Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Dec 3

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Northwest winds

around 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

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

.SUNDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s.

.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows around 30.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

 

ND Covid Stats

Thurs. Dec. 3, 2020

10:00-a.m.

Barnes County

New Positives:  33

Total Positives: 1080

Active:  127

Recovered:  935

 

Stutsman County

NEW DEATHS 1
Man in his 70s

TOTAL DEATHS 45

New Positives: 16

Total Positives: 2663

Active:  159

Recovered:   2459

 

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

BY THE NUMBERS

10,977 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

1,164,267 – Total tests completed since the pandemic began

978 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

81,105 – Total positive individuals since the pandemic began

9.65% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

5,461 – Total Active Cases

+225 Individuals from Yesterday

734 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (640 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

74,667 – Total recovered since the pandemic began

306 – Currently Hospitalized

+5 – Individuals from yesterday

 

11 – New Deaths*** (977 total deaths since the pandemic began) 

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Man in his 80s from Burleigh County.
• Woman in her 40s from Burleigh County.
• Man in his 70s from Cass County.
• Woman in her 90s from Cass County.
• Man in his 70s from Cass County.
• Woman in her 70s from Divide County.
• Woman in her 100s from Foster County.
• Woman in her 90s from Grand Forks County.
• Man in his 80s from Ramsey County.
• Man in his 70s from Stutsman County.
• Woman in her 90s from Ward County.

 

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED THURSDAY

• Adams County – 6
• Barnes County – 33
• Benson County – 6
• Bottineau County – 5
• Burke County – 3
• Burleigh County – 99
• Cass County – 230
• Cavalier County – 2
• Dickey County – 6
• Dunn County – 2
• Eddy County – 4
• Emmons County – 3
• Foster County – 3
• Golden Valley County – 2
• Grand Forks County – 76
• Griggs County – 3
• Hettinger County – 4
• Kidder County – 1
• LaMoure County – 1
• Logan County – 3
• McHenry County – 8
• McIntosh County – 1
• McKenzie County – 15
• McLean County – 21
• Mercer County – 20
• Morton County – 47
• Mountrail County – 16
• Nelson County – 1
• Pembina County – 12
• Pierce County – 7
• Ramsey County – 21
• Ransom County – 10
• Renville County – 1
• Richland County – 42
• Rolette County – 69
• Sargent County – 14
• Sheridan County – 3
• Sioux County – 9
• Stark County – 10
• Steele County – 3
• Stutsman County – 16
• Towner County – 3
• Traill County – 11
• Walsh County – 18
• Ward County – 78
• Wells County – 5
• Williams County – 25

 

* 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.

Jamestown  (CVHD)   Central Valley Health District says the next Covid testing will be:

Fri., Dec 4, 2020 10am to noon

Inside the Jamestown Civic Center.

Anyone wanting to attend a community testing event must register at least one time on the https://testreg.nd.gov site.

CVHD Unit Administrator, Robin Iszler states that Central Valley Health Could not hold an event such as this, without the assistance of the National Guard. “We greatly appreciate their assistance.”

Central Valley Health reminds the public to watch for COVID 19 other testing dates in December, as dates will change each week in December due to commitments at the Civic Center and also the upcoming Christmas Holiday. Iszler encourages everyone to like Central Valley Health’s Facebook page to find the latest updates on testing events.

Update:

Valley City  (VCPS)  Updated information from Valley City Public Schools Superintendent Josh Johnson, affecting changes in the the school district immediately.

The news release from Superintendent Josh Johnson contains new information stemming from the North Dakota Department of Health’s releasing of new CDC guidelines on quarantines.

Valley City Public Schools began following the new guidelines starting Thursday, December 03, 2020.

Highlights of these changes include:
1) An individual required to quarantine, will be allowed to end the quarantine at 10 days if they have been symptom free (excludes household contacts).
2) An individual required to quarantine, will be allowed to end the quarantine at 7 days if they have had a negative test within 48 hours of the 7th day of quarantine (also excludes household contacts).Further information and specifics regarding these new guidelines on quarantines should be released very soon to the public by the North Dakota Department of Health. Information that is applicable to Valley City Public Schools students, staff, and parents will be shared with you via email as soon as possible.

The news release says, if a student currently in quarantine is eligible to end the quarantine early following these new guidelines, parents/guardians will be contacted by Valley City Public Schools at least one day prior to your new ‘possible’ end date of quarantine. This includes students that would be eligible to return on Thursday, December 03 and Friday, December 04, 2020.

Thank you for understanding that we will be learning more about these new guidelines along with all of you in the coming days. Your patience and grace are very appreciated. Our school district will remain committed to the health and safety of our students and staff, while continuing to prioritize in-person learning at Valley City Public Schools.

Josh Johnson

Superintendent

Valley City Public Schools

(701) 845-0483

Washington  (CSi)   the Jamestown Reservoir Land Conveyance signing ceremony conducted by Senator John Hoeven will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Due to concerns of COVID-19, access to the ceremony will be via Zoom.

Please utilize the conference line below.

