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Noon Newscast 9.11.19: Sioux Falls Storm Damage, Voting Results and Support for Sasse

KSFY TELEVISION

The city of Sioux Falls is reeling after a likely tornado struck late last night, leaving behind a trail of damage and debris.

“There is a level of destruction up here that we’re not use to seeing.” 

That’s news anchor Brian Allen who works for KSFY-Television in Sioux Falls who says the twister touched down about a mile from his home.    

Credit ksfy.com
BRIAN ALLEN

“Roofs have collapsed, windows have been blown out.  There is tree damage area.. power poles are down and trees are down.”

Allen is a former anchor at KCAU Television in Sioux City.

The local fire chief says at least 37 buildings were destroyed or have structural damage mainly on the south and southwestern parts of town.

An official with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls says surveyors will work to confirm whether a tornado caused the damage. 

He says most damage was likely caused by strong straight-line winds.

The National Weather Service also  warned of possible severe thunderstorms today across the Plains and Upper Midwest, stretching from western Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa to Wisconsin.

The likeliest threat was in western Nebraska, and the weather service warned of possible flash flooding in the north-central part of the state.

One northwest Iowa school bond issue passed and another failed.

Voters in the Sergeant Bluff-Luton district overwhelmingly turned down a $33 million plan to help deal with school overcrowding.  Sixty-one percent voted against it.

Storm Lake narrowly passed a $15 million dollar measure to build a new early elementary school with 61% approval. 

And, the community of Orange City rejected plans for a  fitness facility paid for with taxpayer money.  Only 43% supported the $5 million dollar “Aspire Center for Healthy Living”.

A super majority of 60% was needed for all measures to pass.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is promising to again veto an industrial hemp bill if it's introduced at next year's Legislature.

Noem wrote why she won't support legalizing hemp in a commentary in the Wall Street Journal this week.

The Republican governor, who comes from a farming and ranching family, said that she would be "happy" to introduce a new cash crop in South Dakota, but she said hemp isn't it.

President Donald Trump has offered a full-throated endorsement of Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse despite Sasse's previous criticism of the president.

Trump announced his support last night on Twitter, saying Sasse has "done a wonderful job representing the people of Nebraska."

Trump praised Sasse as a supporter of veterans, the military and the Second Amendment.  

Credit TWITTER

Sasse is seeking re-election but faces a primary challenge from a Lincoln-based Republican activist.

Sasse was an early and outspoken critic of Trump before he won the presidency and has continued to blast the president's trade policies, although lately he hasn't been as vocal.

A Sasse spokesman says Sasse and Trump don't always agree, but the senator is grateful for the endorsement.