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CSi Weather…
REST OF TODAY…INCREASING CLOUDS. NOT AS COLD. HIGHS IN THE MID
20S. WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST IN THE
AFTERNOON.
.TONIGHT…CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA, 50 PERCENT IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA.
LOWS AROUND 15. SOUTHEAST WINDS AROUND 5 MPH.
.THURSDAY…CLOUDY. CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE MORNING…THEN SNOW
LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 1 INCH. HIGHS
IN THE LOWER 20S. EAST WINDS AROUND 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTH
10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF SNOW 70 PERCENT.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE
EVENING IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA 60 PERCENT IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA. LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 10. NORTH WINDS 5 TO
10 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 10 BELOW.
HIGHS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND
20 BELOW. HIGHS AROUND 5 BELOW.
.MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.
.MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 5 BELOW.
HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE.
SNOW IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST THURSDAY INTO
THURSDAY EVENING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO THREE
INCHES…WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS…ARE POSSIBLE.
DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY.
BISMARCK (AP) – The North Dakota attorney general says a group of counties that share economic development services made a mistake when its representatives went into executive session at one of its meetings.
The South Central Dakota Regional Council is comprised of nine counties and operates under a joint powers agreement. The group’s executive board went behind closed doors during its May 2015 regular meeting to discuss the firing of an employee, the hiring or an independent contractor, and other issues.
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says the council failed to announce the legal authority for the executive session and the discussions went beyond the subjects authorized by law. Stenehjem ordered the board to create and provide minutes of the session
Jamestown (CSi) Affordable housing was the topic of Tuesday’s Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Local and Regional Issues Committee in joint session with the South Central Homeless Coalition meeting.
The meeting held at Shady’s, featured Emily Wright, from the Grand Forks Community Land Trust.
The committees hosted Wright to begin talks about possibly starting such efforts regionally.
She talked about how the Grand Forks area built affordable housing units, utilizing the Land Trust program, and how a similar process might be able to be used for Jamestown affordable housing.
Her organization offers dual-ownership housing, where a purchasing party would purchase the structure of a home and the land trust would retain the land, saving the purchaser costs. Purchasers are responsible for taxes and insurance on the homes.
Stutsman County Housing Authority Director, David Klein Executive Director answered questions about housing in the area, saying Jamestown has a lack of available starter homes on the market.
Valley City (CSi) North Dakota State Senator Larry Robinson, of Valley City will seek re-election in the November 2016 General Election.
In a news release Robinson, said he has served in the Senate since 1988 and is the senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. During the interim, Robinson serves on the Water Topics Committee, Budget Section, Higher Education Committee and the Information Technology Committee. He spent 22 years as a member of the Legislative Council. The Legislative Council manages the affairs of the legislative branch between sessions.
Robinson serves on the administrative staff of Valley City State University as Executive Director of University Advancement. He has held an administrative position at the university since 1975. Prior to that he served as principal at Warwick, N. D. Public Schools.
Robinson stated, “It has been a privilege and an honor serving the good citizens of District 24. We have accomplished much but there is certainly more to do. The challenges facing the next session of the legislature are many. Some of those challenges include declining state revenue and overall state finance, on-going property tax relief, permanent flood protection, education finance, care for our seniors and veterans, mental health programs, addiction services, support for our DD Providers and Nursing facilities, and our infrastructure. Aid to our political sub divisions will also be a high priority. We must also deal with a growing population in our prison system.”
He is a graduate of Valley City State University and received his Master’s Degree from North Dakota State University. Robinson is married to Mary Lee, they have two grown sons and three grandsons. He is a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, the Valley City Eagles, Elks, Knights of Columbus, Barnes County Wildlife Federation, Barnes County Museum, Wellness Center Advisory Committee, Governor’s Prevention Advisory Council, Mental Health America Board of Directors, and the Drug Court Advisory Committee.
Robinson is also a member of the Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce and is a two term past president of that organization.
Robinson has been recognized by a number of organizations over the years as the Legislator of the Year. Those organizations include the North Dakota Township Officers Association, the North Dakota Association of Counties, North Dakota Wildlife Federation, the North Dakota Conference on Social Welfare, and the Information Technology Council of North Dakota.
