Governor Dennis Daugaard Urges Watchfulness, Care on Roads for Sturgis Rally

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — State and local officials who have spent years planning for what could be a record-setting 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally say they're as prepared as possible for the onslaught of bikers next month.

Governor Dennis Daugaard urged the public Thursday to be careful on the road and to be watchful for suspicious activity.

Informal attendance projections for the landmark rally have topped 1 million people, which would be a dramatic jump from an estimated 442,000 attendees in 2014.

Tourism officials and organizers say interest in the rally has surged past what they've seen in previous years, but the accuracy of those estimates is unclear.

Public safety officials say they've planned effectively and that they don't expect violence like the deadly May shootout at a Texas restaurant where nine people were killed.

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