the designated times that we are requesting you to follow for the resource collection. If you will be unavailable at your designated time, please contact your school principal or call the district office to attempt to make other arrangements. Please note that Washington Elementary students will not be asked to return books, however, if you have questions or need to pick-up personal belongings please email Principal Lueck at chad.lueck@k12.nd.us.”

School Principals at Jefferson and Junior/Senior High Schools will be sending a communication to parents with specific instructions for the location of the collection and the return of personal belongings. If you have any additional questions don’t hesitate to call the district office at 701-845-0483.

School-Resource-Collection

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Schools across North Dakota are looking at creative ways to celebrate the high school Class of 2020. Some are hoping to make graduations memorable while keeping social distancing guidelines in mind amid the coronavirus outbreak. Others are banking on a potential COVID-19 breakthrough and are delaying the pomp and circumstance well into the summer so that seniors might attend as close to a traditional ceremony as possible. Gov. Doug Burgum closed schools indefinitely in March by executive order but amended it last week to allow ceremonies on school property with proper social distancing and other safety precautions.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The University of Jamestown’s 34^th Annual Dine and Bid, Rock and Roll All Knight, will be held online as a virtual event. Funds raised for this year’s auction will benefit UJ student scholarships, as it has in all previous years. The auction will open for bids on Monday, May 25, and will run throughout the week. Everyone is invited to participate, and there will be no cost for those who would like to view and bid on auction items. To register for mobile bidding, and the online auction and event, go to: https://one.bidpad.net/dineandbid2020/welcome or text dineandbid2020 to 243725.

On Saturday, May 30, there will be a live stream event starting at 6:30 p.m. and running until 8 p.m. This will be produced by Mobile Pro, and hosted by President Polly Peterson and Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Brett Moser. Moser states, “The live portion of Dine and Bid will feature the culmination of auction bidding, as well as messages from special guests, student entertainment, Raise Your Paddle, and a sneak peek at some of the watch parties for Rock and Roll All Knight. We welcome everyone who would like to join the live stream, and we believe that you will be inspired to bid in support of our students.”

Moser adds, Dine and Bid plays a key part in not only raising money for scholarships, but it is a social occasion that the University of Jamestown’s alumni and friends look forward to each year.   He says, “We are excited to try this new way of bidding and interaction.  And, we look forward to seeing everyone back at the Harold Newman Arena next year.”

Director of Alumni Relations Setareh Campion says, “We were hopeful, until very recently, that we would be able to host Rock and Roll All Knight in person. The Dine and Bid Committee has worked so hard to create beautiful decorations and a special evening for our guests. Thankfully, we will still be able to use some of the décor! We are sure that this shift to online is the right move to make at this time. We ask that participants dress up—maybe even create your own social distance dinner parties of 10 or fewer people—and enjoy Dine and Bid from afar.”

Bismarck  The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality announced that its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program awarded loans to several communities in April.

One loan went to Valley City in the amount of a $300,000 for water main replacement on 5th Avenue Northwest from Main Street to 12th Street Northwest.

And another loan went to Wyndmere in the amount of $1,196,000 to reconstruct a portion of the water distribution system and replace water service lines. This project will reduce the incidence of water main breaks and failing water service lines.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides part of the funding for the DWSRF Program, which offers below-market interest rate loans to political subdivisions for financing projects authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Harlan Opdahl, 79, Litchville, ND passed away at his home on Saturday, May 9, 2020. There will be a time of visitation, while following pandemic guidelines, at the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City, ND on Monday from 5PM until 7PM. A private funeral service will be held later. He will be laid to rest at Memory Gardens near Valley City.

Harlan served on the South-Regional Planning Council, and the Sheyenne James RC&D Council. He was the director of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District for eight years, a Barnes County Commissioner for 27 years, and a Litchville City Councilman for 32 years including 20 years as mayor. Harlan was also a member of the rural fire department.