District 24 Republicans have not announced who will run against Robinson in the November 2016 election. District 24 includes all of Barnes County and parts of Ransom and Cass Counties.
Jamestown (CSi) Meeting this month, the Jamestown City Park Board approved nearly $100,000 in improvements to the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Department’s website and computer registration system.
The improvements will increase the department’s website capacity by adding more pages, and contracting with Vermont Systems Inc. will provide online registration for all the department’s activities and programs.
Ann Haut, maintains the Parks and Recreation Department’s website and manages the office, said the new web site will include having individuals register online for everything, including TRAC (Two Rivers Activity Center) when it’s completed,” said
The cost for the Vermont Systems software, including training and annual maintenance, is $88,691. The commission authorized Haut and Parks and Recreation Business Manager Sheila Harr, determine if the purchase will be financed over a two- or three-year period.
In other business, the Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Parks and Recreation office on 2nd Avenue Southeast, to review the revised schematic design for TRAC and take action to either approve or reject the revised design.
Representatives from ZerrBerg Architect and McGough Construction will be at the meeting to explain any changes.
Jamestown (CSi) Changes approved by Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation (JSDC)Executive Committee, means that businesses seeking incentives from JSDC will meet just once with its board in the future.
The executive committee, made up of five members of the 15-member board of directors, will still exist but only meet in special meetings called by the board chairman.
In the past, businesses requesting incentives met first with the executive committee and then with the board of directors.
Then, if the project was approved by the JSDC, the Jamestown City Council and Stutsman County Commission would also have had to approve the project before the incentives were granted.
JSDC, CEO Connie Ova said eliminating the executive committee step in the review process would streamline the applications for incentives and engage more board members in the decision-making process.
The executive committee, made up of five members of the 15-member board of directors, will still exist but only meet in special meetings called by the board chairman.
In other business, the JSDC deobligated $4.7 million in Stutsman County job incentive funds and $470,000 in Jamestown economic incentive funds that had been pledged for future tax breaks for the planned $3 billion CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant.
Deobligating the funds returns the money to the incentive funds where it could be utilized in future projects.
CHS announced in August it would not proceed with the construction of the planned plant.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Rural Fire Department was called just after 4-p.m. Monday to a barn fire, about 2.5 miles east of Ypsilanti.
The person calling in the fire said the barn was engulfed in flames.
The barn was declared a total loss and was destroyed before 12 firefighters and five units arrived, on the scene..
JRFD Chief Ben Maulding says heat lamps was the likely cause of the fire .
The farm’s owner, Dustin Lein, was not home when the fire started.
Valley City (VCSU, CSi) Valley City State University’s online degree programs—both its Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Bachelor’s Degree programs—have been nationally ranked in the 2016 U.S. News Best Online Programs.
VCSU’s online M.Ed. is ranked 83rd among 263 programs listed in the Graduate Education rankings, and in the Best Online Bachelor’s Program category, VCSU is ranked 143rd of 297 listed programs.
No other North Dakota schools were listed in the Graduate Education rankings; in the Best Online Bachelor’s Program lists, Minot State University (191st), Mayville State University (205th) and the University of North Dakota (208th) were ranked along with VCSU.
President Tisa Mason, says, “We’re proud of the recognition our online programs have received from U.S. News. We emphasize best practices in teaching, learning and technology at VCSU, so that regardless of how the instruction is delivered, students enjoy a rich and rigorous educational experience. That shows in the honors our programs receive.”
She adds, “Online instruction affords students additional flexibility in choosing their courses and where they take them. So when they choose us, we’re able to increase the reach of the university beyond Valley City and North Dakota, providing online accessibility in key areas.”
U.S. News surveyed colleges and universities with online programs to obtain data for the rankings. Graduation rates, class sizes, retention rates, student indebtedness, technological infrastructure, support services, and percentage of faculty with terminal degrees and with tenure were among the many factors that were considered in ranking online programs.
More information on the rankings is available at www.usnews.com/education/online-education.
