CSi Weather…

TODAY…Increasing clouds. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds around 5 mph shifting to the southeast in the afternoon.

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in the

mid 40s. East winds around 5 mph.

.SATURDAY…Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area. Highs in the lower 60s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy in the evening, a 20 percent chance of rain showers in the evening.  Then clearing. Lows in the mid 40s. South winds around 5 mph shifting to the north after midnight.

.SUNDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Southeast winds 5 to

15 mph.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.

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

and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows around 60.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers

and thunderstorms. Highs around 80.

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

showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of rain showers

and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s.

Shower chances remain over the southern half of the state through

Saturday.

 

 

Dry conditions return for Saturday night, with the only exception possibly being the southern James River Valley.

Well above average temperatures expected for Tuesday, with precipiation chances Tuesday evening.

The threat for strong to severe storms will be possible.

 

Jamestown  (JPD)  Jamestown Police is informing the public that they are receiving several calls reporting identity theft from teachers of the Jamestown Public School District.

There are also reports coming into other parts of the state.

The Jamestown Police Department states:  “If you are a teacher from a Stutsman County school district, and believe you are a victim of identity theft, you may make a report by calling the Stutsman County Communications Center.  A dispatcher will take your information. However, due to the volume of calls being received, an officer will be in touch with you over the coming days to continue the investigation.”

Call the Dispatch Center at 701-252-1000.

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum returned from his Wednesday meeting with President Trump at the White House to resume his COVID-19 News Briefings on Thursday at the State Capital in Bismarck.

North Dakota has topped 50,000 in the number of tests for the coronavirus and 1,700 for the number of people confirmed to have the disease.

NDDoH

Released Thurs May 14, 2020 11-a.m.

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

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED THURSDAY

  • Burleigh County – 1
  • Cass County – 57
  • Grand Forks County – 6
  • Mountrail County – 1
  • Richland County – 1
  • Williams County – 1


BY THE NUMBERS

50,311 – Total Tested (+1,366 individuals from yesterday)

48,599 – Total Negative (+1,301 individuals from yesterday)

1,712 – Total Positive (+67 individuals from yesterday)

Please note that a previously reported positive case from Cass County was discovered to be a duplicate and also a previously reported case from Morton County ended up being from out of state. This reduces our totals by two.

4.9% – Daily Positive Rate of Completed Tests

129 – Total Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

38 – Currently Hospitalized (+1 individuals from yesterday)

1,007 – Total Recovered (+38 individuals from yesterday)

40 – Total Deaths (+0 individual from yesterday)

For descriptions of these categories, visit the NDDoH dashboard.

For the most updated and timely information and updates related to COVID-19, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus, follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Active cases currently are flat-lining in the statistics.

The highest number of positive cases are in Cass, followed by Grand Forks counties.

Burgum said challenges remain in testing of long-term care, facilities with staff tested, and then again a week later, in serial testing.

He updated the Red River COVID Task Force, saying more focused testing has started in Fargo and Moorhead, Minnesota.

The targeted testing goal is 1,000 tests a day, which may see the positives increase, or remain the same, including serial testing.

Homeless testing is at about 50 per day.  More contact tracers are being sought in Cass County.

Vulnerable populations testing will continue across the state, including congregate living settings, looking for possible COVID-19 “hot spots.”

He reviewed his White House round table with President Trump, Wednesday, including North Dakota Commerce Secretary Michell Kommer, and U.S. Senator, John Hoeven.  He said after the public meeting they discussed ag-related and other issues, including long-term care support, concerning North Dakota.

He said he has been tested for COVID-19 three times in the past week, including after visits at the White House and other DC locations, and were negative each time.

He said face masks were used, except during the conversations, and in the cabinet room social distancing was observed.

In DC he thanked North Dakotans in observing taking protective measures to slow the virus spread.

Burgum said with school building accessibility in K-12, indoor facilities remain closed, and the state has more FAQ information on line at NDresponse, including specified uses starting June 1, 2020. School districts have more information on days for students to pick up personal items in school buildings, also uses, restrictions concerning playground accessibility.

With primary and local elections, he said young people turning 18 years old are encouraged to vote on June 9, 2020, for the first time.  He pointed out all 53 North Dakota counties will have mail in voting, only,  adding 128,178  ballots have been sent, with about 23,000 ballots returned.

