CSi Weather…

FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. South winds 10 to 20 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. South winds

10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly

cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain after midnight in the Jamestown area, 20 percent in the Valley City area . Lows 40. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. A 30 percent chance of rain in the morning in the Jamestown area, 40 percent in the Valley City area.  Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph.

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

.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs around 50.

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

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain in the

afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain and snow in

the evening, then slight chance of snow after midnight. Lows in

the upper 20s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.

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

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

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

 

There will be two periods of potential impacts during the long term,

Sunday and Tuesday into Tuesday night. Both periods may feature a

mix of precipitation types. However, the tracks of these systems

will be the main factor on impacts in our area as the events get

closer and models get a better hand on the systems.

For the mid week period, a closed upper low will move across the

southern plains Mon night and lift northward into MN or the upper

Great Lakes by Tue night, with another round of rain-snow across mainly southern and central MN. Once again, the most likely scenario for any impacts will generally be across west central MN.

Afternoon highs will be in the 40s and 50s throughout the period.

 

Bismarck  (NDDoH)   The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) held a news briefing on Friday Mar. 19, 2021 to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota, with NDDoH Immunization Program Manager Molly Howell being the main speaker.

Guest speakers included Kirby Kruger, NDDoH Disease Control & Forensic Pathology Section Chief, and Dr. Jeff Hostetter, M.D., Program Director for the UND Center for Family Medicine.

The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) announced Friday that the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout would reach Phase 2 on Monday, March 29, opening access to the vaccine to the general public. Providers in certain areas may reach Phase 2 prior to March 29.

As of Friday, March 19, 194,903 (27%) North Dakotans had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 115,524 (16%) being fully vaccinated.

 

 

Molly Howell says, “As the state prepares to make the vaccine available to the general public, it’s important for people included in Phases 1A, 1B or 1C to be vaccinated now, , as they are at highest risk for severe COVID-19 or being exposed to COVID-19.  “Anyone in Phases 1A or 1B who has not received their vaccine yet is encouraged to call our COVID-19 hotline at 1-866-207-2880 and select option 2 for assistance if they’re having trouble finding vaccine.”

The Pfizer vaccine only can be given to those 16-17 years old.

She suggests that adolescents that need other vaccines for back to school, that before  school starts, and getting other vaccines, to get the COVID-19 vaccine soon, because it can not be given while other types of vaccines are being received within a time period of receiving  the COVID-19  inoculation.

The state will receive addition vaccine doses next week, over 10,000 doses of Pfizer and 7,500 doses of Moderna, plus more Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

More pharmacies will receive vaccine doses next week, including Medicine Shoppe Thifty White, and CVS.

 

Dr. Jeff Hostetter, M.D., Program Director for the UND Center for Family Medicine, said, getting COVID-19 vaccine protects yourself and others around you.  He said the number of residents in North Dakota nursing homes has significantly decline the past few months stemming from COVID related deaths.

He said those who have had COVID-19 still just be vaccinated. He said those with COVID-19 have seen a reduction in symptoms.

He added there’s a better chance of not getting the COVID-19 variants with getting any of the vaccines.

 

Kirby Kruger, NDDoH Disease Control & Forensic Pathology Section Chief, covered the variants.

He said they include the recently discovered in North Dakota, the  California variant, along with the U.K., South Africa, and Brazil Variants, in addition to the first detected COVID-19.

He said variants are detectable with blood tests with current testing procedures.

Also under study is the transmissibility and how sick a person may get from contracting the variant.

He said the vaccines currently available in North Dakota are effective against all of the coronavirus strains currently detected in the state.

He encourages everybody to continue to mask-up observe social distancing, frequent handwashing with soap and water, and sanitizing, stay at home when sick.

 

He added a study showed that with counties with mask mandates, case rates and death rates were reduced.

He added that those fully vaccinated can be in contact with others fully vaccinate, without taking those precautions.  However, being in public, those fully vaccinated still need to take those precautions against the spread from those who are not.

 

Citizens can determine their vaccine eligibility in their area by checking the NDDoH COVID-19 Vaccine Locator at health.nd.gov/covidvaccinelocator.

