CSi Weather…

.WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT…

* WHAT…West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph in the
afternoon, shifting to the northwest and gusting as high as 55
mph late this afternoon and evening.

* WHERE…Portions of north central, south central, and southeast
North Dakota.

* WHEN…From 3 PM this afternoon to midnight CDT tonight.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects.
Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

Forecast…

REST OF TODAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds

10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the afternoon.

 

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain showers

and thunderstorms in the evening, in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area, then mostly clear after midnight. Windy. Lows in the lower 50s. Northwest winds 20 to 30 mph.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Northwest winds 20 to

25 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. West winds

around 5 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Northwest winds

5 to 15 mph.

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

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

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy

with a 20 percent chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in

the upper 40s.

.LABOR DAY…Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers. Highs around 60.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the lower 40s.

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

Highs in the mid 50s.

 

There is a chance of thunderstorms late Wednesday afternoon and

evening. Widespread severe weather is not expected, but strong

Northwest wind gusts may be possible with any storm over 40 mph

 

 

North Dakota health officials report 191 new positive coronavirus cases and two new deaths. The number of new positive cases Tuesday included 30 in Burleigh County and 12 in neighboring Morton County. The counties that include the Bismarck metropolitan area have taken over as the state’s hot spot for the virus in recent weeks. North Dakota’s death toll from the coronavirus was 145 as of Tuesday. The victims were a man in his 70s from Morton County, and a woman in her 80s from Burleigh County. Officials said they both had underlying health conditions.

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats…

Tues. Sept. 1, 2020

11-a.m.

Barnes

New Positives 1

Total Positives 114

Active Cases 49

Recovered 65

 

Stutsman

New Positives 2

Total Positives 213

Active Cases 73

Recovered 137

COVID-19 Test Results
The results listed are from the previous day. Additional data can be found on the NDDoH website.

BY THE NUMBERS

2,493 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

473,705 – Total tests completed since pandemic began

191 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

12,000 – Total positive individuals since pandemic began

7.66% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

2,245 – Total Active Cases

-133 Individuals from yesterday

171 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday****

9,610 – Total recovered since pandemic began

62 – Currently Hospitalized

– 8 individuals from yesterday


2 – New Deaths*** (145 total deaths since the pandemic began)


INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Man in his 70s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 80s from Burleigh County with underlying health conditions.


COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TUESDAY

  • Barnes County – 1
  • Benson County – 4
  • Bowman County – 1
  • Burleigh County – 30
  • Cass County – 20
  • Cavalier County – 1
  • Dickey County – 1
  • Dunn County – 1
  • Eddy County – 1
  • Foster County – 1
  • Grand Forks County – 19
  • Hettinger County – 3
  • McHenry County – 3
  • McKenzie County – 2
  • McLean County – 3
  • Mercer County – 1
  • Morton County – 12
  • Pembina County – 1
  • Rolette County – 1
  • Sargent County – 1
  • Stark County – 50
  • Steele County – 1
  • Stutsman County – 2
  • Towner County – 1
  • Walsh County – 4
  • Ward County – 13
  • Williams County – 13

 

* 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.
**** The daily numbers are the actual date individuals are officially out of isolation and no longer contagious.

******Totals may be adjusted as individuals are found to live out of state, in another county, or as other information is found during investigation.

 

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.

 

Valley City  (SCC)   Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City has announced an update in the visitation policy restrictions.

The following is a news release by Craig Christianson the CEO of the Sheyenne Care Center  CEO News Release states:

“Here at Sheyenne Care Center our number one priority is to monitor and put in place safety precautions that protect our residents and staff. That is why we continuously monitor the status of our residents and staff every day during this pandemic period.

We are glad to inform you that our residents and staff remain 100% COVID free at Sheyenne Care Center. But with the increase of positive COVID’s in Barnes County we feel it is necessary to restrict both internal and external visitation starting Tuesday, September 1st, 2020.

This restriction will be monitored on a weekly basis and the status of the restriction will be updated every Wednesday through our social media (Facebook), Webpage, local radio and newspaper.

Thank you for understanding and if you have any questions please contact us here at Sheyenne Care Center.”

