Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Aug 5

CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke through the day. Highs in the lower 80s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. East winds around 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. East winds around

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

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers

and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. East winds 10 to

15 mph.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms in the Jamestown area, 60 percent in the Valley City area. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of

showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy

after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s.

.SUNDAY…Sunny. Highs around 90.

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

thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s.

.MONDAY…Sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers and

thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers

and thunderstorms. Lows around 60.

.TUESDAY…Sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and

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

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of

showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 60.

.WEDNESDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.

 

 

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:

Wed. Aug. 4,  2021

10:30- a.m.

Barnes

New Positives  3

Total Positives 1435

Active 6

Recovered: 1397

 

Stutsman

New Positives 1

Total Positives 3577

Active 11

Recovered  3484

 

Central Valley Health District Vaccination Clinics

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Vaccine Type: PFIZER, MODERNA

Event Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Event Location: Central Valley Health District

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Vaccine Type: PFIZER (2nd Dose Only)

Event Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Event Location: Central Valley Health District

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Vaccine Type: PFIZER

Event Time: 8:00am – 3:30pm

Event Location: Jamestown Middle School 

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Vaccine Type: PFIZER

Event Time: 8:00am – 3:30pm

Event Location: Jamestown High School 

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Vaccine Type: PFIZER, MODERNA

Event Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Event Location: Central Valley Health District

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Vaccine Type: PFIZER, MODERNA

Event Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Event Location: Central Valley Health District

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Vaccine Type: PFIZER, MODERNA

Event Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Event Location: Central Valley Health District

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The VA has issued new presumptive conditions for veterans with burn pit exposures in Southeast Asia.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Stutsman County Veterans Service Officer, David Bratton said, veterans with respiratory conditions after being exposed to burn pits, should contact his office, to file disability claims, and more information.

 

The VA still has COVID-19 vaccinations available and has mandated vaccines for all VA employees.

He said the Jamestown VA Clinic is available for walk-ins for veterans, their spouses, and caregivers,  to receive the vaccine, open each day from 8-a.m. to 4-p.m.

 

The VA has announced new options to help Veterans avoid foreclosure.  One option concerns reducing mortgage payments by around 20-percent.  David Bratton’s office has more information.

The VA is re-adjudicating previously denied Agent Orange Claims, and again his office has more information.

Burleigh County Van is up and running taking veterans to the Fargo VA. Restrictions are in place, including those riding the van being fully vaccinated,  wearing face masks, and one passenger per each row of seating.

The Stutsman County website has the schedule available, and how to sign up.

 

The 2021 Camp Grafton Deer Hunt for veterans with at least a 50-percent disability will be held, Monday  and Monday November 8, 2021, and Monday November 15, with the signup deadline on  October 1, 2021.

 

North Dakota veterans can sign up for a V- Indicator on their driver’s licenses, indicating veteran status, only good in North Dakota.  His office has the forms to fill out through DMV.

The Stutsman County Veterans Service Office is located in the lower level of the LEC, open Monday through Friday 8-a.m. to noon, and 1-p.m. to 5-p.m.

Call 252-9043.

When entering the lobby call down to the office, for admittance, to the lower level under security protocols.  Wearing of face masks at this time is not required, but is suggested.

 

 

Valley City  (SVCF)   Andrea Nelson Director of the Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation says, in a news release,  “we are excited to announce The Longest Table Community Event. This facilitated conversation is a community event scheduled for Thursday, August 5, 2021, featuring a continuous table on Central Avenue welcoming participants to enjoy a free dinner. Participants will be seated among new people to foster stronger connections, exchange stories, and share ideas about community innovation.

She says, “All community members 14 and older are welcome to join in conversation about our community and discuss what we can do to make it the best place to live, work, raise a family and more.”

The Longest Table is free and open to the public; however, pre-registration is required to assist with planning efforts. To register visit www.vclongesttable.org. The conversation will begin promptly at 5:45pm and conclude at 7:00pm.

