CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.

.TONIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the mid 20s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow and sleet in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 30s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph increasing to northwest 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Snow likely in the evening.

Colder. Lows 5 to 10 above. Northwest winds 20 to 25 mph with

gusts to around 40 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent in the Jamestown area, 70 percent in the Valley City area.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Colder. Highs 15 to 20. West winds

10 to 20 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows near zero.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the

morning. Highs around 10.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 5 below.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 10.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows near zero.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 20s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows zero to 5 above.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 10.

 

Expect to see a widespread swath of a half inch to an inch of snow with the passing cold front Wednesday. To top it off, with strong CAA and large pressure rises, expect very strong winds for the southern forecast area. Depending on where and how much snow actually does fall… whether it overperforms a bit or not… the area could deal with some blowing snow issues as well.

Presently, the strongest pressure rises look to remain south and east of the forecast area.

Beyond the potential for precipitation Wednesday into Wednesday

night, arctic high pressure will nudge down into the area from

Canada. This will result in much colder, and below average,

temperatures for the latter half of this week and through the

weekend.

 

 

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

Mon Dec. 13, 2021

10:20 -a.m.

Barnes

New Positives: 1

Total Positives: 2133

Active: 24

Recovered:  2067

Breakthrough Incidents Per 10K Fully Vaccinated Individuals: 365

 

Stutsman

New Positives: 0

Total Positives: 5021

Active: 54

Recovered: 4870

Breakthrough Incidents Per 10K Fully Vaccinated Individuals: 426

North Dakota New Cases Reported on Dec. 13: 14

ACTIVE CASES: 2,236

DAILY POSITIVITY RATE: 11.7%

14 DAY ROLLING POSITIVITY RATE: 7%

TOTAL KNOWN CASES THROUGHOUT PANDEMIC: 167,271

TOTAL RECOVERED THROUGHOUT PANDEMIC: 163,087

North Dakota

Active Hospitalizations: 165

 

Deaths reported over the weekend: 4

Total ND Deaths 1,948

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

L to R Gloria Harr, Martha Trautman, Mary Englund, Cindy Grimm, Mary Gainsforth, Marlys Perleberg.

Jamestown  (JRMC)— The Jamestown Regional Medical Center Foundation is hosting the 24th annual Tree of Love Fundraiser and Dedication on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

“Because of visitor limitations at JRMC, we will host a Facebook Live event at 11:30 a.m. with prayer and dedication,” said Lisa Jackson, JRMC Foundation Director. “Ornaments can be picked up from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. by driving-thru the main entrance.”

“The Tree of Love is one of my favorite holiday traditions. The names upon the tree are cherished. We are grateful for your support and the shared commitment to providing legendary care close to home,” Jackson said.

 

“We’ve realized to a greater level than being close to our loved ones and having caregivers we know and trust are more important than ever.Your generosity provides resources and resiliency to achieve that.”

 

Ornaments are available for a year-end donation in any amount. Supporters can give online or by mail and can dedicate ornament tags to a caregiver who made a difference, a beloved spouse or family member, co-worker, caregiver or friend.

Proceeds benefit the greatest needs at JRMC.

“JRMC Cancer Center has doubled the number of infusions a month to more than 200. To respond to our patient’s emotional and spiritual needs and their families, we have expanded chaplaincy and bereavement care. Hospice guides more than 100 families through loss. New equipment provides less invasive cancer screenings and prevention, emergency x-ray stretcher and more. All funded through your gifts,” said Jackson.

 

“In addition to the gifted ornaments, JRMC Foundation also recognizes those who have passed away during the year who are either co-workers or provided a legacy gift through estate giving or their memorials,” Jackson said.

For more information on the Tree of Love or funding projects, contact JRMC Foundation at (701) 952-4880.

About Jamestown Regional Medical Center

Jamestown Regional Medical Center in Jamestown, N.D. serves 55,000 people in nine counties. In 2021, the National Rural Health Association named it a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” for the eighth consecutive year. Modern Healthcare named JRMC a “Best Places to Work in Healthcare” each year from 2017-2020.  Specialty services include ear, nose & throat, gynecology, podiatry, orthopedics, urology and wound care. For more information, visit www.jrmcnd.com or call (701) 952-1050.

