– Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Dec. 22

CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 20s. Temperature falling through the afternoon. Southwest winds around 5 mph shifting to the north in the afternoon.

.TONIGHT.. Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow. Lows around 10. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the south after midnight.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. South winds

5 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. Southwest

winds 10 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 30. Northwest winds 10 to

15 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow after

midnight. Lows zero to 5 above.

.CHRISTMAS DAY…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow.

Highs around 10.

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

Lows around 5 below.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Highs

15 to 20.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow.

Lows near zero.

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

morning. Highs 5 to 10 above.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow.

Lows around 10 below.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Highs

5 to 10 above.

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

Tue. Dec. 21, 2021

10:20 -a.m.

Barnes

New Positives: 10

Total Positives: 2177

Active: 39

Recovered: 2094

Breakthrough Incidents Per 10K Fully Vaccinated Individuals: 395

Stutsman

New Positives: 7

Total Positives: 5088

Active: 44

Recovered: 4944

Breakthrough Incidents Per 10K Fully Vaccinated Individuals: 442

Update …No CCHD Covid 19 testing on Friday December 24 or Friday December 31, with CCHD closed for a holiday break…

Valley City (CCHD) City County Health in Valley City announces their COVID-19 testing days and site location in Valley City.

Testing is at the REC Center at 140 4th Street Southwest.

Testing will be 12:30-2:30 Mon, Weds, and Fridays.

There are opportunities for vaccinations, both for annual influenza and for the COVID vaccine. Call 845-8518 to make an appointment.

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.

Valley City ( CSi) The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall. All members were present.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
Approved 2022 License to Sell L.P. Gas for:
a. Dakota Plains Ag
b. Petro Serve USA #071
c. CBF Oil Inc dba Vining Oil & Propane
And authorize the Auditor’s Office to issue licenses for applicants who meet all licensing requirements before December 30th, 2021.

Approved 2022 Mobile Home Park License Renewals for
a. Rockwater LLC
b. Richard Plecity Trailer Court

And authorize the Auditor’s Office to issue licenses for applicants who meet all licensing requirements before December 30th, 2021.

Also approved:
Approve 2022 Tree Trimming and Removal Service License for Pine Country Nursery.
Approve Raffle Permit for Sharp Shooter Showdown on February 5, 2022 at the Eagles.

Public Comments No One Spoke

PUBLIC HEARING
Regarding changes to the official Zoning Map of the City.

Following the Public Hearing. Approved was the Second and Final Reading of Ordinance 1091, an Ordinance approving changes to the official Zoning Map of the City. City Attorney Martineck said he received no comments from adjacent property owners.

ORDINANCE
Approved a First Reading of Ordinance 1093, an Ordinance Amending and Reenacting Chapter 20-06 of the Valley City Municipal Code re City Lodging Tax. City Attorney Martineck said several language changes were made under the North Dakota Century Code. The tax will remain at three percent.

Approved the First Reading of Ordinance 1094, an Ordinance to Amend and Enact Section 15-01-16.2 of the Valley City Municipal Code regarding Surface Drainage and Storm Sewer System Cleaning and Maintenance Fee. City Attorney Martineck the fee was at $1. The Resolution includes an increase in the fee.

RESOLUTION
Approved a Resolution 2328, a Resolution Establishing Electrical Rates. Public Works Manager Jacobson said, a rate increase was necessary, and involves large power usage, to reach a predetermined profit margin. The rate increase amounts to an average $73 per month.

Approved a Resolution 2329, a Resolution Establishing Rates and Fees for Solid Waste Services. The rate increase includes, residential from $13 to $14, and commercial rates from $22 to $24 per month, plus other increases, to offset losses, this year at $28,000. The increase allows for a $30,000 margin.

Approved a Resolution 2330, a Resolution Establishing Rates for Surface Draining and Storm Sewer Cleaning and Maintenance Fee. Public Works Manager Jacobson said the fee goes from $1 to $2.50 per month, allowing for a margin of $62,500.

NEW BUSINESS
Approved Final Copy of the 2022 Employee Policy & Procedure Manual. City Attorney Martineck said major changes include family sick leave, removing the 40 hour cap as a written policy. Full time employees only are not allowed to have family members to work in the same department.

Approved a new Service Agreement with Valley City Parks and Recreation and Valley City Convention and Visitors Bureau for Administration of City Lodging Tax.

