THE ANNUAL MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION RETURNS TO SIOUX CITY JULY 5TH. CONVENTION BUREAU MANAGER ERIKA NEWTON SAYS THERE'S ONE BIG CHANGE FOR THIS YEAR'S BIG PARADE AND COSTUME GALA:



NEWTON SAYS THE COSTUME GALA WILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW AT THE SIOUX CITY CONVENTION CENTER:



WHILE THE GALA AND PARADE ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC, YOU MAY PURCHASE A TICKET FOR A CAJUN BUFFET AT THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR JUST FIFTEEN DOLLARS.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE BEGINNING FRIDAY AT THE TYSON BOX OFFICE.

FIRE DESTROYED A HOME ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SOUTH SIOUX CITY NEAR ATOKAD PARK WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

AUTHORITIES SAY THE FIRE STARTED AROUND NOON AT A HOME AT 1576 FAIR MEADOW ROAD.

SOUTH SIOUX CITY POLICE SAY THE HOME WAS FULLY ENGULFED AND ONE RESIDENT SUSTAINED A CUT WHEN HE BROKE OUT A WINDOW TO ESCAPE THE FIRE.

DAKOTA CITY FIREFIGHTERS WERE ASSISTED BY SOUTH SIOUX CITY AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

ONE FIREFIGHTER NEEDED MEDICAL TREATMENT AT THE SCENE. NO WORD ON THE NATURE OF HIS INJURY.

SIOUX CITY SET A RECORD TUESDAY WITH THE MERCURY TOPPING OUT AT 106 DEGREES.

THAT'S THE 2ND EARLIEST IN THE YEAR WE HAVE TOPPED THE CENTURY MARK.

THE OLD RECORD FOR MAY 14TH WAS 97.

AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITALS BECAUSE OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESS TUESDAY.

THE FINAL SESSION OF THE STARS BARN THERAPUTIC RIDING CLASS HAS BEEN CANCELLED TUESDAY NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME HEAT.

WOODBURY COUNTY SAYS IT COST AROUND $9400-DOLLARS TO ASSIST IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SHOOTING OF A SIOUX CITY POLICE OFFICER AND THE TRANSPORT OF THE SUSPECT BACK TO IOWA FROM TEXAS.

SHERIFF DAVE DREW SAYS HIS DEPUTIES COVERED CALLS FOR SERVICE IN WOODBURY COUNTY AND SIOUX CITY WHILE CITY POLICE SEARCHED FOR THE SUSPECT ON APRIL 29TH.

TWENTY COUNTY DEPUTIES INCURRED  OVER $4,145 IN OVERTIME.

THAT MONEY IS PAID THROUGH A PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT AND COVERS THE COMPLETE COST OF THAT OVERTIME.

ONCE THE SUSPECT, JAMAL DEAN, WAS CAPTURED IN TEXAS, IT COST FOUR DEPUTIES OVER $3650 IN OVERTIME TO DRIVE TO KINGSVILLE, TEXAS AND BRING DEAN BACK TO SIOUX CITY.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SPENT ANOTHER $1604 DOLLARS IN FOOD, FUEL AND LODGING ON THAT TRIP.

JAMAL DEAN IS CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE APRIL 29TH SHOOTING OF POLICE OFFICER KEVIN MCCORMICK.