Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Jun 16

CSi Weather…

Forecast….

REST OF TODAY…Mostly Sunny. Windy. Highs in the lower 90s. East winds around 5 mph increasing to southeast 10 to 20 mph in the morning, then increasing to south around 30 mph with gusts to around 50 mph in the afternoon. Heat index 90 to 95.

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. A 20 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms after midnight. Windy. Lows in the lower 70s. South

winds 20 to 30 mph. Gusts up to 45 mph in the evening.

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

thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. South winds 15 to 20 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Showers and thunderstorms likely. Lows around

60. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms in the Jamestown area, 30 percent in the Valley City area. Highs in the mid 70s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.

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

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s.

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

showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of rain showers

and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain

showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain showers

and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s.

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

Periodic thunderstorm chances will continue through this weekend.
The best chance for an organized severe threat this week will be
on Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening. Hail up to 2
inches, damaging winds to 75 mph, and tornadoes will be possible.

Update…

Jamestown  (CSi) Stutsman County is starting to see its positive numbers of COVID-19 cases numbers increase.

At the end of May, Stutsman County’s rate of spread: 86/100,000.

Two weeks later, it was  248/100,000, nearly double the rate of spread of
Burleigh County.  The North Dakota Department of Health’s latest update on Stutsman County positive COVID-19 cases is 52, as of Friday last week, with 26 cases recovered.

As such, public health is facilitating a mass testing event at the Stutsman County fairgrounds on Thursday  June 18 from 10-am to 2-pm.

No appointment is necessary, and no proof of residency is required, however they would like those planning to attend to register at:  www.testreg.nd.gov the NDDoH website.

Upon arrival information will be obtained from you.   The test itself uses an oral swab and will take about 15 minutes.  The goal is to obtain 500 tests, or until the testing kits run out.

Bismarck  (NDDoH)  North Dakota Health officials Monday reported 22 new COVID-19 cases in North Dakota but no additional deaths.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED MONDAY

• Burleigh County – 2
• Cass County – 15
• Grand Forks County – 2
• Morton County – 2
• Sioux County – 1

BY THE NUMBERS

133,896 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+2,025 total tests from yesterday)

 

87,776 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+896 unique individuals from yesterday)

84,675 – Total Negative (+875 unique individuals from yesterday)

3,101 – Total Positive (+22 unique individuals from yesterday)

After investigation it was discovered that a previously reported case from Cass County was from out of state.

1.1% – Daily Positivity Rate**

197 – Total Hospitalized (+0 individuals from yesterday)

31 – Currently Hospitalized (-4 individuals from yesterday)

2,683 – Total Recovered (+25 individuals from yesterday)

74 – Total Deaths*** (+0 individuals 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.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Stutsman County Canvass Board Monday, June 15th certifed the June 9, 2020, primary and city election results.

Jamestown City Council election:

*Brian Kamlitz 2,407

*David Schloegel 1,997 

*Dan Buchanan with 1,987

Pam Phillips 1,764.

*Elected

 

City Park Board

Mark A Ukestad  2,525

Ron Olson  2,254.

 

Jamestown  Public School Board Rural  seat

*Aaron Roberts with 1,943

Steve Veldkamp  1,320

*Elected

Urban School Board

*Gayle Nelson 2,507 

*Diane Hanson 2,487 

*Roger Haut 2,439

Jamie Bear  2,364

*Elected

 

District 12 State Senator

*(D) John Grabinger789

*(R) Cole Conley  1,386

(R) Willy Mickelson 314

*Nominated

 

State Representative

District 12

*(R)Bernie Satrom 1,276

*(R) Mitch Ostlie 1,071

Grant Christensen  1,017.

*Nominated

 

District 12 State Representative

*(D) Pam Musland 731

*(D)George Barnes received 694.

*Nominated

 

Stutsman County Commissioner

Joan Morris 2,765.

Mark Klose  2,731

Jill Gainer had 2,337

 

Total ballots cast, Mailed in 4,879

Republican, 3,297

Democratic-NPL 1,160

Libertarian, 15

Crossover 343

Blank 3.

Bismarck  (NDAC) the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission reports that   North Dakota’s eight commercial service airports during the month of May 2020 posted a total of 13,474 passengers boardings.  Due to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, these numbers amount to a statewide decline of 86% of the normal passenger volume that the airports were previously expected to see during this month.

