CSi Weather…
TODAY…CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS
IN THE UPPER 20S. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.TONIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. COLDER. LOWS
NEAR ZERO. NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.SATURDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. COLDER. HIGHS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.
NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH. WIND CHILLS AROUND 20 BELOW.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. LOWS AROUND 20 BELOW.
NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.SUNDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 5 BELOW. NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND
10 MPH.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS AROUND 10 BELOW.
.MONDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S.
.MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. LOWS 15 TO 20.
HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S.
.TUESDAY NIGHT…DECREASING CLOUDS. LOWS AROUND 5 BELOW.
.WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 5 TO
10 ABOVE. LOWS AROUND 10 BELOW.
.THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE.
WIND CHILLS BETWEEN 25 BELOW AND 45 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED
SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING.
WIND CHILL VALUES AROUND 30 BELOW ZERO ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY NIGHT
INTO MONDAY MORNING…AND AGAIN TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY
MORNING.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The Dakotas are getting a brief break from bitter cold before it settles in again for the weekend.
High temperatures Friday were forecast to reach from the teens in northeastern North Dakota to the 40s throughout much of South Dakota.
The warm spell is just a few days after overnight temperatures plunged to as low as minus 40 degrees in the northeastern North Dakota city of Grand Forks.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for a return to colder weather this weekend. Highs in northeastern North Dakota are not expected to rise above 10 degrees below zero. Northeastern South Dakota also could see high temperatures below zero on Sunday.
Jamestown (CSi) At Thursday evening’s public input meeting about the proposed Two Rivers Activity Center (TRAC) some of the 50 people in attendance expressed support, while others had questions about the need for such a facility and how it would serve community needs.
The purpose of the meeting, held at the North Dakota Farmers Union State office, was to explain to the public the plans for TRAC and the future economic impact on the community.
If the public supports a one percent city sales tax at the polls, this spring, construction could start this coming summer in the area north of Gussner school.
The total cost of the center is pegged at around $40 million to build, in two phases, with the first phase costing about $28 million.
Funding would come from the one percent City Sales Tax, donations, gifts, and grants.
Plans include multiple indoor courts, swimming, a running track along with practice fields.
A daycare area is also planned.
Jamestown Parks and Recreation employees would manage and program the Center.
In addition, many of the James River Family Fitness Center employees would move over to TRAC while still other jobs would be created. The facility would also meet the growing demand for space from University of Jamestown athletes.
The TRAC Committee plans additional community meetings
More information about TRAC can be found at www. tracjamestown.org or on facebook.
Jamestown (CSi) Today Stutsman County Communications will be performing a county-wide test of the CodeRED mass notification system. The test will occur between 11:00 a.m. and noon.
Stutsman County Energency Manager, Jerry Bergquist says, this system is used to alert residents of emergency events and notifications of immediate concern to the public. CodeRED informs the public by calling all land line telephones within the selected warned area. It also
alerts those individuals that have signed up for notifications via cell phone, email or text message.
The test message that will occur on Friday will be general in nature and describe that the call is a CodeRED test call. Residents will not need to respond to the message.
CodeRED service is free of charge to residents and businesses. Land line
telephones are already included in the notification database.
To receive notifications via cell phone, email or text, individuals can sign up for the service by going to the Stutsman County website (http://www.co.stutsman.nd.us/), scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the CodeRED icon.
Those without Internet access can call Stutsman County Emergency Management at 701-252-9093, Monday through Friday, (8AM-5PM) to sign up over the phone.
The system is only used by Stutsman County officials to provide residents with
important information that will keep the community safe and informed.
Questions regarding CodeRED services should be directed to Stutsman County Emergency Management.
A county-wide test of the CodeRED notification system will be held on Friday February 20, 2015 between 11-a.m., and noon.
CodeRED alerts residents of emergency events and sends notification to the public immediately. The system will call all land line telephones and send messages through email and text in the selected warned area. Residents will not need to respond to the message.
The service is provided free of charge.
To sign up for the service, visit the Stutsman County Website.
