Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Oct 20

CSi Weather…

…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
LATE THURSDAY NIGHT…

* WHAT…Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. There could
also be some sleet and freezing rain along the South Dakota
border.

* WHERE…From Garrison, Harvey and Carrington, through Bismarck
and Jamestown, to the South Dakota border, basically along and
south of Highway 200.  Portions of northwest Minnesota and east North Dakota.

* WHEN…From late Wednesday night through late Thursday night.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Patchy
blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

Forecast

.REST OF TUESDAY…Snow, mixed with drizzle. New snow accumulation around 1 inch. Storm total 1 to 3 inches in the Jamestown area, up to 4 inches in the Valley City area. Highs in the mid 30s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 90 percent.

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy in the evening, a  20 percent chance of light snow in the evening. then clearing. Lows around 20. West winds 10 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of snow, through evening.  Highs in the lower 30s. West winds around 10 mph

shifting to the south in the afternoon.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. Slight chance of snow in the evening,

then snow after midnight. Moderate snow accumulations. Lows in

the mid 20s. East winds 5 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY…Snow. Snow may be heavy at times in the morning.

Heavy snow accumulations. Highs in the lower 30s. Northeast winds

15 to 20 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of snow in

the evening. Lows around 15.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 20s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows 5 to 10 above.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Highs

in the lower 20s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow.

Lows around 15.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Highs

in the lower 20s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow.

Lows around 10.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 20s.

Heavy snow is possible across parts of western and central North
Dakota Wednesday night and Thursday. There is uncertainty with the
exact path of this potential winter storm, but confidence is
increasing that parts of the area could receive heavy snow
accumulations of 6 inches or more.

 

Jamestown  (CVHD)   Results from the most recent Friday Ocotober 16, 2020, COVID-19 testing event were a cause for concern of local health and safety officials, with 40 of the 251 samples collected (15.9%) testing positive for the novel coronavirus. The 14-day positivity rate in the community is increasing.
Stutsman County saw a high rate of positivity at 6.4% in prior weeks, but soon decreased to 1.3% and is now going back up with the current 14-day positivity rate at 4.4%. The drop in the
positivity rate did make a difference in Stutsman County making our county color changed from yellow to green on the ND Smart Restart Guidance. Robin Iszler, Unit Administrator at Central
Valley Health District, says it will not be easy to stay green when our positivity rate is increasing. Under the ND Smart Restart Guidance, more restrictions will be in place when the county colors change. Iszler expressed her concern about the increases, which indicates that more disease is circulating in the community.

Central Valley Health District, Unit Administrator, Robin Iszler says, “What makes the positive cases different now than what we were seeing in previous months is that the majority of cases are from all over the community.  When cases are from a variety of places and cannot be pinpointed, this is considered “community spread.”

Iszler elaborated on examples of where recent positive cases are being exposed, which included workplaces, family and social gatherings, schools, and sporting events. Increases in cases means that the general public is at
an increased risk of exposure when they are at work, or are out in the community.

Many businesses are being impacted by workers who are testing positive which puts a strain on the work force as businesses considering closing or working with less employees.
Stronger measures in the city being considered.

Mayor Heinrich urges the community to follow prevention measures or stricter policy orders may be necessary, saying, “As Mayor of Jamestown, I have the authority to strengthen our safety practices through policy changes such as: public mask mandates and early shut down of bars and restaurants and restrictions for local gatherings (i.e. weddings, community events, etc.),” states Heinrich. The Mayor stresses that changes will not be made without consultation with local health and safety officials of the Emergency Operation Center of the community’s conditions.

Heinrich adds, “In order to keep our local business and economy going
and schools open, our residents need to be healthy and our community data needs to improve.”

 

North Dakota’s daily positivity rate for COVID-19 neared 20% as health officials reported a record of more than 1,000 cases in the last day. Tuesday’s update of 1,036 new cases lifted the total number of the coronavirus cases statewide to 33,666 since the pandemic began. The surge in cases prompted city leaders in Fargo and Minot on Monday to require face coverings in most settings. Gov. Doug Burgum has resisted issuing an order to require a statewide mask mandate, even as the number of cases soar. Four new deaths were reported Tuesday, bringing the death toll from the virus to 412.

