CSi Weather…
REST OF TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 70S. NORTHEAST
WINDS AROUND 5 MPH.
.TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTHEAST WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH.
.THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S. SOUTH
WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…DECREASING CLOUDS. A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE MID 60S. SOUTH WINDS 10 TO
15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHWEST AROUND 5 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S. NORTH WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE LOWER
60S. HIGHS AROUND 80.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE
OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 60S. HIGHS AROUND
80.
.SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID
50S. HIGHS IN THE MID 70S.
THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL DEVELOP THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. A FEW STORMS COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH SOME LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND POSSIBLE.
A GREATER POTENTIAL FOR STRONG/SEVERE STORMS WILL COME IN THE EVENING WITH A FRONT MOVING THROUGH.
A FEW STORMS MAY LINGER TOWARDS THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY INTO FRIDAY MORNING
THERE IS A NEAR DAILY CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Residents of the Dakotas may be noticing hazy skies this week as smoke from wildfires in Canada’s Northwest Territories has made its way south to the U.S.
Adam Jones with the National Weather Service in Bismarck says strong northwestern winds have brought the smoke to North Dakota and South Dakota. The Northwest territories are about approximately 1,000 miles northwest of Bismarck.
Jones says because the wildfires are so big, large amounts of smoke have been traveling high into the atmosphere. The upper layers of the atmosphere have strong winds that can carry the smoke long distances.
The meteorologist expected the haze to last through today.
Jamestown (CSi) The late Jerry Kainz is being remembered by Fire officials and other community members. The Jamestown City Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief, passed away Monday morning, at Jamestown Regional Medical Center.
The 70 year old Kainz, was a 46-year veteran of the Jamestown Fire Department.
Jamestown Fire Chief Jim Reuther says Kainz was sworn in as a member of the fire department on May 27, 1968, the same day he married, Nadine.
Reuther said Kainz was an “amazing” guy due to his depth and width of knowledge and his calm demeanor.
Reuther pointed out that since Jerry retired from the Jamestown Hospital maintenance department Kainz spent time at the fire station on Second Avenue Northwest because he enjoyed being there.
Fire Captain Dennis Barton, says Kainz was always there to help people when they needed it.
Barton and Reuther added that Kainz was always willing to help out at the fire hall, no matter what was going on. He was at the department’s pancake fundraiser on Saturday and stayed after the event to help clean up.
Kainz, was also an avid photographer, and Jamestown Arts Center Director, Taylor Barnes, says Jerry always had an annual showing of his work at the Arts Center and was a “great volunteer.”
Funeral Services for Jerry Kainz are pending at Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown.
Updates will be posted on line at CsiNewsNow.com
Jamestown (CSi) A woman that was arrested with four others in a Wimbledon House search in June this year, is set for a change of plea and sentencing today.
19 year old Sharita Lane Koenig is facing sentencing for eight Class A Misdemeanors and three Class B Misdemeanors.
She was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
Other charges against Koenig include Forgery or Counterfeiting, Criminal Conspiracy and Theft of Property.
Koenig originally pleaded not guilty in the case.
Fargo (CSi) Troopers in the North Dakota Highway Patrol’s southeast region conducted an alcohol saturation in
Stutsman, Barnes, Cass, Traill and Steele counties July 3-6. Troopers from across the southeast region worked overtime to add extra patrols during the holiday weekend. Troopers issued the following throughout the saturation:
32 – written warnings
33 – citations
3 – DUI arrests
2 – driving under suspension arrests
4 – open container citations
Approximately 25 percent of all traffic fatality victims in North Dakota this year have been killed in alcohol-related crashes. The goal of the saturation was deter and detect impaired drivers to prevent additional traffic crashes and deaths because of impaired drivers.
Valley City (CSi) The Annual Barnes County 4-H Achievement Days Show is set for the North Dakota Winter Show Event Center building.
The event begins Friday, July 11 at 1:30pm.
All events are free and open to the public.