The system will only be used to keep the community safe and informed and has been used in the past during the times of tornado warnings that effect residents in a specific calling area.
Jamestown (CSi) A Community Health Assessment Survey, is available on line, to assess the area concerning health issues and concerns.
The survey is a partnership between Jamestown Regional Medical Center, Central Valley Health and the Community Health Partners.
The partnership is hoping that at least 400 surveys completed from community members.
An online survey can still be accessed at www.tinyurl.com/jamestown-nd
A paper survey option is available at Central Valley Health and Jamestown Regional Medical Center.
The survey deadline is March 1st – an extension from February 20th.
The focus of this effort is to:
· Learn the good things in the community and the community’s concerns
· Understand perceptions and attitudes about the health of the community and hear suggestions for improvements
· Learn more about how local health services are used by you and other residents
From this effort, the community health partners will collaborate and compare the results to the assessment completed 3 years ago.
Officials are confident that with these results, community health teams can better set goals based on the priority areas determined in the area.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Area Chamber will be holding an informational legislative forum for the citizens of Districts 12 and 29. The forum will be held on February 21, 2015 from 9:00am – 11:00am at City Hall (102 3rd Ave SE).
Those invited include: Senator John Grabinger, and Representatives Jessica Haak and Alex Looysen from District 12 and Senator Terry Wanzek, and Representatives Craig Headland and Chet Pollert from District 29.
The legislators will update the public about legislative issues.
Pam Phillips, chair of the Local Regional Issues committee will be the moderator. There will not be specific questions prepared for the presenters, but there will be time after the forum for questions from the public.
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Bismarck (CSi) The National Weather Service is providing long-range probabilistic hydrologic outlooks for Devils and Stump lakes between January and September.
There has been little change since the last outlook at the end of January…with below normal lake rises expected due to below normal springtime inflows.
Fall and winter precipitation has been within the 20 to 50% of normal across the Devils Lake basin ranging from a bit above on the northwestern side and below normal on the eastern side.
Snow water equivalents (SWEs) in the snowpack are modeled at 0.85 inches compared to a typical 1.25 to 2.75 inches.
The model was run with normal climatological precipitation and slightly above normal temperatures…and with the maximum 600 cfs pumping capacity of the Devils Lake outlets from the 1st of June through the 10th of November. This produced the highest rising hydrograph member derived from the 60+ years of temperature and precipitation used in the model to peak at 1453.13 feet.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – The National Weather Service says the chances of flooding in the Red River Valley remain low.
A report released Thursday shows a less than 50 percent possibility of the river reaching the 18-foot flood stage in Fargo. The service says the soils in the valley are dry and both snowpack and snow moisture are “quite low.”
The climate outlook calls for cold and dry conditions heading into spring.
The weather service says that water levels on Devils Lake in northeastern North Dakota will likely stay near current levels.
The next report is scheduled for March 5th.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota’s Senate is considering a measure that would exempt dairy and swine operations from the state’s anti-corporate farming law.
The legislation is slated to be debated Friday. It would allow corporations to operate dairy and hog farms.
Supporters of the bill say it would improve farmers’ access to capital and spur the state’s economy. Opponents say the current law blocks unfair competition from big, out-of-state corporations.
Jamestown Republican Sen. Terry Wanzek says dairy and hog farm operations are in serious decline in North Dakota and his bill is aimed at saving those industries.
The state’s anti-corporate farming law dates back to 1932. It now allows corporations with as many as 15 shareholders to own farms or ranches, as long as the shareholders are related.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – House budget writers have approved $1.1 billion in special funding so that infrastructure projects can begin by this summer.
The amount is similar to the Senate’s version approved last month. But the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday voted to give less to communities and more funds to the state Transportation Department for road projects.
The “surge funding” bill is intended to fast-track funding to cities, counties and townships affected by North Dakota’s exploding growth.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Sanford Health Plan is taking over as the primary insurance provider for approximately 29,000 public employees in North Dakota.
The health insurance company based in the Dakotas will replace Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, which has served as the insurer for the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System for the last 37 years. The company will insure 65,000 total people, including families and retirees.
