– Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Feb 25

CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph.

.TONIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the upper 20s. South winds 15 to 20 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. West winds 10 to 20 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Colder. Lows 10 to 15. West

winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the north after midnight.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. Colder. Highs around 20. North winds

10 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 5 to 10 above.

.SUNDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 10.

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

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

.TUESDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows 15 to 20.

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

Friday will be another mild, dry, and breezy day ahead of a cold

frontal passage Friday night into Saturday. This frontal passage

currently looks like the best, albeit still quite low, chance for

snow through the next week.

A drop in temperatures for Saturday.

Jamestown, ND) Central Valley Health District (CVHD) will be hosting a first dose COVID
vaccination clinic for Stutsman and Logan County residents that are ages 65 and older on
Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 7:00am to 1:00pm. Appointments are required and are currently
available at www.centralvalleyhealth.org, click the COVID-19 tab. Appointments are first come, first serve and the clinic will be closed once appointments are full. Registrants must be 65 or older. Those who register and do not fit at criteria will be turned away. If residents are needing assistance in registering for an appointment, please call CVHD at 252-8130.

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Wed. Feb. 24, 2021

11am

Barnes:

New Positives 0

Total Positives 1293

Active 6

Recovered 1249

Stutsman

New Positives 1

Total Positives 3288

Active 12

Recovered 3189

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
115,587	Residents who received at least one dose of vaccine
192,719	Total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered
7,438	Total Tests from yesterday*
1,637,671	Total tests completed since the pandemic began
118	Positive Individuals from yesterday*****
64	PCR Tests
54	Antigen Tests
99,531	Total positive individuals since the pandemic began
2.15%	Daily Positivity Rate**
702	Total Active Cases
+11	Change in active cases from yesterday
93	Individuals with a recovery date of yesterday****
97,389	Total recovered since the pandemic began
28	Currently hospitalized
-3	Change in hospitalizations from yesterday
1	New death(s)
1,440	Total deaths since the pandemic began
INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19
Man in his 20s from Ward County
NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY BY COUNTY

Adams		0	Grant	0	Ransom	1
Barnes		0	Griggs	0	Renville	0
Benson		0	Hettinger	1	Richland	8
Billings		0	Kidder	0	Rolette	6
Bottineau		2	LaMoure	0	Sargent	0
Bowman		0	Logan	0	Sheridan	0
Burke		0	McHenry	2	Sioux	1
Burleigh		23	McIntosh	0	Slope	0
Cass		28	McKenzie	1	Stark	6
Cavalier		0	McLean	1	Steele	1
Dickey		0	Mercer	1	Stutsman	1
Divide		1	Morton	3	Towner	0
Dunn		0	Mountrail	1	Traill	0
Eddy		0	Nelson	0	Walsh	0
Emmons		0	Oliver	0	Ward	7
Foster		1	Pembina	0	Wells	1
Golden Valley		0	Pierce	0	Williams	13
Grand Forks		8	Ramsey	0

* 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.

Jamestown (JFD Facebook) Jamestown City Fire Chief, Jim Reuther thanks Newman Signs in Jamestown for a contribution of $5,000 toward the purchase of the new Ladder-1 vehicle.

The North Dakota House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the budget for the North Dakota Department of Human Services to provide the City of Jamestown with $333,333 in state funding to help cover one third of the cost of the Jamestown City Fire Department ladder vehicle.

While not mentioning Jamestown by name, the language in an emergency clause that will make the funds payable to a political subdivision after the bill is signed by Governor Doug Burgum.

House Bill 1012 passed on a 73-21 vote, and now goes to the State Senate for consideration.

Another one-third of the purchase cost is being paid by the City of Jamestown, and one-third through community donations.

Jamestown (CSi) A Sacramento, California, man is being held in Stutsman County, facing a charge of negligent homicide in addition to multiple drug-related charges.