VCSU’s fully accredited M.Ed. program is offered completely online to meet the needs of practicing teachers. Concentrations in the M.Ed. program at VCSU include elementary education, English education, library and information technologies, teaching and technology, teaching English language learners, and technology education. More information about the program is available at www.vcsu.edu/graduate.
VCSU offers online Bachelor’s Degree programs in business education, business process integration management, career and technical education, English education, history education, professional communication, and technology education. More information can be found online at online.vcsu.edu.
In the 2016 U.S. News and World Report Best College Rankings, Valley City State University was ranked as the No. 1 public regional college in the Midwest; VCSU has been named a U.S. News “Best College” for 18 consecutive years.
MINOT, N.D. (AP) – A man accused of shooting his estranged wife at her apartment in Minot has pleaded not guilty to violating a protection order.
Joseph Barnes Jr. appeared Tuesday in North Central District Court to face two misdemeanor counts of violating a protection order. He told the judge that he accidentally shot his wife Nov. 8 and asked how a no contact order preventing him from seeing her and his children can be dropped.
Barnes is accused of calling his wife 198 times from jail between Nov. 17 and Dec. 22. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he has an attorney.
Barnes is scheduled to return to court Jan. 28 to face a felony aggravated assault charge in the shooting. A pretrial conference on the misdemeanor charges is scheduled for March 23.
MINOT, N.D. (AP) – A prosecutor says DNA evidence links a murder suspect to a pair of shoes recovered from a Minot apartment building garage where a man was found slain.
Ward County Deputy State’s Attorney Kelly Dillon says the shoes were bloody except on the inside, and that witnesses will identify the shoes as being worn by 38-year-old Anthony Campbell.
He’s accused of killing 25-year-old Shannon Brunelle, who was found dead on Sept. 15, 2014. Authorities say he’d been stabbed seven times in the back and neck.
Campbell was arrested in Philadelphia after a nine-week search and is now on trial for murder. Defense attorney Samuel Gereszek says there are other explanations for Campbell’s presence in the garage the night Brunelle died.
Campbell could face life in prison without parole if convicted.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Republican members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation say President Barack Obama needs to do more to work with Congress. Obama gave his final State of the Union address on Tuesday night. Republican Congressman Kevin Cramer called the speech a “liberal pep rally, and GOP Senator John Hoeven says Obama needs to work with Congress “on initiatives that empower the American people.”
Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp said Obama called on the nation to look ahead “and work together as North Dakotans do.”
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – An interim legislative committee was told Tuesday that a partial state takeover of county social services costs is helping to ease the property tax burden for North Dakotans.
Gov. Jack Dalrymple proposed the tax relief last year, with lawmakers transferring $23 million in state money to the state Department of Human Services to run some programs for counties during the current two-year budget cycle. It’s part of a longer-term proposal for the state to take over the funding of all social service programs.
The North Dakota Association of Counties says legislation passed last year has resulted in an estimated savings of about $10 million to counties so far.
Counties began funding social service programs through property taxes in 1989 when the state shifted the costs to local governments.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Superintendent Kirsten Baesler says she will seek a second four-year term as North Dakota’s superintendent of public instruction.
Baesler on Tuesday said she will request a letter of support from delegates to the North Dakota Republican state convention, which is being held April 1-3 in Fargo.
Baesler says she’s running for re-election to continue progress on a number of education initiatives, including strengthening college preparation for high school seniors. Her initiative aims to reduce the number of North Dakota students who require remedial studies while in college and broaden availability for advanced high school coursework for students who are excelling.
She says she’s especially excited by the challenges offered by the new federal education law, which Congress approved in December. It allows state and local officials more control over education.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Many North Dakotans are dreaming about what they’d do with the largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
The Powerball jackpot has grown to $1.5 billion, and the drawing is Wednesday.
No one matched all six Powerball numbers Saturday night, leading to the record prize.
North Dakota Lottery spokesman Ryan Koppy says the state had record Powerball sales of more than $4 million last week. He says sales at the state’s 450 or so retailers that sell Powerball tickets is intense.
An anonymous gambler from Williston became the biggest lottery winner in state history on Sept. 15, 2015, with a $2 million Powerball ticket.
