SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) — A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official says the agency has no plans to close the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives in South Dakota. Acting assistant regional director Jeff Fleming also tells the Black Hills Pioneer ( ) that the agency has no plans to move the archives […]

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Standing Rock Sioux is among seven tribes nationwide awarded a federal grant of nearly $1.5 million to improve education and school governance. The announcement of the Bureau of Indian Education grant coincided with a first-of-its-kind Native American youth summit called by the White House this week. The gathering stemmed from […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Officials are planning to market South Dakota’s Black Hills region to China, Germany and the United Kingdom. State and regional tourism officials are working on the $7,000 effort with Brand USA — a public-private partnership aimed at promoting international travel to the U.S. The Rapid City Journal reports ( ) […]

KIMBALL, S.D. (AP) — Kimball’s chance to be the honorary state Capital for a Day this month is approaching quickly. Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s office said Thursday that activities for the July 15 celebration will include a community social beginning in the morning They also include a Main Street walk and business tours around town. The […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A federal appeals court has reinstated a prison sentence for a Mobridge man convicted of raping two of his friends’ young daughters. Forty-five-year-old Richard Litschewski was convicted in 1997 of first-degree rape, third-degree rape and sexual contact with a minor. He was ordered to serve three consecutives terms for a total […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A group of South Dakota legislators are calling for a special legislative session to address the state’s teacher shortage. State Rep. Elizabeth May joined five fellow legislators Thursday in Rapid City to officially call for a session on August 17. May tells KCCR-AM the teacher shortage is a “crisis” that […]

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Senior military leaders from North Dakota said Thursday that federal nutrition standards for schools should not be watered down or eliminated because they are helping to curb an obesity epidemic that is hurting the recruitment of new soldiers. Retired Gens. Michael Haugen, Keith Bjerke, Jerald Engelman and Robert Schulte said during […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Dennis Daugaard is asking federal officials to join state and local teams as they assess the extent of the damaged caused by severe storms last month. Daugaard has requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency join in the state’s Preliminary Damage Assessment of storm damage in 14 affected. Officials are […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota regulators want more information from a secretive polygamist group before they decide on its request to draw water more quickly at its remote Black Hills compound. The state Water Management Board voted Thursday that the group needs to come back with more details. Seth Jeffs, brother of imprisoned sect […]

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Senior military leaders from North Dakota say Congress should resist attempts to water down a bill that sets nutrition standards in schools. Retired Gens. Michael Haugen, Keith Bjerke, Jerald Engelman and Robert Schulte say a 2010 bill that promotes healthier meals in schools is a good step toward reversing the obesity […]