CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph in the evening.

.SATURDAY…Cloudy in the morning then partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers. Highs 65 to 70. Southwest winds around

5 mph increasing to west around 15 mph in the afternoon.

 

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

around 15 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the evening.

.SUNDAY…Increasing clouds. A 30 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs around 60. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to

around 40 mph.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the lower 40s.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s.

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

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the lower 40s.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

 

Very windy conditions are possible Saturday and Sunday. Near

critical fire weather conditions are possible across portions of

the west and central Saturday.

 

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Fri. Sept., 25  2020

Posted 11-a.m.

 

Barnes

New Positives  2

Total Positives 228

Active Cases 38

Recovered 190

 

Stutsman

New Positives  1

Total Positives  505

Active Cases 62

Recovered 440

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

BY THE NUMBERS

5,814 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

609,021 – Total tests completed since pandemic began

436 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

19,885 – Total positive individuals since pandemic began

7.97% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

3,562 Total Active Cases

+79 Individuals from yesterday

347 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (253 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

16,104 – Total recovered since pandemic began

89 – Currently Hospitalized

+0 – Individuals from yesterday

8 – New Deaths*** (219 total deaths since the pandemic began)


INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Man in his 90s from Burleigh County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 80s from Burleigh County with underlying health conditions.
  • Man in his 90s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 60s from Stark County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 90s from Stark County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 80s from Stark County with underlying health conditions.
  • Man in his 70s from Ward County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 70s from Ward County with underlying health conditions.


COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED FRIDAY

  • Adams County – 1
  • Barnes County – 2
  • Benson County – 14
  • Bottineau County – 1
  • Bowman County – 2
  • Burke County – 1
  • Burleigh County – 34
  • Cass County – 57
  • Dickey County – 10
  • Dunn County – 4
  • Eddy County – 3
  • Emmons County – 4
  • Foster County – 2
  • Golden Valley County – 2
  • Grand Forks County – 48
  • Grant County – 1
  • Griggs County – 1
  • Hettinger County – 3
  • Logan County – 1
  • McKenzie County – 9
  • McLean County – 8
  • Mercer County – 6
  • Morton County – 23
  • Mountrail County – 5
  • Nelson County – 2
  • Pembina County – 2
  • Ramsey County – 8
  • Ransom County – 4
  • Renville County – 6
  • Richland County – 1
  • Rolette County – 4
  • Sargent County – 9
  • Sioux County – 2
  • Stark County – 101
  • Stutsman County – 1
  • Traill County – 3
  • Walsh County – 6
  • Ward County – 9
  • Williams County – 36

 

* 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.

 

Bismarck  (CSi) – Gov. Doug Burgum Friday afternoon accepted the resignation of Interim State Health Officer Dr. Paul Mariani, thanking him for his leadership of the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDOH) and appointing NDDOH Chief of Staff Dirk Wilke to fill the role until a replacement can be named.

“While Dr. Mariani’s tenure was short, we are grateful for his service and for jumping into the many complexities of this extremely challenging role – including connecting directly with parents, school superintendents, mayors and local public health officials – at a time when our state is facing rising and record COVID-19 cases. We are saddened to see him leave and appreciate his meaningful contributions. Paul is a man of high intelligence and integrity. We agreed that the amended close contact order’s penalty provisions – a misdemeanor as required by current state law – became a large and unforeseen distraction to our mission of slowing the spread of the coronavirus in our state.”

“While the governor and I agreed on the urgent need to isolate positives and quarantine close contacts in accordance with CDC guidelines, and that the amended order’s penalty provision was overly punitive, the circumstances around the handling of the order made my position untenable,” Dr. Mariani said. “I want to thank the Governor for his understanding and for the outstanding team at the North Dakota Department of Health for their professionalism and dedication to the health and safety of North Dakota citizens.”

 

UPDATE

Jamestown  (CSi)  Election officials remind voters that Stutsman County will be conducting the General Election on November 3, 2020. The county-wide polling place for all precincts, Jamestown Civic Center, will be open from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm that day.

If you have requested an absentee ballot, a secure ballot drop box is available from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, in the entrance of the Stutsman County Courthouse, 511 2nd Ave SE, Jamestown, ND 58401. Another secure ballot drop box is available 24 hours a day in the entrance of the Stutsman County Law Enforcement Center, 205 6th St SE, Jamestown, ND 58401.

Absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than November 2, 2020.  Ballots may also be delivered to the above located drop boxes or the Stutsman County Auditor’s Office by 5:00 pm on November 2, 2020.

