Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Nov 10

CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. West winds around 5 mph shifting to the south in the afternoon.

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 20s. Southeast winds around 5 mph shifting to the southwest after midnight.

.VETERANS DAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. West winds

10 to 20 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20. West winds 10 to

15 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 20s. West winds

10 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 15.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the mid 20s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

Bismarck  (CSi) Governor Doug Burgum held his weekly news briefing Monday afternoon at the state capital in Bismarck.  He was joined by Human Services Executive Director Chris Jones.

Burgum said by 10 – percent hospitalizations stemming from COVID-19 have been recorded, recently.  He said community spread is causing a dramatic increase in positive cases, leading to a possible  large increase in hospitalization over the next two to three weeks.

Meeting with hospital officials, Burgum said pressure on hospitals is currently increasing. Some hospitals are suspending elective surgeries.

86 percent of hospitalizations are non COVID-19 related.

The North Dakota team is working  with hosptials to ensure availability to expand worker eligibility.

Plans are being studied to possibly move staff from one hospital to another where healthcare worker shortages are great.

Improving hospitalizations for COVID patients is now decreasing to an average of seven and a half days.

Rapid testing is being shifted to healthcare providers, along with expanding at larger colleges and universities.

NDDoH is hiring EMT’s so that current personnel can assist local public health.

On another topic Burgum is urging everyone to get a flu shot, with 2,000 flu cases reported last flu season.

NDDoH COVID-19 Stats

Mon Nov 9, 2020

8-a.m.

Barnes

New Positives   30

Total Positives 533

Active Cases 106

Recovered  425

Stutsman

1 New Death

Man in his 80s from Stutsman County.

Total Deaths 17

New Positives 48

Total Positives 1507

Active 419

Recovered 1071

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

BY THE NUMBERS

7,455 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

947,371 – Total tests completed since the pandemic began

1,160 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

55,458 – Total positive individuals since the pandemic began

16.73% – Daily Positivity Rate**

10,865 Total Active Cases

+302 Individuals from yesterday

846 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (690 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

43,949 – Total recovered since the pandemic began

254 – Currently Hospitalized

+14 – Individuals from yesterday

5 – New Deaths*** (644 total deaths since the pandemic began) 

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Man in his 50s from Burleigh County.
• Man in his 60s from McKenzie County.
• Woman in her 60s from Mountrail County.
• Man in his 80s from Stutsman County.
• Man in his 80s from Walsh County.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED MONDAY

• Adams County – 1
• Barnes County – 30
• Benson County – 1
• Bottineau County – 3
• Bowman County – 1
• Burleigh County – 214
• Cass County – 216
• Cavalier County – 7
• Dickey County – 2
• Divide County – 1
• Dunn County – 1
• Emmons County – 3
• Foster County – 7
• Grand Forks County – 166
• Grant County – 6
• Griggs County – 6
• Hettinger County – 2
• Kidder County – 3
• Logan County – 2
• McHenry County – 5
• McIntosh County – 2
• McKenzie County – 10
• McLean County – 10
• Mercer County – 2
• Morton County – 61
• Mountrail County – 3
• Nelson County – 9
• Oliver County – 1
• Pembina County – 13
• Pierce County – 10
• Ramsey County – 45
• Ransom County – 4
• Renville County – 1
• Richland County – 13
• Rolette County – 26
• Sargent County – 3
• Sioux County – 15
• Stark County – 21
• Steele County – 1
• Stutsman County – 48
• Towner County – 2
• Traill County – 9
• Walsh County – 35
• Ward County – 93
• Wells County – 3
• Williams County – 43

* 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.

On Monday, Burgum moved remaining counties not in the Orange High Risk Level, to that level, all 53 counties.  In this area it includes now in Orange, High Risk, Logan, Ransom, and Griggs Counties, moving from yellow moderate risk.

Description of County Risk Level colors, categories

• Critical (red): Non-essential businesses closed
• High (orange): 25% occupancy with a cap of 50 people (changed from non-essential businesses closed); encourage businesses to require face coverings
• Moderate (yellow): 50% occupancy with a cap of 100 people (down from 250); encourage businesses to require face coverings
• Low (green): 75% occupancy with a cap of 200 people (down from 500)
• New Normal (blue): operate as usual.