The new health plan contract with Sanford will take effect July 1.
Jon Strinden is the chairman of the public employees’ board. Strinden says public employees will still be able to use their current medical providers under the new plan.
Sanford says it’s in the process of opening offices in Fargo and Bismarck. It says there will be more than 100 positions available immediately in the state.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The Canadian company behind the long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline will seek U.S. State Department approval for another pipeline – this one going north. TransCanada Corporation’s proposed $600 million Upland Pipeline would begin in northwestern North Dakota and go north into Canada.
MINOT, N.D. (AP) – The suspect in a slaying in Minot last fall could enter his plea to a murder charge as early as next month.
Anthony Campbell is due in court March 19 for a preliminary hearing, which could proceed directly to an arraignment.
Campbell has been accused in the slaying of 25-year-old Shannon Brunelle, who was found dead in a garage at an apartment building on Sept. 15. Campbell was arrested in November in Philadelphia on a murder warrant and an unrelated burglary warrant. The murder charge carries a maximum punishment of life in prison without parole.
Campbell’s attorney sought to have four judges disqualified from the case because each had had some role, from issuing warrants to presiding over court appearances. Court documents show the request was denied.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Formal charges have been filed against a man shot in the leg by a Bismarck police officer.
Twenty-two-year-old Paul Smith II, of Grand Forks, was shot following a traffic stop Tuesday evening. Authorities allege Smith removed the officer’s gun from its holster during a scuffle, and the gun went off during the struggle.
Smith faces three felony charges, including disarming a police officer, and a misdemeanor. Court documents don’t list an attorney for him.
Smith was wanted on a probation violation relating to a 2014 misdemeanor conviction in Grand Forks for assault.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – An 18-year-old man is facing federal charges in the overdose deaths of two people in the Grand Forks area.
Kain Schwandt pleaded not guilty Thursday to conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury and death. A trial date has not been set.
Grand Forks police announced last month they were investigating several overdose cases involving powdered fentanyl, a powerful synthetic morphine. It’s not clear how many people were sickened by the drugs.
MINOT, N.D. (AP) – Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James is making her fourth visit to Minot Air Force Base in the past 12 months.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh also is at the base, along with other top generals for a quarterly meeting of the Nuclear Oversight Board.
Board members normally meet in Washington, D.C., but this week they’re getting a firsthand look at the Minot base’s bomber and missile missions.
U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp say it’s important to continue efforts to modernize the nation’s nuclear force.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – The number of small farms and ranches in North Dakota dropped sharply last year, while the number and size of large farms increased.
The U.S. Agriculture Department’s National Agricultural Statistics Service says the 30,300 operations statewide at the end of 2014 was 500 fewer than 2013.
The agency says the number of farms and ranches with less than $100,000 in agricultural sales declined 1,100 farms from the year earlier, while operations with more than $100,000 were up 600 farms from 2013.
Land in farms and ranches in North Dakota totaled 39.3 million acres, unchanged from 2013. But the average size of operation was up 21 acres from the year before, at 1,297 acres.
MAX, N.D. (AP) – Residents of Max are deciding the fate of a proposed $8 million school bond issue, for the second time in three months.
The bond issue being voted on today is the same as one that failed last November. Superintendent Craig Eraas says the state fire inspector has condemned the 55-year-old school’s boiler system, meaning it can’t be used after this school year.
The bond issue money would pay for a $3.3 million heating and electrical system upgrade, along with other building renovations and classroom additions. Property taxes for the owner of a $100,000 home would go up about $330 per year.
MEDORA, N.D. (AP) – A proposal to build a bridge over the Little Missouri River in southwestern North Dakota no longer includes two alternative routes that would have put it near the site of former President Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch.
The bridge would connect two highways in Billings County. Supporters say it would cut up to 100 miles off some commutes, boost economic development and possibly save lives in an emergency.
Opponents worry that it would detract from the scenery of the Badlands region.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A Bismarck woman is accused of embezzling $12,500 from a high school dance team. Thirty-four-year-old Melissa Weltz allegedly stole the money from the Bismarck High School Demonettes Booster Club while serving as treasurer.
