Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Feb 10

CSi Weather…

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST /11 AM MST/ SUNDAY…FEB 14

* WHAT…Dangerous wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 40 below zero.

* WHERE…Much of western and central North Dakota. This includes
the Tribal Lands of the MHA Nation and the Standing Rock Sioux
Nation…Portions of central, north central, northwest and west
central Minnesota and southeast North Dakota.

* WHEN…Until noon CST /11 AM MST/ Sunday.

* IMPACTS…The dangerously cold wind chills could cause
frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The coldest wind chills will come at
night and during the morning hours.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a
hat, and gloves.

Forecast

TONIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows around 15 below. Northwest

winds 5 to 10 mph. Wind chills around 35 below.

.THURSDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs around 5 below. Northwest winds

10 to 15 mph. Wind chills around 35 below.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 20 below. Northwest

winds around 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 5 below. West winds around

10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 20 below.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 10 below.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 25 below.

.SUNDAY…Sunny. Highs around 5 below.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 20 below.

.WASHINGTONS BIRTHDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs zero to 5 above.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 10 below.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs 5 to 10 above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  Gov. Doug Burgum held a press briefing with the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) Wednesday afternoon, providing an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota. Guest speakers included Molly Howell, NDDoH Immunization Program Manager, and Dr. Christie Massen, NDDoH Chief Laboratory Officer.

 

Burgum said the COVID-19 fight is a “marathon,” rather than a sprint, and the “finish line,” is still unknown.  He pointed out that last month the statewide risk level had been lowered from moderate to low risk.  With hospital capacity, Burgum said, hospitalizations  in North Dakota due to COVID is dropping, since the peak in November,  2020.  He said North Dakota is in the top five in the U.S. for testing, and second for vaccine doses administered.

North Dakota is listed as the second safest state in the U.S. regarding COVID-19, number one in the contiguous states.

The Vaccine Locator is on the NDDoH website. The vaccine locator shows where COVID-19 vaccine is available in your area, who they are currently vaccinating, how to contact them, and more. The vaccine locator can be found at www.health.nd.gov/covidvaccinelocator. In addition, individuals 65 and older who don’t have access to the internet can reach out to the Public Health Hotline at 866-207-2880 to get resources and request assistance in finding a COVID-19 vaccine.   As vaccinations continue to be administered across North Dakota, many areas are beginning to vaccinate 65 and older. The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) is encouraging North Dakotans to help family, friends and neighbors who are 65 and older connect with a COVID-19 vaccine. Whether it’s getting on a waiting list or scheduling an appointment, you can help someone in need of COVID-19 vaccine receive it as quickly as possible.

Burgum said, long-term care visitations are increasing, as schools are increasingly offering in class learning.  Long-term care visitation rules are coming for the most part from federal officials, based on the type of facility.

 

COVID-19 Stats

Posted Wed. Feb. 10, 2021

Barnes:

New Positives  0

Total Positives 1281

Active 3

Recovered 1243

 

Stutsman

New Positives  6

Total Positives 3263

Active 18

Recovered 3159

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

Please note that from now on the daily news release will be sent Monday – Friday. The NDDoH dashboard will continue to be updated daily.

BY THE NUMBERS

89,313 – Residents who received at least one dose of vaccine

141,267 – Total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered

 

7,121 – Total Tests from yesterday*

1,570,450 – Total tests completed since the pandemic began

145 – Positive Individuals from yesterday*****

71 PCR Tests | 74 Antigen Tests
98,214 Total positive individuals since the pandemic began

2.59% – Daily Positivity Rate** 

 

759 – Total Active Cases

+25 Individuals from yesterday

112 – with a recovery date of yesterday****

96,026 Total recovered since the pandemic began

34 – Currently Hospitalized   

-3 Individuals from yesterday 

 

2 – New Deaths*** (1,429 total deaths since the pandemic began)

 

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Man in his 70s from Kidder County. 
• Woman in her 60s from Morton County.

 

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY

• Benson County – 1
• Bottineau County – 1
• Burke County – 1
• Burleigh County – 36
• Cass County – 17
• Dickey County – 2
• Foster County – 2 
• Golden Valley County – 1
• Grand Forks County – 10
• Hettinger County – 1
• McHenry County – 2
• Mercer County – 2
• Morton County – 3
• Mountrail County – 1
• Nelson County – 3
• Pembina County – 1
• Ramsey County – 2
• Richland County – 2
• Rolette County – 6
• Sargent County – 1
• Sheridan County – 1
• Stark County – 10
• Steele County – 2
• Stutsman County – 6
• Towner County – 1
• TraillCounty – 2  
• Walsh County – 2 
• Ward County – 16
• Wells County – 1  
• Williams County – 9

 

* Note that this includes PCR and antigen; it does not include individuals from out of state. 

