– Wayne Byers Show – Morning -Apr 9

CSi Weather…

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT TO 6 PM MDT /7 PM CDT/ FRIDAY…

Including the cities of Strasburg, Edgeley, Center, Bismarck,
Hazen, Lamoure, Wishek, Steele, Oakes, Linton, Ashley, Kulm,
Beulah, Tappen, Gackle, Jamestown, Mandan, Ellendale, and
Napoleon

* WHAT…Northwest winds up to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph
expected.

* WHERE…Portions of south central and southeast North Dakota.

* IMPACTS…Unsecured items will be blown away. Working on elevated
surfaces will be hazardous. Travel will be difficult, especially
for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

REST OF TODAY…Mostly Cloudy, windy. Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

.TONIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the mid 20s. Northwest

winds 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.

.SATURDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 5 to

10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. Southeast

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny with slight chance of rain possibly mixed

with snow in the morning, then mostly cloudy with chance of rain

in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 50s. West winds 5 to 15 mph

shifting to the northwest 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Chance

of precipitation 30 percent.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain in the evening,

then chance of snow possibly mixed with rain after midnight. Lows

around 30. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow possibly mixed with rain

in the morning, then chance of rain in the afternoon. Windy.

Highs in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow possibly mixed with

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

Lows in the lower 20s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow in the morning, then

slight chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Highs in the

upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 40s.

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

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

Fire Danger Rating is in the moderate category in Stutsman and Barnes Counties…

There is a chance for measurable snow across portions of the area
from Sunday night through Monday night. There remains a good deal
of uncertainty, with potential impacts from this event ranging
from just a few showers to several inches of snowfall.

On Thursday….several grass fires in Barnes County .

In Sanborn firefighters controlled a grass fire that threatened a farmstead and machinery on Dakota Highway One northeast of Sanborn, on the scene about seven hours…

The Valley City Rural Fire District was called to two grass fires one was at Mile Marker 84 on Highway one and the other at Mile Marker 85

No injuries or structural damage was reported in either fire fighting efforts.

Also on Highway One, the Dazey Fire Department responded to a grass fire.

The Barnes County Burn Ban remains in effect.

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Thurs. Apr. 8 2021

11-a.m.

Barnes

New Positives 3

Total Positives: 1349

Active: 15

Recovered 1303

Stutsman:

New Positives: 5

Total Positives: 3367

Active: 35

Recovered: 3253

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
253,114	Residents who received at least one dose of vaccine
453,902	Total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered
8,183	Total Tests from yesterday*
1,829,646	Total tests completed since the pandemic began
201	Positive Individuals from yesterday*****
106	PCR Tests
95	Antigen Tests
104,364	Total positive individuals since the pandemic began
3.42%	Daily Positivity Rate**
1,236	Total Active Cases
+65	Change in active cases from yesterday
128	Individuals with a recovery date of yesterday****
101,660	Total recovered since the pandemic began
33	Currently hospitalized
+3	Change in hospitalizations from yesterday
0	New death(s)
1,468	Total deaths since the pandemic began
INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19
No deaths to report
NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED THURSDAY BY COUNTY

Adams		0	Grant	0	Ransom	1
Barnes		3	Griggs	0	Renville	0
Benson		2	Hettinger	0	Richland	3
Billings		0	Kidder	0	Rolette	1
Bottineau		0	LaMoure	2	Sargent	4
Bowman		0	Logan	0	Sheridan	1
Burke		0	McHenry	2	Sioux	0
Burleigh		30	McIntosh	1	Slope	0
Cass		66	McKenzie	3	Stark	14
Cavalier		0	McLean	1	Steele	0
Dickey		2	Mercer	1	Stutsman	5
Divide		0	Morton	4	Towner	0
Dunn		3	Mountrail	0	Traill	3
Eddy		1	Nelson	0	Walsh	5
Emmons		0	Oliver	0	Ward	9
Foster		0	Pembina	0	Wells	0
Golden Valley		0	Pierce	0	Williams	3
Grand Forks		30	Ramsey	1

* 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 (CVHD) Central Valley Health District this week will have COVID-19 Testing at the Jamestown Civic Center in April from 11-a.m. to 12 noon, at the Jamestown Civic Center, April, 12, 14, 16,19, 21, 23, 26,28, 30, using the Rapid Testing, BinaxNow.

