wbAM4CSi Weather…

Jamestown area…

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM CST THURSDAY…

Valley City Area…

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM WEDNESDAY EVENING TO NOON CST THURSDAY…

REST OF TODAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. PERIODS OF FLURRIES. HIGHS ZERO
TO 5 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH. WIND CHILLS AROUND
20 BELOW.
.TONIGHT…DECREASING CLOUDS. LOWS AROUND 15 BELOW. WEST WINDS
AROUND 15 MPH. WIND CHILLS AROUND 35 BELOW.
.THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. WEST WINDS 15 TO
20 MPH. LOWEST WIND CHILLS AROUND 40 BELOW IN THE MORNING.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS AROUND 5 BELOW. WEST WINDS
AROUND 15 MPH.
.FRIDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND
15 BELOW. HIGHS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…INCREASING CLOUDS. LOWS AROUND 15 BELOW.
.MONDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS 5 TO
10 ABOVE.
.MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 5 BELOW.
HIGHS AROUND 10.

 A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND WINDS WILL
 COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST
 BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.  IF
 YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR APPROPRIATE
 CLOTHING…INCLUDING HAT AND GLOVES.

 

 VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) – Portable heaters are being blamed for a Valley City house fire that led to a close call for a mother and two children and injured a firefighter.
 
     Fire Chief Gary Retterath tells KOVC radio that two portable heaters were placed too close to a bed in the home’s basement, igniting the Jan. 28 blaze.
 
     Linda Schonert and her children escaped the burning house by jumping from a second-floor bedroom window. They suffered scratches on their legs when they hit a porch roof and then fell to the ground.
 
     One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation as he was turning off the natural gas connection to the house.
 
     The home was destroyed.

 

Valley City (CSi) The Valley City Commission met in monthly session Tuesday (Feb 4, 2014) at City Hall. Commissioners Nielson and Pedersen were not present.

On the Consent Agenda, Commissioners:

Approved Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.

Approved Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $ 1,842,597.32.

Approved Game of Change Raffle Permit for VC Ducks Unlimited.

 

ORDINANCES

Commissioners voted to approve the Second and final reading of an Ordinance establishing a franchise for BEK Communications.

City Commissioners waived the fee for use of the National Guard Armory for Valley City Youth Baseball Association in February, March and April, this year.

Approved the Second and Final Reading of an Ordinance rezoning from B-2 Highway Business to I-1 Light Industrial for property at Metes and Bounds 28-24 and 28-23.

RESOLUTIONS

Public Hearing was held for the replat of Fairhill Addition.

 

Following the hearing the City Commission approved a Resolution of Necessity for the replat.

 

Commissioners approved a Resolution to refer to a Professional Land Surveyor of the Fairhill Subdivision.

Approved a Resolution creating Water Main Improvement District No. 96, the areas in Pahase One include near Victory Park, along with in front of the Rec. Center, Main Street in front of Bank Forward. The cost at $1.46 million.

Another Resolution was approved, the engineer’s report and directing preparation of detailed plans, specifications and probable costs for the District.

Approved a Resolution Accepting the Bid and Awarding Contract for Consolidated Sanitary Sewer and Water Improvement District No. 58 and Storm Sewer Improvement District No. 49 to Kuechle Underground Inc. in the amount of $957,260.35.

NEW BUSINESS

The City Commission approved a Renaissance Zone application for a 5 year income tax exemption on building improvements and 5 year property tax exemption for Bergan Enterprises LLC and designate it as VC-79. The application is from Pizza Ranch, planning to locate on the west end of town.

Commissioners approve the project plan for the I-94 development, between Barnes Rural Water and the City of Valley City.

City Commissioners then approved the Barnes Rural Water contract. City Administrator David Schelkoph outlined some changes to the draft agreement over three years.

 

Approved the Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) contract for Load Control. Schelkoph said at this point there are 70 load control boxes installed in Valley City.

