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CSi Weather…
.TODAY…Partly cloudy. Patchy fog early in the morning. Highs in
the lower 30s. West winds around 10 mph shifting to the south.
.TONIGHT…Cloudy. A 30 percent chance of snow after midnight in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area.
Lows in the mid 20s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs
around 30. Temperatures falling into the upper teens in the
afternoon. West winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to northwest 20 to
25 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Colder. Lows 5 to 10 above.
Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph shifting to the southwest 5 to 10 mph
after midnight.
.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. Southwest winds
10 to 20 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.
.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.
.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 40.
.MONDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows around 20.
.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 10 to 15.
.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 20s.
Bismarck (CSi) Governor Doug Burgum held his weekly News Briefing on Wednesday morning, in Bismarck. Speakers included Molly Howell, NDDoH Immunization Program Director; Dr. Joshua Wynne, the state’s chief health strategist and dean of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences; and Dr. Joan Connell, NDDoH field medical officer, and Kirby Kruger, NDDoH Director of Disease Control.
Burgum passed along positive news with light at the end of the public of the pandemic.
With vaccines…. He pointed out the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine in the state.
He still urges people to stay safe including physical distancing, especially indoors, where ventilation issues exist, and wearing face masks.
With Low Cost Rapid Testing, with the BinaxNow tests, he said the transmission chain is broken more quickly with positives identified more quickly.
Therapeutic Testing.
Burgum said active cases in the state dropped significantly in the last week, with the positivity rate on Wednesday reported at 5.8%. North Dakota currently has the lowest positivity in rate in the upper Midwest. The goal is to get the number under 5%.
Stutsman report 122 active cases on Wednesday.
He added patients hospitalized with the virus has decreased the past week, and significantly from November. 115 more deaths reported in the state the past week with 57 new deaths reported on Wednesday.
He said the majority of North Dakota COVID-19 deaths have come from long-term care facilities.
NDDoH Director of Disease Control Kirby Kruger said, discharges have been increasing as well.
Regular communications continue with hospitals, who have reported some staffing issues.
With vaccines, Burgum credits federal officials along with science advances, to speedily make the vaccines available, including clinical safety issues, stemming from clinical trials.
Molly Howell, NDDoH Immunization Program Director said, 6800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine was received this week in North Dakota, with 831 doses administered as of Wednesday morning.
Next week ND will receive 13,200 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
She pointed out those who should not receive the vaccine includes those who have had reactions to other vaccines. Those who have had COVID-19 can receive the vaccine, based on a timeframe. Pregnant women can be vaccinated, after speaking with their healthcare providers.
She added that 17 and 18 year olds can receive the vaccine.
Two doses of each vaccine is required at a few weeks apart, based on the vaccine given on the when the first dose is given.
Burgum said multiple school districts are receiving vaccinations.
Dr. Joshua Wynne, the state’s chief health strategist and dean of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, talked about the types of testing available including antigen testing, at point of care. PCR along with antigen tests are to be given at UND, after the upcoming holiday break. He encourages all residents to be vaccinated, and to continue to stay safe within protocols, for mitigation purposes.
Dr. Joan Connell, NDDoH field medical officer, discussed therapeutics including Monoconal Antibody Therapy for those at high risk for getting the virus. Remdesivir treatment assists the body from replicating the virus, which is available currently for in hospital patients.
Those testing positive should discuss the therapies with their healthcare provider, along with individuals at high risk.
Also
Burgum says he will wait his turn in line to get a coronavirus vaccination. The 64-year-old Republican governor told a Fargo-area chamber of commerce panel on a videoconference this week that he will be “way down the line” when it comes to his eligibility. North Dakota’s initial doses of the vaccine began arriving on Monday. The limited supply is prioritized for frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents. North Dakota health officials have said the vaccine is not expected to be available to the general public until spring.
NDDoH
ND Covid Stats
Wed Dec 16, 2020
11:00-a.m.
Barnes County
New Positives: 3
Total Positives: 1182
Active: 35
Recovered: 1125
Stutsman County
New Positives: 15
Total Positives: 2911
Active: 122
Recovered: 2722
COVID-19 Test Results
The results listed are from the previous day. Additional data can be found on the NDDoH website.
