– Wayne Byers Show – Evening -Oct 23

CSi Weather..

FRIDAY NIGHT

…Increasing clouds. Lows 10 to 15. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. A chanceof flurries through the day. Highs in the mid 20s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area. Lows 15 to 20. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 20s. Northwest winds

10 to 15 mph.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Lows

5 to 10 above.

.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 20s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows around 10.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

Bismarck (CSi) Governor Doug Burgum held his Weekly News Briefing on Friday at the State Capital in Bismarck. He was joined by North Dakota First Lady Kathryn Burgum, State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, and Human Services Director, Chris Jones.

He said new cases and positivity rates are still “going the wrong way,” Climbing.

He pointed out that North Dakota is surrounded by states with record high positivity rates.

He said, mitigation efforts works, adding that social distancing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Mask wearing, hygiene and avoid crowds, is an approach the state has been advocating the past seven months.

He announced the Thanksgiving Challenge, with mitigation efforts, and starting improved mitigation efforts now, lowering the transmissible moments of spreading the virus.

He said personal responsibility observing the NDSmart guidelines, will help slowing the spread in North Dakota. Community leadership among citizens is a great support, and finding a reason to be a part of the solution in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic.

Burgum said he meets regularly with North Dakota mayor and county commissioners, sharing ideas, and what local political subdivisions have implemented to slow the spread of the Virus.

He added that Valley City Mayor, Dave Carlsrud has announced a face mask plan, encouraging but not issue a mandate to wear face masks, including in all outdoors settings where they cannot maintain 6 feet of distance from people outside of their household.

He said North Dakota leads the nation in COVID-19 testing. He said a number of larger North Dakota cities are receiving saliva test kits, with a quick result. Long term care facilities will soon be receiving other types of quick result tests from the federal government.

Burgum pointed out the latest COVID-19 statistics from the NDDoH.

North Dakota remained as one of the worst spots in the nation for coronavirus spread on Thursday, with health official reporting a record day of new infections. North Dakota’s daily positivity rate topped 13%, with 1,038 new virus cases. Nine new deaths were reported, bringing the statewide death toll from the virus to 431. Gov. Doug Burgum has resisted issuing an order to require a statewide mask mandate. Leaders in Fargo and Minot this week moved to require face coverings in most settings, though the mandates are not enforced. Leaders in Bismarck are are considering a similar mandate next week.

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Fri. Oct, 23, 2020

11 am

Barnes

New Positives 3

Total Positives 335

Active Cases 54

Recovered 280

Stutsman

New Positives 23

Total Positives 780

Active Cases 120

Recovered 645

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

BY THE NUMBERS

8,538 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

799,305 – Total tests completed since the pandemic began

886 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

35,939 – Total positive individuals since the pandemic began

10.98% – Daily Positivity Rate**

6,363 Total Active Cases

+13 Individuals from yesterday

864 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (686 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

29,135 – Total recovered since the pandemic began

168 – Currently Hospitalized

+12 – Individuals from yesterday

9 – New Deaths*** (440 total deaths since the pandemic began)

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

Man in his 60s from Burleigh County with underlying health conditions.
Woman in her 70s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
Woman in her 70s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
Woman in her 90s from Rolette County with underlying health conditions
Woman in her 70s from Stark County with underlying health conditions.
Man in his 80s from Stark County with underlying health conditions.
Woman in her 90s from Stark County with underlying health conditions.
Man in his 90s from Stark 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 – 4
Barnes County – 3
Benson County – 22
Bottineau County – 22
Bowman County – 3
Burke County – 1
Burleigh County – 97
Cass County – 156
Cavalier County – 3
Dickey County – 12
Divide County – 2
Dunn County – 2
Eddy County – 17
Emmons County – 3
Foster County – 2
Grand Forks County – 120
Grant County – 2
Griggs County – 1
Hettinger County – 13
Kidder County – 6
LaMoure County – 3
Logan County – 1
McHenry County – 7
McIntosh County – 6
McKenzie County – 9
McLean County – 17
Mercer County – 57
Morton County – 25
Mountrail County – 15
Nelson County – 2
Oliver County – 1
Pembina County – 4
Pierce County – 4
Ramsey County – 15
Ransom County – 6
Richland County – 21
Rolette County – 9
Sargent County – 2
Sheridan County – 1
Sioux County – 3
Slope County – 1
Stark County – 41
Stutsman County – 23
Towner County – 3
Traill County – 8
Walsh County – 13
Ward County – 71
Wells County – 6
Williams County – 21

* 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.

Burgum on Friday said at this time he is not adjusting the County Risk Levels, saying at next Thursday’s News Briefing more adjustments will be announced, to given businesses the opportunity to adapt to the recent risk level changes.

