American Rivers, Ellsworth Air Force Base and Beef Products Incorporated (BPI)

Dakota Midday - 05/15/2012

American Rivers has named the Missouri River among America's Most Endangered Rivers. The Missouri River is threatened by outdated flood management practices that compromise public safety and river health. The once wide Missouri, with extensive floodplains and shallow water areas, has been harnessed into a series of massive reservoirs on the upper river and a narrow, deep channel on the lower river. The channelization has made flood damages worse, putting communities at higher risk. Paul Lepisto, Regional Conservation Coordinator with the Izaak Walton League of America, and Jim Redmond, Conservation Chair of the Northwest Iowa Group of the Sierra Club, join Dakota Midday to talk about these problems.

Major Matthew Reese, Chief of Public Affairs 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, talks about the 70th anniversary of Ellsworth and the celebration taking place later in the week. On Friday, a base wide observance and a party for airmen will take place at Ellsworth. On Saturday, the South Dakota Air and Space Museum will host a number of events as part of a museum heritage day. On Sunday, the "United States Air Force Heartland Band" will play at Memorial Park in Rapid City.

Food Quality Director Craig Letch and Corporate Administrator Rich Jochum of Beef Products Incorporated talk about the company laying off 86 employees from its corporate office in Dakota Dunes. BPI announced last week the closing of three plants in Texas, Kansas, and Iowa which will result in the loss of 650 jobs. BPI is citing what they call a misinformation campaign about their product which has been dubbed "pink slime" by critics.

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