– Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Mar 25

CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. South winds 15 to 25 mph.

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain after midnight in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area. Lows in the mid 30s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain in the afternoon in the Jamestown area, 30 percent in the Valley City area. Highs in the lower 50s. South winds around 10 mph shifting to the northwest in the afternoon.

FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain in the

evening, then slight chance of light rain and snow after

midnight. Lows 25 to 30. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 50. Northwest winds 5 to

15 mph.

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

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.

.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

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

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

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

Near critical fire weather conditions are possible Thursday afternoon

and early evening across central and eastern North Dakota.

Rain may mix or change to snow during the morning or night periods

Friday through Saturday, with minimal impacts expected at this

time.

(Bismarck NDDDOT) The Jamestown Road Diet Construction will start ,soon, with the pavement re-striping, scheduled to begin Thursday. March 25, 2021 on North Dakota Highway 52 from 8th Avenue Northwest to 8th Street South in Jamestown. (The Road Diet Project.)

The re-striping is expected to take two days.

Beginning April 6, construction starts to include the removal of stoplights, curb ramps, and other project items, with an estimated completion date of Mid-September, 2021.

The project consists of replacing temporary pavement markings, and various improvements to ADA curb ramps, sidewalks, signals, signing and lighting.

Traffic will be delayed at times during the project.

The NDDOT would like to remind motorists to slow down and use caution throughout the work zone.

For more information about construction projects and road conditions throughout North Dakota, call 511 or visit the ND Roads map at http://www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info-v2/.

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Tues March 24, 2021

11-a.m.

Barnes:

New Positives 1

Total Positives 1318

Active 9

Recovered 1275

Stutsman:

New Positives 0

Total Positives 3321

Active 12

Recovered 3226

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
209,699	Residents who received at least one dose of vaccine
348,690	Total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered
5,336	Total Tests from yesterday*
1,760,554	Total tests completed since the pandemic began
142	Positive Individuals from yesterday*****
77	PCR Tests
65	Antigen Tests
102,001	Total positive individuals since the pandemic began
3.66%	Daily Positivity Rate**
794	Total Active Cases
+49	Change in active cases from yesterday
85	Individuals with a recovery date of yesterday****
99,743	Total recovered since the pandemic began
19	Currently hospitalized
0	Change in hospitalizations from yesterday
+1	New death(s)
1,464	Total deaths since the pandemic began
INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19
Woman in her 80s from Ward County
NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY BY COUNTY

Adams		0	Grant	0	Ransom	1
Barnes		1	Griggs	0	Renville	0
Benson		0	Hettinger	0	Richland	8
Billings		0	Kidder	0	Rolette	0
Bottineau		0	LaMoure	0	Sargent	0
Bowman		0	Logan	0	Sheridan	0
Burke		0	McHenry	0	Sioux	0
Burleigh		12	McIntosh	0	Slope	0
Cass		70	McKenzie	1	Stark	3
Cavalier		0	McLean	0	Steele	0
Dickey		5	Mercer	0	Stutsman	0
Divide		0	Morton	7	Towner	1
Dunn		0	Mountrail	0	Traill	1
Eddy		0	Nelson	0	Walsh	0
Emmons		0	Oliver	0	Ward	2
Foster		0	Pembina	2	Wells	0
Golden Valley		1	Pierce	0	Williams	8
Grand Forks		15	Ramsey	4

* 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 (CVHD) Central Valley Health District will be holding vaccination Clinics March 25 and March 26, 2021, for those scheduled to have a second dose of Pfizer, or Moderna Vaccines.

Second Dose

On Thursday March 25, 2021 the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine will be given from 10-a.m. to 2-p.m., at the Jamestown Civic Center Exchequer Room.

On Friday March 26, 2021 the second dose of Moderna Vaccine will be given from 7-a.m. to 1-p.m.

Check the back of your CDC vaccination card from your first dose to confirm the date of your second dose of either vaccine.

Upcoming:

First Dose Clinics…

Pfizer Vaccine, those 16 years and older.

Monday March 29, 2021, 1-p.m., to 4-p.m.

Jamestown Civic Center, Exchequor Room, North Entrance.

Second Dose Clinics…

Pfizer Vaccine(Review the due date on the back of your CDC COVID Vaccination record card, prior to registering (If you register for a first doze your appointment will be cancelled)

Thursday, March 25, 2021, 10-a.m. to 2-p.m.