Craig Christianson, CEO

 

Valley City  City County Health in Valley City is hosting another COVID-19 drive thru testing today,  from 4-p.m., to 6-p.m. at the VCSU Lokken Stadium parking lot.

Pre-register on line at testreg.nd.gov

Jamestown  (CVHD)   Central Valley Health District will  hold weekly testing event in Jamestown.  The testing will occur on Friday’s from 10 to Noon at the Jamestown Civic Center.

This event is open to anyone needing testing especially those with symptoms or who are close contacts.   There will be a total of 300 tests available and it is first come first serve.

“We will no longer be offering large-scale testing events and will be moving towards smaller weekly events to ensure availability of testing for those who are close contact or symptomatic,” says Robin Iszler, Unit Administrator at Central Valley Health District.

Appointments are not required but those who wish to receive a test are required to complete the online screening questionnaire in advance, which can be found here: https://testreg.nd.gov/.  Completing the online screening questionnaire does not guarantee you a test.

Additional details:

  • There is no cost for the test and health insurance is not processed.
  • Proof of residency will not be required.
  • The testing process itself takes approximately 15 minutes. Wait time in line may be longer.
  • Those with a positive result will be notified by phone within 24 – 72 hours.
  • Those with a negative result will be notified by the state notification system within 5 – 7 days.
  • Testing will be conducted using oral swabs. Antibody testing will not be conducted at this event.
  • Drive-up testing only. Stay in your vehicle to be tested.
  • Location of event is subject to change. Follow Central Valley Health on Facebook for event updates.

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown School Superintendent, Dr. Robert Lech reports that 130 public school district students are enrolled in the Virtual Academy and will be distance learning from home.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2 those students will be connecting after Labor Day with Arizona university and the grade appropriate curriculum.

He added that the school district continues to follow health department guidelines for the safe return to in person classes, within school buildings.  Wearing face masks, physical distancing are being observed within the school district buildings.

Also on our show, Dr. Lech updated viewers/listeners that the Public School District has sent letters to the parents of under five students that the students may have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 at school.

Dr. Lech did not identify the class or the school where the exposure occurred,  due to confidentiality, adding that notification letters were sent to the parents including a date the student may return to school after the period of quarantine.

He reminds parents that if a child is sick he or she should stay home.

Valley City  (VCPS) Under guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture, beginning immediately, Valley City Public Schools will be offering free meals to all students.

Every student is eligible for free breakfast and lunch daily, independent of income level. Free meals are set to continue through December 31st, 2020 or until USDA funding is no longer available. All families will automatically receive free meals as long as the program is active and need not take any action to receive this benefit.

As the special funding for this program does have the potential to end unexpectedly, families are strongly encouraged to continue to complete free and reduced meal applications for this school year. Completing an application not only ensures your students receive free school meals without interruption, they also directly impact important school funding sources.

Menus will continue to include your same favorite entree and salad bar choices. Ala Cart and Super Sizing will also continue to be available for purchase at the Jr/Sr High School.

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund says, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, visitor numbers in Jamestown have seen a recent upturn.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Searle said earlier visitor numbers this summer the car count at the Buffalo Monument,  Frontier Village and the National Buffalo Museum were down 35 percent in June, eight percent in July, but saw an increase of 1.1 percent in August this year.  He noted excellent sales at the Frontier Village Dakota Store location, and better than last year.

The Car Count so far is around 30,000.  He said however the National Buffalo Museum number of guests has been down, stemming from changes in the visitors policy.

Searle pointed out that while Jamestown hotel numbers of guests have been off, the numbers recently have been trending upward to a more manageable number.

He said improvements have been continuing at Frontier Village with the buildings and the visitors experience.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall.  All members were present.

Members of the public are not permitted in the Commission Chambers due to COVID-19 and as allowed in ND Executive Order 2020-16.   Members of the public may view the meeting on line, at zoom.us/j/922 69970205.   Or listen by calling –  1-346-248-7799. Webinar ID: 922 6997 0205

 

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

 

Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.

 

Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $ $1,431,492.21

 

A  Raffle Permit for Barnes County Ducks Unlimited on 9/24/2020.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS  No One Spoke.