On Wednesday, Dec. 16, the North Dakota Department of Health reported a net decrease in hospitalizations of 117 individuals. Hospitalizations in our state have fallen rapidly in the past few weeks, and while much of this difference reflects newly discharged cases, part of this drop reflects a quality control effort as case workers catch up with these changes following a recent surge in cases.
Of the 146 hospitalizations whose status was changed from current to discharged, 74 had been discharged in the past two weeks and the remainder were discharged prior to Dec. 1. This was due to a variety of factors, including case managers catching up with follow-up work after a surge of new cases in November; lags in reporting between when patients were actually discharged from facilities to when the NDDoH was notified of the discharges through the Health Information Network; and inconsistent data entry.
“The team took time yesterday to verify every individual currently marked as hospitalized and found a number who had been previously discharged,” said Disease Control Director Kirby Kruger. “In the future, the team will be working more actively with facilities to ensure the information is up to date and accurate and will continue to check the Health Information Network daily for hospitalization information.”
BY THE NUMBERS
4,917 – Total Tests from Yesterday*
1,242,239 – Total tests completed since the pandemic began
304 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****
242 – PCR Tests | 62 antigen tests
88,686 – Total positive individuals since the pandemic began
5.37% – Daily Positivity Rate**
2,956 – Total Active Cases
-274 Individuals from Yesterday
540 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (410 with a recovery date of yesterday****)
84,535 – Total recovered since the pandemic began
160 – Currently Hospitalized
-117 – Individuals from yesterday
See message above.
24 – New Deaths*** (1,194 total deaths since the pandemic began)
INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID
- Woman in her 80s from Adams County.
- Woman in her 80s from Benson County.
- Man in his 50s from Burleigh County.
- Man in his 80s from Burleigh County.
- Man in his 90s from Burleigh County.
- Woman in her 90s from Burleigh County.
- Woman in her 90s from Burleigh County.
- Man in his 60s from Cass County.
- Man in his 60s from Cass County.
- Woman in her 90s from Cass County.
- Man in his 70s from Dunn County.
- Man in his 60s from Eddy County.
- Man in his 80s from Logan County.
- Woman in her 90s from Pierce County.
- Woman in her 40s from Ramsey County.
- Man in his 60s from Ramsey County.
- Man in his 80s from Ransom County.
- Woman in her 80s from Stark County.
- Woman in her 80s from Stark County.
- Woman in her 100s from Traill County.
- Woman in her 90s from Ward County.
- Woman in her 90s from Ward County.
- Woman in her 90s from Ward County.
- Woman in her 80s from Williams County.
COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY
- Barnes County – 3
- Benson County – 3
- Bottineau County – 3
- Bowman County – 3
- Burleigh County – 34
- Cass County – 72
- Cavalier County – 2
- Dickey County – 8
- Divide County – 2
- Dunn County – 1
- Eddy County – 1
- Emmons County – 1
- Foster County – 1
- Golden Valley County – 1
- Grand Forks County – 23
- Griggs County – 1
- Kidder County – 1
- LaMoure County – 3
- McHenry County – 2
- McIntosh County – 1
- McKenzie County – 9
- McLean County – 3
- Mercer County – 3
- Morton County – 10
- Mountrail County – 1
- Nelson County – 3
- Oliver County – 2
- Ramsey County – 6
- Ransom County – 3
- Renville County – 1
- Richland County – 14
- Rolette County – 11
- Sargent County – 1
- Sioux County – 2
- Stark County – 10
- Steele County – 2
- Stutsman County – 15
- Traill County – 5
- Walsh County – 3
- Ward County – 18
- Wells County – 3
- Williams County – 13
* Note that this includes PCR tests and does not include individuals from out of state.
**Individuals who tested positive divided by the total number of people tested who have not previously tested positive (susceptible encounters). Antigen tests (positive or negative) are not included in the calculation.
*** Number of individuals who tested positive with a PCR or antigen test and died from any cause while infected with COVID-19. Please remember that deaths are reported as they’re reported to us by the facility or through the official death record (up to 10-day delay).
