Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Dec 18

CSi Weather…

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. PATCHY BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN THE
 AFTERNOON. SCATTERED FLURRIES IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE MID
 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
 .TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF FLURRIES IN THE EVENING.
 PATCHY BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW THROUGH THE NIGHT. LOWS NEAR
 ZERO. NORTH WINDS AROUND 20 MPH. LOWEST WIND CHILLS AROUND
 20 BELOW AFTER MIDNIGHT.
 .THURSDAY…PATCHY BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN THE MORNING.
 CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW, 40 PERCENT IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA. MUCH COLDER. HIGHS ZERO
 TO 5 ABOVE. NORTH WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH. WIND CHILLS AROUND
 25 BELOW.
 .THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE EVENING THEN CLEARING.
 LOWS AROUND 10 BELOW. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE
 WEST AFTER MIDNIGHT.
 .FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. SOUTHWEST WINDS
 10 TO 15 MPH.
 .FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR ZERO. HIGHS
 5 TO 10 ABOVE.
 .SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND
 10 BELOW. HIGHS NEAR ZERO.
 .MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 10. LOWS
 5 TO 10 ABOVE.
 .TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S.

ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 94
 WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. EXPECT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO
 3 INCHES IN PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA.
 THIS INCLUDES PLACES LIKE MEDORA…DICKINSON…GLEN ULLIN…ELGIN…
 BISMARCK…LINTON…AND ELLENDALE. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS NORTH OF
 INTERSTATE 94 WILL TAPER OFF QUICKLY TO LESS THAN ONE INCH.
 
 MOTORISTS SHOULD PLAN FOR EXTRA TRAVELING TIME IN REACHING THEIR
 DESTINATION LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY.

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE DOWN INTO THE REGION  WEDNESDAY NIGHT. NORTH
 WINDS WILL INCREASE INTO THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE. THIS WILL BRING
 SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH VISIBILITIES POSSIBLY DOWN TO
 A HALF MILE AT TIMES. IN ADDTION…WIND CHILLS OVERNIGHT WILL DROP
 INTO THE 25 TO 35 BELOW ZERO RANGE.

 
     University of North Dakota atmospheric sciences professor Leon Osborne says if it’s bitter cold to start the winter, generally that’s the way it stays through the rest of the season. But Osborne also says the 2014 growing season should get off to a good start.
 
     Osborne predicts that April might be cool, but temperatures will rise in May and June. He says precipitation for the three months looks to be about normal.

 

Jamestown (CSi) – A water main break that closed the All Vets Club in downtown Jamestown on Tuesday was repaired between 2:30 and 3-p.m.

The break was reported on Tuesday morning, and cancelled the

Tuesday Lunch Buffet normally from 11-a.m., to 2-p.m.

Manager Jon Beyer said the club reopened for the regular schedule for the balance of the Tuesday hours.

 

Jamestown (CSi) On Tuesday morning authorities were warning of hazardous travel conditions including “black ice” on road surfaces causing traffic accidents.

Stutsman County sheriff, Chad Kaiser said the very slippery driving conditions led to most occurring in western Stutsman County, including four calls of cars in the ditch over a half hour time period.

No injuries were reported.

On I-94, the North Dakota Highway Patrol reported Tuesday morning that a semi jack-knifed west of Valley City, entering the ditch near the westbound lane.

In another incident, west of Valley City a pickup truck lost control and went into the median about a half mile from the semi crash.

The Highway Patrol says a few vehicles entered the median or ditch on I-94 near Jamestown.

No injuries were reported.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports that on Tuesday, at approximately 7:10 a.m., a trooper from the NDHP was assisting a motorist who had slid into the ditch on I-29 near mile marker 139.

The trooper requested a tow truck for the individual and stayed on scene to provide traffic control. The roadways in the area were icy due to blowing snow. A northbound pickup lost control and slid into the rear end of the patrol car that was parked on the shoulder of the roadway with emergency lights activated.

