Permit OK’d for Scout wind farm

Scout Clean Energy has been granted approval for another wind farm.

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission approved a construction permit for Sweetland Wind Farm in Miller, South Dakota.

Scout, which this week started the construction process for Bitter Ridge Wind Farm in Jefferson and Richland Townships, is planning a 200-megawatt wind farm. It will include up to 71 turbines in Miller, which is about 150 miles northwest of Sioux Falls.

“We are excited to have received the PUCs unanimous approval for the state construction permits for the Sweetland wind farm,” Scout CEO and founder Michael Rucker said in a press release. “The approval means Scout now can take the power to market and begin planning for construction as early as 2020.”

The $240 million facility, which will have 10 full-time staff members, is expected to generate $35 million in tax revenue for Hand County.

Nurses certified

Nurses Bridgette Leon and Jennifer Wolfe of State of the Heart Care recently passed their exams to become certified in hospice and palliative care.

State of the Heart, based in Greenville, Ohio, provides hospice services in a 15-county area that includes Jay and Mercer counties.

Impossible launched

Burger King has rolled out its Impossible Whopper to all of its locations this week.

The patty is plant-based, made from soy, potato protein, coconut oil and sunflower oil. The sandwich sells for $1 more than the beef version. It has 15 percent less fat and 90 percent less cholesterol.

To promote the launch, Burger King is offering a special price to purchase both the original Whopper and Impossible Whopper for a side-by-side taste test via the DoorDash and BK apps. The promotion runs through Sept. 1.

Working on bottle

Ardagh Group is partnering with Mountain Culture Kombucha on a new 12-ounce glass bottle. The amber glass bottle was chosen by Mountain Culture in part to differentiate its products from the more common clear bottles.

“Connecting with Ardagh Group, and their willingness to produce the exact bottle we have been searching for during the better part of a decade, has been a game changer for us,” Mountain Culture Kombucha owner Peter Roderick said to Craft Brewing Business. “From initial conversations all the way through delivery of the final product, we have never had a better experience working with a new supplier. We look forward to working with Ardagh Group for years to come.” 

Ardagh operates glass factories in Dunkirk and Winchester.

Taking down displays

Walmart decided to remove displays of violent video games from its stores following the recent mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas.

Previously, the store promoted the games with displays that demonstrated the games with soundtrack included.

It will also no longer play violent movies or shows on televisions on display in its electronics sections or hunting videos in its sporting good sections.

"We've taken this action out of respect for the incidents of the past week, and this action does not reflect a long-term change in our video game assortment," said Walmart spokesperson Tara House in a press release.

The company will still sell both video games and firearms.

CEOs named

Yum! Brands has named Mark King as CEO of its Taco Bell Division and Artie Starrs as CEO of its Pizza Hut Division.

King is the former president of adidas Group North America. Starrs was promoted from his roll as president of Pizza Hut U.S.

“We believe this global brand division leadership structure at Taco Bell and Pizza Hut will enable the U.S. and international teams to further implement innovative best practices worldwide, strengthen digital and technology capabilities and accelerate growth for franchisees and shareholders,” said Yum! Brands CEO Greg Creed in a press release.

Closing stores

Walgreens announced plans this week to close 200 locations in the United States.

The company, which earlier this year announced plans to close 200 stores in the United Kingdom, said it expects to save $1.5 billion annually because of the closures. A list of stores on the closure list was not made available.

“As previously announced, we are undertaking a transformational cost management program to accelerate the ongoing transformation of our business, enable investments in key areas and to become a more efficient enterprise,” Walgreens said in a press release.

This marks the largest round of closures for the company since 2015, CNN reported.