32 year old Jordan McKay, was arrested on January 19 on the multiple charges including possession of furanyl fentanyl with intent to deliver. On February 22, a charge of negligent homicide, a Class C felony, was added to the charges stemming from the death of Dylan Warkenthien on January 15. The Class C felony negligent homicide charge is punishable by five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Court documents, show that the investigation started when officers were called to the scene where Warkenthien was found dead allegedly caused by a drug overdose.

A search of the room allegedly found several pills, identified by police the as counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. The pills are small light blue round pills marked “M” on one side and “30” on the other.

An affidavit of probable cause for the negligent homicide charge contained a blood screen of Warkenthien’s blood that tested positive for fentanyl.

Back on January 15, this year, Jamestown Police issued a public alert that dangerous pills were being sold in the community.

McKay remains in custody at the Stutsman County Correctional Center on $150,000 bond, awaiting a preliminary hearing for the negligent homicide charge.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota House has overwhelmingly endorsed bipartisan legislation aimed at creating a broader investment policy for the state’s voter-approved oil tax savings account. Representatives voted 85-8 Wednesday to approve the bill that would tap 20% of future oil tax collections coming into the Legacy Fund to help establish loans for infrastructure projects and provide capital for in-state companies. No one in the Republican-led House spoke in opposition to the bill, which now goes to the Senate, where it also has strong support. Rep. Mike Nathe, the bill’s primary sponsor, says only about 1% of the Legacy Fund’s principal is currently invested in North Dakota.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota House budget writers have increased funding for state addiction treatment vouchers as part of the $4.48 billion state Department of Human Services budget passed by the full House. Lawmakers created the voucher in the 2015 session to covers gaps in the ability for people to access services close to them. One example could be people in small towns who live far from a publicly funded state human service center. They can use vouchers to obtain services from a local private provider. The Bismarck Tribune reports that the 2019 Legislature budgeted $8 million for the program, and it ran out after a year. This year’s bill has $12 million for the voucher, a $4 million increase.

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A former West Fargo Public Schools business education teacher is charged with luring of a minor on an internet site. Ronald Thompson had resigned abruptly earlier this month after police had obtained a search warrant for his property, both at home and at school. West Fargo police say they received a tip from an out-of-state law enforcement agency that investigates online child abuse and exploitation. The 58-year-old Thompson was allegedly attempting to solicit a minor who was actually an undercover agent in a different state. School district officials say they are confident that the investigation has no direct connection to the schools or to any students. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Bismarck father accused of injuring his infant son has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to a reduced charge. Twenty-five-year-old Harley Peltier was charged in August with child abuse after authorities responded to a call from a babysitter who said the baby wasn’t breathing. The boy was resuscitated and eventually was taken to a Fargo hospital. Prosecutors say the child had lacerations, head trauma, retinal hemorrhaging and multiple bruises. Prosecutors say the neglect charge to which Peltier entered the guilty plea, was the result of him leaving his son with a possibly inappropriate caregiver.

In sports…

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (UJ)– Marc Kjos (SO/Lake City, MN) sank a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the University of Jamestown men’s basketball team a 72-71 win over Briar Cliff University Wednesday night.

Jamestown matched a season-high with its fifth straight win and is now 17-5 overall and 13-4 in the GPAC. Briar Cliff falls to 11-12 overall and 8-10 in the conference.

The Jimmies led 40-31 at the half and extended the lead to double digits following a Mason Walters (SO/Jamestown, ND) basket at the 17:44 mark of the second half. Briar Cliff responded with a 15-4 run over the next 4:56 to tie the game at 48.

Kjos hit back-to-back shots and Walters added another as a 6-0 run lasting 62 seconds put the Jimmies back in front. The Chargers came back with the next seven points to go ahead by one, and the pressure intensified.

Jamestown’s final lead came at 62-61 when Jack Talley (SR/Sioux Falls, SD) scored with 4:10 left in the game. Ethan Friedel and Quinten Vasa made three-pointers, and Quinn Vesey sank a bucket to put BCU up by five with 2:10 left.

Cole Woodford (FR/Redwood Falls, MN) connected on a three to make it a two-point Charger lead with 1:04 left, then Kjos tied the game with 29 seconds to play.

