CSi Weather…

TODAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. FLURRIES IN THE MORNING. BREEZY…
COLDER. HIGHS AROUND 40. NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH.
.TONIGHT…CLOUDY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT.
COLDER. LOWS AROUND 15. NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.SATURDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. COLDER.
HIGHS 15 TO 20. NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 15 MPH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…DECREASING CLOUDS. LOWS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. EAST
WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
.SUNDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE
AFTERNOON. HIGHS AROUND 30. SOUTH WINDS AROUND 10 MPH INCREASING
TO 15 TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW.
LOWS IN THE MID 20S.
.MONDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S.
.MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT
CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S.
.TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE
LOWER 20S. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S.

COLDER FOR LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT
NIGHT INTO SATURDAY ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AS
COLD SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS. A BAND
OF PRECIPITATION IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP. ALL SNOW IS
EXPECTED FOR NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Minor flooding is occurring in parts of North Dakota as a week of warm weather melts the snowpack.

The Transportation Department says there’s water on state Highway 58 in northwestern North Dakota, and motorists are urged to slow down and use caution. Officials say more roads might be impacted in coming days. Motorists are encouraged to check road conditions before traveling.

Some rural flooding also has been reported in north central North Dakota, and the Heart and Cannonball rivers in the south central part of the state have reached minor flood stage.

The National Weather Service says chances are low for any significant flooding in the Red, Souris and

James river valleys this year. The Corps of Engineers says the Missouri River also is expected to be tame this spring.

 

Jamestown (CSi) Plans are underway at University of Jamestown for “An Evening of Mystery,” the 28th annual Dine and Bid dinner and scholarship benefit auction. The event will take place Saturday, April 12, 2014 in the Larson Center on the University of Jamestown campus.

On Thursday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2 the university’s Karen Crane and Tena Lawrence said the event features the opportunity to bid on an array of unique items in silent and live auctions, the chance to win exciting raffles throughout the evening, and the challenge of solving a mystery or two. A delicious meal is catered by Aramark and overseen by Regional Executive Chef Paolo Stefani, whose numerous culinary credentials include catering in the corporate suites during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Director of Development, Karen Crane, says “We are sincerely grateful to the Jamestown community for being so supportive of Dine and Bid. From event sponsors to our auctioneers and Master of Ceremonies, to committee members, and the businesses and individuals who donate auction items, we rely on each of them to make this event successful.”

Items in the auction include a tailgate party for 20 at the Jimmies’ opening home football game, a one-year movie pass to Bison 6 Cinema, and a seven-day vacation package to Hilton Head, S.C. Also up for bid will be road signs with the “Jamestown College” name, the letters from the word “College” at the campus’ front gate, and the original front doors of the recently-renovated Orlady Hall.

University of Jamestown students get involved in the event by managing valet parking, greeting attendees, displaying items, serving the meal, and assisting with delivery of large auction items to buyers’ homes.

Ms. Lawrence added that the students and the attendees will also take part in mysteries to be solved during the evening.

Casey Stoudt will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Auction services will be provided by More from Orr Auctioneers.

The event is open to the community. Tickets can be obtained by contacting Tena Lawrence at (701) 252-3467 ext. 5415 or

tlawrenc@uj.edu. Reservations can also be placed online at http://alumni.uj.edu/event/dinebid2014.

Ms. Lawrence added that during the evening there will be a sign up to take part in a Mystery Bus “Eat-A-Thon,” coming later. For a cost of $100 participants will take a bus ride led by University Present, Dr. Bob Badal, where stops will be made at local eateries, which will be a mystery until the event takes place.

 

Jamestown (CSi) Buffalo City Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund has been promoting Jamestown and the area, at regional events.

On Thursday’s (Mar 13, 2014) Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2 Swedlund said last weekend he attended a sports show in Milwaukee, and prior that sport shows in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

He noted that he was approached by attendees, that said when they retire they plan to live in North Dakota, rather than their current location.

