CSi Weather…

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. A 20 percent chance of light

snow and sleet after midnight. Lows 15 to 20. South winds 10 to

nny. Highs around 30. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

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

.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 60 percent chance of snow.

Lows near zero.

.MONDAY…Partly sunny. A 30 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 30 percent chance of snow. Highs

5 to 10 above.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session Wednesday afternoon at City Hall, called by Mayor, Dwaine Heinrich.  All members were present.  Council Member Schloegel was not present.

The agenda item was , to consider approving the  North Dakota State and Political Subdivisions Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Understanding  (MOU) and the Settlement Agreement and authorize the Mayor to sign them.  The deadline to submit the documentation in January 2, 2022.

At the December 16, 2021 City Council, Finance & Legal Committee meeting, members considered the North Dakota State and Political Subdivisions Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Understanding with a settlement reached with a nationwide agreement with Johnson & Johnson.  Assistant City Attorney  Abby Gerioux said the total of the settlement nationwide is $3-Billion.  Each state established an entity  to receive the funds to establish a program to remediate the opiod crisis concerns, and distribute the funds.

The committee recommended approval of entering into the MOU with the ND State and Political Subdivisions, and have the mayor sign the agreement.

The vote was 4-1 with Council Member Buchanan voting opposed.  He is unclear what the burden would be on the city, and not rush to have the mayor sign the MOU.

Mayor Heinrich then called for a Special City Council meeting before he would sign the agreement, because the vote was not unanimous.

At  Thursday’s, Special Council meeting, Mayor Heinrich said he visited with the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office, he said the city is no longer asked to sign the Memorandum of Understanding.  The agreement document is with drug manufacturer Jansen (J&J).  Mayor Heinrich said if the settlement agreement is signed by the city, the settlement dollar amount for the city is unknown at this time, and would be distributed over an 18 month period.

Council Member Buchanan said he also visited with the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office, and from that information clarified, has decided to vote in favor of the mayor signing the agreement.

The City Council the voted 3-1 to approve the mayor signing the agreement, with Council Member Schloegel not present.

Mayor Heinrich said he will sign the agreement.

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

 

 

 

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. 22, 2021

10:20 -a.m.

Barnes

New Positives: 6

Total Positives: 2184

Active: 39

Recovered:  2098

Breakthrough Incidents Per 10K Fully Vaccinated Individuals: 398

 

Stutsman

New Positives: 7

Total Positives: 5094

Active: 48

Recovered: 4952

Breakthrough Incidents Per 10K Fully Vaccinated Individuals: 445

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

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans can take at home to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. The Food and Drug Administration announcement comes as the U.S. braces for a wave of new infections from the omicron variant that is threatening already-strained hospitals. Pfizer’s prescription pill is the first U.S. medication that doesn’t require an injection or an IV, a long-awaited milestone in the battle against the virus. But initial supplies will be extremely limited with just enough to treat tens of thousands of people. The drug was authorized for high-risk patients who are most likely to get severe illness.

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Stutsman County Commission has approved the appointment of Jessica Alonge to Auditor/COO

The commission approved effective January 1st, 2022. Commissioner Ramone Gumke was not present.

Previously Commissioners discussed approving Alonge from an interim position to permanent.

The commission looked at an updated job description and salary grade.  Alonge would be bumped to Grade 26, step 3.

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say seven members of an immigrant family from Honduras whose bodies were found inside a Minnesota home last weekend died of apparently accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Relatives of the family discovered the victims Saturday night in a home in south Moorhead when they went to check on them after not hearing from them. Neighbors said the children were last seen Friday. Police Chief Shannon Monroe said Wednesday that the carbon monoxide came from either the home’s furnace or a van in the garage. Family members have described their loved ones as happy people who were relieved to get away from turmoil in Honduras.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Authorities in Bismarck are investigating a fire that sent two people to the hospital. According to a Bismarck Fire Department news release, firefighters responded to the fire at a twin home on the city’s northwest side around 2:45 a.m. Wednesday. They found heavy smoke coming from the front door. All occupants from both sides of the home were already outside. Two occupants were taken to a hospital and treated for injuries. One half of the home sustained significant damage. The release offers no further details. Deputy Fire Chief Brooks Martin didn’t immediately return a message.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A Fargo pawnshop worker accused of shooting at a fleeing robber accused in a string of thefts has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless endangerment. Kyle Ramsey was working at the Mister Money pawnshop in June when the store was robbed by Hunter Havisto. Owner Daryn Kapaun has said Ramsey fired at the robber’s car to mark it for police. Cass County prosecutor Birch Burdick says the agreement calls Ramsey to serve 360 days on probation and pay $325 in court fees. If Ramsey completes probation the case will be dismissed and sealed. Investigators say the 21-year-old Havisto, got away with about $2,700 at Mister Money and a total of $4,600 from five Fargo establishments he’s accused of robbing.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A Fargo pawnshop worker accused of shooting at a robber has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless endangerment. KFGO-AM reported Tuesday that Kyle Ramsey entered the plea in an a deal with prosecutors. Cass County States Attorney Birch Burdick says the agreement calls Ramsey to serve 360 days on probation and pay $325 in court fees. If Ramsey completes probation the case will be dismissed and sealed. Ramsey was working at the Mister Money pawnshop in June when the shop was robbed. Owner Daryn Kapaun has said Ramsey fired at the robber’s car to mark it for police. Twenty-one-year-old Hunter Havisto has been charged in connection with the robbery.

