CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the mid 50s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers and

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. West

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Southwest

winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the northwest after midnight.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds 5 to

10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s.

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

showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Showers likely and chance of thunderstorms.

Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny with chance of showers and slight chance

of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of precipitation

30 percent.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. A 30 percent chance of showers

and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. A 40 percent chance of rain

showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s.

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

and thunderstorms. Highs around 70.

By early afternoon Wednesday, any storms that are on-going could reach severe limits with hail as large as half-dollar size and winds to 60

mph. The most probable place for that would be south of

Interstate 94 and west of the Missouri River.

Storms weaken as they push east this evening, again, mainly across

the south.

Saturday through Sunday, the chances for showers and

storms is very high. Western North Dakota is highlighted in the

Storm Prediction Center. Saturday, and Sunday, the east is highlighted.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Rural Fire Department was called to a field fire, Wednesday afternoon,  about 2:24-p.m., about six miles south and one mile west of Jamestown.

Rural Fire Chief, Brian Paulson says a control burn in a corn stubble field got away, causing damage to about 3-4 acres.

No injuries were reported, with  20 rural fire department fire fighters and six units on the scene about an hour and 15 minutes.

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Barnes County COVID-19 News Briefing was held Weds June 3 at 5:30 pm.

The briefings are closed the public to honor social distancing.

The meeting airs live on CSi 68 & 10 with replays on CSi 10 – The Replay Channel.

View it here at CSiNewsNOW.com or go to the CSi LiveStream at Facebook.

Officials from City-County Health District, City Hall and Barnes County Government gave presentations.

Each organization provided updates and information pertaining to recent developments in the COVID-19 community response.

Speakers included:

City-County Health District Administrator, Theresa Will, who said, as of Wednesday 1300 individuals have been tested for the COVID-19 virus. There have been five positives, with one active case. Tests were performed Wednesday at the Open Door Center, and planned for Thursday, at CHI Mercy Hospital. She reminded that those in the high risk category should avoid a lot of contact with the public, when possible.

She would like input from the community on whether to schedule a community testing event.

She reminded parents to schedule inoculations for children.

Barnes County Commissioner Bill Carblom said, The Barnes County Courthouse is planned to reopen to the public on Monday June 15, 2020. Social distancing will be observed at all times.

He reminded residents to turn in their vote by mail ballots, postmarked no later than Monday June 8, or drop the completed ballot at the drop box.

He added that travel restrictions have been lifted on Barnes County paved roads, but remain on gravel roads, as work continues on improving them

He also reminded resident to fill out and return 2020 Census forms.

Valley City Mayor, Dave Carlsrud said, the Barnes County positive COVID-19 rate remains relatively low, and thanks the community, for being safe, and urges everybody to continue to observe social distancing.

In regard to protests regarding the death of George Floyd, he said violent demonstrations “Won’t bring him (Floyd) back.”

He pointed out that this Sunday June 7, at 11-a.m. there will be a Black Lives Matter, Peaceful Rally at City Park in Valley City. City police have given approval of the event.

Mayor Carlsrud said he attended, Tuesday’s funeral of Grand Forks Police Officer, Cody Holte, in Grand Forks.

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum Wednesday afternoon resumed his COVID-19 News Briefings from the state capital in Bismarck.  He was joined by Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Mike Faith and North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission (NDIAC) Executive Director Scott Davis.

With the latest COVID-19 statistics, reported on Wednesday,

Another person has died from COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the total number of deaths to 66. State health officials said Wednesday the victim was a Cass County man in his 70s with underlying health conditions.