Bismarck  (NDHP)  The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports, a 40 year-old Starbuck, Minnesota woman died in a rollover about 5:40-p.m., Sunday, May 10th on Highway 46,east of Enderlin.

Her 2010 Ford Fusion was westbound on Highway 46 and ran off the roadway. The car struck an approach and entered the north ditch causing it to overturn. The vehicle came to rest on its roof in the north ditch partially submerged in water.

She suffered fatal injuries. The crash is under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

Assisting the Highway Patrol at the scene were:  Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Ransom County Sheriff’s Office, Enderlin First Responders, Enderlin Fire, and Lisbon Ambulance.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — U.S. Labor Department figures show that the nation’s unemployment rate hit 14.7% in April, which is the highest percentage since the Great Depression. One North Dakota worker who was furloughed in April, Joy Rosen, says it has been difficult to be away from the people she cares for at the Vocational Training Center in Fargo. She works as a direct support professional for adults with disabilities. Rosen, a single mom, says she has enjoyed spending more time with her two children but adds that the seven individuals she helps are “almost like family.” While COVID-19 cases in North Dakota continue to rise, initial unemployment applications have seen a steady decline in recent weeks.

CASSELTON, N.D. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with a homicide in Casselton, about 30 miles west of Fargo. William S. Dittmer Jr., of Casselton, is charged with felony murder for the death of a 50-year-old man, also from Casselton. Dittmer is jailed in Fargo. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a shooting at about 9:35 p.m. Friday. The victim was found to have a gunshot wound to the upper body. He died at an area hospital. Authorities have not released further details or the name of the victim.

 

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KFGO-AM) — A Fargo man has died of injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash last week. The North Dakota Highway Patrol says 30-year-old Andrew Laborico lost control of his motorcycle in a roundabout in West Fargo May 3. Authorities say Laborico struck a curb, the motorcycle went airborne and then struck a retaining wall. KFGO reports he was cited for driving under the influence. The crash remains under investigation.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A business consultant from Stanley has been named to the North Dakota Board of Higher Education. Danita Bye has been appointed by Gov. Doug Burgum to fill the vacancy left by Dan Traynor, who resigned after he was confirmed as a federal judge. Bye is one of eight voting members of the board. She has been a leadership and sales development consultant since 1997 for small- to medium-sized businesses in the science, technology, engineering, manufacturing and medical device industries. Bye’s term runs until June of 2022. Her appointment is subject to confirmation by the North Dakota Senate, but she will begin serving on the board immediately.

Minot    The 2020 North Dakota State Fair has officially been canceled.

Fair officials report the cancelation is due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and concerns for the health and safety of all.

All tickets that were purchased with a credit card will be refunded back into that account.
It is not necessary to contact the Fair, as those ticket holders will soon see their credit.
North Dakota State Fair General Manager, Renae Korslein says,  “We want to thank all of the loyal North Dakota State Fair goers for their continued support in these unchartered waters.  We have been greatly touched by the strong support that we have received during these challenging days.  It just reminds us all what makes this state and city so special and make us in the State Fair family even more determined to make next year’s Fair even greater, when it’s safer for us to be together again.”

In sports…

VIRUS AFFECTING SPORTS…

UNDATED (AP) — Major League Baseball appears to have successfully handled the first wave of the new coronavirus.

Just 0.7% of MLB employees tested positive for antibodies to COVID-19. Results were based on about 5,600 completed records from employees of 26 clubs. Samples were obtained on April 14 and 15.

The start of the baseball season has been delayed because of the virus outbreak. There is no timetable for when the season might begin.

Sixty people tested positive in the raw data, and adjustments were made for false positives and false negatives.

One of the study’s leaders says the survey had a 0.5% false positive rate and demonstrates MLB employees have been less affected than their surrounding communities have been.