 

 

Valley City (Chamber 12-13-21)  Here’s this week’s  message from Valley City Mayor, Dave Carlsrud.

Hi Everybody,

We have certainly been Blessed with a beautiful winter to date. As of this writing, there is still a nice blanket of snow insulating our water lines etc.   There is some ice on roads so please be careful when driving or walking.  ** Stopping one’s vehicle on ice takes much longer than on a clear surface!

 

Wind created snowdrifts in some backyards so please clean around your garbage cans and dumpsters so our city crews can provide better service for you.

 

COVID in one form or another is still lingering. The best mitigation has been vaccination; many unvaccinated patients in hospitals wish they had been vaccinated.

 

VERY SERIOUS: We have a large number of school buses transporting children to and from the various schools in our area. When a school bus has the “STOP ARM” extended, vehicles from both directions are REQUIRED to STOP. Most importantly for safety and it is THE LAW!

 

The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign continues through December 24th. Please contribute what you can and “Ring the Bell” yourself. Call 701-541-1418 or 701-840-1357 to sign up.

 

Thank you to contributors again this week.

 

“It is unwise to make education too cheap. If everything is provided freely, there is a tendency to put no value on anything. Education must always have a certain price on it; even as the very process of learning itself must always require individual effort and initiative.”                                                       (President Dwight D. Eisenhower)

Dave Carlsrud

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Wednesday, December 15 through Thursday, December 16, 2021; there will be a road closure in Jamestown on 4th Ave SE, from 3rd St SE to 4th St SE. This closure will begin at approximately 7:30 am Wednesday and last until approximately 6:00 pm Thursday.

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  (NDFU) – Mark Watne of Velva was reelected to a ninth year as North Dakota Farmers Union president by more than 500 members attending the organization’s 95th annual state convention this past weekend, Dec. 10-11, in Bismarck.

In his message to voting delegates, Watne emphasized the importance of having highly engaged members lead the organization, especially at a time when great diversity of opinion is hampering the ability to have dialog in rural America, legislatively.

He said, “We are unique. We are grassroots. What we’re struggling with is maintaining generational family farms on the land … we have to think big picture and quit arguing amongst ourselves.”

Watne outlined organizational successes, including disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers, and construction of a new youth camp facility at Jamestown, along with issues the organization is tackling, namely market concentration and supply chain bottlenecks.

Farmers Union members adopted three special orders of business during the two-day convention. The first called for a comprehensive, farmer-focused approach to climate change initiatives. The second order urged passage of mandatory price reporting for livestock to improve price transparency and discovery, and reinstatement of mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL). The third order urged swift action to address supply chain challenges, including investigations into disruptions and companies engaged in price gouging; initiatives to address truck driver shortages; steps to increase rail competition and limits on rail rates; and investments in fertilizer and propane infrastructure in North Dakota.

On Saturday morning, a panel of experts addressed monopolization and ways to create fair markets for farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Other convention speakers included National Farmers Union President Rob Larew, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie, NDSU crop economist Frayne Olson, state climatologist Adnan Akyuz, Tammy Krings of The Conversations That Matter, and others.

The Agraria Mutual Group (dba Farmers Union Insurance Company) also held its 78th annual meeting in conjunction with the NDFU state convention.

In other elections, Bob Kuylen of South Heart was reelected vice president. Jon Iverson was reelected District 1 director for Benson, Cavalier, Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Towner and Walsh counties. Tyler Stafslien of Makoti was reelected to the District 3 seat. That district encompasses the counties of Burke, Divide, Mountrail, Renville and Williams. Wes Niederman Jr. of Elgin was reelected to the District 5 seat. District 5 comprises a nine-county area: Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux. Ronda Throener of Cogswell was reelected to represent NDFU members in District 7. The district encompasses the counties of Barnes, Cass, Griggs, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill.