North Dakota is one of only a handful of states that allow the winner to remain anonymous.
In sports…
Jamestown (CSi, U of J Sports Information) The percentage of NCAA football players who make it to the National Football League is approximately 1.5%. In the case of an NAIA football players, that percentage decreases significantly.
Those odds don’t discourage Jarelle Miller, who finished his career in 2015 as one of the best defensive players in Jimmie history. The 6′ 2″, 235-pound linebacker from Orlando, Florida received an invite to the 2016 NFL Regional Scouting Combine, scheduled to take place March 5 in Minneapolis.
Miller will be working out in Jamestown to get himself ready for the combine. Former UJ running back Chris Johnson, a manager/personal trainer at Anytime Fitness in Jamestown, and Boya Quichocho, UJ associate head baseball coach and head trainer of the UJ Speed Enhancement Program will be helping prepare Miller for the various skill and strength tests he will undergo in Minneapolis.
Working out in Jamestown was a no-brainer. “My agent wanted me to come to New York and train there, but I told him my ultimate goal is to get my degree, which he totally understands, ” said Miller. “Chris is doing a great job on preparing me for the upcoming events, and training with Boya will help increase my endurance, mobile stability, balance, and my running form.”
Miller has spent time training in the past few offseasons with his longtime friend and current Green Bay Packer, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. The Packer defensive back was willing to share some advice with Jarelle before he heads to Indianapolis.
“He told me running the 40-yard dash is extremely important for the NFL, so really prepare myself for that, and do a lot of stretching and yoga classes. Also, he told me that when I walk into the stadium and see so many coaches and GMs there, it’s definitely intimidating, but the best thing to do is just go out there and have fun.”
Only two Jamestown players have reached the NFL. John Webster, who also played at the University of Chicago, played in two games for the 1924 Racine Legion, and J.J. Syvrud, who played in one game for the New York Jets in 1999, defied the odds and made it to the big stage. Miller knows the long road that awaits him, and is thankful for the opportunity that only a select group of players receives each season.
In December, Miller played in the FCS Bowl, an annual post-season college football all-star game consisting of the top players from college football FCS schools. He had an excellent showing during the game, leading his team in tackles. Miller also had an interview with the New York Jets, so he is on the radar of some NFL teams. Jarelle’s pro career aspirations will become crystal clear following the conclusion of the NFL Draft, which is April 28-30 in Chicago.
“Being drafted would be a big shocker, ” Miller said. “My agent and I talked about the ups and downs on being drafted and the challenges I would face coming from a small school. He told me it’s not going to be easy, which I know, but I told him I don’t want it the easy way because that way doesn’t last long. I am considering being an undrafted free agent, which is fine with me.”
Jimmie fans are familiar with Miller’s playing style and his defensive prowess, which earned him the 2014 North Star Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year award as well as second-team All-American honors. But for those who haven’t seen much of Jarelle, he’s quick to point to two NFL linebacker greats.
“I’d say I mostly resemble Clay Matthews in playing style,” said Miller. “He’s a guy that plays fast and aggressive, and also a good team player. Ray Lewis is my biggest inspiration in becoming the player I am today. He was an animal on the field and inspired me to play linebacker. Before every game I have to listen to his speeches. His words give me wisdom to want to be great.”
