2014-09-25

CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S.

SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.

.TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS AROUND 60. SOUTH WINDS AROUND

10 MPH.

.FRIDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 80. SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTH WINDS

10 TO 15 MPH.

.SATURDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S. SOUTH WINDS 10 TO

15 MPH.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 50S.

.SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S.

.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF

RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE UPPER 40S. HIGHS IN

THE UPPER 60S.

.MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 50S.

.TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS

AND THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S.

.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE

OF RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE UPPER 40S. HIGHS

IN THE MID 60S.

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session, on Wednesday at 4-p.m., at City Hall, to hear a presentation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s, James River Study, Final Document. Council Member Buchanan was not present.

On hand from the Corps of Engineer’s was Project Manager Jeff Greenwald, said the study was in conjunction with the nine county James River Joint Resource District.

He said the study is in three phases.

They include a two year effort of engineering and environmental analysis, including the flood risk.

The study is at the end of the first phase, with the “Base Line,” conditions, and flood risks, including any flood damages to structures and vehicles.

The next phase of the study concerns alternatives, and a recovery plan.

He added that congress must authorize any project work.

The study will lead to an update in the flood plan mapping.

The study showed a significant rise in the 10 year discharge rate, including recent high flow years in the river in Jamestown.

The volume of water behind Jamestown and Pipestem dams has been trending higher in the last 15 years.

Since 2000 there has been a peak flow of the river in 2009 and high water years of 2010 and 2011.

A 100-year flood figure now is a river flow of 2,940 cubic feet per second. Previously it was 1,800 cubic feet per second.

Greenwald presented to the Council, flood maps and other graphics related to the study.

The three areas were pointed out where permanent flood protection may be feasible. The include…The Anne Carlsen Center, the Island Park development below Jamestown Dam and in the area of Nickeus Park. Additional levee work under the bridge on the road leading to the North Dakota State Hospital would also be considered.

He pointed out that the Corps recommends further federal involvement for a flood risk study.

Continuing the feasibility study will require congressional approval for appropriation of funds, for any flood mitigation construction.

Jamestown and the City of LaMoure would be involved, as the nine county James River Joint Resource Board would be dissolve.

The Corps also recommends finishing the feasibility study, determine project costs and then budget the work.

The State Water Commission could become involved in participation in funding, and other agencies including FEMA may also become involved.

The City of Jamestown would need to submit an application, that would put the city’s share of costs at 25 percent.

The Corps study is available in the report at City Hall.

Mayor Andersen said the study and recommendations by the Corps of Engineers will be discussed at future City Council committee meetings.

Greenwald added that any federal flood control levy that would be installed, would not solve additional flood mitigations efforts, such as temporary levees, during a flood fight, base on scenarios that would occur during a specific flood event.

He said property might still be at risk based on the severity of a flood event.

The presentation was shown live on CSi Cable 67.

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Fire Department was called out about 9:39 a.m., Wednesday to 222 5th Street, Northeast.

Lt. Sheldon Mohr says a passerby called to what was a fire pit burn, in the backyard.

The fire was contained in the fire pit.

He reminded the resident of the city Ordinance concerning fire pit usage, that convention wood is not to be burned, but rather, wood logs, branches, or manufactured logs.

Two units of the Jamestown City Fire Department and 28 city fire fighters were on the scene about a half hour.

Valley City (VCSU, CSI) Valley City State University has released its final enrollment figures for Fall Semester 2014, showing a total headcount of 1,378 students, the second highest in university history.

VCSU set enrollment records in 2011; since then enrollment has remained stable.

VCSU Interim President, Margaret Dahlberg says,”We’re pleased with these enrollment numbers. Because the number of new students on campus each year has remained relatively consistent since 2011, it’s clear that enrollment growth is coming through increased retention—having our students come back each semester, each year until they graduate. That’s the real story—that everyone on campus has come together to create a place where students thrive.”

VCSU’s FTE (full-time equivalent) enrollment of 989 students for Fall 2014 also represents one of the university’s highest totals ever, and the undergraduate FTE count of 940 represents an increase of 22 FTE over Fall 2013 figures.

In addition to the enrollment increase, VCSU continues a positive, upward trend in residence hall occupancy in Fall 2014. Those numbers increased 6 percent over Fall 2013 figures, and since Fall 2010, there has been a 33 percent increase in occupancy. Recent physical upgrades to the residence halls and a renovation of the VCSU cafeteria, along with an increased emphasis on programming in the halls, have helped bring students back to campus.