 

Gov. Doug Burgum adds,  “North Dakota continues to be a national leader in vaccine administration, thanks to the incredible efforts of our health care providers, public health staff, Team ND members and citizens who have received the vaccine. Those who haven’t been vaccinated are encouraged to take advantage of this expanded access to protect themselves and those around them, build community immunity, keep our schools and businesses open and help end the pandemic.”

NDDoH

Fri. Mar. 19, 2021

11-a.m.

Barnes:

New Positives  1

Total Positives 1315

Active 9

Recovered 1274

 

Stutsman:

New Positives  2

Total Positives  3330

Active 12

Recovered 3222

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
194,903 Residents who received at least one dose of vaccine
326,849 Total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered
4,673 Total Tests from yesterday*
1,745,994 Total tests completed since the pandemic began
119 Positive Individuals from yesterday*****
56 PCR Tests
63 Antigen Tests
101,514 Total positive individuals since the pandemic began
3.57% Daily Positivity Rate**
787 Total Active Cases
+14 Change in active cases from yesterday
97 Individuals with a recovery date of yesterday****
99,267 Total recovered since the pandemic began
13 Currently hospitalized
-3 Change in hospitalizations from yesterday
+1 New death(s)
1,460 Total deaths since the pandemic began

 
INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19
Man in his 80s from Nelson County 
 

NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED FRIDAY BY COUNTY
Adams 0 Grant 0 Ransom 0
Barnes 1 Griggs 0 Renville 1
Benson 0 Hettinger 0 Richland 4
Billings 0 Kidder 0 Rolette 2
Bottineau 0 LaMoure 0 Sargent 3
Bowman 0 Logan 0 Sheridan 1
Burke 0 McHenry 1 Sioux 1
Burleigh 4 McIntosh 0 Slope 0
Cass 54 McKenzie 0 Stark 9
Cavalier 0 McLean 0 Steele 0
Dickey 2 Mercer 0 Stutsman 2
Divide 0 Morton 1 Towner 0
Dunn 0 Mountrail 0 Traill 0
Eddy 0 Nelson 0 Walsh 4
Emmons 0 Oliver 0 Ward 10
Foster 0 Pembina 1 Wells 0
Golden Valley 0 Pierce 0 Williams 5
Grand Forks 10 Ramsey 3

 

* 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.

 

Valley City (VCSU)  VCSU employees who are traveling over spring break are highly encouraged to get a COVID test upon their return. In addition, all students who live in the residence halls that leave campus for spring break are required to test upon return.

Two testing events will be offered. The first will take place Monday, March 22 at The Bubble from 1 to 2 p.m. Rapid and conventional tests will be available and no registration is required if you have previously tested at a community event. The second event will take place on Tuesday, March 23 in the Student Center Skoal Room from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a VCSU event and preregistration is required at the following link: https://nddoh-testreg-prod.powerappsportals.us/covid-19-screening/?eventid=

 

Valley City (Chamber)  The Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce thanks all those who purchased Chamber Bucks, and participating Valley City businesses, with all One million dollars available in the For Love of Local promotion purchased and being circulated.

On Friday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2,  the Chamber’s Event Coordinator, Tracy Compson said, those purchasing the Chamber Bucks have until April 30 to spend the bucks, with participating businesses and take advantage of special offers being available.  After April  30, the Chamber Bucks will only be able to be spent at Chamber businesses..

Chamber Bucks never expire.

On another topic, Tracey added that Rally in the Valley is set of June 19 this year. Entries are being accepted for the 10-a.m. parade, down Central Avenue, along with vendors.

Events including, the Duckin Down the Sheyenne, Duck Race.  Non-profits are encouraged to sell tickets with proceeds returned to the organization.

She pointed out that Crazy Day will be on July 28, with more details upcoming.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota House leaders have signaled a reluctance to fully support a state Senate bill that aims to funnel $10 million to a troubled intermodal rail facility. The measure is increasingly is being criticized as a bailout for some banks, including one partially owned by U.S. Sen. John Hoeven. The Republican said Friday that he did not know about the bill until The Associated Press asked about it. Hoeven says he has stayed out of discussions about it. Supporters believe the Minot facility will reduce shipping costs and increase markets for the state’s commodities. Critics say the funding is a waste of taxpayer money.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Drought conditions are getting worse in western North Dakota. The Bismarck Tribune reports that the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Map released Thursday shows much of northwestern North Dakota, or about 17% of the state, is in extreme drought. It’s the first time this year any part of the state has been classified in that category. The rest of the western two-thirds of the state is in severe drought. The eastern third is in moderate drought. The National Weather Service predicts the state will see little to no precipitation over the next week or so. A storm system is developing in the Plains but looks as if it will track south and east of the state.