Following the event, residents are invited to apply for innovative micro-grants to launch their ideas off the table and into the community. “Our goal is to have an impactful community conversation that builds a grassroots effort for change. We want to empower the community to take their dreams and make them a reality,” remarked Nelson.

The Longest Table is organized by the Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation and generously sponsored by the Valley City Barnes County Development Corporation through their Bush Prize for Community Innovation. Other sponsors include Valley City State University and Valley City Public Schools.

The Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization that brings together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support a wide variety of nonprofit organizations in Barnes, Ransom, and Griggs Counties. For more information please visit us at 250 West Main St, Valley City or contact us at 701-490-1596 or www.valleycitynd.org/svcf

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Arts Center has announced this summer’s entertainment at the Downtown Arts Market, and the Hansen Arts Park, each Thursday,  at 5:30 pm

Enjoy the best of regional live entertainment in The Hansen Arts Park.  The Downtown Arts Market… a celebration of culture and community when we need it the most! Don’t forget your lawn chair or blanket.

Would you like to one of the artisan vendors at this year’s Downtown Arts Market? We are currently accepting applications. Click to download the Vendor Application.docx.

File Photos from 2019

August 5:    FLICKERTAIL BAND
With: Top of the Stairs Dance
Flickertail is a three piece band made up of old friends exploring and experiencing fun music of all sorts through the joy of live performance! Jeremy Gray on drums and Jon Beyer on bass…together, bring the rhythm section to life ! Steve Kuykendall adds his vocals and guitar to the mix and the result is pure fun ….this exciting trio is motivated solely by the joy of the journey….so why not come along?

 

 

Jamestown  (Chamber)       Members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Sabir’s Buffalo Grill. They recently expanded their seating area to include an outdoor dining option. Sabir’s is a full service restaurant and bar with a banquet/meeting room that seats up to 50 people.  They are located in historic downtown Jamestown at 103 1^st Ave. S. You can reach them at 701-952-9529.

Businesses qualify for a ribbon-cutting ceremony if they open, move, remodel, are under new ownership or change their name.  For more information, contact Emily Bivens by emailing: director@jamestownchamber.com or call the chamber at 701-252-4830.

 

Jamestown  (Chamber)    Members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Community Beautification Committee worked with the ND Department of Transportation, City of Jamestown, and Newman Signs to get Welcome Banners installed along Highway 281 on Mill Hill. The project was funded through Beautification Committee funds and a grant from Jamestown Tourism.

For more information or to become a member of the Chamber Beautification Committee, call the chamber at 701-252-4830.

Photos Courtesy, Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — An attorney for a man accused in the gruesome killings of four people at a North Dakota property management firm says the case amounts to a rush to judgment based on bad information that led to the wrong conclusion. Forty-seven-year-old Chad Isaak, of Washburn, is accused of killing RJR Maintenance and Management co-owner Robert Fakler and employees Adam Fuehrer, William Cobb and Lois Cobb on April 1, 2019. The business is located in Mandan. Prosecutor Karlei Neufeld said during her opening statements Wednesday that the evidence is like pieces of puzzle that will paint a clear picture of Isaak’s guilt when completed. Defense attorney Bruce Quick countered that police were under pressure to solve the case quickly and overlooked or ignored other possible suspects.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators have ordered the operator of a wind farm to move one of its turbines from a summer house that belongs to a family in Oliver County. The North Dakota Public Service Commission voted 3-0 Wednesday to require that Minnesota Power remove the turbine within six months. The company can either leave it down or move it farther away from the Oliver County home. The Bismarck Tribune reports that Keith Kessler and his family filed a complaint last year that the turbine is within the 1,400-foot buffer the company said it would maintain between turbines and occupied residences at its Bison wind farm. The PSC said the house fit the definition of occupied even though the family does not live there full-time.

 

 

Bismarck  (NDDOT)   The North Dakota Department of Transportation will temporarily close the eastbound Interstate 94 Crystal Springs Rest Area August 5. The closure is due to microsurfacing the parking lot to protect the asphalt pavement. The rest area is expected to reopen later in the day.

