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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) \u2014 New state revenue estimates are due today and lawmakers are bracing for more bad news due to a slumping oil and agriculture economy.<\/p>\n
The forecast will contain the final numbers that lawmakers will use to finish their work on the state’s 2017-2019 spending plan.<\/p>\n
North Dakota’s expected tax collections already have dropped more than $50 million so far this year, prompting an advisory group of lawmakers, state officials and business leaders to recommend lowering expectations for the new forecast.<\/p>\n
The Legislature has idled major spending bills this session until the economic assumptions are released.<\/p>\n
Analysts compile information from North Dakota’s Tax Department, budget office and to estimate the state’s tax collections for the next two years and gauge the health of North Dakota’s economy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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FARGO, N.D. (AP) \u2014 Attorneys for a Minnesota man sentenced to death for killing a University of North Dakota student in 2003 are raising questions about evidence presented at trial that the student was raped.<\/p>\n
Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. of Crookston, Minnesota, is appealing his conviction and sentence for kidnapping and killing Dru Sjodin, of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota.<\/p>\n
In a court filing Tuesday, Rodriguez’s attorneys argued that lab tests show that a medical examiner was “plainly and indisputably incorrect” in testifying Sjodin was raped.<\/p>\n
The defense attorneys want to question the prosecutors who handled the case to determine whether they knew or should have known the testimony was flawed.<\/p>\n
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Reisenauer tells KFGO radio that the government will review the motion and respond accordingly.<\/p>\n
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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) \u2014 The two biggest railroads shipping oil from North Dakota don’t seem particularly concerned that the Dakota Access pipeline may be about to come online.<\/p>\n
Crude shipments make up only a small percentage of the business that BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway do in the state.<\/p>\n
The pipeline could begin operating as soon as next week, despite an unresolved legal dispute involving two Native American tribes seeking to shut it down. At capacity, it will be able to transport half of the oil production of North Dakota to a shipping point in Illinois.<\/p>\n
Justin Kringstad, director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, says it currently costs about $6 per barrel to ship by pipeline and about $10 per barrel to ship by rail.<\/p>\n
That isn’t likely to concern BNSF or Canadian Pacific that much, as they ship more coal and commodities than crude.<\/p>\n
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RUGBY, N.D. (AP) \u2014 An Amtrak passenger train with 111 people aboard got stuck for nearly 13 hours in northern North Dakota after a blizzard blocked the tracks with snow.<\/p>\n
The eastbound train on the Empire Builder Line between the Pacific Northwest and Chicago was to leave Minot late Tuesday but was delayed seven hours by the storm.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0 train departed about 6 a.m. Wednesday but got stuck an hour later in a snowbank near Rugby that was 25 feet high and 200 feet long.<\/p>\n
Officials brought in heavy equipment to clear the tracks. The train was freed and went on its way about 6:45 p.m.<\/p>\n
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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) \u2014 Bismarck residents have approved a $57.5 million bond issue to expand and renovate three middle schools and two high schools in the city.<\/p>\n
The Bismarck Tribune reports the bond was approved Tuesday, with 85 percent of voters in favor.<\/p>\n
The vote comes five years after voters approved spending $86.5 million to build two new elementary schools and Legacy High School.<\/p>\n
The bond will be used to expand Wachter Middle School, Simle Middle School and Horizon Middle School. It will also be used to create a 650-seat auditorium and third gym court at Bismarck High School, and to construct more classrooms at Century High School.<\/p>\n
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MINOT, N.D. (AP) \u2014 A Minot man is charged with reckless endangerment in a shooting that narrowly missed a 5-year-old boy.<\/p>\n
Minot police say 56-year-old Russell Brandt was handling a handgun in his trailer home last Friday when it discharged and a bullet entered a neighbor’s home.<\/p>\n
The Minot Daily News reports a couple and their 5-year-old grandson were in the neighboring trailer. The bullet was found lodged in the arm rest of a chair the boy was sitting in when the shot came through the living room wall.<\/p>\n
Brandt told a judge in court Monday that he is thankful no one was hurt. A probable cause document says Brandt told police he had been drinking when he pointed the gun in the direction of the neighboring trailer and accidentally pulled the trigger.<\/p>\n