This impact pushed the patrol car sideways on the shoulder. A second rear-end crash occurred on the roadway and one of those vehicles slid into the front end of the disabled patrol car.

The trooper was treated and released from Altru Hospital. The other drivers involved were not injured.

The crash is currently under investigation by the Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports an accident on Highway 281 south, about 3:30-p.m. Tuesday involved two pickups, one hauling a large grain auger.

84 year old William Noot, of Marion, was driving a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, towing a grain auger behind him westbound on a gravel township road.

32 year old Chance Corbell of Jamestown, was driving a 2001 Dodge Ram north accompanied by passenger Stacey Hicks, 30, of Brookings, S.D.

The report says, Noot stopped at a stop sign at the township road’s intersection with U.S. 281 and then pulled out in front of Corbell, whose vehicle struck Noot’s.

The grain auger disconnected from its towing unit, rolled over onto its side and was severely damaged, and it and the two pickups came to rest across the northbound and southbound lanes.

Traffic was diverted for about a half hour for both lanes of Highway 281.

All three people in the collision were wearing seat belts.

Jamestown Ambulance transported Hicks to Jamestown Regional Medical Center, where she was treated for minor injuries.

Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.

Noot was cited for failing to yield at a stop intersection.

 

Jamestown (CSi) Lt. Mitch Brecto says, the Jamestown Salvation Army is $65,000 short of its Christmas campaign goal.

The Jamestown Salvation Army is hoping that the Lions Club will take a bite out of the charities fundraising deficit on Wednesday, Dec 18, when the group will match kettles up to $5,000.

Lt. Brecto says, “We appreciate not only the matching money but the fact that the Lions Club members will be putting in 16 hours of bell ringing on the 18^th to boot.”

In a typical day $1,200 is raised in Jamestown kettles. “Wednesday could make a significant difference for us but we could still use some help covering the bell ringing hours.”

According to Brecto, getting bell ringers has been even harder than raising funds.

It isn’t too late to volunteer. Kettles will be out until Christmas eve. To volunteer call (701) 252-0290.

About The Salvation Army

To volunteer with The Salvation Army or to make a donation, call 701-252-0290 . Checks made out to The Salvation Army may be sent to 320 1^st ave n Jamestown, ND 58401. For more information or to make an online donation, please visit www.salvationarmynorth.org/jamestown

 

(CSi)Valley City State University has received a $2.5 million gift to the VCSU Foundation from the estate of Leonard and Marjorie (Dreis) Wright of Mukilteo, Wash.

The gift—the largest in VCSU history—will be applied to the scholarship fund at VCSU.

VCSU President, Steven Shirley says, “We will be forever thankful to the Wrights for their outstanding generosity and their commitment to education. Their gift is clearly a gift that will keep on giving, touching the lives of future generations of VCSU students.”

The Wrights’ gift to VCSU was facilitated in part through their connection with Phil Mueller of Valley City, a 1968 Valley City State alumnus who serves on the Valley City State Foundation Board. Mueller, the nephew of Leonard Wright, spent several of his college summers working for the Wrights in Alaska and maintained contact with them throughout their lives.

A Dazey, N.D., native, Marjorie Wright attended VCSU, then known as Valley City State Teacher’s College, and became a teacher.

Wright married Leonard Wright in 1945, and the couple moved to Alaska. Marjorie Wright taught for many years in Alaska before joining her husband’s business, Badger Construction, which prospered with work on construction projects associated with the Alaska oil pipeline.

In retirement the Wrights moved from Alaska to the U.S. mainland, traveling widely and making many return trips to the Valley City area to visit family and friends. On Leonard Wright’s death in 2007, Marjorie moved to Washington. She died at the age of 91 on April 7, 2013, in Mukilteo.

VCSU executive director of university advancement, Larry Robinson says “Leonard and Marjorie Wright were very successful business people, and the foresight they had in making the arrangements for this generous gift to Valley City State shows they did not forget their North Dakota roots.”