**** The actual date individuals are officially out of isolation and no longer contagious.
*****Daily positive numbers include people who tested with a PCR or antigen test. 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 (CSi) The Jamestown City Fire Department will be training with the new Ladder 1 Truck, beginning Thursday, December 17, 2020 and ending Friday, December 18, 2020.
Firefighters will be training on the new aerial ladder truck in different parts of the City of Jamestown. The hours of training will be between 9am – 4pm each day.
If at all possible, please avoid the area and use extreme caution in this area.
The Fire Department trains monthly on the operations of fire apparatus for the use of emergencies.
It’s very important for firefighters to train on the following, RESPONSIBILITIES AND SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, PLACEMENT OF AERIAL LADDERS (GENERAL), PLACEMENT OF AERIAL LADDERS (FIRE OPERATIONS), VENTILATING WITH THE AERIAL LADDER, and OPERATIONS FOR REMOVAL OF VICTIM OR VICTIMS OF AERIAL LADDER.
Valley City (VCSU) Valley City State University will hold a virtual commencement ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 17, to honor its graduating class during the 2020 summer and fall semesters. VCSU will recognize 95 graduates – 81 will receive bachelor’s degrees and 14 will receive master’s degrees.
The VCSU virtual ceremony will play on the university’s YouTube channel at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17.
VCSU President, Dr. Alan LaFave says, “Although we wish we could honor our graduates with an in-person ceremony, we trust that this virtual ceremony will provide a way to recognize their accomplishments. We are also inviting all the graduates back to campus to participate in our next in-person commencement ceremony.”
Graduating senior Brady Matheny (Lisbon, N.D.) will deliver the undergraduate reflection, and the faculty reflection will be presented by Lee Kruger, associate professor of English.
A Kudoboard, a digital message board, has been set up to convey well-wishes and congratulations to the winter 2020 graduates. Please visit the Kudoboard site to leave a message or welcome the new graduates to the VCSU alumni family. Parents, families, and friends of graduates are also welcome to leave messages.
Jamestown (UJ) The public is reminded that while reconstruction continues at UJ’s Taylor Stadium that no one is allowed at the site during the work.
Students and the public including vehicles and foot traffic can not go past the line of cones on the south side of the Physical Plant..
Proceeding past the cones, blocking access on the south side of the Physical Plant, requires an appointment with JE Dunn’s site supervisor.
Jamestown (CSi) The All Vets Club in Jamestown is inviting vets to a free dinner on New Year’s Eve for all area veterans. The two seating times are 5-p.m. and 7-p.m.
Those planning to attend are asked to call 252-8994 for a reservation time to maintain safety protocols and social distancing. Meal choices include seafood and steak.
On New Year’s Day, the club will have free Tom and Jerrys starting at 10 a.m. until gone followed by family bingo at around 11:30 a.m. All in the community are welcome. People are asked to mask up or social distance.
The club asks the public to remember military personnel who can’t be with their families during the holiday season.
The club directors appreciates the public’s patronage and support during this time.
Update
Bismarck (NDHP) On Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 6:51 pm, NDHP Troopers were attempting to stop 47 year old Jason Simeon, of Glyndon, MN. There was probable cause to arrest Simeon for 1st Degree Sexual Assault after an investigation by the Glyndon Police Department.
NDHP troopers located Simeon’s vehicle, a 2007 Dodge Durango, in Fargo and were attempting to stop it northbound on I-29, between the 32nd Ave and I-94 exits. Seconds after the troopers activated their emergency lights, Simeon accelerated away from the troopers, swerved to the right and struck a bridge pillar for the I-94 overpass. The Dodge struck the bridge pillar head on and came to rest against the bridge pillar.
Simeon was the driver of the Dodge and lone occupant. He was pronounced dead on scene. The incident remains under investigation by the NDHP.
The NDHP was assisted on scene by the Fargo Police Department, Fargo Fire Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, NDDOT and Clay County, MN Sheriff’s Office.
Thompson ND (NDHP) The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports that a Peterbilt Semi with Car Hauler Trailer was traveling on I-29 Wednesday about 4:40-pm, from Minneapolis MN to Grand Forks ND transporting new vehicles to local dealerships, along I-29 at MP 133, two Miles North of Thompson ND.