Jamestown Regional Airport boardings in May were 179 compared to 839 in May 2019, down about 78 percent.

Year to date numbers were 2634 in May this year, compared to 4177 in May of 2019 down about 37 percent.

Airline passenger levels in North Dakota and throughout the rest of the country are beginning to slowly rise from the historically low passenger numbers that were previously seen in April. In that month, North Dakota airports experienced approximately 5,000 passengers or a statewide decline of 95% from the normally expected passenger volume.

North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, Executive Director, Kyle Wanner says, “It’s an encouraging sign to see that our airline passenger numbers are beginning to rise from the historically low numbers that our state and nation recently experienced in April  We hope that this trend continues as economic activity increases and restrictions throughout the country are lifted.  The safety of all passengers and workers continues to remain a top priority and the flying public can be assured that extra sanitary precautions are being taken so that a safe environment is being promoted within the airport and on board the aircraft.”

 

Bismarck  (Gov Burgum’s Office)  – Gov. Doug Burgum has announced that the Valley City High School Senior Choir and Fargo Davies Wind Ensemble have been selected as the 2020 Governor’s Official State Band and Choral Programs.

Burgum says, “Congratulations to Valley City Senior Choir and Davies Wind Ensemble for being named this year’s Governor’s Official Band and Choral Programs and for their outstanding representation of their schools, communities and state.  Music and the arts are important elements of our schools and communities, and these two accomplished groups embody the tremendous musical talent within our state.”

Valley City High School Senior Choir, under the direction of Sheila Zinke, is comprised of 56 students in grades 11 and 12 and is the top choral ensemble at Valley City High School. Over the past 12 years, the choir has competed in the Heritage Festival in New York City, winning Gold ratings in 2018, 2016, 2014 and 2012. Members of the choir have participated and achieved recognition in regional competitions and the ND High School All State Choir.

The Davies Wind Ensemble is directed by Darcy Brandenburg and has 50 students in grades 11 and 12. The Davies music program has participated in the Eastern Dakota Conference (EDC) Ensemble Contest, the University of Mary International Jazz Festival and Raging Red Band Festival, receiving top recognition in several categories. The Davies Music program has also participated in community service through the Fill the Dome food drive, volunteering for the Red Cross and holding fundraisers to support other musicians.

The Governor’s Band and Chorus were selected from applications submitted by school and civic groups from across the state based on musical talent, achievement and community involvement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ensembles were unable to be named and perform at the Capitol this spring but will be invited to perform at the State of the State Address in early 2021. They may be invited to perform at other official state functions throughout the year.

Valley City  (VCSU Newletter)  VCSU President, Dr. Alan LaFave informs students, staff, and the community that, VCSU will be opening this fall and resuming face-to-face instruction.

In a statement he says,  “In response to the pandemic, our campus Emergency Management Team is meeting twice weekly to complete our plans for a successful and smart restart plan for this fall. This local group includes chairs for nine different working groups focused on North Dakota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, along with recommendations and procedures developed by several national health and higher education organizations.

Prior to reopening many of our campus buildings on July 6, we are ensuring that proper protocols, equipment and supplies are in place, including sufficient PPE (personal protective equipment), face masks, signage, training for employees, see-through barriers, hand sanitizer dispensers, electrostatic disinfecting machines for large spaces, and office cleaning supplies.

Additionally, Jill DeVries, VCSU athletic director, and I are serving on the NDUS Small College Restart Task Force. This group is very engaging and conversational as we look for the most appropriate and size-specific solutions and strategies to address the many challenges for smaller schools such as ours.

One of the biggest challenges we face will be to provide ample and sufficient testing for our students, faculty and staff upon their return, but rest assured that all of the NDUS institutions, in concert with state health authorities and agencies, are sharing plans and best practices as we reopen our campuses.

We know how very important it is for us to be responsible and vigilant as we move forward with a thorough and smart restart plan. We also know that even though our move to remote learning for the last eight weeks of spring semester was successful, students prefer face-to-face classes for delivery of instruction.

The campus experience is an amazing and wonderful teaching and learning environment. In addition to classroom learning, the environment nurtures the development of lifelong friendships, faculty mentorship, and leadership development. Living on campus and playing an active role in community life through participation in student organizations, intercollegiate and intramural athletics, and art and music, among others, provide unrivaled opportunities for personal growth and complete the educational experience for our students. We look forward to having our community back together on campus this fall!