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

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

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

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

Valley City (VCSU) A COVID-19 vaccination clinic will take place:

On Friday April 9 from 8-a.m. to 11:30-a.m, at the Hi-Liner Activity Center there will be Pfizer Vaccine clinic.

Appointments are REQUIRED and can be made at https://www.ndvax.org//reg/0146051292 (link will not open in Internet Explorer).

Looking Ahead…

Jamestown (CVHD) Central Valley Health District this week will have COVID-19 Testing at the Jamestown Civic Center in April from 11-a.m. to 12 noon, at the Jamestown Civic Center, April, 12, 14, 16,19, 21, 23, 26,28, 30, using the Rapid Testing, BinaxNow.

Jamestown (CVHD) Central Valley Health has set more vaccination clinics.

Vaccine Clinics:

Second Dose Moderna

Tuesday April 13

10-a.m. to 12:30-p.m.

Jamestown Civic Center, Exchequor Room

Second Dose:

Pfizer Vaccine

Monday April 19

1-pm., to 3-p.m.

Jamestown Civic Center, Exchequor Room

Review the due date on the back of your CDC COVID vaccination record card prior to registering.

* 2nd dose clinics ONLY. If you register as a first dose, your appointment will be canceled.

Appointments are required and are first come, first serve. Once the clinics are full, they will be closed for registration.
.
. To register for an appointment, visit our website www.centralvalleyhealth.org and click the “COVID-19” tab.

Jamestown (CSi) The future of Frontier Village in Jamestown continues to be addressed.

Searle Swedlund says Jamestown Tourism and the City Of Jamestown has worked together to assess and measure what lies ahead for the Village’s future.

In 2020 despite the pandemic, and all the uncertainties, Frontier Village welcomed visitors from around the world.

With inspections the disrepair showed the facilities are in need of significant repair.

Searle points out that through a visitors experience survey with over 1400 participants, it was determined that visitors are looking for ways to engage in high-touch, hands-on experiences.

He says the coming summer will be the same. Continued will be addressing and planning for the needs of Frontier Village and its visitors.

Two new projects will be initiated, focusing on education and experimental play.

With lead gifts from the Jamestown Eagles Club and the Jamestown Kiwanis Club, to create two new park areas, that honor the heritage of Frontier Village and provide a vision for the next chapter.

Those include: Homestead Park, that will include a true to size claimshack playhouse, that will have a play homesteaders kitchen with an open floor plan, and covered porch. The park will include interactive experiences related to settlement and sustainability of that time.

Railroad Park adds a miniature train to the west side of the Village, an homage to Jamestown’ railroad origins. Steel rails hand cranked cars for both adults and children, as well as a playhouse depot will be settled on the east side of the south tower. The Jamestown Eagles Club has agreed to be a major sponsor.

Items are in need for the parks.

Proposed maintenance schedule this year includes, the General Store, and Church. In 2022 the Town Hall, and the Depot, and in 2023, the Church interior, and Pony Ring area.

A Community Solicitation has started as officials continue to re-imagine the future of Frontier Village in the form of a donation or pledge.

Gifts can be made to the Jamestown Area Community Foundation, ear marked for the Frontier Village, with a flyer available with more information, and including a form to fill out with the donation amount.

In person, deliver it to the Jamestown Tourism Office, at 404 17 Street, Southeast, open 8-a.m. to 5-p.m. Monday through Friday. Or mail it and the form to the same address.

Donations are tax deductible.

Jamestown (CSi) Stutsman County Veterans Service Officer, David Bratton says, President Biden has signed the “Save Lives Act.’

On Thursday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2 he said, the act expands COVID-19 Vaccinations provided by the VA, including veterans, family members and caregivers. He said the Jamestown VA Clinic continues to give COVID-19 vaccinations.

He added that the Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to launch the Veteran Rapid retraining Assistance Program, a 21 month program. His office has more information, along with the VA still offering the debt moratorium through May this year.

The VA is providing free support to help veterans heal from sexual trauma.

He added that he VA is strengthening the PTSD claims process.

David said, the Burleigh County Van for veterans visits to the Fargo VA is still not operating, due to COVID-19 mitigation, and they are hoping to start the van for veterans who need to travel to the Fargo VA and back again.

He reminded veterans that the V indicator for drivers licenses available in North Dakota, showing proof of being veteran by showing the license.

The Stutsman County Veterans Service office is available by calling 701-252-9043, open weekdays from 8-a.m. to noon, and 1-p.m. to 5-p.m. In person visits are available if needed, by meeting with David at LEC lobby.

