CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Clearing. Highs in the mid 30s. Temperature falling through the afternoon. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

.TONIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows 15 to 20. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs around 30. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows 10 to 15. West winds 10 to

15 mph.

.SATURDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. Southwest winds 10 to

15 mph.

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

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20.

.MONDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows 15 to 20.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

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

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of snow in the

afternoon. Highs in the mid 30s.

 

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:

 

COVID-19 Stats

Wed. Dec. 8, 2021

10:25 -a.m.

Barnes

New Positives:  6

Total Positives: 2115

Active: 42

Recovered:  2027

Breakthrough Incidents Per 10K Fully Vaccinated Individuals: 358

 

Stutsman

New Positives: 17

Total Positives: 4987

Active: 99

Recovered: 4782

Breakthrough Incidents Per 10K Fully Vaccinated Individuals: 415

North Dakota, Reported Dec. 8, 2021

NEW CASES REPORTED: 472

ACTIVE CASES: 3,038

DAILY POSITIVITY RATE: 6.1%

TOTAL KNOWN CASES THROUGHOUT PANDEMIC: 165,845

TOTAL RECOVERED THROUGHOUT PANDEMIC: 160,868

The state’s 14-day rolling average positivity rate is 7.5%.

North Dakota

ACTIVE HOSPITALIZATIONS: 153

DEATHS: 11

TOTAL DEATHS: 1,939

 

 

 

Jamestown  (CVHD)  Central Valley Health District reminds residents that COVID testing is  on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, at the Jamestown Civic Center, Exchequor Room, from 11-a.m. to 1-pm.

Call CVHD at 701-252-8130 to register.

 

 

 

CVHD Regularly Scheduled  Vax Clinics

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Vaccine Available:  COVID PEDIATRIC 1ST DOSE ONLY – PFIZER

Event Time: 3:00 – 5:00pm

Event Location: Central Valley Health District

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER   *Must be ages 5 – 11 years old*

 

Friday, December 10, 2021

Vaccine Available: COVID BOOSTERS — PFIZER, MODERNA, JOHNSON & JOHNSON

Event Time: 9:00 – 11:30am

Event Location: Buffalo Mall

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

 

 Events hosted by the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH).  Vaccine availability may vary see registration link below for more information.

Various Upcoming Dates: Sundays and Wednesdays

Event Information: These are pop-up community clinics with varying times/locations. 

Event Location: Buffalo Mall and S&R Truck Plaza

 CLICK HERE TO SEE LISTINGS  

 

 

 

Valley City  (VCPD)  Police Chief Phil Hatcher, says two stolen cars were recently recovered in Valley City.

He reports a Parking Control Officer who was working to get snow covered vehicles marked, ran a license plate check, and found that the vehicle was stolen from Fargo. He said the stolen vehicle may have been parked sometime over this past weekend in the 700 Block of 6th Street Southwest. He says the investigation is open at this time, and he’s urging residents to keep their vehicles locked.

In the second case, Hatcher says officers responded to a stolen vehicle complaint from a resident in the 1500 block of East Main Street Tuesday morning. He says a vehicle was stolen from an open garage with the keys left in the vehicle, and it was recovered a short time later at I-94 east of Valley City.

Chief Hatcher reminds motorists to lock their, vehicle and remove keys from your vehicle.

 

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) — A Valley City man charged with attempted murder has changed his plea to guilty. Twenty-seven-year-old Alex Mooridian previously pleaded not guilty.

He’s accused of shooting another man in Valley City last February

The victim has since recovered. The man who was shot told police he woke up to find Mooridian standing over him holding a pistol. The victim says he and Mooridian talked for a moment before the man stood up and grabbed an unloaded assault-style rifle. Officials say that’s when Mooridian shot the man once in the abdomen. Mooridian surrendered at the Valley City Police Department.

 

 

Valley City  (VCPS)  A 39-year-old Dazey, man has been charged following a domestic violence incident in Valley City that was reported on Friday, December 3.

