CSi Weather…
REST OF TODAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN LATE
IN THE MORNING IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S. NORTH WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH.
.TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. PATCHY FROST AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN
THE UPPER 30S. NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.THURSDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 50S. NORTH WINDS
AROUND 10 MPH.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…DECREASING CLOUDS. PATCHY FROST AFTER MIDNIGHT.
LOWS IN THE MID 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. PATCHY FROST IN THE MORNING. HIGHS IN THE
UPPER 50S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S.
.SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER
60S. LOWS IN THE LOWER 40S.
.SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. HIGHS IN THE MID
60S. LOWS IN THE MID 40S.
.TUESDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S.
SNOW WILL BE A POSSIBILITY WHEREVER PRECIPITATION FALLS EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.
FROST WILL BE A POSSIBILITY, AND EVEN WITH NO FROST IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO COVER YOUR GARDEN AND OUTDOOR PLANTS WITH SNOW IN THE FORECAST.
ANOTHER COLD MORNING ON FRIDAY WITH FROST POSSBILE.
Jamestown (CSi) Tourists at Frontier Village in Jamestown in 2014 have been fewer, with a few weeks remaining in the present tourism season.
Frontier Village is open with reduced hours in September closing around sunset each day.
On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Jamestown Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund said so far this season there have been 400 few cars coming though the gate, compared to last year.
He pointed out a late spring and rainy weather may have hampered the attendance at the beginning of the season.
Swedlund pointed out that a number of events this coming weekend, should draw not only local people, but also tourists to Jamestown.
Those include this Saturday Sept 13, 2014, the Elvis Singing Contest at Frontier Village from 1-5 p.m. including a concert with “Big Elvis,” at the amphitheater. To participate in the contest, contact the Frontier Village at
FrontierVillage2013@outlook.com.
Also Saturday, the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse Open House from 1-5-p.m. along with, at that time, the Ft. Seward Encampment, and later Saturday the Jamestown Arts Center’s Oktoberfest, from 5:30-p.m. to 9:30-p.m., at the Stutsman County Fairgrounds.
Valley City (CSi) Preliminary plans for a $16-million Health and Wellness Center in Valley City were reviewed Monday, along with taking public input on the project.
Valley City Development Group’s Jennifer Feist said the City Commission has unanimously approved placing two questions on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for the project.
JLG Engineer, Dan Miller presented a layout of both floors.
The facility plans call for three indoor basketball courts, in conjunction with two tennis courts.
At the meeting a number of Valley City residents and business owners voiced concerns.
A question concerned if membership would be required to have access to swimming lessons in the future, as officials said there would be no requirement.
Another concern was if Valley City State students would pay an extra fee to fund the project.
ORB Management has been holding focus meetings with stakeholders and community members.
Additional hearings are planned to gather public input and feasibility on the planned wellness center.
Another hearing will be scheduled for sometime in mid-October.
Jamestown (CSi) The Spiritwood Township Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a zoning change and building permit for the planned CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant.
The building permit fee was capped at $250,000.
CHS is reviewing bids for site preparation work and could start work in a few weeks. Construction work cannot start until the property tax incentives receive final approval from the Stutsman County Commission in the next two months.
Jamestown (CSi) Friday Evening, September 12 from 5:30 – 7:30pm , there will be a Special Preview of the 50th Annual Jamestown Fine Arts Association Art Show.
Tickets are $10 for member $20 for non members, available at the Arts Center or at the door. People are encouraged to buy tickets early.
With your ticket you will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages, first chance at purchasing art, meet regional artists and if you are lucky you will have a chance to take home a piece of art that has been donated by regional artists—among the many—Walter Piehl, Jr., Deane Colin Fay, Sabrina Hornung, and Jaci Trefz.
OKTOBERFEST 2014
A celebration of beer, brats and lederhosen.
Saturday, September 13th
Fun starts at 5:30 pm
Stutsman County Fairgrounds
Tickets $25 available at The Arts Center and Cork & Barrel.
Oktoberfest is a great time of camaraderie, beer, music, costumes, fun. Look for some great mouth-watering Oktoberfest food: Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, German Pretzels and more. Enjoy German style music, games and, of course, there is the beer. As with all Oktoberfest celebrations around the world quaffing great beer, partying with wonderful, enthusiastic members of the community and celebrating life, German style is what it is all about.
Jamestown (CSi) Applebee’s in Jamestown will host the law enforcement 2014 Tip-A-Cop program to support North Dakota Special Olympics,on September 23rd and 24th from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The event raises awareness to North Dakota Special Olympics with tip money going to Special Olympics.
