CSi Weather…
TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S. SOUTHEAST
WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 30 PERCENT IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA A 40 PERCENT CHANCE IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA.
.TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN
THE EVENING…THEN SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AFTER
MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE MID 60S. EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF
PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT.
.THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA, A 30 PERCENT CHANCE IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S. NORTHWEST
WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS AROUND 60. NORTH WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH.
.FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY IN THE
MORNING…THEN CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE
AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S. NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60 PERCENT.
.FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A
40 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE
UPPER 50S. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S.
.SUNDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S.
.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF
RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS AROUND 50. HIGHS IN THE
UPPER 60S.
.MONDAY NIGHT…INCREASING CLOUDS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 50S.
.TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS AND SLIGHT
CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S. CHANCE OF
PRECIPITATION 40 PERCENT.
THUNDERSTORMS WILL SPREAD NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE REGION LATE
TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ACROSS FAR SOUTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE REST OF THE REGION AS WELL. LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE. SMALL
STREAMS AND COULEES MAY FLOOD DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUNOFF.
THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ON THURSDAY..
A part of Southwest Jamestown was reported without water, this morning due to water main breaks, in the Louis L’Amour School area.
A section of the roadway near 8th Avenue and 17th Street Southwest, near First Assembly of God Church, had collapsed. The roadway is coned.
Other reports from the scene include two breaks in the area of 1130 16th Street Southwest. An electrical sub-station had some light water amounts, but no reported electrical outages at that time.
There were some homes in the area that had some standing water in the yards.
Updates on line at CSiNewsNow.com
Beginning TODAY, Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 17th St SW between Hwy 281 South & 12th Ave SW will be CLOSED due to utility repairs needed in the area. The work will continue until repairs are completed.
Please follow DETOUR signage.
Motorists’ should use alternative routes & use EXTREME caution in and around this area..
On another note, the Jamestown City Engineer’s Office report, that beginning today, traffic will be restricted to one lane in the area of 8th Ave SW (Hwy 281) & 20th St SW for approximately one week for utility repairs in the area.
Please use alternative routes if possible.
Motorists’ should use EXTREME caution in and around this area and use alternate routes.
Jamestown (CSi) Word has been received that Jamestown teacher and coach Jerry Meyer died Monday in a Minot hospital. He was 82 years old.
The Rugby native spent time coaching in Kenmare before coming to Jamestown.
He led the Jamestown High School boys basketball program to four state championships (1976, 78, 82, 87) and eventually coached Jamestown College’s men’s basketball program to an NDCAC championship in 1994. He ended his coaching career with 523 wins.
Meyer is a six-time Class A coach of the year and was honored twice as as coach of the year by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscaster and Sportswriters Association.
He’s a member of the Minot State and National High School Coaches Association Halls of Fame.
The Jamestown High School gym is named Jerry Meyer Arena in his honor.
Funeral arrangements will be posted, when available.
Jamestown (CSi) There was a special meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, at City Hall. Council Member Buchanan was not present.
The City Council considered placing an ordinance to amend & re-enact a Section of the City Code, to allow fireworks sale and detonation from July 1 thru July 5, from Noon to 11:00 PM, with the exception of July 4, from Noon to 1:00 AM. on the Novmeber election ballot.
At the August 4, 2014, City Council meeting the Council voted unanimously to place on the Special City Council meeting agenda, further discussion of placing the language on the November 2014 election ballot including sales and use of fireworks, based on Council Member Buchanan’s motion of dates and times.
City Attorney Dalsted drafted language of ballot.
From the audience, Gail Martin spoke and said the fireworks amendment is not needed, being “a minor thing,” and the Council needs to step up and make a decision.
Owner of Fantastic Fireworks, Corey Bayer spoke and presented the CsiNewsNow.com poll which indicated that 45% of the respondents wanted the present fireworks Ordinance to stay as is, which he still supports. He indicated other noises in the community such as barking dogs.
Danielle Schmidt said the poll indicated 56% of those taking part in the CSi survey indicated wanting a change of some sort of the Ordinance.
Lucas Keller a fireworks seller, said the issue is about keeping freedoms.
Ms. Schmidt responded by saying residents have a right to not have the fireworks noise.
An audience member believes the issue should come to a vote.
Mayor Andersen again stated, that she is not in favor on changing the present Ordinance.
Council Member Kourajian favored the Council making a decision.
Mayor Andersen said on the ballot, a YES vote would be in favor of the limitations outlined, a NO vote would mean the voter does not favor limiting the use and detonation of fireworks.