Valley City (CSi) The Barnes County Senior Center Advisory Board has decided that it will be safe to hold activities at the Senior Center beginning next week.

Director Pat Hansen said, “We will go back to the schedule we had prior to the pandemic. People can come in and play Whist on Mondays and Wednesdays and Pinochle on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We will also begin Bingo on Friday the 16th. We have enough seating available to provide adequate separation between participants. We will also have Bone Builders exercise classes starting next week. Classes are held at 9:30am on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Senior Center is serving in person meals.”

Hansen added “The only activities we will need to postpone for a while are the evening meals. We have too many people for the evening meals to allow adequate spacing. If you have questions you can call the Senior Center at 845-4300.”

(VCSU) Valley City State University has the top ranked elementary education program in the nation according to rankings recently released by Study.com. VCSU leads the list of the Best Bachelor’s in Elementary Education Degree Programs compiled at Study.com. The rankings list 50 schools nationwide, including several universities in the Midwest.

“We’re very proud of the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the VCSU elementary education program and pleased with this outstanding recognition,” said President Alan LaFave. “VCSU strives to prepare its candidates for authentic classroom teaching by exposing them to as many real-world experiences as possible, including substitute teaching opportunities in their senior year.”

Study.com’s school ranking lists include accredited, non-profit public and private schools.

Bismarck (CSi) – Gov. Doug Burgum and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring announced Thursday that the State Water Commission has reactivated the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program, as the governor declared a statewide drought disaster for extremely dry conditions across North Dakota.

The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor map released today by the National Drought Mitigation Center shows 70% of North Dakota in extreme drought – up from 47% last week – with the remainder of the state in severe or moderate drought.

Burgum said, “For the second time in five years, North Dakota ranchers are facing widespread, extreme drought conditions that threaten their herds and livelihoods. As part of our whole-of-government approach to drought response, today’s action by the State Water Commission provides relief to help livestock producers manage these hardships and invests in infrastructure that allows them to remain resilient against future droughts.”

Created in 1991 and last reactivated in 2017, the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program provides eligible livestock producers with 50 percent cost-share assistance of up to $4,500 per project, with a limit of three projects per applicant. Eligible projects include new water wells, rural water system connections, pipeline extensions, pasture taps and associated works, labor, materials, and equipment rentals to develop new water supply projects.

The 2017 program supported more than 500 projects with total cost-share of approximately $1.5 million. Thursday’s unanimous vote by the State Water Commission will utilize the remaining balance of $557,277 from the 2017 program to support this year’s program reactivation. Burgum chairs the commission and Goehring serves as a standing member.

Goehring said, “The Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program has been invaluable in the past for livestock producers facing water shortages. Reopening the program will again help producers as we navigate this season of drought.”

Livestock producers in counties impacted by extreme drought (D3) intensity levels, and adjacent counties, will be eligible for the program. Details are available on the Water Commission’s website at www.swc.nd.gov.

ELIGIBLE LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS: For more information about the Program, please contact the State Water Commission at 701-328-4989 or swclivestock@nd.gov.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Gov. Doug Burgum is signing a bill that’s aimed at creating a broader investment policy for the state’s voter-approved oil tax savings account. The bill, which has overwhelming legislative support, sets targets for investing a greater portion of the Legacy Fund principal in North Dakota and requires that the State Investment Board give preference to qualified investment firms with a presence in the state. The legislation sets targets for 10% of the Legacy Fund principal to be invested in equity investments in the state and 10 % in fixed income investments within the state.

Bismarck (CSi) – Gov. Doug Burgum issued the following statement Thurday regarding President Biden’s executive action on guns.

“We stand united with our congressional delegation in opposition to President Biden’s executive actions threatening the Second Amendment rights of North Dakotans,” Burgum said. “Our state has a culture of deep respect for firearm safety and a rich heritage of hunting, and we strongly support gun rights for law-abiding citizens. Our state Constitution declares that the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of yourself, your family and your property ‘shall not be infringed,’ and we will vigorously oppose any action that would deny that right.”

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Mandan man will serve four years in federal prison for bank fraud and transporting stolen livestock across state lines. Prosecutors say Kelly Glatt took out a $1.5 million loan to purchase cattle and supplies, but took steps to hide collateral and assets from the bank. The 39-year-old Glatt was also convicted of stealing cattle from other ranchers and transporting the stolen livestock from North Dakota to South Dakota. A federal jury found Glatt guilty last October of the crimes committed from February 2014 to July 2017.

