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CSi Weather…
…WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT…
Includes the Valley City area….
* WHAT…Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 inches
or more possible.
* WHERE…Portions of eastern North Dakota and the northwest
quarter of Minnesota.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
Forecast…
.REST OF TODAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 30s. Northwest winds
5 to 15 mph.
.TONIGHT…Cloudy. Chance of snow in the evening, then snow after
midnight. Snow accumulation up to 2 inches. Lows in the lower 20s.
East winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90 percent.
.THURSDAY…Snow in the morning, then snow likely in the
afternoon. Snow may be heavy at times in the morning. Snow
accumulation of 5 to 7 inches. Storm total 6 to 8 inches. Highs
around 30. Northeast winds around 15 mph. Chance of snow near 100 percent.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows around 15. North winds
10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 20s. Northwest winds 10 to
15 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows 5 to 10 above.
.SATURDAY…Cloudy. Chance of snow in the morning, then snow
likely in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 20s. Chance of snow
60 percent.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…Snow likely. Lows 15 to 20. Chance of snow
70 percent.
.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Highs
in the mid 20s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 10.
.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 20.
.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 5 to 10 above.
.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 20s.
Jamestown (CVHD) Results from the most recent Friday 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. “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. Iszler says, 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. “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.).” 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. He 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.”
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.
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.
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.
Jamestown (CSi) The Stutsman County Commission Tuesday approved changes with job descriptions items and reclassified some positions the courthouse.
Commission Chairman Mark Klose said the personnel committee had met and discussed these changes, stemming from Nicole Meland resigning earlier this month as Stutsman County COO/Auditor.
Personnel recommended changes include, recommendations included adding more job duties from the Auditor to the Deputy Auditor, and combining the Recorder and Treasurer position.
Pay grade changes were recommended adjusting for the change in responsibilities.
Stutsman County Commission Meeting Video
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 4th 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.
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.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Native American tribes opposed to the Dakota Access Pipeline once again have asked a federal judge to stop the flow of oil while the legal battle over the line’s future plays out. The Standing Rock Sioux and other tribes succeeded on their first attempt, only to have an appeals court overturn U.S. District Judge James Boasberg’s shutdown order earlier this year. Now, the Bismarck Tribune reports, they’re asking the judge to clarify his shutdown ruling from this summer to satisfy the appellate judges and then to again order the line to cease operations. Pipeline operator Energy Transfer and the Army Corps of Engineers both maintain the pipeline is safe. They have have until Nov. 20 to file a formal response.
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.
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.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Salvation Army says 20 of its staff members from Minnesota and North Dakota tested positive for the coronavirus after 62 people attended a recent conference in Minnesota. Of the 20 infected people who attended the conference in Finlayson, a spokesman tells the Star Tribune, none were hospitalized. The outbreak comes as Minnesota is experiencing widespread transmission of the coronavirus. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Minnesota state employees who’ve been working from home during the pandemic were informed this week that they’ll most likely continue telecommuting at least through the end of the school year in June.
In sports…
Jamestown (UJ) The University of Jamestown is excited to announce that the $11.5 million renovation to Taylor Stadium will begin Monday, November 2nd. The result will be a state-of-the art facility for both the University of Jamestown and the Jamestown Public School District.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project will occur immediately following the UJ-Hastings football game on Saturday, October 31st.
Because of those renovations, Taylor Stadium will be unavailable for the final three home football games for the University of Jamestown.
Two of the three games were postponed and rescheduled to late November due to health and safety precautions. The Northwestern game was originally scheduled for September 26 and the Doane contest was scheduled for October 10.
To ensure the best playing surface for games played in mid-to-late November and necessary infrastructure for the Jimmie football program and its Great Plains Athletic Conference members, the university has announced that the November 14th contest against Dakota Wesleyan and November 21st game against Doane will be played at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck.
The November 28th game scheduled to be played at home has been moved to Orange City, Iowa, and the campus of Northwestern College. In turn, the location of the October 16, 2021 contest will switch from Orange City to Jamestown.
Tuesday…
High School Volleyball….
Valley City def Wahpeton, 25-14, 25-10, 25-7.
Oakes def Medina-Pingree-Buchanon (MPB), a 3-1 25-27, 25-17, 25-17, 25-14.
LaMoure/Litchville Marion def Barnes County NorthMarion came back to take the next thre 25-23,30-28, 25-16 and 25-20.