Valley City  (CSi)  With Barnes County in the Orange, High COVID-19 Risk Level, the Barnes County Courthouse is closed to walk-ins until further notice.

Jamestown  (CSi) In Special Session,  the Jamestown Public School Board Monday evening approved Superintendent Robert Lech’s plan to increase the number of days for middle school and high school students attending class , beginning November 16.

Update

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown City Fire Department was called to a report of a garage fire  attached to a single-family dwelling, Monday about 4:15 p.m., at 1307, 13^th Street Southwest.

Lt. Sheldon Mohr says the fire was out on arrival, with four city fire units and 22 firefighters on scene.

No immediate word on the cause or the amount of damage inflicted by the fire.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Stutsman County Canvass Board has released the official result totals of the November 3, 2020 General Election.

Canvassed

Nov 9, 2020

Election Day Precincts Reporting 12 of 12 12 0 0 12
Precincts Complete 12 of 12 12 0 0 12
Precincts Partially Reported 0 of 12 0 0 0 0
Absentee/ Early Precincts Reporting 12 of 12 0 12 12 0
Registered Voters – Total 0
Ballots Cast – Total 10,044 2,892 2,747 4,385 20
Ballots Cast – Blank 1 1 0 0 0
Voter Turnout – Total 0.00%
Election

State Senator D12

REP Cole Conley 3,258 53.98%
DEM John Grabinger 2,549 42.23%
Write-In Totals 10 0.17%
Total Votes Cast 5,817 96.37%

Overvotes 2 0.03%
Undervotes 217 3.60%

State Representative D12

REP Mitch Ostlie 3,321 27.51%
REP Bernie Satrom 3,423 28.35%
DEM George Barnes 1,824 15.11%
DEM Pam Musland 2,212 18.32%
Write-In Totals 38 0.31% 11 7 20 0
Total Votes Cast 10,818 89.61%
Overvotes 12 0.10%
Undervotes 1,242 10.29%

County Commissioner

Jill Schwartz (fka Gainer) 3,491 17.38%
Joan Morris 4,945 24.62%
Mark T Klose 5,631 28.03%
Write-In Totals 75 0.37% 27 23 25 0
Total Votes Cast 14,142 70.40% 3,464 3,808 6,845 25
Overvotes 6 0.03%
Undervotes 5,940 29.57%

20 votes were added to the unofficial election night total, however they were not enough to change the outcome in any of the races

County Website  Election Button, with Official Results

Dave Carlsrud

Valley City  (CSi)  Message from Valley City Mayor, Dave Carlsrud

*Thank a “Veteran” as November 11^th is Veterans’ Day. Many people out there have served our country’s military to provide the freedoms we have today. Also, when you see active military personnel, please say “Thank you” to them as they are currently protecting our freedoms.

*“Thank you” to all the “close contacts” out there who are patiently quarantining to protect people around them.

*Recycle CARDBOARD. Cardboard “weighs up” in a hurry so it is beneficial to recycle, as it is “cash flow”. If it is thrown in our garbage it becomes an “expense”. The less garbage we have to ship to Fargo’s Landfill, the longer we can hold our Garbage Rates steady for you. Please try it.

*We are now in the Orange Risk Level for the COVID spread which prompted a “Mask Mandate” in Valley City. Our number of positives spiked again with 30 one day last week and double digit increases since.  The virus has caused a number of Barnes County people to be very sick for a couple weeks and there have been deaths. This is serious, please Mask-UP, it helps. We NEED to be “North Dakota Smart”!!

*What we have been doing is not slowing the spread. Please ask yourself, “To slow the spread, what can I do better”?

*Long time Senator Larry Robinson was defeated in this year’s election. As Senator, Larry served District 24 faithfully, effectively and with dignity. He worked both sides of the aisle in efforts to “do the right things” for all North Dakota. Thank you Larry and thank you to your family members for their support over the years as well, you will always be remembered.