Valley City Police Chief Phil Hatcher says, the suspect, Jeremy Wade Hatcher was arrested for Simple Assault (Domestic Violence). Chief Hatcher says looking into the initial arrest, it was determined that  Jeremy Hatcher allegedly committed other assaults.

That report about those incidents was given to the Barnes County State’s Attorney. Leading to  more charges of Simple Assault (Domestic Violence) that occurred in November. At the time of  the arrest, officers also found methamphetamine.

Jeremy Wade Hatcher  faces three felony charges including one count of Aggravated Assault (Domestic Violence) and one count of Terrorizing (Domestic Violence). And one count of Unlawful possession of a controlled substance, all are Class C Felonies. In total Jeremy Hatcher faces three felony and three misdemeanor charges.

Police Chief Phil Hatcher adds, the Valley City Police Department urges victims of any violence to contact police so they can help, whether through the courts or through the Abused Person’s Outreach Center (APOC) and Valley City Police other local partners. Adding “We strive for safety and justice for all victims.”

 

 

Jamestown   (CSi)  Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation (JSDC) CEO Connie Ova has announced her resignation date in 2022.

In a letter to the JSDC Board of Directors she said, “It has been a privilege, honor and pleasure serving as CEO of the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation for the past 19 years.  Working in partnership with the JSDC Board of Directors, City and County, we have achieved major accomplishments. I believe this community is in an excellent position for continued growth and success in the years to come.”

Ova thanked them for allowing her to grow and develop her career.

She was asked to announce her resignation at least six months ahead of her last day in order to take the appropriate amount of time to seek her successor.

Ova’s last day as CEO will be May 13th, 2022. She says she will  transfer responsibility where appropriate and train a replacement for her position.

 

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)  Jamestown Parks and Recreation will be hosting an open house to honor Doug Hogan, and to thank him for his 37 years of service to the community.

The open house will be held at the Bunker, 1520 3rd St SE, on Thursday, December 16, 2021 from 4:00pm-6:00pm. The community is invited to attend.

 

‘

 

 

Jamestown (City)  Starting December 8, 2021; the road closure at the intersection of 7th Ave NE & 3rd St NE will be extended until Tuesday, December 14, 2021.
The above schedule is contingent upon changing weather conditions.
Construction signing will be put in place by the City.
Motorists should use extreme caution in this area and take alternate routes during this time, if possible.

 

 

Jamestown  (City)  Beginning Saturday December 11, 2021, until further notice, the Jamestown Baling Facility  (City Transfer Station) will be open weekdays and the second Saturday each month.

Baling Facility Open:

Monday – Friday 8-a.m. to 3:30-p.m.

Second Saturday each month from 8-a.m. to 11:30-a.m.

For further information contact the Jamestown Sanitation Department at Sanitation@JamestownND.gov or 701-252-5223.

 

 

Jamestown  (Chamber)  The chamber Young Professionals of Jamestown and the Chamber Ambassadors recently recognized Bison 6 Cinema as the December Business of the Month Award recipient for their outstanding customer service and continued commitment to the community.

Their nomination stated, ” I took my 6-yr old to a special mom/daughter movie day. Of course, we had the discussion about what she brings to the theater, she carries. The staff at the concessions were so sweet and patient with us as we decided on our treats. As we finished paying, she asked me to hold “all her things” and her treat tray. While trying to help her juggle her treats I spilled half my bag of popcorn on the floor. While apologizing profusely, the manager just said no problem and refilled my bag. The gals on staff sweetly smiled and said it happened all the time and they came to my rescue. For that moment of kindness, they all deserve to be part of today’s Business of the month nomination. Because of their kindness, I was able to get her to the movie for our special date. Thank you to all the staff at Bison 6.”