During the COVID-19 emergency, members of the public may request to make a public comment regarding city business by contacting City Hall (701) 845-1700 by 12 NOON on the day of the meeting to make arrangements.

Attorney General’s “A Citizen’s Guide to North Dakota Open Records & Open Meetings Laws” *A member of the public does not have the right to speak to the governing body at an open meeting. The public is only entitled to see and hear what happens at a meeting, and to record or broadcast those observations.

No personal attacks to persons present or not

No inflammatory language used during time that you have the platform

5 minute maximum or as directed by the chair

Thank you for participating in City Government.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Considered advertising for bids the sale of vacant lot at 14th St SW, Parcel 63-0880017  A motion was made to retain the property which was approved.

 

Considered was a member participation agreement in the  North Dakota Public Health Insurance Trust. City Attorney Martineck  said if a two year agreement is maintained there will be no immediate increase in health insurance premiums, if the same plan is kept, along with a smaller increase in the future.  The City Commission voted to approve the participation.

 

The City Commission considered a Site Authorizations for VCSU Foundation at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, VC Town & Country Club, Shelly Ellig Field @ Lokken Stadium and the Valley City Eagles Club.   Finance Director Richter said the action is for a renewal, which was approved by commissioners.  She said the site authorizations are good for one year.

 

Considered was a recommendation from Renaissance Zone Authority Board for tax exemptions for property tax and income tax for Smith Lumber.  Avis Richter said an approval is for five years, for a new building, as part of the businesses expansion.  The City Commission approved the action, as recommended by the Renaissance Zone Authority Board

 

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:

Gwen Crawford said nuisance and junk was addressed, with police and the city, asking the commission for their input, in order to step up enforcement of the Ordinance.

 

CITY UPDATES &COMMISSION REPORTS

City Finance Director, Avis Richter said, there will be a Special City Commission meeting Thursday September 3 at 7-a.m. at the Commission Chamber.  Agenda items will include reviewing the City Engineers  job applications, and reviewing the 2021 City Budget, and any possible changes before it is finalized.

 

Scott Magnuson reminded residents to there is one month left to have census information sent in.

 

Police Chief Phil Hatcher reminded motorists to watch for students in school zones, noting changes in the traffic flows involving students drop off and pick up locations, and more parents transporting children to and from school.

 

KLJ gave and update on projects, with some completions, including lighting.

Commissioner Gulmon thanked those who worked on the health insurance plan changes.  He said the Valley City Budget audid  was completed with no problems indicated.

 

Mayor Carlsrud addressed the surge in COVID-19 positive cases, in Barnes County, noting some decisions on the part of some people was not appropriate, (large social gatherings)  leading the spread of the virus.  He encourages masking and observing social distancing, and frequent hand washing.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 68, followed by replays.

 

Jamestown  (CSi) Unite to Silence the Stigma will be holding a walk on Sunday September 20 at Nickeus Park in Jamestown.   Monte Rodacker of Jamestown says the walk begins at 2 pm and goes until about 4.  First Link will be providing a speaker for us. We will be reading off names of suicide losses and releasing a large balloon in memory.

Valley City  (USDA)  A program through the USDA, means free meals at North Dakota Schools.

Valley City Public Schools is providing free meals as part of the program through December 31, 2020.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  Valley City officials remind residents that Public Works and City Hall offices and Transfer Station (landfill) will be closed on Monday, September 7, for Labor Day. The Transfer Station will also be closed on Saturday, September 5.

Monday’s garbage will be picked up on Tuesday, Sept. 8th. Tuesday and Wednesday’s garbage will both be picked up on Wednesday, Sept. 9th. The rest of the week will be the normal pick up schedule. Garbage should be put out by 7:00 AM.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Army Corps of Engineers is recommending that the federal government negotiate a settlement with North Dakota for more than $38 million that the state spent policing protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline. The request comes following a federal judge’s decision last month to deny the federal government’s motion to dismiss North Dakota’s lawsuit seeking to recover the damages the state claimed from the monthslong pipeline protests almost four years ago. North Dakota Republican U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer calls the recommendation “very significant” and the right thing to do for the federal government. The $3.8 billion pipeline has been moving oil from the Dakotas through Iowa to Illinois for more than three years.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Democrats have endorsed a new candidate for insurance commissioner after the state Supreme Court ruled the party’s intitial nominee was ineligible for the ballot. In a unanimous opinion last week, the high court upheld a lower court ruling that concluded Travisia Martin hasn’t lived in the state long enough to hold the office. Democrats on Friday endorsed Fargo insurance agent Jason Anderson to replace her. The party filed a petition on Monday with the North Dakota Supreme Court to get Anderson on the November ballot. Arguments in the case are scheduled Wednesday.