12 Applebee’s restaurants in North Dakota will be holding the Tip-A-Cop event.
Lisbon (CSi) No medical attention was need to nine students who were occupants of a school bus involved in a crash with a car Tuesday morning, about 7:53-a.m., on Highway 31, five miles south of Lisbon.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports, a Lisbon school bus, driven by 62 year old Gary Mairs, of Lisbon was traveling east and was attempting to cross Highway 32. Mairs stated that he looked both directions before driving onto the highway. Mairs did not see any vehicles traveling in his direction and entered into the intersection of 72nd St SE and State Highway 32, traveling east.
The bus was almost across the intersection, and off of Highway 32, when it was struck from the right by a northbound vehicle driven by 27 year old Kayla Nelson of Lisbon, who was driving north of Highway 32 toward Lisbon.
Nelson said she did not see the school bus in the intersection until the last second and attempted to swerve to the left. The front end of Nelson’s vehicle struck the right rear corner of the school bus. The headlights on Nelson’s vehicle were not on at the time of the crash.
Nelson was transported to the Lisbon Hospital and then to Fargo where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Assisting the NDHP were the Ransom County Sheriff’s Office. and Lisbon Ambulance.
Jamestown (CSi) Ernest Hubacker, who turns 99 years old next month, said attending the Merrill’s Marauders and the Mars Task Force reunion, was a thrill.
Hubacker served in the Mars Task Force, unit that served in Burma in southeast Asia in World War II.
Hubacker said the men who served in Merrill’s Marauders were all volunteers and had a “dangerous and hazardous task.”
Th reunion was held in Milwaukee the last week of August this year..
The All Vets Club in Jamestown and other local veterans’ groups raised money to send Ernie and two family members, nephews, Dennis and Ervin Sahr Jr.
The veterans and families also toured the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee.
Hubacker says and he and his family would like to attend next year’s reunion.
Dennis and Ervin Sahr indicate that they plan on taking him if he’s up to it.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Department of Health has reported the state’s first 2014 West Nile virus death.
Epidemiologist Alicia Lepp says the woman was older than 60. She did not have any underlying health conditions.
North Dakota has reported a total of 12 West Nile cases this season. The Health Department would not release the name of the county where the woman lived.
West Nile is spread through mosquitoes.
Symptoms of West Nile include fever, headache, body aches and rash.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A Washington state man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on drug and weapons charges.
Thirty-four-year-old Christopher Russell, of Tacoma, Washington, pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
Federal authorities say Russell was arrested in September 2013 after a police chase that started near Fairview, Montana, and wound up in North Dakota. Officers found about two ounces of methamphetamine and a .380-caliber pistol in Russell’s car.
Investigators believe Russell was on his way to New Town, North Dakota, to distribute meth.
A federal public defender was not immediately available for comment.
MINOT, N.D. (AP) – A North Dakota man has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison on drug and weapons charges. Jimmy Stewart Jr., of Minot, pleaded guilty earlier to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Authorities say Stewart and others distributed methamphetamine in North Dakota between May and November 2012.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota attorney general’s office says the Mott-Regent school board violated the state’s open meetings laws by using email to solicit comments and opinions on board business.
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said in a ruling issued Tuesday that the board broke the law in emails where its members shared “thoughts, opinions, positions and reports on committee meetings.”
Stenehjem says any information that goes beyond official matters is equivalent to having a meeting that requires notice.
The attorney general says copes of email exchanges by the board since February 2014 must be saved and provided, free of charge, to anyone requesting them.
FARGO (AP) New security measures are in place at the courthouse is North Dakota’s largest city.
The improvements at the Cass County Courthouse include bulletproof glass and an expanded security station.
The station is designed to fit in with the existing woodwork of the building.
Cost of the upgrades was more than $171,000. The project was included in this year’s budget.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – The Democratic candidate for North Dakota tax commissioner says he would resign if he was facing the same health issues as his opponent.
Republican Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger has taken a temporary leave of absence for alcohol treatment and says he will return to the job in a few weeks.
Democratic candidate Jason Astrup says he’s waiting for the facts to come out surrounding Rauschenberger’s alcohol addiction and the sequence of events that led to his hiatus. However, Astrup says if he was in Rauschenberger’s position, he would “seriously consider stepping down” to focus on getting better.
State Republican Party Chairman Robert Harms says millions of Americans have successfully managed alcohol addiction and Republicans expect Rauschenberger to do the same and serve as a role model.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota officials are touting a new export program designed to help farmers increase sales and minimize their risk.
