CSi Weather…
REST OF TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 30. NORTHWEST WINDS
10 TO 15 MPH.
.TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED FLURRIES AND IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA PATCHY LIGHT
FREEZING DRIZZLE IN THE EVENING…THEN ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS AND
PATCHY LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS 15 TO 20. EAST
WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT.
.FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTHEAST WINDS
AROUND 10 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW
SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE MID 20S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
.SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN
SHOWERS AND SNOW SHOWERS. WINDY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S.
NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW
SHOWERS IN THE EVENING. BREEZY. LOWS 15 TO 20.
.SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW.
LOWS 15 TO 20.
.MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S.
.MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW.
LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S.
.TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER
20S. LOWS AROUND 15.
.WEDNESDAY…CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S.
.FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING…MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY. THERE IS
A CHANCE FOR A WINTRY MIX OF FREEZING RAIN…SLEET…AND SNOW
LATER FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY…MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF THE
VALLEY. MAINLY SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS NORTHWEST MINNESOTA…WHERE
1 TO 3 INCHES MAY OCCUR. WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWEST ON
SATURDAY…AND INCREASE TO AROUND 30MPH. WARM TEMPERATURES SHOULD
PREVENT BLOWING SNOW.
Fargo A company that was transporting an inmate, Joseph Megna, who escaped and hid for nearly a day in a North Dakota cornfield in 2011 is suing its insurance carrier for refusing to cover fines and reimbursement costs related to the escape and an ensuing manhunt.
Megna took the opportunity of a prison van rest stop break near Tower City, take off into thee cornfield.
A guard had left him and another prisoner unattended and hadn’t noticed he’d picked his cuffs, waist chain and leg irons with a bobby pin he’d found on the floor of the van.
The escape led to a 22-hour search for Megna, who had been on his way from Florida to face first-degree child molestation charges in Washington state.
Farmers deputized to help hunt for Megna said it cost them a little more than $35,000, including the cost of harvesting the corn in which he was hiding.
The insurance company also refused to pay a $10,000 civil penalty incurred for the transport company’s violations of Jeanna’s Act.
The Forum reports that the transport company, Extradition Transport of America, of Riverside, Calif., filed suit last month in U.S. District Court in Fargo against its insurer, Houston Casualty Company.
The lawsuit says that it refused to pay for the cost of the search in Barnes County in part because media reports featured a conference call in which transport company representatives assured law enforcement officials from Cass and Barnes counties that insurance would take care of reimbursing them.
The lawsuit claims that Houston Casualty breached its duty to its client by not hiring the firm its own lawyer in the matter.
Houston Casualty hasn’t filed a response to the lawsuit yet.
Jamestown (CSi) The City of Jamestown is currently accepting applications for various volunteer committee/board openings.
They Include:
One opening on the Planning Commission-unexpired 5 year term
One opening on the Civil Service Commission-5 year term
Two openings on the James River Valley Library System Board-3 year term
Anyone interested in serving on the above committees/boards should complete an “Application for Appointment”. The application may be obtained in person at City Hall, 102 3rd Ave SE, Jamestown, ND, by calling 701-252-5900 or online at jamestownnd.org and select government tab/city committees to download the form.
The application should be returned by February 13, 2015, to:
City of Jamestown
Attn: Appointments
102 3rd Avenue SE
Jamestown, ND 58401-4205
Valley City (CSi) A Legislative Forum will be held Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015 from 9–11 a.m. in the Student Center Skoal Room on the Valley City State University campus.
District 24 State Senator Larry Robinson and Representatives Dwight Kiefert and Naomi Muscha will present information from North Dakota’s 64th Legislative Assembly and answer questions from the audience.
The event is sponsored by the Valley City Chamber of Commerce and the Valley City Young Professionals Network.
Business After Hours: Triumph Inc. Thursday, January 15, 2015
You are cordially invited to learn more about the services that Triumph Inc. provides in our Valley City Area community. Join us for refreshments on Thursday, January 15 at the Rosebud Visitor Center from 4:00pm-6:00pm.
