CSi Weather…

HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON…
.REST OF TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S. WEST WINDS
5 TO 15 MPH.
.TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 15 TO 20. WEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
.SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE
AFTERNOON. VERY WINDY. HIGHS AROUND 20. TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO
THE LOWER SINGLE DIGITS IN THE AFTERNOON. NORTHWEST WINDS 25 TO
40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 55 MPH. LOWEST WIND CHILLS AROUND
25 BELOW IN THE AFTERNOON.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…INCREASING CLOUDS. MUCH COLDER. LOWS AROUND
15 BELOW. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH IN THE
EVENING.
.SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. MUCH
COLDER. HIGHS AROUND 5 BELOW. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS
AROUND 20 BELOW. HIGHS AROUND 10 BELOW.
.MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT
CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS AROUND 20 BELOW. HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND
5 BELOW. HIGHS 10 TO 15.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 10.
.THURSDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS 15 TO
20.

…HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING
THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON…JAN 19, 2013

BISMARCK…STEELE…JAMESTOWN…ELGIN…FORT YATES…LINTON…

NAPOLEON…EDGELEY…ASHLEY…OAKES
HALSTAD…MOORHEAD…BRECKENRIDGE…

COOPERSTOWN…FINLEY…MAYVILLE…VALLEY CITY…FARGO…LISBON…

GWINNER…WAHPETON

* WINDS…NORTHWEST WINDS TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH.

* IMPACTS…MOTORISTS…ESPECIALLY THOSE DRIVING HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES SHOULD DELAY TRAVEL OR EXERCISE CAUTION.

A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH…AND OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR HIGHER MAY OCCUR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

ARCTIC AIR WILL TAKE AIM AT NORTH DAKOTA BEGINNING SATURDAY AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY. BY MONDAY MORNING THE COLDEST AIR OF THE SEASON IS POSSIBLE OVER THE REGION.

 

ALSO

AFTER A MILD FRIDAY WITH HIGHS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 DEGREES…A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE STATE…ENTERING THE NORTH FRIDAY EVENING…MOVING THROUGH THE ENTIRE STATE BY SATURDAY MORNING.

VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS MAY ACCOMPANY THE MUCH COLDER AIR BEHIND THE FRONT…WITH WIND SPEEDS POTENTIALLY RANGING FROM 30 TO 50 MPH.

BLOWING SNOW IS ALSO POSSIBLE IF THE VERY STRONG WINDS MATERIALIZE. HIGH TEMPERATURES SATURDAY WILL RANGE FROM AROUND 10 ABOVE IN THE NORTH TO AROUND 20 DEGREES SOUTH….WITH GENERALLY FALLING AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES.

 

ALTHOUGH THE STRONG WINDS WILL SUBSIDE AFTER SATURDAY…EVEN

COLDER AIR WITH BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO ARRIVE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES SUNDAY AND MONDAY ARE FORECAST TO RANGE BETWEEN 10 BELOW ZERO IN THE NORTH…TO 10 ABOVE IN THE SOUTHWEST.

DANGEROUS WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES OF 45 BELOW ZERO ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY.

IN ADDITION…THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR SNOW SUNDAY WITH LIGHT

SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE.

 

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Jan 17, 2013) — The $1.3 billion CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant set for construction in 2014 at the Spiritwood Energy Park, has sparked the need for the region to prepare for an influx of traffic and workers.

The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation, Thursday, hosted the first Regional Workforce Roundtable discussion, attended by industry leaders, local and state elected officials and economic developers from the Jamestown Valley City area, and eight surrounding counties.

JSDC Business Development Coordinator DeAnn Brunner says it’s important for representatives from all around the region to be involved in the discussions.

Skilled manufacturing employees are just one category where the current workforce does not meet needs.

Great River Energy’s Dakota Spirit AgEnergy ethanol plant, Project Manager, Rich Garmen, said the planned Spiritwood Nitrogen Project by CHS and the ethanol plant, along with the Cargill malting plant, will be competing for similar workers.