*Be courteous, respectful & kind.

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”          (John Wayne)                                                  

Blessings, Pray and Be Safe,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

Jamestown  (Chamber)  Members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Modern Wellness. This new business has opened at 1107 North University Drive in Jamestown.

Businesses qualify for a ribbon-cutting ceremony if they open, move, remodel, are under new ownership or change their name.  For more information, contact Emily Bivens by emailing: director@jamestownchamber.com or call the chamber at 701-252-4830.

Jamestown  (Chamber)  Members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee and the Young Professionals of Jamestown presented the Customer Service Award for November to Dan Kapp of R.M. Stoudt for his outstanding customer service.  The chamber honors individuals who demonstrate a consistent commitment to delivering products or services that satisfy customers by exceeding their requirements or expectations.

His nominations said, “The great service was at the place of business and then again at our house. Dan helped us get the seat belt lock off the seat and then he was working on the car at the shop and ran across something under the seat later to find out he had found money. He stopped at our house on his own time to ask how we were doing after we were in a car accident, and also shared he had something to make me feel better then handed me the money. What an honest thoughtful person Dan is. I feel he always goes the extra mile to make the customer feel better.”

Congratulations to Dan, who along with all the other monthly winners, will be recognized at the Chamber’s celebration in January 2021.  Customer Service Award nomination forms are available at the Chamber office and on their website at www.jamestownchamber.com or call 701-252-4830.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Bail was set at $1.5 million for a North Dakota man accused of wounding two police officers in eastern Wisconsin. Twenty-three-year-old Nathanael Benton, of Fargo, is charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court with two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide/use of a dangerous weapon as well as possession of a firearm by an out-of-state felon. The officers, one from Delafield and one from Hartland, were shot Friday in Waukesha County, about 27 miles west of Milwaukee. Police chiefs in both the communities have declined to identify the officers, both of whom suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. The shooting set off a nine-hour manhunt for Benton.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge has struck down North Dakota’s law targeting the practice of disguising caller ID numbers. U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor says the so-called anti-spoofing law is unconstitutional because it intrudes on interstate commerce regulation, a power reserved for Congress. The state Legislature passed the law last year because of complaints about harassing and scam phone calls. Traynor ruled that because of cell phones and technology such as call-forwarding, the law has the practical effect of regulating interstate commerce because it’s impossible to determine whether the person receiving the call is physically in North Dakota.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The company that built the Dakota Access Pipeline is suing for the return of thousands of documents held by North Dakota, saying the disclosure of those records presents a security risk. The Bismarck Tribune reports that Energy Transfer and its subsidiary Dakota Access LLC said in a lawsuit that the state recently provided some 16,000 “confidential, proprietary, and privileged documents” to an unspecified third party under an open records request. The lawsuit says its disclosure “puts the pipeline, Plaintiffs’ employees, and the citizens of North Dakota at risk.” State attorneys have asked a judge to dismiss, calling the documents public property.

In sports…

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Nick Folk kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired, and Cam Newton and the New England Patriots rallied to beat the winless New York Jets 30-27 to end a four-game losing streak.

Newton had two touchdown runs and the second tied it at 27 with 1:57 remaining, erasing a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit.

After the Jets went three-and-out, the Patriots got the ball back with 47 seconds left and went to work to put Folk in position for the winning field goal.

The Jets dropped to 0-9 for the first time in franchise history, and this was an agonizing loss.

NFL-NEWS

NFL’s Patriots won’t have fans at any games

UNDATED (AP) — The New England Patriots won’t be allowed to have fans at any home games this season at Gillette Stadium.

Team officials say they’ve been informed that an executive order from Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker prohibiting large capacity venues from opening to the public will remain in force for the remainder of the 2020 NFL season and the pro soccer season.

Stadium officials and Kraft Sports Entertainment tried to develop a plan to safely host a reduced number of fans that complies with guidelines issued by the CDC, the National Football League and Major League Soccer, but a rising number of virus cases in Massachusetts forced the decision.