Briar Cliff took a 71-69 lead as Conner Groves got open for a layup with 1.3 seconds left.

Faced with going the length of the floor, Jamestown took a time out and drew up a play to perfection. Woodford inbounded the ball and threw a pass deflected by Brock Schrom (SR/Grand Rapids, MN) at the top of the three-point line. The ball found its way over to Kjos on the left wing, and his release found nothing but the bottom of the net as the clock reached zero.

Kjos finished with a game-high 18 points, making four three-pointers. Woodford had 10 off the bench and Brady Birch (SR/Melrose, MN) recorded a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Vasa led BCU with 16 points, and Jaden Kleinhesselink added 13 and five assists. Groves was also in double figures with 11.

UJ moves into second place in the conference standings, 1 1/2 games behind Morningside (15-3) and a half-game ahead of Dakota Wesleyan (12-4).

The Jimmies host Midland on Saturday at 4 p.m. in their final regular-season home game.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (UJ) — The University of Jamestown women’s basketball team hung with No.7 Morningside College, but the Mustangs eventually pulled away for an 84-75 win Wednesday evening in the GPAC quarterfinals.

Jamestown’s season ends with a record of 15-11, while Morningside improves to 24-2.

Kia Tower (SO/Bigfork, MN) tied a career high with 25 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Jimmies. Macy Savela (SO/Mountain Iron, MN) had 16 points off the bench and Hannah DeMars (SO/Grand Rapids, MN) was also in double figures with 15.

The Mustangs made six of their seven first-quarter field goals from beyond the arc, but the Jimmies held serve with 50 percent shooting and trailed by just two after the first 10 minutes.

Jamestown took a 30-28 lead following a pair of Emma Stoehr (SR/Woodbury, MN) free throws with 3:19 before the half. Morningside closed on a 9-2 run to take a five point halftime lead.

The advantage grew to double digits after a Chloe Lofstrom three-pointer made it 46-36 with 6:29 left in the third quarter. UJ eventually fell behind by 13 just under five minutes later, but back-to-back three-pointers by Savela helped cut Morningside’s lead to nine heading to the fourth.

A 7-0 run capped off by Audrey Rodakowski (FR/Dickinson, ND)’s basket made it 76-71 with 3:32 remaining. The Mustangs would go 6-for-6 from the foul line down the stretch to help put the game away.

Sierra Mitchell led all players with 27 points, making 7-of-15 three-point attempts. Lofstrom ended with 17, while three other players were in double figures.

Morningside will host fourth-seeded Briar Cliff on Saturday at 3 p.m., while third-seed Northwestern (Iowa) plays at No. 2 seed Concordia (Neb.)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (NAIA) – The Grand View (Iowa) Vikings remain at No. 1 in the latest edition of the 2020-21 NAIA Men’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 15 Poll. The Vikings have held the No. 1 spot for all four polls this season.

Poll Methodology

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, Association of Independent Institutions and Unaffiliated Groups.
The Top 10 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 12 points for each first-place vote, 11 for second place and so on through the list.
The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
Teams that receive only one point on the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”

RANK	LAST TIME	SCHOOL [FIRST-PLACE VOTES]	RECORD	POINTS
1	1	Grand View (Iowa)	12-0	233
2	3	Campbellsville (Ky.)	9-2	220
3	8	Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.)	3-0	205
4	12	Missouri Valley	9-2	194
5	6	Missouri Baptist	9-2	191
6	7	Jamestown (N.D.)	8-2	182
7	2	Park (Mo.)	8-2	156
7	5	Vanguard (Calif.)	5-2	156
9	10	Indiana Tech	8-2	151
10	4	Lourdes (Ohio)	6-1	136
11	9	Saint Xavier (Ill.)	9-1	129
12	11	Ottawa (Ariz.)	6-3	123
13	13	Life (Ga.)	7-0	98
14	NR	Mount Mercy (Iowa)	7-2	78
15	14	Goshen (Ind.)	10-4	68

Dropped from the Poll: Ottawa (Kan.)