**Individuals (PCR or antigen) 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 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.

Molly Howell, NDDoH Immunization Program Manager, gave an update on vaccine distribution, 79.2 percent of the vaccine received has been administered, with more Modera, and Pfizer vaccine doses are coming to North Dakota, with allocations from the U.S. government.

Pfizer doses with be a six dose vile, from a five dose vile.

Earlier this week, the NDDoH Vaccine Dashboard listed more COVID-19 vaccines administered than the state received. This wasn’t a mistake: vaccination sites were using the “angel doses” in vaccine vials to make sure as many people as possible received the vaccine!

She repeated that,  the  Vaccine Locator is on the NDDoH website. The vaccine locator shows where COVID-19 vaccine is available in your area, who they are currently vaccinating, how to contact them, and more. The vaccine locator can be found at www.health.nd.gov/covidvaccinelocator. In addition, individuals 65 and older who don’t have access to the internet can reach out to the Public Health Hotline at 866-207-2880 to get resources and request assistance in finding a COVID-19 vaccine.   As vaccinations continue to be administered across North Dakota, many areas are beginning to vaccinate 65 and older. The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) is encouraging North Dakotans to help family, friends and neighbors who are 65 and older connect with a COVID-19 vaccine. Whether it’s getting on a waiting list or scheduling an appointment, you can help someone in need of COVID-19 vaccine receive it as quickly as possible.

Thrifty White Pharmacy is receiving federal doses of COVID-19 vaccine beginning this week. Visit the Thrifty White Pharmacy website to see if there’s a Thrifty White Pharmacy near you with vaccine available and clinic slots open.

She said, “It’s possible that you may not be able to receive your vaccine from your usual provider. North Dakotans should check the vaccine locator for doses available in their area and follow the instructions provided by the provider.”

North Dakotans should also continue to watch their local media and social media channels for health care facilities, pharmacies and local public health departments for more information on the status of vaccine administration in their area.

 

For more information, visit the NDDoH COVID-19 vaccine webpage at health.nd.gov/covidvaccine.

She added that the Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine is still under consideration for distribution, by the Food & Drug Administration, possibly for distribution in March this year, that only requires one dose to be effective.

She said the CDC has announced that those who have been exposed to COVID-19 no longer have to be quarantined, if they have had two doses of the vaccine, and the last dose has been within two weeks prior to exposure.

Dr. Christie Massen, NDDoH Chief Laboratory Officer, said, coronavirus variances may be in the state but not yet identified.  Those include variances from South Africa, and Brazil. She said, a random sample of North Dakota positives is being sent to the CDC for review.

She said to continue to stay safe under protocols, including continuing to wear masks, social distance along with frequent hand washing with soap and water, and sanitizing.

Burgum pointed out the Antibody testing remains available, along with other therapeutics.

Burgum added that the North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced that the Hospitality Economic Resiliency Grant (HERG) application window is now open and restaurants that have not previously applied for the grant are highly encouraged to apply through Feb. 25.

North Dakota has 3,400 restaurant and bar licenses throughout the state.

Commerce has $30 million HERG dollars available to assist remaining eligible businesses that lost revenue due to COVID-19.

Due to the continuing need of assistance, Commerce created the HERG to focus on reimbursing hospitality businesses that were directly impacted by Executive Order 2020-06. This includes all restaurants, bars, breweries, cafes and similar on-site dining establishments.

Eligible entities also include theaters, drama, music and entertainment venues and professional production companies that support major venues, meetings and events.

NDResponse.gov as more information.

 

In other state updates, In an effort to improve rural health care in North Dakota, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) a $4.3 million grant designed to equip law enforcement officers statewide with the next generation “connected” Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

The Helmsley North Dakota Law Enforcement AED Project will supply approximately 1,700 devices to local, state, tribal, and federal North Dakota Law Enforcement agencies.

One of Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program initiatives is to fund projects that connect rural populations to the latest medical therapies in remote areas. The AEDs selected for distribution throughout the state utilize the latest breakthroughs in defibrillation technology.

The NDDoH Division of Emergency Medical Systems is overseeing the project. The new devices will be placed, and training conducted, during the first quarter of 2021. AEDs previously used by some agencies may be relocated throughout communities increasing the number of AEDs accessible to the public.

For more information, contact the Division of Emergency Medical Systems, NDDoH, at 701-328-2388.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   The VA is offering a Virtual New Veteran Orientation Feb 11 from 2-3:30pm.

Stutsman County Veteran’s Service Office, David Bratton said the Fargo VA Medical Center is COVID-19 vaccine by appointment, (now Through February-15) to all Veterans 65+ call: (701)239-3700 for an appointment.

