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Rapid City Council Delays Vote on Solid Waste Fee Increases
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Council voted Monday night to continue discussion of proposed increases in solid waste fees to their first meeting in December. If ultimately approved by city council, the resolution could set new prices for landfill use, garbage pickup account activation, and more. Council President Rod Pettigrew was among those voting to continue discussion to the December 1st meeting to give new public works director Mike Theis time to address the issue before a vote. Some council members and constituents have also raised some concerns about the increased fees.
City Council Approves First Reading of Opioid Settlement Allocation
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Council has approved first reading of an opioid settlement funding allocation. The allocation, which follows the city’s opioid settlement committee’s establishment in October, will be the first granted to public and private groups fighting the opioid addiction crisis in Rapid City. Currently, nearly $540,000 is available for immediate allocation. The total amount expected over the full settlement period is unknown but likely to be substantially higher.
Utility Rate Relief Program Offers Support for Residents
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City utility customers can apply for a reduction of their monthly utility charges through a program administered over the last dozen years by the City’s Public Works Department. The program, entitled the Utility Rate Relief Program, is designed to lower the monthly utility expense for senior citizens and people with disabilities. The program recently underwent an update to make the qualification process more straightforward. If qualified, the rates charged for utility services billed to the applicant will be reduced by 25 percent for a period of two years or until the renewal date established by the Public Works Director.
Rapid City Firefighters Train for Winter Fire Season
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Live Fire Instructor Donavin Neugebauer says firefighters in Rapid City are preparing ahead of the cold weather season. The rigorous training includes an active fire training exercise, communications and other related exercises. Officials say more fires tend to break out in winters because of the increased use of heating appliances.
Court Clears Path for Deadwood Recall Election
DEADWOOD, S.D. — The City of Deadwood can now move forward with the December 2nd recall election of Deadwood City Commissioner Blake Joseph after a Fourth Circuit Court decision on Friday. Joseph had filed a challenge in court after petition signatures to force the recall election were verified. He claimed that the petitions were improperly filed and that there weren’t enough signatures. Fourth Circuit Judge Eric Strawn denied all of Joseph’s motions in Friday’s hearing, setting the stage for the December election.
Governor Rhoden Appoints Gusinsky to State Supreme Court
PIERRE, S.D. — Governor Larry Rhoden has announced the appointment of Presiding Judge Robert Gusinsky of the Seventh Circuit to serve as a supreme court justice for the First Supreme District. This vacancy was created by the retirement of the Honorable Janine Kern. Gusinksy, who was born in Lativa, is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He was an airline pilot before pursuing a career in law. The First Supreme District consists of the counties of Custer, Lawrence, Meade, and Pennington.
UPS cargo plane with 3 aboard crashes, explodes on takeoff at Louisville airport, igniting huge fire
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Officials say a large UPS cargo plane with three people aboard crashed and exploded while taking off from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky, igniting a huge fire on ground. The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday that the plane crashed at about 5:15 p.m. The FAA said the plane was scheduled to fly to Honolulu after it took off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Photos on social media showed a large plume of black smoke rising into the sky. The Kentucky governor says there are injuries, but no fatalities have been confirmed.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns of ‘mass chaos’ in skies if shutdown continues
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted Tuesday that there could be chaos in the skies next week if the government shutdown drags on and air traffic controllers miss a second paycheck. The FAA slows down or even stops flights temporarily anytime it is short on controllers or if there is an equipment problem. There have already been numerous delays at airports across the country — sometimes hours long — during the shutdown. Duffy warned that the situation will only get worse the longer the shutdown continues and the financial pressure continues to grow on people who are forced to work without pay. FAA employees already missed one paycheck on Oct. 28. Their next payday is scheduled for next Tuesday.
Scientists spot the brightest flare yet from a supermassive black hole
NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have spotted the brightest flare yet from a black hole. It was first spotted in 2018 by a camera at the Palomar Observatory in California. The cosmic outburst likely happened because a large star wandered too close to the black hole and got shredded to pieces. It took about three months to shine at peak brightness, about the light of 10 trillion suns. Almost every large galaxy, including our Milky Way, has a supermassive black hole at its center. Studying such behemoths can help researchers understand the stellar neighborhood surrounding them. The research was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Astronomy.