 

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — A University of North Dakota business student will ring the closing bell at the NASDAQ stock exchange on Wednesday. Pierson Painter, a student at UND’s Nistler College of Business and Administration, received the opportunity to ring the bell remotely from North Dakota and a $15,000 cash prize after winning the Red River Valley Business Plan competition in the spring. Painter, an entrepreneurship and marketing double major from Grand Forks, will represent the business school in the virtual ceremony alongside the school’s dean and his professor, who helped organize the competition.

 

BERTHOLD, N.D. (AP) — A man has been arrested for driving drunk after flipping a farming combine in a field in northwestern North Dakota. Police say the combine landed upside down in the field near Berthold Monday afternoon. Authorities say the 45-year-old man was intoxicated and was taken to the Ward County Jail in Minot. The combine has extensive damage.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of business leaders released Tuesday shows economic improvement in nine Midwest and Plains states. That includes improvements in employment and economic outlook amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and the devastation from a rare wind storm earlier in the month. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the survey’s employment index moved above growth neutral 50 for the first time since January, coming in at 54.8 for August, compared with 48.5 in July. The overall index for the region improved to 60 in August from July’s 57.4. Any score above 50 suggests growth. The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

In sports…

High School Volleyball…

Tuesday…

Volleyball…

Season opener…

Valley City 3 Grand Forks Red River 2

15-25, 20-25, 25-14,25-18, 20-18

Jamestown  over St. Mary’s 25-29, 25-9, 25-16

Fargo Davies 3, Fargo North 0

Fargo Shanley 3, W.F. Sheyenne 1

West Fargo 3, G.F. Central 0

Fargo South 3, Wahpeton 0

Class B

New Rockford-Sheyenne 3, Medina/PB 0

Enderlin 3, Edgeley/KM 0

Wilton/Wing 3, Strasburg/Zee. 2

Des Lacs-Burlington 3, Kenmare 2

Sargent Co. 3, Wyndmere/Lidge. 1

Rugby 3, North Star 1

Oakes 3, Lisbon 0

Glenburn 3, Tioga 0

Mohall/LS 3, Burke Co. 0

Tri-State 3, Britton-Hecla (SD) 0

Rolla 3, Four Winds/Minn. 0

Dickinson Trinity 3, Richardton-Taylor 0

Beulah 3, Shiloh Christian 1

Grafton 3, North Border 0

Flasher 3, Mott-Regent 0

Beach 3, Glen Ullin/Hebron 2

Baker/Plevna (Mont.) 3, Bowman Co. 0

Towner/GU 3, Underwood 1

BCN 3, Finley-Sharon/HP 2

Carrington 3, Harvey/WC 1

Garrison 3, Lewis & Clark 1

Oak Grove 3, Hillsboro/CV 1

Nedrose 3, Drake-Ana. 1

Northern Cass 3, MayPort-CG 0

Velva 3, Bishop Ryan 0

South Border 3, North Central (SD) 1

Hettinger/Scranton 3, Lemmon (SD) 0

New Salem-Almont at Kidder Co., PPD

 

Boy’s Tennis…

Valley City 6 Fargo North 3

Hi-Liners  first win over Fargo North in 15 years

 

NBA..

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Last year’s Boston Celtics won their first five NBA playoff games before dropping the next four to the Milwaukee Bucks. That trend won’t continue this year.

The Celtics are 6-0 in this postseason and owners of a two-games-to-none lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals after rallying for a 102-99 win over the Toronto Raptors. Boston carried an eight-point deficit into the final period before outscoring the defending champs, 32-21.

