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child porn and showed nothing illegal. Minnesota State removed him as head coach and later fired him.
• Hoffner, a former University of South Dakota offensive coordinator, spent four seasons as the coach at Minnesota State, from 2008-2012. He compiled a 34-13 record and coached the Mavericks to three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division championships -- in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Minot State plays in the NSIC's North Division.
• At Minot State, Hoffner replaces Paul Rudolph, who resigned on Jan. 2 after seven seasons to become the offensive coordinator at North Dakota. More than 100 people applied to succeed him. The other two finalists were Wayne State defensive coordinator Mike Aldrich and Wisconsin-Stevens Point offensive coordinator Aaron Vlcko.
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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A proposed uranium mine in southwestern South Dakota cleared a key regulatory hurdle Thursday when a federal agency issued a favorable environmental assessment of the project.
• The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said its final supplemental environmental impact statement found there is nothing that would preclude licensing the proposed Dewey-Burdock mine. The report said the project would generally have small impacts on the area's soil, water, air and economy.
• An estimated workforce of 86 during construction, and two fewer once the mine begins operating would have limited impact on local housing, the employment rate, schools and other services, it said.
• However, the NRC said it will not issue a license until completing a review of the proposed mine's impact on historical and cultural resources. An NRC board also will hold public hearings later this year to get comments from area residents.
• In addition, the project still needs approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and two state boards.
• Powertech Uranium Corp. plans to use a method known as in-situ recovery, which would pump groundwater fortified with oxygen and carbon dioxide into the underground ore deposits to dissolve the uranium. The water would be pumped back to the surface, where the uranium would be extracted and sold to nuclear power plants.
• Powertech President Richard Clement said the economic report is a milestone and he looks forward to the project getting a license.

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