The semi driver, 42 year old Kenneth Finley from Newport, Michigan, lost control of his semi on slick and slushy road conditions with light snow falling, and entered the median. The semi and trailer rolled onto its right side. Several new vehicles were thrown from the trailer and damaged in the crash. Finley was transported to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks for his injuries. The report says he was wearing a Lap and Shoulder at the time of the crash.
This crash remains under investigation by NDHP Troopers, with a traffic violation pending the investigation.
Assisting at the scene were Altru Ambulance and the Thompson Fire Department.
DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) — Sheriff’s officials say a snowmobiler’s body has been recovered from Lake Irvine near Devils Lake.Ramsey County Sheriff Steve Nelson says the man broke through the ice Tuesday night.Deputies were looking for the man when they discovered his body and snowmobile in the lake, north of Churchs Ferry. Nelson considers the death an accidental drowning, KFGO reports.His name has not been released.
DALLAS (AP) — Ten states have brought a lawsuit against Google, accusing the search giant of “anti-competitive conduct” in the online advertising industry including a deal to manipulate sales with rival Facebook. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says Google is using its “monopolistic power” to control the pricing on online advertisements, fixing the market in its favor and eliminating its competition. Google is calling the suit “meritless” and says the price of online advertising has fallen over the last decade. According to records released by Paxton’s office, Texas is suing along with Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah.
In sports…
Valley City (VCSU) The Barnes County Athletic Association and Valley City State University have announced changes to the annual Boys Basketball Barnes County Tournament in January.
Instead of playing a three-day tournament in mid-January at VCSU’s W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, the participating teams will schedule and play three regular season games that week at participating schools. The games will be non-tournament contests with all opponents and locations determined ahead of time. The games are scheduled for Jan. 11, 12 and 14.
Events on VCSU’s campus are currently restricted to 150 people, based on the current recommendations from the ND Smart Restart Guidelines. Those attendance restrictions, the use of the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse as a community testing and vaccination site, and VCSU athletics schedule changes due to COVID-19 were all factors in the decision to change this year’s event to a non-tournament format at different locations.
This is the first time since 1917 that the boys tournament will not crown a tournament champion.
2021 Boys Barnes County Tournament Schedule (all games played at school sites)
January 11
Warwick at Enderlin
Barnes County North at Maple Valley
LaMoure/Litchville-Marion at Wyndmere-Lidgerwood
Sargent County at Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page
January 12
White Shield at Enderlin
Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page at LaMoure/Litchville-Marion
Barnes County North at Sargent County
Wyndmere-Lidgerwood at Maple Valley
January 14
LaMoure at Enderlin
Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page at Barnes County North
Warwick at Maple Valley
Sargent County at Wyndmere-Lidgerwood
Valley City (VCSU) The Valley City State men’s basketball team is receiving votes in this week’s NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, the national office announced Wednesday.
VCSU garnered 10 votes in the poll, placing them 40th in the nation. The Vikings are the only team from the North Star Athletic Association to receive votes in the national poll.
The Viking men have won their last seven straight games, including a victory over No. 18 Dakota Wesleyan. VCSU is the only team to defeat the Tigers so far this season. Valley City State has posted a 7-1 overall record so far this season and are 1-0 in the NSAA after defeating Dickinson State last weekend.
The last time VCSU appeared in the national rankings was on March 23, 2016, when they were ranked No. 21 in the 2015-16 Postseason Poll.
Valley City State is back in action on Jan. 2, when they host Yellowstone Christian College in Valley City.
NDAPSSA Class A Basketball Polls
(First-place votes in parenthesis)
SECOND POLL
Boys
Team Rec. Pts. LW
1. Jamestown (13) 1-0 82 1
2. Fargo Davies (5) 2-0 75 4
3. West Fargo 1-0 52 NR
4. Mandan 1-0 25 NR
5. W.F. Sheyenne 0-1 20 2
Others receiving votes: Bismarck Legacy (0-1), Bismarck High (0-1), Fargo South (1-0) and Minot High (1-0).