Dahlberg adds, “This school was founded by the people of North Dakota to educate teachers. Now, almost 125 years later, our offerings have expanded beyond teacher preparation, but the university continues to enrich the lives of those who come here for an outstanding education, and those faculty and staff who make that happen.”

In each of the last 6 years, VCSU has been ranked by U.S. News in the No. 1 or No. 2 position among Public Regional Colleges in the Midwest, and both its online Master’s of Education degree program and online Bachelor’s degree programs have also been nationally ranked by U.S. News. VCSU has been recognized as a U.S. News “Best College” for 17 consecutive years.

Founded in 1890, VCSU will begin a yearlong celebration of its 125th anniversary with the theme “Making a Difference—Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” at Homecoming Week in October 2014 and continue through Homecoming 2015.

WASHINGTON (CSi) – Senator John Hoeven has announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded four grants totaling nearly $730,000 to cities and counties in North Dakota to create new and preserve existing law enforcement officer positions to increase the communities’ policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. The funds are made available through the DOJ’s COPS Hiring Program and will support the salary and benefits of six officer positions in the state.

The details of the awards are as follows

City of West Fargo – $375,000

Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office – $125,000

Tioga Police Department – $125,000

Griggs County Sheriff’s Office – $103,877

Hoeven says, “Our local law enforcement officials play a vital and challenging role in our communities. It is imperative that we support their important work and provide them with the tools and resources they need to meet the demands of our growing communities. By supporting additional officer positions, these funds will increase our police and sheriff’s departments’ capacity to keep our communities safe and maintain our high quality of life.”

Senator Hoeven held a roundtable discussion in Williston earlier this month in a push to bring additional resources from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) into North Dakota to help state and local law enforcement officials with the growing number of crimes, including domestic and sexual violence, particularly in the Bakken region. In June, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, on which Hoeven serves, passed the Commerce, Justice and Science funding bill, which includes a directive to the DOJ to develop a plan to support law enforcement in North Dakota and the Bakken.

Jamestown (CSi) The transition to the “James River Family Fitness Center,” from the James River Family YMCA, has been smooth.

The name change took place on September 1, 2014.

The organization’s board of directors voted recently to disaffiliate from the National Council of YMCAs.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Executive Director Frank Conlin reminded residents that only the name has changed and the same services the Y provided are still available at the Family Fitness Center.

The organization’s group-fitness and program offerings for children, families and seniors, is unchanged, from offerings at the Y.

The organization remains family-focused, and financial assistance continues to be available to those who cannot afford to pay full membership fees.

The fall/winter hours are:

Monday-Friday 5-a.m., to 10-p.m.

Saturday 6-a.m., to 9-p.m.

Sunday 1-p.m., to 7-p.m.

Conlin pointed out that a Personal Trainer is available for athletes and others.

He added that a men’s basketball league will start Ocotber 13th with information at the front desk.

Little Mite basketball for children 3-7-years old will start this fall, and swimming lesson are continuing.

The 25th Annual, Halloween Party will be held on Halloween this year, Friday October 31,2014 from 5:30-p.m., to 8-p.m.

Volunteer help will come from the University of Jamestown athletes.

More information is available by calling 701-253-4101

On line visit, http://www.jrfamilyfit.org

Bismarck (CSi) Bryan Miller, an adult education instructor for the James River Correctional Center, has received the North Dakota Association of Lifelong Learning’s Educator of the Year Award.

The award is given to an individual who contributes significantly to the field of education, models professionalism, continues to upgrade educational skills and promotes education locally and statewide.

2014 awards, included Educator of the Year, Outstanding Leadership, Student of the Year, Highest Average GED Score and Outstanding Service, and were given out on September 18, 2014 during the state conference in Bismarck.

Other winners included Student of the Year, Miranda Stephens at the Wahpeton Adult Learning Center, Highest GED Score Seth Sweeney from the Grand Forks Adult Learning Center, and Outstanding Service Award winner, Wally Erhardt from the Bank of North Dakota.

Petoskey, MI (CSi)   Emphasys Software (Emphasys), a leading developer of business management software for affordable housing agencies, awarded Stutsman County (ND) Housing Authority (SCHA) and Ramsey County (ND) Housing Authority (RCHA) the 2014 Pioneers of the Year award during Emphasys’ recent annual user conference.

The Pioneer award is given annually to Emphasys clients who demonstrate new ways to

leverage Emphasys’ products to benefit their communities and who successfully break new ground with the use of Emphasys software and services

The seven housing authority offices now share housing and accounting software, web sites, common forms, and policies.

