NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN THE MISSOURI RIVER HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION AND PENN GAMING ON THE OPERATING AGREEMENT FOR THE ARGOSY RIVERBOAT CASINO.

THE TWO SIDES FILED A JOINT APPLICATION FOR A ONE YEAR RENEWAL OF THE BOAT'S STATE GAMING LICENSE FRIDAY AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

BUT MRHD SPOKESMAN MARK MONSON SAYS THERE'S STILL DISAGREEMENT ON WHEN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT ENDS:

MONSON ALSO WANTS TO STOP A RUMOR THAT'S CIRCULATING REGARDING THE ARGOSY CASINO:

MRHD AND PENN GAMING ARE TRYING TO WORK OUT A LONG TERM CONTRACT FOR A LARGER, LAND BASED CASINO FOR SIOUX CITY AT A YET TO BE DETERMINED SITE.

SIOUX CITY MAYOR BOB SCOTT HAS MADE HIS FIRST APPOINTMENT FOR THE 2012 COUNCIL YEAR.

SCOTT HAS NAMED COUNCILMAN JOHN FITCH AS MAYOR PRO TEM.

FITCH WAS ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2009. AS MAYOR PRO TEM, HE WILL PRESIDE OVER MEETINGS THAT SCOTT IS UNABLE TO ATTEND OR REPRESENT THE CITY AT CEREMONIES IN THE MAYOR'S ABSENCE.

SEVERAL REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE RETURNING TO SIOUX CITY FOR ONE FINAL PUSH BEFORE TUESDAY'S IOWA CAUCUSES.

CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL WILL HOLD A RALLY AT THE STONY CREEK INN TONIGHT AT 7PM.

MITT ROMNEY WILL ALSO HOLD A RALLY AT STONY CREEK INN ON SATURDAY AT 5:15PM.

RICK SANTORUM RETURNS TO SIOUX CITY ON SUNDAY, NEW YEAR'S DAY AT THE DAILY GRIND AT 511 4TH STREET. SANTORUM WILL SPEAK AT 2:30PM.

AND TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY IS IN TOWN ON MONDAY AT THE STONY CREEK INN. PERRY'S MEET AND GREET IS SET FOR 12:30PM.

NO SIOUXLAND STORES FROM THE TRI-STATE AREA ARE ON THE LIST OF THOSE BEING CLOSED BY THE PARENT COMPANY OF SEARS AND K-MART.

SEARS HOLDING CORPORATION IS CLOSING K-MART STORES IN DAVENPORT AND CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA. THOSE ARE PART OF 79 STORES NATIONWIDE ANNOUNCED THURSDAY TO BE SHUTDOWN SOON.

NO STORES IN NEBRASKA OR SOUTH DAKOTA WERE ON THE INITIAL LIST. HOWEVER THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL CLOSE UP TO 120 TOTAL STORES AROUND THE COUNTRY IN THE COMING MONTHS.

THE COMPANY SAYS IT IS REFOCUSING ITS EFFORTS ON EXISTING STORES THAT MAKE MONEY.