Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Mar 31

CSi Weather…

JAMESTOWN AREA…

…BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CDT TUESDAY…

REST OF TODAY…SNOW. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. SNOW MAY BE
 HEAVY AT TIMES. VERY WINDY. MUCH COLDER. NEW SNOW ACCUMULATION OF
 9 TO 10 INCHES. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S. NORTH WINDS AROUND 40 MPH
 WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 55 MPH.
 .TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SNOW IN THE EVENING. BLOWING AND
 DRIFTING SNOW IN THE EVENING…THEN PATCHY BLOWING AND DRIFTING
 SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. VERY WINDY. SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND
 2 INCHES. STORM TOTAL 11 TO 16 INCHES. LOWS 5 TO 10 ABOVE.
 NORTHWEST WINDS 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 55 MPH
 DECREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
 .TUESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S. NORTHWEST WINDS
 15 TO 20 MPH DECREASING TO AROUND 10 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
 .TUESDAY NIGHT…INCREASING CLOUDS. LOWS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. NORTHEAST
 WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
 .WEDNESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S. EAST WINDS
 5 TO 10 MPH.
 .WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT
 CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS 15 TO 20. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S.
 .THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW.
 LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S.
 .FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S.
 .FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 15 TO 20. HIGHS
 IN THE UPPER 30S.
 .SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S.
 HIGHS IN THE LOWER 40S.

Valley City…

BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT TUESDAY…
.REST OF TODAY…LIGHT SNOW. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. SNOW MAY
BE HEAVY AT TIMES IN THE AFTERNOON. NEW SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO
9 INCHES. HIGHS 15 TO 20. VERY WINDY. NORTH WINDS 35 TO 45 MPH
WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 55 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW NEAR 100 PERCENT.
.TONIGHT…SNOW IN THE EVENING…THEN SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW
AFTER MIDNIGHT. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW THROUGH THE NIGHT. SNOW
ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 4 INCHES. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION 5 TO
15 INCHES. LOWS 5 TO 10. VERY WINDY. NORTH WINDS AROUND 35 MPH
BECOMING NORTHWEST AROUND 25 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT. GUSTS UP TO
55 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW NEAR 100 PERCENT.
.TUESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 20 TO 25. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO
20 MPH.
.TUESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.
.WEDNESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 25 TO 30.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW.
LOWS 15 TO 20.
.THURSDAY…CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW. HIGHS IN THE MID
30S.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW. LOWS 20 TO
25.
.FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW.
HIGHS IN THE MID 30S.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 20 TO 25.
.SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 40 TO 45.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S.
.SUNDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW.
HIGHS IN THE MID 40S.

 

Road Report…Monday noon

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) along with the North Dakota Highway Patrol have LIFTED the No Travel Advisory for portions of southwest and north central North Dakota including the cities of Beach, Dickinson, Richardton, Beulah, Garrison, Parshall, Velva and surrounding areas. A No Travel Advisory remains in effect for areas west of Bismarck, Center, and areas in northeast North Dakota including Carrington, Devils Lake, Langdon, Grand Forks, Drayton and surrounding areas due to blowing snow creating near zero visibility and snow covered roads causing hazardous driving conditions. Motorists should not travel in areas included in the No Travel Advisory.

In addition, a Travel Alert is in effect for areas east of Bismarck, Steele, Jamestown, Valley City, Ellendale, and areas south of US Highway 2 near Grand Forks including Thompson, Northwood, Hatton and surrounding areas. Conditions in these areas include reduced visibility and snow covered roads.  A Travel Alert means conditions are such that motorists can still travel in these areas, but should be advised of rapidly changing conditions. Motorists are encouraged to reduce speeds and drive according to the conditions 

All travelers are encouraged to monitor road conditions as weather conditions occur and use caution while traveling. For road information, call 511 from any type of phone or go to the website: www.dot.nd.gov. NDDOT releases information to inform the public about travel conditions throughout the state. The three categories are as follows:

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – State officials and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association are urging ranchers to gather their animals into sheltered areas as a spring storm hits.
 