Members also elected delegates to represent North Dakota at the National Farmers Union Convention, slated for Denver in late February. They are:

ANAMOOSE – April Marquart, Kellen Olson. BOTTINEAU – Philip Neubauer. BOWMAN – George Siverson. CARPIO – Troy Hedberg. CENTER – David Berger, Deb Berger. FLAXTON – Denise Miller, Stephen Miller. FORMAN – Wyatt Sundquist. GLADSTONE – Dean Baar, Paulette Baar, Jon Pierce. GRANVILLE – Kendra Larsen, Kyle Larsen. HUFF – Bailie Graner. JAMESTOWN – Sandy Franke. KENMARE – Ron Jensen. KINDRED – Josh Heinrich. KULM – Jordan Gackle. LAMOURE – Lynn Haro. MADDOCK – Gary Smith, Keith Smith. MANDAN – Miles Tomac. MENOKEN – Bill Kershaw, Karen Kershaw. MONANGO – Pam Henningsen. PAGE – Brad McKay. PEKIN – John Kelly. REGENT – Dylan Witte. RUTLAND – Deb Banish, Mike Banish. SHARON – Ben Vig. SHERWOOD – Steve Keith. SPIRITWOOD – JP Lueck. SOUTH HEART – Sarah Ewoniuk. TIOGA – Patty Jensen. TOLNA – Don Rude, Mary Rude, Sheila Rude. VALLEY CITY – Bob Bruns. VELVA – Shawn Kaylor.

 

In addition, 20 youths received the Torchbearer Award, the highest honor in the Farmers Union youth program. Members of the 2020 Torchbearer class were also recognized and participated in the graduation ceremony, as they were unable to do so last year due to the pandemic. This year’s honorees are:

BERLIN – Katrina Just. CARTWRIGHT – Christian Lassey. CENTER – Ariana Marklevitz. DICKINSON – Draven Nadvornik. ESMOND – Andrea Arnold. FARGO – Krista Kramer. JAMESTOWN – Madison Grieve, Rebecca Willer. KATHRYN – Amber Knutson. KENMARE – Arand Bartlett. LINTON – Angie Vetter. RAY – Johnathan Ketelsen. ROLETTE – Sierra Heinz. SPIRITWOOD – Mara Bjornson. WIMBLEDON – Emily Ames, Wimbledon. VALLEY CITY – AJ Cotta, McKenzie Current, Amber Knitson, Jacob Pfeifer, Thomas Pfeifer.

 

Three Torchbearers also received a $1,000 Bergman Scholarship each to help offset college education costs. Recipients were Madison Grieve of Jamestown, Katrina Just of Berlin and Sierra Heinz of Rolette.

 

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The North Dakota Women’s Business Center has recognized Diane J. Hochalter photography and Penny Wolla’s Blush Boutique.

The news release from North Dakota women’s Business Center.

Program Manager, Kayla Mediger, stated:

“Diane Hochhalter, a new certified Woman-Owned Business with the state is the owner of Diane J Hochhalter Studio. Diane’s had a camera in her hand since she was 15 and after her career in nursing decided to bring this passion of hers to life and has been a professional photographer for the last 6 years. She finds so much joy in photography and offers a variety of different services, with her passion and specialty in senior photos! She enjoys capturing people for who they are and loves when a client gets to actually see themselves how we and the world see them. It isn’t just photography for Diane it truly is an ART.

Diane and her family were able to transform a historic downtown building into a photography studio where her clients get the full experience! Diane’s work has been published and has received an Award of Merit! Make sure to check out her incredible work on her site called the “Intention Project”. When asked why she wanted to certify at the state level she shared, “To legitimize my business!”

Penny Wolla, a long time standing certified Woman-Owned Business has just renewed for her 4th year! Owner of Blush Boutique in Downtown Valley City, known as the woman who “shook the rug” downtown Valley City as she was able to bring her dream to a reality after a full remodel creating her dream space!

It all started with her and her sisters side hustle called Project Paper Co. They started online creating greeting cards with fun sayings and bringing inspiration to others! They started what they called Project 15 where every week out of the blue you would write a letter to someone and journal about it! It couldn’t be for a birthday or anniversary it truly was to spread kindness and inspiration through the mail letting them know you were thinking of them! She still sells cards in her boutique but has expanded to a gorgeous store front offering affordable trendy clothing, accessories, and her claim to fame and exclusive Lake Ashtabula swag! Penny shared that she certifies every year for the benefits and connections of the state certification! Penny enjoys coming to work every day and shares that it’s a powerful title to be a Woman Business Owner and we couldn’t agree more! Congrats Penny to 4 years and many more!

