Wayne Byers Show – Evening – May 13

CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Isolated rain showers in the evening. Lows 40 to 45. South winds around 10 mph shifting to the west after midnight. Chance of showers 20 percent.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny with slight chance of rain showers.

Highs in the upper 50s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 40. West winds 5 to

10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.

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

the afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s. South winds around 5 mph

shifting to the southeast in the afternoon.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the mid 40s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers. Highs in the lower 60s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy in the evening then clearing.

Lows in the lower 40s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 70.

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

showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s.

.MONDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms after midnight. Lows around 60.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s.

 

Rain Wednesday  should taper off in the evening.

Friday, brings a chance of showers that  will likely linger through much of Saturday. Temperatures will continue to warm through the weekend, with highs in the low to mid 70s on Sunday.

Highs on Monday/Tuesday well into the 80s for most of the area.

Bismarck  (NDDoH)  The North Dakota Department of Health reported Wednesday, Cass the state’s  most populous county has recorded a daily high number of positive tests for the coronavirus, from Tuesday, the highest number since a mass testing event last month for LM Wind Power employees and others in Grand Forks.

The Department of Health confirmed two more COVID-related deaths and 76 new positive cases Wednesday,  the second-largest single day increase of new cases to date, with a 6.8% positive rate. Active cases did decrease to 638.

Released Wed May 13, 2020 11-a.m.

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

INDIVIDUAL WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Woman in her 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

 

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY

• Burleigh County – 1
• Cass County – 69
• Grand Forks County – 4
• Morton County – 1
• Walsh County – 1

BY THE NUMBERS

48,945 – Total Tested (+1,113 individuals from yesterday)

47,298 – Total Negative (+1,037 individuals from yesterday)

1,647 – Total Positive (+76 individuals from yesterday)

6.8% – Daily Positive Rate of Completed Tests

127 – Total Hospitalized (+5 individuals from yesterday)

37 – Currently Hospitalized (-1 individuals from yesterday)

969 – Total Recovered (+92 individuals from yesterday)

40 – Total Deaths (+2 individual from yesterday)

For descriptions of these categories, visit the NDDoH dashboard.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Gov. Burgum’s Office)   – Gov. Doug Burgum met with President Donald Trump Wednesday at the White House, highlighting the benefits of state-federal partnerships to North Dakota’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts and the need for continued federal support to fully execute the state’s testing strategy.

 

During the White House meeting with President Trump and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Burgum thanked the president for his and Vice President Mike Pence’s leadership throughout the pandemic and for the administration’s partnership in addressing testing, personal protective equipment, economic relief for citizens and businesses, and other COVID-19 impacts.

 

Burgum said, “We appreciate the opportunity to share our coronavirus successes and challenges with President Trump, whose partnership has been instrumental to our whole-of-government approach to saving lives and livelihoods during this pandemic.  We’re deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of the administration and our congressional delegation that have helped us slow the spread of COVID-19 and implement our ND Smart Restart plan. Our top priority remains the health and safety of all North Dakotans, and we look forward to continued collaboration with President Trump and all our federal partners.”

 

Burgum highlighted that North Dakota has the nation’s second-highest per capita testing rate, at nearly 63 tests per 1,000 people, as well as its fifth-lowest rate of positive tests, which he credited to North Dakotans exercising individual responsibility and practicing social distancing to slow the spread. However, he also noted a Red River Valley COVID-19 Task Force has been formed to specifically address concerns about a growing concentration of COVID-19 cases in Cass County.

 

Burgum thanked the president for testing resources provided by the federal government so far and asked for continued support to ensure North Dakota can fully execute its aggressive strategy for testing and contact tracing. Also attending the meeting were Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator; Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who visited North Dakota last October; U.S. Sens. John Hoeven of North Dakota and Cory Gardner of Colorado; and North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer.

Burgum also emphasized the ongoing need for assistance for North Dakota’s agriculture and energy industries to continue to be able to feed and power the world.

The governor expressed his gratitude for the close collaboration on COVID-19 with the administration and the congressional delegation of Hoeven, Sen. Kevin Cramer and Congressman Kelly Armstrong. Among the assistance provided so far:

• President Trump approved the state’s request for a major presidential disaster declaration on April 1, ordering federal assistance to supplement state, local and tribal recovery efforts in areas affected by COVID-19.
• As of last week, the IRS had issued more than 287,000 economic impact payments totaling more than $510 million to eligible individuals in North Dakota.
• The Small Business Administration has issued more than $1.7 billion in loans to over 18,400 North Dakota small businesses through loan and funding programs created by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economy Security (CARES) Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on March 27.
• The State of North Dakota received $1.25 billion from the Coronavirus Relief Fund created by the CARES Act. On Tuesday, the state Emergency Commission, chaired by Burgum, approved using $524.2 million of the money, with additional requests expected.
• The U.S. Department of Education has provided more than $62 million to support K-12 and higher education, while also suspending student loan payments and waiving interest during the emergency.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation has allocated more than $34 million in funds for public transportation in North Dakota and over $85 million to help North Dakota airports cover continuing operations and lost revenue.
• Between the Administration’s Project Air Bridge and the Strategic National Stockpile, the federal government has supplied North Dakota with more than 102,000 N95 masks, 1.5 million surgical and procedural masks, nearly 55,000 eye and face shields, 600,000 isolation/surgical gowns and coveralls, and over 42 million surgical and exam gloves.
• The Administration has provided $52.6 million in testing assistance to North Dakota to help the state and tribal nations meeting testing goals.

For more information on North Dakota’s COVID-19 response, visit www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus or www.ndresponse.gov.

 

Fargo  (NDFU) – Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE) teamed up Wednesday with North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) to donate 30,000 pounds of pork ribs to the Great Plains Food Bank (GPFB) in Fargo. The donation completes a five-state giving spree of 150,000 pounds of pork to food banks in South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana and North Dakota.

NDFU President Mark Watne, says,“Food banks are doing all they can to meet the increased demand for food given COVID-19 and high unemployment.  This donation is one way we can help feed hungry families.”

FUE is made up of several Farmers Union-owned businesses — the dividends of which help fund Farmers Union organizations in the five-state area, as well as FUE programs and National Farmers Union. The donated pork ribs came from Redwood Farms, which supplies premium pork products to high-end restaurants in New York, Chicago and other cities across the U.S.

Watne said FUE is doing what it can to help the most vulnerable. “We care deeply about our food system. have the ability to produce enough food. We should ensure no one has to worry about where their next meal is coming from.”

In North Dakota, the GPFB is the largest hunger-relief organization and the state’s only food bank. It works with a wide array of individuals and organizations to guide donated surplus food and grocery products to a network of 213 food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and charitable feeding programs.

PHOTO

Ryan Fischer of the Great Plains Food Bank helps unload a slab of pork ribs after North Dakota Farmers Union helped donate and deliver 30,000 pounds of pork to the Great Plains Food Bank May 13, 2020, in Fargo.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A woman suspected of driving impaired and causing a crash that killed a Texas man is facing criminal charges in North Dakota. An arrest warrant has been issued for 28-year-old Terri Yelllow Hammer, of Fort Yates, on three felony charges in the May 6 crash in Morton County. Fifty-one-year-old Conan Magilke, of Lampasas, Texas, died at the scene. His passenger in his pickup, 48-year-old Angelea Magilke, was injured. The North Dakota Highway Patrol says Yellow Hammer crossed the center line and struck the pickup, the Bismarck Tribune reported. Authorities say Yellow Hammer showed signs of methamphetamine use. Court records do not list an attorney who could speak on her behalf.

Bismarck  (NDDOT)  The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is currently operating under prioritized in-person driver license and motor vehicle services, which are available by appointment only.

Robin Rehborg, NDDOT deputy director for driver safety says, For the safety of our customers and our staff we are conducting these services by appointment only.  NDDOT has scheduled more than 1,200 appointments for this week statewide and we are receiving a high volume of calls. We ask for your patience as we work to meet the need for prioritized services.”

To schedule an appointment, visit our website at dot.nd.gov to complete an online request or call 1-855-633-6835.

(The Jamestown DMV phone number is 701-952-0852.

During regular business hours (7:30am-4:30pm excluding the Noon hour, Monday through Friday). Customers will be able to pick-up their processed paperwork the following business day from 9:00am-4:30pm excluding the Noon hour. If you prefer to have your paperwork mailed back to you, please indicate that on your paperwork at drop off.)

To limit wait times on the phone, we ask that only customers who need the following prioritized services call to schedule appointments at this time.

The full list of prioritized services include:

 

Driver License

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

 

Motor Vehicle

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

 

Please keep in mind, driver licenses and motor vehicle tabs due March 1, 2020 until emergency 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.

 

Also, appointments for REAL-ID will not be accepted at this time.

 

Many driver license services such as change of address, renewals, replacements and more are available online at www.dot.nd.gov.

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.

 

Please continue to watch the NDDOT website for the most up-to-date information at www.dot.nd.gov.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Republican North Dakota Gov. Burgum is putting $195,000 of his own money into a political action campaign that has set its sights on defeating one of the most powerful members of the Legislature and a member of his own party. The move to campaign against House Appropriations Chairman Jeff Delzer in the June primary has drawn criticism across North Dakota’s political spectrum. Political and election law experts say such a move by a governor to oust a powerful member of their own party is unusual. Burgum would not comment on the contribution.

