Bring it Home Committee Receives Funds from DOT Commission for Fort Pierre Depot

Members of Fort Pierre’s Bring it Home Committee-who are working to return the town’s former train depot from a ranch near Mud Butte took a big step forward in the effort yesterday.  The South Dakota Department of Transportation Commission gave the okay to award the project $500,000 from the state’s portion of the federal gas tax Thursday.  Gary Grittner of Fort Pierre, who leads the committee, says to get the funds, there will need to be a $100,000 match.  He says that match can come in the form of donations or in-kind contributions like supplies or labor.

Grittner says once the weather warms up, excavation will begin to place a basement in the ground.  The concrete for the basement will be poured on top of 4-5 feet of engineered fill.  Once the building is moved back to Fort Pierre and placed on the foundation, Grittner says there will be lots of work to do-starting with renovating the roof to its original condition.

Grittner says the building will also get a complete heating and air conditioning system and electrical wiring will be installed-with the utility infrastructure to be placed in the basement.  Plans also call for restoring the bead board interior, the wood floor, and windows and doors-in an effort to get the building looking as it did 100 years ago.  The committee is also talking about repainting the depot to its original reddish color.  Grittner says a “loading area” will be created between the depot and the nearby tracks.

The committee is also discussing adding a restroom facility next to the depot.  The building would be constructed to look like an old ice house and could be connected to the depot by a walkway. Grittner says committee members have been documenting the work they have done on the project and will include that information in an archives area in the depot, along with photos and details on the movement of the building to the northwest South Dakota ranch and back to Fort Pierre.

The depot was used for several years-starting in the early 1900’s.  It was moved to the Mud Butte area by rancher Shirley Miller in the mid-1960’s.  He has agreed to allow the building to return to Fort Pierre.  It is to be placed just south of where it used to call home-where the current Fresh Start convenience store is located.  A plot of land near the Casey Tibbs statue on the west side of Highway 83 has been pegged for the building’s new location.  Those that would like to make a donation, or offer other assistance can contact Grittner at 223-3255.

Democrats Offer Legislative Plan for 2012, Governor Responds to One Portion

Yesterday, the state’s Democratic lawmakers revealed their legislative plan for the current session.  The plan is dubbed ”Rebuilding South Dakota’s Schools…Investing in Our Workforce”.  Democrats are proposing measures that would result in increases in state aid to school districts.   Representative Larry Lucas, a Mission Democrat says though there is support for some of Governor Dennis Daugaard’s workforce ideas mentioned in his State of the State address; his education proposals are a different story.

The Democrat’s education plan would set a funding goal equal to the average spent by neighboring states.  They also want to have state aid to schools rise each year by the same amount as overall state revenues go up.  The plan is said to be a bi-partisan one and Lucas says in putting together the legislative proposals, his party received assistance from various sources.

Lucas believes that some of the proposals offered by the Democrats will be accepted…even if not in the original form announced Thursday.

When asked about the Democrats education proposals yesterday, Governor Daugaard said that increasing spending will not necessarily lead to gains in student achievement.

Daugaard’s proposals included giving bonuses to high performing teachers and offering math and science teachers a $3,500 annual bonus.  He also suggested doing away with tenure for new teachers. 

Fort Thompson Woman Pleads Guilty to Operating a Vehicle While Under the Influence

A Fort Thompson woman pled guilty in federal court to charges that resulted from an August 2011 vehicle accident.  22-year-old Kristy His Law appeared in court on Tuesday and entered the guilty pleas to two counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Minor Present.  Authorities say that His Law had consumed alcohol and drove a vehicle, which crashed into a ditch.  At the time the accident happened, there were four people in the car, two of whom were minors.  The crash caused injuries to those in the vehicle.  His Law’s blood alcohol content was found to be .168% when checked at one point.  His Law will be sentenced on April 16.  She faces a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release.

Capitol Club Makes Donation to Oahe Flood Relief Fund

A group that is made up of the spouses of state lawmakers presented a check Tuesday to help with flood relief.  Members of the Capitol Club offered $250 to the Oahe Flood Relief Fund at the Cultural Heritage Center earlier this week.  The fund, which holds over $100,000, was set up to help those affected by last year’s flood.   Pastor Don Block, who chairs the Oahe Long Term Disaster Recovery Team says the money that is received goes to assist families and individuals whose home or living situation have been adversely affected over the past year.

Block says a group of people who are part of the team look at the needs of those who apply for the money and determine how best to assist them.

Block says the range of assistance needed varies…from those who have yet to return to their home to others who are only utilizing part of their residence because the flood left damage of some sort.

Over 100 applications have been turned in to the recovery team and those who still need assistance can contact the Pierre Area Referral Service at 224-8731 to start the application process.  Those that want to donate to the fund can send a check to P.O. Box 548, Pierre, S.D. 57501.  They can also donate $10 through their cell phone by texting FLOOD to 85944 and the $10 will be processed and charged on the person’s next cell phone bill.  Another donation option is available online through the South Dakota Community Foundation at http://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/floodrelief/index.htm.

Besides offering a donation to the Flood Relief Fund Tuesday, Capitol Club members also announced another $250 donation to the local Food Pantry.