In sports….
(CSi-VCSU) – Valley City State University baseball coach Casey Olney has announced that three Carrington natives have signed letters of intent to continue their education and baseball careers at VCSU.
Patrick Freeman, Easton Paeper, and Brady Smith all plan to attend VCSU and play baseball for the Vikings starting this fall. The trio come from a very successful baseball program in Carrington, which won the 2014 Class B State Legion Tournament, placed 4th at the State High School Tournament in 2013 and was the Region 3 runner-up last season in high school baseball.
BOYS HOCKEY
West Regional Tournament
Quarterfinal
Bismarck (CSi) At the WDA the Jamestown High School boys hockey tourney in Bismarck Thursday, the Blue Jays lost to Mandan a 3-2.
Jamestown takes on Williston Friday at 11am.
The Coyotes lost to Bismarck 6-1 on Thursday
Bismarck Century 5, Dickinson 4
Minot 6, Bottineau 0
GIRLS HOCKEY
Grand Forks Knightriders 2, Fargo North 0
Minot 6, Mandan 1
BOYS BASKETBALL
Beulah 75, New Town 55
Bismarck High 77, Mandan 75, OT
Carrington 58, Velva 47
Cavalier 63, Larimore 47
Central Cass 76, Enderlin 75
Des Lacs-Burlington 59, Garrison 55
Dickinson 59, Bismarck St. Mary’s 50
Dickinson Trinity 76, Hazen 56
Ellendale 67, Strasburg-Zeeland 62, OT
Fargo Davies 74, Grand Forks Red River 70
Flasher 67, Center-Stanton 36
Glen Ullin-Hebron 77, Mandaree 41
Glenburn 62, Ray 56
Grafton/St. Thomas 68, Midway-Minto 46
Hankinson 54, Lidgerwood-Wyndmere 51
Hatton-Northwood 62, Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page 37
Hettinger/Scranton 59, Mott-Regent 43
Hillsboro/Central Valley 60, North Border 32
Killdeer 55, Watford City 31
Lakota/Edmore 68, Langdon-Munich 28
LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 64, South Border 49
Maple Valley 53, Barnes County North 32
May Port CG 49, Griggs County Central 45
Medina-Pingree-Buchanan 52, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier 49
Milnor 75, North Sargent 67
Minot Bishop Ryan 68, Towner-Granville-Upham 56
Minot Our Redeemer’s 81, Bottineau 36
North Star 79, New Rockford-Sheyenne 58
Northern Cass 68, Richland 56
Park River/Fordville Lankin 76, Thompson 69
Powers Lake 63, Divide County 56
Richardton-Taylor 62, New Salem-Almont 54
Rolette-Wolford 68, Westhope-Newburg 53
Rolla 87, Warwick 41
Sawyer 95, North Shore – Plaza 63
Shiloh Christian 67, Linton-HMB 60
Stanley 67, Burke County 55
Surrey 59, Drake/Anamoose 41
Tioga 69, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 43
Underwood 59, Grant County 43
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Bismarck St. Mary’s 60, Dickinson 43
Fargo Davies 77, Grand Forks Red River 55
Fargo Shanley 84, Devils Lake 47
(CSi) The 2015 North Dakota Class B District 5 Boys Basketball Tournament is set for Friday February 27, Saturday the 28th, and Monday March 2 at the Jamestown Civic Center.
Friday’s play starts at 4:30 p.m. with #4 Oakes (4-2 District 5) against #5 Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier (2-4). Oakes won the regular season contest on January 24 by a score of 61-57.
A full look of the bracket can be found by clicking here.
BISON BASKETBALL…
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Lawrence Alexander scored 17 points, A.J. Jacobson added 16 and North Dakota State pulled away in the second half for a 57-48 win over IUPUI Thursday night.
The Bison (19-8, 11-3 Summit) erased an early eight-point deficit to lead 24-22 at the half but didn’t put the game away until the closing minutes. The final score was the largest difference in the game.