MLB-WORLD SERIES
Fall Classic begins with Dodgers rout of Rays
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are three wins away from their first World Series title in 32 years.
Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts homered to support Clayton Kershaw as the Dodgers whipped the Tampa Bay Rays, 8-3 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.
The Dodgers went ahead, 2-0 on Bellinger’s two-run homer in the fourth before tacking on four more runs in the fifth. Bellinger was fit to play after suffering a right shoulder injury while celebrating his tiebreaking home run in Game 7 of the NLCS two nights earlier.
Bellinger went deep off Tyler Glasnow, who struggled with his command. Glasnow was reached for six runs on three hits and six walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Kevin Kiermaier’s solo blast in the fifth pushed Tampa Bay within a run before Betts scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom half to restore L.A.‘s two-run lead. Will Smith, Chris Taylor and Kike (KEE’-kay) Hernandez followed with RBI singles.
Betts led off the bottom of the sixth with a blast to widen the gap. Justin Turner and Max Muncy added consecutive doubles to give Los Angeles an 8-1 lead.
Kershaw limited the Rays to two hits and a walk while striking out eight over six innings. Kershaw is 3-1 this postseason.
MLB-MANFRED INTERVIEW
Manfred likes larger playoff, runner in extras
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he hopes to keep two of this year’s innovations: expanded playoffs and starting extra innings with runners on second base.
Manfred also says the 30 teams combined for $3 billion in operating losses due the pandemic, which caused all 898 regular-season games to be played in empty ballparks without fans.
After opening day was delayed from March 26 to July 23, MLB and the players’ association agreed to expand the number of teams in the playoffs from 10 to 16. Manfred has previously advocated a future expansion of the playoffs to 14 teams.
MLB NEWS
Ownership committee approves Mets sale to Cohen
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that the proposed purchase of 95% of the New York Mets by an entity of billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen has been approved by Major League Baseball’s ownership committee.
Baseball’s executive council will consider the deal next and is expected to forward it for a vote by all owners. Final approval is likely to take place in the next month.
The sale values the franchise at $2.4 billion to $2.5 billion.
MLB-COUSINS OBIT
Ex-ump Cousins dies
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Former major league umpire Derryl Cousins has died at 74.
Cousins got his spot in the big leagues during the umpires’ strike in 1979 and stayed on the job through the 2012 season. He called the World Series in 2005, 1999 and 1988 and also worked seven League Championship Series, five Division Series and three All-Star Games.
Craig Cousins said his brother died at home Monday after a bout with cancer.
NBA-PACERS COACH
Pacers hire Bjorkgren as coach
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers have hired Nate Bjorkgren as their new coach. The decision ends a search that began when the Pacers fired longtime coach Nate McMillan on Aug. 26.
Bjorkgren spent the past two seasons as an assistant to Toronto coach Nick Nurse and was part of the Raptors 2018-19 title run.
NBA-CLIPPERS-LUE
Clippers confirm Lue hiring
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers have confirmed their hiring of Tyronn Lue to replace Doc Rivers as head coach.
Lue spent last season working as a Clippers assistant under Doc Rivers, who was L.A.’s head coach for seven years before going to the Philadelphia 76ers a couple weeks ago.
Lue was on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ staff when he replaced the fired David Blatt during the 2015-16 season. Under Lue’s guidance, the Cavs and LeBron James went on to win their first-ever NBA championship.
NFL-NEWS
AP source: Tagovailoa replaces Fitzpatrick as Miami starter
UNDATED (AP) — Rookie Tua Tagovailoa (TOO’-uh tuhng-ah-vy-LOH’-ah) has been named the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback.
A person with knowledge of the decision says the former Alabama star will make his first NFL start on Nov. 1 against the Los Angeles Rams following the team’s bye week.
Ryan Fitzpatrick has been demoted despite leading the Dolphins to consecutive victories and throwing for three touchdowns in Sunday’s 24-0 shutout of the New York Jets.
Miami is 3-3 this season.
In other NFL news:
— The Bears have signed former Notre Dame star linebacker Manti Teo (MAN’-tee TAY’-ow) to their practice squad. Th 2012 Heisman finalist has made 48 starts and 62 appearances over seven seasons with Chargers and Saints, recording 307 tackles and 22 for loss along with 13 pass breakups and two interceptions.