The statement went on to say, Meeting with these two women was absolutely refreshing as they advocate and inspire each other but also other women business owners in their community! Penny and Diane are paving the way for women in business not only in Valley City, but across the state.” Make sure to check them out at: Diane J Hochhalter Studio and @blushoncentral

Kayla Mediger

NDWBC

Program Manager

 

 

Jamestown  (City)  The Jamestown baling facility and recycling center will be closed Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, in observance of the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day holidays..

There will be no changes in garbage or recycling collections.

For more information, contact the baling facility at 252-5223 and the recycling center at (701) 320-9218.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Weather experts say central and western North Dakota will have a snowier winter than last year, though accumulation totals won’t be that hard to beat. According to the National Weather Service, Bismarck had 16.7 inches of snow last winter when the norm is 50.5 inches. Winter outlooks from the National Weather Service, AccuWeather and The Old Farmer’s Almanac expect it to be colder than normal in the Northern Plains. A weather phenomenon known as La Nina is expected to result in the jet stream dipping down into the central United States. La Nina is a cooling of the waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean that influences weather.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Mandan man has pleaded guilty to charges resulting from a drunken driving crash that killed a pedestrian. Twenty-year-old TC Younger Carry Moccasin entered the plea to two felonies, including criminal vehicular homicide, and two misdemeanors Monday as part of an agreement with prosecutors. Two drug charges were to be dismissed as part of the deal. Police say Carry Moccasin struck and killed 42-year-old Mark Streeper in Mandan in November 2020. Streeper was standing next to his parked car on Main Street at the time. South Central District Judge Pamela Nesvig delayed acceptance of the plea agreement pending the outcome of a presentence investigation. Sentencing wasn’t immediately scheduled.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota consumer protection officials are warning about recent gift card scams that have resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of dollars. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says that at the holiday season especially, it’s good to remember that gift cards should be used as gifts, not to settle an account payment or for a phony sweepstakes. The Attorney General’s consumer protection division reports that in the last two weeks, they have received nine reports from victims of gift card scams, with losses totaling $45,000. The victims, who range in age from 26 to 75, reportedly fell for different versions of the scam, including fake sweepstakes officials pretending the victim had won a prize but needed to make an upfront payment.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors in the manslaughter trial of a Minnesota police officer charged in the shooting death of Daunte Wright have walked jurors through the differences between her handgun and her Taser. They’re trying to raise questions about how an experienced officer could pull a Taser by mistake. The 20-year-old Black motorist was killed April 11 after police pulled him over in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center for having expired license plate tags and an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. The officer who shot him, Kim Potter, resigned two days after the shooting and is charged with manslaughter. Prosecutors need to show she acted recklessly or with culpable negligence. Testimony was scheduled to resume Tuesday and the state is expected to rest its case midweek.

 

In sports…

Monday

High School Basketball

Boy’s

Bottineau 80, Rolla 51

Carrington 62, New Rockford-Sheyenne 31

Ellendale 65, South Border 28

Four Winds/Minnewaukan 82, Enderlin 79

Hillsboro/Central Valley 45, Kindred 44

Lakota 60, Barnes County North 38

Park Rapids, Minn. 88, Richland 47

Wheaton/Herman-Norcross, Minn. 50, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood 25

Stanley Tournament=

Lewis and Clark-Berthold 78, Ray 40

Stanley 68, Burke Central 34

Velva Invite=

Drake/Anamoose 59, Velva 44

 

Girl’s

Dickinson Trinity 51, Richardton-Taylor 40

Lakota/Adams-Edmore/Dakota Prairie 36, Rolla 32, OT

Mott-Regent 63, Center-Stanton 33

South Prairie 47, Divide County 20

St. John 71, Westhope 67

St. John 71, Westhope/Newburg 67

Thompson 54, Northern Cass 32

 

NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The NFC West is a little tighter after the second-place Rams earned a 30-23 victory at Arizona.