The ballot language: An Ordinance to amend & re-enact a Section of the City Code, to allow fireworks sale and detonation from July 1 thru July 5, from Noon to 11:00 PM, with the exception of July 4, from Noon to 1:00 AM.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the motion to put the issue to a vote was passed on a 3-1 vote with Mayor Andersen, Council Member Gumke, and Council member Brubakken in favor of the ballot measure. Council Member Kourajian voting opposed.
Also at the Special City Council meeting
Under Resolutions
Council Members considered the August 4, 2014 City Council tabled item relative to the request of Buffalo Holdings, LLC, for a five year property tax exemption for a Marriot Hotel project to be located on a portion of Block 6, Buffalo Mall Subdivision, 2400 10th Avenue SW.
Council Member Brubakken presented a study of 16 previous applicants and the Council’s vote.
Mayor Andersen said she favors approving the exemption, meeting requires under the City Ordinance, and tax revenues from guests staying at the hotel.
Council Member Brubakken said the paving at the Menards site would benefit the hotel.
Tena Lawrence, representing the University of Jamestown spoke in favor of the hotel, concerning recruitment of students, with additional hotel space for visiting students.
Clarice Liechty a partner in the development of the hotel project, spoke and pointed out other tax exemptions granted by the City Council in the past, and indicated a need for more hotel rooms in Jamestown, and pointed out additional jobs created by the hotel.
A motion was made to approve the tax exemption on a sliding scale, which died for a lack of a second.
A motion was made for a five year 100 percent tax exemption.
The Council voted unanimously to approve.
The City Council approved awarding the bid for replacement of permanent seating in the upper concourse of the Jamestown Civic Center to George Abell Construction in the amount of $439,205.
The City Council approved and authorized the issuance of improvement warrants and exchanging them for $4,520,000.00 Refunding Improvement Bonds of 2014, Series W, and awarding the sale of $4,520,000.00 Refunding Improvement Bonds, Series W.
Council Members approved and authorized the issuance of improvement warrants and exchanging them for $870,000.00 Tax Refunding Improvement Bonds of 2014, Series X, and awarding the sale of $870,000.00 Tax Refunding Improvement Bonds, Series X.
The meeting was shown live on CSi 67 followed by replays.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council’s Finance & Legal, Building, Planning & Zoning, and Civic Center & Promotion Committees met Tuesday afternoon at City Hall. Council Member Buchanan was not present.
On the Finance & Legal Committee:
Recommends approving the request from JSDC for $33,810 from the Economic Development Fund to pay South Central Dakota Regional Council dues for 2015 with the City Share to be $21,300 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.
Recommends approving the request from the JSDC for $75,000 from the Economic Development Fund for the continuation of matching grant funding for tourism, with the City Share to be $60,000 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.
Recommends approving the request from JSDC for $43,000 from the Economic Development Fund to provide a Flex PACE Interest Buy-down for the Jamestown Regional Airport Authority hangars project, with the City Share to be $34,400 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.
Recommends approving sending the request to the City Council without recommendation from JSDC… for up to $642,900 from the Economic Development Fund to provide for the community share to participate in Flex PACE Affordable Housing multi-family housing projects with the City Share to be up to $642,900 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund, with a defintion of “affortable housing.”
(The Stutsman County Commission table the request).
The committee recommends approving the request from JSDC for $20,000 from the Economic Development Fund for roof repair on the Economic Development Center building, with the City Share to be $18,000 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.
The committee recommends tabling the request from JSDC for up to $99,999.00 from the Economic Development Fund to provide for Phase 1 of a study on the Jamestown Aquifer, with the City Share to be $90,000 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.
The committee recommends the purchase of a Human Resources module license from Tyler Technologies, in the amount of approximately $5,750, and annual maintenance of $1,750.
Recommends tabling the request from Albert L. Boeckel for a quit claim deed on a portion of vacated alley of Tahran’s 2nd Addition, to next month’s committee meeting.
The committee recommends moving to the September City Council meeting, covenants prohibiting any ground disturbance activities on Lot 2, Block 1, of Hammer Addition,Lots 5 through 11, Block 1, Homestead III Addition, Lots 1 and 2, Block 2, Homestead III Addition, and Lots 7-9, Block 6, Homestead Addition, except under the authority of the ND State Historical Society.(Undeveloped property south of 7th Street SW between 12th Avenue SW and 10th Avenue SW). Consideration of the offer(s) to purchase Lot 5, Block 1, Homestead III.
Recommends the city provide the Stutsman County Water Resource Board for funding to provide a Storm Water Drainage Study for the area south of I-94 and west of Highway 281 South, which area is partially inside the city and includes part of Woodbury Township.