United Technologies Corporation Jamestown Plant Manager Brent Harris said fill machinist position is a problem while Grotberg Electric President, Steve Welken of Valley City added not finding qualified workers extends to the building trades as well.

Carrington Mayor, Don Frye pointed out current housing shortages, noting that Carrington has one house for sale and no apartments available.

He added, that wages of the area continue to be below the national average.

The goals of the Regional Workforce Roundtable are to create a business/education/training workforce roundtable and to recruit/relocate skilled workers/engineers.

The overall objectives of these two goals are to develop a long-term workforce development strategic plan for the Jamestown/Stutsman County and Valley City/Barnes County area.

The Roundtable involves Jamestown/Stutsman County and Valley City/Barnes County industry leaders and human resource managers, job training officials, economic developers, and local and state elected officials.

　

REGIONAL WORKFORCE ROUNDTABLE JANUARY 2013

GOAL#1: CREATE A BUSINESS/EDUCATION/TRAINING WORKFORCE ROUNDTABLE

GOAL #2: RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION OF SKILLED WORKERS/ENGINEERS

OBJECTIVE: The overall objective of these two goals is to develop a long-term workforce development strategic plan for the Jamestown/Stutsman County and Valley City/Barnes County area. This will involve Jamestown/Stutsman County and Valley City/Barnes County industry leaders and human resource managers; job training officials; economic developers; and local and state elected officials. Specific objectives include:

Participation from local companies, educators, training providers

Key leadership comes from industry leaders and college/university Presidents, school superintendents

Understand local skills & filling skill voids

Design cooperative recruiting/relocation activities, training efforts, and generally prepare young people for “world of work.”

Prepare a good labor environment for the future

Identify and assess local capabilities vs. tech needs

STRATEGY # 1: Hold three (3) workshop/focus group sessions with the new Roundtable members

Session 1: to review strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations from Foote Consultant Group plan and add any new issues (Labor availability & quality attached)

Session 2: begin development of goals, objectives, and timelines

Session 3: review draft strategic plan and make final modifications

Prepare the Roundtable Final Plan

Assist with up to four Roundtable meetings following plan preparation

　

STRATEGY # 2: Establish a relocation task force

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the most critical issues pertaining to relocating management and skilled personnel to the area, including incentives. Membership will include large employers. Discussion will involve the possibility of using a professional relocation company.

Potential Outcomes

Cerrtified Work Ready Community Program

Enhance and improve funding on TrainND

 100% STEM internships from local universities and colleges in industry

 University and college faculty industry externships

Recruitment of skilled workers/engineers from outside states

 Forrmation of a relocation program for workers and their families  

　

Valley City, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Jan 17, 2013) — The Valley City auditorium has been appraised by a commercial property appraiser at $180,000.

A party previously indicated interest in buying the building from the city, constructed in 1936.

Valley City Mayor, Robert Werkhoven says indications of a pending sale that was a possibility is now on hold.

City Assessor Sandra Hansen says there have been improvements to the building, over the years.

　

Bismarck, ND (KCSi- T.V News) — North Dakota’s commercial airports finished 2012 with a record high of 1,028,718 passenger boardings.

Topping the list was Fargo with 364,727 passengers, and Minot with a 49% growth.

 

Aeronautics Commission Director Larry Taborsky, says, “The demand for airline travel has been strong across the state this year. In 2012 we broke record after record, said. The state, federal and local partners did an amazing job with the available resources.”

 

The December 2012 Jamestown boardings were 300 compared to 765 in December of 2011.

Jamestown Regional Airport Manager, Matt Leitner says, although the comparative numbers are lower, Jamestown boardings continue to show improvement.

The 300 Jamestown boardings were a 20 percent increase over boardings in November of 2012.

He said that 300 figure, is comparable to average Jamestown boardings in 2010.

Leitner says the last three months of 2012, saw the numbers increasing from earlier in the year, since Great Lake Airlines took over Jamestown air service from Delta.