Jamestown Civic Center, Exchequor Room, North Entrance.

Moderna Vaccine (Review the due date on the back of your CDC COVID Vaccination record card, prior to registering (If you register for a first doze your appointment will be cancelled)

Friday March 26, 2021 7-a.m. to 1-p.m.

Jamestown Civic Center, Exchequor Room, North Entrance.

Moderna Vaccine (Review the due date on the back of your CDC COVID Vaccination record card, prior to registering (If you register for a first doze your appointment will be cancelled)

Monday March 29, 2021 1-p.m., to 4-p.m.

Jamestown Civic Center, Exchequor Room, North Entrance.

Valley City (CCHD) City/County Health District in Valley City will hold the next COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Thursday, March 25, 2021, from 10-a.m. to 1-p.m. at CCHD.

Pre-Registration is required.

The vaccination is for the Moderna vaccine, administered in two doses, the second dose 28 days from the first dose. Check the back of you CDC card to see when you will be scheduled for the second dose.

CCHD is currently vaccinating into Phase 1C Priority Groups, including Barnes County Essential Workers, and ages 18 and older at increased risk for COVID-19.

Valley City (CSi) Free COVID-19 testing events for the VCSU and Valley City communities will be held this week from 1-2 p.m. at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, “The Bubble”. Rapid and conventional testing will be offered again on Friday March 26.

An additional testing event will take place for VCSU students, faculty and staff only on March 23 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. This will be rapid testing only and preregistration is required at the NDDOH site.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Health officials report dozens of fully-vaccinated people have contracted COVID-19 in Minnesota, a development that wasn’t unexpected. The state has identified 89 coronavirus infections in people who have received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. State infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann said the fraction of fully vaccinated people who still contract infections was expected. Clinical trials suggested the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 95% effective. Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine is said to be about 66% effective. Doctors say even those who required hospitalization after being vaccinated had milder symptoms.

Washington (CSi) – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Committee, announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded funding to the following North Dakota airports.

This funding, made available under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, passed Congress in December and will be used to support a healthy and safe traveling environment, by supplementing the cost to clean, sanitize and combat the spread of pathogens at airports.

Fargo-Hector International Airport – $3,575,842
Minot International Airport – $1,689,084
Jamestown Regional Airport – $1,003,797
Barnes County Municipal Airport – $13,000
Hettinger Municipal Airport – $13,000
Hillsboro Municipal Airport – $13,000
Kenmare Municipal Airport – $13,000
Mandan Municipal Airport – $13,000
Watford City Municipal Airport – $13,000
Cooperstown Municipal Airport – $9,000
Crosby Municipal Airport – $9,000
Ellendale Municipal Airport – $9,000
Gwinner-Roger Melroe Field Airport – $9,000
Pembina Municipal Airport – $9,000
Washburn Municipal Airport – $9,000

“As we continue to see a return to air travel, it’s important the proper steps are in place to help slow the spread of any illness that could impact travelers and those who work in the aviation industry and at our airports,” said Hoeven.

Valley City (NDDOT) A public input meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 25 at Hi-Line Activity Center (HAC), 493 Central Ave N, Valley City, North Dakota. The public input meeting will utilize an open house format with a formal presentation at 5:15 p.m.

The purpose of the public input meeting is to discuss the proposed road reconstruction project along 6th Street Northwest, from 5th Avenue Northwest to Central Avenue North, in Valley City. The public input meeting will provide opportunity for public input. Representatives from the City of Valley City, KLJ Engineering, and Moore Engineering will be present to answer your questions and discuss your concerns.

If unable to attend the public input meeting, written statements or comments must be mailed by April 9, 2021 to:

Chad Petersen, P.E.
KLJ Project Manager
1010 4th Avenue Southwest
Valley City, North Dakota 58072
ValleyCity6thStreetNW@kljeng.com

Note: Please Include “Public Input Meeting” in the e-mail subject heading.

The City of Valley City will consider every request for reasonable accommodation to provide:

an accessible meeting facility or other accommodation for people with disabilities,
language interpretation for people with limited English proficiency (LEP), and
translations of written material necessary to access NDDOT programs and information.

To request accommodations, contact Gwen Crawford, City Administrator, at 701-845-8120 or gcrawford@valleycity.us. TTY users may use Relay North Dakota 711 or 1-800-366-6888.