He pointed out that a new Jamestown Area Service Guide has been published and is available to local motels, and other locations where events and activities are attended, published by Tourism and the Jamestown Sun.

The publication includes local businesses, tourism attractions and along with locales to hold conventions, sports, and other events and activities.

He added that the pubic is invited to Buffalo City Tourism, Annual Meeting to be held on Monday March 24, 2014 at the Jamestown Arts Center, at 5:30 p.m., where updates will be given on tourism, and refreshments served.

He said that the official re-branding will be unveiled the first week in May this year.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Frontier Village Association has approved keeping wage increases for the village’s staff. The Association did not receive the full grant amount from the Buffalo City Tourism Foundation.

The total staffing budget amount for the 2014 season at $40,558.17. The association will review the budget in July and could change the wages depending on the results.

The BCTF Executive Board previously approved $35,000 for staffing. Association President Charlie Tanata says the association has $20,000 in the reserve from last year and could use $5,000 of that to cover the difference in the staff funding request.

Also the FVA needs about $6,000 to finish two wooden towers at the front gate entrance to the village, and another $2,000 to pay Karen George, the woman who runs the stagecoach ride, for extra hours to run the ride this summer. Altogether these unanticipated expenses are $14,000.

Tanata said with the $20,000 surplus, the association can cover those expenses.

BCTF Executive Director Searle Swedlund said the association needs to find a way to “sell” to the BCTF Executive Board the idea that the increased wages are being used to bring more visitors into the Frontier Village, thus benefiting all of Jamestown’s tourism businesses.

The FVA approved a request from the Wild West Players for $350 to buy ammunition and break-a-way bottles, to be used by the Wild West Players in shows at the Frontier Village.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The City of Jamestown is informing residents that due to the changing weather conditions causing extremely muddy conditions in the alleys, the City Sanitation Department announces that

effective Monday, March 17, 2014, the City Sanitation crews will no longer be picking up garbage in the alleyways.

Until further notice, please place garbage containers on the boulevard

no further than 3’ from the curb on your scheduled pick up day.

Please place garbage out for pick up by 7:00 a.m. Trucks WILL NOT return to the area due to missed garbage placed out after the scheduled garbage route has been picked up!!

 

Valley City (CSi) Barnes County Highway Superintendent, Kerry Johnson says, road restrictions on all Barnes County roads is effective Monday, March 17, 2014, at 7:00 a.m.

Current seasonal load restriction information is available online at www.co.barnes.nd.us and at the Barnes County Highway Department, Barnes County Auditor’s Office, along with all Barnes County Elevators

Statewide load restriction information is available on the North Dakota DOT website or by calling 511.

 

 FARGO, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple has awarded the state’s highest honor to the family of a businessman and community leader who founded what is now the Greater North Dakota Chamber.
 
     Herman Stern is the 40th recipient of the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award.
 
     Stern was known for his work in a family clothing store that has been in business for 130 years. He first became manager of the Straus Clothing Store in Valley City in 1910, where he remained for 70 years.
 
     Stern died in 1980.
 
     Stern founded the Greater North Dakota Association in 1924 and served as the organization’s first president. He also was pivotal in starting the North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City.
 
     Dalrymple presented the award Thursday in Fargo.

 

Jamestown (CSi) 40-45 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis students will spend spring break in Jamestown, assisting the Jamestown Salvation Army.

The student service project consists of helping at the Salvation Army Store on Business Loop West, along with helping to organize the warehouse, volunteering 4-6 hours as they sort clothes and other donated items to place on the store shelves.

James River Family Y Executive Director, Frank Conlin says the Y will house the students at the Larson Center, during their Jamestown stay, starting March 15, 2014.

Showers and bathroom facilities, are also being made available at the Y.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Fargo police are investigating what they say is a suspicious death.
 
     Lt. Joel Vettel says  a man’s body was discovered behind the Bison Center Strip Mall about 1 a.m. Friday. He says a cause of death was not immediately determined. The man was not immediately identified.
 
