CSi Weather…

 

.REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Not as cold. Highs in the mid 20s. Southwest

winds 10 to 15 mph. Lowest wind chills around 25 below in the

morning.

.TONIGHT…Clear. Not as cold. Lows 15 to 20. Southwest winds

10 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows 15 to 20. Southwest winds 5 to

10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s. West winds around

10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 20s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20.

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

afternoon. Highs around 30.

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

Lows 15 to 20.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Highs

in the lower 20s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in

the evening. Lows zero to 5 above.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs 10 to 15.

 

Quiet weather through the remainder of the week with no precipitation

through the day Sunday.

Mild conditions are expected Friday through Sunday with Saturday being the warmest day of the long term period with temperatures in the mid to upper 40s south and west of the Missouri River.

Colder temperatures and precipitation chances to western and

central North Dakota Monday through Wednesday.

 

Jamestown   (CSi) The Republican Executive Committee has appointed Mitchell Ostlie to serve the remainder of the Jamestown State Representative  Jim Grueneich’s term in the North Dakota House of Representatives.

Grueneich resigned from the Legislature effective February 11 this year. Previously announcing  that he was relocating with his family outside of District 12.

The House and Senate seats for District 12 will be on the ballot in the upcoming elections.

Ostlie would serve through the end of the year if he’s  not elected in November.

Jamestown  (CSi)  — Bjorn Ringdahl, owner of Jamestown Area Ambulance, announced that the building located at 502 1st Avenue South in Jamestown has been put on the real estate market.

Although the iconic building in Jamestown has served the ambulance service well for the past 14 years, Ringdahl states, “we feel a new location(s) will allow us to serve the community more effectively and efficiently for years to come”.  The current building recently completed a total renovation and is “a turnkey facility for a business looking to be in the heart of downtown Jamestown”, says Ringdahl.  Our hope is to sell or lease the current facility and relocate to an area(s) of the city that will provide rapid access to main thoroughfares.

Jamestown Area Ambulance provides 24/7 Advanced Life Support to Jamestown, Stutsman County, and surrounding communities.  JAA is part of a larger EMS system that provides emergency services in Lisbon and Casselton, ND as well as Fergus Falls and Pelican Rapids, MN.

Jamestown  (Chamber)  Members of the chamber Young Professionals of Jamestown and the Chamber Ambassadors recently presented the Business of the Month Award to Lloyds Toyota for their outstanding customer service and continued commitment to the community.

The nomination stated, “They took it (customer’s vehicle) in that day and got it fixed and had it ready for us by the time I got off of work. We are so thankful to have a local maintenance garage that cares as much as they do and to go the extra mile for their customers! They are definitely one of a kind when it comes to customer service! Thank you for all you do for me and others alike. It doesn’t go unnoticed!”

The Young Professionals of Jamestown honor businesses that provide superior customer service, exhibit community spirit and provide a positive economic impact to the community.  This award provides recognition throughout the month with a plaque and a recognition banner for the month. Monthly award winners will be considered for the Business of the Year to be awarded at the Chamber’s Annual Banquet in January of 2021.  Business of the Month award nomination forms are available at the Chamber office and online at www.jamestownchamber.com .  Call 701-252-4830 for more information.

 

Jamestown  (JRMC)   —   JRMC President & CEO Mike Delfs has announced that for the seventh year in a row, Jamestown Regional Medical Center is a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the country.

 

iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Center for Rural Health named JRMC one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the country every year since 2014. iVantage Health Analytics’ Hospital Strength INDEX® uses publicly available quality data to determine the results of the annual award. The INDEX assesses performance across eight pillars of performance that span market-, value- and finance-based categories. Hospitals recognized as a Top 100 facility had one of the 100 highest overall scores among all Critical Access Hospitals nationally.

 

Delf says, It’s also a validation of the work we do. JRMC received this award and many others because the board and employees exceed expectations and are THE difference in the lives of those we serve.”

 

In addition to receiving the iVantage Top 100 award, Modern Healthcare named JRMC a Best Place to Work in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Prairie Business Magazine also named JRMC a Best Place to Work in 2018 and 2019.