He explained the process including receiving applications returning them by mail, and the receiving and returning the completed election ballot, either by mail, or at local drop box locations.

With Job Service, he said the unemployment processing mainframe was updated, that allowed claims to be processed faster and checks sent out faster.  He said so far the state has sent $236.3 million in benefits.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Dakota Brands plant shut down on May 1, 2020, and the building remains for sale.

Finance Manager Sharon Schultz says, the plant and two other business properties are being divested by the ownership, and the Jamestown Dakota Brands, formerly Dakota Bake N Serve had been on the market for a few months, but no offers were made.

She says the equipment has been sold through an auction, and was dismantled, and the building is currently being emptied of its equipment, and will be distributed to the high bidders.   The silo at the site, on land leased from Jamestown Regional Airport has been taken down.

After all the equipment is moved out, the facility will be cleaned next week before being closed.

She adds that the building owned by the company is currently for sale.

The Jamestown location has five employees, still at the plant, in management.  They will and all the 17 Jamestown employees will be paid through June 12 this year.

The plant was operating one shift, with  four, ten hour shifts per week.

Dakota Bake N Serve began in 1967 at a small location, and after moving twice, moved the second time to its current location in 1971, producing “high quality frozen and refrigerated products including bread dough products, under the name of Rhodes from 1968-1984.

It sold products to:

Kerr Industries (1992)
H. J. Heinz (90-91)
J. L. Foods, Oregon Farms Division (84-89)
Dakota Bake-N-Serv. – Rhodes (68-84)

Bismarck  (CSi)  North Dakota’s eight commercial service airports during the month of April experienced their lowest monthly passenger count on record since the state began tracking passenger boarding numbers 40 years ago.  Approximately 5,000 passengers or 5% of the normal expected passenger numbers flew out of North Dakota’s airports throughout the month of April which is directly attributed to the mitigation impacts COVID-19 has had on the traveling public.

Jamestown boardings in April this year were, 41, compared to 694 in April of 2019, a decrease of 94 percent.

Year to date in Jamestown boardings were at 2455, compared to 3338 through April of 2019 a drop of about 26-percent.

Airline passenger levels in North Dakota and throughout the rest of the country have begun to slowly rise during the month of May as communities throughout the country begin to re-open.  Historically low passenger levels are expected to continue in the near future as long as mitigation efforts for COVID-19 are in place.

“The safety of all passengers and staff remains a top priority for our commercial service airports.”  stated Kyle Wanner, Executive Director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission.  “The airports and airlines have implemented additional sanitizing methods in an effort to take every precaution possible for the safety of the flying public. Airlines throughout the country have also started to require face-coverings to be worn on flights to help slow the spread of COVID-19. To avoid any surprises, please check the policy of your airline before leaving for the airport.”

Jamestown  (Chamber)  Members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee and the Young Professionals of Jamestown presented the Customer Service Award for May to Michael Lipetzky of Walmart for his outstanding customer service.  The chamber honors individuals who demonstrate a consistent commitment to delivering products or services that satisfy customers by exceeding their requirements or expectations.

His nomination said, “My nomination for Mike doesn’t come from a specific experience, but rather my nomination comes from the superior service I’m always provided with when I visit Walmart. Mike has worked at Walmart for several years now and every time I’ve needed assistance in the Electronics department, he always meets my needs with a smile and friendly banter. I’ve actually struck up a great friendship with him through our interactions. I’ve also witnessed how Mike works with others and the service doesn’t stop with me. He treats everyone equally and with the same respect as anyone else.”

Congratulations to Michael, who along with all the other monthly winners, will be recognized at the Chamber’s annual banquet in January 2021.  Customer Service Award nomination forms are available at the Chamber office and on their website at www.jamestownchamber.com or call 701-252-4830.

Valley City  (CSi)  Great Plains Food Bank will be in Valley City Friday distributing items such as fruit, veggies,  and more.

The mobile food truck will be at Epworth United Methodist Church’s parking lot from 11-a.m. to 1-p.m.

Those attending should bring along their own containers to carry the food.

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Community is invited to join in with another vehicle cruise Bridge City Cruisers, on Friday evening.

