June 2015

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Electric companies and cooperatives say they’re making progress in restoring electricity to customers in the wake of early Monday storms in central and eastern South Dakota. Xcel Energy said Tuesday morning that it had restored power to more than 6,000 of the 8,000 customers who lost it in eastern South […]

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (AP) — The Department of Veterans Affairs has named a new director for its health care system in western South Dakota. The VA says Sandra Horsman is expected to start leading the VA Black Hills Health Care System next month. Horsman will replace Jo-Ann Ginsberg, who became acting director in March. The […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Storms across South Dakota have been good news for soil moisture, but the precipitation has slowed the first cutting of alfalfa. The Agriculture Department says in its weekly crop report that thunderstorms late last week brought heavy rain, strong wind and hail to parts of central and eastern South Dakota. […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A counterculture group that annually brings together thousands of people for peace gatherings will convene in the Black Hills next month. Members of the Rainbow Family of Living Light traveled to the region last week to debate whether the gathering should be held there after some American Indians raised concerns. […]

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) — The city of Mitchell and its mayor say there is no basis for a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by a man who was in line to be the next director of the city’s Corn Palace tourist attraction. Steve Koch says he had accepted the position but was forced to withdraw. […]

GARRETSON, S.D. (AP) — The absence of injuries is keeping Garretson residents upbeat as they recover from a devastating storm. Mayor Tim Mullin says the extent of the damage from the early Monday storm is still being assessed, but no one was hurt and “that’s big.” The National Weather Service says wind speeds reached 100 […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota officials have temporarily closed the Farm Island Recreation Area along the Missouri River near Pierre. A strong storm that moved through the area Sunday night left down trees and knocked out power to the park. The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department says the recreation area will reopen […]

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Grand Forks has named a new dean for its Northwest Campus in Minot. Scott Knutson is a clinical assistant professor of family medicine for UND and an emergency medicine physician for Trinity Health in Minot, serving as chief of […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The state Public Utilities Commission is holding a meeting for the public to provide input to the regulatory board on the portion of the Keystone XL pipeline that would run through South Dakota. The commission announced Monday that the public meeting is scheduled for July 6 at the South Dakota state […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Transportation Department is reminding residents of the regulations that apply to right-of-way mowing. Transportation officials say landowners cannot mow the rights of way east of the Missouri River before July 10. The department, however, may mow medians and ditches within the right-of-way prior to that date to control […]