The entire meeting was shown live on CSi 67 followed by replays.
Valley City (CSi) The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall. All members were present.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDED:
A Parade application for the Valley City High School Homecoming Parade on Oct. 10.
Approval of a Game of Chance Raffle Permit for El Zagal Sheyenne Valley Flag Corps AND bc Senior Citizens Council, Inc.
PUBLIC FORUM No one spoke.
ORDINANCES
Approved the second and final reading of an Ordinance designating the Legacy West Townhome zoned as PUD as recommended by the Planning & Zoning Committee.
Approved the first reading of an Ordinance rezoning of property from I-1 Light Industrial to B-2 Highway Business District (Fairhill Properties).
RESOLUTIONS
An Open Public Hearing was held for comments on the Integrated Resource Plan by Western Area Power Administration (WAPA).
Following the Hearing, the City Commission approved a Resolution approving the Integrated Resource Plan Summary Report from WAPA IRP Cooperative Filing for the City of Valley City, North Dakota.
City Commissioners then approved a Resolution calling for a special Election on November 4, 2014, to vote on Ordinance 977, an ordinance granting a property tax exemption to new or expanding retail sector businesses.
The City Commission then considered a Resolution calling for a Special Election on November 4, 2014 for an Advisory Vote on Ordinance No. 978, an Ordinance which would Amend, Update and Re-enact the Existing 1/2% City Sales Tax, to fund a Health and Wellness Center.
Larry Robinson representing VCSU again spoke in support of the project.
The City Commission voted unanimously to approve the Resolution.
The City Commission also voted unanimously to place another vote on the ballot in fund permanent flood control.
NEW BUSINESS
A Public Hearing was held regarding Special Assessments confirmed by the Special Assessment Commission for Paving Improvement District No. 102. (Auditor)
Following the Hearing City Commissioners approved Special Assessments as Recommended by the Special Assessment Commission for Paving Improvement District No. 102.
Another Open Public Hearing was held Regarding Special Assessments confirmed by the Special Assessment Commission for Paving Improvement District No. 103.
Following that hearing Commissioners approved Special Assessments as Recommended by the Special Assessment Commission for Paving Improvement District No. 103.
An Open Public Hearing was held Regarding Special Assessments confirmed by the Special Assessment Commission for Road Dust Control Improvement District No. 1
Following the hearing Special Assessments as Recommended by the Special Assessment Commission for Road Dust Control Improvement District No. 1 was approved.
Commissioners approved the roof repair bid for the Police Department building in the amount of $24,460 to Enterprise Sales Company.
The City Commission approved acknowledgement of the “Agreement Regarding Loan Repayment Obligations of John Deere Seeding Group Under Infrastructure Funding Agreements” between the VCBC Development Corporation and John Deere Seeding Group.
Commissioners reviewed a request from the VCBC Development Corporation to direct the City Attorney to provide a legal opinion related to the disposition of some or all of the land owned by the city.
City Attorney Russell Myhre suggested working with the VCBC attorney to frame the issue.
VCBC Development Corporation Director Jennifer Feist said she was under the impression the two have been meeting. She indicated that if the City Attorney’s opinion was not what the Development Corporation was looking for it would go to a higher attorney until it receives the answer they area looking for.
Mayor Werhoven suggested delaying action on the issue until the September City Commission meeting.
Commissioner Nielson said any legal opinion should come from the City Commission.
City Commissioners voted to direct the City Attorney to work with the Development Corportation attorney at the expense of the VCBC Development Corporation.
The City Commission, discussed allowing diagonal parking on boulevard for the new building of Faith Lutheran Church.
The City Beautification Committee recommends tabling the action, as did the planning and zoning committee, until a citywide plan is adopted regarding boulevards and other development in the city.
City Commissioner Nielson says the requests are decided on a case by case basis.
City Commissioner Luke added that certain things make Valley City special, specifically with its trees, including on boulevards.
The City Commission approved the request on the conditions of the church being responsible for snow removal, provide a shared use path, the church replace trees removed from the boulevard replaced on church property, and address curb and gutter concerns, and drainage issues. Commissioner Luke voted in opposition.
CITY ADMINISTRATORS REPORT…Nothing to report
CITY UPDATE & COMMISSION REPORTS
City Auditor Richter said the budget meetings start this Thursday.
The meeting was shown live on CSi 68 followed by replays.
Valley City (CSi) Building and internet security measure are now in place at Valley City Public Schools.
Teachers, and staff members will be using a fav key to enter school buildings.