Receiving Votes: Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 57, Hope International (Calif.) 53, UC Merced (Calif.) 43, Ottawa (Kan.) 25, Siena Heights (Mich.) 24, Georgetown (Ky.) 21, Trinity Christian (Ill.) 19, Webber International (Fla.) 4, Aquinas (Mich.) 3

NBA..

— Zach LaVine (lah-VEEN’) celebrated his first All-Star selection with 35 points against his original NBA team, helping the Bulls beat the Timberwolves, 133-126 in overtime. Coby White contributed 20 points for Chicago, which shot 59% from the field and had seven players score in double figures during its fifth win in six games.

UNDATED (AP) — The Golden State Warriors are coming home after salvaging the last two games of a four-game road trip.

Stephen Curry scored 24 points and Draymond Green fell just short of a triple-double as the Warriors dumped the Pacers, 111-107.

Green had 12 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and three steals for Golden State, which bounced back after beginning their road swing with losses to the Magic and Hornets by a total of six points.

The Warriors led just 99-98 with 4:36 left before scoring the next six points to regain control.

Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers with 24 points and Domantas Sabonis had 22 points and 16 rebounds for his his 24th double-double of the season.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Rudy Gobert and Jordan Clarkson each scored 18 points and the Utah Jazz routed the Los Angeles Lakers 114-89. Gobert also had nine rebounds for Utah which won for the 22nd time in its last 24 games. Twenty of those victories have come by double-digits. Bojan Bogdanovic added 15 points, Mike Conley had 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and Donovan Mitchell finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. LeBron James scored 19 points and Montrzel Harrell added 16 to lead the Lakers who lost their fourth straight and fifth in six games.

Checking out Wednesday’s other NBA action:

— Malik Monk scored 29 points off the bench and LaMelo Ball added 20 with eight assists as the Hornets cooled off the Suns, 124-121. Gordon Hayward added 20 points and Charlotte handed Phoenix just its second loss in 11 games.

— Jimmy Butler furnished 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Heat picked up their fourth win in a row, 116-108 over the Raptors. Butler also had 10 assists and eight rebounds for Miami and hit two of his 3-pointers down the stretch.

— Danilo Gallinari (dan-IH’-loh gah-lih-NAHR’-ee) set an Atlanta franchise record with 10 3-pointers and finished with 38 points in a 127-112 rout of the Celtics. Trae Young added 33 points as the Hawks built a 27-point lead in the first half before dropping the Celtics two games under .500.

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 42 points and Lu Dort hit a 3-pointer as time expired to give the Thunder a 102-99 win over the Spurs. Gilgeous-Alexander made 13 of 20 field goals, 10 of 11 free throws and 6 of 11 from beyond the arc.

— Zion Williamson scored 32 points in his first game since being named a first-time All-Star, guiding the Pelicans to a 128-118 victory over the Pistons. Brandon Ingram added 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for New Orleans, which trailed most of the first three quarters before edging in front.

— Jarrett Allen tied his career high with 26 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and blocked four shots as the Cavaliers dealt the Rockets their ninth straight loss, 112-96. The league’s most accurate shooter made 10 of 11 from the floor as Cleveland won its second straight since a 10-game skid.

NBA-NEWS

Booker replacing Davis on West squad

UNDATED (AP) — Snubbed a day earlier, Devin Booker became an All-Star for the second straight year.

The Phoenix Suns guard has been selected to replace injured Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis on the Western Conference team for the March 7 game in Atlanta. The move would seem to satisfy Lakers forward LeBron James, who tweeted on Tuesday that Booker “is the most disrespected player in our league!!! Simple as that.”

Davis is sidelined by a strained right calf.

Booker is averaging 24.7 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting a career-high 50.1% from the field.

In other NBA news:

— The Rockets have released DeMarcus Cousins after just 25 games. Cousins was waived this week after signing a $2.3 million contract with Houston in the offseason. The 30-year-old Cousins was averaging 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds this season playing in a reserve role after missing all of last year with an Achilles’ issue.

— Backup guard Quinn Cook has been waived by the Lakers shortly before his contract would have been guaranteed. Cook averaged 2.1 points while appearing in 16 games this season.

