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Defiant Kristi Noem defends killing farm pup amid criticism from Dems, GOP

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Defiant Kristi Noem defends killing farm pup amid criticism from Dems, GOP

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A defiant South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem hit back at critics following outrage over her upcoming memoir that reveals she once killed a dog.

“I can understand why some people are upset about a 20 year old (sic) story of Cricket, one of the working dogs at our ranch, in my upcoming book — No Going Back. The book is filled with many honest stories of my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions, and lessons learned,” the Republican wrote in a social media post that was published on X on Sunday. 

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“The fact is, South Dakota law states that dogs who attack and kill livestock can be put down. Given that Cricket had shown aggressive behavior toward people by biting them, I decided what I did,” Noem continued.

Outrage spread across social media platforms late last week after The Guardian reported on an excerpt from Noem’s upcoming memoir “No Going Back,” which is set to be released on May 7. In the excerpt, Noem described taking her 14-month-old female dog, Cricket, to a “gravel pit” near her farm and shooting her because it was “less than worthless,” “untrainable” and had killed and eaten several chickens.

SOCIAL MEDIA DISTURBED BY GOV NOEM’S STORY ABOUT SHOOTING HER 14-MONTH-OLD DOG: ‘NOT NORMAL’

She said Cricket had ruined a pheasant hunt when she went “out of her mind with excitement, chasing all those birds and having the time of her life.” 

“It was not a pleasant job, but it had to be done. And after it was over, I realized another unpleasant job needed to be done,” she continued. In the book, Noem also described killing a “nasty and mean” goat at the same gravel pit, according to the report. 

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KRISTI NOEM SHARES VISION FOR AMERICA IN NEW BOOK AMID SPECULATION ABOUT RUNNING AS TRUMP’S VP

The report garnered pushback online from Democrats and conservatives, who appeared shocked and outraged over the killing of the dog.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack/File)

“Omg – now my blood is boiling. Remember, I’m a country boy who lives on a ranch . There’s a huge difference between putting an old horse down who is suffering, than shooting a 18 month dog for being untrainable. But then to plug your book at the end,” popular conservative X account Catturd tweeted. 

“Seriously, is it just me? I’m have (sic) no words,” he added.

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New York Post columnist Miranda Devine commented, “No. Not normal. Shameful.”

“Anyone who has ever owned a birddog (sic) knows how disgusting, lazy and evil this is. Damn,” Democrat Montana gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse posted.

Noem has been floated as a potential running mate in former President Trump’s effort to regain control of the White House in November. Critics, however, speculated that the controversy over killing her dog may have ended her career in politics.

BLUE STATE GOVERNORS SHARE PICS OF THEIR DOGS TO DUNK ON GOV NOEM’S STORY OF SHOOTING HER OWN DOG

Noem initially addressed the controversy on Friday, posting on X that her family loves animals, “but tough decisions” are often made on farms.

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SOUTH DAKOTA GOV NOEM SEEKS TO BOLSTER TEXAS SECURITY EFFORTS AT US-MEXICO BORDER

Gov. Kristi Noem takes the stage at a campaign rally on Nov. 2, 2022, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. (AP Photo/Stephen Groves)

“We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm. Sadly, we just had to put down 3 horses a few weeks ago that had been in our family for 25 years,” she posted, encouraging people to purchase her memoir for “real, honest, and politically INcorrect stories that’ll have the media gasping.”

On Sunday, Noem said she does not shy away from difficult decisions and believes “people are looking for leaders who are authentic.” 

“What I learned from my years of public service, especially leading South Dakota through COVID, is people are looking for leaders who are authentic, willing to learn from the past, and don’t shy away from tough challenges. My hope is anyone reading this book will have an understanding that I always work to make the best decisions I can for the people in my life,” she said.

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“Whether running the ranch or in politics, I have never passed on my responsibilities to anyone else to handle. Even if it’s hard and painful. I followed the law and was being a responsible parent, dog owner, and neighbor. As I explained in the book, it wasn’t easy. But often the easy way isn’t the right way,” she said.



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Missouri

Missouri Sports Betting May 2026: $256.4M Handle, Record $21.3M Revenue

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Missouri Sports Betting May 2026: 6.4M Handle, Record .3M Revenue


Missouri sportsbooks took $256,364,814 in wagers in May 2026, the lowest monthly handle since the market launched, yet operators posted their strongest revenue month yet at $21,250,814 on an 8.29% hold. The state collected $2,131,872 in tax. Six months after going live on December 1, 2025, Missouri has flipped the usual relationship between volume and revenue: handle keeps settling while revenue keeps climbing, because hold has risen steadily as the launch-period promotions fade. Online betting made up $252,593,427, or 98.53% of all wagers. Figures come from the Missouri Gaming Commission.