Girls
Team Rec. Pts. LW
1. Bis. Century (16) 0-0 88 1
2. Fargo Davies (2) 2-0 74 2
3. Bis. Legacy 1-0 48 3
4. West Fargo 1-0 29 4
5. Bismarck 1-0 12.5 5
Others receiving votes: Devils Lake (1-0), Fargo Shanley (1-0) and Minot High (2-0).
T25 MEN’S BASKETBALL
Nova coach gets milestone win
UNDATED (AP) — Jay Wright has become the 39th men’s basketball coach to win 600 games.
Wright reached the milestone when seventh-ranked Villanova knocked off Butler, 85-66. Collin Gillespie and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl each scored 18 points in the Wildcats’ latest home-opener game ever.
Jair Bolden scored 18 points for the Bulldogs, who trailed by just two in the second half before the Wildcats pulled away to improve to 6-1.
Villanova also announced that Saturday’s game against Virginia at Madison Square Garden has been canceled. The Cavaliers have been dealing with COVID-19 issues that have caused four straight games to be canceled or postponed. The Wildcats will try to schedule a home game for Saturday.
Elsewhere in men’s top-25 basketball action:
— Courtney Ramey nailed five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points and six assists to send 11th-ranked Texas to a 79-63 victory against Sam Houston State. Freshman Greg Brown chipped in 17 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
— Purdue was a 67-60 winner against No. 20 Ohio State as Trevion Williams contributed 16 points, nine rebounds and a career-high eight assists in his second game coming off the bench. Eric Hunter Jr. added a season-best 15 points to help Matt Painter beat a ranked team for the 50th time in 16 seasons as the Boilermakers coach.
— Sophomore forward Matthew Hurt scored 18 points and three Duke freshmen also cracked double digits in a 75-65 win at Notre Dame. D.J. Steward had 16 points to go with seven rebounds, while Jeremy Roach scored 14 and Jaemyn Brakefield added 10 for the 21st-rated Blue Devils.
NCAA-TRANSER ELIGIBILITY
NCAA OK’s immediate transfer ability
UNDATED (AP) — Transferring college athletes have received good news from the NCAA.
The Division I Council has granted blanket waivers for all athletes to play immediately. The decision includes all Division I sports, but is contingent on certain criteria being met.
Transfers previously were required to sit out a season unless granted a waiver by the NCAA. The NCAA had decided on waivers on a case-by-case basis, but had been more lenient during the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision should have an immediate impact on basketball programs, with some transfers becoming eligible for games on Wednesday.
NFL-NEWS
— Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer declined Wednesday to commit to using kicker Dan Bailey for the upcoming game against Chicago. Bailey missed three goal attempts and an extra point in Sunday’s 26-14 loss at Tampa Bay. The Vikings released practice squad kicker Tristan Vizcaino this week and had free agent kicker Chandler Catanzaro in for a tryout.
Brees coming off injured reserve list
UNDATED (AP) — The New Orleans Saints could have Drew Brees (breez) back in the starting lineup as early as Sunday against the defending Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs.
The record-setting quarterback has been designated to return from the club’s injured reserve list after missing four games with fractured ribs and a punctured lung. Coach Sean Payton has not indicated when he intends to play Brees but has said the signal caller is not someone the Saints would hurry back.
The 41-year-old Brees was injured while being sacked on Nov. 15 against San Francisco. The Saints have gone 3-1 since with Taysom Hill starting.
In other NFL news:
— NFL owners have delayed a decision on implementing a 17-game regular season for 2021. The NFL and the players’ union agreed during collective bargaining talks earlier this year to adding one regular-season game to the schedule, but not before next season. Commissioner Roger Goodell said a scheduling formula for a 17th game was approved unanimously, but did not immediately provide details.
— The 49ers are sticking with Nick Mullens at quarterback for now despite a pair of costly turnovers that led to defensive touchdowns in last weekend’s loss to Washington. Coach Kyle Shanahan had said he would evaluate the position following the loss but ultimately decided to stick with Mullens over C.J. Beathard for Sunday’s game at Dallas. Starter Jimmy Garoppolo remains out with an ankle injury.
