Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Feb 18

CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Mostly cloudy.  Highs around 10. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 5 below. West winds around 5 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 20. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows 5 to 10 above. South

winds 10 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. Southwest winds

10 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20.

.SUNDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the lower 20s.

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

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 40.

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

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

 

On Friday, the long awaited warming trend starts to kick into gear

as high temperatures should be about 10 degrees or so higher than

today. In the afternoon into the overnight, some low snow chances.

 

 

A warming trend continues through the weekend into the start of the

work week, with some locations in the southwest and south central

possibly hitting 50 by Monday. A modest cooldown is then

expected, though temperatures mid-week are still expected to be

above average.

Jamestown – (CSiNewsNow)  Central Valley Health is planning a large vaccination clinic for those 65 and older on Thursday February 18.

Register here for the vaccination clinic, or visit the CVHD website at www.centralvalleyhealth.org and click  “COVID-19”. Only those 65 and older are eligible to register and appointments are required. Appointments will be limited and once the clinic is full, the online registration will be shut down.

All who have had completed the online Vaccination Interest Survey and are 65 and older have been contacted through phone or email. If a respondent did not hear from CVHD, they may have entered an incorrect phone number or email address on the survey.

CVHD Administrator Robin Iszler adds, “We will be monitoring the registration list and anyone who does not fit the age category or the current priority group will be refused service and will not be vaccinated.”

CVHD is asking for the public’s assistance to find anyone 65 and older, especially those 75 and older, that still want to be vaccinated and help them register for an appointment.

Jamestown  (CVHD)  Central Valley Health District reports they will hold COVID 19 testing   from 11 am to 12 noon at the Jamestown Civic Center,  using the Rapid Testing, BinaxNow, balance of February, at 11 am to 12 noon.

Thurs. Feb. 18, Mon. Feb 22, Wed. Feb. 24 Fri. Feb 26, 2021.

By screening with rapid antigen tests, event attendees will be able to receive their test results within 15 minutes via text notification. The test also is less invasive than a PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) test in that it uses a nasal swab to collect a sample from the lower part of the nostril.

If a person tests positive, they should isolate at home immediately and a case investigator will be in touch with them within 24 hours. If the screening yields a negative result, individuals should continue to monitor for symptoms.

Interested individuals should fill out an online survey at testreg.nd.gov for faster registration.

For more information about rapid antigen tests and North Dakota’s screening strategies, visit https://www.health.nd.gov/rapid-antigen-screening

 

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Wed. Feb. 17,  2021

Barnes:

New Positives  1

Total Positives

Active 6

Recovered 1243

Stutsman

New Positives  2

Total Positives 3278

Active 17

Recovered 3174

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
102,875	Residents who received at least one dose of vaccine
166,512	Total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered
7,062	Total Tests from yesterday*
1,603,338	Total tests completed since the pandemic began
123	Positive Individuals from yesterday*****
43	PCR Tests
80	Antigen Tests
98,901	Total positive individuals since the pandemic began
2.25%	Daily Positivity Rate**
797	Total Active Cases
+11	Change in active cases from yesterday
99	Individuals with a recovery date of yesterday****
96,673	Total recovered since the pandemic began
43	Currently hospitalized
-3	Change in hospitalizations from yesterday
0	New death(s)
1,431	Total deaths since the pandemic began
INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19
No deaths to report
NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY BY COUNTY
Adams		0	Grant	1	Ransom	2
Barnes		1	Griggs	0	Renville	0
Benson		0	Hettinger	2	Richland	1
Billings		0	Kidder	0	Rolette	1
Bottineau		4	LaMoure	1	Sargent	1
Bowman		0	Logan	0	Sheridan	0
Burke		1	McHenry	2	Sioux	0
Burleigh		22	McIntosh	0	Slope	0
Cass		32	McKenzie	1	Stark	9
Cavalier		0	McLean	1	Steele	0
Dickey		1	Mercer	0	Stutsman	2
Divide		2	Morton	3	Towner	0
Dunn		0	Mountrail	1	Traill	1
Eddy		0	Nelson	0	Walsh	1
Emmons		0	Oliver	0	Ward	6
Foster		0	Pembina	1	Wells	0
Golden Valley		1	Pierce	1	Williams	4
Grand Forks		15	Ramsey	2

 

* 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.