With contact tracing, backlogs of cases, have lessened, in cooperation with the North Dakota National Guard, plus the implementation of automated test results for those who have tested. He hopes that those testing positive will notify close contacts, themselves, including coworkers and others.

A new K-12 COVID school dashboard has been implemented to increase transparency of the impact of the virus on students. Health.nd.gov with more specific information.

Burgum said the North Dakota Emergency Commission Friday unanimously approved the reallocation of turned-back federal funding to support the state’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, directing nearly $221 million to K-12 school districts, cities and counties, businesses including the hospitality industry, hospitals, and other programs.

North Dakota received $1.25 billion from the Coronavirus Relief Fund as part of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The $221 million approved today is what was turned back from the previously allocated federal funding.

The $221 million in turnback included $90 million from the Bank of North Dakota, $50 million from unemployment insurance, $33 million from the Department of Health and $17 million from the Department of Emergency Services.

Under the reallocation approved Friday, K-12 school districts will receive nearly $34 million, on top of the $30 million previously allocated. The $64 million will be paid out directly to school districts utilizing a base payment amount and a per pupil distribution.

Cities and counties will also receive over $61 million, in addition to the $59 million previously distributed as a reimbursement for law enforcement payroll and the $20 million for local public health units.

The North Dakota Department of Health will provide $10 million to the six large referral hospitals in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot. These hospitals have played a critical role in expanding hospital capacity and providing direct COVID-related care as well as maintaining needed medical care throughout the pandemic.

“This federal funding is being reallocated in a way that positively impacts North Dakota citizens, schools, hospitals, businesses and all levels of state and local government,” Burgum said. “We’re grateful to the legislators, agency leaders and citizens whose input and collaboration have ensured that these funds can be used to minimize the negative impact of COVID-19 and facilitate economic recovery, saving both lives and livelihoods.”

The six-member Emergency Commission consists of four legislative leaders – House Majority Leader Chet Pollert of Carrington, Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner of Dickinson, House Appropriations Chairman Jeff Delzer of Underwood and Senate Appropriations Chairman Ray Holmberg of Grand Forks – along with Secretary of State Al Jaeger and Burgum as chairman. The proposals must be approved by the Legislature’s Budget Section on Oct. 28.

An additional $49 million will be provided to support business recovery across the state through the Department of Commerce and the Bank of North Dakota. This reallocation of funding includes $29 million to Commerce, in addition to the repurposing of approximately up to $25 million for a total of $54 million to be distributed to businesses within the hospitality and entertainment industries who have been most directly impacted by COVID-19 pandemic guidelines. Businesses receiving these grants will be required to certify that they will adhere to the ND Smart Restart guidelines. The reallocation of funding includes an additional $20 million to the Bank of North Dakota for the COVID Pace Recovery II program.

Other allocations include:

$14.8 million for the Department of Human Services, including $8 million to provide child care emergency operations grants, over $3 million for long-term care and skilled nursing facility environmental upgrades, $1.7 million for community-based behavioral health services, and other program funding.
$16 million for the North Dakota Industrial Commission for a drilled-but-uncompleted (DUC) well incentive program. These funds were repurposed from an orphan well plugging and reclamation program and are also designed to maintain oil and gas service sector jobs and activity as the industry, which contributes over half of the state’s tax revenue, continues to recover.
$13.5 million for the North Dakota Highway Patrol to cover payroll expenses.
$9.7 million for Job Service North Dakota to cover reimbursable employers’ costs related to unemployment insurance, including $5.4 million for hospitals and long-term care, $1.2 million for higher education and the remainder for cities and counties, non-profits and others.
$5.2 million for the North Dakota University System for environmental and education modifications in response to COVID-19.
$8.1 million for other state agencies and political subdivisions, including $2.2 million through the Department of Agriculture to support meat processing plants to address demand for retail meat products.

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

North Dakota First Lady Kathryn Burgum updated information on “Recovery Reinvented,” with another event coming up next week. Recoveryreinvented.com with more information, and for a livestream of the event.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — National Guard soldiers have helped to notify 800 people who tested positive for COVID-19 but initially weren’t told. The notification backlog was due to a recent sharp increase in coronavirus cases. It was resolved Thursday largely through shifting the role this week of 50 North Dakota National Guard soldiers, health officials said. The soldiers had been informing people they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should monitor their health for signs and symptoms of the virus. On Monday, health officials announced the soldiers would instead be notifying those who test positive for the virus.

Other CSiNewsNow.com Reminders…

Valley City (CSi) City County Health in Valley City announces a change in the days, and location of the FREE COVID-19 testing. Administrator, Terresa Will says testings have moved to Mondays and new location:

Where: ND Winter Show 700 7th St SE When: Monday Oct 26, 1pm-2pm.

Drive into the east entrance of the South Exhibit building and remain in your vehicle for the test. After the test, exit through the west doors.