(BELOW THE PICTURE FROM TUESDAY, YOU’LL NOTE A VIDEO, WHICH WAS CREATED FOR THE OAHE FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORT)

2012 Hunting and Fishing Licenses Need to be Purchased Soon

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks is reminding hunters and anglers that their 2011 licenses expire next week-on Tuesday, January 31.  The 2012 licenses are available at local authorized Game, Fish and Parks licensing vendors or can be purchased online at www.gfp.sd.us. Those with questions can call the G F & P licensing office at 773-3393.  Hunting and fishing licenses for 2012 are valid through January of next year.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - They're powerful words routinely used to describe people living on American Indian reservations: poor, violent, alcoholic and obese. But students at one high school on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota have a message: They're more than that. About 50 students at Todd County High School have made a YouTube video to refute claims about reservation life portrayed in an ABC special featuring the Pine Ridge reservation. The students' video, titled "More Than That," has been viewed more than 35,000 times. Feather Colombe is one of the students featured in the video. She says she wanted to make it to combat stereotypes. Colombe and other students have been invited to a Native American education conference in Washington next month to present the video.  Online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v+FhribaNXr7A

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A member of the South Dakota House has been moved to a new seat and has lost the privilege of speaking on the House floor as a result of his continuing dispute with legislative leaders. House Speaker Val Rausch of Big Stone City says he is not letting Rep. Stace Nelson of Fulton speak during debate because Nelson has refused to meet with him to discuss allegations that Nelson verbally abused or threatened another House member. The speaker says Nelson was moved to another desk because he no longer is a member of the House Republican caucus that meets every day. Nelson says he never threatened anyone. He says he is being punished for his earlier allegations that House leaders sought confidential information about bills being prepared by other lawmakers.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - At least 80 South Dakota lawmakers say it's time the state fly more than just its official seal. They want a separate design for a flag. Representative Bernie Hunhoff  is sponsoring a bill that aims to adopt a flag design that would differ from the state's seal. It would use the Texas' Lone Star flag as its inspiration. Hunhoff says the Texas design is "a source of unity and pride." He adds, "I believe a flag can do the same thing for South Dakota." Artist Dick Termes of Spearfish drew the design, which has a Native American medicine wheel surrounded by yellow rays of sunshine on a sky-blue background. Governor Dennis Daugaard says the state should consider giving other artists a chance to submit designs as well.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Debate on a new system for assessing South Dakota public schools continues. The Senate Education Committee has voted to defer the education bill to the appropriations committee with a "do pass" recommendation, meaning it would next go to the Senate floor. State education officials say the accountability model should replace flawed provisions in the federal school improvement law known as No Child Left Behind. The new system would include student testing but also look at students' progress from year to year. It also would evaluate the performance of teachers and administrators. Schools ranked near the bottom would receive support to make improvements. Lawmakers say the Education Department must ensure it has the funding to develop the new model since the state is unlikely to pick up the tab.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Three law officers involved in the shooting of a suspect after a vehicle chase in the Rapid City area have been cleared of any wrongdoing after an investigation. Attorney General Marty Jackley says Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Rybak and city Officers Michael Frybarger and Sean Doyle were justified in firing their weapons. The suspect who was shot on Jan. 10, 42-year-old James Baker of Gillette, Wyo., has been charged with attempted murder and six other felonies. He allegedly shot at officers but did not hit any of them. Baker is recovering in a Rapid City hospital. He's formerly from the South Dakota town of Box Elder, which is near Rapid City.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - A Wyoming man who was shot by law officers following a vehicle chase in the Rapid City area has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and six other felonies stemming from the alleged incident. Authorities allege that 42-year-old James Baker, of Gillette, Wyoming fled from a traffic stop early in the morning January 10th and led officers on a chase before emerging from his vehicle and firing his 9 mm semiautomatic handgun at officers. The officers returned fire and shot Baker at least twice, in the upper torso and hand. Pennington County Deputy State's Attorney Lara Roetzel says charges were brought Thursday against Baker, formerly of Box Elder, South Dakota.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Two Roosevelt High School students in Sioux Falls are in trouble for allegedly bringing a BB gun to school and pointing it through a bag at other students. Police say the gun looked like a handgun that would shoot bullets. The 15- and 16-year-old male students were arrested Wednesday morning on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon on school property. The 16-year-old also faces a charge for having synthetic marijuana. The names of the students haven't been released because they are juveniles.

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) - An airman stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in southwestern South Dakota has pleaded not guilty to a child sex crime in the northeastern part of the state. Twenty-one-year-old Samuel Seely is accused of driving to Aberdeen to have sex with a 13-year-old girl with whom he had chatted online. The American News reports that the Florida man is charged with sexually soliciting and exploiting a minor. A trial date was not immediately set. Seely faces up to 26 years in prison if convicted.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Sioux Falls police say more than 50 rolls of copper wire is missing from Muth Electric Inc. The copper, as well as some hand tools, were reported missing Thursday from three different buildings and a van at the business at 701 E. 48th Street North. KDLT reports that the stolen copper is worth $30,000.