For more information about construction projects and road conditions throughout North Dakota, call 511 or visit the ND Roads map at travel.dot.nd.gov.

 

 

In sports…

Austin, Texas (Jimmiepride.com)– Paige Argent of the University of Jamestown women’s golf team was named to the 2020-21 Academic All-America® NAIA Women’s At-Large Second Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the association announced Tuesday.

Argent is the first Jimmie women’s golfer in program history to earn Academic All-American honors.

She maintained a 4.00 GPA while majoring in biology and was also recognized by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) as a 2020-21 All-American Scholar.

2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-America NAIA Women’s At-Large Team

 

TOKYO (AP) — Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd each scored a pair of goals and the United States won the bronze medal in women’s soccer at the Tokyo Olympics with a 4-3 victory over Australia.

It was arguably the best the Americans had looked during the course of a rocky tournament that opened with an uncharacteristic 3-0 loss to Sweden. Rapinoe set the tone early with a goal scored directly from a corner kick.

The loss spoiled the Australians’ first-ever trip to the medal round at the Olympics. No Australian soccer team, men or women, has ever won a medal.

Also in Tokyo:

— The American “A-Team” has advanced to the gold medal match of the Olympic beach volleyball tournament. April Ross and Alix Klineman beat Switzerland at Shiokaze Park to clinch at least a silver medal. It will be the third medal for Ross, who won silver in London and bronze in Rio de Janeiro. Klineman is a first-time Olympian.

— Maddie Musselman and the U.S. beat the Russian Olympic Committee 15-11 to advance to the women’s water polo final, continuing the team’s bid for a third consecutive gold medal. The U.S. beat the Russian team 18-5 last week, but the ROC was much more engaged in the semifinal meeting. The U.S. had to rally after it trailed 7-4 with 48 seconds left in the first half. Musselman scored five times, and captain Maggie Steffens had three goals.

— Marcell Jacobs will carry Italy’s flag at Sunday’s closing ceremony after succeeding Usain Bolt as 100-meter champion at the Olympics. Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malagò made the announcement shortly after Jacobs helped the Azzurri qualify for the final of the 4×100 relay. The Texas-born sprinter was the surprise winner of the biggest race of the Olympics last weekend.

— The International Olympic Committee says it’s not aware of any plans to change the schedule for the women’s soccer final between Canada and Sweden. Both teams asked to avoid kicking off in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo’s heat and humidity at 11 a.m. Friday. That’s an almost unprecedented early start for soccer at any time of year. The forecast temperature at kickoff is around 91 degrees (31 Celsius). IOC spokesman Mark Adams says he “can’t shed any more light” on the process of moving the game. Changes to the Olympic schedule involve the IOC, Tokyo officials, sports bodies like soccer’s FIFA and broadcasters.

— Ryan Crouser has broken his own Olympic record on his way to defending his shot put title. On his last attempt, Crouser went 23.30 meters to earn the first track and field gold for the American men at the Tokyo Games. U.S. teammate Joe Kovacs finished second. Crouser is already the world-record holder after breaking a 31-year-old mark on June 18 at the U.S. Olympic trials. In the heat at Olympic Stadium, Crouser took the lead on his first attempt and saved his best for his final one.

— A slow exchange left the American 4×100-meter relay team out of medal contention at the Olympics. The team of Trayvon Bromell, Fred Kerley, Ronnie Baker and Cravon Gillespie finished sixth in their qualifying heat to extend a quarter-century of misery for the country that brings the deepest track team to the Games. The United States hasn’t won the Olympic 4×100 since 2000 and hasn’t made it cleanly to the finish line in a final since taking a silver medal in 2012. But they gave that one back because of a doping ban against Tyson Gay. The U.S. got DQ’d for another bad pass in the medal race in 2016.

— Germany’s Florian Wellbrock has added a gold medal in marathon swimming to his bronze medal at the pool, romping to a dominating win in the men’s 10-kilometer race at Tokyo Bay. Wellbrock raced out to an early lead and was up front most of the way on another sweltering morning. At the end, the 23-year-old blew the field away to win by a staggering 25.3 seconds. Two swimmers failed to finish in the sweltering conditions. France’s David Aubry was carried away on a stretcher.