Update:

Valley City Administrator, Gwen Crawford says the Power Emergency level has been reduced from Level 3 to Level 1, which indicates  the chance of rolling black outs continuing is lessening.

City officials were not notified when the blackout will occur, however officials now report that advance notification of a blackout will happen, but be alert for possible rolling blackouts.

Valley City  (CSi)  Stemming from rolling electrical blackouts, the Valley City Public Works Department is asking residents to limit water usage until further notice, during the time of the blackouts.

The rolling blackouts were reported to be occurring in North Dakota and other parts of the country.  The electrical outage, cuts power to the sewage lift stations.

The City of Valley City is informing residents that some areas have been without power stemming from mandatory rolling electrical blackouts.

Mayor Carlsrud encourages residents to conserve energy during this time.

The city reports extreme cold throughout the state and country has made the state of North Dakota implement mandatory rolling blackouts. Each blackout is expected to last between 30 minutes and 45 minutes.

Sioux Falls, SD (MRES) – The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) downgraded their Energy Emergency Alert for its entire 14-state balancing authority area.

Missouri River Energy spokeswoman Joni Livingston said generation is currently sufficient to serve system-wide demand across the region and to fully satisfy operating reserve requirements.

She said we continue to urge all homes and businesses throughout our 14-state region to conserve electricity, but are not directing any interruptions of service at this time.

Livingston said based on the current MRES wind and weather forecasts, it looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel. However, we are still at risk with each peak period.

Jamestown, (CSi)  On Thursday  February 18, 2021; there will be a road closure on 1st St SE, between 1st & 2nd Ave SE. This closure will take place from 7:00 AM until 10:00 AM for utility work.

Motorists should use extreme caution in this area and take alternate routes during this time, if possible.

 

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Stutsman County Commission has voted to approve two new hires for current positions, Emergency Manager, and 9-11 coordinator.

Andrew Kirking was hired as Emergency manager and Riley Schafer, Assistant Emergency manager.

Kirking is anticipated to start in the position, March 22.

He has spent eight years as the Pembina County Emergency Manager

Riley Schafer is currently a Stutsman County Sheriff’s deputy.  His start date has yet to be determined.

Present Emergency Manager, and 9-11 Coordinator, Jerry Bergquist is retiring, having spent over 30 years as Emergency Manager, and he’s planning to try to stay in his positions until the end of April, 2021 and assist  with training and a transition for Kirking and Schafer.

 

 

Sanborn (CSi) The City of Sanborn announces that the water service will be shut off on Thursday February 18, 2021, starting at 8-a.m, to repair the water leak.

Sanborn residents continue to be asked to limit their water usage until further notice as crews plan to repair a water leak that has persisted since Thursday, February 11th.

City spokeswoman Julie Franklin says the repair work will take several hours to complete possibly more than 24 hours. Store water or obtain water from a different source until the repair is completed.

She adds, that residents should refrain from showering and washing clothes until further notice. Your cooperation and patience are greatly appreciated.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — State Department of Health officials say the variant strain of the coronavirus first detected in the United Kingdom has now been confirmed in North Dakota. Health officials say one person had recently returned from domestic travel before getting sick and the second person was a close contact of the first. Officials say one other case is suspected to be the UK variant and is currently under investigation. State Health Department Disease Control Director Kirby Kruger says the variant strain “is thought to be” more contagious and people should continue to follow COVID-19 protocols. Preliminary studies have shown the COVID-19 vaccines currently in use are effective against the UK variant strain.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota House has killed a bill that would have allowed someone performing an abortion to be charged with murder. The Republican-led chamber voted 22-77 to approve the legislation that would have carried a life sentence. The bill also sought to make it a felony punishable by up to five years in prison to help women get abortions, including by giving them rides to abortion clinics. Representatives voted on that portion of the bill separately and defeated it 6-86. The bill never had the support of Republican leaders and abortion-rights groups promised a legal challenge if it passed.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A House committee has endorsed a resolution that would allow North Dakotans to decide if sports gambling should be allowed in the state. The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee gave the bipartisan resolution a “do-pass” recommendation. It now goes to the full House for consideration. If approved by both chambers, the measure could appear on the November 2022 ballot. The committee will forward a bill that sets rules for gambling operations to the full House without an endorsement. The bill was amended to exclude gambling on college sports.