In sports…

Thursday

High School Baseball

Season Opener

Jack Brown Stadium

Jamestown 5 Bismarck High 3

Hi-Liner Baseball vs. Grand Forks Central in VC was rained out.

College Hockey…

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Garrett Wait scored in overtime and short-handed Massachusetts beat two-time defending champion Minnesota Duluth 3-2 in the Frozen Four semifinals. UMass advances to Saturday’s national championship game against St. Cloud State — as both teams seek to make program history with a first title. UMass was without four players due to COVID-19 contact-tracing protocols, including leading goal scorer Carson Gicewicz and starting goaltender Filip Lindberg. UMass forward Anthony Del Gaizo tied it at 2 with 11:35 remaining in the third period on a rebound that fell to the right of the net, and Wait got a stick on Bobby Trivigno’s wraparound pass at 14:30 in overtime to win it.

PGA-MASTERS

Rose sizzles at Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A Rose looked very good amid the azaleas at Augusta national.

Justin Rose opened with a 5-under 65 to grab a four-stroke lead in The Masters. He played the last 11 holes at 9 under and shot 30 on the back side, one off the tournament record shared by Mark Calcaveccia (kal-kah-VEH’-kee-uh) and David Toms.

Rose’s 65 looked even better on a day so tough only 12 players broke par, and the average score was 74.5.

He tied a Masters record by taking at least a share of first-round lead for the fourth time. Rose has a pair of runner-up finishes at Augusta, including a playoff loss to Sergio Garcia four years ago.

Brian Harman and Hideki Matsuyama (maht-soo-YAH’mah) share second, one ahead of Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Will Zalatoris, Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Harman was the last player to get into the 88-man field.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson struggled after setting the record last year at 20-under 268. He failed to break par at Augusta for the first time since the opening round in 2018, closing with a three-putt for double bogey on the 18th to complete a 74.

NBA..

— Jimmy Butler scored 28 points to lead the Heat past the Lakers, 110-104. Victor Oladipo (oh-lah-DEE’-poh) added 18 points but limped off the court, favoring his right knee, after a dunk late in the fourth quarter. Tyler Herro (HEE’-roh) finished with 15 points for the Heat, who bounced back from Tuesday’s 12-point home loss against Memphis.

— The Clippers earned a 113-103 win over the Suns as Paul George and Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard combined for 60 points. George was 7 of 9 from 3-point range while scoring 33 points in 30 minutes. Leonard furnished 19 of his 27 points in the second half for Los Angeles, which hit 18 3s.

UNDATED (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks have dropped the Milwaukee Bucks another half-game out of first place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

Luka Doncic (DAHN’-chihch) scored 27 points and Kristaps Porzingis (KRIHS’-tahps pohr-ZIHN’-gihs) had a double-double as the Mavericks dumped the Bucks, 116-101. Porzingis contributed 26 points and 17 rebounds playing on consecutive days for the first time in two months.

Porzingis scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including eight in a row while giving Dallas the lead for good.

Donte DiVincenzo scored 22 points for the Bucks, who dropped to 1-2 since reigning two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh) left the lineup due to left knee soreness.

The outcome puts Milwaukee 3 1/2 games behind the East-leading Nets.

Checking out Thursday’s other NBA action:

— Donovan Mitchell scored 37 points to lead the Jazz to their 23rd straight home victory, 122-103 over the Trail Blazers. Rudy Gobert (goh-BEHR’) had 18 points and 21 rebounds for the Jazz, who won the battle of the boards, 58-41 while snapping a two-game skid. Utah went on a 25-4 run over a six-minute stretch to take a 93-72 lead.

— Nikola Vucevic (VOO’-cheh-vihch) and Zach Lavine (lah-VEEN’) each scored 22 points and the Bulls earned their third straight win by topping the Raptors, 122-113. LaVine and Vucevic combined for 15 points on an early 19-3 run that gave the Bulls their first 10-point lead. LaVine also had 15 assists, and Lauri Markkanen came off the bench to score 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

— Cory Joseph had a season-high 24 points and seven assists in his first game against his former team, helping the Pistons beat the Kings by a 113-101 margin. Isaiah Stewart added 16 points and 13 rebounds in place of injured Mason Plumlee for the Pistons. Jhalil Okafor (jah-LEEL’ OH’-kah-fohr) had 11 points in his first game since missing 27 straight due to left knee surgery.

