SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The head of the Transportation Security Administration says airport screeners should be allowed to focus on the agency’s primary mission of security and let leaders worry about how fast the lines move. The remarks from TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger came Monday during a Sioux Falls forum. The agency has come […]

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Strong winds hampered firefighters’ efforts to contain a large wildfire on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation Monday, a day after another grass fire prompted the evacuation of a small town on the reservation that straddles the Dakotas. Monday’s fire began about 3:30 a.m. about 6 miles north of Wakpala, South Dakota, […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A fire on the rooftop of the pool area prompted the evacuation of a Rapid City hotel. Fire alarms at The Best Western Ramkota went off about 6:45 a.m. Monday. Firefighters quickly put out the fire and no injuries were reported. The cause of the blaze was not immediately determined.

HURON, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota officials say the recent deaths of animals and birds at Lake Byron in Beadle County might be due to bacteria producing toxins in the water. The Huron Plainsman reports ( ) that the state Game, Fish & Parks Department is cautioning people to avoid contact with the water and […]

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A college run by North Dakota tribes has closed a satellite branch in South Dakota. The shutdown of the Black Hills Learning Center in Rapid City ends a $1.2 million expansion project after just two years. College President Leander “Russ” McDonald says the center needed 150 students to be viable, but […]

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Grass fires fanned by strong winds in the Dakotas destroyed homes, shut down highways and prompted the evacuation of a small town on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation at the weekend, and the gusty weather was forecast to continue Monday. The fires were contained Sunday and no injuries were immediately reported. […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Several cities in the Dakotas experienced record-hot weather over the weekend. The South Dakota cities of Pierre and Yankton and the North Dakota cities of Fargo, Grand Forks and Jamestown were among those setting records on Sunday, with temperatures as high as 97 degrees. Sioux Falls in South Dakota tied […]

CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — A grass fire fanned by strong winds destroyed buildings in Cannon Ball and prompted the evacuation of the town on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. There were no reports of injuries in the Sunday afternoon fire, but the flames burned at least three homes and a church. Tribal Emergency Manager […]

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona officials are embarking on an effort to help conserve the American bison. The Game and Fish Department said state officials recently signed an agreement with federal Interior Department officials to establish a bison herd with genetic lineage from the Wind Cave National Park in western South Dakota. The new herd is […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Police say a 29-year-old federal fugitive who was wearing a bulletproof vest was arrested after a high-speed chase in Rapid City. Rapid City police say an officer pursued a vehicle driven by Eric LaDeaux after he refused to pull over late Saturday night. Police say the vehicle slowed down at […]