Approved the MRES contract for AMI Hardware and Software support. Schelkoph said the agreement completes the support structure. It includes an annual savings of 40% through Cooper Power, with updates in computer software and hardware.

Discussion was held led by Commissioner Luke concerning grant submission protocol.

She suggested a Commissioner take the lead in initiating a grant writing, after taking the issue to the City Commission for approval, and become the project administrator.

A motion to that effect was made by Commissioner Luke, and approved by the City Commission.

 

City Administrator David Schelkoph’s report:

He said 1,200 AMI meters have been installed.

He said he’s received complementary calls on recent snow removal efforts, by city crews in Valley City.

He was recently asked to serve on the Missouri River Energy Services Board of Directors.

City Updates & Commissioner Reports:

City Fire Chief Gary Retterath said nine fire fighter recruits are in training, and will begin riding the fire trucks.

He reminded residents to be careful with space heaters, and disposal of hot ashes, and the CO detectors and smoke detectors should be in working condition.

City Police Chief Fred Thompson said more officer interviews will be conducted for new officers, and added that construction at the police department is nearing completion.

 

The meeting was shown live on CSi 68 followed by replays.

Jamestown (CSi) The Buffalo City Tourism Foundation is continuing with its rebranding efforts.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Tourism Director Searle Swedlund said, the community survey is being reviewed, with the results to be released in the next few weeks.

He said highlights of the results include respondents indicating the value of the buffalo herd, and World’s Largest Buffalo as Jamestown tourist attractions, along with the Frontier Village, the National Buffalo Museum, and White Cloud.

However, he added that the community is looking at other tourism possibilities including promoting the Jamestown area with an outdoor activities theme.

Red Plum Media in Jamestown is working with a tourism sub-committee on the survey and reviewing the result, for further planning and rebranding efforts.

Jamestown (CSi) Giving Hearts Day is set all day Thursday February 13, 2014.

The 24 hour fundraising event, is a one-day opportunity to multiply the benefits of your gift, to Jamestown organizations. They include: The American Heart Association, The Anne Carlsen Center, Jamestown Regional Medical Center, and the Jamestown Arts Center.

Online contributions of a minimum of $10, made that day, will be matched up to $4,000 by the Dakota Medical Foundation. An exception is made for gifts of $5,000 or greater, allowing donors to provide the sizeable checks directly to the charity on Giving Hearts Day.

While Giving Hearts Day is still regional, donations come from across the United States.

Each donation is tax-deductible and enables an e-card to be sent to a friend or family member to let them know a donation has been made in their honor.

Donate at www.impactgiveback.org

Jamestown (CSi) The 2nd Annual “Heart Redneck Triathlon,” will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014, from 1-4-p.m., at “The Buff,” in Jamestown.

Rayette Brown of Jamestown started the event and activities a year ago, in an effort to support those with heart disease

She said while a portion of the proceeds raised goes toward heart education, most of the dollars stay in the Jamestown community, through the Women’s Heart program, going on a one-time basis to those in need of paying for gasoline for medical trips outside of Jamestown, and for other travel related expenses such as lodging for over-night stays.

She adds that this year, in addition to last year’s events of bowling, pool and darts, new, fun, events will include: “Crazy Bowling,” a toliet paper hiking contest, “canoeing” using plungers to propel the canoe, and a “Washer Toss.”

In addition University of Jamestown nursing students will instruct “Hands Only, CPR.”

Pre-register by calling Rayette Brown at 701-320-2023, or E-Mail her

rayswomenheart@yahoo.com

Options include a three-person team, or individuals.

The cost remains at $45 per team, and $15 per person.

 

Jamestown (CSi) Prairie Paws Rescue is still selling sponsorships for $100 for the

“Raise the Woof Comedy Tour” The sponsor will also get two tickets to the show.

The comedy tour is set for 8 pm February 28, 2014, at the Gladstone Inn & Suites at Shady’s, in Jamestown.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m., for those 21 years of age, and older.