In world and national news….

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is returning to a little bit of normal following a year disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Court spokesperson Kathy Arberg says most of the justices met in person Friday for a regularly scheduled private conference at the court. The justices have been holding conferences by phone since the court closed to the public in March of last year. Arberg says all nine of the justices are vaccinated and the gathering was in keeping with recently released Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance about indoor gatherings for people who have been fully vaccinated. The justices last met in person for a private conference on March 6, 2020.

 

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Legislature has voted to shut down for several weeks due to an outbreak of COVID-19. Lawmakers in the House and Senate made the move on Friday to recess until April 6 with significant unfinished business, including setting budgets and pushing through a huge income tax cut. At least six of the 70 House members have tested positive for the illness in the last week, and there are fears a highly contagious variant of COVID-19 is in the Statehouse. Three of the infected lawmakers participated in debates on the House floor this week. The House, with the illness spreading, requested the Senate recess as well. The Senate honored the request.

 

DETROIT (AP) — A western Michigan restaurant owner has been ordered to jail until she pays $7,500 and closes her business. A judge says Marlena Pavlos-Hackney has put the public at risk during the coronavirus pandemic and defiantly refused to follow orders. She owns Marlena’s Bistro and Pizzeria in Holland. Investigators say Pavlos-Hackney was ignoring caps on restaurant capacity and wasn’t enforcing mask rules. Her food license was suspended Jan. 20, but the eatery remained open. Pavlos-Hackney’s attorney says she could immediately pay $7,500 and close the restaurant. Police arrested Pavlos-Hackney on Friday morning and detained her in Ingham County jail.

 

(AP) Four men described by prosecutors as leaders of the far-right Proud Boys have been indicted on charges that they planned and carried out a coordinated attack on the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory. A federal indictment ordered unsealed Friday presents new evidence of how federal officials believe group members planned and carried out the Jan. 6 attack. It says more than 60 people used an encrypted messaging channel to communicate when they joined the mob that attacked the Capitol. With the new indictment, at least 19 Proud Boys leaders, members or associates have been charged with federal offenses related to the riots.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Twitter has briefly suspended the account of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, but later said the move was  an error. Greene, a Georgia Republican, has in the past used social media to promote conspiracy theories about QAnon and the 9/11 attacks, as well as violence against Democrats. She was unable to post to her account for 12 hours on Friday. Twitter later said the suspension was the result of an error made by an automated system. In a tweet sent after her account was reinstated, Greene says she doubts Twitter’s explanation.

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge says he won’t delay or move the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death, but he’ll allow limited evidence from a 2019 arrest. Attorneys also seated a 13th juror on Friday, leaving one more needed for trial. Jury selection was halfway complete last week in former officer Derek Chauvin’s trial when the Minneapolis City Council announced it had unanimously approved a $27 million settlement with Floyd’s family. Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, called the timing of the announcement deeply disturbing and said it jeopardized Chauvin’s chance for a fair trial. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill called the timing “unfortunate” but on Friday declined to delay the trial.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minneapolis police department is reviewing use of force by its officers after their attempt to clear out a homeless encampment led to a violent clash between officers and civilians who tried to stop them. Police say five people were arrested and five officers sustained minor injuries Thursday. A fight broke out between officers and civilians who shoved back and forth. The group MNUprising shared a video on Twitter that appeared to show an officer trying to restrain a person by kneeling on that person’s neck or upper back. The clash came as a jury is being seated for the murder trial of a former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee against George Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes last May.

 

DENTON, Texas (AP) — A grand jury has declined to indict a North Texas police officer in the fatal shooting of a college student who had refused to drop a frying pan and a cleaver and then advanced toward them with the pan. The Denton County grand jury made the decision Thursday about the officer. Police have not released the officer’s name. Darius Tarver was shot in January 2020 after residents of an apartment complex in Denton called 911 and said a man was banging on doors and breaking light fixtures. Tarver was a 23-year-old University of North Texas student.