— The leadership of the National Basketball Coaches Association is voicing its “concern and level of disappointment” with the way the Minnesota Timberwolves changed head coaches. The Timberwolves fired Ryan Saunders on Sunday night and formally introduced Toronto Raptors assistant Chris Finch as the replacement on Monday. Timberwolves assistant David Vanterpool has support from several NBA players, many of whom expressed anger that he did not get the job or, at minimum, the appearance of being considered for it. Vanterpool is Black. Finch is white.

GOLF-WOODS ACCIDENT

Sheriff says Woods crash “purely an accident”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles County sheriff is characterizing the crash that seriously injured Tiger Woods as “purely an accident.”

Sheriff Alex Villanueva appeared to rule out any potential criminal charges even as authorities were still investigating. Deputies did not see any evidence that the 15-time major champion was impaired by drugs or alcohol after Tuesday’s rollover wreck on a downhill stretch of road known for crashes.

A post on Woods’ Twitter account said the crash caused “significant” injuries to his right leg, and he underwent a “long surgical procedure.”

NFL-BUCCANEERS-BRADY

Bucs still keen on Brady extension

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — It’s not often you hear of a team that’s prepared to offer an extension to a 40-something athlete. Then again, Tom Brady’s not an average athlete.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are open to giving the seven-time Super Bowl champion a contract extension. General manager Jason Licht reiterated Wednesday that the Super Bowl champions would like to keep the 43-year-old quarterback in uniform for as long as Brady wants to play. Licht declined to characterize any conversations the team’s had about that prospect.

Brady just led the Bucs to their second Super Bowl title.

In other NFL news:

— The Raiders have released receiver Tyrell Williams following two injury-plagued seasons with the team. Williams initially signed a four-year, $44.3 million deal as a free agent to join the Raiders in 2019. He struggled with injuries to his feet his first season and then missed all last season with a torn labrum.

TOP 25 MEN’S BASKETBALL

UNDATED (AP) — North Carolina State is making a nice push toward a berth in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

The Wolfpack have their first four-game, ACC road winning streak in almost four decades following a 68-61 victory over 15th-ranked Virginia. Cam Hayes led the Wolfpack with 16 points and DJ Funderburk scored nine of his 14 points in the second half.

NC State opened with a 17-4 run, outscored the Cavaliers 30-16 in the paint and trailed for just 48 seconds.

Sam Hauser had a game-high 21 points for the Cavs, who have dropped three in a row for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

In other top-25 men’s basketball finals:

— Freshman Jaylin Williams scored 10 of his season-high 13 points during a 17-2 run that allowed No. 20 Arkansas to turn a six-point deficit into an 81-66 thumping of sixth-ranked Alabama. Moses Moody led all scorers with 24, 16 of which came from the free-throw line to help the Razorbacks beat a ranked team at home for the first time in three years.

— Marcus Zegarowski, Christian Bishop and Denzel Mahoney scored 13 points apiece for 13th-rated Creighton in a 77-53 pounding of DePaul. The Bluejays opened the second half on an 11-2 run en route to their fourth straight win and seventh in their last eight games.

— No. 11 Florida State coasted to an 88-71 win over Miami as Sardaar Calhoun scored a career-high 16 points. RaiQuan Gray had 12 points and 13 rebounds to help the ACC-leading Seminoles win for the ninth time in 10 games.

— Victor Bailey Jr. made 5-of-8 3-pointers and finished with 21 points as No. 25 Tennessee beat in-state rival Vanderbilt, 70-58.

NHL…

UNDATED (AP) — Just two points separate the top four teams in the NHL’s highly-competitive Central Division following a shutout win by Tampa Bay and a shutout loss by Florida.

Ross Colton scored in his NHL debut and Andrei Vasilevskiy (va-sih-LEHV’-skiy) stopped 25 shots in the Lightning’s 3-0 win at Carolina. Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow (GOO’-droh) also scored, and Alex Killorn (kih-LOHRN’) had two assists in the third of four straight games between the two teams.