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) - NorthWestern Energy says power has been restored to about 4,200 customers in northeastern South Dakota's Brown County. The Thursday outage affected people in Stratford, Warner and Aberdeen, and included Northern State University. Electricity was fully restored after about 1 1/2 hours. Utility spokesman Tom Glanzer tells the American News that a transformer problem led to the outage.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A design committee has been created to help ensure that the public has a say in what Sioux Falls' new events center will look like. City officials announced Thursday that a Design Elements Committee has been established to "promote community involvement" and "capture citizen input" in the design of the new center, which voters approved in November. The 12,000-seat center is meant to draw concerts, rodeos and other events to South Dakota's largest city. After months of back-and-forth between proponents and critics, voters embraced the plan. The 12-member committee includes area businesspeople, city representatives, art consultants, educators and donors. Their input is to be presented to the public during monthly presentations to the City Council and at open houses.Construction on the center is expected to begin in the summer.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A St. Paul man is charged with a felony for allegedly running over a young boy who was going to greet his soldier father at the Twin Cities airport. The Hennepin County Attorney's office yesterday charged 61-year-old Tommy Rodriguez with criminal vehicle operation, a felony, and third-degree DWI, a gross misdemeanor. The boy is recovering from his injuries.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Sheran, who was appointed twice to the state's highest court, has died. He was 96. The Washburn-McReavy funeral home says Sheran died Wednesday. His funeral will be held on Monday in Edina.

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) - An autopsy finds the man accused of shooting a prosecutor and another man last month at the Cook County Courthouse died from a bacterial infection. The St. Louis County Chief Medical Examiner said yesterday that 42-year-old Daniel Schlienz had a bacterial infection that is common but can become aggressive before his death on December 27th.
 

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - President Barack Obama is calling for an overhaul of the higher education financial aid system. Speaking at the University of Michigan this morning, Obama warned that colleges and universities that fail to control spiraling tuition costs could lose federal funds. Obama says a higher education is "an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford."

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army's top officer says Pentagon cuts of 80,000 soldiers will force the military to rely more on National Guard and reserves - particularly if the U.S. wages two major, long-term combat operations at the same time. Gen. Raymond Odierno says he is comfortable with that, but reserve forces will have to be kept at a higher level of readiness than before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Federal mine safety officials say a Montana mine received 27 citations in recent safety inspections triggered by the death of a worker. Forty-two-year-old Dale Madson was killed at Stillwater's platinum and palladium mine in October. Madson crashed while driving a piece of equipment 1,200 feet underground.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration says it has detained several shipments of imported orange juice after finding traces of an illegal fungicide. The FDA says it has detained about 11 percent of orange juice imports since it started testing earlier this month. The shipments were from Brazil and Canada. The agency says the residue is below dangerous levels and the juice is safe to drink.

CINCINNATI (AP) - Thirteen people have been taken to hospitals with injuries after a partial collapse at a casino construction site in Cincinnati. Fire officials say it's not clear yet whathappened or exactly what collapsed. A garage at another Ohio casino under construction partially collapsed last month. Both casinos are being developed by Rock Gaming in partnership with Caesar's Entertainment.

BENTON, Ky. (AP) - Inspectors are examining what's left of a Kentucky bridge after a cargo ship smashed into it last night causing it to collapse. No injuries have been reported. The Eggner Ferry Bridge at U.S. Highway 68 and Kentucky Highway 80 is closed to traffic and vehicles trying to cross the Kentucky Lake reservoir and the Tennessee River are being sent on a detour dozens of miles long. Boat traffic has also been shut down.

ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - An elementary school principal in New Hampshire is being praised for quick action after jumping into a frozen river to save an autistic student who fell through the ice. Firefighters say Principal Gwen Rhodes managed to pull the 10-year-old boy out in just a few minutes. Both were treated for hypothermia and some bruises.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Police in Utah are calling a 16-year-old girl "courageous" for alerting school officials to a suspicious text message. The heads-up allowed police to arrest two students who were apparently plotting to bomb Roy High School. Police say one boy was "fascinated" by the 1999 mass shootings at Colorado's Columbine High School.
 

BEIRUT (AP) - The violence in Syrian appears to be escalating dramatically. Activists say more than 50 people have been killed in the past two days as forces loyal to President Bashar Assad shelled residential buildings and fired on crowds. Much of the violence was focused in Homs. The head of the Arab League observers in Syria says the violence has spiked there and in two other cities central to the uprising.

CAIRO (AP) - Thousands of protesters have been demonstrating in Cairo's Tahrir Square today, chanting anti-military slogans, demanding generals be tried for the killing on protesters. Tensions rose when protesters marching to the Defense Ministry were met by supporters of the military. The rallies are marking the anniversary of the "Friday of Rage," one of the bloodiest days of the 18-day uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Baghdad has been hit by another bloody attack. Iraqi police say a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car near a funeral procession in a predominantly Shiiteneighborhood. At least 32 people were killed and dozens more were wounded. Minutes after the blast, gunmen opened fire at a checkpoint in the area, killing two more policemen.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Rescuers in Rio de Janeiro continue to search for survivors in the rubble of three buildings that collapsed Wednesday night. So far, six bodies have been found. And at least another 16 people are missing. The cause of the collapse is not yet known, but authorities suspect illegal construction projects in the largest building did structural damage that led to its the fall.

ROME (AP) - The cruise line whose ship capsized off Italy's Tuscan coast is offering uninjured passengers a little more than $14,000 a piece for lost belongings and psychological trauma. The unit of Carnival Corp. also says it'll reimburse those passengers the full costs of their cruise, travel expenses and medical expenses incurred because of the disaster.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. economy grew at a modest 2.8 percent in the final three months of last year, the fastest growth in 2011. Americans spent more on cars and trucks, and companies built up their stockpiles. But growth in the October-December quarter - and all of 2011 - was held back by the biggest annual government spending cuts in four decades. The Commerce Department says the economy grew just 1.7 percent last year, roughly half of the growth in 2010 and the worst since the recession. Consumer spending rose in the final months of the year and businesses invested more in inventories, a sign they expect more demand.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. economy grew at a modest 2.8 percent in the final three months of last year, the fastest growth in 2011. Americans spent more on cars and trucks, and companies built up their stockpiles. But growth in the October-December quarter - and all of 2011 - was held back by the biggest annual government spending cuts in four decades. The Commerce Department says the economy grew just 1.7 percent last year, roughly half of the growth in 2010 and the worst since the recession. Consumer spending rose in the final months of the year andbusinesses invested more in inventories, a sign they expect more demand. But most economists expect businesses to ease up on restocking in the first three months of the year. That should slow first-quarter growth.