The system was installed this summer, and Technology Director Brian Kriewald says the system will step up school district security.
Vsitors will ask permission to enter most public school district buildings by pushing a button using a small high definition screen.
Funding to install the door security system was made possible through federal and state monies designated to enhance school security systems across the nation.
Also, Valley City Public School District’s internet services have been expanded to help teachers and students, plus the addition of internet security measures.
HILLSBORO, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Highway Patrol says a Minneapolis man was killed when he sped through a construction zone and lost control.
It happened Monday evening north of Hillsboro, about halfway between Fargo and Grand Forks.
The patrol says 22-year-old Elyas Abdulkadir Ali was going south on Interstate 29 in an area that was restricted to one lane.
Witnesses say he passed on the shoulder while speeding, lost control passing a tractor-trailer, entered the ditch and rolled several times.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A 41-year-old Bismarck man is facing charges after allegedly fleeing police with two young children in his vehicle.
John Flaska is charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor reckless endangerment. He could face up to six years in prison if convicted. Court documents do not list an attorney for him.
Police say Flaska was spotted shortly after midnight Sunday driving at a high rate of speed, with his headlights off. They say he abandoned the vehicle after officers gave chase and fled with the 5- and 14-year-old children on foot. They were found hiding behind a garden shed.
The children are in the custody of social services.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A man who pleaded guilty last year to mistreating animals in the deaths of more than 100 horses in Burleigh and Morton counties has been arrested twice in the past month for allegedly violating probation.
Sixty-four-year-old William Kiefer earlier was accused of buying a horse from a Wyoming woman. On Monday he was arrested for allegedly having a horse and mule in the backyard of his Fargo home.
Morton County Sheriff Dave Shipman says Kiefer allegedly used a false name to take part in a trail ride south of Towner on Sunday, and took home the mule he rode.
Kiefer is being held without bond. A probation revocation hearing is set for Sept. 19.
Kiefer’s attorney did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A woman accused of causing disturbances at Hector International Airport in Fargo has pleaded not guilty to criminal trespass.
Allison Johnson was accused in July of slapping flight attendants on an Allegiant Airlines flight and kicking a police officer at the airport. She pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was released from jail after serving a five-day sentence.
She was arrested at the airport again the day of her release and taken to detox. Her pretrial hearing on the criminal trespass charge is set for Sept. 24.
Johnson said in court earlier that she is an alcoholic and does not remember what happened in the plane incident on July 23.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A North Dakota man has admitted to assaulting his sister about a toilet seat. Twenty-four-year-old Thaddeus Morgan has changed his plea to guilty to charges of simple assault and interference with telephone during emergency call. Records show the fight started when Morgan forgot to put the seat down, which made his sister mad. Morgan then pushed and hit her, and tried to stop her from calling 911.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved funding to help nine North Dakota counties and the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation recover from a series of torrential rainstorms that led to flooding in late June.
FEMA on Tuesday approved North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple’s request for a federal disaster declaration.
The funding will go toward public infrastructure repairs in Benson, Bottineau, Divide, Eddy, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville and Ward counties, as well as the reservation.
The storms dropped as much as a foot of rain in some areas. Damage to public infrastructure is estimated at a little more than $1 million.
DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) – A Veterans Affairs clinic has opened in Devils Lake, meaning area military veterans will no longer have to travel to VA headquarters in Fargo for treatment.
The federal government last September awarded Mercy Hospital the contract to house the clinic.
U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp took part in the opening celebration on Monday. They say the clinic will provide primary care, along with mental health and specialty services via telemedicine.
In sports…
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota’s Game and Fish Department is making 3,805 hunting licenses available for the fall turkey season, 215 fewer than last year.
The season is Oct. 11 through Jan. 4.
An experimental season will continue for the federal Northern Great Plains Research Lab at Mandan. A state license and federal permit are required.
An experimental bow season will be held on state Corrections Department land south of Bismarck. A state license and Corrections access permit are required.
Experimental turkey bow hunting seasons will be held in Bismarck and Fargo. Hunters need a state license and a city archery permit.
Hunting units 21 in Hettinger and Adams counties and 53 in Divide and Williams counties will remain closed to hunting because of low turkey numbers.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – The committee searching for North Dakota State University’s next athletic director has chosen four candidates for on-campus interviews.
Gene Taylor announced in June that he was leaving NDSU to take the No. 2 position in athletics at Iowa.
Candidates to replace him who will get on-campus interviews are NDSU senior associate athletic director Troy Goergen, Colorado State senior associate athletic director David Crum, Stony Brook senior associate athletic director Matthew Larsen and St. Bonaventure athletic director Stephen Watson.
