wbam1CSi Weather…

TODAY…SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S. SOUTHEAST WINDS AROUND
10 MPH INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
.TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS IN THE EVENING…
THEN CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS POSSIBLY MIXED WITH SNOW SHOWERS
AFTER MIDNIGHT. NOT AS COOL. LOWS IN THE MID 30S. EAST WINDS
AROUND 15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 40 PERCENT IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA, 50 PERCENT IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA.
.FRIDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA, A 40 PERCENT CHANCE IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA. HIGHS
IN THE LOWER 50S. EAST WINDS AROUND 15 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS.
LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S. EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S. EAST WINDS 10 TO
15 MPH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN
SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S.
.SUNDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN
SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 40S.
.MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS.
HIGHS AROUND 60.
.MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN
SHOWERS. LOWS AROUND 40.
.TUESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE UPPER
30S. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The Two Rivers Activity Center’s committee, voted Tuesday to approve changes to its bylaws removing the committee seat assigned to the Jamestown Gymnastics Club and reduced the overall size of the committee from 11 to nine.

The committee also heard from representatives of American City Bureau, a fundraising consulting company, who said one strength of the proposed Two Rivers Activity Center project would be its positive impact on the quality of life in Jamestown.

Senior consultant for American City Bureau, Maureen Egan said, interviewed some Jamestown residents in March to prepare a report on fundraising possibilities for the project.

Egan said the biggest challenge for getting voter approval for the activity center is educating the public about the project.

Amy Walters, chairwoman of the TRAC Board of Directors, says  the board will continue to use community forums to educate the public about the project.

The first public meeting was held on April 21.

The second community forum is Monday April 27, 2015, at 7 p.m. in the Jamestown Middle School’s Thompson Community Room.

The third and final public meeting is set for May 15, 2015, at 7 p.m. at the North Dakota Farmers Union’s community room.

Jamestown city voters will vote on June 2, 2015, on a $28.6 million bond issue on a special election ballot. The ballot will ask voters if they want to approve a 1 percent sales tax to repay bonds used to finance the construction and operation of the first phase of the $28.6 million project.

The second phase, would be paid for by a separate capital fundraising campaign, bring the total cost for the project to about $40 million.

 

Valley City (CSi)  City County Health in Valley City will be moving inside the renovated building at 415 2nd Avenue Northeast.

City County Health Director Theresa Will says the office will be closed Friday, April 24, 2015, to move and will open to the public on Monday, April 27th.

The new location is at the former First Community Credit Union building in Valley City.

Earlier this month Barnes County Commissioners approved a plan to move Barnes County Social Services into the vacated space that was occupied by City County Health on the first floor of the Barnes County courthouse.

 

Jamestown (CSi) Ben Hanson, a junior at Jamestown High School has been named a finalist for the NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Student Program. Ben was selected based on his participation in interscholastic programs, contributions to his community and high character traits that have been admired by faculty, coaches and community.

He will participate in final interviews and a luncheon to honor the finalists on Friday, May 1st on the campus of Valley City State University. Ben is the son of Kim & Diane Hanson, Jamestown.

 

Bismarck (CSi) USDA Rural Development has announced that $4 million in financing has been distributed to improve water services for rural residents in North Dakota.

The Barnes Rural Water District received $1,964,200 loan to expand water services to 214 users in Kathryn and the surrounding area.

North Central Rural Water Consortium II received $2,311,769 loan to expand water services to 250 users in the Granville, Deering, and Surrey areas.

 

Jamestown (CSi) A legislative bill to offer an incentive for CHS to build its proposed $3 billion nitrogen fertilizer plant near Spiritwood is going to the governor.

Another is in a conference committee.

District 29 Senator, Terry Wanzek, says Senate Bill 2035 grants a sales and purchases tax exemption for materials used in the construction of fertilizer or chemical plants. The bill does not specifically mention CHS but would apply to any new plant that makes fertilizer or chemicals from natural gas, natural gas liquids or crude oil in North Dakota that applies before June 30, 2019.

Wanzek says the North Dakota State Water Commission’s budget also includes funding for projects to supply water for the CHS project. Senate Bill 2020, is pending action by a conference committee. Conference committees attempt to reach compromises when the House and Senate have each approved different versions of a bill.

 

HILLSBORO, N.D. (AP) – A Hatton woman accused of causing a fatal crash while using her cellphone while driving will not spend time in jail.
 
     Twenty-year-old Abby Sletten had faced a felony negligent homicide charge in the May 2014 death of 89-year-old Phyllis Gordon, of Ada, Minnesota. She pleaded guilty Wednesday to a reduced misdemeanor charge of aggravated reckless driving and was sentenced to about a year of unsupervised probation.
 
     Authorities said Sletten was driving and on her cellphone when she rear-ended another vehicle on Interstate 29 at 85 miles per hour. Gordon was a passenger in the vehicle that was hit.
 
     Defense attorney Bruce Quick says it isn’t clear whether Sletten was actually on her phone at the time of the crash.

