– Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Jul 7

CSi Weather…

TODAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. East winds around 10 mph.

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the upper 50s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms likely in the

morning, then chance of showers and thunderstorms in the

afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

Chance of precipitation 30 percent in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area .

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of

showers and thunderstorms in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the valley city area. Lows in the upper 50s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. East winds 5 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers

and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the lower 80s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s.

.SUNDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s.

.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms after midnight. Lows around 60.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.

Jamestown (City) On Wednesday July 7, 2021; there will be a road closure on 2nd Ave SW (from 2nd St to 3rd St SW) for water main repairs and fire hydrant replacement.
This will take place at 6:00 AM and continue until work is finished. Interrupted water service may occur in this area.
Questions regarding the water outage, please call the City Water Plant at 701-252-5131.
Motorists should use extreme caution in this area and use alternate routes, if possible.

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall. Council Member Buchanan was not present.

PUBLIC HEARING: HEARING FROM THE AUDIENCE, No One Spoke.

CONSENT AGENDA:

A Resolution was approved concerning the request from JSDC to fund the 2021 Flex PACE program up to $1 million dollars from Economic Development Funds on an 80% City / 20% County split (up to an additional $720,000) with the City Share to be up to an additional $576,000 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.

A Resolution was approved regarding the proposal from Premier Audio for the audio visual upgrades to the City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Heinrich has said, this is the original equipment installed at city Hall in the early 1990’s. Improvements including headphones for Council Members to better hear, the conversation among them and others from the audience and phone calls. A T.V. monitor will be included in the council chambers to improve visuals, and installing a monitor in the lobby to allow for overflow audience members to view council business taking place.

Also approved was a Resolution for the request from Airborne Custom Spraying, Inc., to enter into a Mosquito Spraying Agreement Assignment.

The remainder of the Consent Agenda was also approved.

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS:

A Resolution to amend the City’s September 7, 2010, procurement policy was moved to the Finance and Legal Committee this month.

PUBLIC HEARING was held: to consider the request to vacate a part of 19th Ave NE adjacent to Lots 3, 4 and 5, Block 2, replat of Block 2, Hillcrest Park Addition, to the City of Jamestown, Stutsman County, North Dakota. No one spoke.

Following the Public Hearing the City Council approved a Resolution for the request of the vacation.

Subject to language acceptable to the City Attorney.

NO APPOINTMENTS WERE MADE:

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORT:

Council Member Kamlitz said he attended the Downtown Arts Market Chalk Fest, adding 185 cars participated in the JDRA Drag races two weeks ago. The Sunday races were rained out.

Council Member Steele urges all eligible and not receiving COVID- vacccinations.

Mayor Heinrich noted acheivements in the past month including ADM saying it will locating at the Spiritwood Energy Park. He noted the opening of the TRAC Splash Park in cooperation with Jamestown Parks and Recreation.

OTHER BUSINESS:

The City Council approved Payment No. 6 (Inv 2174631), to the ND Department of Transportation, for engineering services on US 281 / US 52 Road Diet, NDDOT Project UGP-NHU-2-052(043)264, PCN 22279 — US 52 from 8th Ave NW to 8th St S, in the amount of $19,380.62.

Also approval was the Payment No. 3&Final (Inv 2174634), to the ND Department of Transportation, for construction completed on 2019-2020 Safe Routes to School, NDDOT Project TAU-2987(042), PCN 22570, in the amount of $3,427.29.

The City approved Payment No. 2 & Final, to Naastad Brothers, Inc., for construction on 2021 University of Jamestown Storm Sewer Improvements, District 21-71, in the amount of $49,411.45.

Approved was the Preliminary Engineering Reimbursement Agreement with the NDDOT on Highway 20 on 1st Ave N to 12th Ave NE Project, No. NHU-2-020(026)000 PCN 23177, NDDOT Contract # 38210824, and authorizing the City Auditor, City Attorney and Mayor to sign the agreement and the NDDOT authorization. A mill and overlay project.

The meeting was shown live on CSi cable 67 followed by replays.