Stutsman County has chosen to permanently close the rural election precincts and offer a ‘vote by mail’ option to the affected precincts. If you choose to ‘vote by mail’ each voter will need to complete and return an absentee application to the Stutsman County Auditor’s Office. On September 14, 2020, applications were mailed to those voters without an application on file for the General Election. If you have not received an application, please contact the Auditor’s Office at (701) 252-9035. Vote by Mail ballots must be postmarked no later than November 2, 2020.  Ballots may also be delivered in the above located drop boxes or to the Stutsman County Auditor’s Office by 5:00 pm on November 2, 2020.

The Early Voting Precinct will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Stutsman County Courthouse beginning October 19 and ending October 30, 2020.

Whether a person votes by absentee ballot or in-person, valid identification including the voter’s name, current residential address and date of birth is required. Options include a North Dakota driver’s license, a nondriver’s identification card, ID issued by a tribal government or a long-term care identification certificate. More information about voter identification can be found at vote.nd.gov. Voters can also verify their voting information and address at vote.nd.gov. If a voter is unable to update their current address before election day, then the voter MUST bring with them a document such as a lease, utility bill or bank statement showing their current residential address.

This information, and more, can be found at www.stutsmancounty.gov.

St. Paul  (USACE)   – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, plans to alter Baldhill Dam outflows at Lake Ashtabula, near Valley City, North Dakota, starting Monday, Sept. 28, to help US Geological Survey technicians perform maintenance on downstream stream gages.

Corps water management engineers plan to increase outflows to around 600 cubic feet per second, or cfs for approximately three days. The current outflow is 400 cfs. After the reservoir is lowered approximately 0.5 ft, the outflow will be slowly reduced to 50 cfs. Corps staff anticipate maintaining the lower outflow for approximately 7 – 10 days. During this time, the Lake Ashtabula pool elevation is expected to rise approximately 1 foot to an elevation of 1265.5 feet. Outflows will resume slightly above seasonal levels of approximately 500 cfs once the maintenance is complete, and Corps officials will begin the reservoir’s normal winter drawdown consisting of slowly lowering the water level to an elevation of 1262.5 feet by March 1.

Outflows and pool elevations are subject to change. Updated forecasts will be available at https://www.mvp-wc.usace.army.mil/reports/Baldhill_Dam.Report.shtml during the downstream maintenance.

Please be cautious near the water during the reduced outflow as conditions can change with little to no warning.

Sheyenne River Level Through Valley City

Lake Ashtabula Level

 

Valley City  (CSi)   The 9th annual District 24 Republican Fall Round Up and Pie Auction will be held on Sunday, September 27  at 5-p.m., at Chautauqua Park.

Speakers will be announced later or at the event on Sunday.

There will be a meal of smoked beef brisket, ribs and all the trimmings. Social begins at 5-pm with pie auction and meal to follow. Tickets will be limited $25, individual $50,family or $10,student & military. Tickets available through any District 24 Republican Executive member or  reserve by emailing district24gop@yahoo.com

Valley City  (CSi)  The Barnes County Commission has signed an order, that all grass and weeds along Barnes County roads must be mowed on or before October 1st, 2020, by the landowner or operator-as required by the North Dakota Century Code 63-05-02. Mowing along the slope and ditch bottom must have a maximum stubble height of 4 inches. The width of cut shall be as such that no weeds or grasses will extend higher than the shoulder of the road.

Hay bales must be removed by October 1st or they will be disposed of so they will not create a snow problem.

Failure to comply with this order will result in the cost of mowing or hay bale removal being charged to the Barnes County Landowner. By order of the Barnes County Commission.

Jamestown  (Chamber)  Jamestown and Valley City area voters will have the opportunity, to attend candidate forums.

In Valley City, the Chamber reports that the Candidate Forum is planned for Tuesday October 6, 2020 at 7-p.m. at VCSU’s Vangstad Auditorium.  It will be an in person event, and wearing masks is required and observing social distancing.

On hand will be Dr. Ellen Chaffee, and discussion will include ballot measures, 1,2 and 3.

The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Local & Regional Issues Committee sponsors a Meeting Your Candidates Forum with District 12 candidates in conjunction with CSi Cable’s Meet Your Candidates programs.

The forum will be held with the candidates in a virtual presentation on Wednesday October 14, 2020, live, at 7-p.m.

Replays will be shown on CSi Cable with the dates times, and channels to be announced, and the Chamber will offer the forum live and replays on their web site.

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota State Hospital’s governing body will meet Monday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. CT in the administration conference room in the hospital’s LRC Administration Building, 2605 Circle Dr., in Jamestown. Interested individuals can also join by Microsoft Teams or by conference call.

State Hospital Superintendent Rosalie Etherington will give a report. Other agenda items the medical director’s report and updates on quality management, finances and employee wellness committee activities. The agenda also includes a report from the North Dakota Department of Human Services and a review of quality management and safety security annual reports. Other business may be discussed.

