– Wayne Byers Show – Evening – June 26

CSi Weather:

.SATURDAY…Sunny. Highs around 90. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast

winds 10 to 20 mph.

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

and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

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

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s.

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

and thunderstorms. Lows around 70.

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

thunderstorms. Highs around 90.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Showers likely and chance of thunderstorms. Lows

in the upper 60s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in

the morning, then showers likely and chance of thunderstorms in

the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. Chance of precipitation

60 percent.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of

showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s.

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

thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.

Through mid-week continues to show favorable chances for precipitation, especially around the Tuesday timeframe.

North Dakota health officials say 12 counties have reported new cases of the coronavirus, including seven positive tests each in Cass and Grand Forks counties. Officials say 32 people were confirmed with COVID-19 in the last day, increasing the state’s total since the pandemic began to nearly 4,000. Nearly 3,000 tests were included in the update.

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Posted Fri. June 26

11-a.m.

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

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED FRIDAY

Burleigh County – 6
Cass County – 10
Grand Forks County – 3
Hettinger County – 1
Morton County – 1
Mountrail County – 1
Sargent County – 1
Sioux County – 1
Stark County – 1
Stutsman County – 1
Stutsman Total 63
Recovered 57
Ward County – 2
Williams County – 1

BY THE NUMBERS

169,838 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+4,411 total tests from yesterday)

100,886 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+1,442 unique individuals from yesterday)

97,465 – Total Negative (+1,414 unique individuals from yesterday)

3,421 – Total Positive (+29 unique individuals from yesterday)

After investigation it was found that a previous case from Sioux County was a duplicate of a previously reported case.

0.7% – Daily Positivity Rate**

222 – Total Hospitalized (+0 individual from yesterday)

23 – Currently Hospitalized (-2 individuals from yesterday)

3,090 – Total Recovered (+26 individuals from yesterday)

78 – Total Deaths*** (+0 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.

Bismarck (CSi) The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced that the agency has developed the Economic Resiliency Grant (ERG) Program which was approved at Thursday’s Budget Section hearing to assist businesses with COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

The Budget Section approved $69 million to administer the ERG Program which is geared to enhance revenue in both the immediate and long-term future by growing consumer confidence. To achieve this, applicants may qualify to receive grant funding of up $50,000 for investments that will encourage customers to get back into the marketplace by ensuring businesses are equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

In addition to assisting businesses be successful, the grant is also designed to reduce the burden on the unemployment insurance system by getting people back to work in a safe environment.

Importantly, the ERG is a grant – not a loan. The expenses allowed for through the ERG did not previously qualify under both the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and the Paycheck Protection Program.

“The Commerce Department is committed to assisting businesses with mitigating the economic impact of COVID-19,” Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer said. “The purpose of the grant is to provide businesses one-time funding to increase customer and employee safety through improved infection control, with the ultimate purpose of inspiring consumers to return to the marketplace. A safe return of customers to marketplace is the best and most sustainable way to stimulate the economy.”

The Economic Resiliency Grant application process is anticipated to open July 24. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first serve basis. Funding will be approved if the application meets all criteria and funding is available. Additional information, including educational sessions will be available shortly, and updates about the program will be posted to the Commerce’s website.

Bismarck (NDANG) A North Dakota Army National Guard unit has received an alert for possible mobilization. If ordered to mobilize, the Bismarck-based Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, would deploy to the National Capital Region (NCR) area late in 2020.

The unit consists of about 70 Soldiers and operates the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. If mobilized, their anticipated mission would be transport of personnel and light cargo within the NCR area.

“We are extremely proud of the professionalism of our Army aviators,” said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general. “They have a safe operating record of nearly 150,000 flight hours dating back to 1958 and have been instrumental in support of state and federal missions to include flood response, wildfire fighting, search and rescue missions and have successfully served overseas.”

The unit is led by Capt. Robert Sorenson and 1st Sgt. Mitch McCoy.

Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment was previously deployed to Kosovo in support of peace keeping operations from Nov. 2013 to Dec. 2014 and to Iraq Oct. 2009 to Sept. 2010. Other support provided by the North Dakota Army National Guard to the NCR were two mobilizations that assisted in the protection of airspace by the Grand Forks-based 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment from May 2017 to April 2018 and May 2013 to April 2014.

The North Dakota National Guard is a trained and highly motivated force of about 4,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen. We are always prepared to provide ready units, individuals and equipment in support of our communities, state and nation. Always ready, always there.

Bismarck (CSi) – In an effort to safely reunite individuals living at the Life Skills and Transition Center (LSTC) in Grafton with loved ones, the center recently modified its on-site visitation guidelines and launched a pilot project that allows for in-home visits under certain circumstances. The center is part of the North Dakota Department of Human Services and provides residential and support services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The modified visitation guidelines allow family members and friends to visit an individual during regular business hours, by appointment only, in designated areas on campus. All visitors will be required to complete a temperature check and health screening upon arrival, wear masks at all times while visiting, and maintain social distancing.

The Life Skills and Transition Center also launched a pilot project that allows families to take their loved ones home for either a day or overnight visit. All family members living in the home must complete a COVID-19 test, and if they test negative, are eligible for the home visit for up to one week from the testing date. LSTC team members will help families coordinate testing opportunities with community partners.

In world and national news…

(AP) Texas and Florida clamped down on bars again Friday in the biggest retreat yet amid a surge across the South and West. The number of confirmed new coronavirus infections per day in the U.S. hit an all-time high of 40,000. Florida’s restrictions came after its daily confirmed coronavirus cases neared 9,000, almost double the previous record set just two days ago. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott had pursued up to now one of the most aggressive reopening schedules of any state. There have been rising deaths and hospitalizations around the country. States including Arizona and Alabama have been hit hard.

DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines said Friday that it will start booking flights to full capacity next week. The move comes as the United States sets records for new reported cases of the coronavirus. United Airlines already does not block any seats. But other major U.S. airlines including Delta and Southwest leave middle seats open or limit bookings to create space between passengers to minimize the risk of contagion. Almost all U.S. airlines require passengers to wear face masks, and in a few cases they have banned customers who refuse to comply. American says it will notify customers when a flight is likely to be full, and will let them change flights at no extra cost.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The company behind Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Dove soap and a host of other consumer products says it will stop advertising on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in the U.S. through at least the end of the year because of the amount of hate speech online. Unilever said that the polarized atmosphere in the United States ahead of November’s presidential election placed responsibility on brands to act. The company, which is based in the Netherlands and Britain, joins a raft of other companies halting advertising on online platforms. Facebook in particular has been the target of an escalating movement to siphon away advertising.

(AP) Stocks Friday were moving lower on Wall Street, led by declines in banks after regulators told them they had to cap their dividends and halt stock buybacks in order to shore up their defenses in case the recession gets worse. The S&P 500 fell 2.0% in afternoon trading Friday. Nike also fell after reporting a big loss as most of its stores were forced to close. Investors were disappointed to see that the number of confirmed new coronavirus cases per day in the U.S. hit an all-time high of 40,000, surpassing the peak set during one of the deadliest stretches in late April.