This year’s activities include project exhibits, small animal and large animal exhibits, dog obedience and showmanship along with a premium sale supper.
GRAND FORKS, N.D.— North Dakota Simulation, Teaching, and Research for Healthcare Education (ND STAR) at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences has received a $1,785 grant from the Dakota Medical Foundation to support “Drive-by Simulation: In-situ Simulation Training for ND Critical Access Hospitals.” The project was designed to provide critical access hospital staff in the area served by the Dakota Medical Foundation the opportunity to receive training in an emergency childbirth experience. The grant will cover travel expenses for the necessary staff to accomplish the project during August and September. The UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences provided an in-kind contribution of staff salaries to complete the education program.
The following hospitals will participate in the training:
· Carrington Health Center
· Cooperstown Medical Center
· Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake
· Essentia Medical Center, Fargo
· Sanford Medical Center, Fargo
· Unity Medical Center, Grafton
· St. Aloisius Medical Center, Harvey
· Sanford Hillsboro Medical Center
· Jamestown Regional Medical Center
· Lisbon Area Health Services
· Sanford Mayville Medical Center
· Nelson County Health System, McVille
· Northwood Health System
· Oakes Community Hospital
· First Care Health Center, Park River
· Mercy Hospital, Valley City
· Wishek Community Hospital
ND STAR’s mission supports the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in using comprehensive interactive simulation for regional multidisciplinary health care education, training and research. ND STAR is also the managing entity for Simulation in Motion–North Dakota, which provides simulation outreach for the state, especially to rural EMS units and critical access hospitals.
The Dakota Medical Foundation leads initiatives to measurably improve health and access to health care, helps build exceptional nonprofit organizations that produce superior results, and actively seeks and invests in breakthrough ideas to vastly improve the health of people in the region.
Since 1996, DMF has invested $68 million to operate initiatives, provide funding and help improve the results of more than 400 organizations in the region. DMF and Impact Foundation jointly host Giving Hearts Day and the impactgiveback.org website that has processed more than $8 million for charities since 2008. For more information, please see www.dakmed.org.
WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – The trial of an Idaho man accused of gunning down a Williston resident outside of a strip club in 2013 is being moved to the other side of the state.
District judge David Nelson agreed to move Jonathan Hovarth’s murder trial to Wahpeton in southeastern North Dakota. Wahpeton is a seven hour drive from Williston.
Hovarth allegedly shot 28-year-old Derrick Spiegel outside a Williston strip club in March 2013. A massive manhunt ensued after Hovarth fled the area after the shooting. He was eventually arrested near Billings, Montana.
Hovarth faces a murder charge along with two counts of terrorizing, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and reckless endangerment.
The trial is set to begin today.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The judge overseeing a homicide trial in Bismarck is questioning whether prosecutors filed the right charge in the case.
Twenty-year-old Joshua Clark is on trial on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Authorities allege that Clark and 26-year-old Theo Crowe conspired to kill 18-year-old John Swain, who had recently moved to Bismarck from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, when he was killed and dismembered last year.
Crowe pleaded guilty in the case last October. On Tuesday he refused to testify against Clark. Judge Bruce Haskell questioned whether an accomplice or facilitation charge might be more appropriate against Clark. But he denied a defense motion that Clark be acquitted on the conspiracy charge.
Authorities allege Clark and Crowe killed Swain, cut off his legs and hid his body in Montana.
DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) – The president of the Dickinson Catholic Schools would one day like to see justice for whoever burned down part of Trinity High School, but says for now he’s focusing on rebuilding the school and their community. President Steve Glasser says construction crews are on track to reopen the school by the start of the 2014 academic year. The school will use some temporary classrooms.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Department of Health says a saltwater pipeline has leaked on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
Kris Roberts is an environmental geologist with the department. He says they were notified of the leak around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Crestwood Midstream Services owns the pipeline.
Roberts says the department isn’t sure how much saltwater has leaked, what caused the leak or when it began.