     State Veterinarian Susan Keller says it’s a particularly difficult time for producers because calving season is underway. She says getting the animals protected and providing adequate feed and water is “an absolute priority.”
 
     Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says producers who need help should contact their local extension agent, county law enforcement or the Department of Agriculture.
 
     Much of North Dakota is under a blizzard warning. A blizzard that struck early last October hurt ranchers in the southwest, with livestock losses estimated at more than 1,000 animals.

 Meteorologist Michael Mathews in Bismarck says it’s not uncommon for a blizzard to hit the region this time of year – though he says the snow is lighter and fluffier than snow associated with many spring storms.
 
     That’s good news for ranchers with newborn calves. South Dakota Stockgrowers Association Executive Director Silvia Christen says she doesn’t expect a repeat of an early October blizzard that killed tens of thousands of animals.

 

Bismarck (CSi) The National Weather Service in Bismarck has issued the flood outlook for the James River Basin for the time period of late March through late June 2014.

The reports states:

“THE FLOOD OUTLOOK FOR THE LOWER JAMES RIVER BASIN IS SOMEWHAT BELOW NORMAL GOING FORWARD…THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO THE RELATIVELY DRY SOILS IN THOSE AREAS. HOWEVER…MOST OF THE JAMES RIVER TRIBUTARIES ARE WITHIN JUST A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS OF WHAT IS A NORMAL FLOOD RISK COMING OUT OF THE SPRING MELT.

IN GENERAL THOUGH…ONCE THE REGION FINALLY UNDERGOES A LONG ENOUGH PERIOD OF WARM WEATHER…ALL LOCATIONS WILL QUICKLY REVERT TO A NEAR NORMAL RISK OF FLOODING AS

FROZEN SOILS THAW AND BEGIN TO DRY OUT.

 

…CURRENT CONDITIONS…MARCH 28, 2014…

SOILS ACROSS THE REGION REMAIN FAIRLY FROZEN WITH FROST DEPTHS EXCEEDING 49 INCHES AND REFLECTS ONLY MODEST IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. THESE FROZEN SOILS ARE STILL LIKELY TO PRODUCE WELL ABOVE NORMAL RUNOFF FROM ANY FAST MELTING SNOW OR HEAVY RAINS.

SNOWPACK ACROSS THE JAMES RIVER BASIN OF NORTH DAKOTA

IS MOSTLY GONE WITH ONLY POCKETS REMAINING IN SHELTERED AREAS.

 

…WEATHER OUTLOOK…

THE NEAR TERM 6 TO 10 AND 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOKS SUGGEST A GREATER THAN NORMAL PROBABILITY OF BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION. THE WEATHER FORECAST MODELS ALL SUGGEST SOME VARYING AMOUNTS OF SNOW ACROSS MUCH OF THE JAMES RIVER BASINS OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS OF MARCH.

LOOKING FARTHER OUT AT THE ONE AND THREE MONTH OUTLOOKS…A GREATER THAN NORMAL PROBABILITY EXISTS FOR COOLER THAN AVERAGE TEMPERATURES WITH AN

EQUAL CHANCE FOR BELOW NORMAL…NORMAL…OR ABOVE NORMAL

PRECIPITATION.”

 

Jamestown (Csi) The James River Valley Library System has set plans to help fund the purchase of a new bookmobile.

The board has plans to submit a community facilities application for a grant to U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

The grant application will request $74,000 for a new bookmobile to replace the current 18-year-old vehicle.

The grant is planned to fund 50 percent of the cost of the bookmobile.

The remaining 50 percent would come from the library’s bookmobile fund.

A public hearing is at 5 p.m. April 7 at Jamestown City Hall, 102 3rd Ave. SE, Jamestown, to answer questions related to the project.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Authorities in Fargo say a heat lamp used to keep some pets warm at a detached garage in Fargo caused a fire that killed a dog.
 
     Fargo’s fire department assistant chief Le Roy Skarloken says 12 firefighters, three engines, one truck and one command vehicle responded to the fire that started around 1:45 a.m. Sunday.
 
