TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalSinkhole in west Rapid City continues to grow
Public works and safety officials said Thursday that they are still trying to determine what caused a 40-foot-deep sinkhole to open up in a residential neighborhood in north western Rapid City.
The crater gaping in front of a home on the 300 block of Whitewood Street was said not to have grown any wider by late Thursday afternoon but continues to erode beneath the surface.
As a result, the street remains closed to traffic from West Rapid to West Omaha streets without any indication of when it will reopen. Barricades closing off West Omaha Street from National to Sturgis streets were still in place by late Thursday evening as well.
"With the sinkhole remaining active … we can’t determine a timeline for when we would open up to traffic at this point," City Spokesperson Darrell Shoemaker said in a telephone interview late Thursday.
Read more: https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/update-sinkhole-in-west-rapid-city-continues-to-grow/article_e5d700b1-1c65-5df0-a25b-3f486141193b.html
Where there's smoke, there's one of Canada's largest fires
This smoke map, provided by the Canadian Parks Agency, shows the rough extent and intensity of smoke cover generated by the Alberta wildfires and other smaller fires throughout the northern U.S. and Canada.
If you smell wood smoke or see haze in the sky the next few days, it may not be from your neighbor’s cookout. It might be from a wildfire in Canada.
Earlier in May, wildfire officials in Canada’s central Alberta province noticed the first signs of a blaze moving through the province’s northern forests.
“Some of the fires kicking up smoke right now have been burning since May 12,” Derek Gagnon, a Provincial Information Officer for the Alberta Wildfire Center, said. “One of the biggest fires has been burning since May 18.”
By Thursday, May 30, fires had enveloped large areas of those local forests, with the biggest blaze spreading over 230,000 hectares — more than 888 square miles. “That easily puts it in the top ten [largest fires] of Alberta’s recorded history,” Gagnon said.
Read more: https://www.capjournal.com/news/where-there-s-smoke-there-s-one-of-canada-s/article_eb8bea9e-8327-11e9-a045-5fff6b0b81e8.html
Deadwood Mountain Grand lawsuits settled
DEADWOOD — A pair of federal lawsuits over an unpaid loan used to build a Deadwood casino and hotel will be dismissed under an agreement reached Tuesday if a settlement is paid this summer.
A limited liability corporation called Tentexkota borrowed $32.5 million in two loans from 65 Chinese investors to build the Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, Casino and Event Center. The investors were promised visas and the opportunity to obtain permanent resident status for themselves and their families.
While 64 of the 65 investors did receive visas and gained permanent residency through the EB-5 program, the money was not repaid.
Tentexkota was formed in 2006 and started with an investment of $6 million from its members, as well as a $1.7 million Deadwood Historical Preservation grant. Tentexkota eventually put $10,150,947 into the development, according to court records. It also was promised $550,000 annually for 15 years by the city of Deadwood to operate and promote the event center in addition to the money from the Chinese investors.
Read more: https://www.bhpioneer.com/local_news/deadwood-mountain-grand-lawsuits-settled/article_c798d120-822c-11e9-98cb-e387b3ad77ba.html
(Black Hills Pioneer)
Brookings School District Apologizes for Principal's Illegal Feather Seizure
The Brookings School District has publicly apologized to new graduate Miles Livermont for illegally seizing the eagle feather he wore to graduation last Sunday:
A statement from Brookings School District Superintendent Klint Willert released Tuesday afternoon says:
“After Miles Livermont, a graduating senior, was observed with an eagle feather attached to his graduation mortarboard, high school staff and administration requested the feather be removed. The practice of preventing modifications to mortarboards or graduation gowns has been a long-held practice of the Brookings School District. Following the request by district officials, Miles removed the feather from his mortarboard. After an unsuccessful attempt to contact his parents to hold the feather, Miles proceeded to ask a high school staff member to hold the feather for safe keeping until the conclusion of the graduation ceremony.
“As the ceremony was beginning, Miles’ parents realized the feather was not attached to the mortarboard. They then located the feather and attached the sacred object to the mortarboard for the graduation ceremony. Miles fully participated in the remainder of the graduation ceremony with the sacred feather attached to his mortarboard. He was awarded his diploma along with over 190 other graduates.
