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Block 5 Becomes First Building in South Dakota with Firefighter Air System
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Block 5 has made history as the first building in South Dakota to be equipped with a Firefighter Air Replenishment System (FARS), a safety feature that allows firefighters to refill their air tanks directly within the building during an emergency. Installed by Western States Fire Protection, this innovative system will be utilized by the Rapid City Fire Department to improve efficiency and safety during fire response operations. Traditionally, firefighters must carry spare air bottles up multiple flights of stairs and return to ground level for replacements when their air runs out. With the new system in place, firefighters can now refill their air tanks at designated FARS standpipe locations on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th floors of Block 5.
Veterans Day Events and Closures Planned in Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Numerous local events are scheduled for the Veterans Day holiday tomorrow. Rapid City government offices will also be closed for Veterans Day with most City services suspended on the holiday. Impacted services include trash collection and transit services. Veterans Day events in Rapid City include a 9 a.m. ceremony at The Hive at The Shops at Main Street Square hosted by the Black Hills War Monument Association. The annual downtown Veterans Day Parade will begin promptly at 11 a.m. with a luncheon to follow at VFW Post 1273.
Pete Lien & Sons Shooting Sports Complex Opens to the Public
STURGIS, S.D. — One of the state’s largest shooting ranges officially opened to the public on Saturday. The Pete Lien & Sons Shooting Sports Complex is located off Elk Vale Road, north of Rapid City. The complex offers ranges for pistols, shotguns, and archery. It features 140 free shooting ranges and 20 membership-only ranges. Memberships cost $100 annually for individuals or $150 for families. The complex hosted its grand opening Friday night with several prominent South Dakotans in attendance, including Governor Larry Rhoden.
DCI Investigating Inmate Death at South Dakota State Penitentiary
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating a death of an inmate that occurred this week at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. The inmate, identified as Travis Long Fox, 33, was hospitalized Tuesday and died Friday at a Sioux Falls hospital. An autopsy has been ordered. DCI have investigated the deaths of five prison inmates since February of this year.
Senate is poised to take the first steps to end 40-day shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is poised to take the first steps toward ending the 40-day government shutdown Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of healthcare subsidies, angering many in their caucus who want to continue the fight. The agreement from Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan and Sen. Angus King of Maine would pass three annual spending bills and extend the rest of government funding until late January. That’s according to three people familiar with the agreement who requested anonymity until the deal is made public. Senate Democrats were meeting Sunday evening to discuss the proposal. The government shutdown has now lasted 40 days.
Preliminary tests find germ that causes botulism in ByHeart baby formula
California health officials say tests show that ByHeart baby formula linked to a botulism outbreak contained the type of bacteria that produces the toxin that has sickened at least 13 infants in 10 states. No deaths have been reported. The most recent cases were confirmed in November. Consumers should stop using ByHeart powdered infant formula immediately. ByHeart officials this weekend recalled two lots of the company’s Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. Botulism is a rare but serious disease that can cause paralysis and death. Symptoms can take weeks to develop.
US airlines’ daily cancellations top 2,000 for first time since shutdown cuts began
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,100 flights Sunday mostly because of the government shutdown and the Federal Aviation Administration’s order to reduce air traffic. The slowdown at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports is now in its third day and beginning to cause more widespread disruptions. That includes more than 7,000 additional delays Sunday alone, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air travel disruptions. Earlier Sunday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that U.S. air traffic could “slow to a trickle” if the shutdown if the federal government shutdown lingers into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season.