— Collin Sexton provided 27 points to help the Cavaliers beat the Thunder for the first time in their last six meetings, 129-102. Taurean Prince scored 22 points and Cleveland began the second half with an 11-0 run to break the game open. Kevin Love had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavs.

NBA-NEWS

Van Vleet, Bembry, Horton-Tucker suspended for fighting

UNDATED (AP) — Toronto Raptors guards DeAndre’ Bembry and Fred Van Vleet and Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker have been suspended one game without pay following their fight in Tuesday night’s game. The suspensions were the result of the three players leaving their bench areas during the scuffle in the Lakers’ 110-101 win.

Also, Toronto’s OG Anunoby (an-oo-NOH’-bee) and Montrezl (MAHN’-trehz) Harrell of Los Angeles were fined for their roles, leading to their ejections.

The altercation came in the first quarter after Dennis Schroder (SHROO’-dur) fouled Anunoby’s layup attempt. Schroder and Anunoby squared off and other players became involved.

In other NBA news:

— Hawks forward John Collins will be out at least another 7-to-10 days with a sprained left ankle. The team announced that Collins has progressed to drills such lateral shuffling and individual court work. Collins was injured in a March 30 loss at Phoenix.

— Golden State Warriors President and chief operating officer Rick Welts will leave his job after this season but stay with the organization as an adviser. The Warriors said Thursday they expect to name a successor within a week.

MLB..

— Homers by Mitch Garver, Byron Buxton and Luis Arraez backed another strong start by José Berríos (beh-REE’-ohs) as the Twins ripped the Mariners, 10-2. Garver had the three-run shot that got the Twins going in their home opener. Berrios was reached for two runs over 5 2/3 innings, one start after no-hitting the Brewers over six innings.

UNDATED (AP) — The New York Mets received a gift in their home opener.

Michael Conforto was credited with a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded by plate umpire Ron Kulpa, bringing home the winning run in the Mets’ 3-2 decision over the Marlins. The pitch was in the strike zone, and Conforto made no attempt to avoid the pitch. Certain camera angles made it unclear he was hit by the pitch.

Kulpa admitted to a pool reporter after the game that he should have called Conforto out.

The Mets filled the bases after Jeff McNeil led off the bottom of the ninth with a homer.

Taijaun (TY’-wahn) Walker looked good in his Mets debut, throwing shutout ball before Miami nicked up for two runs in the sixth.

Also on major league diamonds:

— Carlos Correa, Yordan (yohr-DAHN’) Alvarez and Jose Altuve (al-TOO’-vay) homered as the Astros beat the Athletics, 6-2 and continued their strong start. Houston is 6-1 this season, tied for the best seven-game start in franchise history after winning its home opener. Cristian Javier scattered three hits with seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings for the win.

— The Angels pulled out a 7-5 win over the Blue Jays on David Fletcher’s two-run single in the 11th inning. Los Angeles star Mike Trout went 3 for 5 with a first-inning double and a homer. With the game relocated to Dunedin, Florida, Toronto became the first team in Major League Baseball history to play home openers in three different cities over three consecutive seasons.

— Nolan Arenado (ar-eh-NAH’-doh) hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning of his home debut with the Cardinals to lead a 3-1 win over the Brewers. Adam Wainwright allowed a run over five innings while starting his sixth home opener, tying the franchise record set by the late Bob Gibson. Alex Reyes finished the six-hitter for his third save, allowing a leadoff single to Omar Narváez (nahr-VY’-ehz) in the ninth and stranding him at third.

— Jayy (HAH’-vee) Baez hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the sixth inning to send the Cubs past the Pirates, 4-2. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo also homered as the Cubs pounded out a season-high 11 hits against Tyler Anderson and four relievers. Baez, Rizzo, Bryant and Jake Marisnick had two hits each for Chicago, which raised its major-league worst team batting average from .143 to .157.

— White Sox hurler Lance Lynn pitched a five-hitter for the first complete game and shutout in the major leagues this season, a 6-0 whipping of the Royals. Lynn struck out 11 and walked none in his second shutout in 238 career starts, his first since a five-hitter against the New York Yankees on May 27, 2014. Yermín Mercedes kept up his scorching start with a 485-foot homer and Yoán Moncada went deep as well.