The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce honors businesses that provide superior customer service, exhibit community spirit and provide a positive economic impact to the community.  This award provides recognition throughout the month with a plaque and a recognition banner for the month. Monthly award winners will be considered for the Business of the Year to be awarded in January of 2022.  Business of the Month award nomination forms are available at the Chamber office and online at www.jamestownchamber.com. Call 701-252-4830 for more information.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Gov. Doug Burgum is set to travel to the southern border to visit North Dakota National Guard troops. The Bismarck Tribune reports Burgum will travel to Texas next week to visit with soldiers from the Bismarck-based 957th Engineer Company. The troops are supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. The unit deployed in early October and will serve at the border for a year. Burgum’s itinerary includes briefings from National Guard and U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials and visits with the soldiers. The governor’s office declined to say specifically when Burgnum is leaving and how long the trip will last, citing security reasons.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A longtime lawmaker has been chosen to head an advisory board developing guidelines for in-state investments from North Dakota’s voter-approved oil tax savings account. Fessenden Republican Sen. Jerry Klein was elected chairman Wednesday of the newly reconfigured Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board. GOP Rep. Keith Kempenich had led the board for nearly a decade. Kempenich has been criticized by some lawmakers for allegedly delaying the implementation of bipartisan legislation approved in March aimed at creating a broader investment policy for the state’s Legacy fund. Kempenich and Klein say implementing the legislation is complex and takes time.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors building their case against a suburban Minneapolis police officer who killed Black motorist Daunte Wright repeatedly played body-camera video of the fatal shooting. Officer Kim Potter can be heard shouting “Taser!” and then, after she instead fires a bullet from her handgun, is seen and heard collapsing in wails of “Oh my God!” The white officer quit two days after the April shooting. Her attorney says she made a mistake, but was acting to protect a fellow officer. Earlier, prosecutors told jurors that Potter violated her training and “betrayed a 20-year-old kid” when she fatally shot Wright while she and other officers were trying to arrest him. They say Potter had undergone extensive training that warned about such a mix-up.

In sports

VALLEY CITY   (VCSU)– Connor Entzi scored his 1,000th career point and the Valley City State men’s basketball team rolled to a 44-point victory Wednesday night against University of Maine-Fort Kent.

The Vikings scored 41 points off turnovers en route to a 107-63 win over the Bengals. Valley City State led 53-33 at halftime and cruised in the second half for their ninth victory of the season. All 14 Vikings who played scored at least three points.

 

Valley City State improves to 9-4 overall. University of Maine Fort Kent drops to 2-11 overall this season.

The Vikings forced 24 turnovers and scored 41 points off those turnovers. VCSU also had 61 points in the paint and 19 second-chance points.

VCSU senior Connor Entzi finished with nine points Wednesday and surpassed 1,000 career points with a basket during the first half. Entzi now ranks 19th all-time in career points at VCSU.

Jalen Addison made four 3’s and poured in a team-high 22 points to lead VCSU’s balanced attack. Hunter Sand added 12 points off the bench, and six other Vikings scored at least seven points.

The Vikings shot 55 percent overall (44-80), 38 percent on 3’s (14-37) and 5-for-7 at the line. The Bengals shot 45 percent from the field (25-56), 43 percent on 3’s (9-21) and were 4-for-5 on free throws.

Jordan Guerrero made eight 3’s and scored a game-high 32 points to lead the Bengal offense.

Up next: Valley City State (9-4) hosts Oak Hills Christian College on Sunday at 7 p.m. The game is being sponsored by the VCSU Green Dot organization, which will be giving away free popcorn and door prizes at the game.

 

(VCSU)  Valley City State University senior defensive linemen Marshaun Jones and Garrett Pemelton have accepted invitations to play in the NAIA Senior Football Classic on Dec. 17 in Durham, N.C.elton t

Both Jones and Pemelton will play for the NAIA West team, joining other top seniors from across the country in the NAIA’s official all-star game.

The NAIA Senior Football Classic is the premiere event leading into the NAIA Football National Championship. Kickoff for the Senior Classic is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Central at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, N.C. on Friday, December 17.