Jamestown ( CSi) The Jamestown City Planning Commission meeting scheduled for July 12, 2021, has been cancelled as there are no items of business.
The next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting will be August 9, 2021, at 8:00 a.m

Valley City (CSi) The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session on Tuesday evening at City Hall.

All members were present.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.

Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $1,122,173.95

Blocking off Street Request for the following: a. VCBCDC on Central Avenue from Wells Fargo to Valley Service and alleyways by the Vault and Nucara for Summer Nights on Central on August 12, 2021 and August 18th, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Chamber of Commerce for Crazy Daze on July 28th from 7 AM to 5 PM.

Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation from Central Ave from 2nd Street to 4th Street including side streets and alleyways for the Longest Table on August 5, 2021 from 6 AM to 10 PM.

Public Comments … No One Spoke

ORDINANCES

Approved the Second and Final Reading of an Ordinance to Amend and Reenact Subsection 2 of Section 15-01-19 of the Valley City Municipal Code regarding Responsibility for Utility Service Lines. City Attorney Martineck said changes were made concerning electric above and underground lines and approved.

Approved was the Third and Final Reading of Ordinance, an Ordinance to Amend and Reenact Chapter 08-07 and Section 11-05-11 and to repeal Title 13 of the Valley City Municipal Code re Mobile Park Regulations. City Attorney Martineck said a section was modified regarding parking of vehicles.

Approved First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend and Reenact Section 14-12-02 of the Valley City Municipal Code Relating to Permits for Vehicles of Excessive Size and Weight.

RESOLUTION

NEW BUSINESS

Approved the Site Authorization Renewal for the North Dakota Winter Show from 7/1/2021 to 6/30/22. Finance Director Richter this is a renewal of the gaming permit.

Approved Adding the $458,305.73 Refund from MRES to the 2021 Capital Budget for the new Public Works Service Center. City Administrator Crawford said the action is now a part of the permanent record.

Approved a Request from VCBCDC for $150,000 to support a business retention/expansion project. Jennifer Feist said the dollars will go to support relocation and training costs of new employees, for primary sector jobs, to be used as needed on a per person basis.

Approved was the purchase of the property at 952 10^th Avenue north for permanent flood protection and to request State Water Commission participation.

Approve using Covid Cares Funds for Speakers from Main St. to 4th St. N. City Administrator Crawford said a maximum of $20,000 was approved.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S Highlights:

Gwen Crawford said future construction projects time lines are being addressed.

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS:

City Fire Chief Scott Magnuson thanked the public’s support at the recent firefighter dedication.

July 11 is the Fire Department vs. the Police Department softball game.

KLJ updated the street projects with a number completed.

Commissioner Dick Gulmon congratulated the Fire Department on the firefighter dedication.

He said sales tax proceeds and food and beverage taxes are up 50 percent from this time a year ago.

Mayor Carlsrud said sales taxes lend to keeping property taxes done and residents are urged to keep shopping local.

He said trees have been trimmed up near Marketplace Foods.

Mayor Carlsrud has made changes in committee assignments, as he will go back to his original assignment as required for the mayor to serve on.

The meeting was shown live on csi cable 68 followed by replays.

Bismarck (NDDoH) The North Dakota Department of Health dashboard is updated daily by 11 am and includes cases reported through the previous day. The investigations are ongoing and information on the website is likely to change as cases are investigated. The information contained in this dashboard is the most up to date and will be different than previous news releases. This dashboard supersedes information from previous news releases or social media postings.

Check out our other dashboards: The COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, NDUS Dashboard.

COVID-19 Stats

10:45 -a.m.

Tues. Jul 6, 2021

Barnes

New Positives 0

Total Positives 1423

Active: 0

Recovered: 1393

Stutsman

New Positives 0

Total Positives 3546

Active 2

Recovered 3464

Jamestown (CVHD) Central Valley Health District’s COVID-19 testing clinics are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11-a.m. to noon. The clinics will be held at the Jamestown Civic Center. Pre registration is required.