Pre-register on line at testreg.nd.gov

CSi Photos from the Monday Oct 12 testing

City County Health Administrator, Theresa Will says, the new earlier testing time is due to the tests being sent to a lab in North Carolina, being over-nighted by FedEx.

She says the usual results are sent to the Bismarck lab, however that facility is handling several test samples taken at area long-term care facilities to speed up results for contacting the staff and residents.

For updates related to COVID-19 in North Dakota visit the North Dakota Department of Health website. Or follow the City County Health District FaceBook page for Barnes County updates.

Valley City (CSi) Officials announce that the final phase of the 5th Avenue Northwest reconstruction project in Valley City has been suspended for winter.

City Administrator Gwen Crawford says the street was opened to local residents on October 21. She says permanent signage will be placed along the road the week of October 26 and the will open to the public shortly after the signage work is completed.

She said temporary gravel surfacing will be placed on sidewalks that have not been completed. Final construction work will be completed late spring/early summer in 2021.

Question regarding the project, can be directed to the KLJ engineering office in Valley City at 701-845-4980.

Dave Carlsrud

Valley City CSi) People are encouraged and not required to wear a face mask in Valley City during the pandemic or until further notice.

On Oct. 21, 2020, Valley City Mayor Dave Carlsrud signed Emergency Order 2020-05 implementing a Mask Plan for the City of Valley City in accordance with the ND Smart Restart guidelines.

The news release from the City of Valley City:

“On Oct. 21, 2020, Valley City Mayor Dave Carlsrud signed Emergency Order 2020-05 implementing a Mask Plan for the City of Valley City in accordance with the ND Smart Restart guidelines.

The City Mask Plan strongly encourages people in Valley City to wear a face covering over their mouth and nose in buildings where they may encounter people outside of their household and they are unable to keep 6 feet of distance from them. They are also required to wear a mask in all outdoors settings where they cannot maintain 6 feet of distance from people outside of their household.

The City Mask Plan also strongly encourages businesses to follow the ND Smart Restart guidelines, which limits customers in their establishments to 50% capacity with a maximum of 100 people.

Customers entering restaurants, bars, breweries, and similar businesses are encouraged to wear a face covering from the time they enter the building to the time they sit. They should continue to wear their mask if they are not in the process of eating or drinking. Individuals using or operating public transportation should wear a face covering from pickup to arrival at the destination.

The City will actively support property owners who wish to require masks in their buildings.

The City Mask Plan places responsibility on each individual to wear masks to ensure they are not spreading coronavirus and protecting their family, friends, colleagues and fellow community members.

The City Mask Plan takes effect at 5:00 pm on Friday October 23, and will remain in effect until Governor Doug Burgum adjusts Barnes County’s risk level, or Mayor Carlsrud or a majority of the Board of Commissioners decides to change or end the Plan.

The Plan also includes a list of exemptions to the requirement which includes young children, individuals with a medical condition or disability that prevents face coverings, and certain employment, athletic and other activities.

Barnes County is currently in the yellow-moderate risk level under the ND Smart Restart guidelines. This level represents heightened exposure risk. The state advises that social distancing and precautions are needed and that increased cleaning on high-touch surfaces and shared spaces should be routine.

Mayor Carlsrud said, “the City desires to be proactive in the fight against COVID-19 to reverse the trend toward significant community spread and high risk of exposure which could eventually lead to a state mandated closure of businesses.”

Face coverings are required for those walking into city hall offices in Valley City.

Valley City (CSi) The Valley City Rotary Club along with area businesses are hosting the first annual ‘Pints for Pandemic’ in honor of World Polio Day on Saturday, October 24.

The Rotary club with local businesses will spread awareness and provide monetary assistance to Rotary International for polio eradication along with the Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation for the COVID Relief Fund.

On Saturday, October 24 stop at a participating business to have a beverage of your choice or a specialty item they have chosen. Each location will have a registration box for a gift certificate as well as a free will donation jar. All funds raised will be divided between Rotary International for Polio and the Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation COVID Relief fund.

Jamestown (JRMC) — Three Jamestown Regional Medical Center employees received certification in cleaning and disinfection, waste handling, floor care and linen handling.

JRMC Environmental Service Technicians, Melia Cotton, Wanda Hoff and Caitlyn Bender, received their accreditation for Certified Health Care Environmental Services Technician (CHEST). CHEST works to make a positive impact on infection rates, cost, quality of care, patient experience and outcomes. The CHEST Certification is through the Association for Health Care Environment (AHE) which is a part of the American Hospital Association (AHA).

The CHEST Program offers this new certification for Environmental Services frontline workers. This program covers all aspects of a frontline workers typical tasks and accountabilities. They play an essential role in patients’ experience of care, as well as, ensuring patient safety and satisfaction. They seek to create a clean and quiet healing atmosphere that will lead to improved patient outcomes. To achieve these quality outcomes, Certified Health Care Environmental Service Technicians must be well-trained and demonstrate competence in a number of key areas.