Matthew Stafford threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns, hitting Cooper Kupp 13 times for 123 yards and a score. Kupp has had eight 100-yard receiving games this season.

Van Jefferson caught a 52-yard scoring strike early in the third quarter to put the Rams ahead to stay. Odell Beckham Jr. also had a TD catch.

Kyler Murray’s two interceptions led to Los Angeles touchdowns as the Cardinals failed to clinch their first playoff berth since 2015.

The Rams are within one game of the Cardinals for the division lead.

— The Rams didn’t have defensive back Jalen Ramsey or tight end Tyler Higbee on the field for Monday night’s game against the Cardinals after both players were put on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Ramsey leads Los Angeles with three interceptions and also has 59 tackles. Higbee has 44 receptions for 395 yards and three touchdowns.

NFL-NEWS

— The Packers’ offense is a little more banged up after Sunday’s win over the Bears. Right tackle Billy Turner suffered a knee injury in the game, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers said afterward that his fractured pinky toe started feeling worse during Green Bay’s 45-30 victory over Chicago.

UNDATED (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens are breathing a little easier after learning more about Lamar Jackson’s injury.

Head coach John Harbaugh said his star quarterback did not have a high ankle sprain. Harbaugh said he’s planning for Jackson to play this week, but it’s too early to tell for sure.

Jackson missed most of Sunday’s loss at Cleveland after spraining his ankle.

Also around the NFL:

— Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke is expected to play Sunday despite a left knee injury suffered in Sunday’s loss to Dallas. The team is down several key players, either due to injuries or COVID-19 protocol.

 

— The Dolphins now have four players on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list after adding safety Jevon Holland and running back Phillip Lindsay there on Monday. Those moves come after running backs Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed were put on the list last week.

— The NFL is requiring coaches and other team personnel to receive a COVID-19 booster by Dec. 27. The league’s requirement extends to all Tier 1 and Tier 2 individuals who have previously received the vaccine.

— Former NFL player Josh Bellamy has been sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining over $1.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. Bellamy pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

NBA..

UNDATED (AP) — Steph Curry is on the verge of becoming the NBA’s all-time leading 3-point shooter.

Curry was 5-for-15 from behind the arc as the Golden State Warriors earned a 102-100 win at Indiana, He’s one off Ray Allen’s mark for made 3-pointers.

The Golden State guard finished with a team-high 26 points and helped his team improve to 22-5.

Kevon (keh-VAHN’) Looney scored on a putback in the final minute for the winning margin. Looney had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green provided 15 points apiece.

Domantas Sabonis (doh-MAHN’-tahs sah-BOH’-nihs) had 30 points and 11 boards for the Pacers.

Checking out Monday’s other NBA action:

— The Clippers won a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals as Marcus Morris delivered season highs of 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 111-95 rout of the Suns. Reggie Jackson chipped in 19 points and Terance Mann had 17 with nine rebounds to help Los Angeles win its fourth in a row. Cam Johnson led Phoenix with 17 points off the bench as both teams played without several key stars.

— Jayson Tatum scored 16 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 117-103 win against the Bucks. Jaylen Brown returned to the lineup after missing five games with a tight right hamstring, furnishing 19 points in 30 minutes for Boston. Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh) scored 20 points with eight rebounds and three assists as Milwaukee lost for just the third time in 15 games.

— Kevin Love scored all 23 of his points in the second half, making five 3-pointers and finishing with nine rebounds in the Cavaliers’ 105-94 victory over the Heat. Jarrett Allen scored 17 points without missing a shot and had eight rebounds for Cleveland, which has won four straight and eight of 10. P.J. Tucker had a season-high 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and Kyle Lowry scored 22 points in Miami’s first loss in three games.

— The Grizzlies stayed hot by firing at a 53% clip in a 126-91 pounding of the 76ers. Dillon Brooks dropped in 23 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 22 as Memphis won for the eighth time in nine games, all after Ja (jah) Morant went down with an injury. Tyrese Maxey had a team-high 23 points for the Sixers, who shot 4-for-22 from 3-point range and played without Joel Embiid (joh-EHL’ ehm-BEED’) due to rib soreness.