 

National Leader of the Chartis Center for Rural Health, Michael Topchik says, “The Top 100 Critical Access Hospital award program reminds us that rural providers haven’t lost touch with their mission and are committed to delivering better quality, better outcomes and better patient satisfaction.”

 

Across the United States, more than 1,300 hospitals qualify as a Critical Access Hospital (CHA), a designation Congress created in 1997 to improve healthcare access in rural areas. JRMC has maintained its critical access designation since 2009. Of the 100 hospitals that received the award this year, only JRMC and 18 others have received it for seven years or more, said Billy Balfour of The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

 

Delfs adds, JRMC works to exceed industry standards, and one example of that is exceptional patient care.

“Not every rural hospital can offer specialty care like urology, orthopedics, podiatry, ear, nose & throat advanced wound care, and now cancer care, however, we do. We are committed to continuing to offer legendary care to this community.”

 

About Jamestown Regional Medical Center

Jamestown Regional Medical Center is located at 2422 20th St. SW, Jamestown, N.D. and serves approximately 55,000 people in nine counties. For several years in a row, it was named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” as well as a “Best Places to Work in Healthcare.”  For more information, visit www.jrmcnd.com or call (701) 952-1050.

 

MINOT, ND — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced Wednesday  that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $4,678,890 to North Dakota airports.

For the Barnes County Airport, this $150,000 grant goes toward the project that performs pavement sealing to 360 feet of the existing Taxiway A to extend the pavement’s useful life.

There will also be pavement sealing to 600 square yards of the existing general aviation apron to extend the pavement’s useful life.

In addition, the  project performs pavement sealing to 600 feet of the existing hangar taxilane to extend the pavement’s useful life.

The FAA grants are as follows:

  • $2,066,154 to Minot International Airport
  • $661,500 to Rolla Municipal Airport
  • $455,000 to Tioga Municipal Airport
  • $454,488 to Ellendale Municipal Airport
  • $386,948 to Grand Forks International Airport
  • $342,000 to Washburn Municipal Airport
  • $150,000 to Barnes County Municipal Airport
  • $82,800 to Oakes Municipal Airport
  • $80,000 to Crosby Municipal Airport

BISMARCK, N.D. CSi)   An estimated 68,000 North Dakotans regularly provide unpaid care and support to loved ones with disabilities and special needs who range in age from the very young to the very old. A coalition of stakeholders dedicated to supporting these unpaid caregivers is meeting Thursday, Feb. 27, 9 a.m. to noon Central Time at the Legacy Center in Jamestown.

The North Dakota Lifespan Respite Care Coalition will discuss outreach and public relations opportunities and progress connecting unpaid family caregivers to resources and support through North Dakota’s Lifespan Respite Care grant.

Representatives from the North Dakota Department of Human Services will give a progress report on the federal grant utilization and the amount of funding that remains available to pay for in-home care and supervision so caregivers can have a short break. The $200,000, three-year federal grant is helping North Dakota to raise awareness about the needs of family members and friends who are unpaid caregivers, and to connect caregivers to support services, including respite care.

Program Administrator with the department’s Aging Services Division, Mary Weltz says,  “Planned, unplanned and emergency situations happen where a caregiver needs someone else to step in short-term and continue caring for their loved one. This grant can help with those situations,”

The agenda for the public meeting is online at www.nd.gov/dhs/info/publicnotice/2020/2-27-lifespan-respite-grant-stakeholder-meeting-notice.pdf.

North Dakotans looking for services that can help individuals with disabilities maintain or improve their quality of life can explore options by contacting the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Link toll-free at 1-855-462-5465 or 711 (TTY), by email at CareChoice@nd.gov, or by searching resources online at https://carechoice.nd.assistguide.net.

AARP, which supports community-based services, is a partner with the department and facilitates the Lifespan Respite Grant stakeholder coalition.

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodation to participate in the meeting can contact Mary Weltz, North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Aging Services Division, at

701-328-4643, toll-free 855-462-5465, 711 (TTY) or mweltz@nd.gov.

