Wind Cave bison crash deaths called 'alarming'
• HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (AP) -- Officials at Wind Cave National Park in southwestern South Dakota are taking steps to reduce the number of bison killed by motor vehicles.
• Fourteen bison have been killed in crashes this year, compared to an average of three. Six of the deaths have happened in the last three months. Park Superintendent Vidal Davila (dah-VIHL'-uh) calls the numbers "alarming."
• The park is stepping up patrols, working on better signs and moving bison away from roads. Officials say animals are drawn to roads by salt used to melt snow and ice. The park doesn't salt the roads, but vehicles carry it in from other areas.
• This year is the 100th anniversary of the reintroduction of bison to Wind Cave. The park has about 500 of the animals.
•
3 more suspects plead not guilty in SD shooting
• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Three more suspects in a fatal shooting in Sioux Falls have pleaded not guilty.
• Seventeen-year-old Trevor Kruthoff of Watertown, 20-year-old Kevin Rice of Dell Rapids and 21-year-old Austin Hogan of Hartford appeared in court Wednesday.
• They face charges ranging from murder to burglary in the Dec. 2 shooting death of 20-year-old Jordan LeBeau and the wounding of his 48-year-old father. Authorities say the shooting resulted from a botched robbery attempt. Two others also are charged.
• Kruthoff is charged as an adult even though he's a minor. His lawyers have until Jan. 24 to request a transfer of the case to juvenile court.
•
Electric co-ops in Dakotas getting federal loans
• BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- Several electric cooperatives in the Dakotas are getting federal loans for infrastructure improvements.
• The Agriculture Department recently announced more than $1.8 billion in funding for such projects in 25 states, to improve electrical service for more than 37,000 rural customers. Officials say the money will build or improve more than 6,500 miles of electrical distribution lines.
(Continued on page 14)
|