The comedy show only performs for shelter fundraising.
President and Co-Founder of Prairie Paws Rescue Kaye John says Prairie Paws is raising money for a used vehicle to transport animals and equipment.

She says the vehicle is essential to animal rescues which is used it to get equipment and animals to meet and greet events, transporting animals to vet appointments, and picking up dogs from area pounds on death row to get them either to Prairie Paws or to other reliable havens.
She adds, the old van is a hazard to volunteers and pets as there is no heat, electrical doesn’t work with no ability to adjust seats, dome lights and most important no headlights for night time travel.

Kaye also notes that CMA,ACM and Grammy Award winner and Country Artist Miranda Lambert’s MUTT NATION FOUNDATION…has donated $3000 to Prairie Paws to help of defray the cost. Lambert is a friend of Kaye John.

Prairie Paws has monthly Meet and Greet events at Jamestown Tractor Supply company the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10am-2pm. She adds, the events have been a great way for people to come out and visit the pets.

Prairie Paws Rescue will also be at the Winter Wheels car show on Saturday, February 8, 2014, from 10am-3pm with some of the pets and to sell tickets for Raise The Woof.

Right now Prairie Paws has 32 pets in their foster home based rescue.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) – A committee searching for the next president of Minot State University has narrowed the list of candidates to four.
 
     Thirty-seven people applied to succeed President David Fuller, who’s retiring in June. The search committee pared the list last month and on Tuesday interviewed the eight remaining finalists by videoconference.
 
     The chosen semifinalists are Valley City State University President Steven Shirley; Martin Slann, dean of the college of arts and sciences at the University of Texas in Tyler; Nicholas Piccolo, vice president for student life at Alma College in Alma, Miss.; and Lorrie Clemo, provost and vice president for academic affairs at the State University of New York at Oswego.
 
     The state Board of Higher Education is to name a president when it meets at Minot State on Feb. 27.

 

 MINOT, N.D. (AP) – The Ward County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident in which shots were fired at a home just east of Minot.
 
Neighbors reported hearing gunshots about 3 a.m. Tuesday, and the homeowners discovered the damage a couple of hours later. Three people were home at the time and no one was hurt.
 
     One bullet was found in the home’s kitchen and two more were found in a bedroom that was unoccupied at the time of the shooting.
 
     Sherriff’s Lt. Larry Hubbard says authorities don’t know if the home was targeted or if the shooting was random.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A judge who sentenced a North Dakota man to more than three years in prison for burning down a church has now ordered him to pay back more than $350,000.
 
     Phoenix Martinez, of Cannonball, pleaded guilty in June to arson. Authorities say he set fire to the St. James Episcopal Church on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in July 2012. The church was destroyed.
 
     U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland in September sentenced Martinez to 40 months in prison. The sentence for restitution was delayed until last week.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – MDU Resources Group Inc. has reported an increase in profits for 2013, helped by record earnings in its construction services business and an increase n natural gas sales.
 
     The Bismarck-based energy, mining and construction company says its profits for 2013 rose to $278.2 million, or $1.47 per share. That’s up from a loss of $1.4 million, 1 cent per share in 2012.
 
     MDU says its construction services business had record earnings of $52.2 million last year.
 
     The utility business reported earnings of $72.5 million. That’s a 21 percent increase over 2012.
 
     MDU is the parent company of Montana-Dakota Utilities. The company says colder-than-normal temperatures at the beginning and end of 2013 helped increase natural gas sales by 15 percent.

 

FORT YATES, N.D. (AP) – A woman has been found dead in her home with an empty propane tank on the Standing Rock Reservation in the Dakotas.
 
     Tribal and Sioux County authorities told The Bismarck Tribune and KXMB-TV that Debbie Dogskin was found dead on Tuesday morning in a Fort Yates mobile home. She was in her early 50s.
 
     Authorities haven’t specifically tied Dogskin’s death to a lack of propane, but the overnight low temperature dropped to about zero that day. A cause of death was not announced and the Bureau of Indian Affairs declined comment.
 