Fargo  (The Village)   When the stresses of farming seem too great, don’t go it alone.
Caring, confidential counseling sessions through the Village, Agricultural Workforce Assistance (AWA) Program are available to farmers and ranchers, and their household members at Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s service area.

It includes, Stutsman, Foster, LaMoure, Logan, Barnes, Eddy Griggs, Kidder, and Wells Counties.

Services include up to three free sessions of counseling support and referral assistance if needed.

Call 1-800-627-8220, and ask for web-based counseling with The Village (AWA).

The Village staff will walk you through how to access the web-based service.

On line www.TheVillageFamily.org

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AP) — Defense Secretary Mark Esper used his first-ever visit to a nuclear missile field in frigid North Dakota to tout the Trump administration’s multibillion-dollar plan for a top-to-bottom modernization of the nuclear force. The administration is asking Congress for $46 billion in nuclear weapons spending for 2021. Esper also called on China to join the United States and Russia in negotiating a new nuclear arms control agreement. At Minot Air Force Base, Esper got an up-close look at two of the three main pillars of the U.S. nuclear arsenal — Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missiles and B-52 long-range bombers.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators have unanimously approved expanded capacity for the Dakota Access pipeline. The Public Service Commission’s vote Wednesday came after it signaled last month that it was likely to give the OK for a permit for a pumping station to allow Energy Transfer to double the capacity of the pipeline. Energy Transfer says it’s needed to meet growing demand for oil shipments from North Dakota. Opponents say the expansion would increase the possibility of an oil spill. They argue the commission should have considered effects all along the line and not solely at the pump station location. Permits for pumping stations in Iowa and Illinois are still pending.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota transportation officials say the final number is in on traffic fatalities last year. The state Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol say a total of 100 people were killed on North Dakota roadways in 2019. That’s a decrease of five fatalities compared to 2018. Officials say it’s the lowest number of fatalities in 15 years. DOT Director Bill Panos says traffic deaths have been on a downward trend since 2012.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A power cooperative based in Bismarck plans to buy solar generation on a large scale for the first time. Basin Electric Power Cooperative announced a power purchase agreement with Geronimo Energy, which is the developer of the Wild Spring Solar Project. The farm with a capacity of 128 megawatts would be the largest in South Dakota once built. It still needs local and state approval. The solar farm east of Rapid City in Pennington County is scheduled to begin operating in 2022. The Bismarck Tribune says Geronimo is the same company proposing the 200-megawatt Harmony solar farm in Cass County.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says a Texas company and its subsidiaries will pay a $2.4 million penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act for a crude oil transloading facility the companies formerly owned and operated on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The EPA says the penalties are against US Development Group, LLC, and two subsidiaries. The agency says the companies constructed and operated the Van Hook Crude Terminal before receiving the necessary permit, a violation of the Clean Air Act. US Development Group later sold the terminal to another company.

 

In sports…

Jamestown   (CSi)  The Jamestown Civic Center, hosts  the  Region-3,  2020 Girl’s Class B State  Basketball Tournament, February 24, 25, & 27, with eight teams participating.

Monday February 24

Game 1, 3-p.m. LaMoure-Litchville/Marion vs. Strausburg/Zeeland

Game 2, 20 minutes after first game, Medina-Pingree/Buchanan vs. Oakes

Game 3, 20 minutes after second game, Kidder County vs. Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier

Game 4, 20 minutes after game 3, Carrington vs. Linton/HMB

 

Tuesday February 25

Game 5, 6-p.m.

Game 6, 20 minutes after game 5

 

Thursday February 27

Game 7 for 3rd place 6-p.m.