 

 WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – A Texas man has been charged after he fired his handgun twice during an argument with other men outside a western North Dakota bar. John Polk Jr. fired his handgun into the air after he got into an argument with a group of men leaving a bar in Williston. Polk has been charged with reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm in city limits.
 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A Bismarck woman whose vehicle was stolen told police it happened while she was trying to illegally buy drugs.

Authorities say the 39-year-old woman told officers early Wednesday that she was trying to buy $800 worth of prescription pills from a drug dealer for another person when her car was stolen.

Police Sgt. Mark Buschena (boo-SHEE’-nuh) says the woman has not been charged with a crime. Her missing vehicle is worth an estimated $300

 

 GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – Administrators and student leaders at the University of North Dakota signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday pledging to strengthen communication and cooperation. The move comes in the wake of the Student Senate weighing a vote of no-confidence in President Robert Kelley and three other top administrators.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota Senate and House negotiators working on the higher education budget are delving into a proposal that would beef up funding to fix crumbling buildings on college campuses.
 
     Representative Mark Sanford says a new deferred maintenance schedule that cobbles together money from various sources and includes a 2-for-1 match by each institution could result in a pool of about $70 to $85 million meant for capital projects.
 
     A report released last summer showed the total deferred maintenance liability for the state’s 11 colleges and universities to be more than $800 million. Sen. Larry Robinson says not everyone agrees with that dollar amount, but most lawmakers see the need for a new plan to maintain the facilities.
 
     Robinson says it’s important to “get the ball rolling” on deferred maintenance.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota’s Senate has endorsed a bill to spend $5 million to build a new home for the state’s first family.
 
     Senator’s voted 28-19 on Wednesday to send the proposal for the new governor’s residence to the House.
 
     Representatives are expected debate the bill Thursday.
 
     The measure stipulates that $1 million of the cost to be raised from private sources.
 
     Lawmakers have been attempting to replace the current dwelling for years, saying it is has security issues, is not handicap-accessible, likely contains lead paint, mold and asbestos.
 
     Attempts to build a new governor’s residence have failed in the two prior sessions.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota tax commissioner says some North Dakota residents may be eligible for a partial refund of their rent.
 
     Ryan Rauschenberger says the program provides refunds for renters older than 65 and renters who are disabled if they meet certain rent and income criteria. Money paid for lot rent by mobile home owners may also be considered.
 
     To qualify, renters must make less than $42,000 per year and 20 percent of annual rent must exceed 4 percent of net income.
 
     The deadline to apply is May 31. Forms are available on the tax commissioner’s website at www.nd.gov/tax .

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – State regulators are giving an oil company some temporary relief from North Dakota’s gas flaring rate requirements. The Bismarck Tribune reports XTO Energy argued it had nowhere to take gas from 143 oil wells in Dunn and McKenzie counties because gas-processing company OneOK couldn’t secure an easement agreement from the Three Affiliated Tribes and build a 20-mile pipeline expansion. XTO is a subsidiary of Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corporation.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) – The Ward County Commission is seeking an expert to help find funding to fight chronic flooding at Rice Lake.
 
     County Building Inspector Mike Larson calls it a “last resort.” He says the situation at the lake is worsening by the day, with high water affecting water lines, fiber optic cables, telephone and electrical poles, roads and sewer infrastructure.
 
     Commissioners agreed to advertise for proposals from risk management consulting companies to help find grant money. Commission Chairman Alan Walter says $15 million is needed for the flood fight. He estimates consulting fees would be about one-tenth of that, or $1.5 million.
 
     The state Legislature is considering $5 million for the effort in two separate bills. Lawmakers earlier rejected the county’s request for $15 million in aid.

 

In sports…

 INTERLEAGUE
 
   Final    Arizona                  8    Texas                    5
 
 
       AMERICAN  LEAGUE

  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Mike Pelfrey pitched seven scoreless innings to pick up his first victory since 2013 as the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 3-0 last night. Joe Mauer reached base four times with two hits and two walks and scored a run. Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie gave up three runs and six hits with six walks in five innings.
 
   Final    Chi  White  Sox      6    Cleveland            0
   Final    Toronto                  4    Baltimore            2
   Final    N-Y  Yankees        13    Detroit                4
   Final    Tampa  Bay              7    Boston                  5
   Final    Oakland                  9    L.A.  Angels        2
   Final    Seattle                  3    Houston                2
 
 
       NATIONAL  LEAGUE
  NEW YORK (AP)- The New York Mets are off to their best start since the 1986 World Series champions opened 13-3. The Mets improved to 12-3 by posting their 10th straight victory, a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves that completed a perfect 10-0 homestand for the New Yorkers.
 
   Final    Pittsburgh            4    Chi  Cubs              3
   Final    Miami                      6    Philadelphia      1
   Final    St.  Louis              7    Washington          5
   Final    Cincinnati            2    Milwaukee            1
   Final    Colorado                5    San  Diego            4
   Final    San  Francisco      3    L.A.  Dodgers      2
 
 
       NATIONAL  BASKETBALL  ASSOCIATION  PLAYOFFS
 

 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Mike Conley and Courtney Lee each scored 18 points, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Portland Trail Blazers 97-82 to take a 2-0 lead in that NBA Western Conference playoff matchup. Marc Gasol (gah-SAWL’) added 15 points and seven rebounds for Memphis, which now heads to Portland for Game 3 Saturday night.
 