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Ford Motor Co. posted a big profit for the fourth quarter and 2011, but they were largely due to accounting changes. Without those changes, the company fell short of Wall Street's expectations. Ford earned $13.62 billion in the fourth quarter, or $3.40 per share, largely due to a decision to move deferred tax assets back onto its books. It was Ford's 11th straight quarterly profit. The company earned $190 million, or 5 cents per share, in the same quarter a year earlier. Revenue rose 6 percent to $34.6 billion.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The parent company of an electric car battery maker that received a $118 million grant from the Obama administration has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Ener1 said it has been affected by competition from China and other countries.Ener1 subsidiary EnerDel received a $118 million stimulus grant from the Energy Department in 2009, and Vice President Biden visited the company's new battery plant in Indiana last year. An Energy Department spokeswoman said EnerDel had received $55 million so far. Ener1 said the restructuring would not affect EnerDel's operations. Ener1 is the third company to seek bankruptcy protection after receiving assistance from the Energy Department under the economic stimulus law. California solar panel maker Solyndra Inc. and Beacon Power, a Massachusetts energy-storage firm, declared bankruptcy last year.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Automakers expressed qualified support for California's proposed rules to require carmakers to build more electric and other less-polluting hybrid cars and trucks by 2025. Companies including Ford Motor Corp., Chrysler Group LLC, General Motors Co., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and others submitted testimony Thursday in support of new emissions standards during a meeting of California Air Resources Board. The board is scheduled to resume hearing testimony on the regulations - which would require that vehicles emit about 75 percent less smog-producing pollutants - on Friday morning in Los Angeles. The new standards also include big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and would begin with new cars sold in 2015, and get increasingly more stringent until 2025. The rules also mandate that one of every seven new cars sold in 2025 in the state be a zero-emission or plug-in hybrid vehicle.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Privacy advocates are warning that the government's plans to expand computer security protections into critical parts of private industry could threaten Americans' civil liberties. The Constitution Project is saying that as the Obama administration partners more with private companies to monitor and protect networks, sensitive personal information of people who work for or communicate with them could be improperly or inadvertently disclosed. The Constitution Project is a nonpartisan legal think tank. The Associated Press obtained a copy of its report, which is due out Friday.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Don't talk to retired nurse Marguerite Rece (Reece) of Atlanta about the Federal Reserve's pledge to keep interest rates low through late-2014. She says low savings rate are "devastating" for seniors. Low rates of return are the rule in the savings game. The latest
survey from Bankrate.com finds that yields on 1 year CDs are averaging one-third of one percent. For a 5 year CD, the average yield is barely more than 1 percent. During his news conference this week, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke acknowledged the stress low rates are causing savers, but said it is necessary to boost the overall economy. He said when the broader economy is doing well, that helps investors and savers alike.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A new Justice Department fraud-fighting unit will bring together 55 prosecutors and federal and state investigators focusing on one of the contributing factors to the financial crisis - the collapse of residential mortgage-backed securities. Attorney General Eric Holder and other officials will unveil details about the new unit Friday. President Barack Obama disclosed the plan to create the unit in his State of the Union address Tuesday night. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, one of the co-chairs of the initiative, said it is an effort to pull together state and federal probes into the bubble of mortgage-backed securities that led to the market crash.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that the rig owner involved in drilling the ill-fated well that blew out in the Gulf of Mexico was shielded by its contract with BP from having to pay many pollution claims in the nation's largest offshore oil spill. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ruled that Transocean Ltd. is not exempt from paying punitive damages and civil penalties that arise from the April 20, 2010, blowout 100 miles off the Louisiana coast. He also says Transocean is responsible for claims that are directly related to pollution caused by its rig.

UNDATED (AP) - UPS is celebrating a first. Fifty years behind the wheel without an accident for one of their drivers. Company official watched as Ohio driver Ron Sowder showed what brown can do. The Navy veteran figures over the last half century, he's driven more than four million miles, and delivered 35-million-plus packages. Sowder says staying accident-free is tougher these days. He adds he sees plenty of distracted driving -- people doing everything from texting to putting on their makeup.

CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah (AP) - Having a bomb is one thing you don't want to joke about on a military base. That's the lesson a FedEx driver is learning the hard way. Prosecutors in Utah are charging the delivery man with making a threat of terrorism. Authorities say he was dropping off a package at Camp Williams, an Army base. According to prosecutors, a woman asked what it was and he said probably a bomb. Military police weren't laughing. More than 200 people were evacuated from the area while MPs investigated.

ST. CLAIR, Mich. (AP) - Snow please. That's the plea from folks in St. Clair, Michigan. Their Winter White Out festival is supposed to be this weekend. But the White Out could be a wash out, because of a lack of snow over much of the state. Two dozen people did a little snow dance outside of a bar, in hopes of bringing some flakes. The Port Huron Times Herald reports flurries actually did fall. But there wasn't nearly enough of the white stuff for many of the events, including a snowman contest.