He pointed out that local officials are still working with Great Lakes Airlines to restart the Sky Miles program, previously with Delta Airlines.

 

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — The Jamestown Zonta Club is ready to celebrate All Things Chili with CHILLY-FEST 2013 during Cabin Fever Days on Saturday, February 9, 2013, from 5-7 pm at the Knights of Columbus.

The event is a chili cook-off, an all-you-can-eat chili potato buffet- a cash bar with music, prizes and surprises, all for $5 per person.

Proceeds go to Zonta’s worthy causes including Safe Shelter, GED, CNA and collegiate scholarships, the Sexual Abuse Response Team services, the upkeep for Zonta Park, and Women’s Way.

Support the Zonta Club by attending, entering the chili contest, or just by donating. Contact Lori Listopad at lori.listopad@gmail.com to find out more.

Added this year is POPULAR CHOICE CONTEST

There will be two winners with the winners of the chili cook-off walking away with not only bragging rights, but a $100 cash prize

 

  UNDERWOOD, N.D. (AP) – An Underwood man is accused of sexually abusing several young women over more than 25 years.
 
87-year-old Carl Loose Jr. was charged Wednesday with two counts of felony gross sexual imposition, two counts of felony gross sexual imposition and one count of felony attempted gross sexual imposition. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
 
     According to court documents, Loose is accused of inappropriately touching an intoxicated woman in 2012, a 5-year-old girl in 1988, and an 8-year-old girl in 1987 to 1989.
 
     He also is accused of attempting to lure a 12-year-old girl into his home on Sept. 28.

 

 FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A Fargo man accused of robbing a local bank at gunpoint shortly before Christmas has been arraigned in federal court.
 
54-year-old Timothy Patrick McKenna is set for a detention hearing Friday.
 
     Court documents state that McKenna entered a Gate City Bank on Dec. 17, indicated he had a gun and demanded cash. He reportedly made off with nearly $9,000.
 
     McKenna was originally charged in Cass County District Court with robbery, a felony.
 
     But that case has been closed following McKenna’s initial appearance and arraignment in U.S. District Court in Fargo on bank robbery charges this week.

 

 MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A judge won’t move the trial for a North Dakota construction worker accused of killing his daughters out of Wisconsin’s St. Croix County.
 
     Aaron Schaffhausen’s public defender, John Kucinski, had asked Judge Howard Cameron for a change of venue. Cameron denied the request on Thursday. The judge said he believed a fair and impartial jury could be drawn from within the county.
 
     Schaffhausen faces three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of attempted arson in connection with the deaths of his daughters, 11-year-old Amara, 8-year-old Sophie and 5-year-old Cecilia. Police in July discovered all three girls tucked into their beds in their River Falls, Wisconsin home with their throats slit.
 
     Schaffhausen has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. His trial is set for April.

 

 OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new survey of rural bankers suggests that growth in farmland prices, cash rents and farm equipment sales remain strong. Those positive signs come despite the continuing threat of drought in some Midwestern and northern Plains states.
 
     A report on the Rural Mainstreet Index released Thursday says the index hit 55.6 in January, down from 60.6 in December. It is the index’s fourth straight month above growth neutral.
 
     Creighton University economist Ernie Goss in Omaha, Nebraska says the region’s rural economy is still expanding at a moderate pace and that farm communities “appear to have shed the negative impacts of the 2012 drought.”
 
     The index ranges from 0 to 100, with 50 representing growth neutral. It’s based on a survey of rural bankers in the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Minnesota.
 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Bipartisan legislation has been introduced that would direct 80 percent of the revenues from North Dakota’s oil production tax back to the counties where the oil was produced.
 
     House Democratic minority leader Kenton Onstad of Parshall calls the bill a “catch up and plan initiative.”  He says the $2.4 billion earmark from the oil production tax over the next two years would allow North Dakota’s 17 oil-producing counties to catch up on infrastructure improvements that are needed due to record oil production.
 