     ATLANTA  (AP)- The Atlanta Hawks lead Brooklyn 2-0 after their 96-91 victory over the Nets last night in Atlanta. Paul Millsap scored 19 for the Hawks, who now have the next two games in Brooklyn starting with Game 3 Saturday.
 
     LOS ANGELES (AP) – The San Antonio Spurs have tied their playoff series at one apiece with the Los Angeles Clippers, pulling out a 111-107 victory in overtime. Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 28 points and Patty Mills made a pair of free throws to get the Spurs into overtime. Mills finished with 18 points off the bench after starting point guard Tony Parker departed early with an injury.
 
 
       NATIONAL  HOCKEY  LEAGUE  PLAYOFFS

 ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice as the revived St. Louis Blues thoroughly dominated the Wild in a 6-1 victory in Game 4 to even the Western Conference quarterfinal series last night. Kevin Shattenkirk had three assists to help the Blues end a nine-game postseason road losing streak. Patrik Berglund had a goal and an assist.
 

 UNDATED (AP)  – Kevin Hayes scored at 3:14 of overtime to give the New York Rangers a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series.
 
     The Rangers lead the series 3-1 heading back to New York for Game 5 on Friday night.
 

The Anaheim Ducks are the first team to advance to the second round of the playoffs. The Ducks completed a four-game sweep of Winnipeg, 5-2. Anaheim next plays the winner of the Calgary-Vancouver series.
 Ottawa blanked Montreal 1-0 to cut the Canadiens’ series lead to 3-1. Craig Anderson stopped 28 shots for his third career playoff shutout. Mike Hoffman scored midway through the final period.
 

    NBA…

 
     OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Scott Brooks has been fired by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He led the team for seven seasons and had three trips to the Western Conference finals in four years including an appearance in the NBA Finals in 2012. The Thunder failed to make the playoffs this season, as injuries limited them to a 45-37 finish.
 
     Brooks, who was the 2009-10 NBA Coach of the Year, was 338-207 with the Thunder.

 

DALLAS (AP) – Rajon Rondo (RAH’-zhahn RAHN’-doh) has played his last game for the Dallas Mavericks.
 
     After saying that Rondo was out indefinitely with a back injury sustained before he was benched in a Game 2 loss to Houston Tuesday, coach Rick Carlisle has acknowledged that Rondo will not play another game for Dallas.

 

NFL…

 PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A federal judge has approved a potential $1 billion plan to resolve thousands of NFL concussion lawsuits filed by retired players. The NFL expects 6,000 of nearly 20,000 retired players to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or moderate dementia someday. The settlement approved by a federal judge would pay them an average $190,000.
 
     The awards could reach $1 million to $5 million for younger men diagnosed with Parkinson’s or Lou Gehrig’s disease, or for chronic brain trauma-related deaths. The lawsuits accuse the league of hiding what it knew about concussion risks. The NFL denies the claims.

 

In world and national news…

 WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate is expected today to confirm Loretta Lynch as the next U.S. attorney general. The vote comes five months after Lynch was nominated by President Barack Obama. The confirmation vote was held up by an unrelated bill on human trafficking. And that bill hit unexpected gridlock over an abortion funding provision. If confirmed, Lynch would be the nation’s first black female attorney general. 
 
     UNDATED (AP) – European officials are honoring the hundreds of people who died in the Mediterranean’s worst-ever migrant disaster. Twenty-four caskets containing the only bodies recovered from the weekend capsizing that left an estimated 800 dead were laid out for an interfaith memorial service today on the grounds of the main hospital on the island of Malta. Meanwhile, European leaders are gathering for an emergency meeting on how to respond to the migrant crisis.  
 
     SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) – A volcano in southern Chile is erupting for the first time in more than 42 years. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of a town and two smaller communities near the Calbuco (kal-BOO’-koh) volcano, which began billowing a huge ash cloud Wednesday. Authorities say although ash has been spewing from the volcano, they haven’t seen hot rocks or lava. Calbuco is considered one of the top three most potentially dangerous among Chile’s 90 active volcanoes. 
 
     MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A former sheriff’s deputy in Wisconsin has been found not legally responsible in the killing of his wife and sister-in-law. Forty-year-old Andrew Steele, who has Lou Gehrig’s disease, pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the Aug. 22 shooting deaths. Defense attorneys argued that the disease damaged Steele’s brain, making him not criminally responsible for the deaths. Prosecutors believed Steele planned the killings.
 
     MIAMI (AP) – Norwegian Cruise Line is hoping booze is good for business. The cruise line is offering free alcohol in hopes that it’ll attract more customers on short cruises out of Miami. Norwegian tells the Miami Herald that it will include wine, beer, spirits and soda up to $11 in the cost of the fare on Norwegian Sky starting in January. The ship sails from Miami on three-and four-day cruises.