UNDATED (AP) - Robert and Katherine Brady are tired of dodging golf balls. The western Montana couple sued the Hamilton Golf Club. They want duffers to stay off the 18th hole unless the course is modified. The Bradys say they pick up more than 1,300 golf balls a year from their property. They also say their house and cars have been damaged by errant shots. A local paper (Ravalli Republic) reports golf course staffers told county officials about potential problems after the subdivision was proposed.

UNDATED (AP) - There was a rush to get out of a Pennsylvania junior high. But they weren't all students. Officials at Red Lion Area Junior High School say an eighth-grade student and a startled deer ended up on the ground. The animal had wandered into school and rushed out around dismissal time Wednesday. The boy was taken to a hospital as a precaution and was later sent home. The deer apparently was unhurt too.

Today is Friday, Jan. 27, the 27th day of 2012. There are 339 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:
On Jan. 27, 1967, astronauts Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White and Roger B. Chaffee died in a flash fire during a test aboard their Apollo spacecraft.

On this date:
In 1756, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria.
In 1880, Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric incandescent lamp.
In 1901, opera composer Giuseppe Verdi died in Milan, Italy, at age 87.
In 1943, some 50 bombers struck Wilhelmshaven in the first all-American air raid against Germany during World War II.
In 1944, the Soviet Union announced the complete end of the deadly German siege of Leningrad, which had lasted for more than two years.
In 1945, Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland.
In 1951, an era of atomic testing in the Nevada desert began as an Air Force plane dropped a one-kiloton bomb on Frenchman Flat.
In 1967, more than 60 nations signed a treaty banning the orbiting of nuclear weapons.
In 1972, "Queen of Gospel" Mahalia Jackson, 60, died in Evergreen Park, Ill.
In 1973, the Vietnam peace accords were signed in Paris.
In 1977, the Vatican issued a declaration reaffirming the Roman Catholic Church's ban on female priests.
In 1984, singer Michael Jackson suffered serious burns to his scalp when pyrotechnics set his hair on fire during the filming of a Pepsi-Cola TV commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Ten years ago: Wafa Idris, a Palestinian paramedic, became the first female suicide bomber against Israel; her attack claimed the life of an 81-year-old man. A munitions depot in Nigeria exploded; more than 1,000 people died, most of them drowning in a nearby canal during the resulting stampede. The Super Bowl matchup was decided as the New England Patriots upset the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-17, to win the AFC championship and the St. Louis Rams defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 29-24, to win the NFC championship. Thomas Johansson defeated Marat Safin 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (4) to win the Australian Open final.
Five years ago: Tens of thousands of anti-war demonstrators marched in Washington, D.C., calling for the U.S. to get out of Iraq. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a congressional delegation to Pakistan, where she met with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Serena Williams won her third Australian Open singles title, routing Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-2. Kimmie Meissner and Evan Lysacek won their first national titles at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Wash.
One year ago: Tens of thousands of Yemenis demanded their president step down; taking inspiration from Tunisians' revolt, they vowed to continue until their U.S.-backed government fell. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that color-coded terror alerts would be phased out by late April 2011.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Bobby "Blue" Bland is 82. Actor James Cromwell is 72. Actor John Witherspoon is 70. Rock musician Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) is 67. Rhythm-and-blues singer Nedra Talley (The Ronettes) is 66. Ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov is 64. Chief U.S. Justice John Roberts is 57. Country singer Cheryl White is 57. Country singer-musician Richard Young (The Kentucky Headhunters) is 57. Actress Mimi Rogers is 56. Rock musician Janick Gers (Iron Maiden) is 55. Commentator Keith Olbermann is 53. Rock singer Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) is 51. Rock musician Gillian Gilbert is 51. Actress Bridget Fonda is 48. Actor Alan Cumming is 47. Country singer Tracy Lawrence is 44. Rock singer Mike Patton is 44. Rapper Tricky is 44. Rock musician Michael Kulas (James) is 43. Actor-comedian Patton Oswalt is 43. Actor Josh Randall is 40. Country singer Kevin Denney is 36. Tennis player Marat Safin is 32.

Thought for Today: "The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself." - Wallace Stevens, American poet and author (1879-1955).

