IT'S BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE SIOUX CITY ACHIEVED BLUE ZONE HEALTHY CITY STATUS, BUT THAT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING FOR THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT.

CHRIS LIBERTO OF THE CITY BLUE ZONE STAFF SAYS HE HOPES RESIDENTS THAT MADE THEIR INITIAL PLEDGE ARE FOLLOWING UP BY LIVING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES.

HE'S ENCOURAGING MORE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP AND TAKE PART IN THE WELLMARK INSPIRED EFFORT:



LIBERTO SAYS A LOT OF PLANNING IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES FOR BLUE ZONE ACTIVITIES:



A BLUE ZONES COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING IS SET FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 4TH AT 5:30PM IN THE SIOUX CITY CONVENTION CENTER.

The Hard Rock Sioux City project is changing it's plan regarding the hotel portion of the development.

Instead of building a new hotel, Sioux City Entertainment will now convert the top two floors of the historic Battery Building at 4th and Water streets into hotel rooms.

S-C-E President Bill Warner says modern elements infused with classic design will highlight the oversized hotel rooms.

Each room will feature exposed 108-year-old brick walls, re-finished wooden beams and floors, high ceilings with a loft-like feel, and scenic views of Sioux City.

IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ADDING A PET CAT TO YOUR HOME, THE SIOUXLAND HUMANE SOCIETY HAS ONE WAITING FOR YOU.

A DOZEN MORE CATS ARRIVED AT THE SHELTER THURSDAY, SO ON FRIDAY ONLY, ALL CATS AND KITTENS AT THE SIOUXLAND HUMANE SOCIETY WILL BE FREE.

THERE ARE SO MANY CATS AND KITTENS AT THE SHELTER, THE CAGES ARE FULL.

MANY OF THE CATS ARE ALREADY SPAYED OR NEUTERED AND FRONT DECLAWED.

EVERY ADOPTION INCLUDES THEIR INITIAL VACCINATIONS, DEWORMING, MICROCHIPPING AND FREE VETERINARIAN HEALTH EXAMINATION.

THE HUMANE SOCIETY HOURS FRIDAY ARE 10AM TO 5PM.

PENN GAMING IS ASKING THE IOWA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO AWARD A LAND BASED CASINO TO SIOUX CITY ENTERTAINMENT FOR THEIR HARD ROCK PROPOSAL.

A LETTER HAS BEEN SENT FROM THE ARGOSY CASINO, WHICH IS OWNED BY PENN, TO THE I-R-G-C.

THE LETTER STATES THAT THE COMMISSION VIOLATED ITS OWN RULES DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS, ALLOWING S-C-E TO SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE THEIR APPLICATION 67 DAYS AFTER THE DUE DATE.

THE LETTER ALSO ACCUSES THE I-R-G-C OF IGNORING INFORMATION CONCERNING SIOUX CITY ENTERTAINMENT'S BILL WARNER'S SUITABILITY FOR LICENSING AND STATES THE COMMISSION SELECTED A PROPOSAL THAT UNNECESSARILY BURDENS LOCAL AND STATE TAXPAYERS WHILE OVERLOOKING THE INDEPENDENT AND FULLY FUNDED HOLLYWOOD CASINO PROPOSALS.

IT ALSO ACCUSES DAVID BERNSTEIN OF THE NON-PROFIT MISSOURI RIVER HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP OF NEGOTIATING WITH NEW OPERATORS BEFORE HE WAS LICENSED TO DO SO.

MRHD CHAIRMAN MARK MONSON HAD NOT YET READ THE LETTER WHEN CONTACTED BY KSCJ.