Game 8 Championship , 20 minutes after game 7

Admission:

Adults, $8

Students, $5.25

 

Class A High School Basketball Polls

Boys

  1. Fargo Davies (19) 18-1, 99, [1]
  2. West Fargo Sheyenne 17-1, 73, [2]
  3. Jamestown (1) 16-2, 67, [3]
  4. Bismarck High 15-4, 41, [4]
  5. Minot 12-6, 17, [5]

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Grand Forks Red River (13-6)

Girls

  1. Devils Lake (20) 19-0, 100, [1]
  2. Bismarck Legacy 19-1, 80, [3]
  3. Bismarck Century 17-2, 59, [2]
  4. Fargo Shanley 14-4, 41, [4]
  5. Fargo Davies 13-6, 16, [5]

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Grand Forks Red River (13-6), Mandan (13-6)

Wednesday

UJ Men’s Basketball

SIOUX CITY, Iowa  (uj.edu)  — Briar Cliff University outscored the University of Jamestown 61-47 in the second half, overcoming a six-point halftime deficit in defeating the Jimmies 91-83 Wednesday night at Newman Flanagan Center.

Terrell Alfred (SR/Orlando, FL)’s back-to-back three-pointers highlighted a 7-1 run that saw Jamestown take at 36-30 lead into the halftime break.

UJ maintained the lead throughout the first half with the exception of four ties and a 19-second span where Briar Cliff led by one.

The Chargers retook the lead at 48-47 only to have Alfred knock down a bucket to put Jamestown back in front.

The Jimmies got even at 61-61 with 10:20 to play, but a 7-0 Briar Cliff run turned the momentum in favor of the home team, and UJ would get no closer than four the rest of the way.

Jack Talley (JR/Sioux Falls, SD) led Jamestown (18-11 overall, 9-10 Great Plains Athletic Conference) with 31 points, one off of his career high, and also made seven three-point attempts. Alfred finished with 17 points and Mason Walters (FR/Jamestown, ND) came off the bench to add a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Brady Birch (JR/Melrose, MN) had 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Jaden Kleinhesselink and Jackson Lamb both had 26 for Briar Cliff (15-14, 6-13 GPAC).

UJ finishes the regular season Saturday at home against Concordia (Neb.) University. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

Women

SIOUX CITY, Iowa    (uj.edu)— Alyssa Carley’s 25-foot buzzer beater capped off a 17-4 run to end the fourth quarter, and Briar Cliff University took a 77-70 overtime victory over the University of Jamestown women’s basketball team Wednesday night at the Newman Flanagan Center.

Jamestown led 60-47 with 7:21 in regulation following a bucket by Courtney Mosloski (SR/Fairmont, MN). UJ scored just four points the remainder of the quarter while the Chargers heated up from the outside.

Carley made three of her five three-pointers and made a pair of free throws during the run to pace the Chargers.

In overtime, Briar Cliff twice led by five points, and the Jimmies were able to cut the lead to two following Kia Tower (FR/Bigfork, MN)’s three-pointer with 1:40 to play. That would be UJ’s final points of the night as the Chargers closed out the game at the free throw line.

Jamestown fell behind 19-9 after the first quarter but rallied in the second behind 7-of-12 shooting to take a 30-29 halftime lead.

After Briar Cliff tied the game at 36 near the midpoint of the third quarter, the Jimmies went on a 9-0 run and ended the quarter leading by five.

Olivia Anderson (SR/Edgeley, ND) led Jamestown (16-13 overall, 9-12 Great Plains Athletic Conference) with 13 points. Hannah DeMars (FR/Grand Rapids, MN) was also in double figures with 10. Mosloski and Mackensi Higlin (JR/Mandan, ND) came off the bench to add nine points each. Higlin’s nine rebounds were a team high, as were DeMars’ four assists and three steals.

Carley led Briar Cliff (10-19, 7-14 GPAC) with 25. Madelyn Deitchler added 16 points and nine rebounds while Payton Slaughter chipped in with 13.

The Jimmies close out the regular season at home Saturday against Concordia (Neb.) University at 2 p.m. UJ has secured the seventh seed in the GPAC and will play at second-seeded Hastings (Neb.) College on Wednesday, February 26.