     Meanwhile, the state medical examiner has determined that a homeless man found dead in Fargo on Jan. 9 died of hypothermia. The body of 48-year-old Randy Lafontaine was found under a flatbed truck, on a day when the temperature reached 24 degrees below zero.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota University System officials say identity protection and credit checking services will be provided for one year in the wake of a security breach on a computer server.
 
     Interim Chancellor Larry Skogen told lawmakers that the service will begin Friday for affected students and faculty. A call center for people with questions also will be available beginning Friday.
 
     Skogen announced earlier this month that records of more than 290,000 current and former students and about 780 faculty and staff were housed on the server.
 
     Skogen says there is no evidence that any personal information has been accessed.

 

 GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – The University of North Dakota is accepting applications for a scholarship in memory of a former student who was kidnapped and killed more than 10 years ago.
 
     The Dru Sjodin (shuh-DEEN’) Memorial Scholarship is open to all students entering their sophomore, junior or senior years. It provides money for tuition and fees for a full year.
 
     This scholarship was established through the UND Alumni Association Foundation. Last year’s recipient was Sonja Collin.
 
     The application deadline is March 31.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A rancher and former North Dakota Senate Democratic leader who lost a bid for governor two years ago says he will seek his party’s endorsement for state agriculture commissioner. Ryan Taylor ranches near Towner in north-central North Dakota. He plans to formally announce his candidacy today in Bismarck and Fargo.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Voters will have just one measure to choose from on the June 10 ballot.
 
     Secretary of State Al Jaeger says the deadline to submit initiative petitions for placement on the June election was midnight Wednesday. Supporters of three initiated measures failed to file their petitions by the deadline.
 
     Signatures have been collected on a measure that would create a new conservation fund using oil tax revenue. Other measures would change parental rights in divorce cases and change the start the school year after Labor Day.
 
     The only measure slated to appear on the June 10 ballot is a resolution that would extend the deadline for submitting ballot measure petitions from 90 days to 120 days.

 

 FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Officials with the group that is managing a proposed Red River diversion project say a handful of landowners are selling their property in an area that would be used to hold back water in times of serious flooding.
 
     The Red River Diversion Authority Board says it has deals to buy six different parcels of land and is negotiating on a seventh tract, for a total of about 2,000 acres.
 
     Cass County Joint Water Resource District chairman Mark Brodshaug says those residents believe the project is moving forward, even though funding for construction of the $2 billion channel was not included in President Obama’s 2015 budget proposal.
 
     The diversion would move water around the Fargo area. An opposition group of upstream landowners has filed a federal lawsuit against the project.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – State data show North Dakota’s oil production in January saw a small increase compared to the previous month.
 
     A report by the state’s top oil and gas industry regulator indicates North Dakota oil drillers produced a little bit more than 933,000 barrels of oil daily in January. That’s up from about 927,000 in December.
 
     State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms says the preliminary data released Thursday shows that January’s total of more than 28.9 million barrels was up from 28.7 million barrels in December.
 
     The report states the preliminary number of wells in production in January hit a new all-time high of 10,100. That’s 60 more than in December.
 
     January production figures are the latest available because oil production numbers typically lag at least two months.

 

 WASHINGTON (AP) – The Associated Press has learned that failings last spring by nuclear missile operators at an Air Force base in North Dakota were worse than first reported. Airmen responsible for missile operations at Minot Air Force Base would have failed their portion of a major inspection in March 2013 but managed a “marginal” rating because their poor marks were blended with the better performance of support staff.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The number of carloads of crude oil U.S. railroads delivered last year surged 83 percent over 2012 as concerns about the shipments grow.
 
     The Association of American Railroads said Thursday the major U.S. railroads delivered 434,042 carloads of crude oil in 2013.
 
     That’s well above the 236,556 carloads of crude oil railroads delivered in 2012.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – John Hoeven is among a group of eight U.S. senators traveling to the Ukraine.
 
     The North Dakota Republican says his focus will be on how the situation there affects agriculture, trade and energy ties between the U.S. and Ukraine.
 