Approved a Request for Funds from VCBCDC for Resource Development Specialist (3 years). Director Jennifer Feist said the positeion will be for three years at a salary of $66,00o per years, funding coming from the city sales tax for economic development.

Approve a Request for Funds from VCBCDC for Small Projects (2022). Jennifer Feist said the $20,000 is used for architural engineering, and a portion to pay property taxes on the small projects.

Approved a Public Works Capital and Operating Budgets for FY22. Public Works Manager Jacobson said the budget includes salary increases. The capital budget is at $2,358,000, including a reserve of $3-million. Public Works is looking to invest $180,000 for a new automated garbage truck next year, and another truck the following year.

Approved a Gaming Site Authorization Renewal for ND Chapters of Delta Waterfowl Inc. Finance Director Richter said this is the annual renewal.

Approved moving forward with NDDOT Maintenance Contract along I-94 Frontage Road from 12th Ave e to Exit 294.

Approved the NDDOT Urban Roads Project Submittal List for Fiscal Year 2023-2026. City Engineer Chad Peterson said it includes newly programed projects for 2022-23, and project schedule changes.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

Gwen Crawford said city officials have met with officials on flood mitigation, that included addressing to Mill Dam repairs in the funding.

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS

City Assessor Hansen said forms will be sent out to those asking about tax breaks and other issues, to be applied for annually.

Fire Chief Magnuson encourages Carbon Monoxide detectors be installed in residence, in light of the tragic loss of life Moorhead, MN, last weekend, evidently caused by the family being over come by carbon monoxide. He said there are several different types of detectors available.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 68, followed by replays.

Fargo (NDHP) The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports, about 6-p.m. Tuesday, multiple vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction crash that occurred on Interstate 29 near mile marker 351 westbound.

One vehicle changed lanes, causing another to swerve, which lost control and went across three lanes of traffic. This caused other vehicles to brake and lose control. Seven vehicles in total were damaged from side-swiping other vehicles and rear-ending others. Two vehicles struck the concrete traffic barrier in the median. No injuries were reported. Disabled vehicles came to rest in multiple lanes of traffic. Traffic was impacted/slowed for about an hour and a half while vehicles were towed from the scene. Vehicle information will not be released at this time, as the crash is still
under investigation by the NDHP.

The NDHP would like to remind motorists to drive safe during the holidays. Obey speed limits and drive with caution in inclement weather, reducing speeds when necessary. Increase following distances for weather and road conditions, night-time travel, and heavy traffic volumes. And don’t forget to turn on headlights when it’s snowing, even during the day!

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A former newspaper publisher who spent five years on the North Dakota Public Service Commission has been appointed by Gov. Doug Burgum to take over as tax commissioner. Brian Kroshus will replace Ryan Rauschenberger, who is resigning to focus on recovering from alcohol problems. Rauschenberger has been tax commissioner for seven years. Burgum says a “combination of private sector experience in leading a complex business operation and public sector experience in looking out for the best interests of consumers” made Kroshus the top prospect for the job. Kroshus says he will treat taxpayers with fairness, transparency and efficiency. He is scheduled to begin on Jan. 4.

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) — West Fargo officials have authorized city staff to research putting a half-cent sales tax on the 2022 ballot. KFGO radio reports that City Administrator Tina Fisk told city commissioners the new tax would generate revenue for the fire and police departments and spare residents big property tax increases. Fisk says the city anticipates higher demand for police and fire service as the population grows. Census data projects the city’s population will grow to 45,000 people in 2027. If city commissioners vote to put the tax on the ballot voters would see it in June or November.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jurors in the trial of a suburban Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright were to begin their third day of deliberations Wednesday, after a question to the judge suggested some are concerned they may not be able to reach agreement. The jury asked Judge Regina Chu Tuesday afternoon how to proceed if they can’t reach a verdict. The judge told jurors to continue their work. The officer, Kim Potter, is charged with manslaughter in Wright’s April 11 death that came after a traffic stop. Potter has said she meant to use her Taser on Wright. Jurors also asked the judge if they could handle Potter’s handgun, and she said yes.