MEN’S T25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Seton Hall beats Butler

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Sandro Mamukelashvili hit an off-balance shot in the lane at the buzzer to give No. 16 Seton Hall a stunning 74-72 victory over No. 21 Butler. The game-winning shot came on an inbounds play after the officials reviewed a missed shot by Quincy McKnight and added two tenths of a second, putting 0.6 on the clock. McKnight inbounded the ball and Mamukelashvili caught it and tossed it at the basket. It hit the rim and rolled in, breaking a two-game losing streak for the Pirates (19-7, 11-3 Big East). Butler (19-7, 7-7) made three 3-pointers in the final 64 seconds to wipe out a five-point deficit. Sean McDermott hit the last two, tying the game at 72 with 8.8 seconds left.

McKnight led the Pirates with 18 points and Myles Powell had 16. Mamukelashvili and Romaro Gill added 15 points apiece.

Kamar Baldwin had 20 to lead the Bulldogs, while Bryce Golden added 17 points before fouling out with 2:19 to play.

In other T25 hoop news:

— Markell Johnson scored a career-high 28 points to help North Carolina State to beat sixth-ranked Duke 88-66 on Wednesday night. Devon Daniels added a career-high 25 points for the Wolfpack, who led by 15 at halftime and by as many as 27 late in a surprisingly lopsided win against the ACC-leading Blue Devils. Vernon Carey Jr. had 27 points to lead Duke. The Blue Devils shot 38% but struggled at the line and from behind the arc. Duke made 4 of 17 3-pointers and 10 of 22 foul shots. N.C. State shot 45%.

— Jordan Nwora scored 17 points, Dwayne Sutton added 16 and No. 11 Louisville routed Syracuse 90-66 to end a two-game losing streak. The Cardinals never trailed the Orange after losses at Georgia Tech and Clemson dropped them from the conference lead. They stretched a 41-34 halftime lead to double digits early in the second half before an 18-2 run made it 69-44. Nwora shot just 5 of 18 from the field and 2 of 7 from beyond the arc but regrouped from scoring just seven points the past two games. Buddy Boeheim had 15 points and Quincy Guerrrier for Syracuse.

— Saddiq Bey and Collin Gillespie each made five of Villanova’s 18 3-pointers, and the 12th-ranked Wildcats used their long-range shooting to beat DePaul 91-71. Villanova went 18 for 26 from deep in its 20th straight victory against DePaul. The Wildcats have made at least nine 3s in their last five games, including 17 during Sunday’s 76-56 victory at Temple. Bey finished with 22 points and seven assists. Gillespie and Justin Moore had 17 points apiece. DePaul dropped its eighth straight game. The Blue Demons took the Wildcats to overtime in a 79-75 loss on Jan. 14, but the rematch was a blowout.

— Anthony Edwards’ big night for Georgia has left No. 13 Auburn with its second straight loss. Edwards scored 18 points, including a late 3-pointer to slow Auburn’s comeback attempt, and the Bulldogs beat the Tigers 65-55. Auburn fell to 22-4 overall and 9-4 in the Southeastern Conference, thanks to its second straight loss to a team with a losing record. The two straight losses followed seven straight wins. Georgia ended a four-game losing streak. J’Von McCormick led Auburn with 22 points. Georgia’s Toumani Camara sank seven of eight free throws in the final minute to help protect the lead.

— Caleb Mills scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half to lead No. 22 Houston to a 76-43 win over Tulsa on Wednesday night. Mills shot 9 of 16, including hitting 5 of 9 on 3-pointers. Nate Hinton added 15 points for Houston which shot 41%. The Cougars moved into sole possession of first place in the American with the win combined with Cincinnati’s loss to Central Florida on Wednesday. Martins Igbanu had 15 points, and Jeriah Horne added 12 points and seven rebounds for Tulsa (17-9, 9-4).

NHL…

 

UNDATED (AP) — Alex Galchenyuk (gal-CHEHN’-yuhk) scored the tying goal and the shootout winner as the Minnesota Wild beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3. Kevin Fiala and Luke Kunin also scored in regulation for Minnesota, and Mats Zuccarello had two assists. Devan Dubnyk stopped 31 shots. J.T. Miller scored twice in the third period and Jay Beagle added a goal for Vancouver.