     Russia has occupied the province of Crimea, which is a part of Ukraine. The pro-Russian Crimea region will vote Sunday on whether to secede, and possibly join Russia, in anger over new leaders in Kiev who seek to forge stronger economic ties with Europe.
 
     Hoeven says he believes building strong energy and trade relations with Ukraine can be keys to resolving the situation.
 
     Hoeven organized trade missions to Ukraine in 2006 and 2008 when he was governor. The North Dakota Trade Office maintains a full-time Ukrainian trade representative.

 

 

In sports…

GIRLS BASKETBALL
 Class A State Tournament
 Quarterfinal

MINOT, N.D. (AP) – Keisha Engelhardt’s double-double paced Bismarck to a 60-50 win over Valley City at the North Dakota Class A girls basketball quarterfinal on Thursday.

Engelhardt led the Demons (21-2) with a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds sank 6-of-9 shots from the free throw line. McKenzie Kiefer added 14 points and seven rebounds and Courtney Trolliey shot 66 percent from the field and finished with 13 points.

The Hi-Liners were led by Dierra Diegel with 18 points and seven rebounds. Clarissa Olson added 10 points and nine rebounds. Brenna Dieterle had nine points.

The Hi-Liners are now 15-8 on the year, play Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., in the  loser-out game against West Fargo.

 

Minot (CSi)  Thursday evening The Jamestown Blue Jays were defeated by Fargo Shanley 62-50, in a North Dakota Class A state quarterfinal

Jamestown the number three seed, Shanley the number 2 seed.

The Blue Jays play Bismarck Century in loser-out play at 6 p.m. Friday.

Shanley meets  Fargo Davies in a semifinal, set for 3 p.m. today at the Minot State Dome.

Fargo Davies 61, Bismarck Century 55
 Minot 62, West Fargo 59

 

NAIA WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT…

 Sioux City (CSi) The University of Jamestown Jimmie women’s basketball team  advances to the Sweet 16 at the NAIA national tournament, handily beating  Roosevelt, Illinois  80-59 in the opening round  on Thursday in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Jiimies led, all the way, getting started with a 12-1 lead.

The Jimmies play Frtday at 5:15 p.m.  against Cardinal-Stritch, Wisconsin. 

Cardinal Stritch  rolled over Briar Cliff, Iowa, 74-48 in the 4-5 game. 

 27 wins on the season ties a school record for single-season victories, as Jamestown advances to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year.

 On Thursday, Mayville State defeated Cornerstone, Michigan, 86-82 in opening-round play at the NAIA women’s national basketball tournament in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Comets, who advance to the Sweet 16 Friday, taking on the College of Ozarks, Missouri  at noon.

 

 OGDEN, Utah (AP) – Troy Huff scored 18 points and Aaron Anderson added 16 including four clutch free throws as Number two seed North Dakota edged seventh-seeded Sacramento State 79-76 in the Big Sky Tournament yesterday. North Dakota advances to today’s semifinal.

 

 GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team is entering the National Collegiate Hockey Conference playoffs ranked in the Top 10 in both national polls.
 
     UND is Number 9 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, and Number 10 in the USCHO DOT com rankings. Minnesota remains the top-ranked team in both polls, with Boston College, Union, St. Cloud State and Wisconsin rounding out the top five in both.
 
     UND hosts Colorado College this weekend in the NCHC quarterfinals. The winner advances to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff in Minneapolis March 21st through 22nd.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Class A State Tournament

Quarterfinal

Bismarck Century 73, Fargo Shanley 59

Bismarck St. Mary’s 56, Wahpeton 53

Fargo Davies 91, Minot 82

Fargo South 57, Bismarck High 54

 