In the meantime, I trust you are enjoying these early days of summer. I invite you to take a walk, a run or bike ride through our beautiful campus. Please do stop and take a break on campus —relax on one of our benches or picnic tables and take time to appreciate the beauty of our front yard.”

Valley City  (VCPR)   Due to the COVID virus, Music in the Park in Valley City will be relocating to a “Drive-In” style of program to be held at the Hanna Field parking lot located north on Central Avenue across from the Care Center.   Feel free to bring your lawn chairs to place in outside in front of your vehicle or to remain in your vehicle with your windows rolled down.

Wednesday, June 17 at 7:15 pm. it’s “Kroshus & Krew” from Wahpeton to entertain.

If weather does not allow it to be outdoors, the program will be CANCELLED.   check their website: www.vcparks.com,; check social media or call the office at 845-3294.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Police in Fargo searched a heavily wooded area after hearing a woman screaming for help. Authorities say officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the Riviera Heights mobile home park about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. The driver fled with a female passenger as officers arrived to investigate. Sgt. Jerrod Wagner tells KFGO that as officers searched for the vehicle, they heard a woman screaming for help in some woods not far from where the vehicle had been stolen. Police called in the fire department’s drone to do an aerial search, but found no trace of the woman, the male driver or stolen vehicle. The search was called off about 2:30 a.m.

 

NEW TOWN, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Oil and Gas Division says a pipeline leak caused nearly 34,000 gallons of brine to spill out near New Town. Officials say cleanup began on Sunday, when about half of the liquid was recovered on the BNN North Dakota, LLC tank battery. Brine is a byproduct of oil production. A state inspector has been sent to the location and will monitor cleanup.

In sports…

Babe Ruth Baseball, Monday…

At Wahpeton..

Valley City  18  Wahpeton 6  Five Innings

 

Virus affects in sports…

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says there may be no major league games this year after a breakdown in talks between teams and the players’ union on how to split up money in a season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The league also revealed several players have tested positive for COVID-19.

Two days after union head Tony Clark declared additional negotiations futile, Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem sent a seven-page letter to players’ association chief negotiator Bruce Meyer asking the union whether it will waive the threat of legal action and tell MLB to announce a spring training report date and a regular-season schedule.

These were just the latest escalating volleys in a sport viewing disagreement over starting the season as a preliminary battle ahead of bargaining to replace the labor contract that expires on Dec. 1, 2021.

 

— Major League Baseball has delayed the start of the new international signings period from July 2 until Jan. 15, a move that will cause teams to push back deals of 16- and 17-year-old Latin American prospects. MLB says the current signings year, scheduled to end Monday, had been extended until Oct. 15. There has been a transaction freeze since March 28, and any agreements between the end of the freeze and Oct. 15 will count for the 2019-20 signings year. No international amateurs can be signed from Oct. 15 until the new period opens on Jan. 15.

UNDATED (AP) — The agent for Ezekiel Elliott says the star running back of the Dallas Cowboys has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Rocky Arceneaux tells the NFL Network Elliott is feeling OK and recovering.

A person with direct knowledge of the diagnosis tells The Associated Press that Elliott had the positive test about a week ago and could be described as symptomatic.

Only players who have been rehabilitating injuries have been allowed inside team facilities during the shutdown. That hasn’t included Elliott.

 

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — There were no fans at Colonial for the return of the PGA Tour. Now get ready for no fans at a major championship.

The PGA of America has submitted plans to hold the PGA Championship at Harding Park in August with no fans. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that public health officials have approved the plan.

An announcement is expected as early as Tuesday.

It at least answers one question for the PGA Championship, which is scheduled for Aug. 6-9. The PGA of America had said moving it from Harding Park was a possibility depending on the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Tennis Association intends to hold the U.S. Open in New York starting in August without spectators if it gets governmental support. A formal announcement could come this week.

The operational plan to hold the event amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic includes no spectators, limited player entourages, centralized housing, increased cleaning at the tournament grounds in Flushing Meadows and testing for COVID-19.

Also part of the plan: There would be no qualifying for singles, and the Cincinnati tournament that is scheduled for earlier in August would move to New York ahead of the U.S. Open.

If played, the U.S. Open would be the second of three Grand Slam events this year.