Jamestown (CSi) The James River Figure Skating Club’s 43rd annual ice show, “Go Wild,” is Friday, March 26, through Sunday, March 28, and John L. Wilson Arena, once again directed and choreographed by Mark Vasarhelyi.

Show times are, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are, $10 for adults, $5 for students, preschoolers are free.

Jamestown (NDFU) – For a second time in less than a year, Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE) teamed up with North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) to donate 36,000 pounds of pork ribs to the Great Plains Food Bank in Fargo. The donation Wednesday is part of a giving spree that saw a total of 180,000 pounds of ribs distributed to food banks in South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana and North Dakota.

In May, Farmers Union delivered 150,000 pounds of pork ribs to food banks in the five-state area.

NDFU President Mark Watne, says, “We need all hands on deck to feed hungry families in our communities, especially with the pandemic and high unemployment that has placed an extra burden on food banks everywhere.”

The donated pork ribs are from Redwood Farms, one of several businesses owned by FUE – the dividends of which help fund Farmers Union state organizations and National Farmers Union. Redwood Farms supplies premium pork products to high-end restaurants in New York, Chicago and other cities across the U.S.

Watne adds, Farmers Union is doing what it can to help the most vulnerable among us. “Hunger never stops. As farmers who produce food, we want to make sure no one has to worry about their next meal … and hopefully it will be pork ribs.”

In North Dakota, the Great Plains Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization and the state’s only food bank. It works with a wide array of individuals and organizations to guide donated surplus food and grocery products to a network of 213 food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and charitable feeding programs.

NDFU is the largest farm organization in North Dakota, representing more than 50,000 farm and ranch families, members, and their energy and agriculture supply cooperatives.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota lawmakers are being warned that a bill seeking to shield schools and teachers from lawsuits arising from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms is unconstitutional. Attorneys and education officials say the bill would spur costly and unwinnable legal fights in federal court. They told the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday that the bill likely violates the clause in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the establishment of religion by the government. Despite the cautionary advice, the committee gave the legislation a “do-pass” recommendation. The full House will consider the bill later. The Senate approved the measure last month.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Senate has passed a bill that would prevent state auditors from releasing information about an investigation until a decision is made on whether it will be criminally prosecuted. Republican Rep. Pat Heinert says a 2019 audit of the Department of Commerce drew his attention to the issue. State Auditor Josh Gallion released his conclusion that the department mishandled state money and failed to adhere to public bid requirements in developing the state’s new logo. No criminal charges were filed in the case. The bill now goes to Gov. Doug Burgum.

In sports…

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UJ)– Mason Walters (SO/Jamestown, ND) of the University of Jamestown men’s basketball team was one of ten players selected to the NAIA All-Tournament team following the conclusion of Tuesday night’s championship game.

Walters averaged 23.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while shooting 66.2 percent from the field in four tournament games for the Jimmies. UJ advanced to the quarterfinals of the national tournament for just the second time in school history, where they were defeated by eventual national champion Shawnee State (Ohio) University.

2021 NAIA All-Tournament Team

Name	Institution
TreVion Crews	Bethel (Ind.)
Mason Walters	Jamestown (N.D.)
Damek Mitchell	Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
Trystan Bradley	Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
Hodges Bailey	Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
Zach Wrightsil	Loyola (La.)
Joel Polius	SAGU (Texas)
Antwaan Cushingberry	Saint Francis (Ind.)
James Jones	Shawnee State (Ohio)
EJ Onu	Shawnee State (Ohio)

NDAPSSA Boys Class A All-State Basketball Team.

2020-2021
First Team
Carter Birrenkott	Senior	West Fargo	Mr. BB Finalist
Treysen Eaglestaff	Junior	Bismarck
Nick Kupfer	Senior	Bismarck Legacy	Mr. BB Finalist
Deonte’ Martinez	Senior	Minot	Mr. BB Finalist
Jacksen Moni	Senior	West Fargo Sheyenne	Mr. BB Finalist
Second Team
Munezero Desire	Senior	Wahpeton
Darik Dissette	Sophomore	Minot
Carson Hegerle	Junior	West Fargo
Owen Hektner	Senior	Fargo Davies
Carson Lamp	Senior	Jamestown
Jah’heem Leake	Senior	West Fargo Sheyenne
Jayce Lowman	Senior	Mandan
Tyler Tollefson	Senior	Wahpeton

MOORHEAD, Minn. (UJ) — The University of Jamestown softball team held Minnesota State-Moorhead to two runs in a pair of games Wednesday, sweeping the NCAA Division II Dragons 4-1 and 9-1 in five innings.

