CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon in the Jamestown area, 20 percent in the Valley City area. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers in the Valley City area Lows in the mid 50s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Rain showers likely in the morning, then rain showers

and chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.  Chance of precipitation 90 percent.  Highs around 70.

West winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the northwest around 15 mph in

the afternoon.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely and slight

chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then chance of rain

showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s. Northwest winds

10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 60 percent in the Jamestown area, 70 percent in the Valley City area.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs in the upper 60s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.

Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in

the upper 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers. Highs in the mid 70s.

 

 

Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are forecast today across western and central North Dakota. Numerous rain showers and a few thunderstorms are expected on Saturday.

There is a slight chance for thunderstorms central on Sunday. Severe

weather is not expected.

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)  Work on the pavilion/ stage at the Hansen Arts Park in Downtown Jamestown is stepping up.

On Thursday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Arts Center Director, Cyndi Wish pointed out that artist Owen Fritts will continue sculpturing the boulder structure this summer.

She added that one of the two mosaic benches have been added to the Arts Park.

The Grand Open of the Hansen Arts Park set for August 25-26, 2017.

She added that cast members are still welcome to audition for The Big Bad Musical the summer productions with the arts camp for those in grades 2-8.

Following the auditions the rehearsal continue, with the public invited to the production with two performances on July 15 2017 at the Arts Center.

She pointed out that the Annual Arts Center Membership Luncheon is on Jun 29th, and that the incoming Arts Center Director, Larry Kopp will be on hand along with and evening reception open to the public beginning at 5:30-p.m., including the exhibit of Mark Strand, with his collection of sculptures and photographs.

Cyndi Wish ends her stay in Jamestown as the Arts Center’s Executive Director, at the end of this month, to move to the Washington, DC area to be closer to family.

Larry Kopp is from rural Pennsylvania and brings a mixed background of experiences to Jamestown and the Arts Center.

 

 

Tower City  (CSi)  A Bismarck woman was killed in a one vehicle rollover Wednesday morning about 11:30, eastbound on I-94 four miles east of Tower City.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports the 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser crossed the median, entered the westbound lanes, overturned, continuing into the north ditch.

56 year old Rogina Cusic of Bismarck was extricated from the vehicle  and airlifted to a Fargo hospital.

The interstate was closed for 30 minutes for helicopter access.

The crash remains under investigation.

Assisting at the scene were:  The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Casselton Fire Department, and the Buffalo Fire Department.

 

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  The NDDOT reminds motorists that construction continues on I-94 westbound from Valley City east to the Hill Interchange. The second phase of the project, which consists of milling, concrete, asphalt and shoulder work, will start next week.

Westbound traffic will be shifted from the north roadway to the south roadway, where there will be two-lane, two-way traffic. Beginning Friday, June 16, the Cuba Interchange will be closed to westbound traffic and motorists will need to take an alternate route.

During construction:

  • Traffic may be reduced to one lane through construction zone.
  • Speeds will be reduced to 65 mph or less in some areas.
  • Width restrictions will be in place.
  • Flaggers may be present to help direct traffic.
  • Motorists may experience delays.

Motorists are asked to use caution when traveling through the construction zone. All phases of the project are expected to be completed late this summer.

 

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  Beginning Friday July 16, 2017, the eastbound and westbound Oriska Rest Area on Interstate 94, approximately 12 miles east of Valley City, is temporarily closed for construction and will remain closed until the project is completed.

For more information about construction projects and road conditions throughout North Dakota, call 511 from any type of phone or visit the Travel Information Map on the NDDOT website at http://www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info-v2/

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Drought conditions have worsened in North Dakota over the past week despite rain showers across the state.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows all of the state being either abnormally dry or in some stage of drought. About 27 percent of the state is in severe drought, up from 13.5 percent last week.

The areas of severe drought are in central and south central North Dakota and the far northwestern corner of the state. The Red River Valley is classified as abnormally dry, along with the far southwestern corner of North Dakota.