 

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Public School Board will work together on a salary schedule with step increases for the 2014-2015 school year.

Jamestown Public Schools will propose administrators receive a 4 percent salary increase for this 2013-2014 school year.

School Board President, Roger Haut says that will occur after the first of the year.

The meeting was the second and final contract negotiations meeting with school administrators for the 2013-2014, school year, and it was also the first time the administration has negotiated as a group with the School Board.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The James River Valley Library System Director, Joseph Rector, made a request to the County Commission at its meeting, Tuesday.

Currently JRVLS, operates the Stutsman County and Alfred Dickey libraries, leases space in  the former location of  the senior center, for the county library and the bookmobile.

Rector said the JRVLS board would like to lease the entire building while the board looks for sites for a new library.

Rector says the biggest thing we’re looking for is stability on our part so we can plan,” The County Commission is considering selling the building, pending resolving easement issues.

A change in zoning is also needed.

Rector said having the JRVLS lease the rest of the county-owned building would alleviate any concerns about the county library having to move out of the building.

 County Commssioners also approved a letter of support for the U.S. Department of Transportation to accept the bid of SkyWest Airlines to provide commercial passenger service to Jamestown Regional Airport starting April 1, 2014.

The Jamestown City Council’s Finance and Legal Committee, Monday, recommended on a 4-1 vote sending a letter of support for SkyWest.

January 6, 2014 the deadline for public comment on the two bids.

 

 FARGO, N.D. (AP) – An unattended candle is being blamed for a fire in a Fargo high-rise apartment building that displaced some residents.
 
     Officials say the sprinkler system in the 22-story building put out the flames before firefighters arrived shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday. The 15th-floor apartment where the fire started had minor fire and smoke damage, and the first 15 floors of the building suffered water damage. A damage estimate was not immediately available.
 
     No one was hurt. The number of people displaced was not immediately known.
 
     The building has 249 one-bedroom apartments and is one of the tallest residential buildings in North Dakota’s largest city.

 
 WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) – A South Dakota man is facing felony charges in an alleged carjacking in North Dakota.
 
     Thirty-year-old Matthew Dumarce, of Sioux Falls, is accused of taking a van at knifepoint in Wahpeton on Saturday morning. Authorities say he abandoned the vehicle after a police chase and was arrested later across the border in Minnesota.
 
     Dumarce is charged with felony robbery and fleeing police, along with a misdemeanor count of driving under suspension. He could face more than 15 years in prison if convicted. Court documents do not list an attorney for him.
 
 Police are investigating whether a second person at the scene of the carjacking did anything wrong.

 

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Federal authorities are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to a conviction in an armed robbery at a West Fargo pawn shop.
 
     It happened Nov. 12 at Mister Money Pawn Shop at 1613 East Main Avenue.
 
     The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says two people pointed semi-automatic handguns at the two store clerks and demanded money. 
 
     ATF says no one was hurt and the pair left with an unknown amount of cash. They both wore dark-colored clothing and had accents, possibly from Eastern Africa.
 
     Anyone with information is asked to contact ATF or West Fargo police.

 

   FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A North Dakota man accused of dealing methamphetamine has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Devin Keplin, of Grand Forks, pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Authorities say the conspiracy moved drugs in North Dakota, Minnesota, Texas and elsewhere.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – An Idaho man who worked in the North Dakota oil patch says a drilling company owes him and other employees millions of dollars. Chris Elliott says in his federal complaint that Schlumberger (schuhlm’-bur-ZHAY’) used a fluctuating schedule to avoid paying overtime. The company says employees didn’t work more than 40 hours in any given week.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The small North Dakota town of Leith is moving to condemn and demolish the home of a white supremacist who has tried to take over the town but has instead ended up jailed on felony terrorizing charges.
 
     Mayor Ryan Schock says Leith is condemning Craig Cobb’s home because Cobb has missed a 30-day deadline to install water and sewer service. Schock says City Attorney Thomas Kelsch is putting the paperwork together. Kelsch didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
 
     The girlfriend of a man who’s jailed with Cobb still lives in the home, with three children. Schock says she’ll be evicted – just like anyone else would be in a similar situation.
 