Attendee call-in info (listen-only): Link to join event by computer: https://senate.webex.com/senate/onstage/g.php?MTID=eb8cee88c719a4f7e1ea44ec798726365 Password (computer only): SFhXVpgR259 Call-in #: +1-415-527-5035 US Toll Event #: 199 627 1923

Valley City (VCBCDC) The Valley City Barnes County Development Corporation has announced that Alicia Hoffarth has resigned her position.

The news release from the Valley City Barnes County Development Corporation, states:

“Alicia Hoffarth, Resource Development Specialist for the Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation, has served the community for the past 15 years. The position has seen tremendous success in assisting community organizations secure grant funds for education, healthcare, public infrastructure, non-profits and more. In addition, Alicia has worked with and helped establish the Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation serving as Secretary/Treasurer.

The Resource Development Specialist position was created in April 2001. Since then, community organizations have been assisted with securing nearly $10 Million in grant funds. Hoffarth recently resigned her position to begin a new career at Lindemann Aviation & Hefty Seed as the company’s Program Development Manager. Jennifer Feist, the Corporation’s Director, said “Alicia has done a wonderful job for us; the community has benefited tremendously from her work.  We will miss her and wish her the very best in her new position. We hope the experiences and opportunities through the Corporation will be helpful in this new position and look forward to seeing the many growth opportunities at Lindemann Aviation & Hefty Seed move forward and become successful.”

For grant assistance, please email the Corporation at vdgrds@hellovalley.com.

Individuals interested in applying for the position can contact Jennifer Feist, Director of Development, at 701-840-7820 or by email at vdg@hellovalley.com for more information. Candidates are encouraged to submit a resume, application letter and writing sample. The position description can be viewed at www.valleycitynd.org/jobopenings (search under Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation).

Jamestown  (JRMC)  The Jamestown Regional Medical Center Foundation is hosting the 23rd annual Tree of Love Dedication on Monday, December 14, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

JRMC Foundation Director, Lisa Jackson says, “This year, like most events, will be different. We will host a Facebook Live event at 2 p.m. with prayer and dedication. Supporters can drive-thru during this time to purchase or pick up their ornaments. The Tree of Love is one of my favorite holiday traditions. Even though we can’t gather together, it will still be a special time to reflect on the ones we honor, miss and love. We have two trees, one inside with the named ornaments ‘in honor’ and ‘in memory’ and one outside for our patients and families to enjoy,” Jackson said.

Katie Ryan-Anderson, Marketing Manager for the JRMC, Katie Ryan-Anderson says it’s her favorite event and allows participants to honor loved ones.

Ornaments are available for a donation of $10 or more online or by mail. Supporters can dedicate ornament tags to a caregiver who made a difference, a beloved spouse or family member, co-worker or friend.

Lisa adds,“In addition to the gifted ornaments, JRMC Foundation also recognizes those who have passed away during the year who are either co-workers or provided a legacy gift through estate giving or their memorials.”

The proceeds raised from this event will go towards the fund of your choice or, if undesignated, a new educational app for expecting parents. JRMC Family BirthPlace welcomes about 350 babies each year. Emily Woodley, thee JRMC Family BirthPlace manager, says, “The new technology will connect their parents to valuable, interactive content that is available anytime – from any device. The accessibility helps provide the best care to welcome our littlest patients.”

The technology cost is $6,000. The platform offers medically-accurate content that can also be customized to create a unique patient experience. Text, videos and animations are available on pregnancy, labor and birth, postpartum care, breastfeeding and newborn care.

For more information on the Tree of Love or funding projects, contact JRMC Foundation at (701) 952-4880 or visit www.jrmcnd.com/giving.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has unveiled a $15 billion budget that bumps state spending by 2%. The plan presented Thursday to the Legislature includes a $1.25 billion bonding package largely aimed at funding statewide infrastructure projects.es.” The Legislature will take up the governor’s proposal in its next session, which starts Jan. 5. The Republican governor’s budget is the second-biggest proposed by a governor in state history. Former Gov. Jack Dalrymple proposed a $15.7 billion budget in 2015 that eventually was whittled by lawmakers to $14.2 billion. The governor’s suggested spending does not raise taxes on sales or income.

To expand access to treatment services, the budget proposes increasing funding from $8 million to $17 million for the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Voucher program through the Department of Human Services (DHS). The program exhausted its entire appropriation in just 14 months this biennium, and the budget proposal matches funding to the increased demand for the program.
The budget proposes construction of a new State Hospital in Jamestown through a public-private partnership. A private entity would build and maintain the hospital through a 40-year agreement. DHS would realize savings and efficiencies of about $5.5 million per year, which would help offset the cost, leaving a gap payment of approximately $1.7 million per year for debt service on the new hospital starting in the 2023-25 biennium.

Click here for more information

HALLIDAY, N.D. (AP) — Oneok is asking North Dakota regulators to approve its plan to expand the capacity of a natural gas liquids pipeline connected to a processing plant in Dunn County. The Bear Creek pipeline currently carries up to 15,000 barrels per day from the plant to another pipeline in McKenzie County. Oneok wants to add two pump stations that would boost horsepower and allow the line to transport up to 80,000 barrels per day. One of the new stations would be located on land leased by Oneok southeast of Watford City. The other would be built on leased land northwest of Killdeer.

