CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. West winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.

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

winds 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. North winds 5 to

10 mph.

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

.SATURDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

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

showers after midnight. Lows in the upper 50s.

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

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

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

 

After the warm up, below normal temps through late week with a significant warming trend beginning over the weekend into next week. Saturday will see high temps in the mid 70s west and upper 60 east, but well into the 80s Mon and Tue, approaching 90 at many locations.

Mostly dry conditions are expected.

Valley City (CSi)   City County Health District in Valley City held aCOVID-19 News Briefing on Wednesday evening, at City Hall.

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.

Speakers included:

City County Health District Administrator Theresa Will.  She said,

Valley City (CSi)   City County Health District in Valley City held a COVID-19 News Briefing on Wednesday evening, at City Hall.

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.

Speakers included:

City County Health District Administrator Theresa Will.  She said, there have been four positive cases in Barnes County, with no active cases.  1100 tests have been performed.

Local testing clinics will continue.  Next week at the Open Door Center, and CHI Mercy.

She added that North Dakota will be performing COVID-19 tests at all jails.

She pointed out guidelines for graduation parties.  Some of those include:  No more than 50 percent occupancy, limit guest lists, those at high risk should not attend, including those 65 year of age and older, and those with underlying health conditions.  Frequently sanitize all surfaces, wear face masks, and observe social distancing.  She said to hold the parties outdoors, if possible.

Valley City Fire Chief Scott Magnuson, said, no cases of COVID- 19 have been reported in the fire department, but the pandemic has negatively affected training.

He said the fire department has participated 167 birthday and anniversary celebrations.

The fire department also assisted with the “Broken Road,” project, with about 9,000 trees, removed and 1300 pounds of garbage.

He also reminded residents to fill out and return the 2020 census forms.

Barnes County Food Pantry, Director, Pat Hansen Director thanked the community for their support for the food pantry, with the pantry buying from local grocery stores.  She said the requests were high in March and is going up again this month.

The Senior Center will be continue doing home delivered meals, and take out by calling a day ahead.

She said the Center is not likely to be open for usual service before July 1.

Bus service will remain free of charge until July 1.  Bridgeview was tested, and all were negative for the COVID-19 virus.

Barnes County Commission President Bill Carlblom, said, Barnes County paved roads have had load restrictions removed, gravel roads are starting to be graded, and have load restrictions.  He reminded residents that the Jun 9 elections are vote by mail, only.

Valley City Mayor Dave Carlsrud, reiterated the importance of participating in the census, which adds to the local cash flow.

He reported that Rally in the Valley has been cancelled this year, with concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic.  (See separate story at CSiNewsNow.com)

He said getting out and participating in activities is good for physical and mental health.

He pointed out high numbers with positives in neighboring Cass County, and not to relax social distancing, adding that the Twin Cities area, is one of the hot spots in the nation for the COVID-19 virus.

The local briefings will continue through June this year.

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held a COVID-19 News Briefing Wednesday afternoon at 4-p.m., at the State Capital in Bismarck. He was joined by State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler.

With the COVID-19 update

Two more people have died from COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the total number of deaths to 56.  The female victims from Cass County were in their 70s and 90s and had underlying health conditions.

NDDDoH

Posted Wed. May 27, 2020

11-a.m.

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

LAB EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION

The lab experienced a recent malfunction on two pieces of lab equipment. Out of an abundance of caution, 82 positive results will be considered inconclusive and the individuals have been asked to retest. All the facilities involved have been notified. The issue was caught quickly and early; the malfunction has been corrected and has not impacted lab processing.

 

The retests will run over the next couple of days – an update will be provided in future news releases and more information will be provided at the news conference on Tuesday. For now, the previous results remain in the total positive count and will be adjusted after the results are in. More to come.

