Sioux Empire Today

This week, the Midwest Honor Flight arrived in Washington, D.C., providing an opportunity for 85 veterans to visit the World War II Memorial. The Honor Flight program is recognized for facilitating visits by veterans to national memorials dedicated to their service. "It’s always an honor to meet them and thank them for their service," a representative stated.

In other developments, nearly all businesses in South Dakota are classified as small businesses, which play a significant role in driving innovation and economic growth. During Small Business Week, there was recognition of these entrepreneurs and leaders who contribute significantly to local communities.

A new legislative proposal aims to provide small business owners with more options for maintaining local ownership through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). The American Ownership and Resilience Act seeks to enhance opportunities for business owners to convert their operations into ESOPs instead of selling to foreign entities or dissolving. This measure is intended to keep companies locally owned and protect jobs from foreign competition.

Additionally, recent changes within the federal government have impacted National Weather Service offices across South Dakota. These offices face staffing and resource challenges, resulting in suspended overnight shifts and weather balloon launches at the Rapid City office. "We know severe weather can strike at any time of the day or night," it was noted, emphasizing the importance of continuous operations for public safety.

The urgency of maintaining 24/7 weather monitoring was underscored by a recent tornado near Rosebud that injured six people during nighttime hours. Efforts are being made to address these concerns with the Administration, aiming to secure necessary resources for public safety.