In sports…

(AP)  The St. Paul Saints will hold a virtual home opener next week, with the independent minor league baseball club unable to start their defense of the American Association championship due to the virus-related restrictions in place.

The Saints have dubbed the event “Nopening Day,” which will begin on Tuesday night at CHS Field with curbside pickup of free T-shirts for fans and end with a fireworks display at the empty 7,000-seat ballpark.

The Saints will then re-broadcast on their social media platforms the 2015 home opener that marked the first game at CHS Field in the Lowertown area of Minnesota’s capital city.

The team’s usual off-the-wall in-game promotions will be staged from the homes of various staff members. Then on a serious note, video clips honoring front-line workers at Twin Cities hospitals will be aired.

In world and national news…

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Restaurants, salons, barber shops and gyms in Iowa will be allowed to reopen Friday under new health rules intended to slow the coronavirus. Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday that she’s lifting an order that closed restaurants in 22 counties, including the largest metropolitan areas. She says she’ll also allow fitness centers, salons, tattoo parlors, barber shops and massage therapists to resume business statewide. Deaths from the virus surged again in Iowa on Wednesday, surpassing 300. The order came as Reynolds and the state’s medical director took steps to self-isolate after potential exposure to the virus at the White House last week.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — A fourth region of upstate New York has met the criteria to gradually restart its economic activity as the state prepares slowly relax its pandemic-induced social restrictions. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that the North Country met all seven benchmarks before selected businesses can be approved for reopening. It joins the Southern Tier, the Mohawk Valley and the Finger Lakes. Regions were prepared to start reopening as early as Friday. Meanwhile, New York City is launching an ad campaign to inform parents about a rare inflammatory condition in children that is thought to be linked to COVID-19.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — U.S. meat exports are surging this spring even as the processing industry is struggling to meet domestic demand because of coronavirus outbreaks at processing plants that have sickened hundreds of workers. Although the situation could cause concern that American workers are risking their health to meet foreign demand, experts say it shouldn’t because much of the meat sold to other countries is cuts that Americans generally don’t eat. And at least one of the four major processors says it has reduced exports during the pandemic. The meat industry says that if companies manage to keep plants operating, there should be plenty of supply to satisfy both the U.S. and export markets.

 

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations is forecasting that the coronavirus pandemic will shrink the world economy by 3.2% this year, the sharpest contraction since the Great Depression in the 1930s. The U.N.’s mid-year report released Wednesday said COVID-19 is expected to slash global economic output by nearly $8.5 trillion over the next two years, wiping out nearly all gains of the last four years. In January, the U.N. forecast a modest growth of 2.5% in 2020. The report said the pandemic is also likely to push an estimated 34.3 million people below the extreme poverty line in 2020

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is defending the $3 trillion price of tag of Democrats’ pandemic relief package as what’s needed to confront the “villainous virus” and economic collapse. “The American people are worth it,” Pelosi told The Associated Press. In an interview Wednesday with AP, Pelosi acknowledged the proposal is a starting point in negotiations with President Donald Trump and Republicans. The White House called the Democratic proposal “unserious.” It’s headed for a House vote Friday. Pelosi had just one message for Trump: “Tell the truth.” She said this is the “biggest disaster” the country has ever faced. “We have to address in a big way,” she said.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security’s cyber division are warning that hackers backed by the Chinese government may be attempting to steal the work of researchers dealing with the response to the coronavirus pandemic. The two agencies issued a public service announcement of the potential threat on Wednesday. It comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries over the source of the outbreak and China’s response. The Department of Justice says in a statement that hackers have been attempting to obtain intellectual property and public health data related to vaccines, treatments and testing. China has denied it’s involved in any attempt to steal virus-related data.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Counterfeit face masks that provide inadequate COVID-19 protection have been distributed to frontline health care workers across the country. An Associated Press investigation has tracked the masks to a U.S.-certified factory in China where legitimate medical masks are made. Adding to the confusion, millions of masks now considered inadequate for medical protection entered the U.S. and are now in use because of the federal government’s relaxed standards. Meanwhile state and local governments, hospitals, private caregivers and well wishers have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the flawed masks. Before the pandemic, N95 masks sold for about 60 cents each. Today they’re priced as high as $6 apiece.

 

(AP)  Wall Street is falling toward a second straight day of sharp losses Wednesday, weighed down by worries about a slow recovery for the economy. The market has been wavering the last couple weeks after coming off its best month in a generation, as optimism about reopening the economy collides with worries about the dangers of lifting restrictions too soon. The S&P 500 was down 1.8% in afternoon trading, with the sharpest losses hitting stocks that most need a healthy economy for their profits to grow. Treasury yields were also lower after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned about the threat of a prolonged recession.