Jayson Tatum poured in 34 points and Marcus Smart added 19 for the Celts, who hit 15 of their 38 3-point attempts and were 23 of 25 from the line. Smart nailed five 3-pointers in the final period.

Smart made 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions in a 73-second span early in the fourth. He added another 3 about a minute later and a four-point play a minute after that, putting Boston up 86-85 with 7:55 left. It was part of a 29-9 run that put Boston up, 95-87 with 4:18 left.

OG Anunoby had 20 points and Fred VanVleet added 19 to lead Toronto.

 

The Nuggets have advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by becoming the 12th team in league history to win a series after trailing 3-1.

Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH’-lah YOH’-kihch) made the tiebreaking basket with 27 seconds left before Denver held off the Jazz, 80-78. Jokic had 30 points and 14 rebounds and Jamal Murray scored 17 points to help Denver earn a meeting with the Clippers.

The Jazz almost pulled out the victory, but Mike Conley’s 3-pointer spun out at the buzzer.

Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points and Rudy Gobert (goh-BEHR’) added 19 with 18 rebounds for Utah.

NBA-POLICE SHOOTING-WISCONSIN-BUCKS

Bucks players upset with Wisconsin Legislature’s inaction

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Calif. (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks players and the team’s coach said Tuesday they were disappointed that the Wisconsin Legislature didn’t take action on policing reform bills during a special session Monday called by Gov. Tony Evers.

In a Zoom session on Tuesday, Bucks guard Kyle Korver called the Legislature’s inaction “disappointing.”

Democrats urged Republicans who control the Legislature to take up the bills, but both the state Senate and Assembly met for less than 30 seconds each before ending the session. Republican leaders gave no indication when they may reconvene.

NHL-STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Flyers outlast Isles to stay alive

TORONTO (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers are still alive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after beating the Islanders in overtime for the second time in the series.

Scott Laughton scored 12:20 into the extra session to give the Flyers a 4-3 victory, cutting New York’s series lead to three games to two. Laughton was the hero after the Isles scored twice late in the third period to tie it.

Claude Giroux (juh-ROO’), James van Riemsdyk (REEMZ’-dyk) and Matt Niskanen (NIHS’-kah-nehn) each scored their first goals of the playoffs to stake the Flyers to a 3-1 lead after Josh Bailey put New York ahead with a power-play goal early in the second period. Brock Nelson got the Islanders within 3-2 at the 15:46 mark of the third period, 1:33 before Derrick Brassard tied it.

Carter Hart finished with 29 saves for the Flyers, one more than Isles netminder Semyon Varlamov (SEHM’-yahn vahr-LAH’-mahv).

Game 6 is Thursday in Toronto.

Like the Flyers, the Canucks forced a sixth game by escaping with a 2-1 win over the dominant Golden Knights.

Elias (eh-LEE’-uhs) Pettersson scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period to back Thatcher Demko, who made 42 saves in his first NHL playoff start.

Vegas outshot Vancouver 43-17 yet scored just once, on a highlight reel goal by defenseman Shea Theodore in the second. Brock Boeser (BEH’-sur) also scored for the Canucks and got the primary assist on Pettersson’s goal by taking the shot the 21-year-old Swede deflected past Robin Lehner (LEH’-nur).

Game 6 is Thursday at Edmonton.

MLB..

— Byron Buxton came off the injured list and had two hits, including the go-ahead single in the seventh inning to push the Twins past the White Sox, 3-2. Michael Pineda (pih-NAY’-dah) pitched six strong innings, giving up two runs and six hits in his first outing after being suspended 60 games last year for using a banned diuretic.

— Starling Marte lifted a tiebreaking, solo homer in the eighth inning to give the Marlins a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays. Jon Berti also homered and Marte scored the tying run on Garrett Cooper’s sixth-inning double.

UNDATED (AP) — The New York Yankees had dropped six straight to Tampa Bay before finally solving the Rays on Tuesday.

Gio Urshela (ur-SHEH’-luh) hit a tiebreaking, two-run double and came around to score on the play to lift the Yankees past the Rays, 5-3. Urshela plated an insurance run on an error by Willy Adames (ah-DAH’-mehs), beating the tag at the plate.