     Governor Jack Dalrymple (DAHL’-rimp-ul)’s budget proposes $532 million be allocated to oil-producing counties over the next two years.
 
     Onstad says funding for oil-producing counties in recent years hasn’t come close to meeting the needs for such things as road building and repair, utilities, housing and schools.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Commissioners in North Dakota’s capital city have resurrected talk of expanding the Bismarck Civic Center, but with a project that would cost about one-third of the $90 million plan rejected by voters last November. Mayor John Warford says the South Dakota cities of Sioux Falls and Rapid City are improving their convention facilities, making more competition for Bismarck.

In sports..

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota State University assistant football coach Tim Polasek has been hired to coach tight ends and fullbacks at Northern Illinois.

The Huskies are an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision school that finished 22nd in this year’s final Top 25 poll. Polasek helped coach NDSU to back-to-back Football Championship Subdivision titles.

Two former NDSU coaches also have been in the news this week. Gus Bradley, who spent 10 seasons as an assistant with the Bison, was named the new head coach of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Former NDSU head coach Bob Babich was let go as an assistant with the Chicago Bears.

 

 DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) – Organizers expect about 850 participants for the state dart tournament in Dickinson this weekend.
 
     The three-day North Dakota Tournament Association State Singles, Doubles and Triples Tournament runs through Sunday at the Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge and Conference Center.
 
     Organizers say the tournament will generate more than half a million dollars for the area economy.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL
     Carrington 75, Midkota 44
     Divide County 55, Burke County 21
     Drayton/Valley-Edinburg 52, Lakota/Adams-Edmore 42
     Enderlin 65, Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page 38
     Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran 85, Kindred 45
     Grand Forks Red River 74, Grand Forks Central 71
     Grenora/Westby 55, Trenton 54
     Griggs County Central 30, Pingree/Buchanan-Kensal 20
     LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 86, Barnes County North 45
     Maple Valley 52, Northern Cass 50
     Parshall 59, Stanley 48
     Rugby JV 69, Sawyer 38
     Sargent Central 65, Oakes 57
     Turtle Lake-Mercer 72, Washburn 53
     Westhope-Newburg 70, Bottineau 62
 GIRLS BASKETBALL
     Beach 54, Bowman County 43
     Bismarck Century 55, Minot 27
     Des Lacs-Burlington 53, Glenburn 52
     Dickinson Trinity 55, Hazen 42
     Divide County 35, Burke County 25
     Drayton/Valley-Edinburg 42, Fordville Lankin-Park River 40
     Ellendale 44, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier 35
     Flasher 70, Solen 40
     Grafton 53, Larimore 41
     Grand Forks Red River 56, Grand Forks Central 41
     Grenora/Westby 47, Trenton 32
     Hillsboro/Central Valley 80, Dakota Prairie 26
     Kenmare 43, Lewis and Clark-Berthold 36
     Kidder County 57, Strasburg-Zeeland 52
     Killdeer 41, Beulah 31
     Lakota/Adams-Edmore 59, New Rockford-Sheyenne 23
     Lisbon 46, Fairmount-Campbell-Tintah 39
     Milnor 62, Lidgerwood-Wyndmere 37
     Minot Bishop Ryan 100, Surrey 22
     Minot Our Redeemer’s 57, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 50
     Mott-Regent 44, Heart River 40
     Napoleon 68, Central Prairie 38
     New Salem 64, Wilton-Wing 56
     New Town 93, Standing Rock 39
     North Border 55, Cavalier 49
     North Star 71, Benson County 65
     Oakes 61, Hankinson 47
     Ray 67, Powers Lake 30
     Richardton-Taylor 40, Glen Ullin-Hebron 29
     Rolette-Wolford 66, Drake/Anamoose 40
     Rolla 66, Langdon 29
     Shiloh Christian 57, Grant County 50
     St. John 67, Starkweather-Munich 61
     Stanley 63, Trinity Christian 53
     Thompson 64, Hatton-Northwood 26
     Towner-Granville-Upham 46, Bottineau 42
     Velva 70, Dunseith 31
     Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, Minn. 59, Midway-Minto 24
     Watford City 75, North Shore 44

 

  MEN’ COLLEGE BASKETBALL…

  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – TrayVonn Wright had 16 points including four 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds to lead North Dakota State over IUPUI 78-40 last night. North Dakota State out-rebounded the Jaguars 35-22 and had 22 assists in Indianapolis, Indiana.