Elsewhere in the NFL:

— The Browns welcomed back several starters from injury for their first practice after the bye, but quarterback Baker Mayfield was missing. Mayfield was placed on the COVID-19 list on Sunday after coming in close contact with a staff member who tested positive with the virus. Mayfield could be back as soon as Wednesday if he continues to test negative. Running back Nick Chubb practiced for the first time since spraining his right knee last month. Chubb, who missed four games, looked quick while wearing a brace in drills. The Browns also got back starting right guard Wyatt Teller.

— Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Vance McDonald has tested positive for COVID-19. He’s the first player from the NFL’s last unbeaten team to be diagnosed with the novel coronavirus since the start of the regular season. The team says it was notified of the positive test on Monday morning, hours after the Steelers improved to 8-0 with a 24-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys. McDonald traveled to Dallas with the team and played 24 snaps against the Cowboys. He immediately self-quarantined after receiving news of the positive test and the Steelers remain in the NFL’s intensive protocol.

— The San Francisco 49ers have placed receiver Kendrick Bourne back on the COVID-19 list three days after removing him. Bourne tested positive for the coronavirus last week and was forced to miss the game against Green Bay along with three teammates who were deemed “high-risk” contacts. Bourne then was removed from the list following two straight negative tests but now is back on it. The Niners also opened the 21-day practice window for cornerback Richard Sherman. Sherman has been sidelined since injuring his calf in Week 1.

— The Green Bay Packers have activated linebacker Kamal Martin and running back Jamaal Williams from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Martin and Williams both sat out the Packers’ 34-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.

— The Chicago Bears have activated backup offensive tackle Jason Spriggs from the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Spriggs was one of two Bears players to test positive last week. Starting right guard Germain Ifedi was also placed on the C0VID list because of a close contact, and the Bears shut their facility and canceled practice last Thursday. Ifedi was cleared to play against Tennessee on Sunday. The Bears also removed defensive back Michael Joseph from the COVID list, but he’s on injured reserve.

— The Denver Broncos tight end group took another hit Monday with when tests showed rookie Albert Okwuegbunam sustained a torn ACL in his right knee at Atlanta on Sunday. The fourth-round pick from Missouri had a built-in chemistry with Broncos quarterback Drew Lock after the two played together two years in college. Okwuegbunam caught 17 touchdown passes from Lock in college and last week hauled in his first TD in the NFL. He was injured on his only catch Sunday in Denver’s loss at Atlanta.

— Panthers coach Matt Rhule says running back Christian McCaffrey is “day to day” with a shoulder injury he suffered in the closing minutes of Carolina’s 33-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Rhule would not say if McCaffrey has had an MRI or an X-ray, adding that he should know more about the extent of the injury on Wednesday. McCaffrey missed six games with a high ankle sprain before returning on Sunday against the Chiefs and racking up 151 total yards and two touchdowns. He was injured with 1:10 left in the game when he was tackled near the sideline by Chiefs linebacker Dan Sorenson and landed on his shoulder.

— The Atlanta Falcons have waived defensive end Takk McKinley, a 2017 first-round pick who recently made public his displeasure he had not been traded. McKinley battled groin injuries this season and missed five games, including Sunday’s 34-27 win over Denver. The Falcons’ release of McKinley was not a surprise. Interim coach Raheem Morris said last week McKinley’s status with the team was uncertain after McKinley posted on his Twitter account that he requested trades in 2019 and again this year. Morris said last week he planned to determine if McKinley “can even be on this team.”

VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Wisconsin expects to play

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — No. 13 Wisconsin expects to play Saturday at Michigan after canceling its last two games due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the team.

Wisconsin officials said Monday they have five active COVID-19 cases involving three staff members and two players. Five of the last six days have resulted in no positive cases. Only one staffer and one player have tested positive over the last week.

Wisconsin hasn’t played since a season-opening 45-7 victory over Illinois on Oct. 23. The Badgers canceled games at Nebraska and at home with Purdue over the last two weeks.