In sports…

Tuesday

Boy’s Hockey

At Wilson Arena

Sheyenne West Fargo 8 Jamestown 1

Tuesday

Boy’s Basketball

Fargo South 69, Valley City 64

Dakota Prairie 51, Carrington 43

Bismarck High 103, Bismarck St. Mary’s 99

Drake/Anamoose 52, St. John 39

Enderlin 76, Milnor-North Sargent 42

Fargo Davies 84, West Fargo 75

Fargo North 76, Wahpeton 48

Flasher 61, Center-Stanton 47

Grand Forks Central 45, Fargo Shanley 36

Harding County, S.D. 54, Grant County/Mott-Regent Co-op 49

Harding County, S.D. 54, Mott-Regent 49

Harvey-Wells County 50, Velva 38

Hazen 73, Central McLean 35

Kindred 77, Richland 44

Lemmon, S.D. 59, New England 45

Lewis and Clark North Shore 62, Tgu-towner 45

Linton/HMB 49, Beach 43

Mandaree 83, Warwick 34

May-Port CG 48, Cavalier 43

Minot 89, Watford City 47

Northern Cass 67, Tri-State 31

Powers Lake 58, Trenton 45

Williston 67, Turtle Mountain 62

Wilton-Wing 93, Solen 40

Girl’s

Fargo South 71, Valley City 64

Linton 64, Ellendale 8

Oakes 63 Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter 33

Central Cass 50, Thompson 33

Edgeley/K-M 61, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood 32

Fargo Shanley 67, Grand Forks Central 31

Garrison 55, Glenburn 31

Lemmon, S.D. 55, New England 34

Minot 92, Watford City 50

Richardton-Taylor 67, Solen 34

Rugby 62, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 26

Sheyenne 77, Devils Lake 62

St. John 72, Drake/Anamoose 63

Tioga 55, Lewis and Clark-Berthold 41

West Fargo 70, Fargo Davies 49

Westby, Mont. 42, Divide County 35

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS=

Fargo North vs. Wahpeton, ppd. to Jan 17th.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

— Justin Moore scored 12 of his 17 points after halftime and Caleb Daniels added 16 points to lead No. 23 Villanova to a 71-58 victory over No. 18 Xavier. Collin Gillespie and Eric Dixon each had 15 points for the Wildcats (8-4, 1-1 Big East), who bounced back from consecutive blowout losses. Dwon Odom scored 13 points and Nate Johnson had 12 for Xavier (11-2, 1-1), which had won seven in a row.

UNDATED (AP) — Luka Brajkovic scored 22 points and made a late 3-pointer and Michael Jones scored 21 points to help lift Davidson to a 79-78 victory over No. 10 Alabama. The Wildcats rolled to a 13-point lead in the second half and held on for their eighth straight win in a game scheduled to fill sudden voids in their respective schedules because of COVID-19. The Crimson Tide have dropped two of three games but stayed in this one until Jahvon Quinerly missed a potential tying free throw with four seconds left. Alabama scored the final nine points after Brajkovic’s 3-pointer with 2:01 left pushed it back to 79-69. But Davidson was able to run out the final seconds.

Elsewhere in college basketball:

— Izaiah Brockington had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Tristan Enaruna added 19 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 9 Iowa State rolled to a 79-48 win over Chicago State. The Cyclones came into the game limiting opponents to 56.8 points per game, 12th in the nation. They have now held nine teams to 60 or fewer points. Jahsean Corbett had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Chicago State. The Cougars shot just 28 percent, including 2 for 20 from 3-point range.

— Marcus Bingham had 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks and was one of five double-digit scorers for No. 11 Michigan State in a 90-78 win over Oakland University on Tuesday night. The Spartans have won five straight for a second time this season, bouncing back from losses to then-No. 3 Kansas to open the season and then-No. 6 Baylor last month. The Golden Grizzlies lost consecutive games for the first time this year in a season that includes a win over Oklahoma State. Oakland fell behind by 16 in the second half, but refused to get routed.

NFL…

UNDATED (AP) — Jalen Hurts ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to help the Philadelphia Eagles come back from an early deficit and beat virus-ravaged Washington 27-17 in a critical showdown with NFC playoff implications. In his first game back from an ankle injury, Hurts scored on a pair of 1-yard QB sneaks to set the single-season franchise record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 10. He was 20 of 26 for 296 yards passing with a touchdown pass to Greg Ward and a bad-luck interception. Miles Sanders rushed for a career-high 131 yards. Washington struggled behind recently signed quarterback Garrett Gilbert and missing a handful of starters.