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Boston 91 Orlando 83

L-A Clippers 98 Memphis 91

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL

( 7) North Carolina 74 NC State 55

(14) Florida 64 Mississippi 60

(25) Wisconsin 57 (16) Indiana 50

(19) Virginia 66 Boston College 49

(21) Saint Mary's (Cal) 71 Loyola Marymount 64

TOP-25 WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

( 1) Baylor 89 Oklahoma 58

( 6) Kentucky 66 Auburn 48

( 7) Tennessee 86 Alabama 56

Virginia Tech 75 ( 8) Maryland 69

( 9) Ohio St. 73 Indiana 55

(10) Miami 64 Wake Forest 39

(12) Green Bay 60 Butler 36

(13) Purdue 80 Northwestern 70

(15) Delaware 84 Hofstra 66

Vanderbilt 68 (17) Georgia 48

(18) Penn St. 77 Michigan 56

(19) Nebraska 60 Iowa 53

(22) Gonzaga 79 Loyola Marymount 61

SOUTH DAKOTA SCOREBOARD

Men's College Basketball

Oakland 92, S. Dakota St. 87

Oral Roberts 97, South Dakota 64

High School Basketball

Boys

Aberdeen Christian 46, Ipswich 43

Arlington 65, Dell Rapids St. Mary 51

Avon 45, Gregory 43

Bloomfield, Neb. 71, Gayville-Volin 42

Bon Homme 68, Andes Central 52

Clark/Willow Lake 52, Groton Area 41

Colman-Egan 76, Oldham-Ramona/Rutland 66

Corsica/Stickney 55, Menno 24

Dell Rapids 61, Vermillion 36

Deubrook 86, Lake Preston 46

Elkton-Lake Benton 53, DeSmet 40

Ethan 55, Mitchell Christian 40

Faith 74, Newell 43

Great Plains Lutheran 86, Waubay 30

Harding County 59, Beach, N.D. 45

Harrisburg 46, West Central 45

Irene-Wakonda 100, Freeman Academy 44

Jones County 64, Kadoka Area 39

Lennox 59, Parkston 22

Lower Brule 67, Sully Buttes 52

Marshall, Minn. 56, Sioux Falls Washington 34

McLaughlin 68, Timber Lake 60

Mitchell 60, Brandon Valley 37

Oelrichs 78, Glendo, Wyo. 22

Red Cloud 96, Bennett County 72

Rosholt 62, Wheaton, Minn. 45

Sioux Falls O'Gorman 42, Yankton 33

Summit 64, Florence/Henry 54

Viborg/Hurley 66, Centerville 57

Wagner 75, Scotland 34

West Boyd, Neb. 57, South Central 44

Girls

Bloomfield, Neb. 51, Gayville-Volin 35

Bon Homme 80, Andes Central 42

Bowman County, N.D. 49, Harding County 47

Bridgewater-Emery 56, Alcester-Hudson 53

Britton-Hecla 62, Milbank 50

Castlewood 68, Waverly-South Shore 42

Centerville 70, Viborg/Hurley 63

Custer 42, Douglas 39

Faith 49, Newell 45

Hanson 63, Kimball/White Lake 45

Highmore-Harrold 48, Lyman 34

Ipswich 62, Aberdeen Christian 50

Irene-Wakonda 50, Freeman Academy 40

James Valley Christian 67, Mt. Vernon 36

Jones County 47, Kadoka Area 36

Lemmon 48, Mott-Regent, N.D. 28

Miller 59, Faulkton 25

Mitchell 64, Brandon Valley 56

Pine Ridge 65, Todd County 54

Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 60, Wessington Springs 41

South Central 46, West Boyd, Neb. 34

Sully Buttes 48, Lower Brule 24

Winner 68, Stanley County 33

Yankton 52, Sioux Falls O'Gorman 43

Big East Conference Tournament

Chester 42, Howard 40, 2OT

Sioux Valley 52, McCook Central/Montrose 48

Yellowstone Trail Conference Tournament

Eureka/Bowdle 66, Gettysburg 35

Hoven/Edmunds Central 56, Wakpala 12

High School Wrestling

Aberdeen Central 36, Brookings 28

Custer 51, Douglas 27

Pierre 42, Huron 19

Sisseton Triangular

Sisseton 60, Redfield-Doland 22

Webster 39, Sisseton 33

Webster 50, Redfield-Doland 22

Milbank Quadrangular

Britton-Hecla/Langford 33, Aberdeen Roncalli 18

Britton-Hecla/Langford 42, Ortonville, Minn. 36

Milbank 51, Britton-Hecla/Langford 25

Milbank 64, Ortonville, Minn. 12

Milbank 75, Aberdeen Roncalli 6

Ortonville, Minn. 64, Aberdeen Roncalli 18

Rod Fisher, Brian Oakland,
Darren Boyle, Andy Shoe,
& Pat Morrison give you their opinion on local, state, and national sports. Click Here!

Friday:                Spearfish at Pierre Girls Basketball 7:30 pm 7:05 pm Pre-Game

Saturday:            Sturgis at Pierre Girls Basketball 3:30 pm 3:05 pm Pre-Game

Monday:             SDSU at Oakland Womens College Basketball 5:30 pm 5:00 pm Pre-Game

Tuesday:             Pierre at Mitchell Girls Basketball 7:30 pm 7:05 pm Pre-Game

Friday:               Pierre at Spearfish Boys Basketball 8:30 pm 8:00 pm Pre-Game

Saturday:           Pierre at Sturgis Boys Basketball 4:30 pm 4:00 pm Pre-Game

Tuesday:            Mitchell at Pierre Boys Basketball 7:30 pm 7:00 pm Pre-Game

Tuesday:           Chamberlain at Platte-Geddes Girls/Boys Basketball DH 6:30 pm 6:15 pm Pre-

Thursday:          Todd County at Chamberlain Girls Basketball 7:30 pm 7:15 pm Pre-Game

Saturday:          YTC Conference Girls Basketball Tournament Finals 5:00 pm 4:45 pm Pre-Game

Tuesday:           Faulkton at Eureka-Bowdle Girls/Boys Basketball DH 6:30 pm 6:15 pm Pre-Game

Thursday:          Hoven Edmunds Central at Herreid Selby Boys Basketball 8:00 pm 7:45 pm Pre-Game

Tuesday:           Mobridge-Pollock at McLaughlin Boys Basketball 8:00 pm 7:50 pm Pre-Game

Friday:              Mobridge-Pollock at Chamberlain Girls/Boys Basketball DH 6:30 pm 6:20 pm Pre-Game

Tuesday:           Mobridge-Pollock at Standing Rock Boys Basketball 7:30 pm 7:20 pm Pre-Game

Find out what is on the minds of the Dakota Radio Group Sports guys. Take a look at the DRG Sports Blog and add your thoughts. Just log onto www.dakotaradiogroup.com and blog away!!!!

