• KEYSTONE, S.D. (AP) -- Nearly 200 immigrants are now U.S. citizens after taking the Oath of Allegiance at a special Independence Day ceremony at Mount Rushmore National Memorial this week.
• The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services welcomed 196 new citizens from 51 countries Wednesday. The new Americans took their oath in the park's amphitheater with a clear view of the memorial.
• KNBN-TV in Rapid City reports that Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Viken presided over the ceremony. U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Gusinsky gave a keynote address.
• Gusinsky became a U.S. citizen himself in 1986.
• Approximately 7,800 people will become U.S. citizens this year during more than 95 naturalization ceremonies across the nation from June 30 to July 5.
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prison inmates is up for bid for the first time since a 2010 audit found significant problems with the state's current contractor.
• But some of Kentucky's biggest critics of Philadelphia-based Aramark now say they are satisfied with the company's response to the criticism.
• Aramark has held the contract since 2005 when Kentucky first privatized inmate meals. A 2010 audit found the state was overpaying on the contract and could not confirm that Aramark was using proper ingredients or followed food safety standards. An Aramark spokeswoman said the company worked with the Department of Corrections to fix the problems.
• Aramark will bid on the new contract. A spokesman for South Dakota-based CBM Managed Services said they were also considering bidding on the contract.
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