In other developments in college football:

— No. 5 Texas A&M has paused in-person activities after a player and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The tests came after the team returned from its win at South Carolina over the weekend. Coach Jimbo Fisher says he is confident the Aggies will play Saturday at Tennessee. But he also says additional testing and contact tracing is under way.

— LSU coach Ed Orgeron says a coronavirus outbreak and resulting quarantines among his players have made it difficult to know whether a number of starters or regulars will be available for Saturday’s scheduled game against No. 1 Alabama. Orgeron says he’s not even sure whether the game might need to be postponed but stresses that for now LSU is planning to play this weekend.

— Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman has tested positive for COVID-19 and could miss the Razorbacks’ game at No. 6 Florida on Saturday. The university made the announcement Monday in a news release. Pittman was tested Sunday as part of the team’s regular protocol and learned Monday that his test came back positive

— No. 1 Alabama’s coach Nick Saban says running back Trey Sanders is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for unspecified injuries sustained in a car accident. Saban says Sanders’ surgery was successful and that he was at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. The redshirt freshman was injured in a car accident Friday morning.

— Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson will be out of Saturday’s lineup against No. 13 Wisconsin and likely for the rest of the season. Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh says Hutchinson needs surgery after breaking his leg against Indiana. The junior led all linemen with eight tackles against Minnesota and seven tackles against Michigan State.

MLB-ROOKIES OF THE YEAR

Brewers’ Williams, Mariners CF Lewis win Rookie of the Year

UNDATED (AP) — Seattle Mariners center fielder Kyle Lewis is the unanimous winner of the AL Rookie of the Year award, and Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams won the NL honor on Monday night.

The 25-year-old Lewis was one of baseball’s breakout stars during the pandemic-shortened season, batting .262 with 11 homers and 28 RBIs in 58 games. He led big league rookies with 37 runs, 90 total bases and a .364 on-base percentage.

Lewis also made a couple of memorable plays in center, robbing Oakland’s Ramón Laureano of a grand slam on Sept. 14. He is the first player to win the award for Seattle since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001.

Featuring a devastating changeup and a four-seam fastball that gets into the upper 90s, Williams was practically unhittable during the pandemic-shortened season. The 26-year-old right-hander went 4-1 with a microscopic 0.33 ERA, striking out 53 in just 27 innings.

Williams is the first player to win the award for Milwaukee since Ryan Braun in 2007. He is the first reliever to take home the honor in either league since Craig Kimbrel for Atlanta in 2011.

San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth and Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm finished tied for second in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

MLB-NEWS

Dodgers organization has 5 positive virus cases

UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers organization has five people that have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. That’s according to figures from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

County health officials say one family member from the organization also has tested positive. The identities of those testing positive have not been released and the team has not commented publicly.

It’s not clear if the number of positive tests includes third baseman Justin Turner. He was removed from the team’s World Series clinching win after testing positive but after the game celebrated on the field with his teammates.

In other baseball news:

— Right-handed pitcher Dereck Rodríguez has signed a minor-league contract with the Colorado Rockies. The 28-year-old is the son of Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodríguez. Dereck Rodríguez appeared in 51 games over three seasons with the San Francisco Giants. He compiled a 12-15 record with a 4.27 ERA before being designated for assignment by the Giants on Aug. 26. He was claimed off waivers five days later by Detroit before recently becoming a free agent.

— Former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the team, seeking more than $22 million in salary owed under his deal when he was fired in January. The suit filed in Houston claims Luhnow was unaware a camera was used to steal signs during the team’s run to the 2017 World Series title, which Commissioner Rob Manfred found violated baseball rules against electronics. Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch were suspended for the season on Jan. 13 by Manfred and fired by the Astros later that day.

— Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa has been charged with driving under the influence again. According to the Maricopa County Justice Courts website, the arrest occurred in February, but the case was filed on Oct. 28, one day before La Russa’s hiring was announced by the White Sox. Team spokesman Scott Reifert said the White Sox were aware of the arrest when the 76-year-old La Russa was hired. La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Florida in 2007 after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol. He said then he accepted full responsibility and it would never happen again.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-POLL

Gonzaga starts on top

UNDATED (AP) — Gonzaga will begin the college basketball season at No. 1 for the first time.