The rest of the state is experiencing moderate drought. There are no areas in the “extreme” or “exceptional” drought categories.

The drought conditions are harming crops and also have prompted many ranchers to sell off cattle.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A judge’s ruling that might open the door for at least a temporary shutdown of the disputed Dakota Access pipeline surprised the industry that hailed the project as a “game changer” for North Dakota oil.

But North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness says shippers aren’t concerned that there will be any long-term disruption to the pipeline that began moving oil this month.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on Wednesday ruled that federal officials “largely complied” with environmental law when approving the pipeline but didn’t adequately consider some matters important to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

Boasberg will decide later whether the pipeline should be shut down while that’s remedied.

Pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners says it believes officials properly evaluated the disputed issues. It says pipeline operations continue.

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — A Crookston, Minnesota, woman has pleaded guilty to attempting to cover up a killing at a truck stop across the North Dakota border in Grand Forks in March 2016.

Forty-two-year-old Lorie Ortiz is charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Authorities say she was involved in destroying or attempting to destroy evidence, namely cellphones, in an effort to help participants in the killing.

Sentencing for Ortiz is scheduled Sept. 8.

Krystal Feist pleaded guilty earlier to shooting and killing 24-year-old Austin Forsman while Forsman sat in a vehicle outside the truck stop. Authorities say the hit was drug-related and the investigation resulted in 13 indictments in federal court.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Agriculture Department is adding an online map to its Drought Hotline program.

The hotline helps connect producers who need hay and those with hay to sell, or pasture or hay land to rent.

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the online map on the department website details locations from which calls have come.

The Drought Hotline number is 701-425-8454. It is answered weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Callers can leave a message on evenings and weekends. The service is free.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Bankers continue to expect little economic growth in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states because of weak commodity prices.

The overall economic index for the region slipped to the neutral score of 50 in June from May’s 50.1.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says grain prices remain below the breakeven point for most farmers, but commodity prices have stabilized and improved a bit.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

 

 

FESSENDEN, N.D. (AP) — The remains of a North Dakota sailor who died when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor are coming home, after more than 75 years.

The  remains of Gunners Mate 1st Class Arthur Clarence Neuenschwander are scheduled to arrive at the Fargo airport on Wednesday. A public memorial service will be held in Fessenden on June 24.

Neuenschwander was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was docked at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. Neuenschwander was 32 at the time.

His nephew says he and a few other family members gave the Navy DNA samples to help identify the remains. The family received a phone call from the U.S. Navy in February that Neuenschwander’s body had been identified.

 

 

In sports…

 

AA…

Lincoln 11, Fargo-Moorhead 9

 

 

MLB…

INTERLEAGUE

Final Cleveland 12 L.A. Dodgers 5

Final Philadelphia 1 Boston 0

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Chris Gimenez homered twice for the first time in his big league career, Eduardo Escobar sparked a five-run first inning for Minnesota with a two-run shot, and Jose Berrios and the Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 6-2 Thursday. Berrios pitched a career-best eight innings to win his third straight start. He struck out six and yielded two runs and five hits.

 

Final Chi White Sox 5 Baltimore 2

Final Detroit 5 Tampa Bay 3

Final Oakland 8 N-Y Yankees 7, 10 Innings

Final Kansas City 7 L.A. Angels 2

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Final Washington 8 N-Y Mets 3

Final Milwaukee 6 St. Louis 4

Final Colorado 10 San Francisco 9

 

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Final Indiana 85 Atlanta 74

Final L.A. Sparks 80 San Antonio 75

 

TWINS, PRINCE…

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins will be honoring Minneapolis icon Prince during a game with the Cleveland Indians. “Prince Night” is scheduled Friday night at Target Field. The first 10,000 fans at the stadium will receive limited edition “Purple Rain” umbrellas. During the seventh inning stretch, fans will be asked to open the umbrella in a moment of remembrance of the late rock star.

