Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Sept 23

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Lows in the upper 40s. North winds 5 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Northeast winds

around 5 mph shifting to the south in the afternoon.

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

cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain showers after midnight.

Lows in the mid 50s. South winds around 10 mph shifting to the

west after midnight.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. West winds 5 to

15 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain

showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain

showers. Highs around 70.

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

showers after midnight. Lows around 50.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in

the morning. Highs in the upper 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain

showers after midnight. Lows in the upper 40s.

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

Highs in the lower 60s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the mid 40s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 60.

 

Showers and with embedded thunder will be possible Wednesday as a cold

front and weak upper wave move across the northern plains.

The primary threats being hail around 1.5 inches and wind gusts to  60 mph.

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his weekly COVID-19 News Briefing on Wednesday at 10-a.m., at the state capital in Bismarck. He was joined by North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger, along with ND Human Services Director, Chris Jones.

Burgum reviewed testing, long term care visitations, schools in session, and businesses open status.   He said COVID-19 cases have increased, in the state.

He pointed out testing changes for the vulnerable population in long term care, which he said 24 hour test  results will be now be available for those individuals.

With contact tracing, the vulnerable population will be prioritized.

Burgum says it’s time to “spring into action” to help protect nursing home residents from the coronavirus. He announced several measures meant to slow the spread at long-term care facilities, including putting testing and contact tracing of those residents of the head of the line. The changes were outlined after Burgum announced a “somber milestone” of topping 200 deaths due to complications from the coronavirus and “too many” fatalities in nursing homes. State health officials have reported 26 deaths in the last seven days, all of whom were men and women in their 70s, 80s and 90s with underlying health conditions. Seven new deaths were confirmed Wednesday.

The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) is adjusting COVID-19 testing and contract tracing strategies to address a recent uptick in confirmed coronavirus cases among residents and staff at long-term care facilities.

 

The State Lab is using the state’s Vulnerable Population Protection Plan (VP3) team to assist in strategic adjustments, including:

 

• Testing of long-term care residents and staff has been prioritized over all other testing, and every effort will be made to return results from long-term care tests within 24 hours of testing to allow for immediate isolation and cohorting, or grouping together, of positive residents and staff and quarantine of close contacts.

 

• Contact tracing and follow-up with long-term care residents and health care workers also has been prioritized through the NDDoH.

 

• The NDDoH will begin to implement a plan to use emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and others to conduct test swabbing and is prioritizing approximately 200 nurses from the NDDoH’s Department Operations Center to provide staff coverage as needed in long-term care facilities and other congregate settings.

 

• The federal government is providing the state with Abbott BinaxNOW point-of-care testing that can be used at long-term care facilities that will assist facilities when residents and health care workers present with symptoms.

 

• The state is continuing to look at innovations in long-term care settings relating to screening, testing, disinfection and telehealth to continue to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens.

 

State Health Officer Dr. Paul Mariani  said, “Protecting the most vulnerable is our top priority in North Dakota’s COVID-19 response, and since the beginning the state has taken proactive measures to safeguard residents and staff in long-term care facilities and other congregate settings.  With these adjustments, we are placing even more emphasis on doing everything we can to protect residents and staff while still allowing for safe, responsible visitation that is so important to residents’ mental health and well-being. The recent increase in cases in these facilities is a reflection of the increased spread of coronavirus in our communities at large, which makes it even more important for North Dakotans to practice good COVID-19 etiquette: social distance, wear a mask, wash hands frequently and avoid large gatherings.”

Burgum said to maintain transmissible moments, all North Dakotans should observe safe practices, especially in long term care facilities, to protect residents and healthcare workers, wear face masks, observe social distancing, and more.

Burgum announced changes in the county risk levels.

He said these are guidelines and not a mandate.

They take effect Friday morning, September 25, 2020.

Moving from the low, or “green,” to “yellow,” moderate risk is Stutsman, Cass, Richland, Dunn, Sargent, Emmons, McKenzie, and Ward.

Moving to the “blue,” of New Normal less risk level is LaMoure County, Pembina, Pierce, and Rolette Counties.