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR is set to allow up to 30,000 fans at the track in Bristol next month when it moves the All-Star race out of Charlotte Motor Speedway for just the second time in the history of the race.

If the expected attendance count holds, NASCAR would open to the largest gathering of sports fans in the United States in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic __ all while numbers in some states continue to spike.

NASCAR is set to brush off those concerns and open the gates in Tennessee. Bristol holds about 146,000 fans.

The recent spike of COVID-19 cases in North Carolina sparked the move to Bristol Motor Speedway. The race will remain on the July 15 date with a 7 p.m. start time.

UNDATED (AP) — The chief organizer of the 2022 Qatar World Cup says he is consulting with the English Premier League and Bundesliga to learn about how they are dealing with the coronavirus.

Hassan Al-Thawadi’s comments underscore how sports are taking into account the potential for ongoing health precautions at events, if there is no vaccine for COVID-19.

The Bundesliga resumed last month and the Premier League’s 100-day shutdown ends on Wednesday, with fans prohibited from stadiums in Germany and England.

The Qatar World Cup does not start until November 2022. The 40,000-capacity Education City stadium is the third venue to be completed.

 

— The Champions League final is heading to Lisbon. UEFA plans an Aug. 23 final to cap seven broadcast nights in a 12-day span of elite European teams playing knockout soccer. UEFA’s widely reported wish for an eight-team knockout bracket in two empty stadiums in Portugal’s capital has been confirmed by broadcaster Sky Italia. UEFA’s executive committee must agree on the plan on Wednesday. It’s rescheduling international soccer for Europe’s clubs and national teams after the coronavirus pandemic upended the calendar.

— Michigan’s athletic department says football and basketball players are welcome back on campus starting this week if they choose to take part in voluntary strength and conditioning work. Michigan says its process for reopening the athletic campus includes a 14-day pre-report risk assessment and a six-day resocialization period to campus. The resocialization period includes COVID-19 and antibody testing. Players and staff will have daily screening before being admitted to facilities. People who test positive for COVID-19 will enter a defined quarantine protocol.

— Iowa’s athletic department has reported two positive COVID-19 tests during the second week of its return-to-campus protocol. The school has not disclosed whether it was athletes, coaches or staff members who tested positive. In the two weeks since Iowa began testing, there have been three positives and 343 negatives. According to an Associated Press count, at least 45 athletes, coaches or staff members at a total of 17 schools have tested positive in June.

— A football player at West Virginia has tested positive for the coronavirus, the school said Monday on the first day of voluntary workouts. The school’s athletic department said in a statement that contact tracing identified other football players who could have been exposed to the athlete. Both the player who tested positive and the others he may have been in contact with will isolate themselves for 14 days, the statement said.

NFL NEWS

UNDATED (AP) — Roger Goodell would like to see Colin Kaepernick back in the NFL this season.

The NFL commissioner said during ESPN’s “The Return of Sports” special on Monday that he is encouraging teams to sign the 32-year old quarterback, who hasn’t played the past three seasons.

Kaepernick was with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 when he kneeled during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said last week that he received a call from another team about Kaepernick. Carroll and the Seahawks brought in Kaepernick for a workout in 2017 and had another planned in 2018 before it was canceled.

Goodell set up a tryout for Kaepernick in Atlanta last year for scouts of all 32 teams to attend, but it unraveled at the last moment due to lack of media access and what Kaepernick’s representatives saw as an unusual liability waiver.

 

— Ravens linebacker Matthew Judon criticized the timing of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s assertion that “black lives matter” to the league, saying the message should have been delivered long ago. Speaking in a video conference call with the Baltimore media, Judon said Goodell’s comments on June 5 were long overdue. Judon said Goodell should have addressed the issue when he was named commissioner and when he was re-elected to the post. Judon said the Ravens are discussing the best way to protest racism when they start playing the 2020 season.

— The San Francisco 49ers have rewarded coach Kyle Shanahan with a new six-year contract after he took the team to the Super Bowl in his third season at the helm. The Niners are replacing the three years remaining on Shanahan’s original six-year contract signed in 2017 to keep him under contract through 2025. ESPN first reported the new extension.

— New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins is joining CNN as a contributor focusing on racial and social justice. Jenkins says he believes he can “be a voice for other athlete activists and those who have dedicated their lives” to promoting equality through legislation and other reforms. Jenkins is an 11-year NFL veteran out of Ohio State who has won Super Bowls with both New Orleans and the Philadelphia Eagles. Jenkins says his motivation to join CNN stems from his experience addressing inequalities in criminal justice and educational systems affecting members of “marginalized communities.”