— Eduardo Rodríguez won in his return from heart inflammation that caused him to miss the 2020 season, allowing three runs over five innings to lead the Red Sox over the Orioles, 7-3 in Baltimore. Rodríguez gave up four hits, including a two-run homer by Ryan Mountcastle and a solo shot by Pedro Severino. Rafael Devers (DEH’-vurz) and Kiké (KEE’-kay) Hernández homered for the Red Sox, who have won four consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 14-18, 2019.

— Jon Gray took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and got his first win of the season in pitching the Rockies over the Diamondbacks, 7-3. Gray allowed three runners through six innings, helped in the sixth when third baseman Ryan McMahon made a barehanded grab of Tim Locastro’s grounder. Trevor Story hit a run-scoring double and an RBI triple before Dom Nunez hit a three-run homer.

MLB-NEWS

Mets put Betances on injured list

UNDATED (AP) — New York Mets reliever Dellin Betances (DEH’-lihn beh-TAN’-sehs) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement.

The oft-injured Betances made his season debut yesterday in an 8-2 loss to the Phillies. The former flame-thrower failed to reach 92 mph on the radar gun.

New York selected right-hander Trevor Hildenberger to the major league roster and added him to a bullpen that struggled during the first three games of the season in Philadelphia.

In other MLB news:

— Infielder Ketel Marte (keh-TEHL’ mahr-TAY’) was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Diamondbacks, a day after hurting his right hamstring against the Rockies. Arizona recalled Andrew Young, who had been with its taxi squad. Marte was injured in the sixth inning of the Diamondbacks’ 8-0 loss.

— Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was not in the starting lineup against Milwaukee Thursday because of lower back tightness. St. Louis said the move was made for precautionary reasons.

NHL..

UNDATED (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes are the new leaders in the NHL’s Central Division, moving one point ahead of Florida and staying one ahead of the Lightning.

Alex Nedeljkovic (neh-DEHL’-koh-vihch) made 24 saves for his third career shutout as the Hurricanes downed the Panthers, 3-0. Vincent Trocheck scored another goal against his former team. Sebastian Aho (AH’-hoh) and Martin Necas (mahr-TEEN’ NAY’-chas) also scored for Carolina, which swept a two-game set from the Panthers.

Tampa Bay scored three times in the first six minutes before Andrei Vasilevskiy (va-sih-LEHV’-skee) finished with 32 saves, sending the Lightning to a 6-4 win over the Blue Jackets. Blake Coleman roofed a shot 58 seconds in, and then Steven Stamkos and Barclay Goodrow scored a minute apart to put the Blue Jackets in an early hole. Ryan McDonagh tallied twice, and Ross Colton also had a goal as the Lightning stopped a three-game skid and earned a split of the two-game series with Columbus.

Elsewhere on NHL ice:

— The Islanders blew a 2-0 lead before Ilya Sorokin (sah-ROH’-kihn) stopped all five Flyers shootout attempts to help New York post a 3-2 victory. Brock Nelson provided the game-winner as the Isles improved to 4-0 on their six-game homestand. Nelson and Jordan Eberle netted first-period goals 63 seconds apart for the Islanders, who are 17-1-2 at Nassau Coliseum this season.

— The Isles lead the East Division by two points over Washington following the Capitals’ 4-2 loss to the Bruins. Brad Marchand scored a shorthanded goal, Jeremy Swayman made 31 saves to win his second NHL start. Swayman allowed two power-play goals in under 20 seconds to Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie but kept the Bruins ahead when the Capitals tilted the ice toward him in the second period.

— The Penguins remain four points off the East lead after Radim Zohorna and Jason Zucker each furnished a goal and an assist in their 5-2 victory over the Rangers. The game was tied at two until Kris Letang (leh-TANG’) and Evan Rodrigues scored in the second period. Tristan Jarry stopped 22 shots for Pittsburgh, which surrendered 15 goals in dropping its previous two games.

— Viktor Arvidsson scored three times to lead the surging Predators to their ninth win in 10 games, a 7-1 blowout over the Red Wings. Arvidsson and Nick Cousins scored early and late in the second period to put Nashville ahead 3-1. Juuse Saros (YOO’-see SAH’-rohs) stopped 25 saves for the Predators.

— Blake Comeau (KOH’-moh) scored twice and Roope (ROO’-peh) Hintz had a goal and three assists as the Stars handled the Blackhawks, 5-1 to end a two-game slide. Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen (HAY’-skih-nehn) also scored to help Dallas pull closer in the battle for the fourth place and the final playoff spot in the Central Division. Dominik Kubalik (koo-BAH’-lihk) connected for the Blackhawks, who fell four points behind fourth-place Nashville in the Central.