Moving from “blue” New Normal to “green,” or low risk level are Foster, Billings, Mercer, and Renville, Counties.

Barnes County will remain in the “yellow” or moderate risk level, but it is being watched for significant increases in COVID-19 positive case increase, for a possible move to the orange high risk level.

He said the change in risk levels does not necessarily mean that school districts need to change how students are taught concerning the areas of hybrid, face to face, and distance learning.

– Interim State Health Officer Dr. Paul Mariani has amended a state health officer order expanding the quarantine order to all close contacts. This follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. The North Dakota Department of Health has always recommended close contacts quarantine to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but previously the order referred only to household contacts.

Mariani said, “Whenever possible, all close contacts of individuals infected with COVID-19 should stay home for 14 days past the last day they were in contact with the person who tested positive, Individuals who are named as close contacts and comply with their quarantine are actively protecting older adults in their community. These are our parents and grandparents. Quarantine is not convenient, but it is necessary.”

The order continues to allow essential workforce exemptions for individuals who are close contacts of people testing positive for COVID-19. Exempt individuals include essential critical infrastructure workers as defined by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

For the most updated and timely information and updates related to COVID-19, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus.

 

On another topic North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger, presented information on voting and the upcoming elections.

The North Dakota Department of Health says it’s adjusting coronavirus testing and contract tracing to address a recent uptick in cases among residents and staff at long-term care facilities. Health officials are prioritizing the testing of that population over all other testing with every effort to return the results of those tests within 24 hours to fast track potential isolation of positive residents and staff and quarantine close contacts. State health officials said Wednesday seven more people have died of coronavirus complications since Tuesday, and all were in their 80s or 90s with underlying health conditions. The total number of deaths since the pandemic began is 203 in North Dakota.

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Wed. Sept. 23, 2020

Posted 11-a.m.

 

Barnes

New Positives  1

Total Positives  216

Active Cases  31

Recovered 184

 

Stutsman

New Positives  5

Total Positives  499

Active Cases  67

Recovered 429

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

BY THE NUMBERS

7,428 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

596,181 – Total tests completed since pandemic began

475 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

18,981 – Total positive individuals since pandemic began

6.83% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

3,302 – Total Active Cases

+210 Individuals from yesterday

256 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (183 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

15,476 – Total recovered since pandemic began

89 – Currently Hospitalized

-3 – Individuals from yesterday

7 – New Deaths*** (203 total deaths since the pandemic began)

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Man in his 90s from Bottineau County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 80s from Burleigh County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 90s from Burleigh County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 90s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 80s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 80s from Stark County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 80s from Williams County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY

• Adams County – 1
• Barnes County – 1
• Benson County – 1
• Bottineau County – 1
• Bowman County – 4
• Burke County – 1
• Burleigh County – 79
• Cass County – 82
• Cavalier County – 7
• Dunn County – 10
• Eddy County – 6
• Emmons County – 6
• Foster County – 1
• Grand Forks County – 9
• Grant County – 3
• Kidder County – 1
• LaMoure County – 2
• Logan County – 2
• McHenry County – 2
• McIntosh County – 5
• McKenzie County – 14
• McLean County – 11
• Mercer County – 5
• Morton County – 30
• Mountrail County – 10
• Nelson County – 2
• Oliver County – 1
• Pembina County – 5
• Ramsey County – 1
• Ransom County – 1
• Renville County – 8
• Richland County – 7
• Rolette County – 8
• Sargent County – 2
• Sioux County – 3
• Stark County – 25
• Stutsman County – 5
• Towner County – 3
• Traill County – 3
• Walsh County – 4
• Ward County – 46
• Williams County – 57

 

* 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.

**Individuals who tested positive divided by the total number of people tested who have not previously tested positive (susceptible encounters).

*** Number of individuals who tested positive and died from any cause while infected with COVID-19.
**** 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.

In other state news….

The Industrial Commission approved a $50 million interest buydown program to be administered by the Bank of North Dakota (BND) for businesses with decreased revenue related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, COVID PACE Recovery II, (CPR II), will be funded by CARES Act dollars assigned to the Bank of North Dakota.