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PIERRE, S.D. (AP) \u2014 Opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline have asked a South Dakota judge to reverse state regulators’ decision last year to again authorize the portion of the project that would go through the state.<\/p>\n
The decision by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission’s was appealed to state court, which heard arguments Wednesday in the case. It’s not clear when Judge John Brown will rule.<\/p>\n
The commission voted last year to accept the company’s guarantee that it can complete the project while meeting the conditions of the 2010 approval.<\/p>\n
The project has prompted opposition from Native American tribes, some landowners and environmental groups concerned the pipeline would contaminate water supplies and contribute to pollution.<\/p>\n
Attorneys for TransCanada and the Public Utilities Commission have asked the judge to uphold the order.<\/p>\n
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LANDER, Wyo. (AP) \u2014 The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information about a July 2007 murder on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming.<\/p>\n
The agency is seeking information about whoever is responsible for the death of 50-year-old Kim Allen Morin of St. Michael, North Dakota, and help in locating the .22 caliber Marlin rifle officials believe was used in the killing.<\/p>\n
Morin was last seen in the Fort Washakie area the morning of July 27, 2007. He planned to travel to Lander with his friend’s son, but there’s no indication he ever arrived. Morin’s remains were found in October 2007 about eight miles north of Fort Washakie.<\/p>\n
The agency has a person of interest but the case is still being investigated.<\/p>\n
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI in Lander at 307-349-6458.<\/p>\n
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In sports\u2026<\/p>\n
New…<\/p>\n
SIOUX CITY, IOWA \u2013 The only unbeaten team in the country was just too good for VCSU Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
Valley City State\u2019s run at the NAIA National Tournament lasted just one game as the Vikings ran into the hottest team in the country, No 5-ranked Southeastern University. The Fire broke open a tight game with a 22-5 third-quarter run, downing the Vikings 87-58 in the first round of the NAIA Division II Women\u2019s Basketball National Tournament.<\/p>\n
VCSU trailed just 36-33 at the half, but Southeastern outscored VCSU 32-13 in the third quarter to break the game open and earn the victory. Southeastern (27-0) moves on to the round of 16 on Friday. VCSU ends its season with a 24-9 overall record, making the fourth national tournament appearance in program history.<\/p>\n
Georgia Williams scored VCSU\u2019s first eight points as the Vikings and Fire played to an 8-8 tie through the first six minutes of play. The Fire followed with a 9-0 run to build their biggest lead of the first quarter at 17-8. VCSU\u2019s Rebecca Eberle beat the first-quarter buzzer inside to pull the Vikings within 17-10 at the quarter break. VCSU shot just 24 percent in the first quarter (4-17) while the Fire went 7-for-14 from the field.<\/p>\n
VCSU\u2019s offense started to come alive in the second quarter as the Vikings went 9-for-16 from the field, including a 5-for-9 quarter from 3-point range. Kennedy Henningsgard and Lexi Lennon both knocked down a pair of 3\u2019s in the quarter, with Lennon\u2019s last 3 beating the halftime buzzer and pulling the Vikings to within three points at 36-33. The Fire led 36-27 with 42 seconds left in the quarter, but Williams nailed a 3 with 34 seconds left and Lennon followed with her buzzer-beater to make it tight at the half.<\/p>\n
The momentum did not carry over to the second half though. The Sun Conference champions showed why they are unbeaten this season and had won their last 10 games by an average of 33.6 points. The Fire opened the third quarter with a 13-2 run, building a 49-35 lead, and then extended the run to 22-5 for a 58-38 lead with 3:09 left in the quarter. Southeastern ended the quarter with a 68-46 advantage, outscoring VCSU 32-13. The Fire shot 12-for-18 in the quarter, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range.<\/p>\n
The Vikings would get no closer than 20 points in the fourth quarter. Only five teams this season have finished the game within 20 points of Southeastern, and the Fire have had only had two games within 10 points.VCSU actually beat the buzzer at the end of each of the first three quarters. Rebecca Eberle hit shots inside at the end of the first and third quarters, while Lennon nailed a 3 at the halftime buzzer.<\/p>\n
Eberle was one of four Vikings to scored double-digits, giving VCSU 10 points off the bench. Senior guard Georgia Williams finished her career with a strong game, posting 18 points and knocking down four 3\u2019s. She finishes her career as the all-time leader in 3-pointers at VCSU, making 185 throughout her career.<\/p>\n
Lexi Lennon had 10 points and nine rebounds in the loss, and Kennedy Henningsgard added 10 points off the bench. The Vikings shot 37 percent overall (24-65), 30 percent on 3\u2019s (8-27) and went 2-for-4 at the free throw line. After going 7-for-15 from 3-point range in the first half, the Vikings were just 1-for-12 in the second half.<\/p>\n