— The Oilers completed a nine-game season sweep of the Senators as Devin Shore scored the tiebreaker with 7:02 left in Edmonton’s 3-1 victory. Mike Smith made 39 saves, Kailer Yamamoto tallied in the second period and Jesse Puljujarvi (pool-YAHR’-vee) added an empty-netter. The Oilers have points in nine of their last 10 games and are within five points of the first-place Maple Leafs in the North Division.

— Connor Hellebuyck (HEH’-leh-buhk) made 36 saves and the Jets began a five-game trip with a 4-2 verdict over the Canadiens. Josh Morrissey, Trevor Lewis, Nikolaj Ehlers (NIH’-koh-kly EE’-lurz) and Andrew Copp as Winnipeg improved to 24-13-3, with only two regulation losses in their last nine games. Phillip Danault (da-NOH’) and Paul Byron scored for the Canadiens, and Jake Allen made 23 saves.

— Jesper Boqvist scored the go-ahead goal with 11:15 remaining in the Devils’ 6-3 win over the Sabres. Pavel Zacha (ZAH’-kah) scored two power-play goals and Jack Hughes snapped a 10-game scoring drought while adding two assists. The win snapped the Devils 0-2-2 skid, and came a day after Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac were packaged in a trade to the New York Islanders for two draft picks.

NFL-LIONS MOVES

Lions sign Marlowe

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have signed safety Dean Marlowe, hoping he can help a defense that was one of the worst in NFL history last season.

Marlowe just completed its third NFL season, playing 15 games for the Buffalo Bills last year. He had a career-high two interceptions along with 16 tackles and a fumble recovery last season.

Detroit gave up 519 points and 6,716 yards last season, breaking team records set by its winless team in 2008.

SOUTH CAROLINA-SHOOTING

Authorities: Former NFL player Phillip Adams killed 5, then himself

ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — Authorities in South Carolina say former NFL player Phillip Adams fatally shot five people including a prominent doctor, his wife and their two grandchildren before killing himself.

York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson told a news conference Thursday that investigators had not yet determined a motive.

Tolson said evidence at the scene of Wednesday’s shootings led authorities to Adams at his parents’ nearby home. He was later found dead in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head.

Adams played in 78 NFL games over five seasons for six teams. He joined the 49ers in 2010 as a seventh-round draft pick out of South Carolina State.

MAC-TRANSFER RULES

MAC eliminates intraconference transfer restrictions

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Mid-American Conference is eliminating its policies regarding intraconference transfers and no longer requiring athletes to sit out a season of competition after switching from one MAC school to another.

The announcement comes about a week before the NCAA Division I Council is expected to move toward allowing all college athletes to transfer one time as an undergraduate and be immediately eligible to play.

Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher says going forward the MAC will be governed solely by NCAA transfer regulations.

TENNIS-FRENCH OPEN-DELAY

French Open postponed by 1 week because of pandemic

PARIS (AP) — For the second year in a row, the traditional French Open schedule is being disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The clay-court Grand Slam tennis tournament said Thursday it will push back the start of this season’s event by one week because of surging virus cases in France. It was scheduled to start on May 23, but first-round matches will now get underway on May 30.

This year’s Australian Open was delayed by three weeks because of the virus, and quarantine restrictions affected the preparations of several players.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-JAPAN

Japan imposes new virus measures in Tokyo ahead of Olympics

TOKYO (AP) — Japan says it will raise the coronavirus alert level in Tokyo to allow tougher measures to curb the rapid spread of a more contagious variant ahead of the Summer Olympics.

Japan’s vaccination drive has lagged and most people in the capital still have not been inoculated as infections have surged. The raised status announced by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will allow Tokyo’s governor to mandate shorter opening hours for bars and restaurants, along with punishments for violators and compensation for those who comply.

The measures are to begin Monday and continue through May 11. Many of Tokyo’s cases have been linked to nightlife and dining.

