July 13, 2021
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to reinstate fireworks at Mount Rushmore, leaving South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem free to take her Independence Day crusade to the Eighth Circuit.
June 03, 2021
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem vowed to continue the fight after a federal judge denied her plea for fireworks-by-injunction at Mount Rushmore this July Fourth — and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe remains hunkered down for a long-haul fight for recognition of its constitutionally protected treaty rights to the Black Hills.
May 24, 2021
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem urged a federal judge to allow Fourth of July fireworks at Mount Rushmore, requesting relief before the holiday so the show can happen amid protests from tribes and the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
May 20, 2021
A federal judge on Thursday granted the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's bid to intervene in South Dakota's suit over a disputed July Fourth weekend fireworks display at Mount Rushmore, saying the tribe can join because it has a legitimate interest in the action.
May 19, 2021
U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe have urged a federal judge to reject South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's bid to go ahead with a July Fourth fireworks display at Mount Rushmore, with Haaland saying the government explained its public safety and tribal cultural concerns for denying a permit and it's too late to change course.
May 17, 2021
The state of South Dakota's legal battle with the U.S. Department of the Interior over a July Fourth fireworks display at Mount Rushmore heated up over the weekend, as the Cheyenne River Sioux fought against Gov. Kristi Noem's efforts to exclude them in federal court.
April 30, 2021
South Dakota's governor Friday sued the federal government over the U.S. Department of the Interior's fireworks ban during this year's July Fourth celebration at Mount Rushmore, saying the ban is based on "vague" and unfounded concerns about coronavirus spread, tribal opposition and environmental impacts.