— BMX rider Connor Fields was released from St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo on Thursday. That’s five days after a horrific crash in his semifinal race at the Tokyo Olympics left him with a brain bleed and other injuries. He will be able to return to his home in Henderson, Nevada, in the coming days to begin his rehabilitation.

— IOC investigators are “setting up the interviews” with the Belarus team suspected of trying to forcibly remove one of its sprinters from the Olympics. IOC spokesman Mark Adams says the disciplinary process that formally opened Tuesday is “determining who needs to be heard.” Two Belarus officials have been linked by the IOC to taking Krystsina Tsimanouskaya in a car to the airport Sunday to put her on a plane to Belarus. It is unclear if the two officials retain Olympic accreditation and can contact other Belarus athletes.

— For the first time, the United States is sending a full rhythmic Olympic gymnastics team, two individual performers and a five-woman group, to compete this weekend. The gymnasts hope their increased presence could mark a turning point back home, where they are often dismissed as ribbon twirlers and hula hoopers. In rhythmic gymnastics, gymnasts dance as they throw and catch items including hoops, balls, ribbons and clubs.

MLB…

— Luis Castillo pitched six effective innings, Tyler Stephenson homered to give the Reds a cushion they ended up needing, and Cincinnati held on to beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5. Jonathan India had three hits and Joey Votto drove in two runs for the Reds, who came in trailing first-place Milwaukee by 7 1/2 games in the NL Central. Castillo allowed Jorge Polanco’s first-inning solo homer but settled in nicely from there. Stephenson went deep in the seventh to give the Reds a 6-1 lead. The Twins rallied with four runs in the eighth before Michael Lorenzen came in for a five-out save.

 

— Adam Duvall and Jorge Soler homered and Stephen Vogt drove in the eventual game-winning run with a sacrifice fly, helping the Atlanta Braves to a 7-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Dansby Swanson went 4 for 4 with three runs scored for the Braves, who moved to .500 at 54-54. Will Smith, the sixth Braves’ pitcher, picked up his 22nd save with a 1-2-3 ninth. The win helped Atlanta post its first two-game winning streak since the All-Star break. The Braves have won eight of their last nine games at Busch Stadium. Giovanny Gallegos (5-4) allowed three runs in the eighth inning as the Cardinals lost for the sixth time in 10 games.

 

UNDATED (AP) — Javier Báez hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning after scoring on a nifty slide in the second, and the New York Mets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Miami Marlins. The Mets, who had lost five of six, let an early 3-0 lead slip away but recovered to maintain their 1 1/2-game lead in the NL East over surging Philadelphia.

Báez, acquired in a trade-deadline deal with the Chicago Cubs last Friday, put New York back in front 4-3 with an opposite-field drive off Anthony Bass. It was his 24th home run this season and second with his new team — Báez has homered in both Mets wins since the trade.

The Philadelphia Phillies extended their winning streak to four games with a 9-5 win over the Washington Nationals. Philadelphia is 55-53 and two games over .500 for the first time since July 18, when it was 47-45. Rhys Hoskins also homered and drove in three runs, Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer and the Phillies turned an early 3-0 deficit into an easy win. Luis García homered twice for the Nationals. Philadelphia goes for a four-game sweep Thursday.

Elsewhere in the majors:

— Kevin Gausman threw six stellar innings, Alex Dickerson added a three-run homer and the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-1 on Wednesday night. Gausman gave up five hits, walked none and struck out eight. He cruised through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Asdrúbal Cabrera tagged Gausman for an RBI single, but then the hard-throwing right-hander retired Drew Ellis and Daulton Varsho to end the threat.

— Max Scherzer struck out 10 in his Dodgers debut and got plenty of offensive support as Los Angeles hit four home runs to defeat the Houston Astros 7-5, capping a contentious two-game series at Dodger Stadium. Mookie Betts homered twice, while Will Smith and AJ Pollock also went deep off Houston starter Jake Odorizzi. Michael Brantley, Carlos Correa and Kyle Tucker connected for Houston.

