GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Black Hills Redemption, an event inspired by Rockstar Games’ “Red Dead” series, took place over the weekend in Deadwood, South Dakota. This rootin’ tootin’ time transformed Outlaw Square into a campsite for the Van Der Linde gang where thousands of fans attended. This immersive experience follows last year’s wildly successful Tombstone Redemption, which was held in none other than Tombstone, Arizona.

Twenty of the actors for the franchise made an appearance for a panel this year in Lead’s historic opera house and an autograph session above Saloon No. 10 – including Roger Clark, who played Arthur Morgan; Rob Wiethoff, who played John Marston; and even Robert Bogue, who played Red Harlow in the original “Red Dead Revolver” game released in 2004.

The Redemption convention also included acts from hoop dance extraordinaire Starr Chief Eagle, gun spinning from three-time Trick Western Gun handling champion Joey Dillon, historic lectures from UT: Knoxville’s Dr. Tore Olsson and trick-rope and whip cracking from Loop Rawlins, who also appeared as Pedro Pascal’s stunt double in the film “Kingsman: The Golden Circle.”

WesternSlopeNow’s Dalen Brazelton had an opportunity to sit down with Kenney Palkow, promoter and organizer of the event. In an exclusive interview, Palkow told WesternSlopeNow the goal with Black Hills Redemption was to get the younger generation interested in history again.

“The best way to do that is with the best video game on the planet that just so happens to be a western. Using this game (Red Dead Redemption 2) as a medium, we turn an entire city into a place on the map. It gives these kids a playground where they can feel at home, feel comfortable around their own kind,” Palkow explains.

“It was a wonderful experience to be a part of building something and I’m looking forward to doing it every year.”

Where are they planning to go next year? Nothing is confirmed yet, but one possible location is recreating the fictional town of Saint Denis in New Orleans.

For more information on next year’s event, follow the event on Instagram.

North Dakota officials on Wednesday approved a letter to Minnesota regulators warning that the state’s recent carbon-free energy standard may be unconstitutional.

The Minnesota Legislature in 2023 adopted a policy requiring utility providers in the state to use exclusively carbon-free electricity sources by 2040. The rule applies not only to electricity produced in-state, but also electricity that comes from across state lines.

The North Dakota Industrial Commission — which comprises Gov. Doug Burgum, Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring — fears the plan could put the state’s coal and gas industries in jeopardy. Minnesota is a major consumer of North Dakota energy, the North Dakota Lignite Energy Council told the North Dakota Monitor previously.

The Industrial Commission early last year sent a letter to Minnesota’s governor urging the state to make significant changes to the policy.

In its most recent letter, dated Wednesday and submitted as public comment to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, the Industrial Commission argues the state’s energy plan is unlawful in three main ways.

First, it claims the policy violates the federal Commerce Clause because it attempts to regulate the commercial activity  of another state. It argues that the law conflicts with the Federal Power Act because it seeks to restrict wholesale electricity sales.

North Dakota also makes the case that the plan illegally tries to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, which it claims is a power given by the Environmental Protection Agency under the federal Clean Air Act.

A footnote in the letter states that North Dakota reserves the right to pursue legal action or other means of challenging the policy in the future.

North Dakota successfully took Minnesota to court over a similar energy policy the state passed in 2007. That law made it illegal for Minnesota to purchase energy from any new out-of-state coal plants.

A federal district court judge in 2014 struck down the law, finding that it unconstitutionally regulated the economies of other states. An appeals court in 2016 upheld that decision.

The 2023 policy “represents yet another improper attempt by Minnesota to export its wholly internal energy policy decisions to its neighboring states in patent violation of those states’ own rights and sovereignty,” the Industrial Commission stated in its letter.

The letter urges Minnesota to consider electricity produced using carbon capture technology as partially or fully compliant with the new rules so that North Dakota energy companies can retain Minnesota customers.

“Failure to properly include (carbon capture, utilization and storage) and other similar technologies as ‘carbon free’” means the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is “parochially and arbitrarily narrowing the definition of ‘carbon free’ to only those energy generation technologies that do not emit any carbon dioxide whatsoever, and exclusively to those that can be implemented within the borders of Minnesota.”

Like Minnesota Reformer, North Dakota Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. North Dakota Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Amy Dalrymple for questions: [email protected]. Follow North Dakota Monitor on Facebook and X.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – A local nonprofit is increasing its scope to help families devastated by flooding.

There are so many people in the area who have lost everything that makes their house a home because of flooding and the Furniture Mission is expanding to help.

There’s something special about living in this part of the world.

“We have that Midwest nice, always wanting to help out and be a helping hand to those that are in need,” said Executive Director and CEO Janean Michalove.

The Furniture Mission is reaching beyond its South Dakota service area and Michalove said their team decided to include more who are starting over.

“All of northwest Iowa and parts of Minnesota for families who have lost everything by flooding,” Michalove said.

If you have extra furniture, this could be the time to share.

“Donating couches, beds. Any household furniture items are always needed. Coffee tables and end tables and lamps, pots and pans and dishes and silverware,” Michalove said.

A Furniture Mission truck can pick up what you don’t need and deliver items to those who do.

Eighty-eight-year-old volunteer Dale Thorpe sees the whole team as a caring group.

“People here are super nice. They’re special and they’re my friends I’ve been doing it; I’m in my fourth year,” Thorpe explained.

On the deliveries, Thorpe sees the gratitude of those receiving furniture. He recalled a man who requested items for his kids and pregnant wife. On delivery day, Thorpe realized the man’s call to the Furniture Mission was among the last calls of his life.

While many fundraisers are underway, the established local non-profits are ensuring donations get to the right place.

“Trusting a nonprofit to step up to help you to decentralize those types of donations, on a great channel to make sure that we’re getting everybody what they need and getting everybody back to back in action,” Michalove said.

If you’re in need, you can contact 211 in South Dakota and they can connect you with help from the Furniture Mission and other local nonprofits in Sioux Falls.

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