ALL  GIRLS BASKETBALL

Class A State Tournament

Quarterfinal

Bismarck High 60, Valley City 50

Fargo Davies 61, Bismarck Century 55

Fargo Shanley 62, Jamestown 50

Minot 62, West Fargo 59

Class B Region 1 Tournament

Third Place

Maple Valley 49, Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran 43

Championship

Central Cass 56, Fairmount-Campbell-Tintah 51

Class B Region 2 Tournament

Third Place

Park River/Fordville Lankin 57, Midway-Minto 53

Championship

Thompson 46, Hillsboro/Central Valley 38

Class B Region 3 Tournament

Third Place

LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 56, Ellendale 49

Championship

Kidder County 45, South Border 44, OT

Class B Region 4 Tournament

Third Place

Rolette-Wolford 48, Carrington 46

Championship

Lakota/Adams-Edmore 65, North Star 45

Class B Region 5 Tournament

Third Place

Underwood 51, Wilton-Wing 41

Championship

Shiloh Christian 59, Grant County 43

Class B Region 6 Tournament

Third Place

Lewis and Clark-Berthold 42, Des Lacs-Burlington 31

Championship

Minot Bishop Ryan 57, Towner-Granville-Upham 27

Class B Region 7 Tournament

Third Place

Hazen 63, Beulah 61

Championship

Beach 46, Dickinson Trinity 40

Class B Region 8 Tournament

Third Place

New Town 49, Stanley 48

Championship

Watford City 70, Parshall 63, OT

 

 NATIONAL  BASKETBALL  ASSOCIATION
 
   Final    Chicago                111    Houston            87
   Final    Atlanta                102    Milwaukee        97
   Final    Oklahoma  City    131    L-A  Lakers    102
 
 
       NATIONAL  HOCKEY  LEAGUE

 ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Darcy Kuemper stopped 29 shots to break the franchise rookie victory record in the Minnesota Wild’s 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers last night.  Kuemper bounced back for his 12th victory two nights after he failed hold a three-goal lead against Edmonton. Nino Niederreiter also scored to help the Wild snap a three-game losing streak.
 
   Final            Carolina        4    Buffalo              2
   Final            Boston            2    Phoenix              1
   Final  2OT    San  Jose        4    Columbus            3  (SO  San  Jose  1-0)
   Final            Tampa  Bay      5    Florida              4
   Final            St.  Louis      6    Edmonton            2
   Final            Toronto          3    Los  Angeles      2
 
 
      COLLEGE  BASKETBALL

 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Austin Hollins scored 18 points yesterday to give Minnesota a badly needed 63-56 win over Penn State in the Big Ten tournament. The seventh-seeded Golden Gophers advanced to tonight’s quarterfinal against No. 12 Wisconsin with their third win in four games. Minnesota took control quickly with a 9-0 lead and never trailed.

 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)- Baylor opened a 21-point lead and upset 17th-ranked Oklahoma 78-73 in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament. The Sooners made just 12 of 35 attempts from 3-point land as the Bears won their fifth in a row.
 
     NEW YORK (AP) – That upset followed an even bigger stunner in the Big East tournament. Third-ranked Villanova, which had hopes of a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament, fell to unranked Seton Hall 64-63 as Sterling Gibbs hit a step-back jumper at the buzzer for the Pirates.
 
     NEW YORK (AP)- It would appear the biggest beneficiary of Villanova’s upset is the 14th-ranked Creighton (KRAY’-tuhn) Bluejays. Doug McDermott poured in 35 points as Creighton bopped DePaul 84-62 to reach Friday night’s Big East semifinals and would appear to have a much easier route to the Big East title with Villanova out.

Nick Johnson scored 14 points and T.J. McConnell added 13 as No. 4 Arizona overwhelmed Utah in record breaking fashion 71-39 to match the most lopsided game in Pac-12 tournament history.
 
Chris Jones scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half when fifth-ranked Louisville started their 92-31 rout of Rutgers in the American Athletic Conference tournament.

Xavier Thames scored 15 points and had 7 assists to help eighth-ranked San Diego State crush Utah State 73-39 in the Mountain West tournament.

Andrew Wiggins scored 30 points to lead No. 10 Kansas to a 77-70 win over Oklahoma State in overtime in the Big 12 tournament.