  North Dakota 65, E. Washington 47

 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 21 points and Trey Burke added 18 last night as No. 5 Michigan topped No. 9 Minnesota 83-75. Nik Stauskas added 11 points for the Wolverines, who had the lead for the final 33 minutes of the game. Austin Hollins led the Gophers with 21 points and Trevor Mbakwe had a double-double.
 
   Final          (  3)  Duke                      73              Georgia  Tech          57
   Final          (  8)  Gonzaga                71              Portland                  49
   Final          (10)  Florida                68              Texas  A&M                47
   Final          (21)  Oregon                  76              Southern  Cal          74
   Final  OT    (22)  VCU                        92              Saint  Joseph’s      86
   Final                    Northwestern      68    (23)  Illinois                  54
   Final          (24)  UCLA                      74              Oregon  St.              64
 
 
       NATIONAL  BASKETBALL  ASSOCIATION

 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Jamal Crawford and Blake Griffin combined to score 42 points last night in the Los Angeles Clippers’ 90-77 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lamar Odom pulled down 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who played without Chris Paul for a third straight game. Luke Ridnour scored 21 points and Ricky Rubio had four points in his first start of the season for the Wolves.

  Final    Miami                    99    L-A  Lakers      90
     Final    New  York            102    Detroit            87
    Final    Milwaukee            98    Phoenix            94
  
 

COLLEGE HOCKEY…
     GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – Both the University of North Dakota and Minnesota hockey teams are on hot streaks coming into this weekend’s series in Minneapolis.
 
     UND has just one loss in its last nine games. The Gophers have lost just once in their last 15 games and are the top-ranked team in the nation.
 
     The Friday and Saturday games are significant for another reason. It is the last time the two schools will play as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, barring a playoff matchup. It also will be the last time they will play in the regular season for at least a few years. UND next season is moving to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and Minnesota is going to the Big Ten. There are no future games scheduled between the teams.

 

 NBA-ALL-STAR STARTERS…
 

 
     NEW YORK (AP) – The NBA has announced the starters for next month’s All-Star game, and they include four Los Angeles players.
 
     Lakers teammates Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard and joined on the West squad by Chris Paul and Blake Griffin of the Clippers and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant. It’s the 15th time Bryant has been voted into the starting lineup, an NBA record.
 
     The East starters will be Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo (RAH’-zhahn RAHN’-doh) from the Celtics, Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane (dwayn) Wade, and Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.
 
     Bryant finished with a league-leading 1,591,437 votes, edging James by about 7,800.

 

CYCLING ARMSTRONG…

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) – Former International Cycling Union President Hein Verbruggen says allegations he helped cover up Lance Armstrong’s doping were shown as “conspiracy theories” by the rider’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
 
     Verbruggen said in a statement Friday he is “pleased that after years of accusations being made against me, the conspiracy theories have been shown to be nothing more than that.”
 
     The Dutch official, who led the UCI from 1991-2005, has “no doubt that the peddlers of such accusations and conspiracies will be disappointed by this outcome.”
 
     Armstrong told Winfrey that former teammates’ testimony about the UCI making a positive test at the 2001 Tour of Switzerland “go away” was untrue.
 
     Armstrong said money he gave the UCI was “not in exchange for help.”
 
     Verbruggen says he’s “not surprised that Lance Armstrong confirmed this.”
 

 NFL…

 
     UNDATED (AP) – The Jacksonville Jaguars have hired Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley as head coach.
 