Starting at 6:30 -p.m., bring any type of vehicle to join in on Central Avenue.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The next Jamestown Community Prayer meeting on Zoom will be from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16. To participate online send your email to Jamestowncpm@gmail.com . All are welcome to help pray.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Bismarck mother is facing felony charges after police say they found two of her three young children at a church and the third in a car dressed only in messy diapers in 45-degree weather. Twenty-five-year-old Oceane Moreland is charged with child neglect and a misdemeanor drug offense. Police were called to a church Tuesday by a worker who found the chlildren in the building. The worker told police a similar incident happened on Mother’s Day. The Bismarck Tribune reports a court affidavit says officers found Moreland asleep at her home and determined a third child was missing. The child was found in a car near the home. The ages of the children were not provided. Moreland’s attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.

 

Update…

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Police have identified the victim of a homicide in Minot. Authorities say a relative is in custody for the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Jordan Parisien. He was shot on the city’s southwest side shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday. Parisien was rushed to Trinity Hospital where he died a short time later. Police say they’ve arrested a 22-year-old male relative who had a confrontation with the victim before the shooting. The suspect was taken to the Ward County Jail and is being held on a possible murder charge.

Previously

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — An arrest has been made in a homicide in Minot, according to police. Officers were called to a shooting on the city’s southwest side shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday. Officers found the victim and administered aid. He was transported to Trinity Hospital where he died a short time later. Police say they’ve arrested a 22-year-old man who had a confrontation with the victim before the shooting. Authorities say the victim and suspect knew each other. The suspect was taken to the Ward County Jail and is being held on a possible murder charge. The victim has not been identified.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota wants to use more than $33 million in federal coronavirus aid to plug “orphaned” oil wells in the state. State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms says 549 wells have been identified as abandoned in North Dakota’s oil-producing region, including about 10% that companies have walked away from in recent weeks due to low oil prices and sparse demand brought on by the coronavirus outbreak. State and industry officials the idea is both a jobs program for energy workers and an attempt to curb a growing problem in western North Dakota’s oil patch.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is pushing governors to reopen schools as soon as possible, framing the effort to resume classes as a sign that the U.S. is coming back from the coronavirus outbreak. Trump’s push appears at odds with cautions by the nation’s leading immunologist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is wary of returning to normal activities too quickly. Fauci has told Congress that the many unknowns regarding the novel coronavirus means being careful with children. Trump says the virus has had “very little impact on young people,” yet severe COVID-19 illnesses and at least several deaths of children have been reported in the U.S.

In sports…

Fargo  The 2020 North Dakota Shrine Bowl is cancelled.

The news release says, “Based on the information available at this time, the North Dakota Shrine Bowl Board has come to the difficult decision to cancel this year’s game and the events surrounding the game.  The North Dakota Shrine Bowl Board will formulate and execute a plan to still honor the players selected to participate in the 2020 North Dakota Shrine Bowl,”

The Shrine Bowl is  a high school football all-star game and as a fundraiser for Shriners Hospitals  nationwide.

Donations can still be given to the Shriners Hospital.

Childrens Hospital | Shriners Hospitals for Children

 

VIRUS AFFECT IN SPORTS

UNDATED (AP) — It will be a summer in the South for NASCAR. The stock car series says it will stick to Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, Florida and Alabama for June races, all without fans.

NASCAR has now set plans for 20 races, including nine in the elite Cup Series. It is coming back after being shut down for more than two months by the pandemic.

The Cup Series resumes this Sunday at Darlington Raceway and run four times in 11 days at the South Carolina track and at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. Then NASCAR will go to Bristol, Martinsville, Atlanta, Homestead and Talladega.

In other developments related to the coronavirus pandemic:

— The Cincinnati Reds are laying off less than 25% of their staff and reducing pay for others on June 1 in response to the pandemic. Cincinnati was among the majority of teams that committed to paying full-time employees through May. The move comes a day after The Associated Press was told the Miami Marlins are furloughing 90 to 100 baseball operations employees beginning June 1.

