CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. North winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light.

.WEDNESDAY…Sunny. Highs around 80. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.

Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. A 30 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds

5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower

60s.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers

and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers

and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

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

thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.

 

On Thursday, a widespread chance for thunderstorms. Some of these could be severe.

Friday, precipitation chances taper off west to east, with slightly

cooler temps with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.

Temps back up into the mid 80s to lower 90s on Saturday

and Sunday.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council’s Final Meeting of the current City Council was held Tuesday at City Hall.  All members were present.

HEARING FROM THE AUDIENCE: No One Spoke.

(Individuals may address the City Council about any item not

contained on the agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the hearing. If the full 15 minutes are not needed, the City Council will continue with the agenda. The City Council will take no official action on items discussed at the hearing, with the exception of referral to staff or Committee.)

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS APPROVED:

A Resolution approving renewing the Jamestown Tourism Enterprise Agreement, which expires December 31, 2020.

 

A Resolution approving the renewing the Jamestown Tourism land lease, which expires December 31, 2020.

 

A Resolution approving and authorizing termination of the contract with Honeywell International Inc., at the Jamestown Civic Center.

 

A Resolution approving the 2021 contract for the Jamestown Community Correction (JCC) Program.

 

A Resolution updating fees for abandoned and impounded vehicles.

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS:

Considered the quotes for the removal of sandbag levees at three (3) locations.

Schrebenske’s bid was $53,900.

Strata’s bid was $112,836.

The Council approved accepting the bid of $53,900. The information will be forwarded to FEMA for reimbursement.

Certified those elected by a majority vote at the 2020 State Primary/City Election:

 

Term Expires Votes

Council Member

Brian Kamlitz June 2024 2,407

Dan Buchanan June 2024 1,997

David Schloegel June 2024 1,987

Pam Phillips June 2024 1,764

 

City Park Commissioners

Mark A. Ukestad June 2024 2,525

Ron Olson June 2024 2,254

Certified City Measure Number One:  “Shall the minutes of its governing body be published in its official  newspaper,” passed by a vote of 2913 yes votes, 328 no votes.

Considered was the request to allow chickens to be kept within City Limits at 603 21st Ave NE.   A resident spoke who said a permit request was submitted to keep four chickens, no roosters in their backyard.

Jamestown City Building Administrator, Tom Blackmore outlined the current Ordinance, saying the request is in compliance, and that the chickens must be kept in a coop in with a certain distance of adjoining property,  and not causing a noise disturbance.

The Council voted to allow.

ORDINANCES: None

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL:

Council Member Brubakken thanked voters for electing him for two terms, and wished the new council members well on the City Council.

Council Member Pam Phillips distributed a booklet that contains services provided by Central Valley Health Unit.  She said she will remain on the local 2020 Census Committee.  Jamestown and Valley City’s response rate challenge will be featured in national publication, noting Stutsman County’s and Barnes County and Jamestown and Valley City’s response rate is far above state and national rates.  The deadline to submit census information is October 31, 2020.

Council Member Steele thanked Phillips and Brubakken for their service on the City Council.

Mayor Heinrich said he will respond to a publication’s request for comments on the census rate.

He added that Council Members Brubakken and Phillips served the council and the city well.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Approved changing the stop loss coverage from $20,000 to $30,000 per member and establish the monthly premium rates for the City of Jamestown Employee Group Health Plan for the fiscal year September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021, as follows:

 

City Share Employee Share Total

Single Employee Plan $694.72 -0- $694.72

Single Plus Dependent $900.50 $322.20 $1,222.70

Family Plan $1,103.14 $703.12 $1,806.26

Mayor Heinrich presented Council Member Pam Phillips and Council Member Brubakken plaques in commemoration of their service on the City Council.

The Meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67, followed by replays.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council held the Re-organizational meeting on Tuesday evening at City Hall.

All members were present.

OATH OF OFFICE:

Administered to those elected in the June 9, 2020 elections… Dan Buchanan, Brian Kamlitz,  and David Schloegel.

Abby Gerioux was sworn in as Assistant City Prosecutor and Assistant City Attorney.

Nominations for President of the Council were accepted. Daniel Buchanan was nominated. The Council elected  Daniel Buchan as President.

Nominations for Vice-President of the Council were accepted. David Steele was nominated. The Council elected David Steele as as Vice President.

 

APPOINTMENTS APPROVED:

Appointment of Leo Ryan, to serve as City Attorney and City Prosecutor for a two year term to expire June 2022.