The Zags earned 28 first-place votes in the preseason Top 25 from The Associated Press. That was four more first-place votes than second-place Baylor and gave the Bulldogs the top spot by a single point.

Villanova received 11 first-place votes and was third while Virginia received one first-place vote and was fourth. Iowa was fifth behind national player of the year contender Luka Garza.

Then came a wave of bluebloods with Kansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Duke and Kentucky completing the top 10.

BOEHEIM FATAL CRASH

Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim facing lawsuit in fatal crash

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim is being sued over a fatal accident he was involved in nearly two years ago.

According to Syracuse.com, the family of Jorge Jimenez alleged the coach’s actions were “negligent, reckless and wanton.”

Jimenez was struck and killed by an SUV driven by Boeheim in February 2019 after he had exited a disabled car. Boeheim hit the 51-year-old Jimenez while swerving to avoid hitting the car. Police found Boeheim was not reckless and did not charge him.

The four-page lawsuit was filed in Onondaga County Supreme Court in Syracuse and seeks an unspecified settlement.

GOLF-MASTERS-GARCIA

Garcia is out after positive COVID test

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia is the second player to withdraw from Augusta National after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Garcia won the green jacket three years ago for his only major. Joaquin Niemann of Chile announced on social media last week that he tested positive. That brings the field to 94 players on the first day of Masters week.

Garcia won the Sanderson Farms Championship last month for his first U.S. victory since his Masters win. He missed the cut last week in Houston. That was the first domestic PGA Tour event that allowed limited fans.

In world and national news…

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden is championing the Obama administration’s signature health care law as it goes before the Supreme Court in a case that could overturn it. The president-elect is delivering an Affordable Care Act speech on Tuesday, the day the high court will hear arguments on its merits. The Supreme Court ruled eight years ago to leave intact the essential components of the law known as Obamacare. But the court is now controlled 6-3 by a conservative majority. Biden’s speech reflects the importance he is putting on health care as he prepares to take office in January amid the worst pandemic in more than a century.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is throwing the presidential transition into tumult. President Donald Trump has fired the Pentagon chief and blocked government officials from cooperating with President-elect Joe Biden’s team. Attorney General William Barr has authorized the Justice Department to probe allegations of voter fraud although there is no evidence of widespread problems. Even as Biden began assembling experts to face the surging pandemic, the federal agency that needs to greenlight the beginnings of the transition of power held off. And the White House moved to crack down on those not deemed sufficiently loyal as Trump continued to refuse to concede the race.

JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. envoy for Iran says the Trump administration will maintain its pressure campaign until the inauguration and anticipates it will be difficult for a future President Joe Biden to bring the U.S. back into the 2015 nuclear agreement. Elliott Abrams spoke to local journalists on Monday during a visit to Israel, which staunchly opposed the nuclear agreement. Biden has said he hopes to return the U.S. to the agreement with world powers, under which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement in 2018 and imposed sanctions on Iran, which abandoned nuclear restrictions.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s health regulator has halted clinical trials of the potential coronanvirus vaccine CoronaVac, citing an “adverse, serious event.” The decision posted on Anvisa’s website did not give any details on what happened, but the action elicited surprise from parties involved in producing the vaccine. The potential vaccine is being developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac and would be produced locally by Sao Paulo’s state-run Butantan Institute. Sao Paulo state’s government says it “regrets being informed by the press and not directly by Anvisa, as normally occurs in clinical trials of this nature.”

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets have risen for a second day on hopes progress toward a possible coronavirus vaccine might allow the world to revive manufacturing, shopping and normal life. London, Frankfurt and Tokyo advanced, while Shanghai closed lower. U.S. stock futures were higher after investors were encouraged by Pfizer’s announcement data on a vaccine under development suggest it might be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. China’s inflation fell to a decade low, giving Beijing room to spend more heavily if necessary to support its economic recovery. The Philippines reported 3rd quarter economic output shrank 11.5% from a year earlier.