 

 

WNBA SEASON START

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA has announced plans to play an abbreviated 22-game season in Florida beginning in late July.

The league is still finalizing a partnership with IMG Academy in Bradenton to play the games at the facility and possibly others nearby. Players would be housed at IMG and teams would hold training camps there as well. The games would be played with no fans in attendance.

The WNBA would use its regular playoff format, with the top eight teams making the postseason and the first two rounds being single-elimination. The top two seeds would have byes until the semifinals. The postseason would end in early October.

A 36-game season that was supposed to start May 15 was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

FIFA-TAKING A KNEE

FIFA urges ‘tolerance’ after Trump’s anthem kneeling rebuke

FIFA has appealed for “tolerance, mutual respect and common sense” after President Donald Trump denounced the annulment of a policy that required soccer players to stand during the national anthem.

Trump tweeted Saturday that “I won’t be watching much anymore!” Trump retweeted a tweet by Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz (gaytz) who wrote: “I’d rather the US not have a soccer team than have a soccer team that won’t stand for the National Anthem.”

It was United States captain Megan Rapinoe kneeling in support of Colin Kaepernick that led to the U.S. Soccer Federation adopting the rule in 2017.

AMERICA PROTESTS-COLLEGE SPORTS

Gundy’s OAN support angers star Oklahoma St RB Chuba Hubbard

UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard said on Twitter that he won’t do anything with the program until there is change after coach Mike Gundy was photographed wearing a t-shirt representing far-right online publication One America News Network.

Gundy is seen in a photograph on Twitter wearing the t-shirt with the letters OAN. The conservative publication is a strong advocate for President Donald Trump.

Hubbard, who usually doesn’t Tweet much, has been more active lately since Minneapolis police killed George Floyd. He has been supportive of protests around the world, especially of those in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, near his hometown.

Elsewhere:

— The Big Ten has created a voter registration initiative to go along with its Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition. The conference hopes its 14 schools and thousands of student-athletes can leverage their platform to spur social change. Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren says he hopes the nonpartisan program will encourage student-athletes to become part of the electoral process. It will include participants from each Big Ten school with monthly programming, beginning in July and ending with the general election in November.

NCAA-COMPENSATING ATHLETES

Lawsuit seeks to prevent NCAA from limiting athletes’ income

UNDATED (AP) — Attorneys have filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in federal court. It seeks to prevent the association from limiting the amount of money athletes can make off their names, images and likenesses.

Arizona State swimmer Grant House and Oregon women’s basketball player Sedona Prince are the plaintiffs. The suit seeks class-action status.

The legal challenge comes as the NCAA is the process of changing its rules to allow college athletes to earn money from third parties for things such as social media endorsements, sponsorship deals and personal appearances.

NHL NEWS

Vegas Golden Knights sign Reaves to $3.5M, 2-year extension

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights have signed tough guy Ryan Reaves to a two-year contract extension worth $3.5 million.

He’ll count $1.75 million against the salary cap in each of the next two seasons. Reaves announced the new deal in a video on the Golden Knights’ Twitter page.

“There’s two things I haven’t accomplished: No. 1 haven’t won a Stanley Cup, No. 2 haven’t won a scoring title,” Reaves said. “Now, I can win a Stanley Cup this year. I can do it. Can’t win the scoring title. Can’t do it. Just missed it by a couple points.”

The 33-year-old from Winnipeg had eight goals and seven assists for 15 points — 95 short of Leon Draisaitl’s league-leading 110. Reaves did lead the NHL with 316 hits in 71 games this season.

TOKYO DELAY

Tokyo Olympic board member would support another delay

TOKYO (AP) — An executive board member of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee says another delay should be sought if the games can’t be held next year.

The Tokyo Olympics were to be held this year but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The suggestion comes from Haruyuki Takahashi in an interview with the Japanese sports newspaper Nikkan Sports.

Takahashi says the main priority should be to make a “united effort to hold them (Olympics) in the summer of 2021.” He says if that is not possible “we should start action once again to get another delay.”

IOC President Thomas Bach and organizing committee President Yoshiro Mori have said the games will be canceled if they can’t happen next year.