— The PGA Tour Champions has decided to combine 2020 and 2021 into one season. Tour president Miller Brady says combining two seasons into one is the best solution. The 50-and-older circuit already has canceled eight tournaments because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour is scheduled to resume with the Ally Challenge in Michigan on July 31. That would be the first of 13 events remaining this year, barring any delays. The PGA Tour Champions already has lost two majors, the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior PGA Championship, and is waiting to hear the fate of the Senior British Open.

— NBC’s on-air sports personalities are taking a pay cut ranging from 5-10% through the rest of the year because of the coronavirus pandemic. NBC Sports Group President Pete Bevacqua says the pay cuts are voluntary. NBCUniversal executives are taking 20% pay cuts and those making more than $100,000 are seeing a 3% salary reduction.

— ACC commissioner John Swofford says the league expects to distribute 98% of its projected revenues to member schools for this school year despite the shutdown of college sports amid the coronavirus pandemic. The NCAA announced in March that it would distribute $225 million in June to 350 Division I schools after the cancellation of its men’s basketball tournament, much less than the original plan of $600 million. But Swofford said the league has offset some losses in savings for canceled championship events as well as less travel and other expenses.

— Orlando is the latest NBA team to reopen its practice facility since the coronavirus shutdown, with Nikola Vucevic (VOOCH’-uh-vihch) among the first Magic players to arrive back for voluntary workouts Thursday. The Magic released video of Vucevic working with assistant coach Lionel Chalmers, who was in a mask and gloves for the session. The NBA requires anyone who is present for the workouts, except for the player while he is working out, to be wearing personal protective equipment.

— West Virginia University president E. Gordon Gee is vowing that the Mountaineers will play football this fall. Despite uncertainly around the coronavirus pandemic, all Big 12 schools, including West Virginia, plan to open campuses for the fall semester, a key step toward launching fall sports. Gee joked in a radio interview that he would “suit up” if it meant the Mountaineers would play.

— The IOC has set aside $800 million for loans and payments arising from the pandemic that forced the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to be postponed. It is still unclear how big the total postponement bill will be with Olympic organizers and public authorities in Japan facing extra costs estimated to run into billions for the one-year postponement. A sum of $150 million is for loans to sports governing bodies and more than 200 eligible national Olympic committees. The IOC is working on how to allocate the other $650 million.

— Major League Soccer is extending a league-wide moratorium on group and team training through June 1. Players are permitted to use outdoor team training fields for voluntary individual workouts, in compliance with local health authorities and government orders that were created in consultation with medical and infectious disease experts. Team training facilities remain closed to all players except those requiring medical treatment or rehabilitation.

— The English Premier League has received government backing to resume next month if games become more accessible to fans and the world’s richest soccer competition provides financial support across the English game. The top division is the most advanced in its planning to restart amid concerns the three other professional football leagues in England could lack the funding to resume without ticket revenue from supporters. Mass gatherings are still banned and fans are not allowed to attend sports events.

— The German soccer federation has delayed the restart of the men’s third-division because it doesn’t have political approval. The third division was scheduled to resume on May 26 amid the coronavirus pandemic but the federation says that can’t happen without the go-ahead from authorities around the country. Games in the first and second divisions will resume Saturday. The third division still has 11 rounds of games to play.

— The German Football League has relaxed its stance on finishing the season by June 30, when some players’ contracts expire. Games could continue into July if the alternative is leaving the season unfinished at the end of June, it said in a statement. Some games could be moved to neutral venues if they can’t be played at the original stadium because of infection risks locally. The league delayed a decision on how to decide final standings if the season can’t be finished.

— The Italian soccer federation has set up a pool of inspectors to check that teams comply with new health protocols and government decrees issued during the coronavirus pandemic. Serie A teams were permitted to resume individual training on May 4 while full team training can restart Monday. Lazio has reportedly already been training in groups of three players. The federation says inspectors will verify that practices are held according to the rules. The league said on Wednesday that it hopes to resume playing games on June 13 but the government has not approved a restart yet.

OBIT-BOB WATSON

Former MLB All-Star, GM and executive Bob Watson dead at 74

UNDATED (AP) — Bob Watson, a two-time All-Star as a player who later became the first black general manager to win a World Series with the New York Yankees in 1996, has died. He was 74.

The Houston Astros, for whom Watson played his first 14 major league seasons, announced the death Thursday night.