In other developments related to the coronavirus pandemic:

— The president of the University of Virginia says he hopes college football can be played this fall, but he doesn’t expect it to seem like “normal football seasons.” James Ryan told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that athletic director Carla Williams and football coach Bronco Mendenhall are committed to a safe return to play. But Ryan says nothing will proceed until medical officials say it’s safe to resume workouts. Ryan says school officials are taking things day by day. He says students need to be back on campus before football can begin.

— The British government says tennis courts and golf courses in England can reopen starting Wednesday, but people can only play with members of their own household. Gyms and swimming pools remain closed, although swimming in the sea or lakes will be allowed. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave no indication when professional sports can resume competition. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can set their own stance on tennis courts and golf courses, and they have already indicated a more stringent version of the lockdown will be maintained.

— The Spanish soccer league isn’t changing its plan to resume competing after five players from clubs in the first and second divisions tested positive for COVID-19. The league confirmed the positive tests on Sunday but said it was not going to alter the practice protocol that got underway last week. Players from most clubs began individual training sessions on Friday after nearly two months of confinement because of the coronavirus pandemic.

— A player for English Premier League team Brighton has tested positive for the coronavirus as clubs prepare for talks on how to resume competition during the pandemic. The southern England club told The Associated Press there is no need for other members of the squad or coaches to self-isolate since players have only worked in isolation when at the training base. The Premier League has government support for “Project Restart” and will try to secure agreement among the 20 clubs on the plans during a conference call with them on Monday.

— America’s Cup teams are returning to the water in varying degrees nearly two months after the coronavirus pandemic forced the shutdown of what would have been an impressive global road show for sailing. Defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand has returned to training on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbor with its half-size test boat after a mandatory lockdown was lifted. By Monday or Tuesday, the New York Yacht Club’s yacht Defiant will be headed from Pensacola, Florida, to Auckland on a 500-foot ship.

— Chinese Basketball Association president and former Houston Rockets star Yao Ming says his league has three options for resuming a season that has been on hold since Feb. 1 over the pandemic. Yao says the league might play out the full schedule, play a shortened season with some games dropped, or end the regular season and go straight to the playoffs based on teams’ current rankings. Yao told state broadcaster CCTV that he hopes as much as the season can be played as possible, but that public health and fairness are the key considerations.

— The president of the French Tennis Federation says holding the French Open without fans later this year is an option. The clay-court tournament at Roland Garros was initially slated to be held May 24-June 7 but has been rescheduled for Sept. 20-Oct. 4. Bernard Giudicelli tells a French newspaper (Le Journal du Dimanche) that organizing it without fans would allow a part of the economy to keep turning.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-THREE RIVERS-BESS

College hoops’ all-time coaching leader retires.

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (AP) — College basketball victory leader Gene Bess of Three Rivers College has retired and has been replaced by his son, Brian.

The 85-year-old Bess fought health problems the last few seasons and said he didn’t have the energy level to do what he needs to do to excel as a coach.

Bess was 1,300-416 in 50 seasons at Three Rivers – 143 more victories than NCAA Division I leader Mike Krzyzewski (shuh-SHEHF’-skee) of Duke. Bess led the junior college team to national titles in 1979 and 1992.

NHL-DUCKS-CONTRACT EXTENSIONS

Ducks extend Guhle, Carrick

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Anaheim Ducks have signed defenseman Brendan Guhle (GOO’-lee) to a two-year, $1.6 million contract extension. Guhle has four goals and eight points in 30 games this season for the Ducks this season. He was acquired by Anaheim from the Sabres in February 2019.

The Ducks also signed forward Sam Carrick to a one-year extension worth $700,000.

SOCCER-MORGAN-BABY

US soccer star has baby

UNDATED (AP) — U.S. national soccer team star Alex Morgan has become a mom just in time for Mother’s Day.