     The tribe has declared a state of emergency because about 5,000 homes on the reservation that straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border are heated by propane. The fuel has more than doubled in price because of a nationwide shortage.

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – A Williston man facing numerous charges in an alleged rampage at a Home of Economy store could enter pleas soon.
 
     Court documents show Richard Colvin faces a hearing Monday on felony charges of robbery, aggravated assault and drug paraphernalia possession, along with misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief, theft of property and simple assault. The documents don’t list an attorney for him.
 
     Authorities allege Colvin on Jan. 26 assaulted several store employees after being confronted about taking theft detection devices off merchandise. Police say one worker suffered a cut arm when shoved into a pane of glass, and another suffered knife scrapes to his face.
 
Damage to the store is estimated at $1,550.
 
     Police also allege Colvin tried to hide drug syringes in a patrol car.

 

  BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – TransCanada Corp. says it has a waiting list of U.S. oil shippers who want to use an onramp to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
 
     The Canadian company announced three years ago that it secured contracts to move crude from the oilfields of North Dakota and Montana. The proposed $140 million Bakken Marketlink pipeline would meet with the Keystone XL in eastern Montana.
 
     TransCanada says oil producers in North Dakota and Montana have turned to trains while the Keystone XL has been debated. The company says the domestic oil shippers still have contracts and are committed to moving their product by pipeline.
 
     The proposed Keystone XL cleared a big hurdle last week when the State Department raised no major environmental objections to its construction.

 

 WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal transportation officials say investigators found crude oil being transported from North Dakota’s Bakken region was misclassified in 11 out of 18 truck shipments tested. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said yesterday it proposed fining three companies involved in the shipments a total of $93,000. The trucks were taking oil to be loaded into rail tank cars. Oil shipments from the region have soared in recent years.
 

  BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A North Dakota nurse and farmer has launched a campaign to oust the state’s agriculture commissioner. Warwick resident Judy Estenson on Tuesday announced she is seeking the GOP nomination for the job. Estenson tells the Bismarck Tribune she’s grown weary of a government that seems to have unreasonably expanded its “regulatory authority.”
 

In sports…

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Four Division One colleges in North and South Dakota are holding signing day parties for football and other sports. Only one is charging for the event.
 
     Such are the benefits of the three-time Football Championship Subdivision winners North Dakota State Bison.
 
     Athletes around the country will be signing NCAA letters of intent Wednesday.
 
     NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor says the $25 fee essentially covers the cost of the party. He says it’s another way for the school to market its athletic program.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL
     Beulah 76, Heart River 68
     Cavalier 56, Grafton/St. Thomas 48
     Center-Stanton 73, Underwood 35
     Des Lacs-Burlington 84, Kenmare 56
     Dickinson Trinity 71, Richardton-Taylor 39
     Ellendale 63, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier 30
     Enderlin 63, Oakes 43
     Fargo Davies 94, Fargo Shanley 81
     Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran 80, Lisbon 63
     Fargo South 71, Grand Forks Central 50
     Garrison 76, North Shore – Plaza 69
     Grand Forks Red River 82, Valley City 38
     Hazen 66, Killdeer 53
     Lewis and Clark-Berthold 90, Glenburn 44
     Medina-Pingree-Buchanan 66, LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 2
     Minot 67, Bismarck High 65
     Minot Our Redeemer’s 82, Minot Bishop Ryan 74
     Mott-Regent 67, Bowman County 55
     New England 63, Beach 42
     New Rockford-Sheyenne 59, North Star 57
     Parshall 66, Watford City 63
     Ray 46, Stanley 38
     Rolla 62, Benson County 50
     Rugby 76, Four Winds/Minnewaukan 66
     Sargent Central 66, Maple Valley 59
     St. John 98, Rolette-Wolford 49
     Starkweather-Munich 61, Langdon 34
     Surrey 55, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 26
     Turtle Lake-Mercer 49, Wilton-Wing 46
     Turtle Mountain 84, Jamestown 65
     Wahpeton 77, Fargo North 41
     Warwick 95, Midkota 75
     Washburn 53, Max 45
 POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
     Underwood, Minn. vs. Fairmount-Campbell-Tintah, ccd.
 GIRLS BASKETBALL
     Cavalier 38, Grafton/St. Thomas 34
     Divide County 62, Burke County 39
     Drayton/Valley-Edinburg 51, North Border 45
     Enderlin 59, Oakes 36
     Fargo North 59, Wahpeton 52
     Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran 58, Milnor 39
     Fargo Shanley 65, Fargo Davies 52
     Fargo South 67, Grand Forks Central 62
     Grant County 65, Killdeer 45
     Griggs County Central 44, May Port CG 42
     Hankinson 51, Central Cass 47
     Hillsboro/Central Valley 54, Hatton-Northwood 21
     Lakota/Adams-Edmore 63, Fordville Lankin-Park River 45
     LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 51, Medina-Pingree-Buchanan 35
     Lidgerwood-Wyndmere 57, Kindred 51, OT
     Lisbon 72, Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page 55
     Mandan 57, Bismarck Century 52
     Max 41, Washburn 29
     Napoleon 50, Linton-HMB 40
     Norman County West, Minn. 46, Larimore 37
     Rugby 65, Dunseith 48
     Shiloh Christian 63, New Salem-Almont 42
     South Border 60, Strasburg-Zeeland 32
     Standing Rock 66, Flasher 49
     Stanley 65, Trenton 49
     Thompson 76, Dakota Prairie 15
     Towner-Granville-Upham 70, Drake/Anamoose 34
     Turtle Lake-Mercer 53, Wilton-Wing 43
     Underwood 39, Center-Stanton 16
     Valley City 54, Grand Forks Red River 53
     Velva 69, Sawyer 36

 

 NATIONAL  BASKETBALL  ASSOCIATION

  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Kevin Love had 31 points and 17 rebounds for Minnesota, while leading the Timberwolves to a 109-99 victory Tuesday night. Kevin Martin scored 14 of his season-high-tying 32 points in the opening 10 minutes to help the Timberwolves start strong, and the NBA’s highest-scoring first-quarter team surged to a 25-point lead midway through the second period.
 
   Final    Indiana          89    Atlanta                85
   Final    Chicago        101    Phoenix                92
   Final    Charlotte      91    Golden  State      75
 
 
       NATIONAL  HOCKEY  LEAGUE

 ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves, Jared Spurgeon had two assists in his return from injury and the Minnesota Wild defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Tuesday night. Nino Niederreiter and Dany Heatley scored for the Wild, who are 6-3-2 in Kuemper’s 11 straight starts – a franchise record for rookie goalies.
 
   Final            N-Y  Rangers          5    Colorado          1
   Final            Boston                    3    Vancouver        1
   Final            Winnipeg                2    Carolina          1
   Final            Montreal                2    Calgary            0
   Final            N-Y  Islanders      1    Washington      0
   Final            Florida                  4    Toronto            1
   Final  2OT    Ottawa                    5    St.  Louis        4  (SO  Ottawa  3-2)
   Final            Dallas                    3    Phoenix            1
 
 
       TOP-25  COLLEGE  BASKETBALL
 
   Final    (  3)  Florida        68              Missouri            58
   Final    (  8)  Kansas          69              Baylor                52
   Final    (11)  Duke              83              Wake  Forest      63
   Final    (15)  Texas            59              TCU                      54
   Final              Ohio  St.      76    (17)  Iowa                    69
   Final    (18)  Kentucky      80              Mississippi      64
   Final    (24)  Memphis      101              Rutgers              69
 

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – Sam Dekker and Ben Brust scored 16 points apiece Tuesday and Wisconsin ended a two-game losing streak with a 75-63 win at Illinois. Traevon Jackson and Nigel Hayes had 14 each for Wisconsin (18-5, 5-5 Big Ten). Rayvonte Rice led Illinois with 24 points and nine rebounds.
 