Jamestown (CVHD) Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Schedule

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Vaccine Type: MODERNA -or- JOHNSHON & JOHNSON

Event Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Event Location: Central Valley Health District

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Mayor Dwaine Heinrich says, the City Council continues with budget planning for the 2022 Calendar Year Budget.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2 he said, with the General Fund, the consensus reached for 2022, is to approve in the Preliminary Budget a three percent salary increase for city employees and step increase raises.

He added that the General Fund increases are to include equipment purchases of about $241,000. with includes dollars set aside for the major purchase of a bucket truck for the Street Department. The Mayor pointed out that there will be a transfer to the Building Site Fund, for continued funding for the City Fire Hall roof replacement.

He said exact figures are not yet available for state funding, but are estimated at between $1.5 and 2-million.

He said the city’s Reserve Fund looks to be in good shape, at $3-million, as a percentage of moneys that need to be in reserves for unseen expenditures.

More city budget meetings are planned, and the information on the preliminary budget taken this month’s Finance & Legal Committee meeting on July 20, for consideration, with approval at the August 2 City Council meeting.

The preliminary budget can be adjusted downward but not increase.

In October the final budget will be approved.

Valley City (CSi) Music at the City Park Bandshell for 2021. Here is this summer’s schedule:

July 7 – Micaiah Studio of Ballet
July 14 – Monroe Doctrine
July 21 – Myron Sommerfeld & Music of the Stars
July 28 –
August 4 – Maasjo Sisters
August 11 – Jesse Veeder, singer/songwriter ???
August 18 – DeMasi Brothers

Music in the Park will be on Wednesday evenings at 7:15 pm starting June 2nd. This summer they will be celebrating 25 years in existence. Musicians are featured each week showcasing their talents for the community and surrounding area.

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Minot police say a woman has been arrested for leaving a 1-year-old child unattended in a vehicle and then leaving the scene when officers arrived. The incident happened Monday evening outside a Minot business. Police say the child had been alone for 30 minutes in a vehicle that was running but unlocked. The registered owner of the vehicle lied to officers about her identity and left the area. Police say the suspect returned to the scene about 90 minutes later and was arrested for child neglect, false information and previous warrants. The child is in the custody of relatives.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota National Guard says about 125 soldiers from a Bismarck-based unit will be sent to the U.S. border with Mexico later this year for an undetermined amount of time. The soldiers from the 957th Engineer Company are expected to begin the deployment this fall. Gov. Doug Burgum’s office says the request was made Department of the Army. Burgum says the soldiers will “support the efforts to secure our border.” The governor’s office says the deployment is being funded by the federal government. Burgum is among a growing list of Republican governors promising to send law enforcement officers to Texas. Republican governors from Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska and Iowa have all committed to sending law enforcement officers for border security.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With COVID-19 limits fading away, tourists are returning to Minnesota resorts, many of them from neighboring states. A lot of the workers are not coming back. Ben Wogsland, a spokesman for Hospitality Minnesota, the trade association for the state’s hotels, restaurants, resorts and campgrounds, says the worker shortage has been building for more than a year. The industry is down about 50,000 workers from its normal summer level of 280,000 to 290,000 workers. The Star Tribune reports that many of them found other jobs during the first COVID shutdown in March and April last year, and others left when a second hospitality shutdown was ordered later in the year.

In Sports…

Tuesday American Legion Baseball

At Jack Brown Stadium

Jamestown Post 14 10 Williston Post 37 9

Eagles walk off in 10

At Valley City

West Fargo 5 Valley City 1

Chicago (July 2, 2021) — In its 36th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Anthonett Nabwe of Jamestown High School as its 2020-21 Gatorade North Dakota Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Nabwe is the first Gatorade North Dakota Girls Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from Jamestown High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Nabwe as North Dakota’s best high school girls track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Player of the Year award to be announced in July, N

The 5-foot-9 junior won the shot put and discus events at the Class A state meet this past season, leading the Blue Jays to a third-place finish as a team. Nabwe also took second in the 100-meter dash and third in the javelin throw, collecting 34 points as an individual. At the time of her selection, Nabwe’s personal-best shot put of 48 feet, 1 inch ranked No. 17 nationally among 2021 prep competitors in her event. Her personal-best discus throw of 143-9 ranked No. 82 nationally.