 

Appointment of Abby Gerioux to serve as Assistant City Prosecutor and Assistant City Attorney for a two year term to expire June 2022. __.

 

Appointment of Tonya Duffy to serve as a Special City Prosecutor for a two year term to expire June 2022.

 

Appointment of David Schloegel to serve on the South Central Dakota Regional Council to fill the unexpired term of Steve Brubakken, September 2020.

 

Appointment of Dan Buchanan, to serve as a City Council representative on the County Zoning Board for a four year term to expire June 2024.

 

Appointment of Brian Kamlitz to serve as a City Council representative on the County Weed Board to fill the unexpired term of Pam Phillips, December 2020.

 

Appointment of David Steele, to serve as a City Council representative on the Law Enforcement Governing Board to fill the unexpired term of Steve Brubakken, December 2020.

 

Appointment of David Schloegel and Brian Kamlitz to serve on the Storm Water Committee to fill the unexpired terms of Pam Phillips, Steve Brubakken, April 2021.

 

MAYOR’S COMMTTEE ASSIGNMENTS:

Finance & Legal Committee and Personnel Committee Council Member, Mayor Dwaine Heinrich

 

Building, Planning & Zoning Committee—Council Member, Brian Kamlitz

 

Civic Center & Promotion Committee—Council Member, David Schloegel

 

Police & Fire Committee—Council Member, Daniel Buchanan

 

Public Works Committee—Council Member, David Steele.

HEARING FROM THE AUDIENCE:

Former City Council Member Pam Phillips had  prewritten suggestions to directed to the news city council members, which she emotionally passed along.

OTHER BUSINESS:

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67, followed by replays.

 

 

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Special Session Tuesday at City Hall.

Approval of Consent Agenda

Approved a Raffle Permit for D&C Home Improvement.

New Business

Elected Vice President of the City Commission was Duane Magnuson.

The City Commission approved the Reorganization of Commissioner’s Portfolios

Finance, Commissioner Rich Gulmon

Public Works  Streets, Sanitation, Sewer & Water Distribution, Commissioner Jeff Erickson

Public Works Electric & Water Treatment Plant, Mayor Carlsrud

Police & Fire, Commissioner Mike Bishop

Building & Grounds, Commissioner Duane Magnuson

 

Approved and appointed was the Commissioner assignments to additional committees and boards

Valley City Planning & Zoning Commission (2 commissioners), Commissioner Bishop, Commissioner Erickson

Valley City Library Board (1 commissioner), Commissioner Gulmon

City County Health Board (1 commissioner), Mayor Carlsrud

Barnes County Planning & Zoning Commission (2 commissioners), Commissioners Erickson and Bishop.

Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation (2 commissioners), Commissioner Bishop, Commissioner Gulmon

Board for Community Service (1 commissioner), Commissioner Magnuson
City Administrator’s Report:

Gwen Crawford has been meeting with department heads.


City Updates & Commission Reports

Valley City Planning & Zoning Commission (2 commissioners), Mayor Carlsrud, Commissioner Erickson

Valley City Library Board (1 commissioner), Commissioner Gulmon

City County Health Board (1 commissioner), Mayor Carlsrud

Barnes County Planning & Zoning Commission (2 commissioners), Commissioners Erickson and Bishop.

Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation (2 commissioners), Commissioner Bishop, Commissioner Gulmon

Board for Community Service (1 commissioner), Commissioner Magnuson
The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 68 followed by replays.

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his weekly COVD-19 News Briefing Tuesday afternoon at the state capital in Bismarck.  Watch entire briefing in video from NDDoH at CSiNewsNow.com .

Burgum said with summer upon us, to remember that what residents do individually to suppress the spread, effects everybody.  That includes caring for each other, observe social distancing, hand hygiene, and stay home if your sick.

He added that it’s a good percentage of people under 30 may be asymptomatic, and can spread the virus, including to those vulnerable individuals.

Burgum related COVI-19 statistics.

COVID-19 Stats

Posted Tues. Jun. 23, 2020

11:00 am

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

Monday’s information will be updated along with Tuesday’s update

due to a testing glitch in the testing software.

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Woman in her 40s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TUESDAY

  • Cass County – 3
  • Cavalier County – 1
  • Foster County – 1
  • Man in his 30’s possible travel
  • Foster County Total 2
  • Renville County – 1
  • Ward County – 1


BY THE NUMBERS

Due to a temporary software issue with the Electronic Lab Reporting System, most of the results from yesterday will be delayed. The issue has been resolved and as the system catches up today, the numbers will be reported out tomorrow.