A live video broadcast from the game will be available for free at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/naia/

Jones and Pemelton were both All-Conference players on VCSU’s defense that allowed just 12.9 points per game – third best in the nation. Jones was a First Team All-Conference selection after racking up 7.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss this season. Pemeltom finished with seven sacks from the defensive end position and was named 2nd Team All-Conference.

 

 

Girls Prep Basketball  Barnes County Girl’s Basketball Tournament

Thursday, Dec. 9 – Day 2
4:30 p.m.: (4) Maple River vs. (6) Enderlin
6:00 p.m.: (2) Sargent County vs. (3) Wyndmere-Lidgerwood
7:30 p.m.: (1) LaMoure/Litchville-Marion vs. (5) Barnes County North

Day 1

LaMoure/L-M 46, Maple River, Minn. 34

Sargent County 63, Enderlin 33

Wyndmere-Lidgerwood 64 Barnes County North 27

 

Jamestown (CSi) The 2021-22 Stutsman County Class B Girls Basketball Tournament run Thursday, December 9th and Friday and Saturday with four games each day at the Jamestown Civic Center.

Thursday Dec. 9

3pm – Medina/PB vs. Ellendale

430pm – Edgeley/KM vs. South Border

6pm – Carrington vs. Warwick

730pm – Napoleon/GS vs. Griggs/Midkota

 

NBA..

— Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points and the sharp-shooting Jazz earned their fifth straight win by slamming the Timberwolves, 126-104. Mitchell made 14 of 23 shots and Utah connected for 25 3-pointers, two shy of their season high set last Friday against Boston.

UNDATED (AP) — The Miami Heat tied a team record for 3-pointers while ending their three-game home losing streak.

Caleb Martin hit 6 of 8 from downtown and scored a career-high 28 points as the Heat beat the Bucks, 113-104. Kyle Lowry had 22 points and 13 assists for Miami, which drained 22 3-pointers.

The Heat took the lead for good with nine unanswered points in the final 55 seconds of the third quarter.

Jrue (jroo) Holliday scored 27 points and Khris Middleton finished with 20 points for the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh) had just 15 points as Miami limited him to 4-of-13 from the field.

Checking out Wednesday’s other NBA action:

— The Warriors were 114-104 winners over the Trail Blazers behind Stephen Curry, who scored 22 points and moved within nine 3-pointers of tying Ray Allen’s career record. Draymond Green had 10 rebounds, eight assists and five points as Golden State improved to a league-best 21-4.

— Rookie Brandon Boston Jr. had career highs of 27 points and five 3-pointers in sparking the Clippers to a 114-111 victory over the Celtics. Marcus Morris added 20 points to help Los Angeles withstand Jayson Tatum’s 29 points and 10 rebounds.

 

— The Rockets have won seven straight since a 15-game skid after Eric Gordon delivered 21 points before his ejection in the fourth quarter of a 114-104 decision over the Nets. James Harden had 25 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Nets on a night when NBA leading scorer Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge both sat out for rest.

— Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH’-lah YOH’-kihch) scored 11 of his season-high 39 points in overtime to push the Nuggets past the Pelicans, 120-114. Jokic also had 11 assists, grabbed 11 boards and helped Denver turn 25 New Orleans turnovers into 31 points.

— Luka Doncic (DAHN’-chihch) scored 26 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 19 in the Mavericks’ first win in four games, 104-96. Reggie Bullock added 15 for Dallas, which surpassed 100 points for only the second time in six games and ended a five-game winning streak by Memphis.

— Darius Garland had 24 points and six assists in Cleveland’s fifth win in seven games, a 115-92 thrashing of the Bulls. Rookie Evan Mobley shot 8 of 11 and finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and a season-high five blocks in the rout.

— Joel Embiid (joh-EHL’ ehm-BEED’) dropped in 32 points and Seth Curry added 23 as the 76ers beat the Hornets for the second time in three days, 110-106. Gordon Hayward had a season-high 31 points and seven assists for the Hornets, who played without five rotational players including last year’s NBA rookie of the year LaMelo Ball due to NBA health and safety protocols.