IOWA-STRENGTH COACH

Strength coach departs Iowa after accusations of mistreating African Americans

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Chris Doyle is out as Iowa’s football strength and conditioning coach. He and the university have agreed to a separation agreement paying him more than $1.1 million.

Doyle was accused by former players of mistreating African American players. Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, son of head coach Kirk Ferentz, and assistant defensive coordinator Seth Wallace also have been alleged to have made inappropriate comments to players.

The university says a law firm has been hired to conduct an independent review of the football program.

DURANT-PHILADELPHIA UNION

NBA’s Durant now part-owner of MLS team

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has joined the ownership group of Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union.

The 10-time NBA All-Star has a 5% ownership stake, with an option for 5% more in the near future.

The Union will partner with Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures, a firm he runs with sports executive Rich Kleiman, to grow the team’s profile and community outreach through the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation.

OBIT-PURDUE-BURKE

Boilermakers’ longest-tenured AD, Morgan Burke, dies at 68

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Morgan Burke, the longest serving athletic director in Purdue history, died at his home Monday after battling a rare disease for the last year. He was 68.

University officials say in a statement Burke had been diagnosed with amyloidosis, an ailment caused by the build-up of abnormal protein which prevents the body’s organs from functioning properly.

Burke served as athletic director from 1993-2016. He spent the last four years working closely with university president Mitch Daniels. Burke presided over one of the school’s most successful eras — national championships in women’s basketball and women’s golf, three straight Big Ten men’s basketball titles in the mid-1990s and the 2000 Rose Bowl trip.

In world and national news…

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares have tracked a rally on Wall Street spurred by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s latest promise to support markets battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Shares rose early Tuesday in Europe after benchmarks advanced in Asia, led by a nearly 5% jump in Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index. Japan’s central bank kept its ultra-loose monetary policy unchanged but beefed up funding for corporate financing. Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda told reporters the bank was ready to take extra action if needed. Overnight, the Federal Reserve announced it will begin buying individual corporate bonds to help keep lending markets running smoothly, helping to soothe worries that new waves of infections could derail a recovery.

 

BALTIMORE (AP) — U.S. retail sales likely recovered somewhat last month as the economy increasingly reopened from shutdowns caused by the coronavirus and more shoppers felt confident enough to spend. The Commerce Department is expected to report that retail purchases climbed 9% from April to May, according to economists surveyed by the data provider FactSet. This would mark a partial comeback after a 16.4% month-to-month plunge in April, the worst such drop on records going back to 1992, and an 8.3% drop in March. Still, the recession caused by the pandemic continues to depress overall retail spending.

 

BOSTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expected to announce new restrictions on work visas, and businesses and universities are pleading for restraint. They say cutting off access to talented foreign workers will further disrupt the economy and stifle innovation. But Republicans in Congress, conservative groups and other influential immigration hard-liners have been calling for stronger action after Trump’s prior visa restrictions didn’t go far enough for them. The administration has yet to say which, if any, visas will be temporarily eliminated. But a relatively obscure work permit for foreign students called the Optional Practical Training program is among those drawing attention in recent weeks.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Many businesses are requiring customers and workers to sign forms saying they won’t sue if they catch COVID-19. Businesses are afraid they could face lawsuits even if they follow social distancing and other government guidelines as they reopen across the U.S. after coronavirus shutdowns. Lawyers say it depends on state law whether the waivers can be enforced. And worker advocates say the waiver forms force employees to make the difficult choice between returning to work and signing away their legal rights.

 

GENEVA (AP) — African nations have prepared a draft resolution at the U.N.’s main human rights body that singles out the United States and would launch unprecedented scrutiny of systemic racism against people of African descent in the wake of high-profile killings of blacks by police. The draft text, a copy of which has been obtained by The Associated Press, could become a centerpiece of discussion in an “urgent debate” hastily scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in a session of the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.

 

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office building just north of the heavily armed border with South Korea in a dramatic move that sharply raises tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The demolition of the building, which is located on North Korean territory and had no South Koreans working there, is largely symbolic. But it’s still the most provocative thing North Korea has done since it entered nuclear diplomacy in 2018 after a U.S.-North Korean standoff had many fearing war. It will pose a serious setback to the efforts of liberal South Korean President Moon Jae-in to restore inter-Korean engagement. North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said the nation destroyed the office in a “terrific explosion.”