       TOP-25  WOMEN’S  COLLEGE  BASKETBALL
 
   Final    (  1)  UConn                102    SMU              41
   Final    (  4)  Louisville        74    UCF              59
   Final    (11)  Arizona  St.      60    Arizona      36

NBA…

 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Timberwolves have finalized a plan to build a practice facility across the street from their arena in a vacant former movie theater. The Timberwolves and their sister WNBA franchise the Minnesota Lynx announced Tuesday a partnership with the Mayo Clinic, which will open a sports medicine clinic adjacent to the basketball areas. The new $20 million facility will open prior to the 2014-15 NBA season.

NEW YORK (AP) – Chicago Bulls center Joakim (JOH’-keem) Noah has been fined $15,000 by the NBA for yelling at the officials after he was ejected from a game at Sacramento. Noah received two technical fouls in less than three minutes during the third quarter of Chicago’s 99-70 loss on Monday night. The All-Star gestured at the referees and yelled obscenities as he was escorted off the court at the 7:40 mark.

 

MLB…

ATLANTA (AP) – A person familiar with the talks says the Atlanta Braves and first baseman Freddie Freeman have reached an agreement on an eight-year deal worth about $125 million. The completion of the deal is subject to a physical. The 24-year-old Freeman was an All-Star last year, when he hit .319 with 23 homers and 109 RBIs.
 
     NEW YORK (AP) – Reliever Kyle Farnsworth has agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets and will report to spring training as a non-roster player. Utility player Jeff Baker has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with the Miami Marlins. And Seattle’s Logan Morrison has avoided arbitration and agreed to a $1.75 million contract for the upcoming season.

 

Olympics…

 WASHINGTON (AP) – Top U.S. security officials are telling President Barack Obama that all appropriate steps are being taken to keep Americans safe at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The White House says Obama directed his team to work closely with Russia and others to make the Sochi Games safe. Some lawmakers have raised concerns about safety at the Olympics and cooperation with Russia, although FBI Director James Comey (KOH’-mee) told a Senate panel last month U.S. cooperation with the Russian Security Service has improved.

UNDATED (AP) – A poll commissioned by The Associated Press and GfK shows that Americans certainly have interest in the upcoming Olympics with older people expressing more interest. The favorite sport is figure skating with hockey second. Broken down, women enjoy their figure skating while men their hockey.
 

In world and national news…

VATICAN CITY (AP) – A U.N. human rights committee issued a scathing critique today of the Vatican’s conduct during the priest sex abuse scandal. It says policies facilitated the rape and molestation of tens of thousands of children by priests over decades. Among the committee’s nonbinding recommendations is that the Vatican should open its files on the pedophiles and those who concealed their crimes.
 
     BEIRUT (AP) – The United Nations is ripping the Syrian government today, accusing it of responsibility for “countless killings, maiming and torture” of children during the current civil war. The report from the world body also accuses the rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad of “recruiting youngsters for combat.” 
 
     GENEVA (AP) – A U.N. committee on children’s rights sys Russia’s law banning pro-gay “propaganda” that could be accessible to minors “encourages stigmatization of and discrimination against” gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, including children. The Committee on the Rights of the Child is urging Russia to repeal the law.
 
     BRUSSELS (AP) – Google is offering more concessions in Europe where it is under fire for allegedly abusing its dominant position in Internet searches. European Union Antitrust Commissioner Joaquin Almunia says the far-reaching concessions include guarantees that Google will display results from three competitors in a similar way whenever it promotes its own specialized search services like Google shopping.
 
     PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – One state lawmaker writing a digital privacy bill says, “We need to stand up and protect our liberty.” And Republican state Sen. Rob Schaaf of Missouri is not alone. At least 14 states are considering their own privacy laws amid anger and frustration over National Security Agency surveillance and what they consider outdated digital privacy laws. The message to Washington appears to be: If you don’t take action to strengthen privacy, we will.