SCHA Executive Director David Klein, says “Emphasys Software is a great partner, and our offices would not be accomplishing what we do without their assistance. The software isn’t just a tool, but a functioning body for our offices. With dwindling administrative budgets we needed a partner that could help us become better. We are so thankful for their product, service, and technical support. Our partnership now expands into using their accounting services to help us.

This is the second time in three years Emphasys has recognized our group for our collaborative efforts.”

Stutsman County Housing Authority administers the Section 8 Voucher programs for Stutsman, Logan, Foster, Dickey and Sargent Counties and a HOME grant program for North Dakota Region 6. It is the mission of the Stutsman County Housing Authority to provide safe, affordable housing opportunities for persons with low and moderate income and to promote economic self‐sufficiency of families.

Valley City (CSi) Valley City High School has plans set for Homecoming Week, October6-11, 2014.

Valley City High School Student Council, Advisor, Angela Van Bruggen, is informing organizations and business that would like to enter a vehicle or float in this year’s Homecoming Parade, to be held on Friday October 10, 2014, to respond via email to:

Angela.Vanbruggen@sendit.nodak.edu by Friday October 3, 2014, or call

Angela Van Bruggen at 840-8431 and leave a message.

Lineup for this year’s parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, October 10. Lineup will be near the intersection of Central Avenue and 12th Street North, in the area of Jefferson Elementary School. The parade will begin at 4:00 p.m. and will move south down Central Avenue and disband at the VCSU footbridge.

The opponent for this year’s homecoming football game is the Lisbon Broncos.

Schedule For VCHS Homecoming Week – Oct. 6-11, 2014

Monday Oct. 6:

Jr/Sr High Dress-Up Theme – ‘Merica Monday – proudly wear your Red-White-and-Blue!

Home Volleyball Game @ 7:00 PM vs. WF Sheyenne

Homecoming Court Introductions Prior to Varsity Warm-Ups.

Tuesday Oct. 7:

Jr/Sr High Dress-Up Theme – Name Day – choose your costume using the first letter of your name

Free Community Pep Fest & Coronation Ceremony 7:00 PM HAC

The DECA Depot store will be open during the Pep Fest to sell HiLiner apparel

Junior vs. Senior Girls’ Powder Puff Football Game 8:15 PM. at Hanna Field

Wednesday Oct. 8:

Jr/Sr High Dress-Up Theme – Workout Wednesday – wear your sweats!

National Walk to School Day

Thursday Oct. 9:

Dress-Up Theme – College Gameday Thursday – support your favorite college team!

Class Parade Float Decorating 3:45-6:45 PM

Friday Oct. 10:

Jr/Sr High Dress-Up Theme – Blue & White Day

Fall Sports Pep Rally 2:30PM HAC

Homecoming Parade – 4:00 PM on Central Ave.

Tailgate Party sponsored by VCEA before the football game.

Home Football Game vs. Lisbon @ 7:30 PM

Homecoming Court Introductions Prior to Game.

Hall of Fame Introductions & Marching Band Performance at Halftime.

Saturday Oct. 11:

Peer Facilitators 9-12th Grade Dance 9-11:45 PM in HAC Lobby.

Spiritwood (CSi) A $1 million rural development loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Northern Plains Electric Cooperative will help finance the Dakota Spirit AgEnergy ethanol plant under construction at Spiritwood.

The coop’s Director of Business Development, JoAnn Rodenbiker, says,

The loan was part of a more than $5.7 million package of loans to cooperatives announced Wednesday.

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) – Police in Moorhead say investigators are combing the area where the body of a North Dakota State University student was found.

Lieutenant Tory Jacobson with the Moorhead Police Department says officers are using daylight to ensure they find any items that belonged to 18-year-old Thomas Bearson.

Bearson’s remains were found Tuesday outside a recreational vehicle store in south Moorhead. He was last seen at a party Saturday in Fargo.

Jacobson says any of Bearson’s belongings found at the scene could help investigators determine why and how the student got to the area.

Police on Wednesday declined to give more details on the investigation, including the condition of Bearson’s body when it was found.

Bearson’s cause of death hasn’t been determined. The medical examiner in Ramsey County is conducting an autopsy. The results are not expected to be public for weeks.

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) – A man accused of sexually abusing a 5-month-old girl is on trial in Dickinson.

Dan Pruett has pleaded not guilty to gross sexual imposition and aggravated assault in the alleged November 2013 incident. He could face life in prison if convicted. Pruett is in his mid-40′s.

Prosecutors say the infant suffered marks and bruises all over her body. Jurors on Wednesday were shown a videotaped interview in which Pruett told authorities that he had tried to perform CPR on the child after he woke up and found her limp.

The child’s father testified on Wednesday that she was on life support for about a month after the alleged attack but is now doing well.