A native of Liberia, Nabwe came to Jamestown before her freshman year of high school. Also a talented singer, she has performed at various nursing homes in addition to volunteering locally as a youth basketball and volleyball coach.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which works with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Gatorade.

NBA-FINALS

Seen on CSi 6 ABC

PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Paul had 32 points and nine assists, Devin Booker scored 27 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the returning Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh) and his Milwaukee Bucks 118-105 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Paul scored 16 points during a sensational third quarter that had Phoenix fans who waited 28 years to see the NBA Finals again screaming in delight. Finally playing for the title in his 16th season, the star point guard has the Suns in the NBA Finals for only the third time, and it sure looked as if they could make this one different than the other two. Antetokounmpo finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds and four assists.

NBA-NEWS

Silver says NBA may have weathered pandemic well financially

UNDATED (AP) — The NBA may emerge from the pandemic on better financial footing than it first anticipated, though Commissioner Adam Silver is warning that it’s too early to declare things fully back to normal.

Silver, at his annual pre-NBA Finals news conference, says he believes the league weathered the pandemic and all that came with it — including much less revenue from the lack of fans in arenas for much of the last 15 months. Silver says he was surprised to see many teams were able to have full buildings during the playoffs.

In other NBA news:

— ESPN has replaced Rachel Nichols as its sideline reporter for the NBA Finals following a report detailing critical comments she made about Black colleague Maria Taylor. The network said that Malika Andrews would handle that role for the series between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks. Nichols has been the sideline reporter for its top national games this season and for last year’s NBA Finals. But the switch was made after The New York Times reported Sunday on her comments last year, when she learned Taylor would lead the network’s studio show instead of her during the league’s restart at Walt Disney World.

— Versatile forward Ochai Agbaji and high-scoring point guard Remy Martin have withdrawn from the NBA draft, opting instead to help Kansas chase a sixth national championship. Agbaji announced his decision to return to the Jayhawks, whom he helped reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament, about two hours before Martin withdrew from the draft. Martin starred for Arizona State last season but announced he was transferring to Kansas if he withdrew from the draft.

OLYMPICS-RICHARDSON-NO RELAY

No relay: Banned sprinter Richardson left off Olympic team

UNDATED (AP) — USA Track and Field says it’s “incredibly sympathetic toward Sha’Carri Richardson’s extenuating circumstances” but the banned sprinter won’t be given a spot on the 4X100 relay team in the Olympics.

Richardson had already been banned from the 100 following a positive test for marijuana. Richardson says she used the drug following the death of her mother. Her 30-day suspension was set to end before the start of the relays in Tokyo. That left open the possibility she could run on the relay team. But her name was missing from the roster USATF sent out Tuesday.

The ban has been criticized. USATF says it “fully agrees” that international rules regarding marijuana should be reevaluated.

MLB-

Seen on CSi 25 Bally Sports North

— Carlos Rodón allowed one run on seven hits, and the Chicago White Sox took advantage of sloppy play by the Minnesota Twins to win 4-1 in Minnesota on a rainy Tuesday night. Catcher Zack Collins, making the start after Yasmani Grandal went on the injured list earlier in the day with a torn tendon in his left knee, had a two-run single in the second inning after two walks and two errors by the Twins. Minnesota starter José Berríos allowed two runs.

Seen on CSi 14 ESPN

— Giancarlo Stanton clubbed a three-run homer off the railing of the second deck in the first inning, Luke Voit had a career-high five hits and three RBIs, and the New York Yankees thumped the Seattle Mariners 12-1. The Yankees seemed to release nearly a week worth of frustration with an early offensive outburst against the Mariners and one-time New York prospect Justus Sheffield. DJ LeMahieu singled in each of the first three innings and the 12 runs and 18 hits were season highs for the Yankees. New York starter Jameson Taillon cruised through the Mariners lineup allowing four hits and one run.

UNDATED (AP) — Mets ace Jacob deGrom likely lost one of his last two starts planned heading into the All-Star break when a game against the Milwaukee Brewers was rained out. The game was called after a wait of nearly 2 1/2 hours and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader Wednesday.