— Jamie Oleksiak broke a third-period tie with his first goal in 26 games and the Dallas Stars held on to beat the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 on Wednesday night. Oleksiak stepped up into the top of the slot, took a pass from Alexander Radulov and sent a low snap shot past goalie Antti Raanta with 8:22 remaining.

Dallas is 5-0-1 in its last six games to pull even with Central Division leader St. Louis.

Ben Bishop made 21 of his season-high 39 saves in the first period. Corey Perry and Radek Faksa scored power-play goals for Dallas. Taylor Hall had a power-play goal for Arizona, Christian Fischer also scored in the second period and Raanta stopped 30 shots.

In other ice action:

— Vincent Trocheck and Aleksi Saarela each scored second-period goals off fortuitous rebounds and the Florida Panthers were able to rally from an early deficit for a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Aleksander Barkov and MacKenzie Weegar also scored a goal for Florida, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 35 saves as the Panthers improved to 2-0 on a key five-game West Coast road trip. Max Jones scored a goal, while John Gibson had 28 saves for the Ducks.

 

— Pavel Francouz made 27 saves and lost his first NHL shutout with just over two minutes remaining as the Colorado Avalanche beat the New York Islanders 3-1. Gabriel Landeskog, Andre Burakovsky and Joonas Donskoi had goals to help Colorado end a three-game skid against a scuffling New York team.

— Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad (MEE’-kuh zih-BAN’-eh-jad) each had a goal and two assists as the New York Rangers scored five times in the third period and beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3. Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and assist, and Filip Chytil, Ryan Strome, and Artemi Panarin scored for New York, which won for the fifth time in six games.

NHL-GOLDEN KNIGHTS-KINGS TRADE

LA Kings trade Cup-winning goal scorer Martinez to Vegas

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings have traded Stanley Cup-winning goal scorer Alec Martinez to the Vegas Golden Knights for two second-round draft picks. Martinez has spent his entire career with the Kings, who drafted him in 2007. Although he has never scored more than 11 goals in a regular season, he earned a permanent place in franchise lore by scoring the series-winning overtime goals in both the Western Conference finals and the Stanley Cup Final six years ago. Martinez also was a member of the Kings’ first championship team in 2012. He has 62 goals and 136 assists in 597 career games, and he has six goals and 10 assists in 64 career postseason games.

Elsewhere in the NHL:

— For the first time since October, the Washington Capitals took the ice for practice as something other than a first-place team. Defensive lapses and a glaring lack of structure have added up to losses in six of nine games and a .500 record over the past 10. It’s a struggle for the Capitals right now, but they hope a trade for defenseman Brenden Dillon and a few adjustments will shake them out of their midseason doldrums. Dillon could play as soon as Thursday night against Montreal, but he can’t solve all everything by himself. Even with Holtby finding a groove, the Capitals have allowed almost 3.5 goals per game during this stretch and not looked like a group that led the NHL for much of the year.

MLB-NEWS

Pirates’ Pablo Reyes banned 80 games for positive drug test

UNDATED (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Pablo Reyes was suspended 80 games under the major league drug program following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug Boldenone. He became the second player in three days suspended for Boldenone, which is sold under the brand name Equipose and is commonly used on horses. Houston pitcher Francis Martes also was suspended. Reyes is a 26-year-old outfielder and infielder who made his major league debut in September 2018 and hit .293 with three homers and seven RBIs. He hit .203 with two homers and 19 RBIs for the Pirates last year.

In other baseball news:

— Mike Fiers is scheduled to start a split-squad game for Oakland on Sunday in his first game action since revealing the Houston Astros’ cheating scheme. It has not been determined whether Fiers’ spring training debut will come in the home game versus San Francisco or against Arizona on the road. In a story published by The Athletic in November, Fiers said the Astros had stolen signs using a camera in center field during their run to the 2017 World Series championship. Fiers played on that team.