In sports…

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration is joining Democrats on Capitol Hill to unveil a major immigration overhaul that would offer an eight-year pathway to citizenship to the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status. The legislation will reflect the broad priorities for immigration reform that Biden laid out on his first day in office. That includes an increase in visas, funding to process asylum applications and new technology at the southern border. The plan doesn’t offer any enhanced border security, a priority for Republicans. Without enhanced security, it faces tough odds in a closely divided Congress. The legislation will be released in detail Thursday.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The deadly winter storms that knocked out power for millions in Texas and other states have exceeded the worst-case scenarios of many U.S. utilities. They also fit a pattern of worsening extremes under climate change and demonstrate anew that local, state and federal officials have failed to do enough to prepare for greater and more dangerous extremes. The crisis sounded an alarm for power systems throughout the country about the need to prepare for severe conditions, even those that go beyond historical trends. Experts say a lot needs to be done to prepare better for the storms sure to come.

 

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of people in Texas are waking up to a fourth day without power. The power outages in Texas dropped to about 600,000 on Thursday morning, but a water crisis is also unfolding. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says 7 million people have been ordered to boil their water before consuming it, following days of record low temperatures that damaged infrastructure and froze pipes. Meanwhile, heavy snow and ice are expected Thursday in the Appalachians, northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania with the wintry weather headed to the Northeast U.S. by Thursday night.

 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Homeowners, hospitals and businesses from Texas to Tennessee grappled with broken water mains, burst pipes and orders to boil water Wednesday in parts of the country unaccustomed to dealing with sustained frigid temperatures. Winter storms during the past week in the Midwest, Texas and Appalachia forced water service providers to scramble to manage serious problems as sub-freezing temperatures remained an obstacle. The Texas city of Kyle, south of Austin, asked residents Wednesday to suspend usage until further notice because of a water shortage. In Memphis, Tennessee, the power and water company asked residents to reduce their water usage through Friday.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Nearly 150,000 customers remained without power in and around Portland, Oregon, six days after a massive snow and ice storm swept into the Pacific Northwest, taking out hundreds of miles of power lines as ice-laden trees toppled. Officials say some customers may not see power restored for several more days as crews worked Wednesday to repair the worst damage caused by a storm in 40 years. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency for the greater Portland region and warned hotels against price-gouging as the outages dragged on and water-logged trees continued to topple.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Financial Services Committee is holding a hearing Thursday following January’s GameStop saga during which shares soared 1,600% before falling back to Earth. The episode has been portrayed as a victory of the little guy over Wall Street giants, but not everyone is buying it. Lawmakers of both parties are among the skeptics. Entangled in the drama are massive short-selling hedge funds, a social media message board and ordinary investors wanting in on the hottest new trade, among others. The head of the House panel, California Democrat Maxine Waters, is homing in on the role of hedge funds.

 

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares have declined in Europe and Asia after a mixed session on Wall Street, where losses by technology and industrial companies offset other gains. Shares fell in Shanghai advanced after reopening Thursday following the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday. The S&P 500 edged down less than 0.1%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq gave back 0.6%. Small-company stocks also fell. Verizon Communications and Chevron logged big gains after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway said it made major new investments in them in the second half of last year. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held near its highest level in a year.