— Patrick Wisdom hit a three-run double to back a solid outing from Alec Mills and lead the Chicago Cubs past the Colorado Rockies 3-2. Mills overcame a rocky start to pitch six innings and earn his first win since July 7, and Wisdom finished with three hits. Manuel Rodriguez gave up a two-out single in the ninth but got Sam Hilliard on a comebacker to pick up his first career save. Raimel Tapia had two doubles and nearly made a run-saving catch in the sixth for Colorado.

 

— Salvador Pérez hit a two-run homer and the Kansas City Royals went deep four times to beat the Chicago White Sox 9-1. Kansas City ended a four-game losing streak, while the AL Central-leading White Sox lost for the eighth time in 13 games. Royals starter Carlos Hernández yielded only two hits over five innings in beating the White Sox for the second time in seven days. Hernández has allowed six hits while striking out 10 in his last 11 innings against Chicago. Pérez launched his 27th homer in the third, tying his career high.

— Recently acquired Anthony Rizzo homered again, DJ LeMahieu (leh-MAY’-hyoo) drove in four runs and the New York Yankees cruised to a 10-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Rizzo’s solo homer in the fourth inning made him the first player in Yankees history with at least one RBI in each of his first six games with the club. LeMahieu had three hits and Giancarlo Stanton drove in three runs for the Yankees.

— Shohei Ohtani pitched six solid innings, Juan Lagares raced home from second base on a wild pitch for the lead with the two-way standout at the plate, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 2-1. Jack Mayfield went 3 for 3 while homering from the No. 9 spot for the second consecutive night. Ohtani allowed four hits and struck out six for the Japanese star’s third win in four outings.

— George Springer had four hits, including the 42nd leadoff home run of his career, and Steven Matz pitched six shutout innings as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cleveland Indians 8-6. Springer homered on J.C. Mejia’s (meh-HEE’-uh) first pitch. He singled and scored in the second, hit a two-run double in the third and singled again in the fifth. Needing a triple to complete the cycle, Springer flied out in the eighth. The Blue Jays have hit 163 home runs this season. Toronto began the day tied with San Francisco for the major league lead.

— Matt Olson hit a two-run, walk-off double in the 10th inning and the Oakland Athletics rallied past the San Diego Padres 5-4. The A’s scored twice in the ninth with two outs off closer Mark Melancon to tie it at 3. After San Diego scored a run in the top of the 10th off Lou Trivino to take a 4-3 lead, Olson came to the plate with runners on the corners and no outs. Olson laced the first pitch he saw from Tim Hill off the right field wall, scoring Mark Canha (KAN’-uh) and Starling Marte (mahr-TAY’), and sending the Oakland Coliseum into a frenzy. The A’s posted their AL-leading ninth walk-off win of the season.

— Eduardo Rodriguez struck out 10 in five shutout innings and the Boston Red Sox snapped a five-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. Rodriguez allowed two hits and four walks in helping Boston end its longest losing streak of the season. J.D. Martinez, Enrique Hernandez and Jarren Duran homered for the Red Sox. Boston pitchers struck out 18 batters, with Matt Barnes getting two as he pitched a perfect ninth for his 24th save in 28 chances. Casey Mize gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out three and allowed all three Boston homers.

— Randy Arozarena (ah-roh-zah-RAY’-nuh) had a two-run triple during a three-run third and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 to avoid a season series sweep. The Rays went 1-6 overall against Seattle and lost the first two games of the three-game set. Josh Fleming allowed two runs and five hits, and Mike Zunino hit his 21st homer for the Rays. Mariners rookie Logan Gilbert gave up three runs and four hits over five innings. Seattle had won 11 consecutive games, dating to May 25, when Gilbert started. The right-hander was 5-0 during the stretch.

— Pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez launched a three-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning to put the Milwaukee Brewers ahead for good in a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Devin Williams worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to earn his first career save. Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds went 2 of 2, walked twice and scored both of the Pirates’ runs. The Brewers won two of three from the Pirates and remained 7 1/2 games ahead of Cincinnati in the NL Central.

 

MLB-NEWS

Brewers’ Axford out for year after 1 game; Lauer on COVID list

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching staff has taken a couple more hits with John Axford now out for the season with elbow trouble and Eric Lauer joining the COVID-19 injured list.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Axford has significant elbow damage and is going over his options after an injury foiled the 38-year-old’s comeback attempt.

Elsewhere around the majors:

— Four-time All-Star Cole Hamels has signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers through the end of the season, adding more depth to a pitching staff that has been racked with injuries. Hamels held a tryout for teams last month. The left-hander will report to the Dodgers’ spring training complex in Arizona to get further stretched out before joining the big league club. Hamels will be going into his 16th season. He has a career record of 163-122 with a 3.43 ERA and 2,560 strikeouts in 423 games.

— Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon will have season-ending hip surgery, finishing off an injury-plagued second season in Southern California. Rendon had been on the injured list since July 6 with a left hamstring strain. The 31-year-old also missed time with knee and groin injuries. Rendon was limited to 58 games and will finish with a career-low .240 batting average. The high-priced Rendon joins three-time AL MVP Mike Trout on the 60-day IL.

MLB-NEWS

MLB season starts March 31, again with every team scheduled

UNDATED (AP) — Major League Baseball will open the 2022 season on March 31 and will try for the fourth time to have every team play its first game on the same day for the first time since 1968. The league released the full schedule on Wednesday.

MLB tried to have all 30 clubs play on the same opening day for three of the past four seasons, but it never happened because of weather and other factors. Complicating matters next year is a potential work stoppage.

The collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players’ association expires Dec. 1. Given the acrimonious relationship between the sides, a lockout or strike appears possible.

NBA NEWS

— A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that power forward John Collins has agreed to a $125 million, five-year deal to remain with the Atlanta Hawks. The deal includes a fifth-year option for Collins, who was a restricted free agent. The agreement comes one day after point guard Trae Young agreed to a five-year, $207 million rookie extension. Collins averaged 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds this season.

— A person with knowledge of the situation says Kemba Walker and the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to a buyout of the final two years of his contract. Once that’s completed, the four-time All-Star guard will sign with the New York Knicks. Walker is owed nearly $74 million for the next two seasons, including a $37.6 million option that he held for 2022-23. Walker was born in the Bronx. He never played for the Thunder.

— The Philadelphia 76ers have signed nine-year veteran center Andre Drummond. Drummond joins Philadelphia after splitting the 2020-21 season with Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers. The 6-foot-10, 279-pound Drummond will wear No. 1 for the Sixers. He was one of just three NBA players, including new teammate Joel Embiid (joh-EHL’ ehm-BEED’), to average a point-rebound double-double as well as one steal and one block.

— The Washington Wizards have agreed to a $62 million, three-year deal with guard Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie is heading to the Wizards in a sign-and-trade. The 6-foot-5 Dinwiddie joins a backcourt that’s being vacated by Russell Westbrook after Washington agreed to deal Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers.

— The Utah Jazz have agreed to acquire power forward Eric Paschall from the Warriors, sending a protected future second-round draft pick to Golden State in the swap. The Warriors will get a second-round draft pick via Memphis for 2026. Paschall posted a farewell on Twitter.

— The New Orleans Pelicans say veteran former NBA coach Mike D’Antoni is joining the club as a coaching adviser and Jarron Collins has been hired as an assistant coach. The moves come on the heels of the Pelicans’ decision to hire Willie Green as their third head coach in three seasons. D’Antoni was an assistant with Brooklyn last season and has compiled a 672-527 record as a head coach.