NDoH COVID-19 Stats

Tues. Oct. 20  2020

Barnes

New Positives   6

Total Positives 311

Active Cases 40

Recovered 267

 

Stutsman

New Positives 35

Total Positives 735

Active Cases  117

Recovered  613

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

BY THE NUMBERS

5,579 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

776,039 – Total tests completed since the pandemic began

1,036 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

33,666 – Total positive individuals since the pandemic began

19.68% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

6,032 Total Active Cases

+195 Individuals from yesterday

830 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (532 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

27,222 – Total recovered since the pandemic began

145 – Curren­tly Hospitalized

-8 – Individuals from yesterday

4 – New Deaths*** (412 total deaths since the pandemic began)

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Woman in her 80s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 80s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 70s from Ramsey County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 60s from Stark County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TUESDAY

• Barnes County – 6
• Benson County – 3
• Bottineau County – 5
• Bowman County – 2
• Burke County – 4
• Burleigh County – 219
• Cass County – 161
• Dickey County – 10
• Divide County – 4
• Dunn County – 4
• Eddy County – 3
• Emmons County – 3
• Foster County – 11
• Golden Valley County – 4
• Grand Forks County – 192
• Griggs County – 4
• Hettinger County – 5
• Kidder County – 4
• Logan County – 1
• McHenry County – 5
• McIntosh County – 5
• McKenzie County – 9
• McLean County – 28
• Mercer County – 7
• Morton County – 58
• Mountrail County – 11
• Nelson County – 1
• Oliver County – 1
• Pembina County – 9
• Pierce County – 5
• Ramsey County – 8
• Ransom County – 6
• Renville County – 2
• Richland County – 19
• Rolette County – 9
• Sargent County – 3
• Sheridan County – 1
• Sioux County – 4
• Stark County – 23
• Steele County – 2
• Stutsman County – 35
• Towner County – 8
• Traill County – 9
• Walsh County – 11
• Ward County – 81
• Wells County – 3
• Williams County – 28

 

* 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. There is a lag in the time deaths are reported to the NDDoH.
**** 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.

 

Gov. Doug Burgum will hold a rescheduled press briefing with the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota. This is rescheduled from Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Burgum will provide an update on the North Dakota Emergency Commission’s meeting Friday morning, during which the commission will consider reallocating unused funds from North Dakota’s $1.25 billion share of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Bismarck  (CSi) – Gov. Doug Burgum and the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) Tuesday announced changes to the state’s contact tracing process to more quickly notify individuals who test positive for COVID-19.

North Dakota added 400 contact tracers and case investigators last summer to help quickly trace and quarantine close contacts, allowing contact tracing to continue long after many other states had to suspend their efforts. However, a sharp increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks has put increased pressure on contact tracing teams at the state and local level, leading to tracing delays and a backlog of positive cases that have yet to be assigned to a case investigator.

 

As a result, the time it takes to notify a positive case of his or her result has increased from 24 hours to approximately 72 hours from when the lab confirms the result. In addition, significant community spread of coronavirus and a lack of compliance with close contact investigations have diminished the effectiveness of contact tracing.

 

“This temporary situation required an immediate and significant shift in resources to provide results in a timely manner to individuals who test positive to protect their health and slow the spread of COVID-19,” Burgum said.

 

To reduce the backlog and shorten notification times:

 

• The North Dakota National Guard has shifted 50 soldiers from contacting close connects to notifying positive individuals. By refocusing these resources, the backlog of notifications should be eliminated by Thursday, Oct. 22.
• Close contacts will no longer be contacted by public health officials; instead, positive individuals will be instructed to self-notify their close contacts and direct them to the NDDoH website, where landing pages will be created with video and written resources explaining the recommended and required actions for both positive patients and close contacts.   The exception is contact tracing for health care settings, K-12 schools and university systems which will continue as usual.
• The state is building a process to deliver automated notifications to positive individuals. Currently, the system only delivers automated notifications to individuals with negative test results. Positive patients will still receive a follow-up call from a case investigator after their initial automated notification.