He said late Tuesday that the company is using containment berm systems but the brine is not completely contained.
Attempts to reach a company spokeswoman were not immediately successful late Tuesday
The leak is on the southeast side of Bear Den Bay, about 30 miles east of Watford City.
Saltwater is also called brine. It is a byproduct of oil production.
ALEXANDER, N.D. (AP) – For the third time in recent weeks a lightning strike has destroyed a saltwater disposal facility in North Dakota. No one was hurt.
The latest strike occurred Monday at a site south of Alexander owned by Dallas-based 1804 Operating. McKenzie County Emergency Manager Karolin Rockvoy said the fire was still burning Tuesday morning.
The state Health Department says 2,813 barrels of saltwater and 649 barrels of oil were released. A barrel is 42 gallons. Officials say some of the fluids went off site but were contained before reaching a tributary of Lonesome Creek.
Saltwater is a byproduct of oil production. It’s an environmental hazard and must be taken to special facilities.
Two of the more than 440 saltwater disposal facilities in North Dakota were destroyed by lightning in June.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Job Service North Dakota data show counties that produced oil last year held nine of the top 10 spots in average annual wages.
Research analyst Michael Ziesch (zish) says North Dakota’s average annual wage increased about 4 percent last year to almost $48,000. Ziesch says the state’s average wage still lags behind the national average of just over $49,000.
Job Service figures show that oil-rich Williams County ranked first last year with an average annual salary of $78,390.
Eleven counties topped the statewide average last year, and 10 of them produced oil.
Coal-rich Oliver County ranked fifth in wages in 2013 and was the only non-oil producing county to crack the top 10.
Sheridan County, in central North Dakota, had the state’s lowest average wage of $26,611 last year.
WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – Federal grants totaling $1.5 million are being awarded to a rural elderly care program and the University of North Dakota’s School of Nursing.
U.S. Sens. Heidi Heitkamp and John Hoeven announced the grants on Tuesday.
Bismarck-based Northland Healthcare Alliance will receive about $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a rural elderly care program.
UND will get $350,000 in federal funds from the Health and Human Services’ Nursing Workforce Diversity program. The money will provide stipends and scholarships to people from disadvantaged backgrounds and groups that are underrepresented among registered nurses.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Two North Dakota law enforcement agents are being recognized for their work in a wide-ranging synthetic drug case that covered five states and resulted in 15 arrests.
The case was dubbed Operation Stolen Youth. The investigation was launched in Grand Forks in 2012 when two teenagers died and three others were hospitalized after ingesting unknown substances.
All but two of the defendants charged in the case have been sentenced.
U.S. Attorney Timothy Purdon will present commendation awards to forensic scientist Charlene Keller of the state crime laboratory and special agent Steve Gilpin.
The ceremony is scheduled this afternoon at the state attorney general’s office in Bismarck.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A group of North Dakota lawmakers is suggesting legislation that would devote more oil tax money to highway corridors impacted by energy development.
The 12-member Energy Development and Transmission Committee unveiled draft legislation Tuesday that would set aside $75 million each two-year budget cycle. The proposed bill would give priority to U.S. 85, the main north-south highway in western North Dakota’s oil patch.
The state has earmarked more than $300 million to make the 46 miles between Williston and Watford City four lanes. The project is scheduled to be completed in late 2015.
Sen. Rich Wardner is chairman of the Energy Development and Transmission Committee. The Dickinson Republican says using additional oil tax revenue for highway improvements would not affect other funding needs for cities, counties or school districts.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – University of North Dakota President Robert Kelley is taking a month off to study faculty tenure issues.
Kelley says in a statement that he has been approved for a leave of absence of up to 30 days for professional development. That’s allowed under North Dakota University System policy if a president has been in office for at least five years.
Kelley says he will be on leave from mid-July through mid-August. He will be back to preside over the school’s Aug. 8 summer commencement ceremony.
Provost Tom DiLorenzo will oversee the Grand Forks university in Kelley’s absence.