NFL-NEWS

Jets sign QB Josh Johnson to give them experienced backup

UNDATED (AP) — The New York Jets have signed well-traveled veteran quarterback Josh Johnson, giving them an experienced backup behind rookie Zach Wilson. Undrafted free agent linebacker Brendon White from Rutgers was waived to make room for Johnson. The 35-year-old Johnson fills a void in the Jets’ quarterbacks room, which had just Wilson, Mike White and James Morgan. None of that trio has taken a regular-season snap in an NFL game.

The Jets are Johnson’s 14th NFL team. He was most recently with San Francisco last year where current Jets coach Robert Saleh was the defensive coordinator.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

— Jadeveon Clowney is making a strong impression in his first training camp with the Cleveland Browns. The former No. 1 overall pick, whose career has been slowed by injuries, is healthy and happy with his fourth team in four years. The Browns signed him to a one-year, $8 million free agent deal in April.

— The Chicago Bears have signed veteran linebacker Alec Ogletree to a one-year contract. Ogletree was signed to the Jets’ practice squad in Week 1 last season, then got released after recording three tackles in two games.

— Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz dismissed speculation of the Buffalo Bills relocating if a deal can’t be negotiated for public funds to pay for the construction of a new stadium. However he did issue a warning saying the state and county won’t be writing what he called “a blank check,” to pay for what is projected to cost at least a $1 billion.

— The Las Vegas Raiders have signed free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. McCoy adds pass rushing depth to the Raiders interior defensive line after sitting out all of last season with a torn quadriceps. McCoy spent his first nine seasons with the Buccaneers before playing for Carolina in 2019 and signing with Dallas last season.

NHL-NEWS

Sharks sign goalie Adin Hill to 2-year deal

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks have signed goalie Adin Hill to a two-year contract that avoids salary arbitration. The Sharks acquired Hill last month in a trade from Arizona and are counting on him to team with James Reimer as their goaltending duo next season. The 25-year-old Hill appeared in 19 games last season for Arizona, going 9-9-1 record with a .913 save percentage, 2.74 goals against average and two shutouts.

TENNIS-WASHINGTON

Nadal returns to tour with 3-set win over Sock in Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rafael Nadal has won his first match back after being off the tour for nearly two months. Nadal edged Jack Sock 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (1) at the Citi Open hard-court tournament in Washington on Wednesday night. Nadal is seeded No. 1 as he makes his debut at the U.S. Open tuneup.

The 35-year-old Spaniard had not played since losing to Novak Djokovic in the French Open semifinals. Nadal sat out Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics. He said he had been dealing with a foot injury.

Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer share the men’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-NEWS

AAC’s Aresco: Did not plot with ESPN to poach other leagues

UNDATED (AP) — American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco says his league has never “plotted” with ESPN to undermine another conference by poaching its schools and says the league is not actively looking to add schools.

Last week the Big 12 accused ESPN of encouraging at least one other conference to raid that conference as it tries find a way forward with Texas and Oklahoma on their way to the Southeastern Conference. The AAC was reported to be the conference ESPN was incentivizing to woo Big 12 teams. Aresco denied that.

In other college football news:

— Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor has been added to the College Football Playoff selection committee, replacing Texas AD Chris Del Conte. The CFP’s announcement comes less than a week after Texas and Oklahoma announced they would be leaving the Big 12 to join the Southeastern Conference in 2025.

PENN STATE-ABUSE

Penn State ex-president Spanier leaves jail after 2 months

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) — The former president of Penn State is out of jail after serving nearly two months for endangering the welfare of children by his response to a report that Jerry Sandusky had been seen physically abusing a boy on campus.

Centre County Correctional Facility Warden Christopher Schell said Wednesday the 73-year-old Graham Spanier served 58 days. Spanier still faces two months of electronic monitoring at home and two years of probation.

NASCAR-MASKS

NASCAR to require masks in enclosed areas going forward

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) — Beginning this weekend at Watkins Glen International, NASCAR will require all personnel to wear a face mask in enclosed areas at all times, regardless of vaccination status. Enclosed areas include haulers and buildings, including media centers, restrooms, the infield care center, race control and suites.