The program authorizes the Bank of North Dakota to provide insurance coverage of not less than 90 percent on bulk commodity sales as well as processed ag product transactions.
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the timing of the program is ideal with planted acres for corn, soybeans and wheat at record-breaking or near-record levels. He says it should improve credit terms for qualified foreign buyers.
The minimum transaction for the program is $200,000.
The North Dakota Industrial Commission, which oversees the Bank of North Dakota, approved the program last month. The commission includes Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Goehring.
WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – Three Minot natives are trying to crowd fund an effort to bring craft beer to the city.
Startup Little Deep Brewing Company is trying to raise $35,000 on the crowd funding website IndiGogGo to start a brewery to Minot. Company president and co-founder Jon Lakoduk says the company would like to establish operations in the oil boomtown of Williston and the capital Bismarck after things get rolling in Minot. Lakoduk is joined in the venture by his brother Jordan and co-founder Andrew Walter.
North Dakota tops the nation in per capita beer consumption. But the state has the fewest craft breweries in the nation.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The Three Affiliated Tribes are getting a $1 million federal grant to study transportation needs brought on by energy development on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The reservation accounts for nearly a third of all oil production in North Dakota.
In sports…
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Park Board has approved a five percent salary increase for the Parks and Recreation Department’s 12 full-time employees.
Director Doug Hogan says his monthly salary increase is from $6,179 to $6,488, for an annual salary of $77,856.
Parks and Recreation Department Shop Foreman, Ted Kapp’s annual salary go from $61,994 to $63,816. The commission will consider wage increases for its part-time seasonal employees at the October meeting.
Meanwhile the ongoing improvement project at Hillcrest Municipal Golf Course may see costs double if a new irrigation pond is approved.
A new irrigation pond constructed between hole 10 and the 17th hole, has been reviewed with eliminating the present irrigation pond from the top of a hill next to the 10th hole.
Including the cost for new irrigation pumps and improvement to the existing irrigation pipe system, the cost for the new pond rises to about $800,000, raising the project’s cost from about $610,000 to $1.4 million.
The Park Board has a cost estimate of $100,000 for repairing the existing irrigation pond.
Hogan says if a new irrigation pond is built, or the existing pond is repaired, the entire in-ground pipe for the existing irrigation system for the first nine holes of the golf course need replacing, with no cost estimate presently available.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Officials with North Dakota State University and the city of Fargo are recruiting fans to greet the famed orange bus from ESPN’s (CSi 14) popular College GameDay show.
The Saturday morning football show will be broadcast from downtown Fargo for the second straight year. The top-ranked Bison are scheduled to play their home opener Saturday afternoon at the Fargodome against Incarnate Word of San Antonio, Texas.
Officials say the GameDay bus is expected to arrive in downtown Fargo at about 6 p.m. Wednesday. The motorcade is expected to make several loops throughout the downtown.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The state Game and Fish Department says at least 20 bighorn sheep died from pneumonia last month in western North Dakota’s badlands.
14 of the bighorns found dead were among a group of two dozen animals that had been transplanted from Canada in February.
Biologist Brett Wiedmann says tests show the bighorns got pneumonia from contact with domestic sheep.
North Dakota has about 350 bighorn sheep located mostly in the badlands.
Bighorn sheep are native to the state, but they were wiped out by 1905 because of over-hunting and disease. Biologists say the animals were reintroduced in North Dakota in 1956.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) – Gov. Steve Bullock has ordered restrictions on future oil drilling and other activities blamed for driving down sage grouse populations.
With Tuesday’s executive order, Montana joins other Western states rushing to head off federal intervention with the birds.
Bullock characterized the order as a compromise. It provides incentives for landowners to conserve the bird’s habitat. It also establishes buffers around key breeding areas where drilling work and other activity would be generally barred.
Industry representatives say energy companies will have to alter their activities to comply.
But Josh Osher with the Western Watersheds Project says the order won’t reverse the bird’s decades-long decline.
Sage grouse are found in 11 states. They’ve lost more than half their historic habitat to development.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must decide if federal protections are needed by September 2015.
