Federal judge declines to order fireworks at Mount Rushmore

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


By STEPHEN GROVES, Associated Press 8 hrs ago

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday rebuffed South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's efforts to force the National Park Service to grant the state permission to shoot fireworks from Mount Rushmore National Memorial to celebrate Independence Day this year.

Noem sued the U.S. Department of Interior in an effort to reverse the decision to deny the state's permit for the pyrotechnic display. The Republican governor successfully pushed last year for a return of the event after a decadelong hiatus. But the National Park Service denied it this year, citing safety concerns and objections from local Native American tribes.

The opinion and order from Chief Judge Roberto Lange of the federal district court of South Dakota meant that the night sky over Mount Rushmore will be devoid of the state's fireworks on Independence Day this year.

Noem has decried the decision to deny the fireworks permit as “political" and made a patriotic argument for holding fireworks at the massive monument. The event last year gave former President Donald Trump an opportunity to make a fiery speech at the monument. The state had signed an agreement with the federal government under Trump to work towards having the fireworks display this year.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/federal-judge-declines-to-order-fireworks-at-mount-rushmore/ar-AAKDWXG?li=BBnb7Kz

[PortTack]

1. noem...Such a bright political mind...NOT! Federal land..terrible drought, but hey let's

Throw a really big display..what could possibly go wrong?!

[Merlot]

2. This is what she's worried about. Of course.

[orleans]

3. i'm really glad to read this and know they won't be doing fireworks there. fuck noem. nt

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. Maybe if Noem sent in the SD National Guard, ...

before July 4, to cut away the underbrush, rake/sweep/mop/wax the forest floor, and pre-soak the surrounding forest, ... maybe then the fireworks could be done in relative safety.

Other than that, oh hell no, no fireworks in a dry forest please.

[tanyev]

5. I'd like to see Trump pinatas become the standard 4th of July activity.

[roamer65]

13. I think Dump should BE the pinata.

Just like Mussolini.

[2naSalit]

6. Good...

That trumpwhore needs to receive a big pile of comeuppance.

Fireworks are an abomination, they terrify the wildlife, the sound travels for many miles terrifying the wildlife. And then there are the native Americans whose land was stolen for the park and whose concerns and health are not a consideration for trumpwhores.

[HUAJIAO]

7. I wish somebody would blow the damn thing up.

What an insult to native Americans....

[Marthe48]

8. she can shove fireworks where the sun don't shine

They are just another shiny object that entrances the right.

[Bayard]

9. "a patriotic argument"

I'm sure the Sioux don't share that sentiment.

[Warpy]

11. Only if patriotism is limited to money

That abomination was created to be a tourist trap.

Noem just sees dollars getting away from her. She's blind to the danger of fire and the damage to wildlife.

[DENVERPOPS]

10. We could certainly reach a compromise

How about the South Dakota Taxpayers fund a huge fireworks display in Mar-a-lago-ville.......

[rsdsharp]

12. I'm surprised she hasn't appealed to the 8th Circuit.

I guess she can’t find an attorney willing to argue an expedited appeal is necessary so she can have sky rockets.