158,526 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+327 total tests from yesterday)

 

97,553 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+100 unique individuals from yesterday)

94,233 – Total Negative (+93 unique individuals from yesterday)

3,320 – Total Positive (+7 unique individuals from yesterday)

2.1% – Daily Positivity Rate**

218 – Total Hospitalized (+0 individuals from yesterday)

28 – Currently Hospitalized (-3 individuals from yesterday)

3,008 – Total Recovered (+56 individuals from yesterday)

78 – 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 announced all renewals for vehicle registration and driver licenses, which expired March 1 or later, have been extended until August 31.

This new executive order takes the place of Executive Order 2020-07 which waived expiration dates for vehicle registration and driver licenses during the state of emergency.

Due to CDC guidelines on social distancing, these services are available by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, visit our website at dot.nd.gov or call 1-855-633-6835.

At this time, NDDOT is focused on serving customers with driver’s license and motor vehicle tabs that expired March 1 – August 31, 2020 and will continue to schedule appointments based on immediate need. Currently there are 20,650 driver license renewals and 48,000 Motor Vehicle registrations that expired during the COVID emergency.

Local Motor Vehicle Branch offices are offering a variety of services. Please call the local Motor Vehicle office for service information and to schedule an appointment.

Over the last six weeks, the NDDOT completed 127,567 motor vehicle transactions and 13,875 driver tests, license renewals, and duplicate licenses. During this time, NDDOT received 79,563 calls and 14,171 emails requesting appointments.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration also has extended the REAL ID deadline to October 2021. Only customers renewing a North Dakota driver license at this time will be able to obtain a REAL ID during their scheduled appointment.

In addition to appointments, many driver license services such as change of address, renewals, replacements and more are available online. Motor vehicle services such as license plates and titling can also be done by mailing in paperwork. Vehicle renewals can be done online, at a self-service kiosk, drop box or by mail.

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

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism Grant/Executive Board met Tuesday afternoon via the Zoom virtual platform to observe social distancing.  Board members attending included:  President, Matthew Woods, Frank Balak, Tena Lawrence, and Paulette Ritter.

Tourism Executive Director, Searle Swedlund, Taylor Barnes.

Ex Officio members in attendance:  Pam Phillips, City Council, Corey Shevland JSDC, and Emily Bivens, who contributed to meeting discussions.

 

Rod Wilhelm: Represented the Stutsman County Fair Association.

 

During the GRANT BOARD MEETING

A grant request was heard on behalf of:

Frontier Village for $1,000,  concerning a Four Movie Night Movie Night at the amphitheater in July and August 2020.  The request go towards advertising, license fees, equipment, AV equipment and DVDs.

Allison Limke  Jen Nannega  developed the presentation.

 

The board vote to grant, $1000.

 

Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Give, Get, Grow promotion request was made by Chamber Executive, Emily Bivens who  requested $3,000 for The Give, Get Grow, promotion.

She said it concerns the Chamber and the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation (JSDC) and area supporters teaming up to help local business members through the negative effects their busines may have experienced these past months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with some of hardest hit businesses related to tourism.   The target audience is within 50 miles of Jamestown, and promotes local spending.  Any Jamestown and Stutsman County business can participate, and can contact the Chamber office at 701-252-4830. Donations have already begun rolling in. So far, Otter Tail Power Company has contributed $1,500, Bank Forward has given $500, and R.M. Stoudt has donated $250.

The campaign starts August 17, 2020 and runs through August 31.  The promotion will include a radiothon, and follow up promotion to sell gift cards, gift certificates from participating merchants, and local citizens and businesses.  The goal is to inject much needed cash flow into the Jamestown and Stutsman County businesses.

After the August 17 Radiothon, the promotion continues on social media.  Gift cards and Gift Certificates  can be ordered on line, calling 605-225-2860, or E-Mail.

After August 31 the Chamber will contact all businesses with the total number of gift cards purchased for their establishment and will arrange pick up and payment of those cards by check through the Chamber Office.   Sponsor participation opportunities available a various dollar levels.

Addition funding is anticipated to be $25,000 matching funds, plus local spending of $25,000 for a total of $50,000 in local economic impact, I3G Media $7,266, Chamber $4,100, JSDC $5,000, to marching fund, pending, local businesses matching dollars.

The Marketing Budget is $14,400.