Jamestown (CSi) Plans are underway as Giving Hearts Day 2015,is February 12.
A limited number of non-profit organizations are selected for participation.
Non-profits from the Jamestown area participating in Giving Hearts Day include: The Arts Center, Anne Carlson Center, American Heart Association, Jamestown Regional Medical Center and Service Dogs of America.
Representatives from the organizations are working together to share the message about this giving opportunity in the community. Giving Hearts Day activities for the community will be at the Jamestown Arts Center on February 12, 2015 from 2 pm – 6 pm.
Dakota Medical Foundation and Impact Foundation jointly host this 24-hour online give-a-thon that has dramatically increased fundraising success by charities of North Dakota and western Minnesota.
The seventh annual Giving Hearts Day on February in 2014, continued a tradition as a record-breaking fundraising phenomenon, shattering the previous year’s donation total by 49 percent.
http://www.impactgiveback.org/About?p=Giving_Hearts_Day
Jamestown (CSi) The first Denim & Diamonds Gala fundraiser for Make-A-Wish North Dakota, scheduled Saturday in Jamestown, is sold out as there were only 160 tickets available.
The gala begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at Quality Inn & Suites includes a dinner followed by a live and silent auction with the night’s entertainment provided by LineBenders Improv Comedy, an improvization comedy group out of Fargo
Those wanting more information about Make-A-Wish North Dakota may call Deb Thompson at 269-1815.
MANDAREE, N.D. (AP) – An incident at a North Dakota oil well has left one man dead and another one injured.
The men were repairing equipment at the oil well location near Mandaree when fluids somehow ignited, burning both men.
Reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration show that Denver-based QEP Resources operates the well. The incident’s fatal victim was the owner of Legendary Field Services of Watford City, and the man who was injured is employed by that oil-field service provider.
Eric Brooks with OSHA says the men were removing a tube on the well heater component when the incident happened. This is the first oil-field fatality reported this year.
A representative for the well operator couldn’t be reached and a receptionist declined to take a message.
WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A West Fargo woman was killed and her husband injured in a three-vehicle crash on the city’s Main Avenue.
Police Chief Mike Reitan says the 50-year-old woman was a passenger in a sport utility vehicle driven by her 53-year-old husband that went out of control shortly after 7:30 a.m. Wednesday and crossed the median into oncoming traffic.
The SUV was hit by two cars and flipped onto its roof. No one in the cars was hurt.
The man driving the SUV was taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries. He and his wife were not immediately identified.
DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) – Authorities say a shooting west of Dickinson began as an argument between two brothers.
Stark County Sheriff Terry Oestreich says one of the brothers was struck by a bullet during the incident Monday and remains in critical condition in a Bismarck hospital.
No arrests have been made, and authorities had not identified the brothers.
The sheriff’s office and the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation are looking into the incident.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A 57-year-old North Dakota man accused of assaulting five people in a mobile home has rescinded an initial not guilty plea to all charges against him.
Richard Lee Gourneau Sr. is charged with five counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of simple assault, terrorizing and theft. Instead of pleading guilty to the charges Wednesday. He entered an Alford plea, acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to prove he’s guilty.
Gourneau is accused of using a knife and a baseball bat in the Nov. 26 incident that sent five people to the hospital, two of whom were treated in intensive care for head injuries. Police say Gourneau then stole a car, fled and was arrested after surrendering six days later.
Gourneau says he doesn’t remember the incident because he had taken methamphetamine.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The chair of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education is stepping down ahead of her confirmation hearing for a second term. Kirsten Deiderich of Fargo faced a contentious re-appointment hearing on January 27th from lawmakers unhappy with the board for several violations of open meetings laws and what some viewed as a lack of accountability among college administrators.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Energy regulators say North Dakota set a new record high for the number of barrels of oil produced per day in November, but the number of rigs has since decreased.