Marcellus Barksdale had 15 points while D.J. McCall and DavRon Williams added 10 apiece for the Jaguars (9-18, 5-8). Williams also had 10 rebounds.
Mason Archie the Second converted a three-point play with 1:47 to play to pull IUPUI within 48-45 but the Bison, who were 11 of 19 from the line, made 9 of 10 free throws from there to close it out.
Carlin Dupree had six points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists for North Dakota State.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – DaShaun Wiggins scored 27 points to help Portland State to an 80-70 victory over North Dakota last night. Tiegbe Bamba added 17 points and nine rebounds for Portland State. Quinton Hooker led North Dakota with 17 points and six assists.
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Oklahoma City 104 Dallas 89
Final L-A Clippers 119 San Antonio 115
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final 2OT Buffalo 3 Philadelphia 2 (SO Buffalo 2-1)
Final Columbus 2 Pittsburgh 1
Final N-Y Islanders 5 Nashville 2
Final 2OT Vancouver 5 N-Y Rangers 4 (SO Vancouver 2-0)
Final Washington 5 Winnipeg 1
Final 2OT Florida 3 Montreal 2 (SO Florida 2-1)
Final San Jose 5 Dallas 2
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final ( 3) Gonzaga 86 Pacific 74
Final ( 7) Arizona 87 Southern Cal 57
Final ( 9) Utah 47 Oregon St. 37
Final (16) Maryland 69 Nebraska 65
Final (21) SMU 67 Temple 58
TOP-25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final ( 2) South Carolina 73 Arkansas 56
Final ( 4) Notre Dame 71 Georgia Tech 61
Final ( 5) Maryland 81 Wisconsin 70
Final ( 6) Tennessee 77 Alabama 56
Final ( 8) Louisville 69 Virginia Tech 49
Final ( 9) Florida St. 81 Clemson 38
Final (15) Texas A&M 81 (11) Kentucky 69
Final (17) North Carolina 83 Wake Forest 45
Final (22) Florida Gulf Coast 71 Kennesaw St. 60
Final (23) James Madison 85 UNC Wilmington 49
Final (25) Syracuse 73 Boston College 51
NBA TRADES…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Kevin Garnett is coming back to the place it all began.
A person with knowledge of the deal says the Minnesota Timberwolves are sending forward Thaddeus Young to the Brooklyn Nets for Garnett. The person spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been officially announced.
Garnett spent his first 12 seasons in Minnesota. He guided the Timberwolves to the only eight playoff appearances in franchise history and won the MVP while leading them to the Western Conference finals in 2004.
After winning a title in Boston, Garnett is nearing the end of a brilliant career and now could finish it in front of a crowd that continues to adore him.
Garnett had to waive a no-trade clause to allow the deal to go through.
In other deals:
UNDATED (AP) – Goran Dragic (GOHR’-uhn DRAH’-gitch) is getting out of Phoenix, like he wanted. The third-team All-NBA guard had told the Suns he wanted a trade to a better situation, and he got it in the final hours before the NBA trading deadline
Dragic and brother Zoran Dragic are leaving Phoenix for Miami. The Suns are getting forward Danny Granger and first-round picks in 2017 and 2021 from the Heat.
The Heat also traded guard Norris Cole, forward Shawne Williams and center Justin Hamilton, who are all heading to New Orleans. The Pelicans are expected to waive Williams.
New Orleans sent guard John Salmons to Phoenix to complete the deal, though the Suns already say they will waive him.
– The Milwaukee Bucks have traded guard Brandon Knight to Phoenix in a three-team deal that also sends Michael Carter-Williams from Philadelphia to Milwaukee. The Bucks also get guard Tyler Ennis and forward Miles Plumlee from Phoenix as part of the deal.
— Reggie Jackson, who began the season replacing an injured Russell Westbrook, now will step in for the sidelined Brandon Jennings in the Motor City. The Oklahoma City Thunder sent Jackson to Detroit in a three-way trade that included Utah. Jackson averaged 20.2 points and 7.7 assists in 13 starts he made when Westbrook and Kevin Durant were out with injuries. Oklahoma city gets Enes Kanter from Utah.