Dane Grebel, Support Services & Emergency Preparedness manager, says, “Linen and environmental services are vital to a patient’s success. A clean room and facility means our patients can focus on healing. Equipping our team with this specialized training is why JRMC is a destination for care and THE difference in the lives of those we serve.”

Linen and environmental service technicians play an essential role in patients’ experience of care as well as ensuring patient safety and satisfaction.

Cotton, Hoff and Bender received 24 hours of CHEST classes with their trainers who are certified as T-CHEST through AHE. They took a 49 question test and passed in order to earn their accreditation, with future education to maintain the certification.

CHEST began in 2015 and has close to 4,727 Certified Health Care Environmental Service Technicians throughout the United States. The State of North Dakota has five T-CHEST Trainers who are certified to train participants to become CHEST certified in their facilities. JRMC is pleased to now have five employees that are CHEST certified, as well as two T-CHEST Trainers.

In sports

Jamestown (CSi) On Friday it was announced that the Jamestown Blue Jays Football game moved to Saturday to be played at Mandan is a go.

The game was moved to Saturday October 24, 6-p.m., at the Starion Complex in Mandan.

The date and location change, stemmed from a positive COVID-19 test result received on Wednesday this week.

Since then Blue Jays coaches and players have were monitoring themselves for the virus , along with conducting a search for potential close contacts.

The deadline for teams to complete their regular is this Saturday.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is gearing up for a rare weekend session as Republicans race to put Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court and cement a conservative majority before Election Day despite Democratic efforts to stall President Donald Trump’s nominee. Democrats used time-consuming procedural hurdles to delay the start of Friday’s Senate session until midday, but the party has no realistic chance of stopping Barrett’s advance in the Republican-controlled chamber. The federal appeals court judge is expected to be confirmed on Monday and quickly join the court. The fast-track confirmation process is like none other in U.S. history so close to a presidential election.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is reviewing his debate against Democrat Joe Biden, saying he thought it went “really well” and was an “exciting night.” The Republican president and the Democratic former vice president squared off Thursday in their final head-to-head matchup before the Nov. 3 election. The debate in Tennessee offered more substantive discussion of issues and was lighter on the types of sometimes intense personal clashes that dominated their first meeting in late September. Addressing reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump says his more straightforward performance “was a more popular way of doing it.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans and Democrats are unleashing millions in eleventh-hour spending in Senate races. But with Election Day less than two weeks off, much of it is coming in states that wouldn’t normally see late spending. They include normal GOP strongholds like Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, South Carolina and Texas. President Donald Trump’s unpopularity is putting red-leaning seats into play and Democratic candidates are raising so much money that national Democrats can afford to spend money in races they might normally ignore.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal prosecutors have accused a Texas man who says he is affiliated with the Boogaloo Bois movement of shooting at a Minneapolis police station during a protest in May. U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald announced Friday that Ivan Harrison Hunter of Boerne, Texas, is charged with participating in a riot. Investigators believe Hunter traveled from Texas to Minneapolis to participate in a protest over George Floyd’s death. They have said he fired 13 rounds from a semiautomatic rifle into the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building while looters were inside. MacDonald says Hunter claims to be a member of the anti-government Boogaloo Bois.

SEATTLE (AP) — An independent agency tasked with investigating Seattle police misconduct has found that three officers used excessive force during this summer’s protests. One officer slammed a protester’s head to the ground twice. Another punched a demonstrator a half dozen times. A third officer put his knee on the necks of two looting suspects. The Seattle police chief has not yet made decisions about whether to discipline the officers. The Office of Police Accountability continues to investigation the 19,000 complaints it has received since protests began in May. The office has completed about a dozen cases, with sustained findings in about half of them.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Northern California prosecutors will again seek the death penalty for Scott Peterson in the slaying of his pregnant wife and unborn son nearly 19 years ago. They made the announcement Friday even as a county judge considers throwing out his underlying conviction because of a tainted juror. The California Supreme Court in August overturned Peterson’s 2005 death sentence in a case that attracted worldwide attention. Peterson appeared remotely from San Quentin State Prison north of San Francisco, home to the state’s death row.

JACKSON, Mich. (AP) — A judge has slashed bond to $100,000 for a man accused of assisting in a scheme to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and commit other violence against state government. A defense attorney says Pete Musico’s alleged role was overstated by prosecutors. Kareem Johnson says Musico was kicked out of the group because he was too “soft” and wouldn’t commit to violence. Judge Michael Klaeren reduced Musico’s bond, clearing the way for his release from jail. Authorities allege members of two anti-government paramilitary groups plotted to kidnap Whitmer. Six men are charged in federal court, and eight more are charged in state court.