The Jimmies improve to 19-7 overall and return to GPAC play Saturday at College of Saint Mary (Neb.)

Mariah Wick (JR/Jamestown, N.D.)’s bases-clearing double in the top of the fourth gave UJ a 4-0 lead in game one, and Jamestown went on to a 4-1 win. Kat Miska (JR/Pequot Lakes, Minn.) (9-1) pitched her ninth complete game of the season, striking out 11 while giving up just one run on five hits.

The Jimmies loaded the bases in the top of the first with one out, and a Santina Zito (SO/Boise, Idaho) fielder’s choice scored Morgan Geiszler (JR/Horace, N.D.) for a 1-0 lead.

With two outs in the fourth, Jenna Remenar (FR/Vancouver, Wash.) and Lauren Diemert (FR/West Fargo, N.D.) singled, and Geiszler walked to load the bases. Wick came through with a double to left field, scoring all three runners.

Wick and Remenar each had two hits. Sydney Prussia (JR/Detroit Lakes, Minn.) doubled and Katie Reisdorfer (JR/Fresno, Calif.) had UJ’s other hit.

After being kept off the scoreboard to start game two, UJ scored twice in the second and fourth innings, and put up four runs in the third to go ahead 8-1. A sac bunt by Megan Neiles (FR/Winnipeg, MB) and a Dragon fielding error accounted for the Jimmies’ first two runs.

In the third inning, Mariah Wick scored on an error, Gentrey Turin (FR/Sandy, Ore.) and Neiles singled in two more runs, and Julia Byrne (SO/Andover, Minn.) drove in another as UJ stretched their lead to 6-0.

MSU-M got on the board with a single run in the bottom of the third to make it 6-1. In the top of the fourth, Neiles and Byrne had RBI singles to make it an 8-1 game. Morgan Geiszler scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth for the final Jimmie run.

Katie Merchant (SO/South Haven, Minn.) (7-3) went all five innings and surrendered one run on five hits, striking out three.

Neiles, Byrne, Kassi Ward (JR/Olympia, Wash.), and Sydney Prussia all finished with two hits. Molly Haley (FR/Atwater, Calif.) and Jenna Remenar had the other Jimmie hits.

NBA..

— Kristaps Porzingis (KRIHS’-tahps pohr-ZIHN’-gihs) furnished 29 points and seven Mavericks scored at least 10 in a 128-108 dismantling of the Timberwolves. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 21 points off the bench for Dallas, and Luka Doncic (DAHN’-chihch) finished with 15. Rookie Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 29 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter.

UNDATED (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh) returned to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday and helped them earn their eighth consecutive victory.

Antetokounmpo didn’t seem too bothered by the sprained knee that forced him to miss Monday’s game, contributing 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 33 minutes of the Bucks’ 121-119 downing of the Celtics.

Khris Middleton poured in 27 points and grabbed 13 boards for the Bucks, who led 90-65 midway through the third quarter before hanging on.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 24 points, Kemba Walker had 23 and Jayson Tatum had 18. Tatum was back after missing one game due to illness.

Checking out Wednesday’s other NBA action:

— Donovan Mitchell provided five 3-pointers and 27 points in just three quarters of action as the Jazz ripped the Nets, 118-88. Bojan Bogdanovic was mired in a 3-for-25 shooting slump from 3-point range before making 4 of 6 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in Utah’s fourth win in five games. James Harden was scratched by Brooklyn due to a sore neck, joining teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the sideline.

— Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and the Clippers never trailed in clobbering the Spurs, 134-101. Marcus Morris Sr. added 20 points, Paul George had 17 points and Lou Williams had 16 for Los Angeles. The Clippers won their third straight and captured their 11th victory by 20 points or more this season.

— Evan Fournier scored the last of his 21 points on a driving layup over Deandre Ayton with 6.4 seconds left, pushing the Magic past the Suns, 112-111. Nikola Vucevic (nih-KOH’-lah VOO’-cheh-vihch) scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for his 30th double-double. Orlando trailed by 13 in the early going and by five in the fourth period before rallying behind Vucevic’s 32nd 20-point performance of the season.