MINOT (AP) The North Dakota State Fair begins its nine-day run in Minot on Friday.
The annual fair includes everything from agricultural exhibits to carnival rides. This year’s entertainment lineup includes big-name acts Lady Antebellum, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, John Mellencamp, the Charlie Daniels Band and rockers Three Days Grace.
Retired North Dakota High School Activities Association Executive Secretary Sherm Sylling will serve as grand marshal of the State Fair Parade on Saturday.
The fair runs through July 26. Last year’s fair drew a record 320,485 people.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The U.S. Department of the Interior is giving about $400,000 to North Dakota for conservation and outdoor recreation projects.
The money comes from the department’s Land and Water Conservation Fund. The fund collects money from federal oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf.
U.S. Sens. Heidi Heitkamp and John Hoeven both separately announced the funding Tuesday.
The money will be given to North Dakota. It’s up to the state to decide how to disperse the funding.
In sports…
Jamestown (CSi) Dakota Anglers Pork Roast outing will be held Saturday, July 12, 2014 at Joos’ Grove at Jamestown Reservoir. This is a fishing tournament for the contestants followed by a pork roast and potluck meal for the membership.
Two person teams may enter; at least one team member must be a Dakota Anglers member ($15 annual membership fee to join). Registration is from 7:00-8:00 at Joos’ Grove. Bring your boat to the registration point for an ANS (Aquatic Nuisance Specie) Inspection of your boat. If you are not able to bring your boat for an inspection, please call Dave Zuck at 320-9194.
Fishing Starts at 8:00 AM. Weigh in at 3:00 pm sharp. If you are going to be late for Weigh In due to troubles, you must call Dave Zuck no later than 2:30 pm.
Teams may fish any one legal ND water (anglers must declare the water they will be fishing at registration and species weighed in will be determined by Game and Fish stocking reports for lake declared).
Please bring a dish to pass; you don’t need to fish to participate in the pork roast meal.
Jamestown (CSi) About $720 was raised by participants for the John Dardis Memorial Hospice Gift Fund, in the June 24, 2014 Annual City Shoot.
When other donations were added the total came to $1,042.
The expenses with the event of $300 were picked up by the Buffalo City Gun Club.
All profits from the shooting were donated to the John Dardis Memorial Hospice Gift Fund.
John Dardis was a longtime Jamestown trap shooter and was a team sponsor for many years.
He lost his battle with cancer in 2008.
The Hospice Gift Fund is supported by donations from family, friends, memorial gifts, and fundraisers such as this shooting event. The funds are administered through the Jamestown Regional Medical Center Foundation.
RESULTS:
Event One, Singles Targets with three classes of shooters. 19 Entries
Winning shooters :
Class A – Tony Hagan, Tyler Goldade, Jeff Seher Tied at 48 x 50
Class B – Niles Mueller 48 x 50
Class C – Jim Heinrich 47 x 50
Event Two, a Troy system Handicap with two yardage groups. 15 Entries.
Winners were:
Short Yardage – Dean Rohrich, Steven Scott Tied at 41 x 50
Long Yardage – Niles Mueller 48 x 50
Event Three, a Doubles Targets ( 25 Pair ) with two classes. 11 Entries
Winners were:
Class A – Dave Greenwood 46 x 50
Class B – Jim Schumacher Sr. 44 x 50
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota State University has hired former University of Iowa NCAA wrestling champion Derek St. John as an assistant coach.
St. John was the 2013 national champion at 157 pounds, when he was a junior. He had top-five national finishes as a freshman, sophomore and senior. The Parnell, Iowa, native concluded his collegiate career with a record of 106-17.
NDSU head coach Roger Kish says the Bison program is thrilled to add St. John to the staff.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – Former Valparaiso coach Jordan Stevens has been named head softball coach at the University of North Dakota.
Stevens took a leave of absence from Valparaiso in May, citing personal reasons, and did not return. UND Athletic Director Brian Faison announced his hiring on Monday.