Southeastern University shot 56 percent for the game (34-61), including 63 percent in the second half. The Fire went 10-for-18 on 3\u2019s (56 percent) and were 9-for-19 at the free throw line. Sarah Green had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead five Southeastern players in double figures. Alyssa Ramos added 14 points.<\/p>\n
VCSU\u2019s 24 wins this season tied the school record set by the 2012-13 team, which finished with a 24-8 record and also lost in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament. Valley City State graduates three seniors from this year\u2019s squad: guards Georgia Williams, Nisja Bass and Sara Schwanke.<\/p>\n
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Sioux City, IA\u00a0\u00a0 In the opening round of the NAIA national basketball tournament in Sioux City, Iowa on Wednesday, the University of Jamestown women’s basketball team defeated Oregon Tech 87-63<\/p>\n
A year ago, Oregon Tech upset the Jimmies in the opening round of the nationals.<\/p>\n
Next, the Jimmies play Number 6-ranked Davenport (30-3) of Michigan on Friday at 8:30 a.m. in the Sweet 16.<\/p>\n
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Jamestown\u00a0\u00a0 (CSi)\u00a0 Russ Schmeichel has been presented with his North Dakota Officials Association Hall of Fame plaque on Tuesday at the Jamestown Civic Center.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Schmeichel began officiating in 1965 and worked about 5,000 high school basketball games over almost 50 years. Schmeichel also was a football referee for 17 years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Schmeichel, a longtime teacher and coach in Jamestown, now lives in Andover, Minnesota, with his wife Carol.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Valley City\u00a0 (CSi)\u00a0 Valley City State is hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Sunday, April 23 for boys and girls in grades 3-12.<\/p>\n
Cost is $90 per team with a three-game guarantee. Tournament will be held at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.<\/p>\n
For more information or to register contact Karl Sorby at (701) 845-7170 or k.sorby@vcsu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION<\/p>\n
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) \u2014 Karl-Anthony Towns had 29 points and 14 rebounds and the Minnesota<\/span> Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 107-91 on Wednesday night.<\/p>\nAndrew Wiggins scored 20 points, and Ricky Rubio had 15 points, 12 assists and six rebounds for the Timberwolves, who were well-rested after having their game against Portland on Monday postponed because of condensation on the court. The Wolves held Los Angeles to 42 percent shooting and scored 23 points off of 17 turnovers.<\/p>\n
DeAndre Jordan had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Blake Griffin scored 16 points for the Clippers. Chris Paul had 10 assists, but scored just seven points on 3-for-9 shooting. Los Angeles was outrebounded 50-36, and outscored 62-40 in the paint and 20-2 in transition.<\/p>\n
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Final Orlando 98 Chicago 91<\/p>\n
Final Miami 108 Charlotte 101<\/p>\n
Final Atlanta 110 Brooklyn 105<\/p>\n
Final Utah 115 Houston 108<\/p>\n
Final Milwaukee 104 N-Y Knicks 93<\/p>\n
Final Indiana 115 Detroit 98<\/p>\n
Final Toronto 94 New Orleans 87<\/p>\n
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Final San Antonio 114 Sacramento 104<\/p>\n
Final Washington 123 Denver 113<\/p>\n
Final Boston 99 Golden State 86<\/p>\n
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE<\/p>\n
Final Boston 6 Detroit 1<\/p>\n
Final Pittsburgh 7 Winnipeg 4<\/p>\n
Final Ottawa 5 Dallas 2<\/p>\n
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL<\/p>\n
Final (14) Duke 79 Clemson 72<\/p>\n
Final (21) Virginia 75 Pittsburgh 63<\/p>\n
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TWINS…<\/p>\n
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) \u2014 The Minnesota<\/span> Twins have a new way to entice fans to Target Field: a $99 spring ballpark pass covering 30 games in April and May.<\/p>\nThe deal excludes opening day on April 3 and does not provide a seat, only standing room access. Customers can purchase up to eight of the passes, which will deliver tickets directly to their mobile device, and attend any or all of the 30 games over the first third of the schedule . They’re available for purchase beginning on April 4.<\/p>\n
The Twins are coming off a club-worst 59-103 record in 2016, when their home attendance for the season dropped below 2 million for the first time since 2004.<\/p>\n
The Twins announced the promotion on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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NBA-CAVALIERS-INJURIES<\/p>\n
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) \u2014 There was good news and bad news coming from Cavaliers practice on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Center Andrew Bogut (BOH’-guht) has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs after breaking his left leg just 58 seconds into his Cavs debut Monday against Miami. The team says Bogut won’t need surgery and is expected to be ready for the start of next season.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, shooting guard J.R. Smith practiced Wednesday for the first time since undergoing surgery on his broken right thumb in December. Smith is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game at Detroit.<\/p>\n
