Nick Nelson
Weekend Anchor/Reporter
Rapid City, SD
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I was born right here in the Black Hills in Spearfish, South Dakota. I lived throughout my childhood in the town of Newell where I graduated high school. I went on to study Media & Journalism & Political Science at the University of South Dakota, GO YOTES! While in college, I served as anchor and reported for the school's award-winning newscast, Coyote News. After graduating, I decided to come back home and join the team of reporters here at KOTA Territory News. In April of 2021, I took over anchoring duties for KOTA Territory Weekend News. I've loved every second of telling the stories that make the Black Hills such a special place.
While not on the job, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, listening to music, and playing golf.
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South Dakota Taskforce 1 is made up of firefighters from Aberdeen, Watertown, Sioux Falls, and Rapid City.
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The Coal Canyon Fire in 2011 burned more than 5,000 acres in the Southern hills north of Edgemont.
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Several shipping companies, including East Coast Exotic Car Transporters out of Massachusetts, get busy this time of year as they ship bikes into Rapid City where riders can grab them upon arrival at the airport.
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State Representative Taffy Howard announced her plans to introduce legislation that would limit private businesses from making vaccination mandatory for employees.
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Here at home, vaccination rates are staying the course with more than half the population fully vaccinated.
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Several parking lots in Sturgis have already been turned into vendor areas or special bike parking lots.
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Marcia Johnston, president of the Sturgis Rally Charities Foundation, said that the city, and later Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Inc., would raise up to $100,000 for charity each year.
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29-year-old Charles Good Voice Elk was sentenced to a total of eight years in federal prison on one count of sexual abuse, and another count of sexual abuse of a minor.
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Employees of Rapid City’s public safety departments are considered essential workers and are eligible for these funds.
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According to the Battle Creek Fire Department, the camper was rented by a couple traveling through the Black Hills.
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The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says a Dodge Charger was headed east on Elk Creek Road when it went into the ditch and eventually rolled.
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According to the office of President Kevin Killer, Calico has now been evacuated, and people to the south of the fire are being told to prepare for evacuation.
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Outlaw motorcycle gangs, like the notorious Hells Angels, often visit the rally, adding more work for law enforcement monitoring their activities.
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The parking lot of Black Hills Harley Davidson off Interstate 90 at Exit 55 hosts all sorts of vendors from around the country.
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Every year during bike week, the chip hosts festivities and concerts, they dub ‘the best party anywhere.’
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The Water Rescue team had help from other agencies in the area to assist in the recovery.
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Places with substantial or high community spread are recommended to go back to masking.
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Senator John Thune announced in a tweet Friday that the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing next Wednesday on potential manipulation in the beef market.
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Rally week is typically a time for live music and celebration. However, drinking and getting behind the wheel can quickly turn a fun night tragic.
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The IRS is now warning people of potential scammers that could take advantage of this new program.
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President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order reinforcing that hospitals be transparent with their service prices. According to the nonprofit Patient Rights Advocate, only about 6% of hospitals in the United States are compliant with these new rules.
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Rally Shirts are always a big seller at the festivities, and Tom’s T’s, a small shirt business in Sturgis, is getting ready for big sales.
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While conditions are mostly clear to get the roads and buildings done, it can also be inconvenient to work in the sweltering heat of July and August.
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In South Dakota, only 46% of the population is fully vaccinated. Experts say that at least 70% of the population needs to be vaccinated to reach what’s known as herd immunity.
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The survey from Gunther VW Fort Lauderdale shows that exactly 50% of the 31,000 respondents admit to looking at Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook on their phones while they’re behind the wheel.
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According to the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office, 22-year-old Jasmine Benning of Sioux Falls was sitting in a vehicle in Oakwood State Park, when at about 4:20 AM, 23-year-old Alexander Felipe Andrade left his nearby vehicle and began hitting Benning’s car with a machete.
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This will give people the opportunity to speak directly with a registered nurse to help them understand their condition and receive appropriate medical attention.
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The Rapid City Police Department has been looking to expand because of the growing population for the past few years. In May, they asked the City Council for funds to build a second precinct to improve citywide response times.
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The United States Office of Management and Budget announced earlier this year that it would reclassify communities with populations between 50,000 and 100,000 to micropolitan statistical areas.
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With the implementation of legal medical marijuana already taking place, there are concerns as to what people may be sacrificing since marijuana is still illegal federally.
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Pride is an event that showcases equality and the rights of the LGBTQ PLUS community, but aside from celebrations it’s also an opportunity for businesses to market to potential customers.
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A fatal motorcycle accident this past week on Nemo Rd. has officials reminding bikers of some safety tips as the Hills prepares for the annual Bike Rally.
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The additional $127 million from the American Rescue Plan brings the total COVID relief money for the state to almost $400 million.
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According to Tony Mangan with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, a woman was riding her motorcycle on Nemo Road when she crashed shortly after 10:30 Thursday morning near the intersection at Pine Road.
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According to Michelle Thompson with the Black Hills & Tourism Association, the numbers are even surpassing 2019, which was a record-breaking year for tourism.
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They addressed what they say is the systemic racism held by several Rapid City institutions, including the Police Department.
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Upon arriving at the scene, the fire department discovered that the blaze was burning between 150 to 200 acres of grass and timber.
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Several construction companies and city and economic officials met with Thune to map out a plan of how everyone can work together to make sure everyone has a place to live.
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The new clinic will double the space of the current clinic.
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Elevate Rapid City kicked off a series of panel discussions at the Rushmore Hotel regarding economic development in Rapid City. Thursday’s discussion was focused on the topic of creating more affordable housing as people move to the area.
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The Governor’s office announced Tuesday that the troop deployment to the U.S. – Mexico border was in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s plea for states to help with the border situation.
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Health officials say this is a wake-up call to be diligent about personal safety, and above all else, getting vaccinated.
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The event serves about 200 people each year, but the event had to be put on hold last year because of the pandemic.
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Thomas and Frank Janis were indicted in January of last year, charged with purchasing and distributing more than 56,000 tablets of a drug called Tramadol, a schedule 4 opiate that’s distributed outside of the United States.
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Fire is a real danger with dry conditions, a danger one Black Hawk farmer faced Wednesday.
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Johnson said that he worries the price of gas will continue to increase following the decision to cancel the project.
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The owner of a white Dodge Dakota was driving west on W. Main Street when he heard a popping noise coming from the front of the vehicle.
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Box Elder police say the woman was driving on Highway 1416 near Trenton Ln. when she drove into the left-side ditch and rolled her vehicle into a small creek next to a housing development.
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The South Dakota Youth Soccer Association State Championship is scheduled for this weekend at the Dakota Fields Soccer Complex.
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The Monument Health Foundation’s “Together We Can” fundraising campaign had already put forward $6.5 million of previously raised funds in January.