     He says the blaze damaged a detached double garage in the alley behind a home. Two cats escaped the fire.
 
     The fire department is urging residents who use supplemental heating devices to make sure they are secured from being tipped over and kept at least three feet away from any combustibles.

 

 FARGO, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota Democrats say they expect the candidate at the top of their ticket to build on his name recognition.
 
     The party concluded its state convention Saturday by endorsing George B. Sinner for the U.S. House of Representatives. He’s the son of former two-term North Dakota governor George A. Sinner.
 
     Former longtime Democratic U.S. Representative Earl Pomeroy says Sinner has a statewide name, but many people don’t know him and his record in business and most recently in the Legislature.
 
     Sinner of Fargo has worked as a banker and agribusiness executive and only entered politics two years ago when he won his bid to become a state senator.
 
     Sinner will face Kevin Cramer, a fixture in state Republican politics who is serving his first term in Congress.

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – The Federal Aviation Administration has authorized the Grand Forks sheriff’s department to fly drones at night.
 
     Sheriff Robert Rost says the FAA’s previous permission only allowed his department to fly unmanned aircraft systems during daytime.
 
     The Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit is a collaboration between the department, the University of North Dakota and two small drone manufacturers.
 
     Rost says his department has deployed the unit nine times since May 2013 on diverse incidents including serious traffic accidents and the search for felony suspects.
 
     The unit is allowed to participate in a limited number of missions including the search for missing people and serious crime suspects, disaster assessments, crime and traffic accident scene documentation, and road traffic monitoring during major events. Drones can’t be used for routine patrol.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The 30th edition of North Dakota’s Blue Book has been published.
 
     Gov. Jack Dalrymple is slated to accept the ceremonial first copy of the book from Secretary of State Al Jaeger at the state Capitol on Monday.
 
     The Blue Book compiles statistical and historical information that often isn’t available elsewhere.
 
     The Blue Book is so named because of the dark blue cover that adorns most editions. It has been published sporadically throughout state history. The first editions were called the “state manual” and the “legislative manual.”
 
     Since 1995, the Blue Book has been published every two years with the help of volunteers.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Endangered whooping cranes will be passing through North Dakota over the next several weeks during their spring migration.
 
     The state Game and Fish Department is asking anyone who spots one of the birds to report the sighting to state or federal wildlife officials so the birds can be tracked.
 
     Whooping cranes stand about 5 feet tall and have a wingspan of about 7 feet. They are bright white with black wing tips. In flight they extend their long necks straight forward, and their legs extend out behind them. They usually fly alone or in small groups, sometimes with sandhill cranes.
 
     Whooping cranes are federally protected, and Game and Fish says people who spot them should not disturb them.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Public Service Commission is holding pipeline safety meetings to update operators on the latest state and federal regulations.
 
     The meetings are slated Wednesday and Thursday in Bismarck.
 
     Officials say more than 130 pipeline operators from the Dakotas and neighboring states will be attending.
 
     The PSC says registration has been closed “due to the great turnout and interest in the event.”

 

 WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) – Volunteers in Wahpeton have produced 50,000 meals that will be delivered to locals and people in need in Tanzania.
 
    About 350 people gathered at the city’s community center and worked in a giant assembly line to mass produce the meals.
 
     The 7,500 pounds of food measured, bagged and boxed by volunteers were provided by Outreach, Inc.
 
     It is estimated that at least 40 percent of the population in Tanzania lives in food-deficit regions.
 
     The station reports the meals that stay in Wahpeton will be given to the food pantry and backpack program.
 
     The event was organized by the Richland-Wilkin Ministerial Association.

 

In sports..

VALLEY CITY (VCSU, CSi) – Valley City State University athletic director Jack Denholm announced Friday the hiring of Adam Longmore as the 11th head volleyball coach in school history.

Longmore will take over the Viking volleyball program in mid-April. He replaces Susan Kolbow, who resigned in January following four seasons as Viking head coach. An assistant coach at Southern Utah University, Longmore said he is excited to start a new chapter at VCSU.

