Sen. Thune Helps Augie Students Return Home

SIOUX FALLS, SD - One group of Augie students left Egypt on Sunday, but another group will leave the country Monday. But that's still sooner than expected.

South Dakota senator John Thune and his staff are helping the remaining band members and alumni a day ahead of schedule. Thune says he appreciates the group taking all the right precautions and that he'll breathe a sigh of relief when it's over.

"It was very wise of them to get to the airport hotel and prepare themselves," Thune said. "They did everything. We talked to our folks at the embassy and the state department and they said they did everything they could possibly be doing and it's just a function now of getting these flights lined up and getting them back here."

Thune says he and his staff are prepared for flight problems that could come up.