HAZEN, N.D. (AP) – Police in Hazen are investigating the apparent poisoning deaths of three dogs.

Police Chief Charles Dahl says the animals’ owner reported on Sept. 13 that someone had dumped what appeared to be antifreeze over the fence on his property. A veterinarian confirmed the substance was poisonous.

Dahl says the dogs’ owner had not reported any previous problems with neighbors. Police have no suspects.

BISMARCK, 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 sentenced to a year in jail for violating probation.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that Kiefer began serving his sentence on Wednesday.

Kiefer pleaded guilty last year to mistreating animals and was sentenced to six months in custody and two years of probation. He was accused this past summer of violating probation terms by buying a horse and having a horse and a mule in the backyard of his Fargo home.

Judge Thomas Schneider imposed a six-month sentence in each of Kiefer’s cases, and at the request of Morton County prosecutor Gabrielle Goter ordered that the sentences be served consecutively.

MINOT, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem (STEN’-jem) says Minot State University and the North Dakota University System violated the state’s open records law in May.

Stenehjem issued his opinion in response to a request from a blogger who asked MSU for documents related to an Education Department investigation into possible violations involving the handling of sexual abuse complaints at the school.

The North Dakota University System initially rejected the request on behalf of MSU, claiming the documents were protected records under state and federal law.

Stenehjem ruled that the university system should have analyzed the records to determine whether it was possible to remove information that wasn’t public record. The university system eventually did that and gave the blogger redacted documents. Stenehjem says no further action is necessary.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer says he supports the decision of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to seek public input on the use in farming of leftover grain from brewers and distillers.

Cramer says the FDA has announced that it will accept public comments on the matter for 75 days.

Brewers for decades have sold leftover grain from making beer to ranchers and dairy farmers as animal feed. The FDA last year proposed a measure that would force the brewers to dry and package the grains instead of allowing farmers to pick up the grains as is.

The Republican from North Dakota says the rule could restrict farmers’ access to those grains.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota Republicans have unveiled a revamped formula used to distribute a portion of the state’s oil and gas production tax revenue.

The plan unveiled Wednesday by GOP leaders from North Dakota’s oil-producing region favors communities impacted by oil development.

The fund currently sets aside 75 percent of some oil tax revenues for the state and 25 percent for local governments.  The proposed plan that will be presented to the Legislature in January would change the split to 60-40 in favor of local communities.

Officials say the proposal would more than double oil production tax revenue to oil counties to about $2.2 billion over the next two-year budget cycle.

Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner says investing in North Dakota’s oil-producing region benefits the entire state.

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) – A North Dakota health official says more needs to be done to ensure environmental protections in the state amid its oil boom. North Dakota Department of Health environmental health section chief Dave Glatt says high-ranking oil company officials often guarantee him that their businesses have cultures devoted to environmental protection. He says that message doesn’t always get to workers on the ground.

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) – The Army Corps of Engineers is closing its field office in the city of Devils Lake at the end of the month. The agency says it is wrapping up a flood mitigation project and the office is no longer needed to support construction. The corps’ St. Paul district will continue supporting the region from its Western Area Office in Fargo.

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – Coffee drinkers in the state’s oil country could become familiar with the green-aproned barista.

A North Dakota company is negotiating the lease of a property in Williston that could become the house of the area’s first Starbucks. The nearest store is two hours away in Minot.

If city officials approve the lease during an upcoming meeting, Williston Holding Company will move forward with a Starbucks visit in October.

In sports…

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota’s Sportsmen Against Hunger program has expanded donations to accept Canada goose meat from the state’s regular waterfowl hunting season.

The program had only accepted Canada goose meat from the early hunting season, which already has ended. The expanded donations are an effort to help fill food pantries across the state.

The program is sponsored by Community Action Partnership, and many meat processors take part.

MLB…

INTERLEAGUE

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Phil Hughes pitched eight strong innings for the Minnesota Twins in a 2-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday afternoon. Hughes finished his first year with the Twins with the same number of wins and walks. Hughes struck out five without a walk and allowed only a sacrifice fly by David Peralta in the sixth.

AMERICAN  LEAGUE

DETROIT (AP) – The Detroit Tigers are in the postseason and also own a two-game lead over Kansas City in the AL Central. The Tigers took care of business by beating the White Sox 6-1. They clinched a spot in the postseason when Seattle lost to Toronto further solidified their division lead when the Royals lost 6-4 in Cleveland last night.

Final    Baltimore            9    N-Y  Yankees          5

The Yankees miss the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1992 and ’93.