— The Ravens have placed receivers Marquise Brown, Mile Boykin and James Proche on the reserve/COVID-19 list, leaving their status uncertain for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville. Brown scored a key touchdown for Baltimore in the fourth quarter of Monday’s 47-42 victory at Cleveland. Brown is tied for the team lead with 43 catches and has a team-high 605 yards receiving with five TDs.
— Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez has returned to practice just 15 days after having surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. Colts coach Frank Reich says he is hopeful Sanchez will play Sunday against Houston. Sanchez is averaging 47.2 yards this season with a net of 40.6.
— Seahawks veteran tight end Greg Olsen has returned to the practice field far sooner than most expected. Olsen was designated for return to practice on Wednesday by the Seahawks, less than a month after he landed on injured reserve with a torn fascia in his left foot. At the time of his injury, Seattle estimated Olsen would be out at least a month and potentially upward of six weeks.
— The Bengals have put defensive tackle Geno Atkins on injured reserve with a right shoulder injury. Atkins missed the first four games and has played sparingly since following the injury suffered in training camp. He has one tackle in seven games.
— Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins took snaps with the first team offense on Wednesday while Alex Smith missed practice with a right calf injury. Smith got hurt in the first half of Sunday’s win over the 49ers. Coach Ron Rivera says he would be OK with waiting until just before the team’s next game before deciding who to start at quarterback.
— The status of Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has become more iffy for Sunday’s game against Cleveland because of another injury on top of his hamstring problem. Coach Joe Judge said the second-year quarterback also is dealing with an injury to his lower leg. It apparently happened during Sunday’s 26-7 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
— Browns cornerback Denzel Ward has returned to practice after missing three games with a calf injury. Ward was playing at a Pro Bowl level when he got hurt against Philadelphia last month. He was leading the NFL in passes defensed at the time of his injury.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-NEWS
Kansas State is latest to pass on bowl game
UNDATED (AP) — Kansas State and Virginia Tech are the latest Power Five team to withdraw from consideration for a bowl game, joining Boston College, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Stanford.
The Wildcats paused all football activities indefinitely on Wednesday amid an outbreak of positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing that would have prevented them from fielding enough players to play.
Kansas State lost its last five games but was in line for a bowl game because it finished seventh in the Big 12. The NCAA has also waived minimum wins required for bowl eligibility.
More than 125 games since late August have been postponed or canceled because of the pandemic.
Hokies coach Justin Fuente said Wednesday the players decided to bypass a bowl game, ending their pandemic-hit season at 5-6. Fuente said he has players who would like to go home for Christmas, adding that he thinks they’ve sacrificed enough.”
In other college football news:
— Coastal Carolina football coach Jamey Chadwell has accepted a contract extension through 2027. Chadwell and the ninth-ranked Chanticleers are enjoying a breakout undefeated season in just their fourth year in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Among their eight wins are victories against eighth-ranked BYU and No. 21 Louisiana.
— Azusa Pacific is ending its football program this month after 55 years of Division II and NAIA competition. Athletic director Gary Pine says the decision was prompted by other four-year schools in California dropping the sport over the last 30 years. The reduced schedule selections have given Azusa Pacific fewer in-state opponents to play, which has led to high travel costs.
NBA-NEWS
Harden sidesteps trade talk
UNDATED (AP) — Houston Rockets disgruntled guard James Harden spoke to the media Wednesday for the first time since reporting late to camp amid reports that he wants to be traded.
Harden sidestepped questions about his trade demand, saying he’s focused on being in Houston. He brushed off the suggestion that the trade rumors could be a distraction for the team.
Harden appears to be in worse physical condition than he was during Houston’s last playoff game. Social media went wild with jokes about his apparent weight gain after he was seen in uniform Tuesday night for the first time in months.
Also around the NBA:
— The Grizzlies have exercised the 2021-22 options for reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke and Grayson Allen. Morant started 67 games last season and led the team in scoring average at 17.8 points. Jackson has averaged 15.5 points in 113 starts over two seasons.
— The NBA says only one new case of coronavirus was found in test results from 549 players taken since Dec. 10. The league now has reported 57 player positive tests since the week preceding the start of training camps. Of those, 48 came in the first week of testing, followed by eight the following week and now one more.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-FLORIDA-JOHNSON
School says Johnson improving
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin told WRUF radio that Gators forward Keyontae Johnson continues to make progress after collapsing on the court during Saturday’s game at Florida State.