North Dakota business owners may work with their local lender to apply for the buydown of up to

$50,000. Applications will be accepted between Oct. 1-30, 2020. Business owners will be asked to submit comparable revenue between March 1-Sept. 30, 2019, and the same time period in 2020. Upon closure of the application period, BND will apply a formula to award the funds that ensures businesses with the largest percentage decrease in revenue will benefit. The awards will be given based on that percentage until they have been expended.

“This is a unique approach to assist businesses that have been affected the most by the pandemic as they reset for recovery,” stated the Industrial Commission in a joint statement. “It is a judicious and practical approach to stimulating economic development in North Dakota.” The Commission, consisting of Gov. Doug Burgum as chairman, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, oversees BND.

BND received $200 million of the $1.25 billion in federal CARES Act funding that was distributed to the state in March of this year. Of the $200 million, $120 million was returned to the Emergency Commission and $17 million has been used for interest buydowns for the Bank’s COVID PACE Recovery I (CPR) Program. That program has made 133 loans for $116 million. In addition, the Bank has three other COVID-recovery programs. The Small Employer Loan Fund (SELF) has distributed 700 loans totaling

$24 million. Three loans totaling $16 million were made through the Ethanol Recovery Program and 288 loans for $141 million have been made through the Agriculture Disaster Relief Program. The funds have been accessed by more than 300 industries across the state.

“The dedication of the local banks and credit unions responding to pandemic-related challenges has been outstanding,” stated Eric Hardmeyer, president/CEO of BND. “They remain the primary distribution channel for BND programs, assisting with maintaining and growing their local economies.”

For more details on both COVID-19 PACE Recovery Loan Programs, visit www.bnd.nd.gov/business .

 

Jamestown  (CSi) The Stutsman County Commission met in Special Session on Wednesday at 8-a.m., at the Courthouse.

View Video

Commissioners reviewed the 2021 Budget, and appointed the County Auditor/COO Hiring Committee members.

With the  hiring committee to fill the vacancy of Auditor/COO when Meland, Commission Chairman, Mark Klose said the group would start with a job description and see if it needs any changes.  They would form advertising plans, and a plan if other considerations need to be made.

The Commissioners unanimously  approved.

On September 18 Stutsman County Auditor & COO Nicole Meland has resigned from her position, at a Special County Commission meeting, held Friday morning Sept 18.

The Commissioners voted unanimously to accept her resignation, and establish a  Committee Formation for Replacement/Work Distribution of the Auditor/COO position.

Her resignation is effective, October 2, 2020.

With the 2021 budget review, Chairman Klose pointed out that it may be possible to eliminate or reduce the increase in the mill levy.

Commissioner Dave Schwartz says the increase on mills stems from completing the emergency fund.

County Auditor Nicole Meland stated the commission intended to establish the mills at 3.97 plus  using COVID funding to restore the emergency fund. She also said they could replenish the funds with reserves, which will have to be discussed at the next budget.

Carrington (Carrington School District) As a result of a disproportionate number of faculty who have been identified as “Close Contacts,” and a depleted Substitute Teacher pool, Carrington High School (Grades 9-12) will move to distance learning starting Friday, September 25, 2020 through Friday, October 2, 2020.

Thursday, September 24, 2020 will be a transition day for Carrington High School Teachers and students. There will be no classes for high school students on Thursday and at 8:25 a.m., Friday, September 25, 2020, classes will resume as scheduled, via distance learning.

As this is a staffing issue, we have not altered our extracurricular or co-curricular activities schedules.

Breakfast and lunch will not be available to high school students during the distance learning period.

Elementary and Junior High School students will continue face to face instruction.

High School students should plan on resuming face to face instruction on Monday, October 5, 2020

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Menard, Inc. is appealing a jury award to a woman who was injured when she fell over a flatbed cart at its store in Minot, North Dakota. A jury last year awarded nearly $40,000 to Darlene Johnson, plus about $145,000 in attorney’s fees in a civil lawsuit against the home improvement chain, based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Johnson fell onto the cart that had been left in a walkway near the service desk and cracked seven teeth, which required extensive dental work. Her attorneys argued Menards was at fault for not keeping the walking area free of obstructions. Menards lawyers said Johnson should have been paying closer attention to her surroundings.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Four people filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday demanding that Facebook prevent militias and hate groups from using the site, after a militia group used the platform to draw armed people to protests in Wisconsin last month that left two people dead. The plaintiffs, including the partner of one of the slain men, contend in their lawsuit filed Wednesday that Facebook received more than 400 complaints about a militia group’s post but that its moderators decided the post didn’t violate the company’s policies. The group called on armed people to guard property in Kenosha after several nights of sometimes violent protests following the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. A 17-year-old from Illinois is charged with killing two protesters.