— The Raptors’ nine-game losing streak has ended as Kyle Lowry had nine assists, eight points, and five rebounds in what may have been his final game for Toronto, a 135-111 rout of the Nuggets. The victory came on the eve of the NBA’s trade deadline, and with Lowry and Norman Powell front and center of numerous trade rumors. Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 27 points, while OG Anunoby had 23 and Powell 22.

— De’Aaron Fox scored 37 points and Tyrese Haliburton made a pair of free throws with 36.6 seconds remaining to guide the Kings past the Hawks, 110-108. Haliburton finished with 17 points and seven assists, while Richaun Holmes contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. Clint Capella had 25 points and 17 rebounds for Atlanta, which has lost back-to-back games after winning its first eight under coach Nate McMillan.

— Dillon Brooks matched a season high with 25 points in the Grizzlies’ fourth win in five games, 116-107 versus the Thunder. Grayson Allen scored 20 points and Jonas Valanciunas (YOH’-nuhs val-ehn-CHOO’-nuhs) added 16 with 15 rebounds for Memphis, which moved a game over .500. Moses Brown had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Al Horford added 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Thunder.

— Terry Rozier dropped in 25 points and Devonte’ Graham added 21 for the Hornets in a 122-97 romp over the Rockets. Houston quickly returned to the loss column after snapping a 20-game losing streak Monday night. Charlotte opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run and entered the fourth with a 93-70 lead after outscoring the Rockets 35-15 in the third.

— Caris LeVert (leh-VURT’) scored 28 points and the Pacers snapped a six-game home losing streak with a 116-111 victory over the Pistons. LeVert’s fourth 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds remaining clinched the victory. Edmond Sumner scored 18 points off the bench and Malcolm Brogden chipped in 16 for Indiana.

— The Cavaliers earned a 103-94 win over the Bulls as Darius Garland had 22 points and nine assists. Jarrett Allen added 19 points and nine rebounds for Cleveland, which played without leading scorer Collin Sexton. Larry Nance, Jr. had 14 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as the Cavs limited Chicago’s top scorers Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen in the second half.

NHL…

— Jared Spurgeon scored twice and Cam Talbot stopped 27 shots as the Wild won for the seventh time in nine games, 3-2 over the Ducks. Nico Sturm snapped a 2-2 tie seven minutes into the second period, minutes after Max Comtois (KAHM’-twah) knotted the score. Ryan Suter collected two assists to help Minnesota sweep a two-game set with Anaheim.

UNDATED (AP) — There’s still no end to the Buffalo Sabres’ winless streak.

The Sabres are 0-13-2 in their last 15 games following a 5-2 loss to the Penguins. Sidney Crosby netted his 13th goal of the season and Tristan Jarry stopped 26 shots as Pittsburgh climbed within four points of the NHL’s East Division-leading Islanders.

Evan Rodrigues, Kris Letang (leh-TANG’), John Marino and Zach Aston-Reese also tallied for the Penguins, who recovered from a sluggish three-game set against New Jersey in which they managed just one victory.

Buffalo’s winless streak is a record for futility since the shootout was introduced during the 2005-06 season. It’s also the league’s longest stretch without a victory since Arizona went 15 games between wins from Feb. 21-March 21, 2004.

Elsewhere on NHL ice:

— Martin Jones turned back 42 shots to stymie the Kings for a second straight game and lead the Sharks to a 4-2 victory. After getting pulled five times in his first 15 starts this year, Jones has allowed just five goals on 147 shots in his past four. Evander Kane scored twice for San Jose.

— Andrew Copp scored four times in leading the Jets to a 5-1 win over the Canucks. Copp had a pair of power-play strikes in the second and two more goals in the third to give Winnipeg its second straight win against Vancouver. Mark Scheifele (SHY’-flee) also scored and Connor Hellebuyck (HEH’-leh-buhk) stopped 38 shots for the Jets.

— Rookie Filip Gustavsson handled 28 shots and Chris Tierney scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:59 remaining in the Senators’ 3-1 win over the Flames. Rookie Josh Norris tied it with at 4:48 of the third with his third goal in four games. Ottawa is 3-0-2 in its last five games and is 5-2 against Calgary this season.