 

“Speeding up the notification process and conducting thorough case investigations of positive patients will help us to better identify potential clusters and allow patients to more quickly seek treatment and notify other individuals who may have been exposed to the virus,” Interim State Health Officer Dirk Wilke said. “It’s critically important to understand that the quarantine recommendations for close contacts haven’t changed.”

 

The changes were developed through collaboration between the NDDoH, Governor’s Office, Department of Human Services, National Guard, North Dakota Information Technology, the state’s chief health strategist, Dr. Joshua Wynne, dean of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Dr. Paul Carson, infectious disease specialist and professor at North Dakota State University.

 

“Case investigation and contact tracing are just two of the tools used to combat COVID-19. Now, more than ever, we need to prioritize what’s most important and this includes quickly identifying positive cases, strengthening community mitigation efforts and taking personal responsibility,” Burgum said. “Wearing a face covering, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings and staying home when you’re sick all play a role in limiting spread and saving lives and livelihoods.”

 

For more information on North Dakota’s COVID-19 response, visit www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus or www.ndresponse.gov.

Valley City (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall.  Commissioner Bishop joined by phone.

Approval of Consent Agenda

Approved was Application to Block off Street Request from JE Dunn Construction for the dates of 11/2/2020-11/6/2020 on Viking Dr. SW, from 4^th Ave SW to VCSU Student Center Drive Way for the Center for the Arts Underground utilities.

Approved a Raffle Permit for North Dakota Hereford Assn. for the date of 12/5/2020 held at the North Dakota Winter Show.

Public Comments

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

The City Commission formed a Selection Committee for City Engineering/Planning Services (Request For Quotes).  City Administrator Crawford said the committee will form and set a criteria for the selection.

All commissioners will be on the selection committee, along with City Administrator Crawford, and other city employees have been asked to join.  City Attorney Martineck said the committee should meet as soon as possible.

The City Commission approved forming the committee and those appointed.

City Commissioners approved the Final Review and Acceptance for Paving Improvement District No. 121

City Administrator’s Report

Gwen Crawford said some construction work options, are being addressed to get finished before winter.

She said she’s met with city department heads, including animal control, and addressing issues with garbage collection, concerning access to alleys, riding in trucks to observe the collections, riding in trucks to observe.

City Updates & Commission Reports

City Attorney Martineck said two applications have been received for the positions of City Building Inspector, and City Planner.

Commission Gulmon encourage citizens to wear face masks. Commissioner Mike Bishop said he is quarantined, having been in close contact with a COVID-19 positive case.  He said he has taken a COVID-19 test, and awaiting the results.

Mayor Carlsrud said he joined a phone conference call with Governor Burgum and mayors from other North Dakota Cities on Tuesday, discussing the COVID-19 pandemic and the dramatic increase in positive cases, statewide, sharing local information.

Carlsrud then spoke to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increase in positive cases, in Barnes County and surrounding counties.  As of Tuesday he said in Barnes County there were 41 positive cases per 100,000 population.  He said Valley City Public School, and Valley City State University comprise a total population of 2750.  He added that VCPS and VCSU students and staff were taking precautions on limiting the spread of the virus, with masking, social distancing, and following other CDC guidelines.

He also urges Valley City business to have employees mask-up, when social distancing is not possible, and to install signage, asking customers to wear masks, and social distance, when in the store.  He requests that customers respect and honor such signage.

He reminded citizens of the effect of closing businesses last spring, due to a high positive rate, and to halt the spread of the virus and the detrimental effect that had on the local economy, not wanting a repeat of that now.

He reminded citizens to wear face masks, and social distance, along with frequent hand washing with soap and water, and sanitizing work places, schools, and homes.