— Kyle Kuzma (KOOZ’-mah) drained a 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left in overtime to send the Wizards past the Pistons, 119-116. Kuzma finished with 26 points and Bradley Beal added 25 for the Wizards, who blew a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter before sending Detroit to its 10th consecutive loss.

— The Pacers coasted to a 122-102 win over the Knicks as Chris Duarte scored 23 points and Myles Turner had 22. Indiana seized control with a 15-2 run in the opening quarter and shot 60% through the first half.

— The Thunder pulled out a 110-109 win over the Raptors on Mike Muscala’s 3-pointer with nine seconds to play. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 of his 26 points in the third quarter of Oklahoma City’s second straight win since an eight-game losing streak.

— De’Aaron Fox scored 33 points on 12 of 18 shooting in the Kings’ season-high third straight win, 142-130 against the Magic. Tyrese Haliburton added 18 points and matched his career high with 11 assists for his third NBA double-double and second this season.

NBA-HAWKS-HILL INJURY

Hawks lose Hill for remainder of season

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks forward Solomon Hill is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a torn hamstring.

Hill slipped and did a split in Sunday’s loss to Charlotte causing him to be scheduled for surgery. The Hawks already are playing without starting small forward De’Andre Hunter, who is recovering from surgery on his right wrist.

T25 MEN’S BASKETBALL

 

UNDATED (AP) — The West Virginia men’s basketball team is 8-1 after knocking off a ranked opponent.

Taz Sherman scored 23 points and West Virginia held on for a 56-53 victory over No. 15 UConn. Sean McNeil added 16 points for the Mountaineers, who held the Huskies to a season low in scoring.

West Virginia won despite going 12 of 27 from the line.

Also on the top-25 men’s basketball schedule:

— Gabe Brown, Malik Hall and Tyson Walker scored 15 points apiece for 19th-ranked Michigan State in a 75-67 victory over Minnesota. Brown had three 3-pointers as the Spartans went 10 for 21 from long range against a Gophers team that entered the game with the best 3-point defense in the nation.

— Johnny Davis provided 23 points and No. 22 Wisconsin stormed back from 22 down to beat Indiana, 64-59.

— Bennedict Mathurin had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Arizona in a 94-65 romp over Wyoming. Kerr Kriisa added 17 points to help the Wildcats move to 8-0.

— Colin Castleton had a career-high 26 points and eight rebounds as No. 20 Florida ripped North Florida, 85-55 to end a two-game skid. Myreon Jones added 14 points to help the Gators bounce back from Monday’s stunning loss to previously-winless Texas Southern.

— No. 21 Ohio State escaped with an 85-74 win over Towson as Kyle Young scored 18 points and Justin Ahrens had 16 points on five 3-pointers.

— Alex Barcello scored 17 points while Te’Jon Lucas added 14 with six assists to lead 24th-rated BYU to an 82-71 victory over Utah State.

NFL-NEWS

— Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says the off week has assisted him in his recovery from a toe injury, though it’s still painful enough to keep the reigning MVP from practicing. Rodgers wasn’t on the practice field Wednesday as the 9-3 Packers prepared for their Sunday night home game with the 4-8 Bears.

— Justin Fields is set to return to the Bears’ lineup. Coach Matt Nagy says the prized rookie quarterback will start when the team visits the Green Bay Packers this week after missing the past two games because of broken ribs.

UNDATED (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow says his injured pinky finger on his throwing hand won’t keep him out of Sunday’s game against San Francisco.

The finger was dislocated last Sunday when the second-year quarterback was hit on a strip-sack on the Bengals’ first possession against the Chargers. Burrow hasn’t thrown since then and won’t until at least Thursday.

In other NFL news:

— Washington has put pass rusher Montez Sweat on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list. Sweat was expected to return to practice this week and play against the Cowboys on Sunday after missing the past four games with a broken jaw.