In world and national news…

LONDON (AP) — Buckingham Palace officials say Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died. He was 99. Philip spent a month in hospital earlier this year before being released on March 16 to return to Windsor Castle. Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, married Elizabeth in 1947 and was the longest-serving consort in British history. He retired from public engagements in 2017 after carrying out more than 20,000 of them. Philip was a member of the Greek royal family and was born on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921. He was an avid sportsman who loved country pursuits. He had four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

BANGKOK (AP) — European shares have opened higher and U.S. futures gained after a lackluster session in Asia. Japan’s benchmark rose but shares fell in Hong Kong and Shanghai after China reported stronger than expected inflation data. On Thursday, stocks closed moderately higher on Wall Street, lifted by gains in large technology companies that benefit from lower bond yields. The S&P 500 index gained 0.4% to notch another record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2% and the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 1%. Stocks have benefited this week as bond yields, which had been steadily ticking higher, retreated from highs hit earlier in the month. But higher than expected jobless claims dented some of the buying enthusiasm.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats in Congress are trying to pass the first major gun control legislation in more than two decades with the support of President Joe Biden. But they are confronting a potentially insurmountable question: What rules should govern private sales and transfers, including those between friends and extended family? Many Democrats and gun control advocates now want almost all sales and transfers to face a mandatory review. But that’s a bridge too far for Republicans, who say sales to friends and family are exempt. Talks are underway in the Senate to try to find a compromise, but there’s no sign of a deal yet.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Complex forces are driving an increase in the number of migrant families and unaccompanied children coming to the U.S. Many say President Joe Biden’s positions on immigration, whether real or rumored, have influenced their decisions. About four in 10 border encounters last month were with families and children traveling alone. It comes as policies in the U.S. and Mexico favor them staying in the United States while they seek asylum. The March total includes nearly 19,000 unaccompanied children, the highest monthly number on record. They are exempt from federal pandemic-related powers that quickly expel migrants without a chance for asylum.

BEIJING (AP) — China has accused the U.S. of causing humanitarian disasters through foreign military interventions in Beijing’s latest broadside in increasingly contentious relations with the Biden administration. The report from the government-backed China Society for Human Rights Studies says U.S. military aggression has caused mass casualties, damage, unrest and other problems. It says humanitarian disasters could be avoided by the U.S. abandoning its selfish hegemonic thinking. Relations between Washington and Beijing have been fractious as the U.S. maintains support for Taiwan and sanctions over Chinese polices including in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan says it will raise the coronavirus alert level in Tokyo to allow tougher measures to curb the rapid spread of a more contagious variant ahead of the Summer Olympics. Japan’s vaccination drive has lagged and most people in the capital still have not been inoculated as infections have surged. The raised status announced by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will allow Tokyo’s governor to mandate shorter opening hours for bars and restaurants, along with punishments for violators and compensation for those who comply. The measures are to begin Monday and continue through May 11. Many of Tokyo’s cases have been linked to nightlife and dining.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A South Korean oil tanker held for months by Iran amid a dispute over billions of dollars held in Seoul has been freed. It happened early Friday ahead of further talks between Tehran and world powers over its tattered nuclear deal. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Iran released the MT Hankuk Chemi and its captain after seizing the vessel in January. Iran had accused the vessel of pollution but the seizure was widely seen as an attempt to pressure Seoul to release billions of dollars in Iranian assets tied up in South Korean banks amid heavy American sanctions on Iran.

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian-U.S. trio of space travelers has launched successfully, heading for the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov blasted off as scheduled at 12:42 p.m. (0742 GMT, 3:42 a.m. EDT) Friday aboard the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft from the Russia-leased Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan. They are set to dock at the station after a two-orbit, three-hour journey. It’s the second space mission for Vande Hei and the third for Novitskiy, while Dubrov is on his first mission. During their mission, the crew will work on hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science.

The Republican Party is bringing hundreds of donors and several presidential prospects to the former president’s doorstep in south Florida this weekend. The location of the invitation-only gathering, just three months after former President Donald Trump helped incite a violent attack against Congress, suggests that the GOP is unwilling or unable to replace Trump as its undisputed leader and chief fundraiser. Trump himself will headline the closed-door donor retreat, which is designed to raise millions of dollars for the GOP’s political arm while giving donors exclusive access to the party’s early 2024 prospects and congressional leaders. Trump’s Republican critics were not invited.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia is about to lose another congressional seat because of its steady population decline. Now Republican lawmakers are convinced a massive tax cut is the key to enticing new residents into the Mountain State. But the party with a supermajority in the statehouse is divided on its top priority of cutting the state income tax. They are yet to figure out how to offset the cut without hurting the state’s poorest or driving a massive hole through the state’s budget. Republican Gov. Jim Justice has urged legislators to not fret the details and pass his plan before the session ends Saturday.