 

Total Retests Complete: 74

Positive: 1

Negative: 73

1 individual declined testing and is self-isolate at home

 

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Woman in her 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 70s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY

  • Cass County – 16
  • Grand Forks County – 1


BY THE NUMBERS

86,527 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+1,048 total tests from yesterday)

 

67,340 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+486 unique individuals from yesterday)

64,901 – Total Negative (+469 unique individuals from yesterday)

2,439 – Total Positive (+17 unique individuals from yesterday)

1.6% – Daily Positivity Rate**

161 – Total Hospitalized (+5 individuals from yesterday)

40 – Currently Hospitalized (+0 individuals from yesterday)

1,762 – Total Recovered (+61 individuals from yesterday)

56 – Total Deaths*** (+2 individual from yesterday)

 

Please note that the website is updated to reflect a row in the death data that includes the addition of three individuals where COVID-19 was listed as the cause of death on the official death record, but there was not a positive COVID-19 test. These individuals are presumed positive by the health care provider based on symptoms and/or exposure.  

 

* Note that this does not include individuals from out of state and has been updated to reflect the most recent information discovered after cases were investigated.

**Because the serial tests completed and added to the total number of tests completed can result in new individuals who test positive, the daily positivity rate will be calculated using the total positives for the day by the daily number of tests completed instead of the daily number of unique individuals tested.

 

*** Number of individuals who tested positive and died from any cause while infected with COVID-19.

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.

Burgum has appointed University of North Dakota Interim President Joshua Wynne to be the state’s chief health strategist, a new position, and Dr. Andrew Stahl to serve as interim state health officer overseeing the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH). The governor thanked outgoing State Health Officer Mylynn Tufte for her leadership of the NDDoH for over three years, including through the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  She resigned to return to the private sector.  She will stay on in an advisory capacity the next three weeks.

As the state’s chief health strategist, Wynne will work within the NDDoH to create a vision and strategy for developing a world-class public health enterprise in partnership with the North Dakota University System (NDUS), local public health entities, the private sector and local, state, federal and tribal governments. Wynne, whose term as UND’s interim president expires May 31, will split his time between the temporary NDDoH leadership position and his role since 2010 as UND’s vice president for health affairs and dean of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Grand Forks.

Stahl has been providing strategic medical analysis for North Dakota’s COVID-19 response efforts and will begin serving as interim state health officer effective June 1. He has served as an officer in the North Dakota Army National Guard’s Medical Corps since 2009, currently holding the rank of major, and as a member of the Guard’s COVID-19 Task Force since March.

Burgum has granted State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler’s request for an executive order that allows North Dakota’s schools to keep larger financial reserves to pay expenses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Dakota law now penalizes school districts that keep general fund reserves in excess of a specified benchmark. The governor’s new executive order 2020-33, issued Wednesday, says the penalty will not apply for the 2019-20 school budget year, which ends June 30.

Baesler said the order will help local school boards and administrators plan for the best ways to use federal aid that was earmarked to help school districts pay unexpected pandemic-related costs.

She said schools had also budgeted for expenses, such as professional development for teachers and student learning excursions, that were canceled, and the unspent money may put districts over the threshold.

Baesler said the order also preserves school districts’ flexibility in using federal emergency aid. Many districts may want to delay using the money until the next budget year.

With behavioral health, the North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division has been awarded a $2 million grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support the state’s behavioral health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Emergency Grant to Address Mental and Substance Use Disorders during COVID-19 program focuses on meeting the needs of individuals with serious mental illnesses, substance use disorders, and/or individuals with both serious mental illness and substance use disorders. The program will also support individuals with less severe behavioral health needs, including health care workers, first responders and other frontline personnel.

Burgum said technology has played a critical role in fighting the COVID-19 virus, and the spread. He pointed out that North Dakota female high school students have participated in a national cybersecurity challenge, with North Dakota leading the nation in per capita student participation with 290 girls from 21 North Dakota schools, in the Girl’s go CyberStart program.

He said with the State offices at the capital building having employees returning next week, the goal is to have 50 percent capacity, which he said in the future may save taxpayers money, while some continue to work from home.