Vasilevskiy had his 22nd career shutout and first since March 2020 against Montreal.

The Stars’ six-game winless streak is over after Anton Khudobin (koo-DOH’-bihn) stopped 43 shots in a 3-0 victory over the Panthers.

Khudobin has shut out Florida three times in nine career starts and has 10 career shutouts overall.

John Klingberg put the Stars ahead for good just 53 seconds into the game. That was all the scoring until Esa Lindell tallied 2:17 into the third and Joel Kiviranta (kih-vih-RAHN’-tah) added an empty-netter.

Florida tops the division with 26 points, one more than the Lightning and Hurricanes. The idle Blackhawks are two back.

Elsewhere on NHL ice:

— Nico Sturm tallied twice and Kaapo Kahkonen (KAK’-ah-nehn) was sharp in making 30 saves in the Wild’s fourth win in a row, 6-2 at Colorado. Mats Zuccarello (zoo-kah-REH’-loh), Zach Parise (pah-REE’-say), Marcus Foligno (foh-LEE’-noh), and Ryan Hartman also scored as the Wild completed a 4-1 road trip.

— It’s now a six-game winning streak for the surprising Kings after Alex Iafallo (eye-ah-FAH’-loh) and Andreas Athanasiou (ath-ah-nah-SEE’-oo) scored in the second period of a 2-1 verdict over St. Louis. Cal Petersen made 35 saves and Los Angeles dropped St. Louis to 1-5-1 in its last seven home games.

— The Coyotes rallied from a three-goal deficit for the second straight game and beat the Anaheim Ducks, 4-3 on shootout goals from Conor Garland and Christian Dvorak. Tyler Pitlick and Jakob Chychrun (CHIHK’-ruhn) tallied less than two minutes apart in the third period to make it 3-2 before Phil Kessel tied it with 3:21 left in regulation.

— James van Riemsdyk (REEMZ’-dyk) and Shayne Gostisbehere (GAHS’-tihs-behr) each scored a power-play goal and the Flyers overcame Chris Kreider’s hat trick in a 4-3 win over the Rangers. Claude Giroux (juh-ROO’) had three assists in his return after a two-week absence due to COVID-19.

— The Maple Leafs are a league-best 15-4-2 after William Nylander (NEE’-lan-dur) furnished the tying and winning goals in a 2-1 overtime win against the Flames. Nylander tied it with 1:28 left in regulation and scored 1:06 into overtime to give Toronto a split of its two-game set with Calgary.

NHL-NEWS

Canadiens fire coach Claude Julien amid losing stretch

UNDATED (AP) — Coaching the Montreal Canadiens has become a very tenuous position as the club enters a franchise-record 28th consecutive year without a Stanley Cup.

The Habs were off to a good start this season, but their current struggles have led to the dismissals of head coach Claude Julien (ZHOO’-lee-ehn) and associate coach Kirk Muller. The marks the second time Julien has been fired by the Canadiens.

Assistant coach Dominique Ducharme (doh-mah-NEEK’ doo-SHAHRM’) was appointed interim coach with the team and former NHL forward Alex Burrows was added to the coaching staff. Ducharme inherits a team that has dropped three straight and six of eight since a 7-1-2 start.

In other NHL news:

— Thursday’s scheduled game between the Sharks and Golden Knights has been postponed after a San Jose player entered the NHL’s COVID protocol. It’s the 36th NHL game this season to be postponed for virus-related issues and 40th counting the Texas snowstorm that affected Dallas.

MLB-NEWS

— Twins shortstop Royce Lewis has a torn ACL in his right knee that will sideline him for the upcoming season. Lewis is considered the organization’s top prospect but wasn’t expected to be in the majors this year after finishing last season at Double-A.

UNDATED (AP) — The pandemic has sidelined the Chicago White Sox’s top player.

American League MVP José Abreu (ah-BRAY’-oo) has tested positive for COVID-19 and will remain away from the White Sox for at least the next few days.

General manager Rick Hahn says the Cuban slugger is “completely asymptomatic.” Hahn says testing also showed the presence of COVID antibodies and Abreu believes he had a mild case of the coronavirus in January.