DeGrom, 7-2 with a record-low 0.95 ERA, had been scheduled to start against left-hander Brett Anderson. New York planned to have deGrom start the final game before the break on Sunday. DeGrom was rescheduled to start Wednesday’s opener against Milwaukee All-Star Corbin Burnes.

In other Tuesday action:

— Shohei Ohtani pitched seven innings of five-hit ball and hit an early RBI double, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox. In his final mound start before the All-Star Game, Ohtani struck out four and didn’t walk a batter while bouncing back from a terrible outing at Yankee Stadium last week. Max Stassi hit a two-run homer and David Fletcher had four hits for the Angels. J.D. Martinez drove in both of Boston’s runs against Ohtani, but the Red Sox lost for just the second time in 12 games.

— Nolan Arenado and Edmundo Sosa homered to back Adam Wainwright’s fourth straight winning decision, Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run single in the fourth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5. St. Louis left fielder Dylan Carlson made a tremendous game-ending catch at the wall with runners on first and third. Yadier Molina added a run-scoring single in the seventh before Sosa connected in the eighth. The Giants scored twice in the bottom half, getting Mike Yastrzemski’s RBI single and a double by Wilmer Flores.

— Wil Myers hit a three-run homer and had five RBIs, and Manny Machado celebrated his 29th birthday with three hits and three runs for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Washington Nationals 7-4. Machado singled in the go-ahead run during the three-run fifth and also had two doubles. Myers homered to right-center off Erick Fedde for a 3-0 lead with no outs in the fourth inning. It was his 10th. Machado was aboard on a leadoff double and Eric Hosmer on a single.

— Salvador Perez’s walk-off single capped Kansas City’s four-run rally as the Royals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6. The Royals scored six runs off the Reds’ bullpen in the final two innings and Perez got his third game-ending hit this season.

— Bryce Harper homered and tied a career high with five hits, Andrew McCutchen smacked a grand slam and the Philadelphia Phillies handed Chicago its 11th straight loss, beating the Cubs 15-10. The Cubs extended their worst skid since they dropped 12 in a row in May 2012. They remained winless since Zach Davies and three relievers combined to no-hit the Dodgers in Los Angeles on June 24.

— Automatic runner Starling Marte advanced to third on Blake Treinen’s wild pitch and continued home when catcher Will Smith threw wildly past third base for a game-ending error in the 10th inning, giving the Miami Marlins a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Miami went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position but got a pair of unearned runs as the Dodgers made two of the game’s four errors.

— Yordan Álvarez hit two homers and drove in five runs, José Altuve drove in the go-ahead run with a single, and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 9-6 for their fifth straight win. Álvarez hit a two-run homer to center in the first and had a three-run shot to left in the fifth to tie the game at 6-all and end the night for Oakland starter Chris Bassitt. Alvarez had his second multi-homer game of the season, with the last coming against the New York Yankees on May 6.

— John Hicks became the first player to homer in his first four games with the Rangers/Washington Senators franchise and added a go-ahead single in the seventh inning to lead Texas over the Detroit Tigers 10-5. Hicks, brought up from Triple-A Round Rock on June 29 after catcher Jose Trevino got hurt, hit a two-run homer that put the Rangers ahead in a four-run inning. He became the fourth player to hit four or more homers in his first four games with a team.

— Bryan Reynolds drew a four-pitch walk from a Tyler Matzek, forcing in the winning run in the ninth inning and giving the Pittsburgh Pirates a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves and a three-game winning streak. Matzek threw just eight of 20 pitches for strikes.

— Pedro Severino and Cedric Mullins homered off Steven Matz, Anthony Santander also went deep and the Baltimore Orioles powered past the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5. Toronto hit three home runs, too, including No. 28 by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but all those long balls came after Baltimore had taken a 7-1 lead.

MLB-NEWS

Reed could debut for Dodgers as wife preps for Olympics

UNDATED (AP) — Right-hander Jake Reed was called up by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday and could make his major league debut as his wife Janie Reed prepares to play outfield for the U.S. at the Olympics.