In sports…

Jamestown  (CSi) The annual Stutsman County Girl’s Basketball  Tournament has been canceled.

Governor Doug Burgum’s proclamation on November 13, 2020, created the four week pause in winter sports games.

The Stutsman County Tournament committee has been unable to find open dates available to resechedule, from the original dates of December 10, 11, and 12.

The Stutsman County Boy’s Basketball Tournament is still scheduled for  January 7, 8 and 9, 2021 at the Jamestown Civic Center.

The eight Class B teams competing includes,  Medina-Pingree-Buchanan, Carrington, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier, Ellendale, Kidder County, Midkota, Napoleon/Gackle-Streeter and South Border.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Capitol Hill’s top leaders have spoken about COVID-19 relief for the first time in a month. The conversation between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell adds to tentative optimism that a medium-sized aid package might break free after months of Washington toxicity and deadlock. The phone call between the two leaders — who are frequent rivals but proven dealmakers — came the day after the Democratic speaker signaled a willingness to make major concessions in search of a COVID rescue package. Pelosi’s spokesman said the conversation was “about their shared commitment to completing an omnibus and COVID relief as soon as possible.”

 

(AP)  The U.S. has recorded over 3,100 COVID-19 deaths in a single day, obliterating the record set last spring. The number of Americans hospitalized with the virus has eclipsed 100,000 for the first time. And new cases have begun topping 200,000 a day. That’s according to figures released Thursday. The three benchmarks altogether show a country slipping deeper into crisis, with perhaps the worst yet to come. Millions of Americans disregarded warnings to stay home over Thanksgiving and celebrate only with members of their household.

 

(AP)  Britain is the fifth country to officially record more than 60,000 coronavirus-related deaths. That news comes just three weeks after reaching 50,000 deaths. The British government reported another 414 deaths, taking the confirmed total to 60,113. The U.K, which has the highest virus-related death toll in Europe, joins the United States (274,000) Brazil (174,000), India (138,000) and Mexico (107,000), according to Johns Hopkins University. However, health officials think the actual death toll is much higher because of the time-limited way Britain counts deaths. England lifted its lockdown Wednesday amid evidence that new cases are falling. However, restrictions remain in most parts of the country, along with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

 

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal is aiming to vaccinate almost 1 million people against the coronavirus between January and April at the latest, and perhaps by the end of February, depending on the pace of vaccine deliveries. The government announced Thursday that the priority group for inoculations will include 400,000 people over age 50 who have illnesses that make them vulnerable to COVID-19. The first group also includes 300,000 frontline health care workers and emergency responders including police officers, as well as 250,000 people living in care homes and care home employees. A second phase covers 1.8 million people, with a third phase covering the rest of Portugal’s population of 10.5 million.

 

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli government is urging its citizens to avoid travel to the Gulf states of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, citing threats of Iranian attacks. Thursday’s travel advisory comes as Iran is threatening to attack Israeli targets following the assassination of its top nuclear scientist last Friday. Iran accuses Israel of being behind the attack. Israel has not commented. Israel recently signed agreements establishing diplomatic relations with the UAE and Bahrain, and thousands of Israeli tourists are scheduled to travel to the Gulf this month. Iran and its proxies have targeted Israeli tourists and Jewish communities in the past.

 

BAGHDAD (AP) — U.S. and Iraqi officials say the U.S. is withdrawing some staff from its embassy in Baghdad, temporarily reducing personnel amid regional security concerns. U.S. Ambassador Mathew Tueller said the reduction wouldn’t affect the mission’s work, adding that he’ll continue to carry out his duties from the embassy for the “foreseeable future.” It wasn’t immediately clear how many personnel were to be withdrawn. Tueller didn’t elaborate in his video statement posted Thursday on Twitter. A U.S. official said the decision stems from concern about a possible Iranian retaliatory strike on the first anniversary of the U.S. strike that killed a top Iranian general, Qassim Soleimani, near Baghdad’s airport in early January.

 

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court has refused to hear President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the battleground state. The court on Thursday said the case must first wind its way through lower courts. Trump had argued that there would not be enough time to wage the legal battle that way before presidential electors cast their ballots on Dec. 14. An attorney for Trump says he’ll file the lawsuit in circuit court. Biden defeated Trump by nearly 20,700 votes in Wisconsin. He is seeking to toss out more than 221,000 ballots in the state’s two biggest Democratic counties.

AP-US-CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES

Wind fans wildfire in California canyons, residents flee

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Powerful winds have pushed flames through Southern California canyons as an out-of-control wildfire burns near homes, forcing residents to flee. The blaze in Orange County’s Silverado Canyon began late Wednesday as a house fire that quickly spread to tinder-dry brush. It exploded in size early Thursday. Firefighters are struggling in steep terrain amid unpredictable Santa Ana winds that have raised fire danger for much of the region. The blaze broke out as Southern California utilities cut the power to tens of thousands of customers to avoid the threat of wildfires during the windy weather.