He saluted North Dakota artisans and their contribution to the arts and music, internationally, and pointed to North Dakota citizens that have been inducted into the North Dakota Roughrider Hall of Fame, including Jamestown native, Peggy Lee.

Valley City  (Chamber)   After several meetings with the department of health, local officials and the ND Department of Commerce, the Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce Board has made the hard decision to cancel the annual Rally in the Valley this year.

Valley City Chamber Executive Director Kay Vinje says,  “We will be doing several things to support our chamber membership and community, this year.”

The Valley City Chamber Plans three more interactive campaigns  throughout the summer with many opportunities for shoppers to win gift cards and Chamber Bucks.

Vinje encourages the community to remain,  “Valley City Strong,” by supporting  local merchants, restaurants and other businesses in the community during these trying times.

Jamestown  (Chamber)  Members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Orriginals. They recently did an extensive remodel to their store front. This business is located at 216 1st Ave. S in Jamestown.

Businesses qualify for a ribbon-cutting ceremony if they open, move, remodel, are under new ownership or change their name.  For more information, contact Emily Bivens by emailing: director@jamestownchamber.com or call the chamber at 701-252-4830.

Jamestown (CSi)  Jamestown Public Works informs residents that the flushing of fire hydrants, by city crews will begin in the SE & SW areas Thursday, May 28, 2020 and will continue the work throughout the City during normal working hours until completed.

Please be aware of the possibility of lowered water pressure when flushing of hydrants occurs in the various areas.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KNOX-AM) — Police say two law enforcement officers and a suspect were shot at a Grand Forks apartment complex. Authorities say two deputies were serving papers on a man Wednesday afternoon when he began shooting. KNOX radio reports that other officers responded to the scene. Police say a woman was found dead in the apartment. A Grand Forks police officer and Grand Forks County sheriff’s deputy were shot. Conditions on the officer and the suspect were not available. No further details have been released.

Bismarck  (NDDOT)  The North Dakota Department of Transportation reminds parents and young drivers that the approaching summer months bring added opportunities for underage drinking.

To combat these temptations, law enforcement will have extra patrols to enforce the law on underage drinking from June 1 to July 19. Law enforcement will conduct compliance checks and shoulder taps as a part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign.

Drinking under the age of 21 is illegal. No matter the age, law enforcement seeks to educate drivers that driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is illegal and dangerous. If underage persons are found to be consuming or in possession of alcohol, those individuals could face fines and end up in court.

In 2019, 42% of crash fatalities in North Dakota were alcohol-related.

Valley City Police Chief Phillip Hatcher says, “There can be serious consequences when youth make the decision to consume alcohol. They may be facing a lot of peer pressure to do so. As part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign, we want youth to understand it’s OK to choose not to consume alcohol and it’s never OK to get in the vehicle with someone under the influence.”

Alcohol and drug-related crashes are 100% preventable. Many lives would be saved in North Dakota each year if every driver consistently made the choice to always drive sober, designate a sober driver, or use a ride-hailing service.

This campaign is part of the Vision Zero summer H.E.A.T. (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) strategy to eliminate motor vehicle crash fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roads. Over the past five years, more people have died in motor vehicle crashes in warm weather months (May through October) than cold weather months. H.E.A.T. will take place through August to encourage everyone to wear a seat belt, use appropriate child passenger safety seats, drive sober and distraction-free, and follow all posted speed limits.

Visit the North Dakota Crash Memorial wall to view memorials built on the hope of preventing another death on North Dakota roads.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Wealthy former software executive and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has personally shelled out more than $1 million ahead of the state’s primary election, with only a fraction of the sum to his own re-election bid. Campaign disclosure reports show the first-term Republican has given $875,000 to a political action campaign that is largely focused on unseating a member of his own party and one of the state’s most powerful legislators. With Burgum’s money, the Dakota Leadership PAC has raised more than $1 million, mostly from out-of-state donors. Separately, Burgum has contributed $100,000 to his own campaign so far and $42,000 to about 20 GOP incumbent and first-time legislative candidates,.