 Sean Kilpatrick scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Justin Jackson added 14 points as No. 13 Cincinnati escaped with a 61-58 victory over Central Florida in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament.

 Melvin Ejim had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Dustin Hogue added 19 points and 10 boards and the No. 16 Iowa State held on for a 91-85 victory over Kansas State in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals.

Number-19 Memphis fell to 21st-ranked Connecticut 72-53.

LaQuinton Ross scored 19 points and Aaron Craft finished with 16, helping No. 24 Ohio State hang on for a 63-61 victory over Purdue in the Big Ten tournament.
    Final          (20)  New  Mexico            93              Fresno  St.          77
   Final                    Houston                  68    (25)  SMU                        64
 
 
       TOP-25  WOMEN’S  COLLEGE  BASKETBALL
 
   Final    (22)  Middle  Tennessee      69    UAB      59

 

 GOLF-VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP..
 
     PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) – Matt Every, Greg Chalmers, Danny Lee and Pat Perez shot 3-under 68’s to share the lead after the first round of the Valspar Championship. Robert Garrigus (GEHR’-ih-guhs) is in a group that trail by one shot. Honda Classic runner-up Russell Knox was among those at 70.
 
     Justin Rose, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 7, opened with a 71.
 
     TENNIS-INDIAN WELLS…
 
     INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) – Roger Federer beat Kevin Anderson 7-5, 6-1 to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open. The Swiss star yet to drop a set in four matches.
 
     Li Na (lee nah) beat Dominika Cibulkova (doh-mih-NEE’-kuh see-bool-KOH’-vuh) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in a rematch of their Australian Open final. That moves the Chinese star into the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
 
     Sloane Stephens, the last American woman left in the field, lost Flavia Pennetta (FLAH’-vee-uh pehn-EHT’-uh) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 and will face Li in the semifinals. No. 2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska (ahg-nee-ESH’-kuh rahd-VAHN’-skuh) and Simona Halep (HAL’-ehp) meet in the other semifinal Friday.
 

SPORTS-MEDIA…
  
     NEW YORK (AP) – Chris Fowler is taking over play-by-play responsibilities for the marquee Saturday night college football game on ABC.
 
     ESPN announced that Fowler had signed a nine-year contract extension through 2023. The network said earlier that Brent Musburger was leaving “Saturday Night Football” and doing games for SEC Network.

 

In world and national news…

 LONDON (AP) – Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in London today as efforts continue to avoid deepening the crisis over Ukraine. There’s little hope of halting a vote in Russia-leaning Crimea to separate the strategic Ukraine peninsula from the rest of the country and the West is warning Moscow of harsh sanctions. Ukraine is badly split over whether to link to Russia or the West.
 
     KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) – Malaysia’s Transport Ministry says it can’t verify various reports quoting U.S. officials about how long a missing airliner may have flown on after contact was lost. Based on that possibility, the international search is expanding westward today toward the Indian Ocean.
 
     PHOENIX (AP) – Three trials and more than 20 years later, a man is facing life in prison when he’s sentenced today in the 1991 killings of nine people, including six monks, at a suburban Phoenix Buddhist temple. Johnathan Doody’s 1993 conviction was thrown out and his second trial ended with a hung jury. He was convicted at a third trial in January. Doody has maintained his innocence.
 
     SEATTLE (AP) – The FBI is showing some cannabis caution in Washington state. The agency is refusing to run nationwide background checks on people applying to run legal marijuana businesses, even though it has done them in Colorado. The inconsistency illustrates the quandary the Justice Department faces as it allows states to experiment with regulating a drug that’s illegal under federal law.
 
     RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) – Saudi Arabia says it has another death from a new respiratory virus related to SARS. The man’s death brings the toll in the kingdom at the center of the outbreak to 63. The Health Ministry says the latest victim, a 19-year-old, died in a city southeast of Riyadh. Two of his sisters are hospitalized on suspicion they have been infected with the virus.