— The Seahawks will spend the rest of the season without starting strong safety Jamal Adams due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Adams is expected to undergo surgery Thursday for the injury incurred during the first half of the Seahawks’ win over San Francisco.

— Giants coach Joe Judge said starting quarterback Daniel Jones was seen by a neck specialist in California on Monday and has not been cleared for contact. Recently signed quarterback Jake Fromm took most of the snaps for the Giants as the team practiced at the University of Arizona for Sunday’s game in Los Angeles against the Chargers.

— Alabama authorities are investigating after former Saints player Glenn Foster Jr. died in custody. He was arrested following a high-speed chase that resulted in his arrest and then a scuffle involving officers in the jail where he was being held.

— Former Bills special teams standout Mark Pike has died at 57 following a battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The Buffalo Bills announced Pike died after his condition worsened as a result of COVID-19 followed by a bout with pneumonia.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-FRESNO STATE-TEDFORD

Tedford returning to Bulldogs sideline

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Fresno State is bringing back Jeff Tedford for a second stint as coach after Kalen DeBoer left to take over at Washington.

Tedford returns to the team he coached to a 26-14 record from 2017-19, leading his alma mater to double-digit wins his first two seasons. He captured the division in both those seasons and the Mountain West Conference championship in 2018, one year before stepping down for health reasons.

NHL..

— Mark Stone had two goals and Max Pacioretty (pash-uh-REH’-tee) netted the winner as the Golden Knights defeated the Stars, 5-4. Dallas carried a two-goal lead into the third period but ended a seven-game winning streak

UNDATED (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche had no trouble ending the New York Rangers’ seven-game winning streak.

The Blueshirts were 17-4-3 before surrendering five goals in the second period of a 7-3 loss to the Avs. Logan O’Connor scored twice in a 22-second span of the period before Mikko Rantanen (MEE’-koh RAN’-tah-nehn) finished with two goals.

Nathan MacKinnon, Nazem Kadri (NA’-zehm KA’-dree) and Alex Newhook added goals for the Avalanche, who are 8-2-1 in their last 11 contests.

Elsewhere on NHL ice:

— J.T. Miller scored the shootout winner, giving the Canucks a 2-1 victory over the visiting Bruins. Bo Horvat also scored in the shootout and Brock Boeser (BEH’-sur) tallied in regulation as Vancouver improved to 2-0 under new coach Bruce Boudreau.

.

— Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves and the Devils snapped a four-game skid while sending the reeling Flyers to their 10th straight loss, 3-0. Jesper Bratt scored 5 ½ minutes into the second and assisted on a power-play goal by rookie Dawson Mercer later in the period.

NHL-NEWS

Penguins’ Guentzel out with upper-body injury

UNDATED (AP) — Jake Guentzel’s (GEHNT’-sulz) scorching start for the Pittsburgh Penguins has come to an abrupt halt. The team says the star forward is “week to week” with an upper-body injury.

Coach Mike Sullivan did not go into detail about how or when Guentzel was hurt. Guentzel left the ice briefly in the first period of a victory over Seattle on Monday night, though he returned and finished with two goals and an assist.

Guentzel is riding a 13-game point streak and has 15 goals and 12 assists on the season.

Also around the NHL:

— Mark Giordano has rejoined the Kraken at practice after 10 days in a Florida hotel following a positive COVID-19 test. Giordano tested positive on Nov. 26 as Seattle was beginning a road trip at Tampa Bay.

— Blackhawks forward Jujhar Khaira (JOO’-kahr KEHR’-ah) spent the night in a hospital after he was leveled by Jacob Trouba (TROO’-bah) during a 6-2 loss to the Rangers. The Hawks cited the NHL’s concussion protocol when they placed Khaira on injured reserve later on Wednesday.

GOLF-WOODS-RETURN

Woods says he’ll compete in upcoming PNC Championship

UNDATED (AP) — Tiger Woods will be returning to competition next week with 12-year-old son Charlie in the PNC Championship.