     A telephone listing for the woman couldn’t be found, and no one has been answering Cobb’s cellphone.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Drug giant Johnson & Johnson is paying North Dakota $923,000 as part of a $1.2 billion national settlement over allegations it illegally promoted two of its best-selling antipsychotics drugs.
 
     The state Department of Human Services says North Dakota’s share of proceeds comes from a settlement announced last month by the U.S. Department of Justice. The lawsuit alleged civil and criminal violations by Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
 
     The total settlement for North Dakota is about $3 million, with most of it going to the federal government, which pays for the majority of North Dakota’s Medicaid program.
 
     The Justice Department alleged that the company promoted powerful psychiatric drugs for unapproved uses in children, seniors and disabled patients.

 

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) – The Dickinson State University Foundation is trying to work through several issues including the resignations of some board members and a dispute with a project manager.
 
   Three board members recently left, citing philosophical differences. Separately, the Edgewood Management Group has severed ties with the foundation because of a disagreement over how to run the Hawks Point senior living facility.
 
     The foundation also is trying to resolve design issues and cost overruns with a developer surrounding the Blue Hawk Square student housing project. And the foundation also has hired consultants to solve bookkeeping issues raised in a recent audit. Board President David Schultz says no money is missing.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) – Seven North Dakota National Guard soldiers on duty in Washington used their skills to help a woman injured in a crash.
 
     The Guard says they stopped immediately last week when they saw her vehicle slide out of control in front of them.
 
     The soldiers found the driver sitting in a ditch and provided first aid.
 
     The Guardsmen are part of the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment’s yearlong deployment to Washington to help protect the nation’s capital.
 
     They are Maj. Walyn Vannurden, of Mohall, N.D.; 1st Lt. Kerry Fredrich, of Bismarck, N.D.; Sgt. Scott Douglas, of Paynesville, Minn.; Spc. Mark Kubat, of Oakdale, Minn.; Spc. Jesse Goeser, of Hatton, N.D.; Spc. Leo Hughes, of Bismarck; and Spc. Tyler Needham, of Devils Lake, N.D.

 

In sports..

BOYS BASKETBALL
     Carrington 62, New Rockford-Sheyenne 57, OT
     Cavalier 74, Park River/Fordville Lankin 41
     Center-Stanton 53, Richardton-Taylor 51
     Des Lacs-Burlington 98, Stanley 38
     Drake/Anamoose 62, Surrey 50
     Dunseith 68, Rolette-Wolford 67
     Ellendale 65, LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 61, OT
     Flasher 59, Mott-Regent 38
     Grand Forks Central 69, East Grand Forks, Minn. 59
     Hankinson 55, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, Minn. 39
     Harding County, S.D. 66, Bowman County 22
     Hazen 51, Washburn 31
     Kidder County 55, Napoleon 51
     Lewis and Clark-Berthold 74, Garrison 58
     Milnor 65, Central Cass 52
     Minot 79, Jamestown 57
     Minot Our Redeemer’s 63, Bottineau 48
     Rugby 80, Harvey-Wells County 33
     Sidney, Mont. 70, Williston 68
     Solen 54, McIntosh, S.D. 45
     South Border 62, Barnes County North 47
     Strasburg-Zeeland 69, Linton-HMB 59
     Underwood, Minn. 61, Lidgerwood-Wyndmere 49
     Velva 47, Wilton-Wing 39
     Wahpeton 67, Fargo South 54
     Wibaux, Mont. 63, Beach 35
 GIRLS BASKETBALL
     Beach 66, Wibaux, Mont. 36
     Cavalier 61, Dakota Prairie 21
     Central Cass 43, Enderlin 38
     Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran 37, Hankinson 30
     Four Winds-Warwick-Minnewauken 76, St. John 36
     Hillsboro/Central Valley 58, Northern Cass 53
     Langdon 64, Larimore 51
     Medina-Pingree-Buchanan 60, Midkota 36
     New Town 67, Max 33
     Parshall 66, Turtle Lake-Mercer 36
     Sargent Central 50, Lisbon 49
     Sidney, Mont. 53, Williston 44
     Thompson 46, Lakota/Adams-Edmore 40
     Turtle Mountain 69, Minot 68
     Underwood 56, Hazen 53
     Wahpeton 71, Fargo South 66
 New Salem Almont Invitational Tournament
 First Round
     Grant County 61, Center-Stanton 23
     Kidder County 71, Mott-Regent 38
 Consolation Semifinal
     Mandan Soph 48, Glen Ullin-Hebron 41
 RoughRider Tournament
 First Round
     Beulah 41, Killdeer 37
     Bowman County 68, Heart River 48
     Hettinger/Scranton 50, New England 45
     Watford City 48, Richardton-Taylor 33
 Sawyer Tournament
 First Round
     Des Lacs-Burlington 41, Sawyer 37
     Rolette-Wolford 63, Surrey 43
 Consolation Semifinal
     Lewis and Clark-Berthold 54, North Shore – Plaza 34
 Tioga Tournament
 First Round
     Ray 57, Trinity Christian 38
     Stanley 62, Tioga 15
 Consolation Semifinal
     Burke County 49, Powers Lake 31
 War Bird Shootout
     Fairmount-Campbell-Tintah 45, Wheaton/Herman-Norcross, Minn. 35
     Milnor 43, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, Minn. 32
     Richland 58, Lidgerwood-Wyndmere 44