In other NFL action:

— Cooper Kupp caught two touchdown passes from Matthew Stafford in the second half, and the Los Angeles Rams held off the Seattle Seahawks 20-10 in a rescheduled game between two COVID-19-depleted teams. Kupp broke Isaac Bruce’s single-season Rams receptions record in the third quarter with a 6-yard TD catch that was also the 120th of his spectacular year. The NFL’s receiving leader then scored a tiebreaking 29-yard touchdown with 10:48 to play. DeeJay Dallas rushed for a touchdown for the Seahawks, whose streak of nine consecutive winning seasons under coach Pete Carroll ended. Seattle is still mathematically alive for the postseason.

NBA..

— Jalen Brunson had 26 points, Dorian Finney-Smith scored 15 of his 19 in the second half and Dallas defeated Minnesota. A total of nine players, including three starters, missed the game because they are in the NBA’s health and safety protocol. Brunson scored 16 points in the first half. Finney-Smith hit two 3-pointers during a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter that wiped out Minnesota’s last lead. Sterling Brown added 12 points and 11 rebounds in his first start this season. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 26 points and 14 rebounds. D’Angelo Russell had 14 points and 12 assists.

— Tyler Herro scored 26 points in his return from a three-game absence with a bruised thigh, Duncan Robinson tied a season-high with 26 points and the Miami Heat rolled past the Indiana Pacers 125-96 on Tuesday night. Miami tied a franchise record with 22 made 3-pointers, the fourth time the Heat have made that many. Max Strus scored 18 points, KZ Okpala scored 16 and Kyle Lowry finished with eight points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists for Miami. Omer Yurtseven added 13 rebounds for the Heat. Chris Duarte and Caris LeVert each scored 17 for Indiana, which got 14 points from Oshae Brissett and 12 points from Domantas Sabonis.

— Devin Booker continued to distance himself from a hamstring injury that cost him seven games, scoring 24 points with nine rebounds and seven assists as the Phoenix Suns earned a 108-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Booker played 32 minutes and went 8 of 16 from the field in his second game back from injury. Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges scored 14 as the Suns won their fourth consecutive game. LeBron James scored 34 points for the Lakers, who lost their third game in a row as coach Frank Vogel remained in health and safety protocols for the second straight.

UNDATED (AP) — Evan Fournier scored 22 points, Julius Randle and Kemba Walker each had 21 and the New York Knicks won at home for the first time in almost a month, beating the Detroit Pistons 105-91. Mitchell Robinson had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks, who had dropped five straight at Madison Square Garden since beating the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 23. They are just 6-10 at home. Walker was out of the rotation entirely but started a second straight game with six players in health and safety protocols and Derrick Rose out again with ankle soreness. Saben Lee scored 16 points for the Pistons.

— Brandon Ingram had 28 points, Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 22 of his 27 in the second half and New Orleans beat Portland for its first three-game winning streak of the season. Josh Hart added 20 points for the Pelicans, who shot 52.5% while winning for the eighth time in 13 games following a 3-16 start — all while awaiting the return of All-Star forward Zion Williamsons from an offseason foot injury. Damian Lillard scored 39 for the Trail Blazers, who won their previous two games. Jusuf Nurkic added 17 points and Norman Powell had 16.

NBA-NEWS

Ginobili, Chambers, Whalen among 1st-time hoop hall nominees

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Former San Antonio Spurs star Manu Ginobili, SuperSonics and Suns forward Tom Chambers and Olympic and WNBA champion Lindsay Whalen are among the first-time nominees for the Basketball Hall of Fame. Among the returning nominees are 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups and former UConn and Detroit Shock star Swin Cash. More than 150 players, coaches and other contributors will be considered for induction in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during the Sept. 9-10 enshrinement ceremonies. The full Class of 2022 will be announced during the NCAA Final Four in New Orleans in April.

In other NBA news:

— NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says there are no plans to pause the season, even as numbers of players entering the league’s health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus continues to rise. Silver says the league has examined multiple options but does not yet see a reason to stop play. Meanwhile, the 10 NBA teams with games scheduled on Christmas have been told by the league that shifting some game times is a possibility for the five-game slate planned for that day if virus-related issues affect the lineup. The NBA has said 97% of players are fully vaccinated and the NBPA said Tuesday night that 65% of eligible players are boosted, which they pointed to as better than twice the national average.

NHL..

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Steven Stamkos scored the tiebreaking goal on a third-period power play and the Tampa Bay Lightning rallied past the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in the final NHL game before an extended holiday break.

Gabriel Fortier, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Anthony Cirelli also scored for the Lightning, who trailed 3-1 late in the second. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves as the Lightning won their third straight and ended Vegas’ five-game winning streak. Mark Stone scored twice for the Golden Knights.