Longmore says, “I think there’s a lot of potential with the volleyball program at Valley City. I was very impressed with the girls’ attitudes and their work ethic – they’re a hardworking bunch of girls. That’s the first key to success in any program and that’s already there.”

Longmore interviewed on the VCSU campus last week and had a chance to meet the players and athletic staff, and see the volleyball facilities.

Denholm add “Adam has a strong coaching background at the NCAA level along with a history in the NAIA. We’re excited to have him take over our volleyball program.”

Longmore just completed his sixth season as assistant coach at Southern Utah University, an NCAA Division I school that competed in the Summit League and the Big Sky Conference during his time at the school. Longmore helped rebuild the Southern Utah volleyball program from the ground up after it was reinstated at the school following a 20-year hiatus. While at SUU, Longmore specialized in coaching blockers. In 2012, SUU finished 2nd in the Big Sky Conference and 27th in the nation in blocks per set (2.64), and in 2013 SUU was 53rd in the nation with 2.55 blocks per set.

Prior to Southern Utah, Longmore was head coach from 2004-2007 at William Woods University, an NAIA school in Fulton, Mo. He was also an assistant for William Woods in 2003, and earned a Master’s degree in athletic administration from the school in 2007.

Longmore earned his Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University, where he spent time playing on and coaching the men’s club volleyball team. He has also worked with Gold Medal Squared as a camp and clinic instructor for more than 10 years.

While visiting the VCSU campus, Longmore said Graichen Gym stood out to him as a major advantage, comparing it to the Bentson-Bunker Fieldhouse at NDSU that his Southern Utah teams used to play in.

Longmore says “We have the potential to have a huge home-court advantage in that gym,” citing the small size that creates an intense atmosphere. “Anytime you have a smaller gym that’s volleyball specific, that can be intimidating to play there. Once we get some things in place and start playing really good, it’s going to be tough for teams to play us there.”

Longmore said some of his first priorities once on the VCSU campus are identifying where the team needs improvement, recruiting, and making connections with area high school and club volleyball coaches.

He and his wife Jennifer have three kids, daughter Odessa (9) and sons Addison (5) and Elijah (3).

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota’s Game and Fish Department will hold spring advisory board meetings in eight cities around the state.
 
     The annual meetings give North Dakotans an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues with state officials.
 
     Meetings are Monday in Williston and Turtle Lake, Tuesday in Makoti and Walhalla, April 7 in Finley and Dickinson, and April 8 in Devils Lake and Valley City.
 
     Before each meeting, Game and Fish officials will meet with landowners to talk about private land conservation programs.
 
     More meeting details can be found at http://www.gf.nd.gov .

 

MENS HOCKEY…

 ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Adam Wilcox made 24 saves to help top-seeded Minnesota beat St. Cloud State 4-0  in the NCAA West Regional final. Minnesota will face North Dakota in the Frozen Four semifinals in Philadelphia on April 10th. Boston College will play Union in the other semifinal.
 

MENS BASKETBALL…

 UNDATED (AP) – Seventh seed Connecticut and No. 8 Kentucky have joined Florida and Wisconsin in the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four. Shabazz Napier scored 17 of his 25 points in the second half as UConn downed No. 4 Michigan State 60-54 to win the East Regional at Madison Square Garden. The Wildcats captured the Midwest Regional by downing No. 2 Michigan 75-72 on Aaron Harrison’s 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left.

 

NCAA..WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

Regional Semifinals

Final Louisville 73 LSU 47

Final Stanford 82 Penn St. 57

Final North Carolina 65 South Carolina 58

Final Maryland 73 Tennessee 62

 

 NATIONAL  LEAGUE
 
   Final    San  Diego      3    L.A.  Dodgers      1
 
 
       NATIONAL  BASKETBALL  ASSOCIATION

NEW YORK (AP) – Paul Pierce scored 22 points as the Brooklyn Nets moved to the brink of a playoff spot by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-99 yesterday for their franchise record-tying 13th straight home victory. Corey Brewer and Kevin Martin each scored 21 for the Timberwolves. Minnesota had won two in row and were coming off the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season.
 