In sports…

MADISON, S.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – Valley City State University setter Clarissa Hilary has been named the North Star Athletic Association Setter of the Week, the conference office announced Monday afternoon.

Victoria Johnson of Mayville State (N.D.) was selected as the Attacker-of-the-Week, while her teammate Mason Hart was named as the Defender-of-the-Week.

NSAA Volleyball Setter-of-the-Week
Clarissa Hilary – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’8″, Freshman, setter – Elk River, Minn. – Hilary recorded a pair of double-doubles as Valley City State (N.D.) went 2-0 record at home including a sweep of Presentation (S.D.).  She contributed 43 set assists and 23 digs along with three service aces in 3-2 North Star Athletic Association conference opener thrilling victory over Dickinson State (N.D.).  She followed up with 38 set assists and 14 digs against the Saints.  For the week, Hilary averaged 10.1 set assists (81 total assists) and 4.6 digs (37 total digs) per set.  She also had seven kills for the week.

NSAA Volleyball Attacker-of-the-Week
Victoria Johnson – Mayville State (N.D.) – 6’2″, Junior, middle hitter – Roseau, Minn. – Johnson averaged 4.7 kills per set as Mayville State (N.D.) extended their winning streak to four matches after a pair of home victories.  She smashed 13 kills and committed just two attack errors in 32 swings in MSU’s 3-0 North Star Athletic Association conference sweep over Presentation (S.D.).  She also had five blocks in the match (2 solo, 3 assist).  Johnson followed up with 20 kills and five solo blocks in 3-1 victory over Briar Cliff (Iowa).  For the week, Johnson hit .325 with 33 kills and 7 attack errors in 80 attempts.  She also tallied 10 blocks for the week (7 solo, 3 assist).

NSAA Volleyball Defender-of-the-Week
Mason Hart – Mayville State (N.D.) – 5’3″, Senior, defensive specialist – Moorhead, Minn. – Hart collected 53 digs as Mayville State (N.D.) went 2-0 record at home this week.  She averaged 7.6 digs per set (7 total sets played).  Hart also recorded a perfect service percentage (100 percent) in 24 serves.  She registered 43 receptions and committed just one reception error (.977 reception rate).

Recap from last week’s action
Mayville State (N.D.) stretched its winning streak to four matches after winning a pair of home matches last week.  The Comets swept Presentation (S.D.) in three straight sets to kick off the North Star Athletic Association first-half conference schedule on Sept. 15.  MSU followed up with a four-set victory over Briar Cliff (Iowa) on Sept. 17, lifting their overall record to 7-2.

Presentation fell to Valley City State (N.D.) in three straight sets in a non-conference match on Sept. 18.  PC is 2-3 overall record.

VCSU earned its first win of the season after opening the North Star conference play with a five-set home thriller over Dickinson State (N.D.) on Sept. 16.  The Vikings improved their overall record to 2-5 on the season, while the Blue Hawks were playing their season opener.

Vtierbo (Wis.) returned to action on Sept. 16, kicking off their NSAA conference action with a 3-0 road sweep at Waldorf (Iowa).  The V-Hawks are 1-2 overall record, while the Warriors remained winless in three matches.

Dakota State (S.D.) played a pair of non-conference matches, falling in five-set thriller in both matches.  The Trojans fell to Morningside (Iowa) at home on Sept. 18, followed by a 3-2 defeat at College of Saint Mary (Neb.) in Omaha on Sept. 19.  DaSU is 4-3 overall record.

Bellevue (Neb.) was idle last week, remaining at 0-1 overall record.

