February 2015

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) — A winter with little snow has left much of the Dakotas abnormally dry or in moderate drought, though a weather expert says conditions could improve in the coming months. National Drought Mitigation Center climatologist Brian Fuchs says the number of areas in the Plains states that are snow-free is “unheard of” […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A lake 30 miles northeast of Pierre might lose its designation as a refuge because of limited waterfowl use. The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission wants to remove the Cottonwood Lake State Waterfowl Refuge near Onida in Sully County. The GFP says neighboring landowners who’ve been contacted regarding the […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The state House has voted down a measure that would have authorized the city of Deadwood to allow liquor to be served all the time except for Christmas Day. House lawmakers voted 39 to 29 to dismiss the proposal, which supporters called the “Destination Deadwood” bill. Republican Rep. Tim Rounds of […]

Sanford Health Plan will be taking over as the primary health insurance provider for approximately 65,000 people in North Dakota after the state workers’ retirement system on Thursday ended its decades-old relationship with the state’s Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate. The new plan, which takes effect July 1, involves about 29,000 contracts covering current and […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Rapid City authorities have arrested a man in connection with the slaying of a man whose body was found early Thursday morning. Officers responded to a report of a disturbance around 12:20 a.m. at a home on Signal Drive and found the body of the man inside. The police and […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem says some of the most pressing issues facing Congress include fighting extremism abroad, trade agreements and overhauling the federal tax code. Noem said Congress could take a tip from South Dakotans about building the economy on Thursday in a speech to state lawmakers about the most […]

PINE RIDGE, S.D. (AP) — The tribal president from Pine Ridge has asked for a federal civil rights investigation into reported harassment of Native American students at a hockey game at the Rapid City Civic Center. Oglala Sioux Tribe President John Yellow Bird Steele sent a letter to the U.S. attorney general and president on […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — More prominent marketing campaigns, fear of potential tax penalties and an overall better understanding of the nation’s health care law drove thousands of South Dakota residents to sign up for private health insurance during the second enrollment period that ended Sunday, health insurers said, resulting in a 60 percent increase […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Rapid City police are investigating the homicide of a man whose body was found early Thursday morning. Officers responded to a report of a disturbance around 12:20 a.m. on Signal Drive in Rapid City. There they found the body of the man, whom they have not identified. Police are in […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The state House has voted down a measure that would allow people 21 years or older to carry a concealed weapon on South Dakota’s six public university campuses. House lawmakers voted 48 to 20 to dismiss the proposal, which was opposed by student groups who lobbied lawmakers to deny the proposal. […]