“The Brookings School District honors and respects the significance of the sacred eagle feather and pledges to equally respect the law which protects tribal regalia and objects of cultural significance to be worn at a school honoring or graduation ceremony. The School District regrets the misapplication of its longstanding practice of denying modified mortarboards and gowns at graduation. Looking forward, the district will take the necessary steps to ensure students are allowed to express pride in their tribal heritage at future school honorings and graduation ceremonies. Specifically, we extend our apology to Miles and his entire family and have scheduled a meeting with the family to discuss this matter further.
“On behalf of all involved in this matter from the Brookings School District, I offer my sincere and heartfelt apology. We know that graduation often marks the final experience in our school district for students and, unfortunately, Miles last experience was not as joyous as it might have been. For that, we are truly sorry” [Jill Fier, “School District Apologizes for Feather Removal,” Brookings Register, 2019.05.29].
“Request” doesn’t sound like what Miles Livermont and his mom, Tasiyagnunpa Livermont Barondeau, experienced. The school officials “insisted” Livermont remove the feather, despite his explanation of the state law protecting his right to wear tribal regalia at graduation.
Read more: http://dakotafreepress.com/2019/05/31/brookings-school-district-apologizes-for-principals-illegal-feather-seizure/
North Dakota State Hospital trying to fix serious flaws after denial to renew accreditation
JAMESTOWN — The North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown is working to come into compliance with accreditation standards after a survey documented multiple deficiencies, including suicide prevention measures, maintaining a safe environment for patients and proper use of restraints or seclusion.
A survey team for The Joint Commission, the accrediting body for hospitals, in March found multiple serious deficiencies that resulted in a determination of preliminary denial of accreditation for the state hospital’s inpatient service.
Since then, the hospital has been working with reviewers to resolve problems and bring the hospital back into compliance, Rosalie Etherington, the state hospital’s superintendent, said Thursday, May 30.
Many of the deficiencies have been addressed, she said, and Etherington expects the remaining problems will be fully resolved by September. “They have almost all been solved,” Etherington said.
Read more: https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/north-dakota-state-hospital-trying-to-fix-serious-flaws-after/article_432e5798-a3da-5881-aaca-f5cd935c2b54.html
South Dakota looks to build $400K fence surrounding Governor's Mansion, citing security needs
PIERRE, S.D. — Concerned for Republican Gov. Kristi Noem's safety, South Dakota may spend up to $400,000 to construct a fence around the Governor's Mansion, located in the capital city of Pierre.
According to state documents dated April 29, the state's Office of the State Engineer and the Bureau of Administration are accepting statements of interest from companies to construct a fence to border the mansion by Sept. 30, with the budget subject to change.
Noem spokesperson Kristin Wileman said Thursday, May 30, via email that the state has not yet made any bids and the departments are "reviewing the security needs for the governor’s residence, but no final decisions have been made."
The move comes after a few recent security incidents at governor's residences throughout the country. In March, a man was charged for stealing property from vehicles parked on the Michigan governor's residence in Lansing, according to the Lansing State Journal. In 2018, two individuals were arrested for reportedly breaking into the residences of Wyoming and California's governors, according to the Casper Star Tribune and The Sacramento Bee.
Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/1355760-South-Dakota-looks-to-build-400K-fence-surrounding-Governors-Mansion-citing-security-needs
Former western North Dakota treasurer accused of stealing from township
WILLISTON, N.D. — A former treasurer of the Missouri Ridge Township Board of Supervisors was arrested Friday, May 31, and accused of stealing nearly $30,000 from the township.
Deanna Senior was charged with a Class B felony count of theft, the Williston Herald reported. A bond hearing on the charge had not been scheduled as of Friday afternoon.
An affidavit of probable cause was not yet available, but according to the Williams County Sheriff's Office, an investigation began in March into the allegations. Senior is accused of taking about $29,000 from the township.
The specific allegations against her weren't yet clear on Friday.