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

 

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Man in his 70s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY

  • Burleigh County – 2
  • Cass County – 21
  • Grand Forks County – 1
  • Ransom County – 2
  • Stutsman County – 5
  • Walsh County – 1
  • Ward County – 1


BY THE NUMBERS

101,327 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+2,626 total tests from yesterday)

 

74,502 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+858 unique individuals from yesterday)

71,823 – Total Negative (+825 unique individuals from yesterday)

2,679 – Total Positive (+33 unique individuals from yesterday)

1.3% – Daily Positivity Rate**

172 – Total Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

34 – Currently Hospitalized (+0 individuals from yesterday)

2,169 – Total Recovered (+42 individuals from yesterday)

66 – Total Deaths*** (+1 individual from yesterday)

 

* 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  thanks the team effort in being a leader in lifting restrictions, and having the least amount of restrictions in place prior to moving to the low risk level.

He said the Memorial Day weekend did not spike the positive COVID-19 numbers.

He stressed ramping up testing efforts  will lead to even less restrictions.

Long term care positive numbers are improving with low numbers recently reported.

He said the goal of reaching zero positives in long term care facilities, will mean visitor restrictions will be lifted.

With Tribal Testing, Burgum said tribal testing has been completed in collaboration with state and tribal leaders.

 

North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission (NDIAC) Executive Director Scott Davis, said,

the state opened up a number of availabilities in including testing and Personal Protect Equipment.

He said the North Dakota Tribes now are able to share data, with other tribes, thanks to the state’s efforts.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Mike Faith pointed out teamwork between Standing Rock and the State Health Department including organized testing, PPEs and the assistance of the ND National Guard.

He said South Dakota areas will be tested soon.

Margaret Gates the Tribal Health Director, and Tribal Command leader said, testing plans were developed in cooperation with support, of the National Guard initially for the young people, and older people.

She added that casino testing will be forthcoming.

Burgum thanked them for their cooperation as well.

With the Payroll Protection Plan that was implement a few weeks ago, Burgum said as of June  1, 19,000 North Dakota businesses received $1.7 billion, originally a loan that became a grant.

A loan forgiveness application form will become available soon, and will be announced.

In other state news, State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and EduTech Director Rosi Kloberdanz Wednesday announced a Code.org Professional Learning Program beginning in June for middle school teachers and July for high school teachers. There is also a program available for elementary teachers.

The Computer Science Discoveries and Principles workshops are offered through a Code.org and EduTech partnership that provides scholarships for attendees, who are only required to pay a non-refundable $100 registration fee.

Registration for the middle school program is open until June 9 with a five-day online workshop taking place June 15-19.  Registration for the high school program is open until July 7 with a five-day online workshop taking place July 13-17. Each of the Professional Learning Programs is a yearlong commitment starting with the online workshop, along with two virtual two-day follow-up academic workshops. The program has a value of $4,800. Computer science credentialing is available upon completion, which is also aligned with the state’s integrated computer science and cybersecurity standards – the first in the nation.

Valley City   Weather permitting, on Thursday, Jun 4, Valley City Public works will spray for mosquitoes  starting at 8pm into Friday, morning.

Parents are advised to keep children and pets out of the streets and away from the spray machines. Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling in the area of the operation.

Call Public Works with any questions at 845-0380.

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — Court documents allege a Mandan man was killed in a dispute over the return of his girlfriend’s car. Police say 53-year-old Keven Stockert was found dead early Monday morning on the sidewalk near his mobile home. He had been stabbed or cut multiple times. An acquaintance, 47-year-old Arthur Funk, is charged in his death. Investigators say Stockert was trying to get back his girlfriend’s car from Funk, who had taken her car and not returned it. The Bismarck Tribune reports a police affidavit says Funk told investigators he stabbed Stockert more than five times to defend himself after Stockert hit him while he was returning the vehicle.

Fargo  (KFGO) A Fargo woman who was among those who organized the rally and march in downtown Fargo last Saturday says many people asked for a second event, which is now set for Friday afternoon.

Angelina Zokego says they want to keep attention on the death of George Floyd and other concerns minorities have.