The game ended with empty benches after Tampa Bay pinch-hitter Michael Brosseau took exception to being buzzed near the head by Aroldis Chapman. The Yankees closer struck out Brosseau to end it, and Brosseau began walking toward the visiting dugout before turning back to exchange words with someone on the Yankees.

DJ LeMahieu (leh-MAY’-hyoo) hit a pair of solo homers for the Bombers, who are 2-7 versus Tampa Bay this season.

The Rays now lead the AL East by 3 1/2 games over New York.

— The Indians blew out the Royals, 10-1 as Franmil (FRAHN’-meel) Reyes went 5 for 5 with two doubles and a homer. Zach Plesac (PLEE’-sak) allowed a run and four hits over six innings in his first start since being demoted for violating coronavirus protocols on August 8.

— Elvis Andrus (AN’-droos) hit a tying solo homer in the ninth inning and the Rangers scored twice in the 10th on a balk and two errors to beat the Astros, 6-5. The Rangers trailed by one entering the ninth after the Astros took the lead on a three-run homer by Michael Brantley in the seventh.

— Chris Taylor collected a season-high four RBIs and Julio Urías (YOO’-ree-uhs) pitched six innings of four-hit ball in the Dodgers’ 6-3 victory over the Diamondbacks. Taylor, AJ Pollock and Max Muncy had two hits apiece as Los Angeles won for the 16th time in its last 19 games.

— Alex Dickerson hit three home runs and matched a career high with six RBIs as the Giants rolled to their 10th win in 13 games, a 23-5 dismantling of the Rockies. Brandon Crawford also homered among his three hits and had six RBIs, while Donovan Solano supplied four hits and six ribbies.

— Ian Happ hit a solo homer and furnished the tiebreaking in the 11th inning to send the Cubs to an 8-7 victory over the Pirates. Kyle Schwarber belted a two-run homer before Chicago blew a 6-2 lead in the sixth.

— Brad Miller homered twice and drove in a career-high seven runs as the Cardinals battered Sonny Gray and the Reds, 16-2. Kolten Wong went 4 for 4 and scored four times as the Cardinals set season highs for runs and hits with 23.

— Marcell Ozuna (oh-ZOO’-nah) produced his first three-homer game and finished with six RBIs in leading the Atlanta Braves to a 10-3 rout of the Red Sox. Ozuna was 3 for 5 with a two-run homer in the first inning, a solo shot in the seventh and a three-run blast in the eighth.

— Aaron Nola struck out nine while tossing two-hit ball for eight innings of the Phillies’ 6-0 shutout of the Nationals. Andrew McCutchen crushed a three-run homer and Alec Bohm supplied a solo shot and an RBI double.

— Victor Reyes had four hits and five RBIs in the Tigers’ sixth consecutive win, a 12-1 bombing of the Brewers. Surprising Detroit moved back above .500 at 17-16, but it lost starting outfielder JaCoby Jones to a fractured left hand.

— Renato Núñez hit two home runs, including a three-run blast that helped the Orioles deal the Mets their fifth straight loss, 9-5. Anthony Santander (sahn-tahn-DEHR’) also slammed a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the sixth.

MLB-NEWS

Final game of Oakland-Seattle series postponed

UNDATED (AP) — Thursday’s game between the Seattle Mariners and visiting Oakland Athletics has been postponed, wiping out the entire three-game series. The decision allows for additional testing and contact tracing after a member of the Athletics’ organization tested positive for the coronavirus.

Major League Baseball says the series will be made up with a doubleheader in Seattle on Sept. 14 and another in Oakland on Sept. 26.

Also around the majors:

— Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner has landed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Turner injured his hamstring while stealing second base at Texas last Friday. The major league-leading Dodgers also activated third baseman Edwin Ríos and left-hander Alex Wood from the injured list.

TENNIS-US OPEN

Murray wins in 5 after falling behind 0-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Andy Murray needed over 4 1/2 hours to win his first Grand Slam match in nearly 20 months, dropping the first two sets before earning a 4-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Yoshihito Nishioka at the U.S. Open.