— Kristaps Porzingis (KRIHS’-tahps pohr-ZIHN’-his) had 24 points and 13 rebounds while matching a season best with five blocks as the Mavericks stormed past the Hornets, 120-96. Dallas hit a season-high 19 3-pointers to sweep a back-to-back without all-star guard Luka Doncic (DAHN’-chihch). Trey Burke scored a season-high 22 and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 19 points off the bench for Dallas.

— Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH’-lah YOH’-kihch) came within one assist of a triple-double, finishing with 29 points and 18 rebounds in the Nuggets’ 113-107 victory against the Wizards. Jokic tied his season high for rebounds but missed out on his sixth triple-double when he was ejected midway through the fourth quarter. Monte Morris added 22 points for Denver, while Bradley Beal had 19 points and 10 assists for Washington.

— The Rockets won for the eighth time in 10 games as Eric Gordon scored 32 points and D.J. Augustin added 22 in their 132-126 victory in Atlanta. The Rockets trailed much of the game and were down 101-88 heading to the final quarter. The Hawks suffered their fifth straight home loss despite Trae Young’s 41 points and nine assists.

— The Raptors used a 70-point first half to rout the Kings, 124-101. Chris Boucher matched his season high with 17 points and Yuta Watanabe had a season-best 12 points and 10 rebounds. Pascal Siakam (see-A’-kam) and Scottie Barnes each scored 16 points to help Toronto withstand De’Aaron Fox’s 29 points for Sacramento.

NBA-COVID-19

COVID-19 leads to Bulls postponements

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls’ COVID-19 situation has led to the postponement of their next two games.

The NBA made the call with 10 Bulls players in health and safety protocol, a group that includes stars Zach LaVine (lah-veen’) and DeMar Derozan. The Bulls were scheduled to host the Pistons on Tuesday and visit the Raptors on Thursday.

No makeup dates were announced.

T25 MEN’S BASKETBALL-POLL

Baylor climbs to top of poll

UNDATED (AP) — The defending champs are the new No. 1 team in the latest Associated Press men’s basketball poll.

Baylor is the fourth team in as many weeks to take the top spot, moving up a spot after previous No. 1 Purdue fell to Rutgers last Thursday. The Bears earned every vote from a 61-member national media panel Monday to reach the top spot in the poll for the first time since a four-week run ended on Feb. 17, 2020.

Second-ranked Duke is followed by Purdue, UCLA and Gonzaga. Alabama, Kansas, Arizona, Villanova and Southern Cal round out the top 10.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-ALL-AMERICANS

Alabama lands 3 on First Team

UNDATED (AP) — Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and Alabama teammates Will Anderson Jr. and Jameson Williams have been selected All-Americans by The Associated Press.

The Crimson Tide lead all schools with three players on the First Team. Tide tackle Evan Neal made the second team and safety Jordan Battle was a third-team selection.

Heisman Trophy finalist and Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson is a First-Teamer. Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett landed on the Second Team, and Ohio State signal-caller C.J. Stroud is on the Third Team. Pickett and Stroud were Heisman finalists.

NHL-COVID-19

Flames COVID breakout leads to three postponements

UNDATED (AP) — The NHL has postponed the Calgary Flames’ next three games, including tonight’s contest in Chicago.

Six Flames players and a staff member entered the league’s COVID-19 protocol over a 24-hour period. The team announced Monday that forwards Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane (man-zhuh-PAN’-ee), Brad Richardson and Adam Ruzicka (roo-ZEETS’-kah) were in protocol, along with defensemen Chris Tanev (TAN’-ehv) and Nikita Zadorov (zah-DOHR’-ahv).

Also postponed are Tuesday’s game at Nashville and Wednesday’s home game versus Toronto.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes announced star center Sebastian Aho (AH’-hoh), rookie center Seth Jarvis and a member of the training staff have entered the COVID-19 protocol. The team said all three would remain in Vancouver, where Carolina absorbed a 2-1 loss on Sunday.

MLB-OBIT-HEMOND

Rollie Hemond dies at 92

UNDATED (AP) — Longtime major league executive Roland Hemond (HEE’-muhnd) has died at age 92.

His 70-year career in baseball included three Executive of the Year awards as general manager of the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Hemond was Chicago’s GM from 1970-85 and served in the same role for Baltimore from 1988-95.