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  – Gov. Doug Burgum issued the following statement regarding Wednesday’s announcement that North Dakota Soybean Processors LLC plans to construct a state-of-the-art soybean processing plant near Casselton.

 

“This soybean crushing facility is another landmark investment in North Dakota agriculture, one that will add tremendous value for our soybean growers, create quality jobs and benefit all North Dakotans through greater economic activity and tax revenue that supports essential services and critical infrastructure,” Burgum said. “Investments like this put more money in the pockets of our farmers by expanding local markets while also building connections between our ag and energy industries for further value-added activity. We’re grateful to our highly productive soybean growers, North Dakota Soybean Processors, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, North Dakota Department of Transportation, City of Casselton, Casselton Economic Development, Cass County Commission, The Harvest Group, Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC and everyone whose dedication and hard work on this project made today’s announcement possible.”

 

North Dakota Soybean Processors, a joint venture between CGB Enterprises Inc. and Minnesota Soybean Processors, said the new facility is expected to crush 42.5 million bushels of soybeans in the first year and create 50 to 60 new jobs once fully operational in 2024, subject to various approvals. Groundbreaking is slated for spring 2022.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Court officials are edging closer to dividing up pop superstar Prince’s estate. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Wednesday that November tax filings show the Internal Revenue Service and Comerica Bank & Trust, the estate administrator, have reached an agreement on the total value of Prince’s assets. The specific number hasn’t been disclosed but it could be more than $100 million. The Carver County probate court is set to begin discussions in February on how to divvy up the assets. They’ll likely be divided between New York music company Primary Wave and Prince’s three oldest heirs or their families. Prince died of a fentanyl overdose in 2016. He didn’t have a will.

In world and national news…

(AP)  Stocks rose in Wednesday afternoon trading on Wall Street and added to the week’s gains ahead of the Christmas holiday. The S&P 500 rose 0.6%, the Nasdaq rose 0.6% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%. The Russell 2000, a measure of small-company stocks, rose 0.4%. Technology companies and a mix of retailers led the gains. Major indexes are still on track for weekly gains after a rally on Tuesday. Indexes were mostly higher in Europe and Asia. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.46%. U.S. markets will be closed Friday in observance of Christmas.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell is openly recruiting Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin after his fractious split with the White House over the president’s social and environmental spending package. McConnell says Manchin “feels like a man alone” and if he were to switch parties, “he would be joining a lot of folks who have similar views on a whole range of issues.” Over recent months, Manchin has rejected questions about the prospect of leaving the Democratic Party, but that is not tamping down the courtship from Republicans. The stakes are immense as a flip by Manchin would give Republicans control of the chamber.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden, along with progressive and moderate Democrats, appears determined to return to the negotiating table with Sen. Joe Manchin. Manchin is the holdout Democrat who effectively sank the party’s signature $2 trillion domestic policy initiative. Republicans are voicing greater confidence now that they can beat back much of what they don’t like in the so-called Build Back Better package. The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, says that what he considers the “worst” of it “appears dead.” But Democrats say they will press forward. They’ve been told by their leadership to expect a vote in January.

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria has had to destroy more than 1 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine that were too close to their expiry date to be used. Faisal Shuaib, head of Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency, said health officials were left with little choice. He said Wednesday that developed countries had obtained and hoarded the doses, only giving them to Nigeria when they were nearly expired. Only 2% of Nigeria’s 206 million people are fully vaccinated. Health officials have set an ambitious goal of vaccinating more than a quarter of the population by February. While hesitancy has been high, the country’s vaccination rate has nearly doubled over the past week.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Nine days after a tornado demolished his three-story office building in downtown Mayfield, Kentucky, Sonny “Hoot” Gibson was standing in the rubble and heard a faint meow. It gave him hope that his office cat Madix was alive. Gibson had tried to find the animal after the tornado hit, but had given up after a few days. Gibson was standing in the rubble Sunday afternoon when he heard the faint noise. Gibson called over some employees who helped search. Soon after, they found the cat unscathed in a hole beneath the rubble. Gibson says he took Madix home, where he will live as a house cat.