The 33-year-old Murray is coming off two hiop surgeries and was treated for blisters on his two big toes by a trainer during a medical timeout during the match.

Serena Williams began her latest attempt to win a 24th Grand Slam singles trophy by beating Kristie Ahn.

The two Americans split the first 10 games before Williams pulled away to win 7-5, 6-3. The victory was her 102nd at the tournament, breaking the tie she held with Chris Evert for the most by a woman in the Open era.

Venus Williams lost in the opening round at the U.S. Open for the first time in her long career. Williams had been 21-0 in first rounders before her 6-3, 7-5 loss to No. 20-seeded Karolina Muchova.

Kim Clijsters (KLYS’-turz) couldn’t win her first Grand Slam match in eight years. The four-time major champion was beaten by Ekaterina Alexandrova, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Winners in the men’s bracket include second seed Dominic Thiem (teem), eighth seed Roberto Bautista-Agut (ah-GOO’) and No. 10 Andrey Rublev. Second seed Sofia Kenin, fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka, seventh seed Madison Keys, No. 9 Johanna Konta and No. 10 Garbine Muguruza (moo-guh-ROO’-thuh) advanced on the women’s side. American Sloane Stephens also moved into the second round.

It was a tough day for a few U.S. players. Sam Querrey, Denis Kudla, Bradley Klahn and Mackenzie McDonald were dispatched in Round 1. Jeffrey John Wolf advanced in four sets.

Americans Christina McHale, Claire Liu and Lauren Davis were ousted in the women’s bracket.

Meanwhile, The Associated Press has learned that seven entrants have been placed under stricter COVID-19 protocols after contact with the only athlete to test positive for the coronavirus at the tournament. The seven include Richard Gasquet, Grégoire Barrère and Ysaline Bonaventure, each of whom played on Tuesday. One of the seven is Kirsten Flipkens, who was scheduled to compete on Wednesday.

Contact tracing determined there were seven players who potentially could have been exposed to COVID-19 by Benoit Paire who was taken out of the draw Sunday because of his test result.

NASCAR-BYRON CONTRACT

Byron gets extension after Daytona win

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — William Byron now has a contract extension through 2022 at Hendrick Motorsports. The extension was finalized in early August and announced today, three days after Byron’s win at Daytona International Speedway earned him a berth in NASCAR’s playoffs. Byron is in his third full season driving the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick and is the first driver other than Jeff Gordon to win with that entry.

HORSE RACING-KENTUCKY DERBY

Derby favorite draws post position 17

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Tiz the Law is the 3-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby and will attempt to become the first winner from the No. 17 post position drawn.

The best finish in 41 starts from that spot was a second place by Forty Niner in 1988 and two thirds. A

ll the race favorites will break from the outside at Churchill Downs, including second choice Honor A.P. from the No. 16 post and third choice Authentic at No. 18.

Tiz the Law won the Belmont Stakes earlier this summer.

The Preakness in Baltimore will take place next month.

The Derby is being run without any fans in attendance.

NFL-NEWS

Fournette clears waivers

UNDATED (AP) — Running back Leonard Fournette is a free agent after going unclaimed 24 hours after being waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fournette’s representatives responded to the waiver move by formally filing a grievance against the Jaguars in an effort to recoup the $4.17 million in base salary he was initially guaranteed for this season. Jacksonville voided all remaining guarantees in Fournette’s rookie deal following his one-game suspension for fighting with Buffalo linebacker Shaq Lawson in November 2018.

In other NFL news:

— Rams linebacker Travin Howard will miss the upcoming season after tearing the meniscus in a knee. His injury deprives the Rams of a probable starter at inside linebacker for the second straight season.

— Browns starting linebacker Mack Wilson does not need surgery for his hyperextended left knee and is expected to play this season. Wilson had to be carted off the field after hurting his knee while breaking up a pass on Aug. 18.

—The Raiders have placed receiver Tyrell Williams on season-ending injured reserve with a torn labrum in his shoulder. Williams got injured last month in practice and initially was going to try to play through the injury.

— The NFL has updated its game day protocols by requiring every coach and staff member in the bench area to wear a mask and reducing the size of each team’s travel party. Owners also will have to follow COVID-19 testing requirements to gain access to the locker room, field or team charter.