IN SPORTS TODAY:

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings may finally be warming to a new football stadium at the Metrodome site, but the Minneapolis City Council is not sold.  The Star Tribune reports that a majority of the council oppose Mayor R.T. Rybak's stadium funding plan unless there's a citywide vote on the issue. Rybak told council members Thursday he want the city to contribute more than $300 million from an existing city sales tax in order to help the team and the state build a $920 million stadium.  That would require the state to override a Minneapolis charter amendment that voters must directly approve spending more than $10 million on a stadium.  Rybak says he doesn't believe council opposition is firm. He opposes a referendum and says voters will get their say when he's up for reelection.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota State University All-America offensive tackle Paul Cornick has been invited to the NFL combine and to the 2012 Players All-Star Classic.  Both feature NFL prospects. The Players All-Star Classic is Feb. 4 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark. The combine workouts are Feb. 22-28 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.  Cornick is a 6-foot-6, 309-pounder from Orono, Minn. He helped block for Bison quarterback Brock Jensen, who threw for 2,534 yards and 14 touchdowns this past season, and helped open holes for running backs D.J. McNorton and Sam Ojuri. They combined for 2,125 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns.  NDSU won the Football Championship Subdivision title earlier this month.

FT. PIERRE, S.D. - Stanley County senior Austin Lopour signed a letter of intent yesterday to attend Dakota Wesleyan University and continue is football playing career collegiately yesterday.  Lopour was an All Conference running back for the Buffalos this season and also led the team in tackles defensively.  Lopour will be playing for DWU first year head coach Russ Cimpl.

ROCHESTER, Mich. – Nate Wolters scored 21 points, dished out a career-high 12 assists and grabbed eight rebounds, but Oakland's Travis Bader knocked down a school record 10 three-points in scoring a game and career-high 37 points in a 92-87 Golden Grizzlies win over the Jackrabbits on Thursday.  Bader made five of his 10 threes in the first half, but the Jackrabbits, who fall to 16-6 on the season overall and 8-2 in The Summit League, still led 48-22 at halftime, behind 18 points from Jordan Dykstra, who posted season-highs with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

TULSA, Okla. – League-leading Oral Roberts University posted a 97-64 victory over visiting University of South Dakota Thursday evening in the Mabee Center in Summit League action.  Senior Charlie Westbrook led the way for the Coyotes going 10 of 14 from the field with a team-high six rebounds and game-high 23 points. Sophomore Trevor Gruis was the only other Coyote in double figures with 11 points.  ORU had five players in double figures led by 18 points and 10 rebounds from Michael Craion.  With the loss, the Coyotes fell to 7-13 on the year and 2-9 in conference play, while ORU improved to 19-4 and 11-0 in league play.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Brandon Richardson scored a season-high 25 points and Nebraska’s men’s basketball team rallied to defeat Iowa 79-73 and get the program’s first Big Ten road win Thursday.  Bo Spencer added 16 for the Huskers (11-9, 3-6 Big Ten), who used a late 14-4 run to take a 70-65 lead with just under three minutes left. Zach McCabe matched a career high with 20 points for Iowa (11-10, 3-5), which led by as much as 11 in the first half.

LINCOLN, Neb. - Jordan Hooper notched her ninth double-double with 22 points and a career-high 15 rebounds to lead the No. 19 Nebraska women's basketball team to a 60-53 win over Iowa at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Thursday night.  Hooper, a 6-2 sophomore forward from Alliance, Neb., hit 7-of-14 shots from the field, including 3-of-6 three-pointers, while connecting on 5-of-6 free throws.  With the victory, which gave Nebraska a regular-season sweep of the Hawkeyes, the Huskers improved to 17-3 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. Iowa slipped to 11-10 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten with all five of its losses to top-25 teams.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre Governor basketball team heads west for a pair of non conference games tonight and tomorrow.  The 2nd ranked Governors travel to Spearfish tonight against a Spartan team that is 8-3 on the season coming off a 9 points loss to St. Thomas More on Tuesday.  Tip off of the varsity contest is scheduled for 8:30 pm Central Time.  Then tomorrow the Governors travel to Sturgis to face the Scoopers in a 4:30 pm Central Time tipoff.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre Lady Governor basketball team is looking to make a winning streak this weekend.  After winning their second game of the season at Huron on Tuesday night, the Lady Govs host Spearfish tonight and Sturgis tomorrow.  Spearfish is coming off their first loss of the season against St. Thomas More on Tuesday.  Tip off of the varsity contest is scheduled for 7:30 pm.  Sturgis, who plays at Aberdeen Central tonight, is 4 and 7 on the season.  Tip off of the varsity contest is scheduled for 3:30 pm tomorrow.

FT. PIERRE, S.D. - Winner rolled to a 68-33 girls non conference basketball victory over Stanley County last night in Ft. Pierre.  Tori Deal of Stanley County led all scorers on the night with 18 but did not get any help as the Lady Buffalos fall to 2-10 on the season.  They host Cheyenne Eagle Butte tomorrow in a girls half of a girls-boys doubleheader.