The board voted to grant the $3,000, using tourism operating funds.

Rod Wilhelm spoke about the previous tourism grant funding, sign request, by the Stutsman County  Fair Association, who said $1265.73, addition funds are needed, to replace a pole of the sign previously advertising Grabinger Marine, at 27th Street NW, to 33rd Street SE, along Highway 281 North, now advertising events and activities at the fairgrounds.

Tourism previously grant $1700 for the sign costs.

The Board voted to grant the additional funds of $1,265.73.

Previously,  Rod Wilhelm said, the Fair Board has been given permission by land owner Dave Glinz, and John Grabinger, to acquire the sign at the west by Highway 281 North. Newman Signs has indicated that the Sign is NDDOT approved. The sign previously advertised the former Grabinger Marine business.

 

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING:

 

President Matthew Woods, presided.

 

Declaration of Conflict of Interest:  Matt Woods, asked if his managing Holiday Inn Express hotel is a conflict being a Chamber member, for the Chamber’s request.

The board agreed that he has no conflict.

 

The Financial Report was given by Searle Swedlund.

 

During the Tourism Report presented by Searle Swedlund, he said, tourism will budget for 2021, as reasonably as possible.

He added that Tourism will fund the Frontier Village Stage Coach advertising sign.

He said during a walk through with the North Dakota Insurance Fund representative last week, the Village’s insurance carrier, he noted a list of improvements that need to be performed on site, concerning liability issues.

He pointed out, painting buildings is also on the list, and equipment replacement, is needed such as lawnmowers.

President Matthew Woods, indicated that funds need to be set aside, to initiate projects.

Searle said volunteers are needed to support work on some of the buildings, to preserve especially the older buildings and address safety issues.  He said a priority list needs to be established.

He said a new Frontier Village Board needs to be established, as indicated in talks with the city.  No official action was taken at Tuesday’s meeting.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Proposed New Event Grant Guidelines were reviewed.

Those areas include:

Guidelines discussed included for:

Tournaments, Races and Competitions.

New Events and Event Enhancements.

Event Marketing Grants, For Annual Events.

 

Also addressed is advertising, and equipment funding request  guidelines.

The grant request process was also addressed, and will be reviewed with partners such as the Newman Center, and the Civic Center, and then brought back to the Grant/Executive Board.

 

 

Jamestown (JPD) The Jamestown Police Department will resume offering fingerprinting services for the general public, starting on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, during specified times only. An officer will be made available for fingerprinting services every Tuesday morning from 08:30 am to 10:30 am and every Thursday afternoon from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Individuals who need their fingerprints taken should only come to the Jamestown Police Department if they are not exhibiting any signs of being sick or feeling ill.

Valley City   (CSi)  The Barnes County Highway Department informs motorists that Barnes County Road 38 near Hastings, is restricted to 6 ton per axle stemming from to the weak subgrade and deteriorating asphalt conditions on the road surface.

Also because of  high water, Barnes County 11 is closed 1.5 miles west and 2 miles north of the City Of Litchville, ND. No detour will be provided. Motorists are asked to seek alternate routes. Construction of an emergency grade raise is expected to begin this week.

Valley City   (CSi)   Drive-In Music in the Park at the Hanna Field parking lot,  across from the Care Center on North Central Avenue, will be held on Wednesday June 24, at 7:15-p.m.

Joseph DeMasi will  entertain, with music for all ages.

A freewill offering will betaken each night for the continued support of the City Park Bandshell. (Due to inclement weather, the program will be cancelled.)

Music in the Park is sponsored by the Valley City Parks & Recreation District, Bridges Arts Council, KOVC Radio, Myron Sommerfeld family and the Convention and Visitor Bureau.

For moe information call Diane at 701-845-3294, or email:vcpr@vcparks.com

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The 2019 state crime report shows that North Dakota saw a record 26 homicides last year, a number that Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem called the “one bleak spot” in the annual summary. Stenehjem says 10 of the killings were the result of domestic violence, two of which involved infants, and 10 of the victims were shot to death. There were 17 homicides reported in 2018. Stenehjem says the rest of the report “includes mostly encouraging news on the crime front,” The long-term rate of the most serious offenses appears to have reached a plateau and even declined. Aggravated assaults, drug offenses, and drunken driving numbers were all down in 2019.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge has sentenced a North Dakota pharmacist to 20 years in prison for using a hidden camera to secretly record a female guest in his home and sharing the images with others. Fifty-two-year-old Curtis McGarvey of Bismarck was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty in March to two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of cyberstalking. U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley says McGarvey targeted and exploited the child victim and the sentence was “a just result to punish this defendant and deter others.” The Bismarck Tribune reports U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland also ordered McGarvey to pay $4,900 in restitution to the victim’s family.