Zokego says organizers do not want any violence and are disappointed with what took place Saturday night when a riot broke out that resulted in damage to businesses and injuries to police officers.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Leaders of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation in North Dakota and others are challenging a Department of Interior opinion rolling back an Obama-era memo stating that mineral rights under the original Missouri River bed should belong to the Three Affiliated Tribes. The memo filed May 26 by Daniel Jorjani, solicitor for the department, says a review by Historical Research Associates, Inc. shows the state is the legal owner of submerged lands beneath the river where it flows through the Fort Berthold Reservation. At stake is an estimated $100 million in oil royalties waiting in escrow to be claimed as well as any future payments. The tribe says it will likely file a federal lawsuit.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors plan to charge a Minneapolis police officer accused of pressing his knee against George Floyd’s neck with second-degree murder, and for the first time are leveling charges against three other officers, according to a published report. Bystander video showing Floyd’s May 25 death has sparked protests nationwide and around the world, some violent. The officer, Derek Chauvin, was fired May 26 and initially charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Three other officers were also fired but weren’t immediately charged. The Star Tribune reports that Attorney General Keith Ellison will charge them with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. Floyd’s family and protesters have demanded that all four be charged.

Bismarck  (NDDOT)  The  NDDOT informs motorists that construction is scheduled to begin June 5 on the eastbound and westbound lanes of I-94 from Streeter exit 228 to Cleveland exit 238. These two road grade raise projects are designed to minimize the flooding impact in the area.

During construction:

  • Traffic will be two-way and head-to-head near each site
  • Speed will be reduced throughout construction zone
  • A width restriction of 14 ft. is in place
  • Flaggers may be present at times
  • Minimum delays expected

The project is expected to be complete this fall. 

The NDDOT would like to remind motorists to slow down and use caution throughout the work zone. For more information about construction projects and road conditions throughout North Dakota, call 511 or visit the ND Roads map at http://www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info-v2/.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior defense officials tell the Associated Press that U.S. active-duty soldiers brought in to help if needed with the civil unrest in the nation’s capitol are beginning to return to their home base, after two days of more peaceful demonstrations in Washington, D.C. About 200 soldiers with the 82nd Airborne’s immediate response force will be the first to leave on Wednesday. The remainder of the active-duty troops, who have all been kept outside the city, will also get pulled home in the coming days if conditions allow. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss imminent troop movements.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve has approved an expansion of its $500 billion emergency program to support state and local governments. The expansion will allow all states to have at least two cities or counties eligible to tap the Fed support program regardless of population. The Fed board approved the change Wednesday on a 5-0 vote. The program, named the Municipal Liquidity Facility, has been slow to become operational and has faced strong criticism for imposing too many restrictions on the support it will provide to states and local governments.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein says he would not have approved an FBI surveillance application for a former Trump campaign aide during the Russia investigation had he known at the time the problems with the request that have since been exposed. Rosenstein’s comments at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing amounted to a striking concession that law enforcement officials made mistakes as they scrutinized ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. But he defended his appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller to lead the probe and affirmed his support for the conclusion that Russia interfered but did not criminally conspire with associates of the Trump campaign.

 

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta’s police chief was quick to condemn the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. And she acted swiftly, firing two of her officers after determining that they used excessive force against two Atlanta college students. But now she’s questioning whether the crackdown on the officers is going too far. In an email sent to her department Tuesday night, Shields lashed out at the decision to charge six of her officers involved in the encounter. She says other law enforcement agencies are now pulling out of Atlanta rather than expose their officers to potential punishment for their actions at the city’s demonstrations.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Guard of the District of Columbia is investigating the use of one of its helicopters to make a “show of force” against protesters near the White House. The helicopter is normally designated for use in medical evacuations. But on Monday night, it hovered low enough in downtown Washington to create a deafening noise and spray protesters with rotor wash. The commanding general of the D.C. Guard says he’s directed the investigation. It comes as the federal government has promised to maximize the federal law enforcement presence in the nation’s capital.