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Barnesville, Minn. def. Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran, 25-15, 18-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-7
Benson County def. Towner-Granville-Upham, 25-20, 25-5, 25-23
Bismarck Century def. Minot, 25-13, 25-10, 25-9
Burke County def. Powers Lake, 25-23, 25-18, 25-16
Center-Stanton def. Richardton-Taylor, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-18
Des Lacs-Burlington def. Drake/Anamoose, 20-25, 18-25, 25-13, 25-13, 15-10
Divide County def. Trinity Christian, 16-25, 25-16, 25-13, 27-25
Ellendale def. Barnes County North, 26-24, 25-16, 25-23
Fargo Davies def. Fargo North, 25-20, 25-16, 25-16
Fargo Shanley def. West Fargo, 25-15, 25-15, 25-18
Fargo South def. Valley City, 25-15, 25-23, 26-24
Glenburn def. Parshall, 25-20, 25-10, 25-20
Grand Forks Red River def. Devils Lake, 25-18, 25-8, 25-18
Grant County def. Washburn, 25-11, 25-17, 25-15
Harding County, S.D. def. Bowman County, 25-13, 25-8, 25-16
Hatton-Northwood def. Dakota Prairie, 25-10, 26-24, 25-15
Herreid/Selby Area, S.D. def. Strasburg-Zeeland, 25-19, 25-16, 25-22
Jamestown def. Mandan, 25-8, 23-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10
Kindred def. Wyndmere-Lidgerwood, 25-22, 16-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-11
LaMoure def. Sargent Central, 27-25, 25-16, 25-13
Langdon def. Cavalier, 25-15, 25-12, 25-14
Lewis and Clark def. Stanley, 25-19, 25-15, 25-21
Linton-HMB def. Kidder County, 25-9, 25-23, 25-19
Lisbon def. Enderlin, 21-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-17
Maple Valley def. Milnor, 25-8, 25-13, 25-12
Midkota-Kensal def. Litchville-Marion/Montpelier, 3-0
Minot Bishop Ryan def. Bottineau, 25-18, 25-15, 25-21
Minot Our Redeemer’s def. Hazen, 25-17, 31-29, 25-17
Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood def. Kenmare, 25-10, 25-11, 27-25
Napoleon def. Medina-Pingree-Buchanan, 19-25, 25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 15-6
New England def. Mott-Regent, 3-0
North Star def. Drayton/Valley-Edinburg, 25-9, 25-7, 25-16
Oakes def. Richland, 25-12, 25-13, 25-15
Park River/Fordville Lankin def. Lakota/Adams-Edmore, 25-16, 18-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-10
Rolla def. Rolette-Wolford, 25-20, 25-16, 25-15
Rugby def. St. John, 25-8, 25-11, 25-5
Sawyer def. Turtle Lake-Mercer, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21
Sheyenne def. Wahpeton, 25-11, 25-20, 25-18
Shiloh Christian def. Garrison-Max, 25-18, 25-20, 25-9
Thompson def. Central Cass, 25-23, 26-24, 17-25, 25-22
Watford City def. Tioga, 25-11, 25-12, 25-6
Wilton-Wing def. Flasher, 25-23, 25-21, 19-25, 13-25, 15-12
MLB…
INTERLEAGUE
Final Toronto 9 Chi Cubs 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
CLEVELAND (AP) – Oswaldo Arcia’s two-run homer capped Minnesota’s four-run fourth inning against Trevor Bauer as the Twins dented Cleveland’s playoff hopes with a 4-3 victory last night. The last-place Twins won for just the fourth time in 16 games. Minnesota rookie Trevor May limited the Indians to just two runs in five innings.
Final Tampa Bay 4 N-Y Yankees 3
Final Detroit 4 Kansas City 2
Final Baltimore 4 Boston 1
Final L.A. Angels 9 Texas 3
Final Oakland 11 Chi White Sox 2
Final Houston 2 Seattle 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Washington 6 Atlanta 4
Final Philadelphia 4 Pittsburgh 3
Final N-Y Mets 2 Colorado 0
Final Cincinnati 9 St. Louis 5
Final Miami 6 Milwaukee 3
Final San Diego 6 L.A. Dodgers 3
Final San Francisco 5 Arizona 1
WNBA BASKETBALL
PHOENIX (AP) – Brittney Griner shook off two blows to the face to finish with 19 points, Diana Taurasi added 18 and the Phoenix Mercury made it two straight routs in the WNBA Finals with a 97-68 win over the Chicago Sky.
Game 3 of the best-of-five series is Friday in Chicago.
BASKETBALL-WORLD CUP…
BARCELONA (AP) – Klay Thompson’s 20 points paced the United States to a 119-76 rout of Slovenia in the quarterfinals at the World Cup. James Harden scored 12 of his 14 points in the third quarter when the Americans started to pull away for their 61st consecutive win in international competition. Kenneth Faried (far-EED’) also scored 14. The United States is expected to face its first significant test of the tournament when they face Lithuania in the semifinals Thursday.