     The 46-year-old is part of Jacksonville’s rebuilding project directed by recently installed general manager David Caldwell.
 
     Bradley spent the last four seasons in Seattle, where his defense improved each of the last three years and finished in the top 10 in points and yards the last two.
 
     The Philadelphia Eagles introduced new head coach Chip Kelly at a news conference today. The Chicago Bears did the same with Marc Trestman, who was named their head coach.
 
     A pair of former NFL head coaches has accepted jobs as offensive coordinators. Norv Turner takes over Cleveland’s offense after six years as head coach of the Chargers. The San Diego Chargers hired former Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt (WIZ’-ehn-hunt) to handle their play-calling.
 
     Both Turner and Whisenhunt were fired the day after the regular season ended.

 

TENNIS-AUSTRALIAN OPEN
 
 
     MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Agnieszka Radwanska (ag-NAYS’-kah rah-WAHN’-skah) has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open.
 
     The No. 4 seed posted a 6-3, 6-1 win over Heather Watson, Radwanska’s 12th consecutive match victory.
 
     Fifth seed Angelique Kerber also won in straight sets, defeating American teenager Madison Keys 6-2, 7-5.
 
     Other third-round winners on the women’s side include sixth seed Li Na (lee nah) and No. 13 Ana Ivanovic (ee-VAH’-noh-vihch).
 
     Men’s top seed Novak Djokovic (JOH’-koh-vihch) won his 17th straight match at the Australian Open with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 decision over Radek Stepanek (steh-PAH’-nehk) in the third round. The two-time defending champ remains on course to become the first man in the Open era to win three straight Grand Slams at Melbourne.
 
     The late session has women’s second seed Maria Sharapova against No. 25 Venus Williams, and men’s fourth seed David Ferrer versus Marcos Baghdatis (bag-DAT’-his).
 
     GOLF… 
  
     La Quinta, Calif. (AP) – There’s a three-way tie for the lead through 18 holes of the Humana Challenge in California. Roberto Castro, Jason Kokrak and James Hahn each shot 9-under 63s to move one stroke ahead of Aaron Baddeley (BAD’-eh-lee) and three others.
 
     Phil Mickelson opened his season with an erratic even-par 72 that puts him nine shots back.
 
     Russell Henley fired a 64, four days after winning the Sony Open in his first start as a PGA Tour member.
 

MLB…

 PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is selling the blood-stained sock he wore during the 2004 World Series after the collapse of his Providence-based video game company.
 
     The sock, which had been on loan to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, is expected to bring in at least $100,000 at an auction next month.

 

In world and national news…

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) – Algeria’s news service says another push in the deadly Algerian military raid to free hostages has killed a total of 18 militants and secured the living quarters of a remote natural gas complex. Hostages from at least 10 countries were taken when militants attacked the plant. Dozens of energy workers remain unaccounted for.
 
     LONDON (AP) – Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Islamic militants who attacked an Algerian natural gas plant should be on notice that they’ll find no sanctuary in Algeria or the rest of North Africa. Speaking at Kings College in London, Panetta says the U.S. is working with the British and Algerian governments to assess what’s happening on the ground. The militants are said to be holding hostages from at least 10 countries.
 
     TOKYO (AP) – A Japanese investigator says there are indications a battery was operating at a voltage above its design limit in a Boeing 787 at the center of a worldwide grounding of the aircraft. U.S. officials joined Japan’s probe into the incident today. The 787 is Boeing’s newest jet and the company is counting heavily on its success.
 
     CHICAGO (AP) – Right from the start and more than two dozen times during the first of a two-part interview with Oprah Winfrey on her OWN network, disgraced former cycling champion Lance Armstrong admitted what he had repeatedly denied for years — doping to get to the top of the sport. He dodged few questions and refused to implicate anyone else.
 
     WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama’s political organization is being retooled to see if it can effectively mobilize support behind the president’s second-term agenda. It’s being turned into a nonprofit group funded in part by corporate money.