NHL-COVID-19

Bruins back to practice

UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Bruins are practicing again after having two games postponed resulting from five players being placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

The development comes after David Krejci (KRAY’-chee), David Pastrnak (PAHS’-tur-nahk) and Craig Smith were cleared after spending five days in the protocol. Jake DeBrusk and Sean Kuraly (kah-RA’-lee) remain on the list for a seventh consecutive day.

Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders remains on the NHL schedule.

Minnesota forward Zach Parise entered the protocol, becoming the Wild’s 16th player this season to be listed, and first since Feb. 20.

Parise’s addition increases the total to 162 players who have spent at least one day in the protocol since the season began on Jan. 13.

NHL-REFEREE-HOT MIC

NHL ref’s career is over after hot-mic comment about penalty

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tim Peel’s career as an NHL referee is over after his voice was picked up by a TV microphone saying he wanted to call a penalty against the Nashville Predators.

The league announced Wednesday that Peel “no longer will be working NHL games now or in the future.” The 54-year-old Peel had already made plans to retire next month.

NHL vice president Colin Campbell says there was no justification for Peel’s comments. Peel could be heard saying the penalty wasn’t much, but he wanted to call one against Nashville. The microphone was then cut off as Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson was called for a tripping penalty early in the second period.

NHL-OBIT-PLAGER

Bob Plager dies in car crash

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Former St. Louis Blues defenseman Bob Plager has been killed in a car crash in St. Louis.

Police said Plager was alone in his vehicle when it collided with a vehicle carrying two women on Interstate 64 in St. Louis Wednesday afternoon.

Plager was an original Blue, moving over from the New York Rangers when the NHL expanded in 1967-68. He played 11 seasons for St. Louis and teamed for a stretch with brothers Barclay and Bill.

He later worked for the organization in a variety of roles and coached the team for 11 games in 1992.

Plager was 78.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-UNC-SHARPE

Sharpe enters NBA draft

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina freshman big man Day’Ron Sharpe is entering the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-11, 265-pound Sharpe announced his decision in a social media post. He averaged 9.5 points and 6.9 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game off the bench.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-FLORIDA-MANN

Florida’s Mann turns pro

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida point guard Tre Mann is leaving school early and turning pro.

Mann is expected to hire an agent and does not intend to return to college.

The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Gainesville led the Gators with 16 points a game and 83 assists this season and was the team’s second-leader rebounder. He also shot 40.2% from 3-point range.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-GEORGIA-PICKENS

Georgia WR Pickens needs knee surgery after practice injury

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia receiver George Pickens will undergo knee surgery after being injured during spring practice.

The school says Pickens injured his right knee during a non-contact drill on Tuesday. An MRI confirmed damage to the anterior cruciate ligament.

Pickens is projected as one of the nation’s top receivers going into the 2021 season, He had 36 catches for 513 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns last season.

NFL-WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

Snyder buying out other owners

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — Dan Snyder is buying out the Washington Football Team’s minority owners and will become the sole owner of the club.

An NFL spokesman confirms that Snyder’s application for a debt waiver of $450 million was approved by the finance committee and that the deal is pending approval from team owners. Three-quarters, or 24 of 32 teams, need to sign off to make it happen.

NFL-MOVES

— The Vikings have re-signed running back Ameer Abdullah.

UNDATED (AP) — Longtime Indianapolis Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton has decided to re-sign with the team on a one-year deal.

The four-time Pro Bowler will make $10 million with $8 million in guaranteed money.

Hilton caught 56 passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns last season.

The Colts also re-signed cornerback Xavier Rhodes to another one-year contract. Rhodes started all 16 games for the Colts last season, making 42 tackles, breaking up 12 passes, intercepting two and returning one for a touchdown.

In other NFL moves:

— Defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh (ehn-DAH’-mah-kahng soo) has agreed to a one-year contract worth $9 million to remain with the Buccaneers. That’s according to a person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement, as well as a salary-cap friendly extension given to offensive lineman Donovan Smith, had not been announced by the Bucs.

— The Chargers have agreed to terms with outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell. He had four sacks in nine starts for the Giants last season along with a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown against Dallas in a Oct. 11 loss.

— The Jaguars have signed former 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard.

— Linebacker Elandon Roberts has re-signed with the Dolphins after testing the free agent market.

— The 49ers have brought back another key piece for their roster, agreeing to a one-year deal to retain slot cornerback K’Waun Williams.