— The Rams have signed veteran kicker Kai Forbath from the Bears’ practice squad after a rocky start to the season for rookie Samuel Sloman. Los Angeles drafted Sloman in the seventh round last spring, but he has missed three of his 18 extra-point attempts this season.
— Panthers starting safety Juston Burris and reserve wide receiver Keith Kirkwood will miss at least the next three games after both were placed on injured reserve. Burris injured his ribs in Carolina’s 23-16 loss to the Bears on Sunday, and Kirkwood re-injured a shoulder that had kept him out of action the first five weeks.
— The Saints will start having fans in the stands for home games beginning Sunday against the Panthers. The team and the mayor agreed to a phased plan that will start with 3,000 tickets for Sunday’s. Attendance would increase to 6,000 fans for November games with San Francisco and Atlanta and up to 15,000 in December for games against Kansas City and Minnesota. The plan is subject to any changes in local health and safety guidelines.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGE FOOTBALL
New Mexico-Colorado State game canceled
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — The Mountain West football game between New Mexico and Colorado State has been canceled due to COVID-19.
The Lobos were scheduled to play the Rams on Saturday in Fort Collins, Colorado, but there’s a prevalence of the virus in the New Mexico county of Bernalillo.
There is no plan to reschedule the game.
Elsewhere in college football:
— Florida’s COVID-19 outbreak seems to be contained. The 10th-ranked Gators reported four new positives since the middle of last week, when they postponed two games because of the novel coronavirus.
In world and national news…
MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Epsilon, the 10th of this very busy Atlantic season, is moving toward Bermuda and could hit the island on Thursday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm watch for Bermuda, and residents have been urged to closely monitor the storm’s progress. Epsilon had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph Wednesday morning and was still about 450 miles east-southeast of Bermuda, moving toward the island at 14 mph. Large swells generated by Epsilon are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the coast of New England and Atlantic Canada during the next couple of days.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s most powerful Senate ally is pressing the White House not to move ahead on a coronavirus pandemic relief package. This, as talks inched forward. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told fellow Republicans that he has warned the White House not to divide Republicans by sealing a lopsided $2 trillion relief deal with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi before the election. Pelosi’s office says talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday were productive. But other veteran lawmakers say there is still too much work to do and not enough time to do it to enact a relief bill by Election Day.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is hopping from one must-win stop on his electoral map to the next in the leadup to a final presidential debate that may be his last, best chance to alter the trajectory of the 2020 campaign. Democrat Joe Biden has been taking the opposite approach, holing up for debate prep in advance of Thursday’s faceoff in Nashville, Tennessee. Trump trails in polls in most battleground states. Working to reverse that, he stopped in Pennsylvania on Tuesday and was bound for North Carolina on Wednesday as he delivers what his campaign sees as his closing message.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Barack Obama is returning to Philadelphia for his first in-person 2020 campaign event for Joe Biden. Obama will be speaking Wednesday at a drive-in rally, where supporters will listen to him over the radio inside their cars. The format underscores the challenge Democrats face in boosting enthusiasm and getting out the vote in a year when they’ve eschewed big rallies in favor of small, socially distanced events. But Democrats say Obama remains one of the party’s greatest assets in the final stretch. Obama has already been helpful to the Biden campaign. He’s appeared at virtual fundraisers and encouraged young Americans to vote.
LONDON (AP) — The South Yorkshire region of northern England is being placed under the country’s tightest restrictions to curb the coronavirus. It joins a densely populated swathe of the country where the measures have been imposed despite protests from local politicians. The mayor of Sheffield, the region’s main city, said Wednesday that the Tier 3 restrictions for about 1.4 million people will come into force on Saturday. Mayor Dan Jarvis said local authorities had struck a deal with the British government on financial support for the area to accompany the measures. The government imposed Tier 3 restrictions on Greater Manchester on Tuesday after failing to reach agreement with local authorities on financial support for businesses and employees.
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is back to his mask-less old ways a day after donning a face mask for the first time during a liturgical service. The about-face came despite surging coronavirus infections across Europe. Francis shunned a facemask again during his Wednesday general audience in the Vatican auditorium, and remained mask-less when he greeted a half-dozen mask-less bishops at the end. He shook hands and leaned in to chat privately with each one. While the clerics wore masks while seated during the audience, all but one took his mask off to speak to the pope. Only one kept it on, and by the end of his tete-a-tete with Francis, had lowered it under his chin.
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