In addition to formerly serving on the Missouri Ridge Township board, Senior is the vice president of the school board for Williams County Public School District No. 8. She also ran for the District 1 seat on the Williams County Board of Commissioners in 2018.
https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/1355706-Former-western-North-Dakota-treasurer-accused-of-stealing-from-township
(no more at link)
Lawmakers right to study Legacy Fund earnings
Although it was set in motion when legislation failed to address use of Legacy Fund earnings during this year’s legislative session, it was still an important step for North Dakota’s Legislative Management committee to make sure to include the item in 46 study topics to be examined for possible inspiration for bills in two years. The study was one of 15 mandated by the Legislature.
Once again use of Legacy Fund earnings is likely to be a subject of debate in the next legislative session and probably the subject of proposed bills.
The Legacy Fund was approved by voters as an oil tax savings account and while there are strong restrictions on using the fund itself, earnings from the fund can now be accessed and utilized by the Legislature.
This year, many legislators had ideas for use of Legacy Fund earnings. So did Gov. Doug Burgum, who offered up a list of what he considered “legacy” projects, including the proposed Teddy Roosevelt Library.
Read more: https://www.minotdailynews.com/opinion/editorials/2019/05/lawmakers-right-to-study-legacy-fund-earnings/
(Minot Daily News)
Iowa Democrats call for special session to override medical marijuana veto
Democrats in the Iowa Legislature are calling on their Republican counterparts to hold a special legislative session to override Gov. Kim Reynolds' veto of an expansion of the state's medical marijuana program.
But while Republican legislative leaders said the issue will be a top priority for them in 2020, they called the possibility of a special session "ill-advised," making it all but certain that Reynolds' veto will stand.
For Iowans like Joe Bohnert of Des Moines, who participates in the state's medical marijuana program to treat pain and other side effects stemming from his multiple sclerosis, it's "outrageous" that Reynolds would veto the expansion and delay any action by another year.
The current medicine Bohnert gets through the program isn't strong enough to fully manage his symptoms, he said.
Read more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/29/iowa-democrats-want-special-session-override-kim-reynolds-medical-marijuana-veto/1270299001/
Heritage Pharmaceuticals Pays Over $7 Million to Resolve Civil False Claims Act Allegations
Company Also Enters into Deferred Prosecution Agreement for Role in Price-Fixing SchemePHILADELPHIA, PA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain today announced that generic drug manufacturer Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will pay over $7 million in a civil settlement to resolve allegations of a scheme to fix prices and allocate customers for several of its drugs. The civil resolution of these allegations in the Eastern District is a component of the company’s larger resolution with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division and Civil Division.
This over $7 million civil healthcare fraud settlement resolves False Claims Act allegations that Heritage paid and received remuneration from other drug manufacturers between 2012 and 2015, and engaged in a scheme to artificially inflate and fix prices on certain generic drugs. These drugs were supplied to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Department of Defense’s TRICARE program beneficiaries, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs. The drugs allegedly implicated in this scheme address a wide variety of health conditions, and include hydralazine, used to treat high blood pressure, theophylline, used to treat asthma and other respiratory problems, and glyburide, used to treat diabetes.
Separately, Heritage has entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ Antitrust Division with regard to a criminal charge that the company conspired to suppress and eliminate competition by allocating customers, rigging bids, and fixing and maintaining prices in violation of the Sherman Act. The deferred prosecution agreement was also filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Under the terms of the deferred prosecution agreement, Heritage will pay a $250,000 monetary penalty and will avoid prosecution if it complies with the terms and conditions of the agreement.
“My Office is proud to announce this important civil healthcare fraud settlement with the Civil Division, and the deferred prosecution agreement with the Antitrust Division,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Price-fixing and market allocation in generic drugs will not be tolerated, especially when such actions artificially inflate prices and negatively impact federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid. This resolution with Heritage is an important milestone, and my Office will continue to investigate and pursue illegal conduct regarding generic drugs.”
Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/heritage-pharmaceuticals-pays-over-7-million-resolve-civil-false-claims-act-allegations
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