The agenda for the public meeting includes time for comments from the public and North Dakota State Hospital employees at the end of the meeting.

The complete agenda is online at www.nd.gov/dhs/info/publicnotice/index.html and includes the Microsoft Teams link and conference call-in information.

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations, including auxiliary aids, to participate in the meeting can contact Karla Bachmeier at 701-253-3964, 711 (TTY) or kxbachmeier@nd.gov.

Information about the North Dakota State Hospital is available online at www.nd.gov/dhs/locations/statehospital/.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials have stopped a COVID-19 testing study after multiple reports that state and federal public health workers were greeted by racial and ethnic slurs as they went door-to-door. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control pulled its federal surveyors out of Minnesota this week after they experienced verbal abuse and intimidation. In Eitzen, along the Iowa border, one survey team was boxed in by two cars and threatened by three men, including one with a gun. The news comes as Minnesota was downgraded Friday to the “uncontrolled spread” category by a website that tracks each state’s progress toward stopping the spread of COVID-19.

In sports…

Jamestown Blue Jays High School football team set to play Valley City hosting the Hi-Liners on September 25 at Ernie Gates Field . The matchup replaces the previously scheduled home game against Williston’s football team, quarantined from due to discovered COVID-19 cases.

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown High School boys soccer will host Mandan on Tuesday September 29, at Rotary Field in a West Region tournament play-in match beginning at 6 p.m.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are expecting President Donald Trump to announce Saturday that he is nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, as he aims to put a historic stamp on the high court just weeks before the election. Even before Trump unveils the pick, conservative groups and congressional allies are laying the groundwork for a swift confirmation process for Barrett. They, like the president, are wasting little time moving to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, organizing multimillion-dollar ad campaigns and marshalling supporters both to confirm the pick and to boost Trump to a second term.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Federal authorities have arrested two men on terror charges for allegedly plotting to bomb or shoot up sites including the White House and Trump Tower in New York City in attacks inspired by the Islamic State group. Jaylyn Christopher Molina, of Texas, and Kristopher Sean Matthews, of South Carolina, are both charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. They were arrested in different states last week. A federal public defender for Molina did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Court records do not list an attorney for Matthews.

 

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is sending in state troopers and sheriffs deputies to Portland for the weekend to help local police in the state’s largest city monitor competing Saturday protests. The right-wing group Proud Boys is holding a demonstration and counter protests by liberal groups are expected. Brown said Friday she is giving leadership of policing in the city over the weekend to the commanders of the state police and the local sheriff’s office. Portland has has violent protests for more than three months following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. They went into a lull during recent wildfires but resumed this week.

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Breonna Taylor’s family is demanding that Kentucky authorities release all body camera footage, police files and the transcripts of the grand jury hearings that led to no charges against police officers who killed the Black woman during a March drug raid at her apartment. As Taylor’s mother stood close by, her lawyers said they have seen the evidence, and there is much state Attorney General Daniel Cameron got wrong. They did not give specifics. Taylor’s aunt read a statement on behalf of Palmer, saying the entire justice system failed her. A spokesperson for Cameron said prosecutors and grand jury members are bound by the facts.

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the White House to begin providing sign-language interpretation at White House coronavirus briefings starting Thursday. The order by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg follows a lawsuit filed by the National Association of the Deaf and five deaf Americans last month to include American Sign Language interpretation at COVID-19 briefings. The ruling says the interpreter could be in the frame, physically near the speaker, or off-site using a picture-in-picture feature. Once the order takes effect, it will be the first time in history that any White House has provided live ASL interpretation for any televised press briefing involving the president.

 

(AP)  Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced outdoor dining for New York City restaurants will be extended year-round and made permanent. The program allowing restaurants to seat customers on sidewalks and parking spaces has been seen as a lifeline for cash-strapped businesses trying to survive the pandemic. More than 10,000 restaurants are taking part in the program. The mayor says on WNYC public radio that he wants the model to become “part of the life of New York City for years and generations to come.” With cooler weather coming, the city will allow electrical heaters on sidewalks and streets, as well as propane and natural gas heaters on sidewalks. Occupancy will be limited to 25% in full tent enclosures, mirroring rules for indoor dining.

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted all restrictions on restaurants and other businesses in Florida on Friday in a move to reopen the state’s economy despite the spread of the coronavirus. The Republican governor also banned local fines against people who refuse to wear masks. The moves are sure to stoke debate in a politically crucial state, where the pandemic has become intertwined with politics. His order allows restaurants across Florida to immediately reopen at full capacity — and prevents cities and counties from ordering them to close without justifying it for economic or health reasons.