Stricklin said Johnson is “trending in the right direction, but we still have a lot of questions.”
Witnesses said Johnson was standing near midcourt and suddenly fell forward and landed on his face.
MLB-NEWS
Rays ink Zunino
UNDATED (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have signed free agent catcher Mike Zunino (zuh-NEE’-noh) to a one-year, $2 million contract that includes a $4 million club option for 2022.
The 29-year-old is considered a solid defender and has significant power but has struggled to make contact, hitting .147 with four homers and 10 RBIs in 25 starts this year.
Zunino hit .170 but had four home runs and drove in eight during the Rays postseason run to the American League pennant.
In other MLB news:
— Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani has signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Giants. DeSclafani went 1-2 with a 7.22 ERA in 33 2/3 innings over nine games, including seven starts this year. The 30-year-old DeSclafani can earn an additional $250,000 in performance bonuses based on innings pitched.
— Left-hander Alex Claudio has agreed to a one-year, $1.125 million contract with the Angels, adding the sidearm reliever to their bullpen makeover. Claudio is 15-8 with 13 saves and a 3.44 ERA in his major league career, which began with the Rangers in 2014. He ranks third in appearances among all major league hurlers since 2017, taking the mound in 239 games and leading the majors with 83 for the 2019 Brewers.
— Big league managers say that Major League Baseball has instructed them to prepare for spring training to start on time in mid-February despite uncertainty around the coronavirus. Rays manager Kevin Cash says the league is optimistic about an on-time start after the commissioner’s office spoke with managers Tuesday. Managers say they expect the 2021 season to start with health protocols in place to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks, but they also don’t plan to mandate vaccines for players when one is made available.
— Longtime major league shortstop Omar Vizquel is denying accusations of domestic abuse made by his wife. Blanca Vizquel described two alleged acts of physical violence by the 11-time Gold Glove winner in a story published Wednesday by The Athletic.
TENNIS-AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Australian Open pushed back
LONDON (AP) — The Australian Open is set to begin Feb. 8, three weeks later than planned.
The change is part of a pandemic-altered 2021 tennis calendar released by the men’s professional tour Wednesday.
The ATP said that men’s qualifying for the season’s first Grand Slam tournament is being moved to Doha, Qatar, from Jan. 10-13. That will be followed by a period of about 2 1/2 weeks set aside for travel to Melbourne and a 14-day quarantine period for players and their coaches or other support staff.
A 12-team ATP Cup, the relocated Adelaide International and an additional men’s tournament will be held in Melbourne to give players a chance to prepare for the hard-court Australian Open.
NHL-WILD-GOALIES
With Stalock injured, Wild sign goalie Hammond for insurance
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild have signed goaltender Andrew Hammond to a one-year, two-way contract as depth following a long-term injury for Alex Stalock (STAY’-lahk).
Hammond spent the last two years in the AHL, with the Minnesota affiliate Iowa Wild and the Buffalo affiliate Rochester Americans. He was 16-12-3 with a 2.53 goals against average last season.
SUPREME COURT-NCAA
Supreme Court agrees to hear NCAA athlete compensation case
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to review a court decision that the NCAA has said blurred “the line between student-athletes and professionals” by removing caps on education-related money certain football and basketball players can receive.
The case will be argued in 2021 with a decision expected before the end of June.
The high court’s action comes after a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in May. The panel upheld a lower court ruling barring the NCAA from capping education-related compensation and benefits for student-athletes in Division I football and basketball programs. Division I conferences can still independently set their own rules.
In world and national news…
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(AP) World shares have advanced on hopes the U.S. Congress may finally deliver fresh aid to help businesses and families weather the pandemic. Benchmarks rose Thursday in Paris, London, Tokyo and Shanghai but fell in South Korea. Investors have also taken heart from the Federal Reserve’s pledge to keep buying bonds until the economy improves substantially from its virus-wracked state. The Fed is keeping the accelerator floored on its support for the economy, with near-zero interest rates, but investors also want to see Congress reach a deal to deliver another dose of financial support for American workers and businesses.
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