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Rapid City Teen Sentenced for July Shooting
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A 19-year-old man from Rapid City has been sentenced to prison in connection with a July shooting. Jaxon Jewett was originally charged with attempted murder after shooting a man in the shoulder at Star Village on July 2, but after a plea deal, Jewett pled guilty to aggravated assault. Jewett’s lawyer told the court the shooting was an accidental discharge and Jewett was unaware he had shot the victim until he saw reports on the news. Judge Robert Gusinsky sentenced Jewett to 15 years in prison, but suspended seven of those years.
Mayor Issues Community Call to Action Amid Government Shutdown
RAPID CITY, S.D. — With anticipated increases in people seeking assistance due to the government shutdown and pending suspension of various benefits, Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun is issuing a community call to action for citizens to donate food items and to support local organizations providing assistance to those in need. The mayor said there are various organizations set up to provide assistance, including Feeding South Dakota, Meals on Wheels, the school lunch program and numerous others. The City’s Public Works Department and AFSCME are collaborating for a fourth year on a community food drive which begins next Monday. Other organizations are set up to receive diapers and formula, winter apparel and toiletry items and other forms of support that can assist those in need.
Enrollment Rises at South Dakota Technical Colleges
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Enrollment is increasing at South Dakota’s technical colleges. The four schools report a total enrollment of more than 77-hundred students. That’s up five percent from last year. The growth was consistent across all four schools that include Lake Area, Mitchell, Southeast and Western Dakota Technical Colleges. A Board of Technical Education spokesperson credits the increase to outreach and program investments on campuses.
Black Hills Corporation and NorthWestern Energy Announce Merger
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Black Hills Corporation and NorthWestern Energy have announced a merger between the companies. Through its merger, the companies hope to deliver enhanced financial stability, operational efficiency and long-term value for employees, customers and communities. Black Hills CEO Linn Evans will be retiring after the merger goes through. Changes to rates and local operations aren’t expected. Combined, the companies will serve over two million customers across eight states.
Jury convicts California activist who took chickens from Perdue Farms plant
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jurors have convicted a California animal rights activist for taking four chickens from a major Perdue Farms poultry plant. Zoe Rosenberg was found guilty Wednesday of trespassing and conspiracy. She says she was rescuing the chickens but prosecutors say broke the law. The 23-year-old activist faces more than five years in prison. She was charged with one count of felony conspiracy, one count of trespassing to interfere with a business, one count of trespassing on land where an animal is behind held for human consumption, and one count of tampering with a vehicle.
Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh indicted over ICE protests outside Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) — A Democratic congressional candidate in Illinois has been accused of blocking a federal agent’s vehicle during September protests outside a federal immigration building near Chicago. The felony indictment unsealed Wednesday indicts Kat Abughazaleh and five others of conspiring to impede an officer. Abughazaleh called the indictment “political prosecution” and an attempt to silence protests against the Trump administration. Federal prosecutors accuse the group of surrounding a vehicle driven by a federal agent, banging on it and attempting to stop it from entering the facility. Among the others named in the indictment are three other Chicago-area politicians.
US will share tech to let South Korea build a nuclear-powered submarine, Trump says
GYEONGJU, South Korea (AP) — The United States will share closely held technology to allow South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine. President Donald Trump made the announcement on social media Thursday after meeting with the country’s president. President Lee Jae Myung stressed to Trump in their Wednesday meeting that the goal was to modernize the alliance with the U.S., noting plans to increase military spending to reduce the financial burden on America. The South Korean leader said there might have been a misunderstanding when they last spoke in August about nuclear-powered submarines, saying that his government was looking for nuclear fuel rather than weapons. Lee said that if South Korea was equipped with nuclear-powered submarines, that it could help U.S. activities in the region.
Paris prosecutor says 2 suspects in the Louvre jewel heist acknowledge their involvement
PARIS (AP) — A Paris prosecutor says two suspects in the Louvre jewel heist have admitted their involvement in the theft. They were handed preliminary charges for theft committed by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. They are believed to be the men who forced their way into the world’s most visited museum and took jewels valued at more than 100 million dollars. It took thieves less than eight minutes to steal the jewels in broad daylight on Oct. 19, shocking the world. The jewels have not been recovered.