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Death of 19-Year-Old Rapid City Woman at Falling Rock Ruled Accidental
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office says the death of a 19-year-old Rapid City woman Tuesday at Falling Rock has been ruled accidental. Authorities say Ava Christensen fell from the top of a cliff and her body was recovered a short time later by the Pennington County Search and Rescue team. Three other females on the scene say Ava had lost her balance and accidentally fell off the cliff. Officials say alcohol was present and is believed to be a factor.
Rapid City Woman Denied Bond Modification in Arson Case
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A Rapid City woman who is accused of setting her ex’s house on fire was denied a bond modification during a court appearance this week. Amy Couture, 55, is charged with First Degree Arson in connection with the fire that happened on Saint Charles Street. Couture also allegedly sent threatening messages to the homeowner before the fire. Her bond was initially set at $50,000, but her attorney called that extreme. Judge Jeffrey Connolly denied the lower bond request due to the nature of Couture’s charges. Couture faces up to 25 years in prison if she’s convicted.
Gertie Fire in Southern Hills Under Control, Mop Up Operations Underway
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Firefighters report they have the upper hand on a fire burning in the southern hills. The Gertie Fire was reported early Wednesday morning off Gertie Road, about a mile west of Hill City. The fire was listed at 18 acres, with the fires forward progress stopped and mop up operations underway Thursday evening. Firefighters from multiple agencies battled the blaze in the Cowboy Gulch area. Engines, water tenders, a dozer and hand crew were all on scene. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Traffic Signals at Rapid City Diverging Diamond Interchange Restored
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The South Dakota Department of Transportation says the traffic signals at the new diverging diamond interchange off I-90 and LaCrosse Street in Rapid City are once again functioning normally. The intersection had been running on stop signs since late August after an electrical conduit failure. The D.O.T. says they replaced signal equipment and thousands of feet of wire, which turned out to be an extensive project.
Rapid City Cruiser Car Show Scheduled for October 4
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Cruiser Car Show, hosted by the Rapid City Police Department and Main Street Square, is scheduled for this Saturday (October 4) from Noon to 4 p.m. from Main Street Square to City Hall. The City Hall parking lot will be closed to public access beginning this Friday at 5 p.m. through Saturday as it will be used as a staging area for the classic cars. There will be a message board advising the public of the parking restriction and barricades will also be in place during this period.
Most Americans Unfamiliar with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Survey Finds
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A new Pew Research Center survey shows most Americans don’t know Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Fifty-six percent say they’ve never heard of him. Among those who have, more hold an unfavorable view than a favorable one. Thune, a South Dakota Republican, is the least known of the four congressional leaders measured. The poll also shows partisan divides remain sharp, with Republicans more approving of their leadership and Democrats more critical of theirs.
Government shutdown takes hold with mass layoffs looming and no end in sight
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government shut down Wednesday after Democrats and Republicans failed to reach agreement on a funding plan, leaving about 750,000 federal workers facing furloughs or possible layoffs. The impasse centers on Democrats’ demands to extend health care subsidies, which President Donald Trump and GOP leaders have rejected as part of the current negotiations. With no new talks scheduled, many government offices are closed and some services may be permanently reduced, while deportation enforcement is expected to continue. This marks the third shutdown during Trump’s presidency, and the first since his return to office.
Bondi and Hegseth rally federal agents and troops in Memphis as part of crime task force
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller have converged on Memphis, Tennessee, to meet with federal agents forming a crime fighting task force there. Bondi says via social media that the Memphis Safe Task Force made more than 50 arrests over a two-day period. The agents include personnel from immigration and drug enforcement. They have begun serving criminal arrest warrants while teaming with state agencies on traffic stops. Bondi says more than 200 officers have been deputized. The Tennessee National Guard is also supposed to begin working with Memphis Police, although it is unclear how soon that will happen.
Activists say Israeli navy has begun intercepting a Gaza-bound aid flotilla
JERUSALEM (AP) — Activists on board a flotilla of vessels sailing toward Gaza say the Israeli navy intercepted three of their boats as they approached the besieged Palestinian territory. The Global Sumud Flotilla, with Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, and several European lawmakers aboard, consists of nearly 50 boats and 500 activists and is carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid. It has remained undeterred in its mission to break the Israeli blockade of the coastal strip and reach Palestinians. Several activists posted videos on social media late Wednesday in which they said Israeli naval vessels were approaching the flotilla and ordering them to turn their engines off.