RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – The South Dakota Board of Economic Development has approved funding for three projects focused on business growth, infrastructure improvements and investment in Rapid City, Lake County and Sioux Falls.

A $7.5 million Revolving Economic Development and Initiative Fund loan was approved for Elevate Rapid City to purchase and develop 128 acres for a new business park. State officials said the project will help meet growing demand for industrial and commercial sites while supporting industries including national defense and advanced manufacturing.

The board also approved a $500,000 Local Infrastructure Improvement Program grant for reconstruction of County Road 17 in Lake County. The road serves the Dakota Ethanol facility near Wentworth, which is expanding production by 50% and increasing commercial traffic in the area. Officials said the improvements will support the transportation of agricultural products and accommodate future growth.

In Sioux Falls, Smithfield Packaged Meats Corporation was approved for a reinvestment payment of up to nearly $30 million tied to its planned $1.29 billion meat processing and packaging facility in Foundation Park. The new facility will replace the company’s downtown Sioux Falls operation and is expected to retain more than 3,100 jobs while supporting South Dakota’s agricultural industry.

Gov. Larry Rhoden said the investments reflect the state’s commitment to planning for future economic growth. State officials said the programs are designed to encourage business expansion, infrastructure development and job creation across South Dakota.

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Sunday is Flag Day — and in the small Ozaukee County community of Waubeka, Wisconsin, it is more than just another day on the calendar. It is recognized by Congress as the birthplace of Flag Day.

Neighbors are already getting ready for the big day, cutting grass and touching up fences ahead of the celebration.

John Finch owns the town’s Stony Hill Pub and Grill and knows firsthand how much the day means to the community.

“Flag Day is just a day for the community to all come together,” Finch said.

Watch: Waubeka, Wisconsin, celebrates Flag Day as the birthplace of an American tradition

Waubeka, Wisconsin celebrates Flag Day as the birthplace of an American tradition.

The tradition draws visitors from far beyond Waubeka’s borders.

“People come from all over, and people that used to live here and moved away, they come back every year for it,” Finch said.

It all started at the one-room Stony Hill School, where Bernard J. Cigrand gave his students an assignment on June 14, 1885.

David Janik, President of the National Flag Day Foundation, described how it began.

“He set a 38-star flag, in an inkwell on a desk, and had them write an essay on what the flag means to me, an exercise that we still carry on today,” Janik said.

The birth of the American flag dates back to June 14, 1777. The tradition of honoring the flag is rooted in this rural Ozaukee County community, which is home to a museum that tells the story of those who served and their famous schoolteacher.

June 14 is packed with events, including a parade featuring more than 100 units.

“After the patriotic program, we’ll have over a 100-unit parade go through Waubeka, including our Waubeka Fire Department, which you met earlier today,” Janik said.

The fire department also showed off their 40 by 60 foot flag that will fly on Sunday.

Flag Day kicks off with a military tribute, followed by a patriotic parade at 1:30 p.m. through downtown Waubeka.

Sunday’s celebration will be held at the Flag Day Foundation Americanism Center, 4200 Valley View Drive in Waubeka. Events include:

10:00 a.m. Veteran/Honored Guests Sign In, Welcome Reception, VIP Package, Drawings
Prior to 1:00 p.m. Parade Line-Up – Check in with Parade Team
10:00a.m Food Stands & Trucks (No service during the program)
11:00 a.m. Music Prelude under the Pavilion
11:30 a.m. Uplifting Program, Essay Contest Winners, Guest Speakers, VIP Drawing
1:30 p.m. Patriotic Parade thru Waubeka
3:00 p.m. Family Day Events, Museums Open, Special Displays, Music, Games, Prizes
5:00 p.m. Live Music by “Liquid Crush”
9:00 p.m. Famous Fireworks

This story was reported on-air by Charles Benson and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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An American V-8 will be on the front row of France’s 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday. And the roar is about to get louder.

Motor City brands are front-and-center for the Saturday-Sunday, June 13-14 World Endurance Championship epic. A Cadillac Hypercar qualified on the front row for the second year in a row, while Ford announced its Hypercar driver lineup for 2027 as it prepares a sequel to its historic 1966-69 overall wins. That era was immortalized in the 2019 blockbuster film “Ford v Ferrari.”

Cadillac is determined to write its own chapter in the Le Mans history books.

The Detroit brand will be one of the favorites to dethrone defending champion Ferrari with three competitive V-Series.R Hypercars. A year after it won pole, the England-based, #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R secured second in qualifying behind the #15 BMW M Team car for the world’s premier sportscar race after its sister, #38 Team JOTA Cadillac won pole before being demoted to 10^th over a technical infraction. A third, #101 Cadillac entered by U.S.-based Wayne Taylor Racing will start fifth.

“It was a good day for the team,” said #12 Cadillac ace Will Stevens after his 3:23.1 lap around the 8.5-mile track 130 miles west of Paris. “Thank you to everyone who has been involved in improving the package compared to last year. We know we are in a better position. It’s going to be a very exciting race, and I think it will be a battle.”

Also sharing Hypercar headlines this year is Ford, which will bring a thundering, Mustang-based, 5.4-liter Coyote V-8 to Le Mans’ legendary 200-mph Mulsanne straightaway in 2027. The Hypercar class has grown in popularity thanks to its formula of combining a hybrid-electric drivetrain (which dovetails with current production electrification trends) and the gas engine of the manufacturer’s choice.

For Motor City brands, that means earthshaking V-8s.

Ford Racing announced its driver’s lineup at the track for its first entry into top class since it dominated Le Mans six decades ago with the legendary GT40. It will join a packed Hypercar field next year with entries from Cadillac, McLaren, Toyota, Ferrari, Aston Martin, BMW, Peugeot, Alpine and Genesis (which debuts this year).

Motor City makers have ramped up their assault on Le Mans as they have taken their production models to international markets. The Cadillac Hypercar’s hybrid powertrain complements Cadillac’s electrification strategy as it now sells Optiq, Lyriq and Visitq EVs in Europe — including from its flagship showroom in downtown Paris.

The Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang sell in markets across the globe and their GT3 cars — which will be competing for glory in the Le Mans GT3 class — are sold to international racing teams.

Ford will bring a formidable driver lineup in 2027.

IMSA Weathertech Sportscar champion Matt Campbell, Le Mans class-winner Nick Yelloly and IMSA champion and ex-IndyCar racer Tom Blomqvist complete an all-star, six-driver roster that includes the already-announced lineup of IMSA-champ Mike Rockenfeller, ex-Formula One racer Logan Sargeant and GT3-ace Sebastian Priaulx (the latter pair are competing at this year’s Le Mans in Mustangs).