BOYS BASKETBALL
Barnes County Tournament
First Round
Enderlin 81, Sargent Central 38
LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 67, Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page 48
Maple Valley 53, Griggs County Central 49
Milnor-North Sargent 85, Barnes County North 59
Beach 52, Richardton-Taylor 51
Beulah 69, Hettinger/Scranton 56
Bismarck Century 76, Dickinson 65
Bismarck High 62, Mandan 50
Carrington 82, Midkota 21
Cavalier 53, Midway-Minto 40
Central Cass 83, Richland 61
Dickinson Trinity 57, New England 33
Drake/Anamoose 70, Nedrose 12
Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran 99, Fairmount-Campbell-Tintah 68
Flasher 50, Solen 49
Heart River 63, Glen Ullin-Hebron 29
Kenmare 91, Glenburn 52
Larimore 52, Hillsboro/Central Valley 44
Lemmon, S.D. 59, Bowman County 54
Lewis and Clark-Berthold 63, Stanley 60
Linton-HMB 61, Oakes 58
Mandaree 81, Hazen 79, OT
Max 39, Wilton-Wing 36
May Port CG 60, Hatton-Northwood 52
Minot 95, Turtle Mountain 53
Minot Bishop Ryan 73, Velva 44
New Rockford-Sheyenne 67, Warwick 43
North Shore – Plaza 72, Surrey 44
Park River/Fordville Lankin 72, North Border 37
Parshall 74, Garrison 41
Powers Lake 46, Ray 32
Rugby 56, Westhope-Newburg 38
Sawyer 73, Burke County 70
Sheyenne 70, Valley City 57
Shiloh Christian 66, Grant County 36
St. John 93, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 69
Thompson 67, Northern Cass 61
Tioga 61, Watford City 51
Towner-Granville-Upham 62, Des Lacs-Burlington 61
Washburn 63, Center-Stanton 31
West Fargo 97, Wahpeton 51
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Bismarck Century 74, Dickinson 28
Bismarck High 55, Mandan 52, OT
Bowman County 43, Harding County, S.D. 37
Dickinson Trinity 51, Mott-Regent 39
Four Winds/Minnewauken 58, Benson County 45
Langdon-Munich 59, St. John 54
Mandaree 48, Hazen 32
Medina-Pingree-Buchanan 58, Linton-HMB 25
Minot 59, Turtle Mountain 43
Napoleon 63, Strasburg-Zeeland 27
North Star 82, Dunseith 46
Rolette-Wolford 55, Bottineau 40
Sheyenne 69, Valley City 47
Shiloh Christian 34, Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky 33
South Border 40, Kidder County 34
Stanley 54, Divide County 35
Trenton 51, Kenmare 32
Washburn 54, Center-Stanton 35
Wilton-Wing 59, Max 33
BOYS HOCKEY…
Jamestown 3 Mandan 1
Grand Forks Red River 9, Grafton-Park River 1
Wahpeton-Breckenridge 6, Morris Benson Area Storm, Minn. 0
GIRLS HOCKEY…
West Fargo 9, Jamestown 0
Mandan 3, Dickinson 0
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Kevin Durant finished with 30 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 101-96 on Tuesday night. Russell Westbrook added 22 points and 11 assists for the Thunder, who won for the seventh time in nine games. Zach LaVine had 21 points and Shabazz Muhammad scored 20 for the Timberwolves.
Final Indiana 116 Phoenix 97
Final New York 120 Boston 114
Final San Antonio 109 Detroit 99
Final Milwaukee 106 Chicago 101
Final Houston 107 Memphis 91
Final OT Cleveland 110 Dallas 107
Final L-A Lakers 95 New Orleans 91
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Buffalo Sabres scored three times in the first period and held on to beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Tuesday night. Brian Gionta, Jamie McGinn and Rasmus Ristolainen all netted goals for the Sabres, who won its second straight after losing six in a row. Ryan Suter and Thomas Vanek scored for the Wild.
Final N-Y Islanders 5 Columbus 2
Final OT Carolina 3 Pittsburgh 2
Final St. Louis 5 New Jersey 2
Final San Jose 4 Winnipeg 1
Final Chicago 3 Nashville 2
Final OT Arizona 4 Edmonton 3
Final Tampa Bay 4 Colorado 0
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL…
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Shavon Shields scored 24 points Tuesday night as Nebraska topped Minnesota 84-59. The Cornhuskers’ 25-point margin of victory is their largest against Minnesota in a 64-game series that dates to 1902. Jordan Murphy led the Gophers in scoring with 12 points.