Missouri Sports Betting by Month, Since Launch

Month Handle Online Retail GGR Hold State Tax
December 2025 $543,039,131 $538,881,520 $4,157,612 $20,758,443 3.82% $521,201
January 2026 $385,138,868 $380,412,197 $4,726,670 $6,703,555 1.74% $137,873
February 2026 $277,005,418 $273,285,304 $3,720,114 $10,301,007 3.72% $1,214,627
March 2026 $329,355,588 $324,060,170 $5,295,418 $20,757,550 6.30% $2,178,985
April 2026 $273,397,863 $269,884,804 $3,513,059 $20,284,270 7.42% $2,028,427
May 2026 $256,364,814 $252,593,427 $3,771,387 $21,250,814 8.29% $2,131,873

Six Months In, Revenue Sets a Record

May marks a milestone worth pausing on. Missouri’s revenue reached its highest point yet even though its handle sank to a new low, a sign the market has moved past the giveaway-heavy launch phase and into steadier economics. Across its first six months, the state has now taken roughly $2.06 billion in total wagers, produced about $100.1 million in operator revenue, and delivered $8.2 million in tax. Crossing $100 million in cumulative revenue in half a year underlines how quickly Missouri established itself as a mid-sized market.

Handle Settles as the Launch Surge Fades

The volume side keeps normalizing. December’s $543 million opening was inflated by launch-day demand and heavy sign-up promotions, and handle has stepped down almost every month since, landing at $256.4 million in May, less than half that peak. Part of the decline is seasonal, with the sports calendar thinning as the basketball and hockey postseasons wind down and football stays months away. Part is simply the novelty wearing off. Mobile sportsbooks in Missouri continue to carry the market almost entirely, at 98.53% of May handle, a share that has held above 98% in every month since launch.

The Hold Keeps Climbing

The defining trend is the win rate. Hold ran at 3.82% in December, bottomed at 1.74% in January, then rose in four straight steps to 3.72%, 6.30%, 7.42%, and 8.29% in May. That climb is the engine behind the record revenue: as operators pull back the free bets and bonus play that suppressed early margins, more of each wagered dollar sticks. An 8.29% hold is still below the double-digit figures common in older markets, which suggests Missouri’s margin has further room to firm up as the market matures.

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Nebraska

Erstad joins Nebraska golf program

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Erstad joins Nebraska golf program


LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Like his father, Zack Erstad is a Husker. Erstad, the son of Hall of Fame baseball player Darin Erstad, joined the Nebraska men’s golf program on Tuesday.

Zack signed with the Huskers one month after winning a state championship at Lincoln East. With the Spartans, Erstad was a two-time NSAA champion. He was Class A’s individual runner-up in 2026. The previous year, Erstad claimed the Nebraska Junior PGA Championship title.

Erstad said joining the Huskers is a dream come true. The Nebraska newcomer grew up playing baseball and hockey. However, he focused solely on golf while in high school.

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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.



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North Dakota

June ND severe weather recap: 5 tornadoes, damaging winds impact numerous towns

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June ND severe weather recap: 5 tornadoes, damaging winds impact numerous towns


BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Rounds of severe thunderstorms impacted many parts of North Dakota in June.

June 3 saw damaging straight-line winds in Rolette County, estimated up to 95 mph based on the damage observed.

Rolette County damage from June 3(KFYR)

June 7 brought two tornadoes to northern North Dakota, one of which caused damage to a property. The complexes of storms that Sunday evening also caused extensive wind damage, with 80-100 mph gusts estimated in many towns.

About 4 miles east of Bowbells Sunday evening, June 7
About 4 miles east of Bowbells Sunday evening, June 7(Madison Deckert)
Tornado damage surveys recap from June 7
Tornado damage surveys recap from June 7(KFYR)
Highest wind gust from Sunday, June 7, also report of one injury
Highest wind gust from Sunday, June 7, also report of one injury(KFYR)
List of other highest wind gust from t-storms
List of other highest wind gust from t-storms(KFYR)
Damaged grain bins in NW Garrison from June 7
Damaged grain bins in NW Garrison from June 7(KFYR-TV)
Shelf cloud and dust/dirt being picked up by near 100 mph winds east of Garrison June 7
Shelf cloud and dust/dirt being picked up by near 100 mph winds east of Garrison June 7(Ethan Bender)

June 9 delivered more damaging wind, especially to the town of Sawyer, where lots of trees were knocked down. 90 mph winds were estimated there, as well as in rural northwest McHenry County at a property that sustained damage.

  • Storm cleanup underway in Sawyer as questions raised over warning siren
  • Sawyer declares wind emergency as storm cleanup continues
Wind damage surveys from June 9
Wind damage surveys from June 9(KFYR)

After a break from widespread severe thunderstorms in the middle of the month, the final weekend of June brought more activity.

A tornado touched down north of Belfield on June 27, doing damage to a property. Meanwhile, another swath of damaging winds moved across the region, with western ND seeing the worst of it. Damage west of Williston was estimated to be caused by near 100 mph winds.

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  • NWS completes surveys of tornado & t-storm wind damage from the weekend
  • Severe weather causes damage, displaces residents in Williston area
Weekend damage surveys by the NWS
Weekend damage surveys by the NWS(KFYR)

June 28 also saw a tornado touch down near Riverdale and Coleharbor amid another severe weather outbreak, bringing the month’s tornado total to five.

Tornado June 28 seen from Coleharbor
Tornado June 28 seen from Coleharbor(KFYR)

Hail was also a common threat during the month, with June 29 delivering large hail to towns like Mandan, north Bismarck, and Max.

Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.



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