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NFL-NEWS<\/p>\n
UNDATED (AP) \u2014 Tony Romo is about to enter the NFL’s free agent market.<\/p>\n
A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that the Cowboys will release Romo when the NFL year opens on Thursday. He will leave the Cowboys as the franchise leader with over 34,000 passing yards, and 248 touchdowns.<\/p>\n
Romo was 78-49 as the starter, but just 2-4 in the postseason. He suffered a series of injuries over the last two seasons, the last being a broken bone in his back. Dak Prescott became the starter last season and led the Cowboys on a franchise-record 11-game winning streak.<\/p>\n
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HALL OF FAME<\/p>\n
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) \u2014 Wake Forest star Tim Duncan, Gonzaga’s John Stockton and Duke standout Jay Williams headline the seven-member class that will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame later this year.<\/p>\n
The 12th induction class was announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Also entering the Hall of Fame are Winston-Salem State’s Cleo Hill, Indiana’s Scott May, Purdue star Rick Mount, Creighton’s Paul Silas and Bo Ryan, who coached Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Wisconsin-Platteville.<\/p>\n
Duncan led the Demon Deacons to four NCAA Tournaments before becoming a star for the San Antonio Spurs, while Stockton likewise became an NBA star with the Utah Jazz after his four-year career.<\/p>\n
Williams led the Blue Devils to the 2001 national championship.<\/p>\n
The induction ceremony, held in conjunction with the Hall of Fame Classic, is scheduled for Nov. 19.<\/p>\n
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In world and national news…<\/p>\n
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WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 They’re still going at it on Capitol Hill. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is still debating the GOP plan to replace former President Barack Obama’s health care law. The House Ways and Means Committee wrapped up its marathon session at around 4:30 this morning, pushing through legislation to abolish the tax penalty Obama’s statute imposes on people who don’t purchase insurance.<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 The Trump administration is looking at cutting the Department of Housing and Urban Development budget by more than $6 billion. Documents obtained by The Washington Post show a preliminary HUD budget that would slash nearly $2 billion from funds dedicated to public housing. It would eliminate the Community Development Block Grant Program, which funds local improvement efforts and anti-poverty programs. HUD spokesman Jereon Brown told the Post the budget document “is still a work in progress.”<\/p>\n
GENEVA (AP) \u2014 U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein says “transparency and victim support” will be part of a new strategy laid out by the secretary-general to fight sexual abuse and exploitation by U.N. peacekeepers. Zeid says such abuse has been a “scourge on the U.N.,” and he also puts the responsibility on countries to help. Zeid addressed questions today at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.<\/p>\n
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 Utility crews are working to restore electricity service to about 200,000 homes and businesses in western New York after hurricane-force winds toppled trees and power lines. More than half of the outages this morning are in the Rochester area, where fallen trees and utility poles are blocking several roads. Officials in the towns of Greece and Irondequoit (uh-RAHN’-duh-kwoyt) have declared states of emergency.<\/p>\n
MIAMI (AP) \u2014 Lawyers for the Florida Department of Children & Families told a judge they made a “simple mistake” when they gave her incorrect information about the welfare of foster children who may have witnessed a teen hang herself on Facebook live. Judge Maria Sampedro-Iglesia had ordered the agency to explain why they shouldn’t be held in contempt of court over a mix-up in identifying a girl who was in the home Jan. 22 when 14-year-old Naika Venant died. The judge has threatened to jail the agency’s top Miami attorney.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CSi Weather… REST OF TODAY…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of snow in the Jamestown area. Highs 15 to 20. North winds 10 to 20 mph. .TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Colder. Lows around 10 below. North winds around 15 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Wind chills around […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":36072,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wb-show"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=117589"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117589\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":117620,"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117589\/revisions\/117620"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/36072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=117589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=117589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=117589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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CSi Weather…<\/p>\n