 

  NATIONAL  BASKETBALL  ASSOCIATION
 
   Final    Portland              119    Cleveland        116
   Final    Charlotte              95    Sacramento        87
   Final    L-A  Lakers            96    Memphis              92
   Final    Oklahoma  City    105    Denver                93
   Final    Golden  State      104    New  Orleans      93
 
 
       NATIONAL  HOCKEY  LEAGUE

 ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Jason Pominville slipped a shot past Roberto Luongo’s glove in the third round of a shootout to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory over Vancouver yesterday. Josh Harding stopped shots by Mike Santorelli and Chris Higgins in the shootout and made 29 saves to win for the fifth time in his last six starts. The Wild improved to 14-3-2 at Xcel Energy Center.
 
   Final            Boston                  2    Calgary                  0
   Final            Florida                3    Toronto                  1
   Final  2OT    Tampa  Bay            3    N-Y  Islanders      2  (SO  Tampa  Bay  2-1)
   Final            Buffalo                4    Winnipeg                2
   Final            Anaheim                5    Detroit                  2
   Final            Montreal              3    Phoenix                  1
   Final            Philadelphia      5    Washington            2
   Final            Chicago                3    Nashville              1
   Final            San  Jose              4    St.  Louis              2
    Final            Dallas                  3    Colorado                2
   Final            Los  Angeles        3    Edmonton                0
 
 
       TOP-25  COLLEGE  BASKETBALL
 
   Final    (  5)  Michigan  St.      78              North  Florida      48
   Final    (  6)  Louisville          90              Missouri  St.        60
   Final    (  7)  Oklahoma  St.      75              Delaware  St.        43
   Final    (11)  Wichita  St.        72              Alabama                  67
   Final    (13)  Oregon                  91              UC  Irvine              63
   Final    (16)  Florida                77    (15)  Memphis                  75
 
 

NBA…

   MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Kevin Love brought a Range Rover full of coats to the Salvation Army in Northeast Minneapolis yesterday as part of his sixth annual winter coat drive. Love personally packed his vehicle with dozens of coats and got some help unloading them from some of the children who will receive them. The Timberwolves say more than 4,500 coats have been donated this season, the largest number since he started the drive six years ago. Today is the final day of the drive.