— Max Scherzer is scheduled to start the Washington Nationals’ exhibition opener Saturday against the Houston Astros in a rematch of last year’s World Series. Scherzer’s last start came in Game 7 of the Fall Classic at Houston. Scherzer threw his first live batting practice of spring training Wednesday and declared that his shoulder felt tired — which the three-time Cy Young Award winner said is a good thing.

— Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi expects catcher J.T. Realmuto to be back in spring training in Clearwater, Florida this week and does not believe there will be any fallout from his arbitration hearing in Arizona. Realmuto is seeking a salary of $12.4 million for 2020 after making $6.05 million last year. The Phillies have offered $10 million. Girardi said he expects Realmuto’s focus to be on baseball when he returns from the hearing in Phoenix

— Houston infielder Aledmys Díaz, Miami first baseman Jesús Aguilar and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Brian Goodwin all won their salary arbitration cases, cutting the teams’ advantage to 6-4 in decisions this year with three cases remaining. Díaz was awarded $2.6 million rather than $2 million, Aguilar $2,575,000 instead of $2,325,000 and Goodwin $2.2 million rather than $1.85 million. A decision is pending for Arizona pitcher Archie Bradley, whose case was argued Tuesday. Two players remain scheduled for hearings this week: Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto (ree-al-MOO’-toh) and reliever Héctor Neris.

— Ultilityman Brock Holt and the Milwaukee Brewers have finalized a one-year contract. The deal includes a team option for 2021. The 31-year-old left-handed batter had spent his first eight major league seasons with the Boston Red Sox and was an All-Star in 2015. He hit a career-high .297 last year with three homers and 31 RBIs in 295 plate appearances while playing every position except pitcher, catcher and center field.

— The Baltimore Orioles have claimed infielder Andrew Velazquez on waivers from the Cleveland Indians. The 25-year-old Velazquez joins a crowded competition for infield spots with Baltimore. The Orioles designated infielder Richard Urena for assignment.

— Major league players could be punished for future sign-stealing violations in the wake of the Houston Astros’ scandal that only resulted in discipline for managers, coaches and executives. No players were punished by MLB, and opponents from other teams have expressed dismay over that fact since spring training opened last week. Many have also called for Houston to be of its 2017 World Series title.

— The Tampa Bay Rays are offering fans a win-win-win-win proposition in an attempt to draw bigger crowds to barren Tropicana Field. The “Win Pack’’ lets a fan pick any four regular-season Rays game to attend for a total of $99. If the Rays win all four, the fan gets a voucher redeemable for a free ticket to another game.

NFL-NEWS

NFL free agent Greg Robinson jailed in Texas on pot charge

UNDATED (AP) — NFL offensive tackle Greg Robinson have been jailed in West Texas after federal officials said they found 157 pounds of marijuana in a car in which he and another man were riding. El Paso County jail records show that the 27-year-old was booked Tuesday. The complaint says the pair were driving from Los Angeles to Louisiana when the Border Patrol stopped them Monday night and found several large duffel bags of marijuana in their sport utility vehicle. Robinson was a standout at Auburn University and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2018. The Browns recently informed Robinson’s representatives they did not intend to re-sign him as a free agent.

TENNIS-DUBAI CHAMPIONSHIP

Top-seeded Simona Halep advances at Dubai Championships

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Top-seeded Simona Halep’s (HAL’-ehp) first match since losing to Garbine Muguruza (GAHR’-been moo-gah-ROO’-thuh) in the Australian Open semifinals was a tough three-set win over Ons Jabeur at the Dubai Championships. Halep will meet Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals after Sabalenka beat Elise Mertens in straight sets. Anett Kontaveit beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and will play Petra Martic, who defeated Barbora Strycova in straight sets. Jennifer Brady will play Muguruza in the quarterfinal after Brady beat Marketa Vondrousova and Muguruza defeated Veronika Kudermetova, both in three sets.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DOCTOR-INVESTIGATION

University of Michigan investigates doctor sex abuse claims

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Five former patients are alleging that a late University of Michigan physician sexually abused them during exams, with one accuser saying that Dr. Robert E. Anderson’s actions over several decades made him a “sexual predator.”