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

 

WESSINGTON SPRINGS, S.D. (AP) — Rural Jerauld County in South Dakota didn’t see a single case of the coronavirus for more than two months stretching from June to August. But in the last two weeks, its rate of new cases per person soared to one of the highest in the nation. As the brunt of the virus has blown into the Upper Midwest and northern Plains, the severity of the virus outbreak in rural communities has come into focus. Doctors in small towns worry that infections may overwhelm tight-knit communities with limited medical resources. But many say they are still running up against attitudes on wearing masks that have hardened along political lines.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.8% in August to 3.8% in September, nearly half that of the national rate. Job Service North Dakota said there were 4,432 fewer unemployed people between the two months. The state unemployment rate in September 2019 was two percentage points lower than the current rate. Officials say the national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September was 7.7 percent. It was 8.5 percent the prior month and 3.3 percent the prior year.

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators say an equipment failure at a well near Watford City led to the release of about 12,180 gallons of oil. The state’s Oil and Gas Division says it was notified of the spill on Sunday at the Newfield Production Co. well located about 5 miles west of Watford City. Regulators say none of the oil escaped the oil well site. The company reported that it has recovered all but about 420 gallons of the oil. Regulators say a state inspector has been at the site and is monitoring cleanup.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request by Native American tribes to halt construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada over worries about spills and damage to cultural sites. Work started this spring on the long-stalled pipeline that would carry oil sands crude from Hardisty, Alberta to Steele City, Nebraska. The Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Community in Montana and Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota are challenging President Donald Trump’s 2019 permit for the project. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris says he had “serious questions” about the legal claims being made by the tribe. A final ruling is pending.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Voters across Wisconsin are lining up to cast their ballots on the first day of early in-person voting in the presidential battleground state. Tuesday is the first day in an 11-day window ending on Nov. 1 in which voters can cast their ballots in person before Election Day. Locations and times to vote varied across the state, but lines were reported shortly after polls opened in Milwaukee and Neenah, about 80 miles to the northwest. Voters can also drop off completed absentee ballots at locations around the state, including specially installed drop boxes in some larger cities. To date, more than 915,000 voters had returned absentee ballots.

In sports…

In world and national news…

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Justice Department’s lawsuit against Google alleging antitrust violations marks the government’s most significant attempt to protect competition since its groundbreaking case against Microsoft more than 20 years ago. Eleven states, all with Republican attorneys general, joined the federal government in the suit. The attorneys general of seven other states released a statement Monday saying they have not concluded their investigation into Google and would want to consolidate their case with the Justice Department’s if they decide to file. Google is expected to fiercely oppose any attempt to force it to spin off its services into separate businesses.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is wooing Pennsylvania voters, brushing aside debate practice ahead of what may be his last, best chance to alter the trajectory of the race in the final presidential faceoff. Democrat Joe Biden is taking the opposite approach, opting to hole up for debate prep. In the leadup to Thursday’s faceoff in Nashville, Biden remains atop polls in most battleground states. Trump, who is trailing Biden in fundraising, too, has increasingly relied on his signature campaign rallies to deliver a closing message to voters and maximize turnout among his GOP base.

 

 

 

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is imposing strict coronavirus restrictions on England’s second-largest urban area, after talks with officials in Greater Manchester failed to reach an agreement on financial support for people whose livelihoods will be hit by the new measures. Johnson, who has been struggling to impose his plan for localized restrictions on restive regions, said he “bitterly” regrets ordering measures that would damage businesses. But he stressed that not acting would put lives and the healthcare system in Manchester at risk. Johnson’s government has adopted a three-tier system for England, with areas classed as medium, high or very high virus risk.

 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal investigators say the lack of a required roving night watchman aboard a scuba dive boat delayed the detection of a fire that killed 34 people off the coast of Southern California. Investigators told the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday that because some of the passengers’ bodies were recovered wearing shoes, they believe they were awake and trying to escape before being overcome with smoke. Investigators say that because the boat burned and sank, they couldn’t determine what caused the fire. But they found that it began toward the back of the salon area, where divers had plugged in phones, flashlights and other items.

 

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Epsilon is expected to be at or near hurricane strength as it gets closer to Bermuda by Thursday morning. It is still too early to tell what Epsilon’s track and intensity will be once it’s near the island but the U.S. National Hurricane Center says there is a risk of direct impact. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Bermuda and residents should closely monitor the storm. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph on Tuesday afternoon but additional strengthening is expected. It’s located about 675 miles east-southeast of Bermuda and moving north-northwest at 12 mph.