It was the only NHL game played Tuesday night after nine others were postponed because of coronavirus concerns. The league will begin its annual Christmas break Wednesday, two days earlier than originally planned, due to a spike in COVID-19 cases that has shut down 10 of the 32 teams.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NHL

AP source: NHL to withdraw from Olympics after COVID surge

UNDATED (AP) — NHL players will not take part in the Winter Olympics after all. A person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the league is going to withdraw from the Beijing Olympics after its regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks.

The Washington Capitals-Philadelphia Flyers game scheduled for Tuesday night has been postponed. It’s the 50th NHL game postponed this season for coronavirus-related reasons. The league says COVID-19 issues with the Capitals prompted the postponement.

That left the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Vegas Golden Knights as the only game left in the NHL this week. The league and players’ association agreed to begin the annual holiday break early and push off the games that were scheduled for Thursday.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWLS

UNDATED (AP) — Lucas Johnson passed for a career-best 333 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for another score as San Diego State beat No. 24 UTSA 38-24 in the Frisco Bowl for the Aztecs’ program-record 12th win of the season. Jesse Matthews caught touchdown passes of 11 and 20 yards and set career marks with 11 catches and 175 yards receiving. Tyrell Shavers caught the other touchdown pass, a 24-yarder.

Greg Bell also scored on a 1-yard run for San Diego State. Frank Harris threw touchdown passes of 12 yards to De’Corian Clark and 4 yards to Zakhari Franklin, and Brenden Brady scored on a 2-yard run for UTSA.

And in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Levi Williams ran for 200 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 127 yards and another touchdown to lead Wyoming to a 52-38 win over Kent State. Williams, who set a career-best single-game rushing performance, tied the Potato Bowl record for most rushing touchdowns and was named the game’s MVP.

Wyoming scored 21 consecutive points to start the second half, including scoring runs of 27 and 80 yards by Williams, to build a 42-24 lead that proved to be too much for Kent State to overcome.

COLLEGE SPORTS-NEWS

Miami officials say football team is now in virus protocols

UNDATED (AP) — The Miami Hurricanes’ plans to play in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 appear to be uncertain at best, after the school announced its football program has entered COVID-19 protocols.

COVID-19 concerns at Georgetown and Boston College have caused both schools’ basketball teams to suffer forfeits in their conference standings. Boston College’s game at Wake Forest scheduled for Wednesday is canceled in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Georgetown’s game also scheduled for Wednesday at No. 22 Providence is canceled in the Big East. In both cases, the forfeits will count only in the league standings and won’t affect the overall record.

Elsewhere, Michigan, Grand Canyon, Coppin State and Memphis called off games. On the women’s side, No. 8 Indiana’s game against Wright State for Tuesday is canceled.

In other college sports news:

— Kedon Slovis is trading USC for Pittsburgh. The former Trojans quarterback announced he is heading east to join the ACC champion Panthers, where he will get a chance to replace ACC Player of the Year Kenny Pickett.

NFL-NEWS-BROWNS-INJURIES

Browns’ McKinley out for season, star Garrett hurts groin

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns were dealt another tough blow when defensive end Takk McKinley tore his Achilles tendon in Monday night’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. He will miss the remainder of the season.

McKinley was carted off the field in the third quarter. The 26-year-old was emotional while being helped by medical staff and driven to the locker room, knowing his injury was serious.

The Browns are now hoping for better news on star defensive end Myles Garrett. He suffered a groin injury in the fourth quarter. The team is awaiting more test results. Garrett has a career-high 15 sacks.

Elsewhere in the NFL:

— The New York Jets placed rookie left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and cornerback Michael Carter II on the COVID-19 list. The team activated backup quarterback Mike White from the COVID-19 list after he missed four games. The Jets have 13 players on the active and practice squad rosters in COVID-19 protocols. Tight end Ryan Griffin was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. The Jets also claimed safety Will Parks off waivers from the Dolphins. Defensive lineman Freedom Akinmoladun was signed to practice squad.

DOCTOR-SEXUAL ASSAULT-COACH

Former gymnastics coach wins appeal

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan appeals court has overturned the conviction of a former Michigan State University gymnastics coach Kathie Klages, who was sentenced to jail for lying to investigators about former sports doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse.

Klages has maintained her innocence throughout. Klages’ attorney, Mary Chartier, says they are “thrilled” that she “has finally been vindicated.”