 CLEVELAND (AP) – Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters is denying an Internet report he has asked the team to deal him. The Cavs’ second-leading scorer said before last night’s game with Portland that he’s happy and comfortable in Cleveland and was surprised at the latest rumors. The trade talk involving the second-year guard began last month when reports surfaced Waiters was involved in a confrontation with teammates following a 29-point loss in Minnesota.

 MIAMI (AP) – LeBron James may not be available when the Heat face Eastern Conference opponent Indiana tonight in Miami. He suffered a sprained left ankle in in Monday’s game with Utah.  He was able to finish the game but woke up Tuesday with soreness.
 
     The league MVP says he’s had several sprained ankles and knows how to deal with it. He finished with 30 points in the win over Utah.
 

MLB…

BALTIMORE (AP) – A person familiar with the contract says the Baltimore Orioles and free agent closer Grant Balfour have agreed to a two-year,  $15 million contract, pending a physical. Balfour went 1-3 with 38 saves in 41 opportunities with Oakland last season. He fills the void left by the trade of closer Jim Johnson, who was dealt to Oakland this month because Baltimore didn’t want to pay him around $10 million per season.
 
     NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Yankees have been hit with a $28 million luxury tax bill, pushing their total past the $250 million mark since the penalty began in 2003. According to Major League Baseball calculations Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the only other team that exceeded the tax threshold this year and must pay $11.4 million. Boston finished just under the tax threshold for the second straight year, coming in $225,666 shy of the $178 million mark.

 

 COLLEGE FOOTBALL-ALL AMERICA…
  
     NEW YORK (AP) – Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton and Arizona running back Ka’Deem Carey have been selected to The Associated Press All-America team for the second straight season. Heisman Trophy winner Jameis (JAYM’-ihs) Winston from Florida State added All-American to his resume after his outstanding freshman season.
 
     Heisman finalists Andre Williams from Boston College and Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch also made the first team. Williams joins Carey in the backfield. Lynch, the dual-threat quarterback, was chosen as an all-purpose player.

 

In world and national news…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – At least two people have a big jackpot coming their way this morning. Lottery officials say two winning tickets were sold for last night’s Mega Millions drawing. One of the winners was sold at a gift shop in San Jose, Calif. The state lottery spokesman says tickets were being sold at 25,000 per minute across California leading up to the drawing. The jackpot had reached $636 million, but officials say the surge in sales likely pushed it even higher.
 
     WASHINGTON (AP) – Congress is close to sending President Barack Obama a two-year spending plan. The Senate is expected to pass the bipartisan budget deal sometime today. The measure would restore $63 billion scheduled to be automatically cut from the operating budgets of the Pentagon and some domestic agencies. The money would be replaced by things such as higher airline security fees and a requirement that new federal workers pay more toward their pensions.
 
     WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama’s latest approval ratings on foreign policy are better than his ratings for most domestic issues, but overall it’s still only 49 percent. An Associated Press-GfK poll suggests a majority of Americans want the president to pull troops out of Afghanistan faster than he’s doing. Sixty percent of respondents do approve of the preliminary deal between Iran and six global powers to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. But many express doubt it will lead to concrete results.
 
     TACLOBAN, Philippines (AP) – The United States is providing nearly $25 million in additional humanitarian aid to help the Philippines deal with the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan (HY’-ahn) last month. Secretary of State John Kerry flew to central Tacloban (tahk-LOH’-bahn) city today, where he was overwhelmed by the landscape of wrecked villages. Kerry calls the scale of the devastation “stunning.” The new food aid, shelter materials, water and other supplies he’s announced brings the total U.S. assistance package to $86 million.
 
     MOSCOW (AP) – Russia’s parliament has voted for an amnesty bill that includes crew members of a Greenpeace ship and jailed members of the punk band Pussy Riot. The move is seen as the Kremlin’s attempt to soothe criticism of Russia’s human rights records ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi next year. Yesterday, President Barack Obama announced the U.S. delegation to the Sochi games for the opening and closing ceremonies will include two openly gay representatives, including Billie Jean King.