 

NHL…

UNDATED (AP) — Hall of Fame defenseman Phil Housley a St. Paul native,  is returning to Buffalo after being hired by the Sabres as their next head coach. Housley takes over for Dan Bylsma (BYLZ’-muh), who was fired along with general manager Tim Murray in April.

Housley has spent the past four years as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators.

 

 

GOLF…

 

ERIN, Wisc. (AP) — Rickie Fowler carries a one-stroke lead over Paul Casey and Xander Schauffele into the second round of the U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. Fowler had seven birdies and no bogeys in a 7-under 65 that ties the best opening-round in relation to par at a U.S. Open. Seventeen players shot 3 under of better, but defending champ Dustin Johnson carded a 75, Rory McIlroy fired a 78 and Jason Day had a pair of triple-bogeys in a 79.

Many golfers were stunned to see a small blimp crash near the tournament. Jamie Lovemark said he was teeing off when he looked up and saw the blimp on fire. Lovemark said he had the shakes and felt sick to his stomach.

A National Transportation Safety board official said the pilot had some burns and was in stable condition. Sheriff’s officials said the pilot was the only one on board.

 

LPGA-MEIJER CLASSIC

 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Brooke Henderson owns a one-stroke lead over six players through one round of the Meijer LPGA Classic. Henderson opened with an 8-under 63 that included an eagle and six birdies.

Major champions Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis and Shanshan Feng share second with Jennifer Ha, Giulia Molinaro and Holly Clyburn.

 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL…

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The NCAA has levied more sanctions against the Louisville men’s basketball team following an investigation into a sex scandal involving former basketball operations director, Andre McGee. The NCAA’s biggest additional sanctions so far has been to suspend head coach Rick Pitino for five ACC games and to vacate wins in which ineligible players participated. Players who are found to have participated in the sex parties will be ruled ineligible, a decision that could lead the NCAA to vacate the Cardinals’ 2013 national championship.

 

CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME…

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans and Democrats renewed their spirited, friendly rivalry on the baseball diamond at Nationals Park amid concerns over Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, who was shot on an Alexandria, Virginia, ballfield on Wednesday as the GOP practiced for the game. Democratic manager and Rep. Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania accepted the winner’s trophy following an 11-2 rout of the Republicans, then gave it to his GOP counterpart, Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, to put in Scalise’s office on behalf of the Democrats. Scalise remained listed in critical condition Thursday night after multiple surgeries

 

In world and national news..

EIRUT (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says he can’t definitively confirm the death of the Islamic State group’s leader in a Russian airstrike. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed earlier Friday that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a Russian strike in late May, adding that the information about his death was still “being verified through various channels.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration’s end-of-term wind-down of the American military commitment in Afghanistan is being reversed. Confirmation of an escalating involvement in the drawn-out conflict comes in a revelation by a Trump administration official that the Pentagon will send almost 4,000 additional U.S. forces there. Washington has been striving to break the stalemate and the deployment will be the largest of American manpower under Donald Trump’s young presidency.

LONDON (AP) — London police say the number of victims has increased to 30 in the fire that engulfed a high-rise building. Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy said Friday that 24 people are being treated in the hospital, including 12 in critical care. The number of victims is expected to grow.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is heading to Miami Friday to announce a significant change in the policy Barack Obama announced in 2014 to restore diplomatic relations with longtime foe Cuba. Trump won’t sever those ties, according to officials, but will rein in some aspects of the former president’s policy. The aim of Trump’s revised stance toward Havana is to stop the flow of American cash to the military and security services on the island.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is calling allegations of Russia-US collusion to affect the outcome of the America’s election “phony.” It’s the latest in a series of social media broadsides the chief executive has launched in recent days from his Twitter account. His tweets came amid indications of a widening investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. Trump also is complaining that the probe is unfair and asking why defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton isn’t being investigated.