MLB-PAYROLLS

MLB payrolls drop 4%, back to 2015 level

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball payrolls dropped 4% in 2021 compared to the league’s last full season, and the $4.05 billion total was the lowest in a fully completed year since 2015.

Falling payrolls have sparked the labor unrest that led to the sport’s first work stoppage in more than a quarter-century this month, when the collective bargaining agreement expired and owners locked out the players Dec. 2.

MLB-ATHLETICS-KOTSAY

Yankees finalize Boone’s coaching staff for 2022

UNDATED (AP) — The New York Yankees have finalized manager Aaron Boone’s coaching staff for 2022, including new additions at hitting coach, first base coach and third base coach. Bench coach Carlos Mendoza and pitching coach Matt Blake are back for their third seasons in pinstripes, while bullpen coach Mike Harkey returns for a 13th year, the club said Tuesday. New to the staff are hitting coach Dillon Lawson, assistant hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Casey Dykes, third base/outfield coach Luis Rojas, first base/infield coach Travis Chapman and assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel.

Elsewhere around the majors:

— The Oakland Athletics have named former outfielder Mark Kotsay their new manager to replace Bob Melvin, who departed earlier this offseason to manage the San Diego Padres. Kotsay receives a three-year contract through the 2024 season. That also includes a club option for the 2025 campaign.

MLB-OBIT-KIMERA BARTEE

Former MLB OF and Tigers 1B coach Kimera Bartee dies at 49

DETROIT (AP) — Former Major League Baseball outfielder and Detroit Tigers first base coach Kimera Bartee has died. He was 49. The Tigers made the announcement on Tuesday, saying Bartee died suddenly on Monday.

Bartee was an outfielder in Detroit from 1996 to 1999 and played the next two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies. He was from Omaha, Nebraska, and played for his hometown Creighton University Bluejays.

OLY-ATHLETE SUSPENDED

South Korean Olympic champion suspended over text messages

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Two-time Olympic short-track champion Shim Suk-hee has been suspended for two months over controversial text messages between her and her coach.

The penalty announced by the Korea Skating Union could bar Shim from competing at the Beijing Olympics which begin Feb. 4.

In October, Shim was cut from the team after local media reported what it described as text messages exchanged between her and her coach that insulted two teammates and suggested she might have deliberately tripped one of them, Choi Min-jeong, during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden appears determined to return to the negotiating table with Sen. Joe Manchin. Biden says he and the West Virginia Democrat will, as Biden put it, “get something done.” The president’s remarks at the White House on Tuesday were his first since Manchin effectively tanked the party’s signature $2 trillion domestic policy initiative with his own jarring year-end announcement. Later in the evening Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also struck a determined tone, telling Senate Democrats on 90-minute video call to expect a vote in January on the package as they push toward a deal.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials say 2021 is shaping up to be even deadlier than last year. It’s too early to say for sure, since all the death reports for November and December won’t be in for many weeks. But based on available information, it seems likely 2021 will surpass last year’s record number of deaths by at least 15,000. That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year was the most lethal in U.S. history, due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic. A CDC report being released Wednesday shows 2020 was actually even worse than it previously reported, with more than 3.3 million U.S. deaths.

SCHIPHOL, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch prosecutors have demanded life sentences against four suspects in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. Prosecutors say the four recklessly used a Russian missile to bring down the passenger jet. All 298 passengers and crew were killed. Public prosecutor Manon Ridderbeks made the sentence demand Wednesday at the end of a three-day presentation of evidence. The suspects are being tried in absentia.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s top diplomat says that Russian and U.S. negotiators will sit down for talks early next year to discuss Moscow’s demand for Western guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that Russia in January will also start separate talks with NATO to discuss the issue, adding that separate negotiations under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will also be held. Last week, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back the alliance’s military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe. Washington and its allies have refused to provide such pledges, but said they are ready for the talks.

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets have followed Wall Street higher after President Joe Biden reassured investors by calling for more vaccinations but no business or travel curbs in response to the omicron coronavirus variant. Shanghai, Frankfurt, Tokyo and Hong Kong advanced. London opened lower. Wall Street rose after Biden announced the U.S. government will provide free rapid-test kits and increase vaccination efforts but gave no indication of plans for travel bans or other restrictions that might disrupt the economy. Other governments in Asia and Europe have tightened travel controls or pushed back plans to relax curbs already in place.