-The VA is providing testing and COVID-19 vaccines to those utilizing Caregiver Support Program.

David said the VA is extending the moratorium on debts owed until March 31, 2021.

The VA is now  sending out 1095b’s for taxes.

A reminder that the Burleigh County van still not running to the Fargo VA, with-no timeline on when it will restart the Fargo trips.

 

Fargo (February 10, 2021) – A new AAA travel survey conducted in January reveals half of North Dakotans are uncomfortable traveling during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The main concerns are:

• Fears of getting sick (55%)
• The number of Covid-19 cases (41%)
• New strains of the virus (37%)

The travel industry has been hit hard by this pandemic. More than half of North Dakotans (53%) canceled or rescheduled travel plans in 2020.  When considering travel, half (50%) of North Dakotans are comfortable staying in a hotel, while 40 percent feel comfortable taking a commercial flight. The majority (92%) feel most comfortable traveling in their personal vehicle.

 

Treatment, Knowledge Fuels Optimism

With more known about the virus and how it spreads, there appears to be growing confidence among some travelers. About one in five (21%) North Dakotans say they are more comfortable traveling now than when the pandemic began – 14 percentage points more than when we last surveyed in October. Their growing confidence was attributed to:

• The implementation of mask use and cleaning policies (49%)
• More knowledge about how the virus spreads (46%)
• Less afraid about the dangers of the virus (38%)
• More confidence in medical treatment and outcomes (32%)

This year, just over half (56%) of North Dakotans plan to take at least one vacation of 3 days or more. A third (36%) of respondents plan to take multiple trips. However, nearly 2 in 5 residents say they will feel more comfortable traveling after receiving both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine (39%) and when cases begin to decrease (31%).

“The Covid-19 vaccine is one key to restoring Americans’ confidence in traveling again,” said Gene LaDoucer, North Dakota director of public affairs, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “With health experts predicting widespread vaccinations by summer, AAA Travel Advisors are seeing growing interest in bookings for the second half of the year and into 2022.”

 

Additional survey highlights:

• 71% will wear a mask in public while traveling
• 50% are driving less due to the pandemic (43% – no change in driving habits)
• 37% are more likely to purchase travel insurance than before the pandemic
• 31% are more likely to visit a destination with a mask mandate
• 79% will not travel in Q1 (39% cite the pandemic as a reason why)

“For more than 100 years, AAA has been helping travelers travel safely and enjoyably,” LaDoucer continued. “That’s why AAA encourages consulting with a trusted travel agent. They are experts who can help you consider options and make informed decisions that fit your comfort level.”

Additional information on travel planning can be found at AAA.com/Travel.

Click here to view the AAA Consumer Pulse^TM Survey

 

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — A North Dakota man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to attempting to strangle a woman he was dating while aboard a Texas-based cruise ship. Prosecutors say 45-year-old Hector Blanco, of Watford City, was sentenced Tuesday. The attack happened in 2018 on Miami-based Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas cruise ship. Blanco admitted in his plea that he attempted to strangle the woman in their cruise ship cabin, but she was able to escape. Prosecutors say the attack happened about 45 miles from Galveston in the Gulf of Mexico.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A bipartisan bill in the North Dakota Legislature aims to recognize Juneteenth as a ceremonial holiday in the state. Juneteenth is a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. North Dakota is only one of three states in the nation that does not legally recognize the June 19 holiday. The legislation is sponsored by two longtime senators, Fargo Democrat Tim Mathern and Grand Forks Republican Ramon Holmberg. The pair backed successful legislation 30 years ago to recognize the third Monday in January as a state holiday honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Lawmakers in North Dakota are considering a proposal to make mental health and wellness studies mandatory for middle and high school students. Health officials say North Dakota’s rate of teen suicide is well above the national average. While some schools have elements of mental wellness in the classroom, a proposed bill would have mandated resources to help them and schools would be given standards on how to handle students who need help. The bill also allows for school districts to collaborate in the classroom and with distance learning so that rural schools can get help to their students.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Supporters of a Red River diversion project say a decision by a Minnesota agency to reject an appeal of a permit it issued in 2018 should remove one of the last hurdles to building the channel. The Metro Flood Diversion Authority says the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announcement opens the door to discussions with affected landowners in Minnesota. The DNR permit requires the diversion authority to obtain property rights for all land impacted by the project up to the probable maximum flood event. Construction has already begun on two inlet structures southwest of Fargo. Backers are hopeful that the channel will be operational by 2028.