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — A preliminary report from federal officials investigating a fatal plane crash in Mandan says a witness noticed that before takeoff a seat belt was securing the aircraft’s rear control stick. It’s a practice not uncommon in small planes that don’t have locks to hold the flight controls in place. But an aviation expert tell the Bismarck Tribune it would be problematic if the pilot failed to address it before takeoff. The National Transportation Safety Board does not speculate on whether that might have contributed to the June 13 crash that killed Joel Pfliger, a Stanton-area farmer and former gas plant engineer.

In sports…

Babe Rut h Baseball…

Tuesday at Ashley

Valley City Kings 29-Ashley 3

 

NEW YORK (AP) —Major League Baseball has issued a 60-game schedule that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus following months of acrimony. This will be MLB’s shortest season since 1878. Each team will play 10 games against each of it

s four division rivals and four games against each of the five clubs in the corresponding division in the other league, according to details obtained by The Associated Press. The sides expanded the designated hitter to games involving National League teams and will start extra innings with a runner on second base.

The union committed its members to start reporting July 1 — those who decide to report. High-risk individuals would be allowed to opt out and still receive salary and service time, but others who sit out would get neither money nor the service credit needed for eligibility for free agency and salary arbitration.

Playoff teams remain at 10 for now — there is still talk of a possible expansion. The rejected deal had called for 16 teams.

MLB DRAFT

— The Minnesota Twins have signed first round draft pick Aaron Sabato with a $2.75 million bonus. Sabato, a first baseman from North Carolina, was taken with the 27th overall pick in the first round earlier this month. He signed for about $180,000 above the value for his draft slot assigned by Major League Baseball. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Sabato set a Tarheels freshman record with 18 home runs in 2019. As a sophomore in the virus-shortened 2020 season, Sabato batted .292 with seven homers, 18 RBIs and 22 walks in 19 games.

  1. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have signed first-round draft pick Jordan Walker for $2.9 million, which comes just under the slot value for the 21st overall pick. Walker is a power-hitting third baseman picked out of high school. The Cardinals continued Tuesday to bring their selections from the first-year player draft under contract. The Cardinals already signed their second-round pick, East Carolina outfielder Alec Burleson; third-round pick Levi Prater, a left-hander from Oklahoma; and fifth-round pick L.J. Jones, an outfielder from Long Beach State.

— The Tampa Bay Rays have reached terms with first-round draft pick Nick Bitsko, giving the Pennsylvania high school pitcher a $3 million signing bonus. The 18-year-old right-hander was the 24th overall selection after going 4-2 with a 1.27 ERA and 68 strikeouts in two seasons at Central Bucks East High. Several months after announcing plans to graduate a year early, Bitsko’s final prep season was canceled this spring due to the coronavirus pandemic.

— The Kansas City Royals have signed all six of their draft picks, including first-rounder Asa Lacy, along with seven undrafted free agents that together give the rebuilding franchise one of the best incoming crops of first-year players in the majors. The club announced the 13 signings on Tuesday with Lacy being the headliner. The big, rangy left-hander out of Texas A&M was widely considered the top college arm in the draft, yet he slid to the Royals at the fourth overall pick.

MLB-CANADA

TORONTO (AP) — The Canadian government is open to Major League Baseball playing in Toronto this summer, but the league has not submitted the required plan to Canadian authorities. A senior federal government official says if MLB were to submit an acceptable restart plan to the government, an exemption letter similar to the one provided to the NHL could be provided. Ontario’s chief medical officer also says Major League Baseball hasn’t submitted a plan to local health authorities that is needed for the Blue Jays to play in Toronto amid the pandemic.

NBA-

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers center Andre Drummond plans to exercise his $28.7 million player option for the 2020-21 season and stay with Cleveland. Drummond was acquired in a February trade with the Detroit Pistons. He said on an ESPN podcast that he intends to pick up the option. Drummond’s decision had been expected, but this is the first time he’s publicly stated his intentions. Drummond must notify the Cavs in writing about the option by Oct. 17. The NBA’s offseason calendar has been pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

— Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley has decided to sit out the NBA’s upcoming resumption of the season in Florida. He tells ESPN that he wants to remain with his wife and three children, including a 6-year-old son with a history of respiratory illnesses. By sitting out, Bradley figures to lose a projected $650,000 in salary. He averaged 8.6 points and 2.3 rebounds while starting 44 games before the season was shut down in March due to the coronavirus. The Lakers are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference heading into the 22-team restart.