 

In world and national news…

GREENVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A fast-moving wildfire has engulfed a Northern California town, leveling much of the downtown and several homes. The Dixie Fire tore through the Greenville on Wednesday evening, destroying businesses and homes as the sky was cast in an orange glow. A photographer on assignment for The Associated Press described seeing a gas station, hotel and local bar burned to the ground in the town of 800 people. The 3-week-old fire has grown to over 428 square miles across Plumas and Butte counties.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is taking the first steps toward requiring nearly all foreign visitors to the U.S. to be vaccinated for the coronavirus. That’s according to a White House official who previewed the developing policy. The requirement would come as part of the administration’s phased approach to easing travel restrictions for foreign citizens to the country. No timeline has yet been determined, as interagency working groups study how and when to safely move toward resuming normal travel. Eventually all foreign citizens entering the country, with some limited exceptions, are expected to need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the U.S.

LIMNI, Greece (AP) — One of the major forest fires burning in Greece amid a protracted heat wave is threatening the archaeological site at the birthplace of the modern Olympics. A government minister said firefighters waged “an all-night battle” that continued Thursday to protect the archaeological site from the fire near in the southern Peloponnese region. The site is where the Olympics were held every four years from 776 B.C. for more than a millennium. The same region was ravaged by wildfires in 2007 that killed dozens of people but spared ancient Olympia’s ruined sports venues and temples. A heat wave that authorities have described as Greece’s worst since 1987 has baked the country for more than a week.

 

DETROIT (AP) — The Biden administration wants automakers to raise gas mileage and cut tailpipe pollution between now and model year 2026. It also has won a voluntary commitment from the industry that electric vehicles would make up roughly half of U.S. sales by 2030. The moves are big steps toward President Joe Biden’s pledge to cut emissions and battle climate change as he pushes to shift the nation away from internal combustion engines and toward battery-powered vehicles. Both the regulatory standards and the voluntary goal will be included in an executive order that Biden plans to sign Thursday.

 

 

 

WINNFIELD, La. (AP) — The number of people in federal immigration detention has risen markedly under President Joe Biden. Since the end of February, the number of detainees has more than doubled, to nearly 27,000 as of July 22. That’s higher than the total detained last July under then-President Donald Trump. The rising detentions are a sore point for Biden’s pro-immigration allies, who had hoped he would turn the page on Trump’s hardline policies. Many of the detainees have cleared their initial screening to seek asylum in the U.S. A White House spokesman says Biden has proposed reducing the number of detention beds and shifting some of their use to processing immigrants for parole.

 

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Afghan defense ministry says its air force has carried out more airstrikes against Taliban positions in southern Afghanistan, while the insurgent force makes additional gains in the country’s north. In a statement, they say air strikes were carried out across the country on Thursday, including in the southern Helmand province where the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah is being fiercely contested. The Taliban control of nine of the city’s 10 police districts. Residents in Lashkar Gah reported heavy bombing near the government radio and television station, which is under Taliban control.

 

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel has escalated its response to rockets fired from Lebanon by launching rare airstrikes against that country. In a statement Thursday the army said that jets struck the launch sites from which rockets had been fired over the previous day, as well as an additional target used to attack Israel in the past. The IDF blamed Lebanon for the shelling. The overnight airstrikes were a marked escalation at a politically sensitive time. Israel’s new eight-party governing coalition is trying to keep peace under a fragile cease fire that ended an 11-day war with Hamas’ militant rulers in Gaza in May.

 

SINGAPORE (AP) — World stocks are edging higher as traders await more guidance on the U.S. economic recovery. France’s CAC 40 picked up 0.5% to 6,782.92 in early trading while Germany’s DAX added 0.2% to 15,722.35. Wall Street was set for a slightly higher open. Employment is in the spotlight, with payroll processor ADP saying that the U.S. private sector added 330,000 jobs in July, which fell short of analysts’ expectations. The U.S. Labor Department will release a more comprehensive jobs report on Friday. Economists are projecting that U.S. employers added 700,000 jobs in July, bringing the national unemployment rate down to 5.7% from 5.9%, according to FactSet.