— Detroit sent guard DJ Augustin, forward Kyle Singler and a 2019 second-round draft selection to the Thunder, and a 2017 second-round pick to the Jazz.
— The Thunder traded center Kendrick Perkins, forward Grant Jerrett, the draft rights to Tibor Pleiss and a protected 2017 first-round pick to Utah. Oklahoma City also acquired forward Steve Novak from the Jazz.
– Denver has sent Arron Afflalo (uh-FLAH’-loh) and Alonzo Gee to Portland Trail Blazers in a five-player deal. The Nuggets receive Thomas Robinson, Victor Claver and Will Barton, along with lottery protected first round pick in 2016.
– The Sacramento Kings have traded guard Ramon Sessions to Washington for guard Andre Miller. Sessions is averaging 5.4 points and 2.7 assists in 17.8 minutes per game while Miller is averaging 3.6 points and 2.8 assists in 12.4 minutes.
Miller will be reunited with new Kings coach George Karl. The two had a close relationship in Denver, where Miller enjoyed some of his best seasons.
NASCAR…
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – After Jeff Gordon earned the pole for Sunday’s Daytona 500 last weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson winning their respective duel qualifiers last night. Danica Patrick needed a push from teammate Kurt Busch for the final two laps of Thursday night’s second 150-mile Budweiser Duel to make the Daytona 500 field.
NFL…
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers are planning a shared stadium in the Los Angeles area if both teams fail to get new stadium deals in their current hometowns.
The teams announced plans for the $1.7 billion stadium in Carson in a joint statement Thursday night.
OBIT-KERSEY
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon state medical examiner says former Portland Trail Blazers player Jerome Kersey died from a blood clot that traveled from his left calf to his lungs. The determination came a day after Kersey died at 52. Kersey had minor surgery on his knee last Friday.
Trail Blazers President Emeritus Harry Glickman said of Kersey: “It’s been some 45 years since we brought the Blazers here, and in those 45, and the next 45, the Blazers will never have a better human being than Jerome Kersey.”
PGA-NORTHERN TRUST
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Six players share the first round lead of the PGA’s Northern Trust tournament at storied Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. The group includes Retief Goosen (reh-TEEF’ GOO’-sin), Vijay Singh (VEE’-jay SING), Nick Watney, James Hahn, Derek Fathauer and Daniel Summerhays.
LPGA-AUSTRALIAN OPEN
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – South Korea’s Ilhee Lee took shot a 5-under 68 for a one-shot lead after the first round of the Women’s Australian Open.
In world and national news…
NEW DELHI (AP) – Doctors say a variant of the H1N1 pandemic influenza is devastating people in northern and western India, killing more than 700 in 10 weeks. Health authorities have been struggling to ensure adequate medical supplies reach the remote hospitals struggling with the outbreak. India’s health ministry says around 11,000 cases have been reported since mid-December.
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) – There are conflicting reports about the attack that killed at least 30 people today in a town in eastern Libya that’s currently controlled by the country’s internationally recognized government. An army spokesman says a car bomb exploded near a gas station. But a security official says the gas station blast was only one in a string of attacks in Qubba, including one targeting the home of the parliament speaker and another aimed at security headquarters.
UNDATED (AP) – Parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic could experience cold the likes of which haven’t been seen in 20 years. And the National Weather Service says more sleet and freezing rain will be possible in the coming days. Temperatures and wind chills have dipped near zero or below in the Midwest, Northeast and even the South.
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) – The deep freeze is creating quite a spectacle in Niagara Falls and it has tourists braving the Arctic temperatures to see. The Niagara River keeps flowing below the ice cover, so the falls aren’t completely frozen over, but the mist has encased the trees around it into crystal shells and created a massive ice buildup near the brink.
TOKYO (AP) – The slaying of two Japanese hostages by the Islamic State group has created a ripple effect in Japan where organizers of Sunday’s Tokyo Marathon have promised increased security following. Race president Koji Sakurai says anti-terrorism drills have been held and organizers are “confident of delivering a safe race” four about 30,000 runners. Police will be in among race participants.