SOCCER-

UNDATED (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request by American women’s soccer players to allow an immediate appeal of his decision to throw out their claim of unequal pay against the U.S. Soccer Federation. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner in Los Angeles has scheduled a trial for Sept. 15 on the players’ remaining claim of discriminatory work conditions. Lawyers for the women had asked him to enter a final judgment on his decision to dismiss the pay claim, which would have allowed them to take the case to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

NASCAR-

undated (AP) — The rope found hanging in Bubba Wallace’s garage at Talladega Superspeedway was not a hate crime. Federal authorities said the rope had been hanging at the Alabama track since at least October. Video evidence showed it had been hanging from the garage door but was the only one fashioned as a noose. Wallace coincidentally was assigned that garage. NASCAR stood by its decision to investigate the discovery found in the stall of its only Black driver. Wallace successfully called for a ban of the Confederate flag and has become an activist for the sport during a push for racial equality.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPORTS

UNDATED (AP) — Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) has tested positive for the coronavirus after taking part in a tennis exhibition series he organized in Serbia and Croatia.

The top-ranked Serb is the fourth player to test positive for the virus after first playing in Belgrade and then again last weekend in Zadar, Croatia. His wife also tested positive. Djokovic says “the moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested. My result is positive.”

Djokovic has been criticized for organizing the tournament and bringing in players from other countries amid the coronavirus pandemic. There were no social distancing measures observed at the matches in either country.

Djokovic and other players were seen hugging each other and partying in night clubs and restaurants.

CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Cameron Champ is the second PGA Tour player to test positive for the coronavirus. Champ did not play last week at the RBC Heritage. That’s where Nick Watney tested positive. Champ tied for 14th at Colonial in Texas. He was tested when he arrived at the Travelers Championship, and it came back positive. Champ says he feels fine and was surprised to learn of the positive test. He now has to self-isolate for 10 days and will get as stipend from the PGA Tour to pay for the expense. He also had to withdraw from the tournament.

— A person with knowledge of the situation says All-Star forward Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets has tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantining in his native Serbia. Jokic is expected to be back in Denver long before the team leaves for the Disney complex for the restart of the NBA season next month.

— The Philadelphia Phillies say two more players and two additional staff numbers have tested positive for COVID-19. That raises the number of total members in the organization who have the virus to 12. The Phillies say all other tests within the organization have come back negative. One of the two players tested positive outside the team complex in Clearwater, Florida. The Phillies shut their spring complex after five players tested positive on Friday for COVID-19. Philadelphia became the first big league team known to be struck by the outbreak. Three staff members at the camp also tested positive. The Phillies didn’t identify any of those affected.

— Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says two unidentified players have tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered. Tomlin says the players tested positive at some point earlier this year. Both players went through what Tomlin called “the appropriate protocol” and have since returned to work. Neither player visited the team facility at any point during the offseason. The Steelers, like the rest of the NFL, have been meeting and training remotely rather than in person since mid-March.

— Pittsburgh is out of the running to be one of the two hubs for the NHL when the league resumes its season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Penguins submitted what the club called an “aggressive” bid to be a hub city and was among the 10 finalists announced by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Penguins President and CEO David Morehouse says simply being a finalist reflected the city’s support of the team and the NHL. Seven of the finalists were in the United States.

— Ontario’s chief medical officer says Major League Baseball hasn’t submitted a plan to local health authorities that is needed for the Blue Jays to play in Toronto amid the pandemic. Dr. David Williams says he has read a Major League Baseball proposal but it doesn’t mention anything about travel to Canada. He says baseball will have to provide a plan. Anyone entering Canada for non-essential reasons must quarantine for 14 days and the U.S. Canada border remains closed to nonessential travel until at least July 21.

— U.S. national team players Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath and Christen Press have opted out of the National Women’s Soccer League tournament opening this weekend in Utah. Heath and Press played with Rapinoe on the champion World Cup team last summer in France. The two cited concerns about the coronavirus for their decisions not to play. The monthlong Challenge Cup opens Saturday with a nationally televised game between the Portland Thorns and the defending champion North Carolina Courage.