Looking Ahead
Presentation (S.D.) hosts Mount Marty (S.D.) in a non-conference action on Tuesday evening.  Dakota State (S.D.) plays another non-conference match on Wednesday evening, visiting Briar Cliff (Iowa).

The North Star Athletic Association conference action resumes on Thursday as PC travels to Waldorf (Iowa).  On Friday, the Saints visit Viterbo (Wis.).  Also, on Friday, Waldorf welcomes Mayville State (N.D.) and Dakota State hosts Valley City State (N.D.).

Dickinson State (N.D.) heads to Dakota State on Saturday afternoon, while Viterbo welcomes Mayville State.

Bellevue (Neb.) is scheduled to return to action on Oct. 9 versus Viterbo.

NSAA Volleyball Standings

Gale Sayers, the Hall of Fame running back for the Chicago Bears, whose friendship with a dying teammate was depicted in the movie “Brian’s Song,” died on Wednesday, officials said.

Sayers, who had been diagnosed with dementia several years ago, was 77.

Known as the “Kansas Comet,” Sayers spent his entire seven-season career with the Bears and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977, but he was also known by many for the movie that told the story of his friendship with a dying teammate, Brian Piccolo.

Sayers, in a well-known line, said: “I love Brian Piccolo, and I’d like all of you to love him, too.”

In world and national news…

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters have tamed more of an enormous wildfire burning in the mountains northeast of Los Angeles. Containment was up Wednesday and officials are confident that crews will make further progress in the next few days before hot, dry winds return to Southern California. The Bobcat Fire, one of the largest on record in Los Angeles County, is 38% contained — a big jump from just 17% a day earlier. Meanwhile a major fire in the northern part of the state, the CZU Lightning Complex, is 100% contained. Firefighters have also controlled several other lightning-sparked wildfires burning for more than a month in Northern California.

HOUSTON (AP) — A weakened Beta is continuing its slow trek across several Southern states, bringing rainfall to parts of Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi after having flooded homes and roadways in Texas. Houston began drying out on Wednesday after some parts of the metro area got nearly 14 inches of rain over the last three days. The National Weather Service says flash flood warnings were issued Wednesday for parts of Louisiana, where up to 4 inches of rain had fallen and up to 4 more inches could fall on top of that. Meanwhile, Post-Tropical Cyclone Teddy made landfall in Canada on Wednesday morning. It was expected to dissipate by Thursday.

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A grand jury has indicted a fired Kentucky police officer on criminal charges in the Breonna Taylor case — but not for her death. Brett Hankison was charged Wednesday with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into the apartments of Taylor’s neighbors. Taylor was shot multiple times by officers who burst into her home on March 13 during a narcotics investigation.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — A former member of a Black radical group who was convicted in the 1971 killings of two New York City police officers has been granted parole after more than four decades behind bars. Officials said Wednesday that the state Board of Parole after a hearing this month found Anthony Bottom should be released from prison on or before Oct. 20. His parole follows that of co-defendant Herman Bell in 2018. Authorities have said the two were members of the Black Liberation Army, which sanctioned symbolic killings of police officers. Bottom and Bell claimed they were innocent and had been framed by the FBI.

 

PHOENIX (AP) — A Black man filed a $2.5 million claim against the city of Tempe, Arizona, after a police officer held him at gunpoint while looking for an armed white suspect at a hotel. The Arizona Republic reports the claim — a precursor to a lawsuit — was filed by hotel employee Trevonyae Cumpian over his Aug. 29 detention by Officer Ronald Kerzaya. Video shows Kerzaya held Cumpian at gunpoint despite Cumpian not matching the suspect description. Kerzaya wouldn’t lower his gun until he confirmed Cumpian was an employee. The suspect was not found. Tempe spokeswoman Nikki Ripley says the city hasn’t yet received a copy of the notice.

 

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state will halt sales of new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks by 2035. On Wednesday he ordered state regulators to come up with requirements to meet that goal. California would be the first state with such a rule, though Germany and France are among 15 other countries that have a similar requirement. His plan would not ban people from owning gas-powered cars or selling them on the used car market. But it would end the sales of all new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks in the state. California already has rules mandating a certain percentage of new car sales be electric or zero-emission vehicles.