PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s agriculture secretary has been selected to serve as a fellow in a nationwide conference of state government leaders. Department of Agriculture Secretary Lucas Lentsch is one of 48 state leaders from across the country that was selected for the Toll Fellowship Program sponsored by the Council of State Governments. […]

VALLEJO, Calif. (AP) — A U.S. Forest Service firefighter was killed in the Lake Tahoe area after he was struck by a tree while battling a wildfire — the second firefighter killed in a California blaze since the summer wildfire season got underway, officials said. Michael Hallenbeck, 21, of Shingle Springs, Calif., was hit Saturday […]

HARTINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A father and son from South Dakota were injured after their single-engine plane crashed in a northeast Nebraska farm field. The Cedar County, Nebraska sheriff’s office says 56-year-old Ronald Feimer and 16-year-old Alan Feimer of Yankton, South Dakota, were taken to a Yankton hospital after the crash Saturday afternoon. Authorities say […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — At least 13 people have died in crashes related to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The Argus Leader reports ( ) the latest was Larry Kaduce of St. Peter, Minnesota. He was driving a motorcycle northbound on South Dakota 79 seven miles north of Sturgis when he attempted to pass two […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A 7-year-old boy is helping a Sioux Falls nonprofit feed the hungry by collecting money, books and vegetables for local gardens. Riley McKeown of Brandon got the idea to help out at The Banquet, which provides meals to hundreds of needy people each week, while doing volunteer work there several […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The incoming leader of Rapid City’s airport wants to board his new position with sky-high hopes of attracting more visitors to the area during the summertime. On Monday, the Rapid City Regional Airport Board announced that Patrick Dame was hired as the airport’s executive director. He’s set to begin at […]

DEADWOOD, S.D. (AP) — A Minnesota woman who in recent months opened a wildlife education center that houses wolf cubs and fox kits in Deadwood is selling its business property in the town. Owner Terri Petter tells the Black Hills Pioneer ( ) that Fur-Ever Wild has decided to sell its Deadwood location because of […]

BELLE FOURCHE, S.D. (AP) — The Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce’s president says the organization is financially insolvent. Chamber President Mark Reese tells the Black Hills Pioneer ( ) that the organization needs funding to meet 2015 obligations and said the group is falling behind on its office rent. Reese says the group’s balance sheet […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The incoming superintendent of Badlands National Park says he’s open to a languishing plan to create a tribal national park in the Badlands. Recently named Superintendent Mike Pflaum tells the Rapid City Journal (http://bit.ly/1hqDiOA) that he wants to help repair relationships with tribal officials on issues including the plan. The […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The Pennington County Commission is still deciding whether to endorse placing a site sacred to the Great Sioux Nation into a federal trust. The Rapid City Journal ( ) reports that county commissioners didn’t take action at a meeting where tribal representatives asked them to recommend the change to federal […]