— Fifteen minor league baseball teams have filed a lawsuit alleging breach of contract by insurance providers after being denied claims for business-interruption insurance due to the coronavirus pandemic. Major League Baseball announced Monday that it will attempt to play a 60-game regular season, but its 160 affiliated minor league clubs are unlikely to play at all until at least 2021. Minor league franchises say that even though they continue to pay yearly premiums to insurance providers for business-interruption insurance, they have been denied coverage at a time when minor league clubs have essentially no means of making money.

— Maine’s Bowdoin College and UMass Boston are canceling their fall sports schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bowdoin President Clayton Rose cited limitations on campus attendance in an announcement detailing the school’s plans for the fall semester. UMass Boston interim Chancellor Katherine Newman said in a memo that the school will focus on remote instruction in the fall with no on-ground student activities. Both schools compete in Division III. Bowdoin has 31 varsity teams. UMass Boston has 18.

— Monmouth Park will reopen for simulcast wagering and sports betting on July 2, with live horse racing returning the following day. The complex will operate at 25% capacity as part of New Jersey’s second stage of loosening of restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The racetrack has been closed to the public since March 16 because of the pandemic. The 37-day meet runs through Sept. 27, highlighted by the $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 18.

— The U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame has postponed its 2020 induction ceremony to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s induction ceremony had been scheduled for Sept. 19-20 in Frisco, Texas, where the Hall of Fame is located. Members of the 2020 and 2021 classes will be inducted together in a ceremony next year. Voting for the 2020 class was completed earlier this year but not yet announced.

— This year’s karate world championships have been postponed for one year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The World Karate Federation says the championships will now take place from Nov. 16-21, 2021, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Karate was set to make its debut at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo but that event has also been postponed by a year. The karate worlds are held every two years.

— Four players on French soccer team Toulouse have tested positive for the coronavirus. The club says the testing was conducted Monday to ensure the safety of players and staff ahead of the resumption of training.

— Tiffany Hayes has become the second Atlanta Dream guard to announce plans to sit out the 2020 season. The Dream says Hayes, a 2018 all-WNBA first-team selection, has said she won’t play this season. Last week the WNBA announced plans for a 22-game season in Florida without fans in attendance.

— A second member of the Tennessee men’s basketball team has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation. Tennessee had reported Friday that one player had tested positive.

NFL-

UNDATED (AP) — Tom Brady continues to prepare for his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, working out with teammates at a private school despite a union recommendation that players not conduct any more group practices before training camp.

The six-time Super Bowl champion was joined on the field Tuesday by a group of teammates that included tight end Rob Gronkowski, quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin, center Ryan Jensen, cornerback Jamel Dean and safety Mike Edwards.

With NFL training facilities still closed to players because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brady has been leading small voluntary workouts near downtown Tampa for much of the past month.

The latest session came just three days after the Bucs confirmed an unspecified number of “individuals” tested positive for COVID-19 at the team’s training center. The same day, NFL Players Association medial director Dr. Thom Mayer, recommended all NFL players refrain from working out in group settings until training camp begins next month.

— The Las Vegas Raiders have opened their new training facility in Henderson, Nevada. About 70 team members were on hand Monday at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center, a 335,000-square-foot complex. No players are allowed yet unless they are rehabbing injuries, but coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock were in attendance.

— New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins says his criticism of Drew Brees’ opposition about kneeling during the national anthem, and Brees’ later apology, is a microcosm of what the country needs. Jenkins was among Drew Brees’ harshest critics when the Saints quarterback made his comments about kneeling earlier this month. He said the video he posted on Instagram criticizing Brees was filmed before he spoke with his teammate. Jenkins said he decided to post the video after they spoke because he thought people needed to see it.

— Martha Firestone Ford is stepping down as principal owner of the Detroit Lions. The Lions announced that Ford’s daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp, is taking over as the team’s principal owner and chairman. The 94-year-old Ford had been in charge of the Lions since 2014, when her husband, William Clay Ford, died. The 68-year-old Hamp has been one of the team’s vice chairmen during her mother’s ownership.

— Eli Manning has won the Pro Football Writers of America’s Good Guy Award for his cooperation with the media. Manning, who retired after the 2019 season, has been lauded for years for his dealings with local and national media. He’s the second member of the New York Giants to win the award, joining Tiki Barber (2006). Manning was the Giants’ starting quarterback for nearly every game in his first 15 years in the league.

NHL-

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom skated with the team Tuesday in one of the few times he’s hit the ice since he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.