— The Bengals have agreed to a one-year deal with safety Ricardo Allen, who was released in February by the Falcons.

— The Lions have signed linebacker Alex Anzalone and receiver Damion Ratley.

— The Bills have agreed to sign Nigerian-born defensive end Efe Obada to a one-year contract.

— Davon Godchaux signs a two-year, $13 million free agent deal to join the Patriots. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy signed a two-year, $13 million deal to return to the Patriots

— The Jets have signed former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry and agreed to terms on a one-year contract with running back Tevin Coleman.

MLB-FOREIGN SUBSTANCES

Baseball to closely monitor for foreign substances

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is increasing its monitoring of baseballs in an attempt to suppress any use of foreign substances by pitchers.

Mike Hill, newly hired as executive vice president of baseball operations and disciplinarian, wrote that team leaders may be held responsible for violations by staff.

In a two-page memo to owners, Hill outlined three new enforcement components that include gameday compliance monitors and electronics compliance officers, submission of random baseballs by umpires and equipment authenticators and a review of MLB Statcast data comparing games to pitchers’ career norms.

MLB-MOVES

Padres’ shortstop Tatis feeling better

UNDATED (AP) — San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis (tah-TEES’) Jr. was feeling better a day after coming out of a game due to left shoulder discomfort.

Tatis last month signed the longest deal in major league history, for 14 years and $340 million.

Tatis has played in 143 games since his recall in 2019, hitting .301 with 39 homers and 98 RBIs.

Meanwhile, pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and the Astros have agreed to a five-year, $85 million contract covering 2022-26.

McCullers agreed to Jan. 15 to a one-year, $6.5 million contract that avoided salary arbitration. He would have been eligible for free agency after this year’s World Series.

The 27-year-old McCullers returned in 2020 after missing a season following Tommy John surgery. He was 3-3 with a 3.93 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 11 starts last season.

Elsewhere in the majors:

— White Sox left fielder Eloy (EE’-loy) Jiménez hurt his left shoulder in the second inning of Wednesday’s exhibition game against Oakland. Jiménez tried to make a leaping grab at the wall on Sean Murphy’s solo homer. His left arm barely moved as he walked off the field with a trainer. The team said Jiménez departed with left shoulder discomfort, and it would provide another update on Thursday.

— Newly-acquired Rangers slugger Khris Davis will miss the start of the season because of a quadriceps strain suffered on a bunt single. General manager Chris Young said that an MRI showed that Davis has a Grade 2 quad strain and will be out 3-4 weeks.

— The Tigers selected the contract of right-hander Julio Teheran to the major league roster, solidifying his spot on the team after the former All-Star signed a minor league deal last month. Manager AJ Hinch also said left-hander Tarik Skubal has made the team.

— Yankees left-hander Justin Wilson won’t throw for several days and will receive oral anti-inflammatory medication in an effort to alleviate tightness in his pitching shoulder. Wilson left Monday night’s exhibition against Philadelphia while facing his fourth batter.

— The Braves have optioned right-hander Kyle Wright to their alternate training site, clearing the way for Bryse Wilson to open the season as the No. 5 starter. Wright made two postseason starts in 2020 following a strong finish to the regular season but was unable to pitch with consistency this spring.

— The Pirates are shutting down starting pitcher Steven Brault for at least a month to address discomfort in his throwing shoulder. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said it’s likely Brault will be out for a minimum of 10 weeks.

— Bryan Shaw has pitched his way back into Cleveland’s bullpen. The 33-year-old right-hander, who signed a minor league deal with the Indians this offseason, was told that he will make the club’s opening-day roster.

— Amazon Prime Video will stream 21 Yankees games to members in New York’s broadcast market, a slate that starts with an April 18 matchup against Tampa Bay. YES said Wednesday that while it announced on March 3 last year that Amazon Prime Video would stream 21 games in 2020, the streams did not take place because of the shortened season caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

PGA-DELL MATCH PLAY

Johnson advances in Match Play

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Top seed Dustin Johnson closed out a long day at the Dell Technologies Match Play by outlasting Adam Long in 18 holes.

Half of the 32 matches went 18 holes, with six ending in ties.

Second seed Justin Thomas was the only player among the top 4 to lose Wednesday on the first day of group play. Matt Kuchar (KOO’-chur) built a 5-up lead and held on to beat him on the 16th hole.