In sports…

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  (NAIA)  – Indiana Wesleyan remained at No. 1 as undefeated LSU Shreveport (La.) continued its win streak in the fourth edition of the Top 25. William Penn (Iowa), Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) and Arizona Christian again rounded-out the top five. Shawnee State (Ohio) and Faulkner (Ala.) also remained at No. 6 and No. 7 respectively while Stillman (Ala.) made the biggest jump of the week from No. 23 to No. 15. Jamestown (N.D.), Oklahoma Wesleyan, Warner (Fla.), William Jessup (Calif.) and Benedictine (Kan.) are the five new faces to the poll this week.

2020-21 NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll No. 4 (February 10, 2021)

RANK	LAST WEEK	SCHOOL [1st Place Votes]	RECORD	FINAL POINTS
1	1	Indiana Wesleyan 15	26-1	586
2	2	LSU Shreveport (La.) 5	12-0	575
3	3	William Penn (Iowa) 1	17-1	555
4	4	Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)	12-1	520
5	5	Arizona Christian	18-2	511
6	6	Shawnee State (Ohio)	21-2	510
7	7	Faulkner (Ala.)	17-2	456
8	9	Morningside (Iowa)	20-3	436
9	15	SAGU (Texas)	7-1	423
10	10	Providence (Mont.)	10-1	419
11	14	Talladega (Ala.)	20-2	408
12	8	Science & Arts (Okla.)	11-2	383
13	18	Marian (Ind.)	14-4	341
14	17	Georgetown (Ky.)	14-4	336
15	23	Stillman (Ala.)	10-1	317
16	12	Loyola (La.)	11-3	262
17	11	Bethel (Ind.)	19-6	244
18	22	Bethel (Kan.)	15-4	243
19	21	LSU Alexandria (La.)	15-2	242
20	19	Texas A&M Texarkana	9-1	221
21	RV	Jamestown (N.D.)	18-5	167
22	RV	Oklahoma Wesleyan	16-5	142
23	RV	Warner (Fla.)	15-3	141
24	NR	William Jessup (Calif.)	7-2	132
25	RV	Benedictine (Kan.)	15-5	129

 

In world and national news

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are arguing that former President Donald Trump “built” the mob that attacked the Capitol. Prosecutors at Trump’s impeachment trial on Wednesday said Trump fired up his supporters with lies about a stolen election and followed up with an invitation to a Jan. 6 rally. House impeachment manager Eric Swalwell detailed how Trump announced the rally on Twitter: “Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!” Swalwell said Jan. 6 was Trump’s “last chance to stop a peaceful transition of power.” Swalwell said Trump’s tweet wasn’t a “casual, one-off reference or a single invitation.” Swalwell said he repeatedly reminded his supporters to show up.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is ordering new sanctions against the military regime in Myanmar, taking action after the military staged a coup in the Southeast Asian country and arrested the de facto leader and other senior politicians. Biden says he is issuing an executive order that will prevent Myanmar’s generals from accessing $1 billion in assets in the United States. He says more measures are to come. Before Biden spoke Wednesday from the White House, large crowds demonstrating against the military takeover again took to the streets in Myanmar, even after security forces ratcheted up the use of force against them.

 

(AP)  The Biden administration is putting on hold a deal brokered by the Trump administration that would have had Oracle and Walmart buying a big stake in popular video app TikTok, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The unusual deal emerged last year from a demand by then-President Donald Trump that would have banned the Chinese-owned app in the U.S. unless an American company took it over, citing national-security concerns. Courts blocked the White House’s attempted ban from going into effect. The White House says the administration is “comprehensively evaluating the risks” to U.S. data, including from TikTok.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is visiting the Pentagon for the first time as commander in chief. Biden is taking stock of a military that is pivoting from the turmoil of the Trump years and focusing to an unusual degree on domestic and internal issues. Biden was meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other senior civilian and military officials. As defense leaders await direction on possible new approaches to overseas security threats, Austin is calling the coronavirus pandemic a top priority. Austin is also ordering fresh assessments of how to root out sexual assault and extremism in the military’s ranks.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday underscored the Fed’s commitment to reducing unemployment to multi-decade lows, where it stood before the pandemic, while showing little concern about potential inflation or financial market instability. Powell spent little time on inflation in prepared remarks for a webcast to the Economic Club of New York. He also did not refer to the relentless rise of the stock market or recent signs of market froth, such as surging prices of GameStop and other stocks targeted by some retail investors.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government’s budget deficit hit $735.7 billion through the first four months of the budget year — an all-time high for the period. The shortfall accumulated as pandemic-triggered recession cut into tax revenues while spending on COVID relief measures sent outlays soaring. The Treasury Department reported Wednesday that the deficit for the budget year that began Oct. 1 is 89% higher than the $389.2 billion deficit run up in the same period a year ago. Last year’s deficit through January had not yet been impacted by the pandemic which hit in February.