The Dodgers selected the contract of the 28-year-old from Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated outfielder Steven Souza Jr. for assignment. Reed was 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings over nine games with Oklahoma City. Janie Reed, the former Janie Takeda, also is 28, and went to Oregon.

In other MLB news:

— Third baseman Anthony Rendon has been placed on the Los Angeles Angels’ injured list for the third time before the All-Star break. Rendon went on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain that occurred Sunday. The Angels recalled infielder Jack Mayfield from Triple-A Salt Lake to replace him.

— The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired first baseman Rowdy Tellez from the Toronto Blue Jays for right-handed pitchers Trevor Richards and Bowden Francis. The 26-year-old Tellez had been with the Blue Jays’ Triple-A Buffalo affiliate after struggling in the majors this season with a .209 batting average, four homers and eight RBIs in 50 games.

— The Cleveland Indians have signed catcher Wilson Ramos and assigned him to Triple-A Columbus. A two-time All-Star, Ramos spent the first six weeks this season with the Detroit Tigers. The 33-year-old batted .200 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 35 games before he went on the injured list twice in May with a lower back issue. The 12-year veteran was released by the Tigers in June.

— The Chicago White Sox placed catcher Yasmani Grandal on the 10-day injured list with a torn tendon in his left knee. Grandal was injured during an at-bat in Monday’s loss in Minnesota. Chicago estimates Grandal will be out approximately four to six weeks.

— Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson is joining the All-Star Home Run Derby at Denver’s Coors Field on July 12. Olson began Tuesday with 20 home runs. He joins Kansas City catcher Salvador Pérez, Los Angeles Angels pitcher-designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, Baltimore first baseman Trey Mancini, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Colorado shortstop Trevor Story in the derby. Alonso won the most recent derby in 2019.

— Tom Hallion will be the plate umpire and crew chief for baseball’s All-Star Game at Denver’s Coors Field on July 13. Hallion is a 28-year major league veteran. He was left field umpire for the 1992 All-Star Game in San Diego and second base umpire for the 2008 game at Yankee Stadium. He will be joined by CB Bucknor at first base, Chris Guccione at second base, Lance Barrett at third base, David Rackley in left field and Adam Hamari in right field. Greg Gibson will be the replay umpire in New York. Colorado-based Dave Einspahr will be the official scorer.

NFL-NEWS

Pentagon chief allows Naval Academy grad to pursue NFL job

UNDATED (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the U.S. military will allow Naval Academy graduate Cameron Kinley to pursue a career in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Acting Navy Secretary Tom Harker had denied Kinley’s request to delay his commissioning. But Austin has reversed that decision, and President Joe Biden says he is “pleased” by the news. Kinley says he is “excited to represent our fine military in the National Football League.” Kinley, a cornerback, signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent. He will now be able to attend the Buccaneers’ training camp later this month.

In other NFL news:

— The New England Patriots have signed quarterback Mac Jones, their first-round draft pick and the latest potential long-term replacement for Tom Brady. The No. 15 overall selection, Jones led Alabama to the 2020 national championship. The Patriots attempted to groom several players as their next quarterback, including Matt Cassel, Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett, but Brady outlasted them all while leading the Patriots to six Super Bowls.

NHL-NEWS

NHL’s top prospect leaning to stay at Michigan next season’’

UNDATED (AP) —The NHL’s top-ranked draft prospect, defenseman Owen Power, says he is leaning toward playing his sophomore season at Michigan next year rather than turning pro.

Power says he won’t make a decision until after the draft, by noting he wants to first consult with the team that selects him. Power is from Mississauga, Ontario, and the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau’s top-ranked North American skater. The Buffalo Sabres have the No. 1 pick, followed by the expansion Seattle Kraken. The two-day draft will be held remotely starting on July 23.

Devils re-sign goalie Scott Wedgewood to 1-year deal

In other NHL news:

— The New Jersey Devils re-signed goaltender Scott Wedgewood to a one-year, two-way contract worth $825,000 at the NHL level and $375,000 at the AHL. Wedgewood was 3-8-3 in 16 games played (15 starts) with New Jersey last season, with a 3.11 goals-against average, .900 save percentage and a career-high two shutouts.