A spokesman acknowledges that some university employees were aware of accusations against the doctor prior to a 2018 complaint that led to a police investigation.

Robert Julian Stone told The Associated Press that Anderson assaulted him during a medical appointment at the university’s health center in 1971. Stone said he alerted university officials last summer, inspired by the national #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct.

Stone was first interviewed by The Detroit News, which began reporting on the allegations before the university announced the investigation.

 

In world and national news…

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Bernie Sanders is the only Democratic candidate on the debate stage who thinks the candidate with the most delegates should win the party’s presidential nomination even if he or she doesn’t have a majority. His rivals on Wednesday night in Las Vegas say the party should let the convention play out according to rules set by the party, which allow for multiple rounds of voting if a candidate is unable to get a majority of the delegates on the first round. It sets up a clash should the primary season end without a clear winner, giving way to a contested convention.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has met with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman in a visit focused primarily on discussing security issues and threats from regional rival Iran. Ahead of his arrival to the capital Riyadh, Pompeo said he’d also raise with the Saudi leadership American concerns about human rights and the cases of dual Saudi-American citizens who are either imprisoned in the kingdom or barred from traveling abroad. Pompeo is scheduled to meet with the Saudi crown prince during his visit and stop by a Saudi air base where some 2,500 U.S. troops are stationed in response to threats from Iran.

 

BEIJING (AP) — New virus cases in China have again declined, up just 394, after authorities again changed how they count new daily infections. They are now discounting cases that had come back negative after laboratory tests. Another 114 people were reported to have died from the new illness, raising the overall death toll beyond 2,100. Japan’s health ministry said two former passengers of a virus-stricken cruise ship have died, raising the number of deaths in Japan to three. The Diamond Princess has had the most cases outside China with 621 passengers and crew testing positive.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations in Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial are set to continue for a third day on Thursday. So far, jurors have been focusing a lot of attention on Annabella Sciorra’s allegation that the once-heralded Hollywood mogul raped her in the mid-1990s. Sciorra’s allegation is too old to be charged on its own because of the statute of limitations, but it’s a key component of the most serious charges that jurors are weighing in the closely watched #MeToo case. Weinstein has maintained that any sexual contact was consensual.

 

HANAU, Germany (AP) — German officials say a 43-year-old German man who shot and killed nine people at several locations in a Frankfurt suburb appears to have been motivated by far-right beliefs. Some of his victims are thought to be Turkish. The top security official in Hesse state said investigators later found the suspect’s body and the body of his 72-year-old mother at his registered address. The official says a website believed to be the suspect’s is being evaluated and the contents “indicate a xenophobic motivation,” The shootings late Wednesday followed several recent acts of far-right violence in Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged that “everything will be done to investigate the circumstances of these terrible murders.”

 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google is updating its terms of service to make them easier to understand. The company rewrote its terms with plain language after two court decisions in Europe. The updated terms are largely the same as they were before, but with wording the company thinks is more readable and definitions of certain terms. Google has been under scrutiny from regulators in the U.S. and Europe about how it collects and protects user data. Google also added an explanation of how it makes money from advertising to its “about” page. Facebook also updated its terms of service last year after similar scrutiny.

 

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea is reporting its first death from a new virus, as the mayor of a southeastern city urges its 2.5 million people to stay inside as infections linked to a church congregation spike. The mayor of Daegu says citizens should wear masks even indoors if possible. The city and nearby areas have reported 56 new cases in the past two days. The mayor says the rising infections could soon overwhelm the city’s health system and is asking for urgent help from the central government. Health officials say many of the new patients went to services at a church that were attended by a previously confirmed virus patient or contacted her elsewhere.

 

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Health Ministry says two passengers taken off the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess after being infected with the new virus have died, becoming the first fatalities from the vessel. The ministry says both were Japanese in their 80s and had preexisting diseases. The Diamond Princess has started letting passengers who tested negative for the virus off the ship, and the process will continue through Friday. An infectious diseases expert has criticized the quarantine on the ship, calling it chaotic with overlaps of clean and contaminated zones.