DOCTOR-SEXUAL ASSAULT-MICHIGAN STATE

Michigan State’s Nassar review mostly clears staff

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan State University mostly found no violations of campus policy in a review of roughly 20 former or current staff members, according to a report.

Those staff members were said to have received complaints about Larry Nassar, the doctor convicted of molesting female athletes, according to a report Tuesday.

The report is part of a 2019 agreement with the U.S. Education Department, which included a $4.5 million fine and MSU’s pledge to greatly change how it responds to sexual harassment and assault.

The school was required to determine if employees properly handled complaints about Nassar, based on policies in place at the time of the allegation. MSU found that the evidence mostly fell in favor of staff.

In world and national news…

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares are mostly higher as investors were encouraged by positive U.S. economic data, even while the coronavirus pandemic has regions around the world battling recessions. Benchmarks in France, Germany and Britain rose in early Wednesday trading. U.S. futures are also higher. Most major Asian indexes also finished higher. Better-than-expected data on the U.S. economy spurred buying on Wall Street and that carried over into world markets. Markets also are looking ahead to the U.S. jobs report later this week. Although economies have been hurt by social distancing restrictions, some technology companies are benefiting from people’s growing reliance on net services and devices.

 

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council will hold a high-level summit during the annual meeting of world leaders at the General Assembly later this month to discuss security threats in the world after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. Niger’s U.N. Ambassador Abdou Abarry, who took over the rotating council presidency on Tuesday, told a virtual press conference that thecouncil meeting will take place online on Sept. 24. Abarry said the meeting “on post-COVID-19 global governance in relation to the maintenance of international peace and security” will address traditional security threats such as conflicts but also crime and pandemics.

 

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s justice minister says the nation is confronting cyberattacks on an unprecedented scale, targeting everything from the stock market to the weather service. Andrew Little says tracking down the perpetrators will be extremely difficult, as the attacks are being routed through thousands of computers. The distributed denial of service attacks stopped share trading for up to several hours at a time over four days last week. The attacks have also hit the TSB and Westpac banks and the MetService weather organization. Little says he’s confident the country can overcome the attacks.

 

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Documents provided to The Associated Press show the Trump administration is seeking to fast track environmental reviews of dozens of major energy and infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. They include proposals for massive oil and gas fields, hazardous fuel pipelines, wind farms and highway projects in numerous states. The move to speed up large project approvals comes after Trump in June ordered the Interior Department and other agencies to scale back environmental reviews under special powers he has during the coronavirus emergency. More than 60 projects targeted for expedited environmental review were detailed in a July 15 letter from a senior Interior official to a White House economic adviser.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new book about President Donald Trump is reviving questions about his unscheduled visit to a military hospital last fall. The book by New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt says “word went out” at the White House for Vice President Mike Pence to stand by to temporarily assume presidential powers if Trump needed a medical procedure that would require him to be put under anesthesia. The White House has said the visit was part of Trump’s annual physical and that he was getting a head start because he’d be busy this year campaigning. Dr. Sean Conley, Trump’s White House doctor, said Tuesday Trump remains healthy and able to perform the duties of his office.

 

PARIS (AP) — Thirteen men and a woman go on trial over the 2015 attacks against a satirical newspaper and a kosher supermarket in Paris that marked the beginning of a wave of violence by the Islamic State group in Europe. Seventeen people and all three gunmen died during the three days of attacks in January 2015. Those on trial in France’s terrorism court are accused of buying weapons, cars, and helping with logistics. Most say they thought they were helping plan an ordinary crime. Three, including the only woman accused, are being tried in absentia after leaving to join Islamic State.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is cancelling some of its remaining orders for ventilators, after rushing to sign nearly $3 billion in emergency contracts as the COVID-19 pandemic surged in the spring. The Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday that the national stockpile has now reached its maximum capacity for the life-saving breathing machines, with nearly 120,000 available for deployment. Though the orders were billed as a cost-saving measure, Democrats say the cancellations show the White House vastly overspent in its quest to fulfill President Donald Trump’s pledge to make the United States the “King of Ventilators.”