Howie Kendrick doubled and drove in three runs, and the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels held off the playoff-hopeful Oakland Athletics 5-4. Los Angeles, at 98-61, maintained its two-and-a-half game lead over Baltimore for the best record in baseball and home-field advantage for the AL playoffs. The A’s are tied with Kansas City for the top AL wild card.

Final    Toronto                1    Seattle                  0

Final    Boston                11    Tampa  Bay              3

Final    Texas                    5    Houston                  1

NATIONAL  LEAGUE

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Los Angeles Dodgers are National League West champions after Clayton Kershaw improved to 21-3 with a 9-1 rout of second-place San Francisco.

The Giants’ eighth loss in 11 games prevented them from clinching a playoff berth. They still own a magic number of one over Milwaukee for the second NL wild-card spot.

Milwaukee blanked Cincinnati 5-0 on a Kyle Lohse (lohsh) two-hitter.  The Brewers are four-and-a-half games out of the final NL wild card.

Final    Chi  Cubs              3    St.  Louis              1

The Cards’ loss means NL East champ Washington will open the playoffs at home.

Final    Philadelphia      2    Miami                      1

Final    Atlanta                6    Pittsburgh            2

Final    San  Diego            4    Colorado                3

N-Y  Mets    at    Washington    ( postponed,  rain)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe’s season has ended a few days early because of a broken left forearm. Plouffe was hurt in the sixth inning yesterday against Arizona. Plouffe’s forearm banged against A.J. Pollock’s knee during an attempted tag. Eduardo Nunez replaced Plouffe.

BIG TEN HOCKEY…

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota has been picked first in the Big Ten hockey preseason poll by conference coaches. The Gophers won the inaugural Big Ten title and lost in the NCAA championship game. Minnesota was followed in the predicted order of finish by Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State.

NFL…

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel is out for the season with broken bones in his left foot. The Vikings have put Cassel on injured reserve for the injury he sustained in Sunday’s game against New Orleans. Rookie Teddy Bridgewater came in after Cassel was hurt.

NASCAR…

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (AP) -Tony Stewart will not be facing criminal charges following the August death of a driver at a sprint car race in upstate New York. A grand jury in New York State has decided not to bring criminal charges against the NASCAR superstar in connection with the death of Kevin Ward Jr., whom the district attorney says was under the influence of marijuana the night of the accident and might have had impaired judgment. But the Ward family says a civil lawsuit is being considered.

NBA…

The Phoenix Suns and Eric Bledsoe have agreed on a five-year, $70 million contract. The deal is considerably more than the four-year, $48 million the Suns initially offered but well below the five-year, $80 million-plus maximum contract Bledsoe sought as a restricted free agent.

SPORTS-MEDIA

UNDATED (AP) – ESPN has suspended Bill Simmons for three weeks after he repeatedly called NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’) a liar during a profane tirade on a podcast.

Simmons’ podcast was released yesterday. He said he thought Goodell lied about not knowing what was on a security video that showed former Ravens running back Ray Rice hitting his wife in an elevator.

Simmons is the editor of the sports web site “Grantland,” which is owned by ESPN.

In world and national news…

BEIRUT (AP) – Activists say nearly 20 people have been killed as Syrian oil installations held by the militant Islamic State group were pounded by U.S.-led airstrikes on the third day of the campaign against the extremists. The captured oil facilities are a main source of revenue for the militants. The Islamic State group is believed to earn more than $3 million a day from oil smuggling, theft and extortion.

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) – The Algerian military vows to “purify” the country of the militants who beheaded a French hiker and the Algerian government is reiterating its commitment to protecting foreign residents living inside the country. The military says a massive search for the “criminals” is underway and will continue until they are “totally eliminated,” along with their “abject acts.”

WASHINGTON (AP) – Despite its reluctance, Turkey appears to be getting on board with the United States and other nations in battle to eliminate the Islamic State group. But details of Ankara’s participation are scarce, and the U.S. is warily watching to make sure any commitments are met. Turkey has long resisted being used as a launching pad for foreign troops but now finds itself threatened by the militants.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – There is still no sign of a missing University of Virginia sophomore but the man charged with abducting Hannah Graham is in custody in Texas and is awaiting extradition. Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr. was nabbed on a beach near Galveston less than a day after police announced they had probable cause to arrest him.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – BP says it will appeal a federal judge’s ruling that says it must stand by the agreement it made with companies it compensated for their losses in the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill. BP says some claims were overestimated to the tune of at least $185 million and it wants its money back. The judge noted that the deal at the time indemnified BP from lawsuits by the claimants while the oil company agreed that no future court action could change their payments.

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