Stevens spent four seasons at Valparaiso, guiding the Crusaders to NCAA tournament appearances in 2012 and 2013. His teams won 57 percent of their games.
At UND, Stevens succeeds Eric Oakley, who resigned last spring after his third season.
Fargo (CSi) The North Dakota Shrine football 11-man and 9-man games coming up on Sunday, from the Fargo dome will be televised on WDAY in Fargo, CSi-6.
The 11-man game is at 4 p.m., and the 9-man game is at 7 p.m.
Three Jamestown High School Blue Jay players will play in the annual Shrine Game in Fargo next weekend. Included on the 11-man West roster are Taylor Orr, Tyler Ukestad and Marc Wagner.
AA..
Gary 9, Fargo-Moorhead 5
MLB…
INTERLEAGUE
Final Detroit 14 L.A. Dodgers 5
Final Oakland 6 San Francisco 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
SEATTLE (AP) – Minnesota’s Phil Hughes pitched into the eighth inning as the Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0 last night. Hughes rebounded from being knocked around in his previous two starts to shut down the Mariners. Hughes gave up eight hits in 7 1-3 innings, struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter in silencing Seattle’s stagnant offense.
The NL Central-leading Tigers rapped out a season-high 20 hits in routing the NL West-leading Dodgers 14-5. Justin Verlander allowed five runs in the first but settled down and improved to 8-7. Miguel Cabrera was one of five Detroit players with three hits.
Final Cleveland 5 N-Y Yankees 3
Final Chi White Sox 8 Boston 3
Final Tampa Bay 4 Kansas City 3
Final Houston 8 Texas 3
Final Toronto 4 L.A. Angels 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Cincinnati 4 Chi Cubs 2 (first game)
Final Cincinnati 6 Chi Cubs 5 (second game)
Final N-Y Mets 8 Atlanta 3
Final Philadelphia 9 Milwaukee 7
Final St. Louis 5 Pittsburgh 4
Final Colorado 2 San Diego 1
Final Miami 2 Arizona 1
NEW YORK (AP) – Jose Bautista and Troy Tulowitzki have announced three members of their respective teams for Monday night’s Home Run Derby at Target Field. Joining Bautista on the American League team are Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes, Baltimore’s Adam Jones and Brian Dozier of the Twins. Tulowitzki will have Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton, the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig and Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier on his side.
The Minnesota Twins have placed struggling right-hander Ricky Nolasco on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow. Nolasco is 5-7 with a 5.90 ERA in 18 starts.
WNBA BASKETBALL
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Maya Moore scored 16 of her 30 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Minnesota Lynx to an 82-72 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks last night. Lindsay Whalen added 16 points for Minnesota. Jantel Lavender scored 17 points and Candace Parker added 16 for Los Angeles.
Final Atlanta 83 Connecticut 71
Final Indiana 78 Tulsa 76
NEW YORK (AP) – Minnesota star Maya Moore is the leading vote-getter for the WNBA All-Star game. She will start for the Western Conference alongside Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, Tulsa’s Skylar Diggins and Los Angeles’ Candace Parker. Elena Delle Donne received the most votes in the Eastern Conference.
WORLD CUP SOCCER
UNDATED (AP) – Germany stunned host Brazil with five goals in the first 30 minutes en route to a 7-1 victory that set a record for the most lopsided victory in World Cup semifinal history. The Germans await the winner of Wednesday’s Netherlands-Argentina match in Sunday’s World Cup final.
SAO PAULO (AP) – Dutch captain and all-time top scorer Robin van Persie is questionable for today’s World Cup semifinal against Argentina after succumbing to a stomach problem. Van Persie trained separately on Tuesday with defender Daryl Janmaat and coach Louis van Gaal said both were suffering “stomach and intestinal problems.”
TOUR…
Updates…
ARENBERG, France (AP) – Dutch rider Lars Boom has won a chaotic fifth stage of the Tour de France marked by the withdrawal of defending champion Chris Froome following two crashes.