The state produced over 1.18 million barrels a day in November, about 2,571 more barrels than in September, the last time a record high was reached. November figures are the latest available because oil production numbers typically lag at least two months.
However, the drilling rig count has dropped from 188 in November to 156 as of Wednesday, the lowest number since October 2010. The state reached an all-time high count in May 2012 with 218 rigs.
Department of Natural Resource Director Lynn Helms says the price of oil “is by far the biggest driver” behind the slowdown.
MANDAN, N.D. (AP) – A bad batch of jet fuel is being blamed for recent flight delays and cancelations in the Dakotas.
Tesoro Corp. says the batch of fuel made at its refinery in Mandan did not meet specifications, and was recalled and replaced.
Flights were delayed or grounded late last week at airports throughout western North Dakota. A Saturday flight in Aberdeen, South Dakota, was canceled.
Fuel quality was back to normal by Sunday afternoon.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota heath officials say 820 barrels of brine and 25 barrels of oil have spilled in western North Dakota.
The North Dakota Department of Health says the incident happened in Renville County, about 5 miles southeast of Tolley, at an oil well site operated by Texas-based Enduro Operating. Seventy barrels of the spilled brine left the well location.
Officials say cleanup has begun and inspectors have been on site.
Brine is an unwanted byproduct of oil production and is considered an environmental hazard by the state. It is many times saltier than sea water and can easily kill vegetation exposed to it.
A representative of Enduro Operating could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A southeastern North Dakota lawmaker opposed to a Red River diversion project that would flood land in his district says impacts of the channel have not been addressed and more study is needed.
Republican Sen. Larry Luick, of Fairmount, has introduced a bill requiring the state Water Commission to study the project. Luick says there are negative consequences beyond those outlined by the Army Corps of Engineers and the commission should review water retention as an alternative to the diversion.
The nearly $2 billion project would protect about 200,000 people.
Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney says $22 million is already being spent by the corps and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to look into many of the issues in Luick’s bill.
A hearing on the bill is scheduled Friday in Bismarck.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Wheat and soybean stocks are up in the Dakotas, but corn stocks are down.
The Agriculture Department says in its latest report that wheat stocks on Dec. 1 were up 20 percent from a year ago in North Dakota to 239 million bushels, and up 52 percent in South Dakota to 77.6 million bushels.
Soybean stocks in North Dakota were up 36 percent to 98.3 million bushels, and in South Dakota they were up 26 percent to 133 million bushels.
Corn stocks were down 3 percent in North Dakota to 268 million bushels. In South Dakota, they were down 6 percent to 608 million bushels.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota’s state income tax booklets have been mailed, but most taxpayers won’t be getting one.
The state Tax Department says 33,300 booklets were mailed last month but only to people who filed paper income tax returns last year.
Last year, a record 85 percent of North Dakota income tax filers used a computer instead of paper tax returns.
A decade ago, fewer than half of North Dakota income tax filers used electronic filing.
The Tax Department says electronic filing means fewer errors and quicker tax refunds.
LARIMORE, N.D. (AP) – Funeral services have been scheduled for a 17-year-old Larimore student killed in a collision involving a school bus and a freight train.
Bakke Funeral Home says the funeral for Cassidy Sandstrom is at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the high school gymnasium. Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to the service. Sandstrom will be buried in a rural cemetery near Emerado.
The crash at a crossing outside Larimore Jan. 7 killed Sandstrom and 62-year-old bus driver Max Danner, and injured 12 other students. The cause is still being determined.
About 600 people turned out Wednesday night for a fundraiser at a Grand Forks restaurant to help the families of the crash victims.
In sports…
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota House Education Committee isn’t supporting a bill that would extend a moratorium for a new nickname and moniker for the University of North Dakota.
Minot Republican Rep. Scott Louser is pushing the bill that would extend the moratorium until mid-2017.
The House Education Committee voted 9-2 to give the bill a “do-not-pass” recommendation on Wednesday.
The measure is expected to go before the full House on Friday.