HOCKEY…
UNDATED (AP) – A member of the “Miracle On Ice” team that won the Olympic gold medal in 1980 has died at the age of 57. Bob Suter is the first player from the 1980 American men’s hockey team to pass away. He is also the father of Minnesota Wild star Ryan Suter.
NFL…
NEW YORK (AP) – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’) did not rule out the possibility of former Ravens running back Ray Rice returning to play in the league after serving a suspension for domestic violence. But Goodell said first the league would have to be “fully confident” that Rice has addressed his personal issues, and paid a price for his past behavior.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – The estate of late Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson has reached “a definitive agreement” to sell the franchise to Terry and Kim Pegula, who also own the NHL Buffalo Sabres. The sale is subject to being approved by a three-quarters majority of the NFL’s 31 owners, which is expected to come at league meetings on Oct. 8.
The Pegulas have committed to keeping the Bills in Buffalo. The franchise is valued at $935 million by Forbes but the sale price is expected to exceed $1 billion.
The Pegulas are nearing completion on a privately funded $172 million downtown hockey/entertainment complex called HarborCenter adjacent to the Sabres’ arena.
MLB…
BOSTON (AP) – Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (peh-DROY’-uh) could miss the rest of the season with soreness in his left hand and left wrist. Boston manager John Farrell says Pedroia has been bothered by the ailment since midseason and an MRI on Tuesday showed increased inflammation.
In 135 games, Pedroia is batting .278 with seven homers and 53 RBIs. Last season, he hit .301 with nine homers and 84 RBIs before undergoing offseason surgery on his left thumb.
Major League Baseball has sent a memo to teams clarifying this year’s experimental rule intended to limit collisions at home plate, saying runners should not be called safe if the ball clearly beats them.
NASCAR…
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Stewart-Haas Racing has given Kevin Harvick the crew from Tony Stewart’s 2011 championship in a move to strengthen Harvick’s title chances in his first year with the team.
Harvick has been critical of the No. 4 team’s pit stops this season and said after Saturday night’s regular-season finale that it had to be addressed for him to have a shot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship that starts Sunday at Chicagoland.
With Stewart, the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, not eligible for the Chase, the organization moved the No. 14 crew to Harvick.
NBA…
CLEVELAND (AP) – The Cavaliers have signed free agent forward Shawn Marion, adding more postseason experience to a team targeting an NBA title. Marion agreed to a one-year contract with the Cavs last month. A 15-year veteran, Marion won a championship with Dallas in 2011. Last season, the 6-foot-7 Marion averaged 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds in 76 starts for the Mavericks.
A four-time All-Star, Marion has also played for Phoenix, Miami and Toronto.
DETROIT (AP) – Chauncey Billups tells Yahoo Sports he is retiring after 17 NBA seasons.
The 2004 NBA Finals MVP says his desire is still strong, but he can’t ignore the fact that he’s had a hard time staying healthy. The 37-year-old Billups has played only 61 games over the last three seasons.
In world and national news…
WASHINGTON (AP) – Ground troops are not part of the plan but President Barack Obama plans to present a range of military and diplomatic options to the public in a speech tonight focusing on the Islamic State militant group. He’ll ask Congress to authorize arming moderate Syrian opposition forces and do things on his own, like possible airstrikes against the militants in Syria as well as Iraq.
DENVER (AP) – A guilty plea is expected today when a 19-year-old suburban Denver woman appears in federal court, accused of trying to help the Islamic State militant group in Syria. Shannon Conley was arrested in April while trying to board a flight at Denver International Airport that she hoped would ultimately get her to Syria. If convicted, she could face up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine’s president is promising moves to reduce tension in the country’s rebellious, pro-Russian east. President Petro Poroshenko says he’ll propose greater autonomy for the regions where separatists have been battling government troops for almost five months. He also says the regions would still remain part of Ukraine.
JHANG, Pakistan (AP) – Houses, bridges, communication equipment and crops have been washed away as monsoon flooding coursed down onto the plains of Pakistan, forcing thousands of people to flee today. The water has already inundated the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. The death toll from the flooding that’s hit India as well, has climbed to at least 457.
BEIJING (AP) – China’s premier has conciliatory words for foreign companies and investors concerned that a recent wave of anti-monopoly investigations might be aimed at stifling their efforts. In a speech to businessmen today, Premier Li Keqiang (lee kuh-TYAHNG’) promised to open the world’s No. 2 economy wider to foreign companies. He says Beijing opposes trade protectionism.