Northwestern 70, Wisconsin 65
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (11) West Virginia 74 ( 1) Kansas 63
Final Michigan 70 ( 3) Maryland 67
Final ( 7) Xavier 84 DePaul 64
Final (13) Virginia 66 ( 8) Miami 58
Final (12) Providence 50 Creighton 48
Final (14) Kentucky 80 Mississippi St. 74
Final (15) Texas A&M 71 Florida 68
Final OT Texas 94 (17) Iowa St. 91
TOP-25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final ( 6) Baylor 69 West Virginia 64
NFL…
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has fired offensive line coach Jeff Davidson following a season of struggles at the position. Zimmer announced the decision not to renew Davidson’s contract on Tuesday. Zimmer also says he anticipates offensive coordinator Norv Turner will return.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – While many Minnesota Vikings fans ripped kicker Blair Walsh for missing a 27-yard field goal that could have could have given the team a win in Sunday’s playoff game, some first-graders in Blaine used it as a lesson in empathy.
Northpoint Elementary teacher Judie Offerdahl thought the missed kick would be a great teachable moment for her first-graders. So, the students grabbed their magic markers and started drawing and writing.
“Dear Blair Walsh,” one youngster wrote. “I know it can be hard to get through things that are sad, but you have to try and try again. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.”
The students on Tuesday took turns sharing their messages to Walsh with the rest of the class. Offerdahl will send the letters to Walsh.
RAMS MOVE…
HOUSTON (AP) – NFL owners voted to allow the St. Louis Rams to move to a new stadium just outside Los Angeles, and the San Diego Chargers will have an option to share the facility.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’) said the Oakland Raiders, who also wanted to move, were left out of the deal, but could move to Los Angeles if San Diego doesn’t.
The moves end the NFL’s 21-year absence from the nation’s second-largest media market.
The compromise- the Chargers and Raiders wanted to share a new stadium in Carson, California, and the Rams wanted to move to nearby Inglewood – was approved 30-2 after the other options did not get the 24 votes needed for approval.
No NFL franchise has moved since the Houston Oilers went to Tennessee in 1997. The Raiders and Rams both left Los Angeles after the 1994 season. The Rams had been in the LA area since 1946.
COLLEGE BASKETEBALL-OBIT-SMITH
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Former Butler basketball star Andrew Smith has died after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 25.
The 6-foot-11 Smith played in two national championship games for the Bulldogs. He was diagnosed with and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma late in 2014.
His body rejected a bone marrow transplant last November.
OBIT-IRVIN…
HOUSTON (AP) – Baseball Hall of Famer Monte Irvin has died at the age of 96 of natural causes at his Houston home. Irvin starred in the big leagues after playing in the Negro League because of baseball’s exclusion of black players. The Hall of Fame says Irvin died Monday night of natural causes at his Houston home.
Irvin was 30 when he joined the Giants in 1949, two years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Irvin spent seven of his eight big league seasons with the Giants and finished with a career average of .293 and 99 homers in the majors.
In world and national news….
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama has defended his record and urged Americans to elect another Democrat for president. In his final State of the Union address last night, the president said despite the rhetoric that America is getting weaker and its enemies are getting stronger, “The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. It’s not even close.”
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – The U.S. military says there’s no indication that any of the 10 sailors detained by Iran were harmed during their captivity. The 10 are now back in U.S. care. Iranian state media say an investigation determined mechanical trouble caused their boats to drift into Iranian territorial waters. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has welcomed the release.
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama visits Nebraska and Louisiana this week — two states which have started or are considering Medicaid expansion. Following up on his State of the Union message, Obama is expected to tout progress under his leadership and goals for his final year in office.
JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) – An official says an attack on the Pakistani consulate in a volatile eastern Afghan province has killed seven members of the Afghan security forces. The attack began with a suicide bombing and all three attackers were killed. The consulate is usually busy during morning rush hour as people line up for visas. The suicide bomber joined the line. The area is home to a number of insurgent groups and criminal gangs.
ISLAMABAD (AP) – The investigation of a four-day assault on an Indian air base earlier this month that killed seven Indian soldiers has resulted in arrests in Pakistan. Pakistan says “several individuals” from an outlawed militant group are in custody. India has long accused Pakistan of turning a blind eye to Islamic militants who have staged cross-border attacks and battled Indian forces in the disputed Kashmir region.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – A North Korean drone aircraft drew warning shots from South Korean forces today when it strayed across the border. None of the shots hit the aircraft, which returned to its own territory. It’s the latest incident in a Cold War-style standoff between the Koreas in the wake of the North’s nuclear test last week.
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