Lawmakers put a three-year moratorium on replacing the UND “Fighting Sioux” nickname after residents voted overwhelmingly in 2012 to dump it. That moratorium expired this month.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Five-time world champion boxer Virgil Hill is stepping into the ring for a final time.
The North Dakota boxer says he will fight Seattle boxer Roger Cantrell at the Bismarck Event Center on Feb. 28. Tickets go on sale Friday.
Hill will turn 51 years old on Sunday, and he says this will be his final fight.
Hill won an Olympic silver medal in 1984. He has won 50 of 57 fights as a professional, earned five world titles and made 20 successful title defenses. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013.
Hill’s last victory came over Valery Brudov in 2006.
LAS VEGAS (AP) – A dream matchup of Manny Pacquiao (PAK’-ee-ow) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. has taken a step closer to becoming reality. Promoter Bob Arum says Pacquiao has agreed to all terms for what would be boxing’s richest fight ever. The tentative date is May 2 at the MGM in Las Vegas. The question now is whether the long-reluctant Mayweather will finally sign on the dotted line for what could be an astonishing $120 million payday.
N DAKOTA ST-S DAKOTA
S Dakota hangs on for 71-67 win over N Dakota St
VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) – Casey Kasperbauer scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and South Dakota hung on for a 71-67 win over North Dakota State on Wednesday night.
Brandon Bos added 12 points, while Tyler Larson contributed 10 points and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds for South Dakota (9-9, 3-1 Summit League). Trey Norris also had 10 points for the Coyotes, who shot just 37.5 percent from the field on 56 attempts but held a commanding 24-6 advantage in made free throws.
North Dakota State (11-6, 3-1) reclaimed the lead late in the second half with a 7-0 run capped by a bucket from Lawrence Alexander that made it 61-60 with 3:15 to go. But after two more lead changes, South Dakota jumped ahead for good with Larson’s layup that made it 65-63 with 1:01 left and held on down the stretch.
Alexander led North Dakota State with 20 points, Kory Brown added 15 and Carlin Dupree 12.
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Orlando 120 Houston 113
Final San Antonio 98 Charlotte 93
Final Memphis 103 Brooklyn 92
Final New Orleans 105 Detroit 94
Final Toronto 100 Philadelphia 84
Final Atlanta 105 Boston 91
Final Washington 105 Chicago 99
Final Denver 114 Dallas 107
Final L-A Clippers 100 Portland 94
Final Golden State 104 Miami 89
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Montreal 3 Columbus 2
Final Washington 1 Philadelphia 0
Final Anaheim 4 Toronto 0
Final New Jersey 5 Los Angeles 3
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final ( 5) Villanova 88 Xavier 75
Final (22) Baylor 74 (11) Iowa St. 73
Final (12) Notre Dame 62 Georgia Tech 59
Final (13) Wichita St. 67 S. Illinois 55
Final (14) Maryland 73 Rutgers 65
Final (15) North Carolina 81 NC State 79
Final San Diego St. 60 (25) Wyoming 52
TOP-25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final ( 2) UConn 92 Temple 58
Final ( 4) Louisville 65 NC State 58
Final Oklahoma 70 ( 4) Texas 59
Final (21) Oklahoma St. 69 Kansas St. 47
Final (22) Iowa 83 Northwestern 70
NHL…
NEW YORK (AP) – The NHL has suspended Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter for two games without pay for elbowing Pittsburgh Penguins forward Steve Downie. Suter struck Downie at 4:22 of the second period. Suter will forfeit more than $80,000. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota Wild acquired goalie Devan Dubnyk from the Arizona Coyotes yesterday for a third-round draft pick. The Wild are 12th in the Western Conference. They have lost six straight and 12 of 14 and are 29th in the 30-team NHL with an .889 save percentage. Dubnyk split last season with Edmonton and Nashville and also played for Hamilton in the AHL.
