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Qury Fire Near Custer Burns More Than 7,000 Acres with Structures Lost
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Fire crews continued working the Qury Fire burning south of Custer Sunday. The fire has burned an estimated 7,200 acres and as of last night, was just 2-percent contained. There are 280 personnel working the blaze. It was also learned during a special community forum regarding the fire that some structures have been lost. Custer County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Derrick Reifenrath told those attending that “structures lost varied from outbuildings and garages to homes.” However, he did not say how many homes were lost. Some property owners went back in to check on their structures yesterday.
Summer Nights Concert Series Returning to Downtown Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The “Summer Nights” concert series is returning to downtown Rapid City this summer. Organizers are planning to run events every Thursday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The event has been held annually since 2008. Organizers are considering a change in venue to a location on the Sixth Street corridor this year. They are hoping the event will bring people together to support downtown businesses and keep the live music tradition in Rapid City going strong this summer.
Rapid City Fire Department Seeks Cost-Sharing Agreements for Ambulance Service
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Fire Department says rising costs and lower insurance reimbursements are prompting them to seek cost-sharing contracts with the three counties they serve. Chief Jason Culberson recently asked Meade County Commissioners about a new contract. He says rising costs and insurance woes means they will no longer be able to provide the service free of charge. Similar requests have gone out to other areas the ambulance serves. Pennington County Fire Coordinator Jerome Harvey has suggested members of the Meade, Pennington and Custer County commissions meet to formulate a plan for continuing ambulance services.
Rapid City Committee Approves Additional $15 Million for Airport Expansion
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City’s legal and finance committee has approved up to $15 million dollars in additional funding to support Rapid City Regional Airport’s ongoing expansion project. The local airport funds are in addition to $44 million from the vision fund the city approved for the project last month. City Finance Officer Daniel Ainslie says the additional dollars will help the airport obtain lower interest funding that it would be able to secure without the city’s support. The legislature this session also approved a bill which makes $15 million in low-interest loans available to the airport.
Man Arrested in Connection with August Homicide in Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Police have made an arrest in connection with an August homicide. Police say they have taken 30-year-old Kane Youngman into custody for the shooting death of Monte Gakin at 225 E. Watertown Street. Gakin was found suffering from gunshot wounds at his apartment on August 27. He was pronounced deceased on scene. Through the course of the ongoing investigation, police established Youngman’s involvement in the shooting through physical evidence recovered from the scene, in addition to ongoing forensic testing and analysis. Youngman was contacted by police in the afternoon hours of March 13th and taken into custody for First Degree Murder.
Rapid City and DOT Launch Traffic Signal Study on Major Corridors
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The City of Rapid City and the Department of Transportation are funding a traffic signal optimization study along four of the city’s busiest corridors. They include Omaha Street, Mountain View Road from Omaha Street to Jackson Boulevard, La Cross Street from Mall Drive to Omaha and East North Street from Mall Drive to Omaha. The study will involve the collection of traffic data and signal timing analysis. The city’s public works committee last week authorized advertising a request for proposals for the study, which the state D.O.T. will cover nearly 82-percent of the cost.
Snow and wind batter parts of US, with threat of thunderstorms and tornadoes starting later Sunday
CHICAGO (AP) — A powerful storm chain has brought blizzard conditions to the Upper Midwest, with dangerous winds elsewhere and the threat of severe storms heading east. Heavy snow piled up Sunday in portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Forecasters also are tracking strong winds across the Plains, raising concerns about travel and wildfires. And the National Weather Service is warning about the threat of severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and likely tornadoes starting in the mid-South late Sunday and along the East Coast on Monday, particularly from Maryland to South Carolina. Hawaii is also being affected by continued severe flooding. (Full story)
Israeli military claims brother of man who attacked Michigan synagogue was Hezbollah commander
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military is claiming that the brother of a man who attacked a Michigan synagogue last week was a Hezbollah commander. Ibrahim Ghazali was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon along with three other of the attacker’s relatives on March 5 — a week before authorities allege Ayman Mohamad Ghazali drove his car into a major synagogue outside Detroit and killed himself after security fired at him. The Israeli military on Sunday alleged Ibrahim Ghazali was a Hezbollah commander who managed weapons for a unit that fired rockets at Israel. The FBI declined to comment about the Israeli military’s claim about Ibrahim Ghazali. (Full story)
Prince Harry and Meghan slam author of new book on royals for ‘deranged conspiracy’
LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have accused the author of a new book on Britain’s royal family of pushing conspiracy instead of facts. On Saturday, the couple issued a sharp statement saying author Tom Bower “crossed the line from criticism to fixation.” The Times of London published extracts from his book on Friday. The extracts alleged that Queen Camilla once claimed Meghan “brainwashed” Harry, and that Prince William and Catherine saw Meghan as a threat. Harry and Meghan point to past comments from Bower about “obliterating” them. The book also included passages critical of the couple’s charity work and the Invictus Games. (Full story)