Hemond is considered the architect of the Arizona Fall League, and he helped found the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation to provide assistance to longtime scouts needing special support.

USA-GYMNASTICS-NASSAR-SETTLEMENT

USA Gymnastics, USOPC reach $380M settlement with victims

UNDATED (AP) — USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee have reached a $380 million settlement with hundreds of victims of sexual abuse.

The settlement conditionally approved in federal bankruptcy court also includes some nonmonetary provisions dedicated to making the victims stakeholders in USA Gymnastics going forward. The vast majority of the 500-plus victims voted in favor of the settlement.

Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to detail sexual abuse at the hands of former USA team doctor Larry Nassar, says the lawsuit wasn’t about the money but the hope of effecting change within the organization.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-TENNIS-RADUCANU

Raducanu positive for COVID; US Open champ out of exhibition

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Reigning U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu has tested positive for COVID-19 and has pulled out of an exhibition tennis event in the United Arab Emirates.

Organizers of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship said the British teenager is isolating and following protocols.

Raducanu won the U.S. Open in September to become the first qualifier to claim a Grand Slam singles title.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer says that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. The company also confirmed Tuesday that the pill delivered on promising early results in reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. The updates come as U.S. regulators are expected to soon decide on whether to authorize Pfizer’s pill and a competing drug from Merck. If authorized, the pills would be the first COVID-19 drugs that Americans could take at home to treat the virus. Pfizer is seeking U.S. authorization for high-risk adults but is also studying the drug in lower-risk adults. The company said the drug missed a key study goal in ongoing testing of those patients.

 

MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) — Workers, volunteers and members of the National Guard fanned out in tornado-damaged areas of Kentucky to help with recovery tasks large and small. The work ranges from replacing thousands of damaged utility poles to delivering bottles of drinking water to searching for the dead. The tornado outbreak Friday killed at least 88 people in five states. Seventy-four of them were in Kentucky. Gov. Andy Beshear said that the death toll could grow as authorities continue to work around debris that slowed recovery efforts. Nearly 450 National Guard members have been mobilized in the state, and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Joe Manchin is signaling anew Monday that he’s still not ready to back his party’s $2 trillion social and environment legislation as party leaders scramble for a pathway to advance the long-stalled package — preferably by Christmas. The West Virginia Democrat spoke to President Joe Biden by phone Monday but declined to describe the conversation. Democrats must have Manchin’s backing because the Senate is evenly divided and Republicans oppose the legislation unanimously. Manchin has been pushing for months for Democrats to curb the bill’s size and drop some initiatives, including one requiring paid family and medical leave.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection has voted to pursue contempt charges against former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Lawmakers have also revealed a series of frantic texts he received as the attack was underway. The texts reveal that members of Congress, Fox News anchors and even President Donald Trump’s own son were urging Meadows to push Trump to act quickly to stop the siege by his supporters. The panel voted 9-0 to recommend the contempt charges. The House is expected to vote Tuesday to refer the charges to the Justice Department, which will decide whether to prosecute the former Republican congressman.

 

 

 

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. weather agency has certified a 38-degree Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) reading in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk last year as the highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic. The World Meteorological Organization said the temperature “more befitting the Mediterranean than the Arctic” was recorded in June 2020 during a heat wave that swept across Siberia and stretched north of the Arctic Circle. Average temperatures were up to 10 degrees Celsius more than usual in Arctic Siberia. It played a key role in forest fires, loss of sea ice and global temperature rises that made 2020 one of the three hottest years on record.

 

BERLIN (AP) — European diplomats are expressing frustration with Iran’s stance in talks aimed at salvaging Tehran’s tattered 2015 nuclear deal, saying they are wasting “precious time” dealing with new Iranian demands and that “time is running out.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday diplomacy remains the best option but that Washington is engaging with partners on alternatives. Talks in Vienna between the remaining signatories to the 2015 agreement resumed last week in Vienna. Diplomats from Britain, France and Germany had urged Tehran to come back with “realistic proposals” after the Iranian delegation — representing the new hard-line government — previously made numerous demands that other participants deemed unacceptable.