Fourth seed Collin Morikawa had to settle for a halve with J.T. Poston, while No. 3 Jon Rahm needed an 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole to beat Sebastian Munoz.

The biggest stunner belonged to Frenchman Antoine Rozner, who posted a 2-up victory over U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.

In world and national news..

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Hundreds of mourners gathered Wednesday night at a candlelight vigil to remember the 10 people gunned down at a supermarket in a Colorado college town. Meanwhile, the 21-year-old man suspected of carrying out the rampage prepared to make his first court appearance Thursday. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa has been jailed for investigation of murder since he was arrested inside the King Soopers supermarket in Boulder on Monday and treated at a hospital for a leg wound. He was to hear the pending charges he faces and his rights as a defendant, and he would not be asked for a plea until later in the judicial process.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says it is dedicating another $10 billion to try to drive up vaccination rates in low-income, minority and rural enclaves throughout the country. The effort is funded through the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package passed earlier this month. It will include $6 billion in funding for community health centers to expand COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and other preventive health care for populations at higher risk for the virus. President Joe Biden’s administration will start distributing the money in April to nearly 1,400 centers across the country. The administration said Thursday health centers can also use the funding to modify and improve infrastructure and add mobile units.

GENEVA (AP) — A team of international and Chinese scientists is poised to report on its joint search for the origins of the coronavirus that sparked a pandemic after it was first detected in China over a year ago. Four theories are being considered, and one is the clear frontrunner: That the virus first emerged in humans by way of a bat and then an intermediate host. The lengthy report is being published after months of wrangling, notably between the U.S. and Chinese governments, over how the outbreak emerged, causing politics to overshadow a scientific search. It wasn’t immediately clear when the report will be released after its publication was delayed earlier this month.

(AP) AstraZeneca says that its COVID-19 vaccine is strongly effective even after counting additional illnesses in its U.S. study. The announcement late Wednesday was the latest in an extraordinary public dispute with American officials. The drugmaker said it had analyzed more data from that study and concluded the vaccine is 76% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, instead of the 79% it had reported earlier in the week. Just a day earlier, an independent panel that oversees the study had accused AstraZeneca of cherry-picking data to tout the protection offered by its vaccine. The panel said the company had left out some COVID-19 cases that occurred in the study, a move that could erode trust in the science.

ISMAILIA, Egypt (AP) — The Japanese owner of a skyscraper-sized cargo ship wedged across Egypt’s Suez Canal has apologized for the incident that’s imperling global shipping. Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd. apologized on Thursday over the “tremendous worry” that the accident has caused to the other vessels and their involved parties. At least 150 vessels are waiting to use the Suez Canal after the skyscraper-sized cargo ship wedged across the vital waterway. That’s according to canal service provider Leth Agencies. It says the backup Thursday affected ships both needing to travel into the Mediterranean and the Red Seas.

BANGKOK (AP) — World shares are mixed and U.S. futures have edged higher. Chinese benchmarks stalled Thursday on concerns big companies like Alibaba and Tencent might lose their listings on U.S. exchanges. Paris and Frankfurt declined while Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained 1.1%. Oil prices fell back after surging 6% on Wednesday on concerns over disruptions to shipping from a skyscraper-sized cargo ship wedged across Egypt’s Suez Canal. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 gave up 0.5%, its second loss in a row, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 2%. Bond yields were steady after rising earlier this week. Stock investors are keeping an eye on developments in Washington and upcoming jobs data.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has test-fired its first ballistic missiles since President Joe Biden took office as it expands its military capabilities and increases pressure on Washington while nuclear negotiations remain stalled. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga says Thursday’s launches threaten peace and safety in Japan and the region and that Tokyo will closely coordinate with Washington and Seoul on the North’s testing activities. A senior U.S. official matched the information from South Korea’s military, saying that initial assessments suggest the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles. North Korea has a history of testing new U.S. administrations with missile launches aimed at forcing the Americans back to negotiations, which fell apart in 2019.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has tapped Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the White House effort to tackle the migration challenge at the U.S. southern border. She also is tasked with working with Central American nations to address root causes of the problem. Biden, in delegating the matter to Harris, is seeking to replicate a dynamic that played out when he served as President Barack Obama’s vice president. Obama turned to Biden early in his first term to lead the White House effort to draw down U.S. troops in the intractable war in Iraq. With the move, Biden hopes to show he’s taking the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border seriously.