Watson’s son Keith said he died from kidney disease.

Watson was nicknamed “The Bull” and made the All-Star team in 1973 and ’75, hit over .300 four times and drove in at least 100 runs twice. He also holds the distinction of scoring the 1 millionth run in major league history.

MLB-FINANCES

MLBPA wants financial documents from owners

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball players want to look at the owners’ books.

A person familiar with the request told The Associated Press that lawyers for the baseball players’ union asked MLB to submit a slew of financial documents that detail the industry’s finances.

Baseball owners on Monday approved a proposal that could lead to the coronavirus-delayed season starting around the Fourth of July with a regular-season schedule of about 82 games. Owners also gave the go-ahead to propose basing players’ salaries on a 50-50 revenue split, which the union says is a salary cap and a framework that players will never accept.

The type of financial disclosure the union asked for is more common during overall collective bargaining talks.

Commissioner Rob Manfred is confident of reaching a deal with players. He also told CNN on Thursday that he’s hopeful the season can begin, saying they are making plans to play in empty ballparks.

MLB-NEWS

Rays’ Snell says he won’t take another pay cut

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A former Cy Young Award winner is balking.

Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell says he won’t take the mound this year if his pay is cut further. He also has health concerns as Major League Baseball tries to salvage a season that has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Snell says he should receive the money he signed for and not 50% because the season is being cut in half. Snell would get $43,210 for each day of the schedule under the March 26 agreement between Major League Baseball and the players’ association.

Snell was slated to make $7 million this season, part of a five-year, $50 million package he accepted in February 2019.

Snell won the American League Cy Young Award in 2018 after going 21-5 with a circuit-leading 1.86 ERA. Injuries limited him to 23 starts last year as he went 6-8 with a 4.29 earned run average.

MLB-HOWE-CORONAVIRUS

Art Howe battling coronavirus

HOUSTON (AP) — Former major league manager and infielder Art Howe is in intensive care in a Houston hospital with the coronavirus.

The 73-year-old Howe confirmed to Houston TV station KPRC 2 Thursday night that he has been dealing with the illness since first feeling symptoms of COVID-19 on May 3.

Howe is best known as the manager of the “Moneyball” Oakland Athletics playoff teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning 600 games over seven seasons. He also managed the Astros and Mets before ending his managerial career 1,129-1,137.

NASCAR-DARLINGTON

Keselowski takes Darlington pole in lottery

UNDATED (AP) — Brad Keselowski has won the pole for Sunday’s race at Darlington Raceway without burning an ounce of fuel.

The Team Penske driver watched NASCAR’s chief scorer Kyle McKinney finally pluck the No. 1 ball out of a random draw, giving the 2012 series champion the top starting position when the Cup season resumes.

Keselowski will be joined on the front row by Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports. Matt DiBenedetto, Kyle Busch and Aric Almirola close out the top five starting spots.

Series officials split the drivers into three groups of 12 based on points, filling spots 1-12, 13-24 and 25-36 with a random draw.

NFL-BAKER-DUNBAR ROBBERY

Two NFL players accused of armed robbery

MIAMI (AP) — Authorities say police in South Florida are trying to find New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar after multiple witnesses accused them of an armed robbery at a party.

Miramar police issued arrest warrants for both men Thursday on four counts each of armed robbery with a firearm. Baker faces an additional four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. The warrant says Baker and Dunbar were attending a cookout at a Miramar home Wednesday night when a fight broke out, causing Baker to pull out a handgun.

NHL-NEWS

Coyotes part ways with CEO Ahron Cohen

UNDATED (AP) — The Arizona Coyotes confirmed Thursday that they are parting ways with president and CEO Ahron Cohen.

Cohen has been with the Coyotes since being hired in 2015 as chief operating officer and chief legal officer by previous owner Andrew Barroway. Cohen was named president and CEO in 2017 after Steve Patterson stepped back to serve as a consultant and adviser after a year on the job.

The Coyotes were still in contention for a Western Conference playoff spot when the NHL season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In other NHL news:

— Penguins forward Dominik Simon is out six to seventh months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Simon initially hurt the shoulder in a loss to the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 29 and underwent surgery on April 29. The procedure would preclude Simon from returning if the 2019-2020 NHL season resumes. The league is currently on “pause” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 25-year-old Simon had seven goals and 15 assists in 64 games this season for Pittsburgh.