   Final    Cleveland              90    Indiana                76
   Final    Oklahoma  City    116    Utah                      96
   Final    Toronto                  98    Orlando                93
   Final    Chicago                107    Boston                102
   Final    Portland              105    Memphis                98
   Final    New  York                89    Golden  State      84
   Final    L-A  Lakers          115    Phoenix                99
 
 
       NATIONAL  HOCKEY  LEAGUE
 
   Final            Ottawa                6    Calgary                3
   Final            Detroit              3    Tampa  Bay            2
   Final  2OT    Boston                4    Philadelphia      3  (SO  Boston  2-1)
   Final            Pittsburgh        4    Chicago                1
   Final            N-Y  Rangers      5    Edmonton              0
   Final  2OT    Nashville          4    Washington          3  (SO  Nashville  1-0)

NASCAR…

 MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) – Kurt Busch took the checkered flag in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Martinsville, Va., taking the lead with 10 laps remaining after Jimmie Johnson led 296 laps. Busch’s 25th career victory ended a winless streak that had reached 83 starts. Dale Earnhardt Jr. third, followed by Joey Logano and Marcos Ambrose.

INDY…

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Will Power won the season-opening IndyCar race in St. Petersburg, Fla. The win is his third straight as he won the last two races last season. Ryan Hunter-Reay finished second, Helio Castroneves (EHL’-ee-oh cas-troh-NEHV’-us) was third and defending IndyCar champion Scott Dixon fourth.
 

GOLF…

SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Australia’s Steven Bowditch (BOH’-dich) has captured the Texas Open by becoming the first PGA winner to close with a 76 since Vijay Singh (VEE’-jay sing) 10 years ago. Bowditch finished 8-under for the tournament despite his 4-over 76, one shot ahead of Will MacKenzie and Daniel Summerhays. Bowditch claimed his first PGA victory and a spot in the Masters.

 CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) – Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist has won the Kia Classic in California, finishing one shot ahead of American Lizette Salas. Nordqvist closed with a 5-under 67 for a 13-under total in her second victory in her last four LPGA starts.
 
     Norqvist surged to the lead on the final day after opening with a 73 on Thursday..

 

In world and national news…

 YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) – One of the main authors of today’s report by a United Nations climate panel says “we’re all sitting ducks.” More than 100 governments unanimously approved the scientist-written 49-page summary that concludes the already noticeable harms of global warming could spiral “out of control” if heat trapping gases aren’t reduced. The report notes that while no one is immune, the consequences are likely to be very uneven and impact the poor the most.
 
     WASHINGTON (AP) – A large study in Sweden concludes that a simple blood test plus the usual electrocardiogram are 99 percent accurate at showing which patients can safely be sent home after going to emergency rooms with chest pain. Of nearly 9,000 patients judged low risk, only 15 went on to suffer a heart attack in the next month, and none died. The study is in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The test is widely available, but not in the United States.
 
     PERTH, Australia (AP) – Searchers continue to be frustrated as debris being spotted and picked up in the Indian Ocean turns out to have no connection to a missing Malaysian airliner. Australian officials say the latest items spotted are fishing gear. The prime minister says the search will continue indefinitely.
 
     SIMFEROPOL, Crimea (AP) – Russia’s prime minister is promising a quick influx of cash for Crimea. Dmitry Medvedev led a delegation of Cabinet ministers to Crimea today promising residents would see positive changes. He says Russia will quickly boost salaries and pensions and pour in resources to improve education, health care and local infrastructure.
 
     PRAGUE (AP) – Czech investigators say the explosion that killed the ambassador at the Palestinian Embassy complex in Prague was not caused by a booby-trapped safe as previously believed. Police now say the blast that killed Ambassador Jamal al-Jamal on Jan. 1 did not happen inside the safe and no explosive device was part of the safe. The cause of the explosion remains unclear.