Abreu powered the White Sox back to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The three-time All-Star hit .317 with 19 home runs and a major league-leading 60 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened season.

In other baseball news:

— The Braves have claimed outfielder Guillermo Heredia off waivers from the Mets and added him to their 40-man roster. He was designated for assignment on Sunday when the Mets finalized a deal with center fielder Kevin Pillar.

COLLEGE SPORTS-NEWS

Bill would allow college athletes to return from draft

UNDATED (AP) — The latest federal bill related to college sports would allow athletes to earn money from endorsements, loosen restrictions around transfers and permit players to return to school after entering a professional league’s draft.

The proposed legislation also would require the wealthiest athletic programs to increase spending on long-term medical care for athletes.

The bill is the fourth to emerge from the Senate since December and second from a Republican.

In other college sports news:

— A diversity study for racial and gender hiring across college sports found little change in scores that continue to lag behind the professional ranks. Wednesday’s report card from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida assigned an overall C-plus grade, a B for racial hiring and a C-plus for gender hiring for the 2019-20 sports season. Those were the same grades as last year.

— The West Coast Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will be held without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Clark County in Nevada would have allowed a limited number of fans, but the conference decided it would be safer for athletes and staff with no one else in the arena.

In world and national news….

(AP) American drugmaker Pfizer has begun studying whether a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine provides protection against mutated versions of the coronavirus. Health authorities say first-generation COVID-19 vaccines still protect against variants that are emerging in different parts of the world. But manufacturers are starting to prepare now in case a more vaccine-resistant mutation comes along. Pfizer said Thursday it will offer a third dose to 144 volunteers, drawing from people who participated in the vaccine’s early-stage U.S. testing last year. It wants to determine if an additional booster shot given six to 12 months after the first two doses would rev up the immune system enough to ward off a mutated virus.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders are gathering to try to inject new energy into the bloc’s lagging coronavirus vaccination effort as concern mounts that new variants might spread faster than authorities can adapt. At a videoconference summit Thursday, they’ll debate ways to speed the roll out of vaccines and the severity of restrictions needed to halt the spread of the virus. COVID-19 has killed more than 515,000 people across the 27 nations. The leaders will also weigh whether and when to introduce vaccine certificates. Europe’s tourism and travel industries are suffering, and the vacation destinations of southern Europe are desperate to avoid another disastrous summer. The summit talks will also touch on getting vaccines to other countries in need, notably in Africa.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are rallying solidly against Democrats’ proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. But even as they do, lawmakers are awaiting a decision by the Senate’s parliamentarian that could bolster or potentially kill a pivotal provision hiking the federal minimum wage. Democrats plan to push the sweeping package through the House on Friday. They were hoping the Senate would follow quickly enough to have legislation on President Joe Biden’s desk by mid-March. But the big suspense is over whether the nonpartisan parliamentarian will decide if the minimum wage plan can stay in the bill and enjoy its protection against a GOP filibuster.

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets have followed Wall Street higher after the Federal Reserve chairman said the U.S. central bank is in no hurry to withdraw support for the economy. London and Frankfurt rose in early trading while Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong closed higher. U.S. futures were mixed. Overnight, Wall Street hit a new high after chairman Jerome Powell said the Fed sees no inflation danger. That helped to dampen fears sparked by a rise in U.S. Treasury bond yields, an indicator of inflation sentiment. Investors also are looking for Congress to approve President Joe Biden’s proposed economic aid plan. That includes $1,400 checks to most Americans.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-led House is poised to pass a bill that enshrines protections in the nation’s labor and civil rights laws for LGBTQ people, a top priority of President Joe Biden, though the legislation faces an uphill battle in the Senate. The Equality Act amends existing civil rights law to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identification as protected characteristics. Supporters say the law would ensure that every person is treated equally under the law. But some religious groups and social conservatives worry that the bill would force people to take actions that contradict their religious beliefs. Meanwhile, hundreds of the nations leading corporations have endorsed the measure.