wbPM4CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN…
SNOW AND SLEET IN THE EVENING. LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTH WINDS
10 TO 15 MPH.
.FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY.

BREEZY,WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA.  HIGHS AROUND 40. WEST WINDS
15 TO 25 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 20S. WEST WINDS
15 TO 20 MPH.
.SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S. WEST WINDS 10 TO
15 MPH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW AFTER
MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S.
LOWS 17 TO 23.
.MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 20S.
LOWS 10 TO 15.
.TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 15 TO 20. LOWS
5 TO 10 ABOVE.
.WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 15.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…DECREASING CLOUDS. LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.
.THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 15 TO 20.

 

 Valley City  (CSi)  Valley City Administrator David Schelkoph has brought a grievance against Valley City Mayor, Bob Werkhoven, accusing Werkhoven of creating an abusive and hostile work environment.

Schelkoph said that the mayor told city commissioners and the city attorney that his goal once re-elected in 2014 was to get rid of KLJ and the City Administrator.

Schelkoph said City Attorney Russ Myhre and City Commissioners Duane Magnuson and Matt Pedersen have all said this statement is true.

Schelkoph said the mayor has been hyper-critical to him when the mayor speaks to him in private or public meetings. Schelkoph added that  Mayor Werkhoven’s behavior is unprofessional and degrading.

Schelkoph says the mayor did not follow proper protocol concerning a sexual harassment allegation against Police Chief Fred Thompson and a “Toy Gun” incident involving Chief Thompson and a Valley City citizen.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) – A Minot man and woman are facing multiple felony counts of counterfeiting.
  22-year-olds Canthony Cooper Jr. and Taylor Coleman made initial court appearances this week. They could enter pleas at a March 3 hearing. Court documents do not list attorneys for them.
 
     The two are named as co-defendants in a counterfeiting case from last summer. Cooper is charged separately in another case.
 
     If convicted on all counts, Coleman could face up to 20 years in prison and Cooper up to 30 years.
   

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A federal judge says he won’t stop a gravel mine operation near Theodore Roosevelt’s historic western North Dakota ranch.
 
     The U.S. Forest Service a year ago said it had found no significant impact with the project in western North Dakota and issued a permit to Montana businessman and mineral rights holder Roger Lothspeich (LOTH’-speech). He’d been trying to get permission to mine gravel at the site for more than six years.
 
     The National Parks Conservation Association in December asked for an injunction while it sues the Forest Service for allegedly failing to conduct a proper environmental assessment.
 
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta declined, saying he couldn’t find irreparable harm in allowing the first 5 acres of gravel to be mined.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Hollywood actor Josh Duhamel is helping promote his home state of North Dakota.
 
     The state Tourism Division on Thursday announced that Duhamel is the face of its 2016 advertising campaign. Duhamel appeared on NBC’s “Today” show to plug his latest movie and the state.
 
     Duhamel was in North Dakota last fall shooting tourism video. He also appears on the covers of the state’s 2016 travel guide and its 2016 hunting and fishing guide.
 
     Duhamel is from Minot. He’s perhaps best known for his work in the “Transformers” movies.
 
     Duhamel is being paid $475,000 for his North Dakota tourism work.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The federal government has finalized procedures to insure a new crop that’s being grown to produce jet fuel.
 
     Farmers in North Dakota last year planted 6,000 acres of the mustard seed variety known as carinata, but insurance agents were unclear about how to go about insuring it.
 
     Beginning this year, the crop can be insured under canola and rapeseed crop insurance provisions.
 
     Dave Archer at the federal agriculture research lab in Mandan says the government recognized that the crop is gaining in popularity.
 
     Canadian seed producer Agrisoma Biosciences contracted with North Dakota farmers for last year’s acreage and has a goal of 50,000 acres of carinata this year.

 

In world and national news…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Considering the unpredictable nature of Donald Trump, some Republican campaigns have been preparing for the possibility that he could reverse course and show up at Thursday night’s presidential debate in Iowa after all. But Trump is moving forward with plans to host a rally just a few miles away that his campaign said would raise money for wounded veterans.
 
     BALTIMORE (AP) – Vice President Joe Biden is comparing the GOP presidential race to a “gift from the Lord” for Democrats trying to win back the House and Senate. Speaking to House Democrats Thursday in Baltimore, Biden said he doesn’t know which Republican he should root for. Many Republicans are worried that Donald Trump or Texas Sen. Ted Cruz could be a drag on other Republicans in a general election. Biden urges Democrats to run on the accomplishments of the Obama administration, citing the improving economy and gains against Islamic State radicals. President Barack Obama plans to address the meeting Thursday evening.
 
     BURNS, Ore. (AP) – The FBI isn’t commenting on a demand made by the five holdouts who are still occupying a wildlife refuge in Oregon. In a video that was posted online Thursday, the five say that one of them is facing a felony count of conspiracy to impede federal officers. They say if that charge is dropped, and they are promised that no one will be arrested, they will leave.
 
     CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – Among those who’ve remembered the seven Challenger astronauts Thursday at Cape Canaveral in Florida are dozens of educators who competed with Christa McAuliffe to become the first teacher in space. McAuliffe was among those who died aboard Challenger 30 years ago Thursday, after an explosion a little more than a minute into the flight.
 
     NEW YORK (AP) – All of the acting nominees are white — but the Academy Awards will be handed out next month by a diverse slate of presenters and performers. They include Kevin Hart, Whoopi Goldberg and Benicio del Toro. The makeup of presenters this year has been keenly watched after a handful of black entertainers vowed they wouldn’t attend the ceremony, including Will Smith and Spike Lee.