Race leader Vincenzo Nibali, one several high-profile riders to crash, recovered and excelled: He extended his overall lead.
Froome was the Team Sky leader favored to win again, and his departure leaves the three-week race wide open.
Race organizers, sensing the dangers even before the stage began, scrapped two of the nine scheduled cobblestone patches, and reduced the stage by three kilometers (two miles), to 152.5 kilometers (95 miles), from Ypres, Belgium to Arenberg-Porte du Hainaut, France.
ARENBERG, France (AP) – Defending champion Chris Froome has dropped out of the Tour de France after crashing in rainy, slick conditions in the fifth stage on Wednesday.
A day after hurting his wrist in a crash in the fourth stage, Froome fell again at around the halfway mark of the 152.5-kilometer (94.5-mile) route from the Belgian town of Ypres to Arenberg-Porte du Hainaut in France.
The Team Sky rider then climbed into a team car and left the race.
The withdrawal of the main pre-race favorite leaves the three-week cycling showcase wide open.
Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali is wearing the leader’s yellow jersey, but two-time champion Alberto Contador is only two seconds behind and could become the man to beat.
YPRES, Belgium (AP) – The Tour de France is heading into Belgium for the start of a critical, cobblestoned stage that has preoccupied racers and their teams for months.
Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali is wearing the leader’s yellow jersey for the 152.5-kilometer (94.5-mile) route that includes seven rough, cobblestoned sections toward the end.
Forecasters are also calling for steady rain during the race, which will test riders bike-handling skills like no other stage in this year’s Tour.
The stage was to have nine cobblestoned sections, but due to the wet conditions, race organizers scrapped two of them before the start.
Nibali has a two-second lead over a group that includes defending champion Chris Froome and two-time winner Alberto Contador.
Froome hurt his wrist in a crash Tuesday, which could prove painful on the bone-jarring cobblestones.
NBA…
LAS VEGAS (AP) – Four-time NBA MVP and top free agent LeBron James held meetings for more than three hours yesterday in Las Vegas, but declined to give any hint as to which team might have the inside track for his services next season. Some of James’ representatives have met with several teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team James broke in with but abandoned four years ago to play for the Miami Heat.
In world and national news…
BERLIN (AP) – German authorities are investigating a second spy case reportedly involving the U.S. Federal prosecutors say police raided properties in the Berlin area on “initial suspicion of activity for an intelligence agency.” A German daily is reporting the man worked in “the military field” and is suspected of spying for the United States. A 31-year-old German intelligence employee was arrested last week on suspicion of spying for foreign powers since 2012.
JERUSALEM (AP) – A health official in the Gaza Strip says an 80-year-old woman is among 14 people killed by Israeli strikes today. The Israeli army intensified its offensive on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip in an effort to stop militants from firing rockets into Israel. Israel’s defense minister is warning the offensive will be long-term and inflict a high price on Hamas.
SMITHFIELD, N.Y. (AP) – Severe thunderstorms that rolled through several eastern states last night have left at least five people dead and hundreds of thousands without power. Some of the worst damage was in central New York, which is also where four of the deaths took place. The National Weather service says investigators are headed to the area to see whether a tornado touched down. Power outages are also being reported in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
TOKYO (AP) – The powerful typhoon that slammed through Okinawa has swerved toward Japan’s heavily populated central islands. It’s forecast to hit Kyushu island tomorrow and could travel across the main island of Honshu, which includes the major cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The torrents of rainfall expected could trigger landslides and floods, and much of eastern Japan is at risk of tornadoes.
LONDON (AP) – George Clooney is ripping a British newspaper over an article claiming his fiancee’s mother disapproves of the impending marriage for religious reasons. The Daily Mail cited unnamed “friends” as saying Amal Alamuddin risked being “cast out of the community” because she was not marrying a Druse man. Clooney calls the report untrue and irresponsible, and says Alamuddin’s mother is not Druse.