Morgan announced Saturday on social media that she gave birth to daughter Charlie Elena Carrasco at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Morgan was on the U.S. team that won the World Cup last summer in France. She hopes to return to the team following her maternity leave in time for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

 

In world and national news…

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets are higher after Wall Street advanced as investors looked past dismal U.S. jobs and other data toward hopes for a global recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia advanced. Wall Street gained Friday despite a government report that American employers cut a record-setting 20.5 million jobs in April. Investor optimism is gaining as China and some other countries start to ease restrictions on business, but analysts warn a global recovery might be some way off. Markets looked ahead to a week of data releases including U.S. unemployment claims and European factory output.

PARIS (AP) — Countries in Europe are reopening their economies amid the coronavirus pandemic but in chaotic ways. Life resumed in Paris’ iconic streets and schoolchildren returned to class in the Netherlands as countries tried to balance how to reopen economies without rekindling new outbreaks. The issue is being highlighted by several new infection clusters in South Korea, Germany and China. Nightclubs in the Seoul region were ordered to shut down again after dozens of new infections occurred among visitors. Trump administration officials spoke optimistically about a relatively quick economic rebound but Vice President Mike Pence himself has had to self-isolate after an aide tested positive.

 

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The Iranian army says a missile strike on a naval vessel taking part in an exercise in the Gulf of Oman has killed 19 sailors and wounded 15. The statement on Monday significantly raised the death toll in the incident Sunday. Earlier, Iranian state media reports said the Konarak, a Hendijan-class support ship, was too close to a target during an exercise on Sunday. The vessel had been putting targets out for other ships to target. It said the missile struck the vessel accidentally.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A case about the appropriate separation between church and state is taking center stage at the Supreme Court. The high court is hearing arguments by telephone for a second week because of the coronavirus pandemic. The case involving two ex-Catholic school teachers and their former employers is one of two the court is tackling Monday. Other cases this week include high-profile fights over President Donald Trump’s financial records and whether presidential electors have to cast their Electoral College ballots for the candidate who wins the popular vote in their state.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — China’s direct investments in the United States fell last year to the lowest level since the Great Recession — even before the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of global commerce. The drop reflected tensions between the world’s two biggest economies and Chinese government restrictions on overseas investment. A report out Monday found that China’s direct investment in the United States dropped from $5.4 billion in 2018 to $5 billion last year, the lowest level since the recession year of 2009. U.S. investment in China blipped up last year — to $14 billion from $13 billion in 2018.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Comedian Jerry Stiller has died at 92. His son Ben Stiller said the actor died of natural causes in a tweet posted early Monday. Jerry Stiller began his career in the 1950s as the partner of his wife Anne Meara and remained popular decades later with his featured roles on “Seinfeld” and “King of Queens.” Stiller was a multi-talented performer who appeared in an assortment of movies. He played Walter Matthau’s police sidekick in the thriller “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” and Divine’s husband Wilbur Turnblad in John Waters’ twisted comedy “Hairspray.”

 

 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia has tripled taxes on basic goods, raising them to 15%, and has announced spending cuts of around $26 billion as it grapples with blows from the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices on its economy. Saudi citizens will also lose a bonus cost-of-living allowance as part of the cuts. That’s according to the country’s finance minister who made the announcement early on Monday. Despite efforts to diversify the economy, the kingdom still heavily relies on oil for revenue, which plunged in price this year as Brent crude now hovers around $30 a barrel.

AP-EU-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-BRITAIN

UK PM Johnson’s ‘go to work’ advice sparks wide confusion

LONDON (AP) — Employees, business owners, police and trade unions in Britain are expressing confusion after the government switched from telling workers to stay at home to urging them to return to work — but preferably without getting near other people or using public transport. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has extended most of the draconian restrictions on daily life that the government imposed March 23 to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. But he said people who can’t work from home “should be actively encouraged to go to work.” Critics said the advice was confusing, hard to follow and potentially dangerous. Britain’s official coronavirus death toll stands at almost 32,000, the highest number of fatalities in Europe.