In world and national news…

Update…

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The launch of a SpaceX rocket ship with two NASA astronauts on a history-making flight into orbit was called off Wednesday with 16 minutes to go in the countdown because of the danger of lightning. Liftoff is rescheduled for Saturday. The spacecraft was set to blast off Wednesday afternoon for the International Space Station, ushering in a new era in commercial spaceflight and putting NASA back in the business of launching astronauts from U.S. for the first time in nearly a decade. Ever since the space shuttle was retired in 2011, NASA has relied on Russian rockets to carry astronauts to and from the space station.

(AP)Boeing is cutting more than 12,000 jobs through layoffs and buyouts, with several thousand more jobs expected to be cut over the next few months as the aircraft deals with a downturn in travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The company said Wednesday it will lay off 6,770 U.S. workers this week, and another 5,520 employees are taking buyouts. Boeing had already said it would cut 10% of a workforce that numbered about 160,000. The layoffs are expected to be concentrated in the Seattle area, home to Boeing’s big commercial-airplanes business. The Chicago-based company says its defense business is stable and will help blunt the impact of falling demand for passenger jets.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a day that’s shaping up as one for the history books on Capitol Hill. For the first time, House lawmakers intend to vote by proxy. The aim is to avoid the risk of travel to Washington during the pandemic. House Republicans have sued to stop the majority party. The House is trying to strike a balance between working from home and honoring the Constitution’s requirement to be “present” and voting. On the legislative front, with Congress deadlocked on a broad virus aid package, lawmakers are shifting their attention to a more modest overhaul of small business relief.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mayor Muriel Bowser says the nation’s capital will begin a gradual reopening Friday, even as she warns it probably will result in more coronavirus infections. Restaurants will be permitted to seat guests outdoors. Barbers and hair salons will ope. But nail parlors and public playgrounds will remain closed. Nonessential businesses will be allowed to offer curbside or front-door pickup services. Gatherings of up to 10 people will be permitted. And the major says the public health emergency she declared in March will remain in place. Washington, D.C., working closely with neighboring counties in Maryland and Virginia, has pursued a more conservative timeline than much of the rest of the nation.

O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The owner of a business that hosted crowded pool parties over the Memorial Day weekend at Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks says no laws were broken and safety measures were in place to protect against the spread of the coronavirus. Social media postings over the weekend showed large crowds of mostly young people at pools at the lake, which draws people from throughout Missouri and surrounding states. Backwater Jacks owner Gary Prewitt released a statement stating that temperatures were checked at the pool entrance by medical staff hired for the event and free bottles of hand sanitizer were given out.

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Officials from SeaWorld and Disney World say they hope to open their theme parks in Orlando, Florida, in June and July. A city task force approved the plans on Wednesday. They will now be sent to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his approval. SeaWorld wants to reopen June 11. Disney plans a tiered approach, with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom opening July 11, followed by Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15. Universal Orlando has already submitted plans to reopen its Orlando park on June 5. The task force also approved those and sent them to the governor for his approval.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — A Canadian judge has ruled that the U.S. extradition case against a senior Chinese Huawei executive can continue to the next stage. Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, at Vancouver’s airport in late 2018. The U.S. wants her extradited to face fraud charges. British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Heather Homes ruled Wednesday the allegations against Meng in the U.S. would also be a crime in Canada if committed here and thus the extradition case against her can continue in Canada. Her arrest infuriated Beijing, which sees her case as a political move designed to prevent China’s rise.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has notified Congress that the Trump administration no longer regards Hong Kong as autonomous from mainland China. Wednesday’s notification sets the stage for the U.S. to withdraw preferential trade and financial status that the former British colony has enjoyed since it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997. Pompeo’s decision wasn’t accompanied by a revocation of any specific privileges. But the administration sees it as putting China on notice that Hong Kong’s perks are in jeopardy. It also comes amid calls for the U.S. and others to react against Beijing’s move to impose Chinese national security laws over the territory.