The 23-year-old Lindblom, a native of Sweden, has been ruled out of play should the NHL season resume. Lindblom said he was down to his final chemotherapy treatments. Lindblom suffers from Ewing’s sarcoma, a cancerous tumor that grows in the bones or in the tissue around bones. He had 11 goals and 18 points in 30 games this season. Lindblom has 30 goals in 134 career games over two-plus seasons with the Flyers. .

 

 

UNDATED (AP) —West Virginia has placed defensive coordinator Vic Koenning on administrative leave after a player alleged the assistant coach made a series of inappropriate comments.

West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons announced the move Tuesday after safety Kerry Martin posted the allegations on his Twitter account. Lyon says the athletic department will conduct a thorough investigation. He thanked Martin for having the courage to voice his concerns.

Coach Neal Brown says he has talked with all parties involved, including the team. He says the culture of the program will be of acceptance, respect, tolerance and positive relationships.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL-

BOSTON (AP) — Longtime Bentley University women’s basketball coach Barbara Stevens is retiring after a four-decade run that included more than 1,000 wins, the 2014 NCAA Division II national championship, and recent election to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

She became the first non-Division I women’s basketball coach, and the fifth overall, to reach the 1,000-win milestone, with Bentley’s 78-66 home victory over Adelphi University on Jan. 17, 2018.

WOMEN’S WCUP-BIDDING

SYDNEY (AP) — The Sydney Opera House and Auckland’s Sky Tower will be lit up simultaneously to highlight the joint bid from Australia and New Zealand in the final hours before FIFA decides on the venue for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The lights will go on in advance of a decision from the 37-member FIFA Council on Thursday in Europe, expected about 2 a.m. local time Friday on Australia’s east coast and 4 a.m. in New Zealand.

The co-confederation bid is favored to win in a two-way contest with Colombia

In world and national news….

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas has surpassed 5,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time. The announcement Tuesday marks another troubling new milestone as the largest pediatric hospital in the U.S. begins taking adult patients to free up bed space in Houston. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, told lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday that “the next couple weeks are going to be critical” in Texas and other states that are trying to curtail an alarming spike in new cases.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government’s top infectious disease expert says he is cautiously optimistic that there will be a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year or early 2021, but warns that the next few weeks will be critical to tamping down coronavirus hot spots around the country. Dr. Anthony Fauci and other top health officials also told lawmakers on Tuesday they have not been asked to slow down testing for coronavirus. This is an issue that became controversial after President Donald Trump said last weekend that he had asked them to do just that because it was uncovering too many infections. Trump said Wednesday that he wasn’t kidding when he said that.

 

(AP)  The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says his agency is maintaining an arm’s-length relationship with a White House-led effort to quickly produce a COVID-19 vaccine once it’s approved. The White House’s Operation Warp Speed” is geared at having ready the manufacturing capacity and distribution channels for a massive vaccination program. But FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn told the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday that his agency is careful not to work in tandem with Warp Speed. Hauhn said, “We absolutely must maintain regulatory independence and make the right decision for the American people based on the science and the data.”

 

ATLANTA (AP) — Rayshard Brooks is being remembered at the Atlanta church where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once preached. The private funeral for the man who was shot by a police officer is being held Tuesday at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Rev. Raphael Warnock is to deliver the eulogy. Officer Garrett Rolfe shot Brooks in the back after Brooks fired a Taser in his direction while running away after a struggle with officers outside a Wendy’s restaurant on June 12. Rolfe is white. Brooks was Black. King’s daughter, the Rev. Bernice King, also plans to deliver remarks at the funeral.

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Officials in the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, are expected to vote Tuesday for the removal of a statue of former vice president and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun from a downtown square, the latest in a wave of such actions triggered by the death of George Floyd. A majority of council members in the coastal city have said they support the resolution, which would bring the statue down from atop a 100-foot monument in downtown Marion Square, placing it permanently at “an appropriate site where it will be protected and preserved.”

 

NEW YORK (AP) — ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel has apologized for using blackface for his impersonation of NBA star Karl Malone and other Black celebrities. The late-night star’s Malone impersonation had been criticized by Fox News’ Sean Hannity and others, and Kimmel said that response had made him reluctant to address it. He said in a statement Tuesday that the delay was a mistake. In another example of the cultural reckoning triggered by the Black Lives Matter movement, ‘30 Rock’ co-creator and star Tina Fey has asked that four episodes of the comedy be pulled from circulation because they featured performers in blackface.