OLYMPICS-BASKETBALL QUALIFYING

Olympic basketball qualifying for Tokyo Games rescheduled

UNDATED (AP) — FIBA (FEE’-bah) says the final four men’s basketball spots in the 12-nation field for the Tokyo Olympics will be decided next summer.

FIBA has pushed back the dates for the four remaining qualifying tournaments to June 29 through July 4, 2021, meaning they would end 19 days before the rescheduled start of the delayed Tokyo Olympics.

But it remains unclear if those final spots will be earned while an NBA season is happening or if NBA players will be able to take part.

OLYMPICS-BASEBALL

Extra innings: Baseball head pitches Olympics to MLB, again

ROME (AP) — The president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation is making one final pitch to Major League Baseball to send its top stars to the Tokyo Olympics.

Riccardo Fraccari sees the one-year postponement of the games as a new opportunity for MLB. He tells The Associated Press that because of the damages from the coronavirus “baseball needs the Olympics now more than ever to boost the sport’s globalization, expansion and mass appeal.”

MLB and its players’ association have so far only agreed to allow players not on 26-man active rosters or injured lists to take part in Olympic qualifying.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP-CHARLOTTE

PGA Championship returns to Charlotte’s Quail Hollow in 2025

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The PGA Championship will return to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, in May 2025.

Quail Hollow hosted the PGA Championship in 2017, when a 24-year-old Justin Thomas defeated Francesco Molinari, Louis Oosthuizen (WUHST’-hy-zehn) and Patrick Reed by two shots to claim his first major championship.

PGA officials raved about the 2017 event and strongly hinted at the time they’d like to see the PGA Championship return to Charlotte due to strong attendance numbers.

This year’s PGA Championship was rescheduled for Aug. 3-9 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In world and national news…

BALTIMORE (AP) — U.S. retail sales likely plummeted last month as the coronavirus paralyzed the economy, kept away millions of shoppers and threatened the future of stores across the country. The Commerce Department is expected to report that retail purchases plunged 11.4% from March to April. That would be the steepest month-to-month fall since the government began keeping such records in 1992. And it would come on top of an 8.4% drop in March. For a retail sector already reeling from the migration of consumers to online shopping and to app-based delivery services, a back-to-back free-fall in spending poses a grave threat.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled House is pressing ahead with votes on another massive rescue bill that would pump almost $1 trillion to states and local governments, renew $1,200 cash payments for individuals, and extend a $600 weekly supplemental federal unemployment benefit. Friday’s measure — with a $3 trillion-plus price tag — promises to pass largely along party lines. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has loaded the 1,815-page measure with a slew of Democratic priorities, and it has earned a White House veto threat and a scathing assessment from top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who called it “a totally unserious effort.”

 

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares have advanced on signs of improvement in China’s economy after it reopened from its pandemic shutdowns. Benchmarks in Europe opened higher following an upbeat session Friday in Asia. Data out of China showed factory output and investment in fixed assets rose in April though consumer spending remained weak. The signs of progress in getting growth back on track in the world’s second biggest economy helped to counter worries over possible future waves of coronavirus outbreaks. But comments by President Donald Trump suggest a risk of another flare up in trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

 

BERLIN (AP) — Official data show that the German economy shrank by 2.2% in the first quarter compared with the previous three-month period as shutdowns in the country and beyond started to bite. That means Europe’s biggest economy went into recession following a small dip at the end of last year. Friday’s data from the Federal Statistical Office offered a first glimpse of the damage caused by the coronavirus crisis, which the government is trying to limit with a raft of rescue programs. The decline in the January-March period was the biggest since 2009. March was the month in which the coronavirus pandemic hit Europe.

 

(AP)  The prime ministers of the three Baltic nations say the first coronavirus wave is under control in their region. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania formally removed travel restrictions between them Friday. Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said the countries “are the first in the European Union to open our borders to each other’s citizens.” Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas said it was “another step toward our normal life.” The three former Soviet republics, now EU members, have a population of around six million. People returning from countries outside the region will still be required to self-isolate for two weeks.