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Sioux Falls Skyforce on Thursday acquired a player who is plenty familiar with their home venue: center Keith Benson.  The 6-foot-11, 230-pound professional rookie from Detroit helped Oakland University win the last two Summit League tournament championships at the Arena.  Benson signed with the NBA D-League this week and Sioux Falls picked him up from the available player pool, looking to enhance its post play. The 23-year-old should make his debut with the last-place Skyforce  tonight when they visit  Erie .  To make room for Benson, Sioux Falls waived standout forward Anthony Mason Jr., due to injury. It’s likely that he’ll be reacquired when healthy.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Lynx have re-signed center Jessica Adair.  The team announced the deal Thursday but did not disclose terms.  Adair appeared in 31 regular-season games during Minnesota's championship run last year. The 6-4 center averaged 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds a game while shooting .485 percent from the floor, and scored in double-figures twice.  Adair played in the final 2010 regular-season game for Minnesota. She spent much of the 2010 training camp with the Lynx and played in one preseason game before she was released.  Adair originally was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury out of George Washington University with the 34th overall pick in the 2009 WNBA draft.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre Governor wrestling team recorded 4 pins and won 9 of 14 matches last night in a 42-19 ESD dual win over Huron.  Jebben Keyes at 106 lbs., Tanner Monfore at 126 lbs., Kyle Sarringer at 170 lbs. and Chase Lettau at 182 lbs. recored Pins for the Governors who remain undefeated on the season dual matches and is 5-0 in the ESD.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre Governor wrestling team is back in action tomorrow when they travel to Brookings for the 22 team Brookings Invitational tournament.  Stanley County and Sully Buttes will compete in the Charger Invitational dual tournament hosted by Sully Buttes and Gettysburg will travel to Aberdeen to compete in the Lee Wolf Classic hosted by Aberdeen Central.  Philip heads to Wagner for the Wagner Invitational tournament. 

PIERRE, S.D. - Season tickets for the Class A State Wrestling tournament will be sold at Riggs High School in Pierre for one final day, today.  Prices are $30 for adult season tickets and $18 for student season tickets.  Tickets are being sold at the Athletic Directors office in Pierre from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre Lady Governor gymnastics squad will have one last home meet of the season this weekend.  Lady Gov head coach Nicki Abels says that they have scheduled a dual with Rapid City Central on Saturday beginning at noon at the gymnastics gym at the Pierre Administration building.  On Friday evening, the Dazzlers Gymnastics Club will dual the Pierre Middle School at the gymnastics gym.  The Lady Govs will have a fund raising Walking Taco feed both Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre-Ft. Pierre Capitals and Lady Capitals JV and Varsity squads are in action this weekend.  The Lady Capitals have a 3 game series with Rushmore beginning tonight at the EXPO Center in Ft. Pierre.  They will play again tomorrow afternoon and Sunday morning as well.  The Capitals will travel to Mitchell to face the Marlins tomorrow night before returning home for an afternoon contest against Watertown on Sunday.

UNDATED (AP) — Proving once again that no lead is safe in the NBA, the Boston Celtics roared from 27 points down in the first half to stun the Orlando Magic 91-83 for their third straight victory, and second over the Magic this week.

UNDATED (AP) — Tyler Zeller had 21 points and a career-best 17 rebounds to help No. 7 North Carolina beat North Carolina State 74-55. Reggie Bullock added 11 points in his first career start for the 17-3 Tar Heels, who had no trouble winning their 11th straight against their longtime rivals.

GATINEAU, Quebec (AP) — Zdeno Chara went with offense in taking Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk with the No. 1 pick in the NHL All-Star draft. Daniel Alfredsson stuck closer to home, choosing Ottawa Senators defenseman and teammate Erik Karlsson with his club's first selection.  The 38 players drafted were split in two teams — named for the captains — which will compete in both the skills competition on Saturday and the All-Star game on Sunday in Ottawa.

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders have agreed on a four-year deal to make Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen their new head coach. Allen is Oakland's seventh head coach since 2003.  A person familiar with the process says the two sides had completed the contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not publicly discussing the search.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Buccaneers are counting on Greg Schiano to lead them back to respectability and transform Tampa Bay into consistent winners — much in the same way he made Rutgers matter again.  Schiano was at Rutgers for 11 seasons, taking them from college football laughingstocks to a program that has had winning records in six of the last seven years. He was an assistant coach in the NFL with Chicago from 1996-98.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Former players, family and friends gathered by the thousands at Penn State for a final tribute to legendary coach Joe Paterno.  Speaker after speaker credited Paterno with not only building the football program at Penn State into a national powerhouse, but also enriching their lives as well as the university itself.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Support for the decision by Penn State trustees to fire the late Joe Paterno is falling, according to a new national poll. The Seton Hall Sports Poll indicated that 42 percent of respondents support the football coach's firing, down from 55 percent in November, and 40 percent said he should have been allowed to retire after decades as coach, up from 31 percent in November.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in an Australian Open semifinal on Thursday night. The longtime rivals played with the intensity they normally display when they meet in Grand Slam finals.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Spencer Levin and Kyle Stanley took advantage of the easier North Course at Torrey Pines to get off to a good start Thursday in the Farmers Insurance Open, shooting 10-under 62s to take a one-shot lead over Bill Haas after the first round. Phil Mickelson went south on the South Course, shooting a 77, his worst score at Torrey Pines since a 78 in 2005.

LACEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — Another prognosticator has stepped into the mix as we ready for Super Bowl 46.  Princess the camel, the star attraction at New Jersey's Popcorn Park Zoo, has correctly picked the winner of five of the last six Super Bowls. Her picks on the just finished season and playoffs are a healthy 14-and-6.  And, her choice for the coming Super Bowl? The New York Giants.