— Defenseman Christian Wolanin has agreed to a one-year, $750,000 contract extension to return to the Los Angeles Kings. Wolanin appeared in three games with Los Angeles after the Kings acquired him from the Ottawa Senators on March 29 in a trade for Michael Amadio. The 26-year-old Wolanin recorded three assists in 15 games with Ottawa before the trade.

TENNIS WIMBLEDON

Coverage on CSi 14 ESPN and CSi 27 ESPN 2

2018 champion Kerber vs. No. 1 Barty in Wimbledon semifinals

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Angelique Kerber has reached the semifinals at Wimbledon for the first time since winning the title there in 2018.

Kerber beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets in the quarterfinals. Kerber’s next opponent will be No. 1 Ash Barty. Kerber is a three-time Grand Slam champion who had lost in the first round at the Australian Open and French Open this year. Also reaching the semifinals at the All England Club with straight-set victories Tuesday were No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka and No. 8 Karolina Pliskova.

OBIT-MAEGLE

Rice RB tackled off bench in the 1954 Cotton Bowl has died

HOUSTON (AP) — Dicky Maegle, the Rice running back tackled in the 1954 Cotton Bowl by an Alabama player who came off the bench, has died. Rice University said Maegle passed away Sunday. He was 86.

In one of the most legendary plays in college football history, Maegle was running near midfield when Alabama co-captain Tommy Lewis came off the bench and threw a blindside block that knocked Maegle to the ground. Officials awarded Maegle a 95-yard touchdown run. He also had TD runs of 79 and 34 yards as Rice beat the Crimson Tide 28-6 on New Year’s Day.

In world and national news…

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — An official says Haitian President Jovenel Moïse has been assassinated after a group of unidentified people attacked his private residence. Interim Premier Claude Joseph says First Lady Martine Moïse is hospitalized. Joseph condemned what he called a “hateful, inhumane and barbaric act.” He said Haiti’s National Police and other authorities had the situation in the Caribbean country under control on Wednesday. The killing comes amid deepening political and economic instability and a spike in gang violence.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Elsa weakened to a tropical storm as it threatened Florida’s northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday after raking past the Tampa Bay region. Gov. Ron DeSantis said forecasts called for the cyclone to come ashore sometime between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. A tropical storm warning was in effect for a long stretch of coastline, from Egmont Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay to the Steinhatchee River in the Big Bend area. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in the Tampa Bay area, which is highly vulnerable to storm surge. The most powerful winds were forecast to remain offshore.

SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP) — Officials overseeing the search at the site of the Florida condominium collapse seem increasingly somber about the prospects for finding anyone alive. They said Tuesday that crews have detected no new signs of life in the rubble nearly two weeks after the disaster struck at the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside. Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said search teams have not found “anything positive” such as livable spaces in the debris. While the effort is still officially called a search-and-rescue mission, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said families of those still missing are preparing for news of “tragic loss.”

BAGHDAD (AP) — A U.S.-backed Syrian group says they and American forces have foiled an attack with drones on a base housing members of the U.S.-led coalition in eastern Syria. . In neighboring Iraq 14 rockets hit a base housing U.S. troops inflicting three minor injuries. A U.S. spokesman did not say whether the injured were Americans. Tension has been on the rise between U.S. troops and Iran-backed fighters after American airstrikes on eastern Syria killed six Iraqi fighters late last month in areas along the Syria-Iraq border. The same base in Syria was hit over the weekend with two rockets.

ROME (AP) — The Vatican says Pope Francis’ recovery from intestinal surgery continues to be “regular and satisfactory.” The Vatican also revealed Wednesday that final examinations showed Francis had a suffered a “severe” narrowing of his colon. The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said the 84-year-old pope was continuing to eat regularly following his Sunday surgery to remove the left side of his colon. He said final examination of the affected tissue “confirmed a severe diverticular stenosis with signs of sclerosing diverticulitis.” Francis underwent three hours of planned surgery Sunday. The Vatican has said he is expected to stay in Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic, which has a special suite reserved for popes, through the week, assuming no complications.