NDSU said Tuesday that the campus interviews were still being scheduled.
AA…
Rockland 4, Fargo-Moorhead 3
MLB…
INTERLEAGUE
Final Seattle 5 Philadelphia 2
Final Miami 4 Texas 3, 10 Innings
Final Milwaukee 6 Toronto 1
Final Kansas City 7 Colorado 4
Final Oakland 6 N-Y Mets 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Yan Gomes had three hits including a home run as the Cleveland Indians rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins 7-5 last night. Oswaldo Arcia homered in his third straight game for Minnesota. Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 17 chances.
Final Houston 7 N-Y Yankees 4
Final Detroit 8 Tampa Bay 6, 11 Innings
Final L.A. Angels 4 Boston 3
Final Baltimore 5 Chi White Sox 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Chi Cubs 2 San Francisco 0
The game that was halted after 4 1/2 innings because of unplayable field conditions following rain at Wrigley Field. After a brief but heavy downpour, the game was delayed 4 hours, 34 minutes before it was called off at 1:16 a.m. Fewer than 1,000 fans remained.
Final Washington 8 Arizona 1
Final Atlanta 11 Pittsburgh 3
Final St. Louis 5 Cincinnati 4
Final L.A. Dodgers 8 San Diego 6
COLLEGE FOOTBALL..
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -The Ohio State Buckeyes likely will go with redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett as their quarterback in their Aug. 30 season opener against Navy in Baltimore. That’s because Braxton Miller, the two-time Big Ten player of the year, is out for the season after re-injuring his throwing shoulder in an injury that will require surgery.
BASKETBALL-TEAM USA…
NEW YORK (AP) – While Kevin Durant takes a step back, the U.S. national team is moving forward. The reigning MVP and leading scorer stunned the Americans when he decided to withdraw after practicing with the team during its first week of training camp. Now that they’ve had time to get over the surprise, they aren’t dwelling on it.
U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski (shuh-SHEF’-skee) says “I’m through talking about Kevin,” as the Americans practiced for the upcoming Basketball World Cup.
“We’re done with that. We’re on to this group.”
NASCAR…
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (AP) – Joe Gibbs Racing has hired Carl Edwards to drive a new fourth Sprint Cup car in 2015. The ARRIS Group will sponsor Edwards’ No. 19 Toyota for 17 races.
The team also added Daniel Suarez, who will drive a full-time Nationwide Series entry for Gibbs and run a partial schedule in the Truck Series. Suarez becomes the first Mexican driver to race full-time in NASCAR’s second tier series.
U.S. OPEN…
NEW YORK (AP) – Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) has been seeded No. 1 for the U.S. Open with five-time champion Roger Federer No. 2. Djokovic beat Federer for the title at Wimbledon last month.
Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka (vah-VINK’-ah) is No. 3, followed by David Ferrer (feh-REHR’) and Milos Raonic (ROW’-nich).
Djokovic has played in the last four finals at Flushing Meadows, winning the title in 2011. He lost to Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-EHL’ nah-DAHL’) in 2010 and last year, and to Andy Murray in 2012.
In world and national news…
WASHINGTON (AP) – The more aggressive U.S. policy toward blunting the Islamic State group has added risks today after the beheading of American journalist James Foley and a threat against another American journalist being held captive. President Barack Obama is expected to make a statement today about Foley’s killing.
FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) – There was a more subdued scene with an absence of the tear gas and smoke that marked previous days of protests over the shooting death of an unarmed, black 18-year-old by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Police said they still made 47 arrests, mainly of people who defied orders to leave. Attorney General Eric Holder is scheduled to visit Ferguson today.
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) – Authorities in Ukraine say fighting around Donetsk in the east has killed 34 local residents and wounded 29 others in the past 24 hours. Government troops trying to quell the pro-Russia insurgency have been focusing on encircling Donetsk, the largest city still in rebel hands. In Moscow, meanwhile, pro-Ukraine activists scaled one of Moscow’s famed Stalin-era skyscrapers and painted the Soviet star on its spire in the national colors of Ukraine. Police detained four suspects.
OAKHURST, Calif. (AP) – It wasn’t as bad as officials estimated and they’re thankful for that today as the battle continues against a wildfire that gave a scare to a community near Yosemite National Park in California. Some of the more than 1,000 people who evacuated their homes have returned and the fire is about 35 percent contained.
VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis has thanked people for their condolences following the death of his nephew’s wife and their two young boys in a car crash in the pontiff’s native Argentina. Francis says “even the pope has a family” and thanked people for their prayers.