It will be his first competition since his right leg was badly damaged in a car crash 10 months ago. Doctors said he shattered the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg in multiple locations.

TENNIS-AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Serena Williams won’t play in Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Serena Williams has confirmed that she won’t be playing in the Australian Open.

The Australian Open’s website says the seven-time women’s singles champion will not compete in the season-opening major in January “following advice from her medical team.”

Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) is on the men’s entry list at No. 1 in a further indication that he’ll be playing at Melbourne Park despite Australia’s strict regulations requiring all players, officials and fans to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

OLYMPICS-NEWS

Canada joins US and allies in Beijing Olympics boycott

UNDATED (AP) — Canada is joining the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights concerns.

The announcement Wednesday came after the White House, the Australian government and the UK government confirmed diplomatic boycotts of the Winter Olympics in February to protest Chinese human rights abuses. The diplomatic moves do not affect their athletes’ ability to compete in the Winter Games.

China has vowed to react with “firm countermeasures.”

In other Olympics-related news:

— German luger and two-time defending women’s Olympic champ Natalie Geisenberger is considering skipping the Beijing Games because of her dissatisfaction with the way athletes were treated by Chinese officials when training there earlier this season.

— Minnesota Lynx coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve will be the next USA Basketball women’s coach. Reeve has been an assistant on the last two Olympic women’s teams.

COLLEGE ATHLETICS-MIAMI-AD

Hurricanes grab Radakovich from Tigers

UNDATED (AP) — Miami is hiring Dan Radakovich as its athletic director, luring him away from Clemson after nearly a decade of enormous success there. That’s according to a person familiar with the decision who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school was still finalizing an agreement.

The 63-year-old Radakovich will replace Blake James, who Miami let go two days after the Hurricanes’ football team lost to Florida State last month.

In world and national news…

BEIJING (AP) — China’s central bank governor says financial markets can cope with the impact of a real estate developer that is struggling to avoid defaulting on $310 billion in debt. Yi Gang’s comments to a Hong Kong seminar added to indications Beijing has no plans to bail out Evergrande Group. Fears of a default have rattled financial markets, but economists say the ruling Communist Party wants to avoid sending the wrong signal at a time when it is trying to force companies to cut high debt burdens. Yi said Evergrande’s problems would be “properly handled” under market principles and law.

 

BEIJING (AP) — Global stocks are mostly higher as investors wait for U.S. inflation data that might influence the Federal Reserve’s decision on when to roll back economic stimulus. London and Frankfurt opened higher while Tokyo declined. Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul also advanced. Wall Street futures were lower after U.S. stocks rose for a third day as anxiety about the coronavirus’s omicron variant eased. Traders are looking to Friday’s report of U.S. inflation for November for indications of whether the Federal Reserve will feel pressure to cool prices by rolling back stimulus. Fed officials said they were ready to act after inflation in October surged to a three-decade high.

 

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Iraq’s National Security Advisor has tweeted that the last round of technical talks with the U.S.-led coalition has ended, signaling a new phase in US involvement in the fight against the Islamic State. Qassim al-Araji has said the last round of talks will formally end the coalition’s combat mission, commencing a new phase of advisory and assistance in the fight against IS. The formal end of the combat mission is unlikely to change the facts on the ground; the coalition stopped engaging in combat missions early in 2020.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden plans to urge participants at the first White House Summit for Democracy to reverse an ongoing “recession” of democracy. The two-day virtual summit has already drawn backlash from some of the United States’ adversaries and nations that weren’t invited. Ambassadors to the U.S. from China and Russia wrote a joint essay describing the Biden administration as exhibiting a “Cold-War mentality” that will “stoke up ideological confrontation.” The summit comes as U.S. democracy faces challenges to its institutions and traditions. States are passing laws that make it more difficult to vote. The Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol has left many Republicans clinging to Donald Trump’s false claims of a stolen election.