Nick Foligno (foh-LEE’-noh) of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago’s Jonathan Toews (tayvz) have been named captains for the upcoming NHL All-Star Game.
NFL…
UNDATED (AP) – Three NFL teams filled coaching vacancies yesterday: San Francisco promoted defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to replace Jim Harbaugh, who left to coach the University of Michigan. The New York Jets hired Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and the Oakland Raiders have decided on former Jacksonville head coach and Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio as their replacement for interim coach Tony Sparano.
That leaves three NFL teams still on the prowl for their new head coaches. The Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears still have openings. Former Broncos coach John Fox was in Chicago yesterday interviewing for the Bears job.
Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota (mar-ee-OH’-tah) has decided to leave Oregon for the NFL draft.
NBA…
LONDON (AP) – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says he wants the for-sale Atlanta Hawks to stay put. Speaking to reporters in London before today’s game between the Knicks and Bucks, Silver says the league has made it “clear to the market” that the NBA wants the franchise to stay put.
Ownership of the team recently announced plans to put the team up for sale.
In an unrelated matter Silver says it is “inevitable” that sponsor names will eventually appear on player jerseys.
GOLF…
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Rory McIlroy produced a moment of magic to spark a first-round revival at the Abu Dhabi Championship today with a 5-under 67, leaving the world’s top-ranked player two shots off the early lead.
With his ball on the lip of a fairway bunker on No. 3 – his 12th hole – McIlroy overcame an awkward stance to find the green from around 95 yards and sink a 12-foot putt.
That was the first of five birdies in McIlroy’s last seven holes, leaving the Northern Irishman right in contention in his first event of 2015.
Rickie Fowler, McIlroy’s playing partner, spoiled a great round by bogeying No. 18 and also shot 67.
MLB…
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Washington Nationals have acquired infielder Yunel (yoo-NEHL’) Escobar from the Athletics for All-Star reliever Tyler Clippard. The right-handed Clippard went 7-4 with a 2.18 ERA in 75 appearances in 2014, and has been one of the most reliable set-up men in baseball the past few seasons.
In world and national news…
CINCINNATI (AP) – A 20-year-old Ohio man FBI officials accuse of sympathizing with Islamic terrorists is facing charges that he plotted to blow up the U.S. Capitol and kill government officials. Christopher Lee Cornell was arrested yesterday after authorities say he bought two semi-automatic rifles and ammunition. Authorities insist the public was never in danger, but they say Cornell told an FBI informant they should “wage jihad.”
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) – Secretary of State John Kerry says he’s not traveling to France later today to apologize for the Obama administration’s failure to send a senior official to last weekend’s unity march, but rather to give “a big hug to Paris.” The city is still shaken from last week’s terror attacks that killed 17 people, including staff members of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The funerals for at least four of the magazine’s staff are being held today.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Pope Francis is in the Philippines, the first papal visit to the island nation in 20 years. Francis says he’ll focus on the poor, exploited and the victims of injustice during his trip, which runs through Monday. The pope also said there are limits to freedom of expression when religion is insulted. He was referring to the satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, which has been criticized and threatened for its depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.
BERLIN (AP) – Switzerland’s central bank has stunned financial markets by scrapping a policy that limited how much the euro could fall against the Swiss franc. The move to ditch the policy sent the euro plummeting a stunning 30 percent against the Swiss currency today before it recovered somewhat. By later morning, it was down 13 percent. Because of the policy, the Swiss franc was essentially pegged to the euro, which has been sliding in foreign exchange markets in recent months, especially against the dollar.
UNDATED (AP) – Death row inmates in Florida and Oklahoma are scheduled to die by lethal injection later today with the same three drugs used during Oklahoma’s botched execution in April. Forty-two-year-old Johnny Kormondy is scheduled to be put to death at 6 p.m. Eastern Time in Florida for killing a Pensacola man and then raping the man’s wife in 1993. An hour later, 47-year-old Charles Warner is scheduled to die in Oklahoma for killing and raping his roommate’s 11-month-old daughter in 1997.