Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A report on a May survey says slower economic growth likely is ahead for nine Midwestern and Plains states. The survey report issued Monday says the overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped to 50.4 last month from 52.7 April. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he highlighted drops […]

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL, S.D. (AP) — Mount Rushmore will serve as the backdrop this week when about 185 people will become United States citizens in a naturalization ceremony at the memorial in the Black Hills. Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Viken will preside and be the keynote speaker at the naturalization ceremony on Thursday. […]

FAIRMOUNT, N.D. (AP) — Authorities say two men have been killed in a rollover crash in Richland County, near the South Dakota border. KFGO-AM reports it happened Sunday on a county road, nine miles southwest of Fairmount. The Highway Patrol says both men were ejected from a car when it landed on its top in […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — An apartment building in southwestern Sioux Falls has been severely damaged by fire. The Argus Leader reports ( ) the fire was reported at about 7 p.m. on Sunday at Penbrooke Place apartments. The fire was mostly subdued by crews by 7:40 p.m. Residents were evacuated from the third floor […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A sculpture stolen from an annual exhibition in downtown Sioux Falls has been found in a park. Jeff Hansen with SculptureWalk says the piece titled “Raven” was found by a citizen in Menlo Park on Sunday. It was reported stolen early Saturday from its pedestal outside a restaurant. Sioux Falls […]

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — Police say a 61-year-old man has died after being assaulted in downtown Aberdeen. The Aberdeen Police Department says Ronald Witchey of Aberdeen was pronounced dead at an area hospital shortly after the early Sunday morning assault. The department says a 54-year-old man has been arrested in connection to Witchey’s death. According […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A sharp slap to the backside sent the big fish on its way into the depths of the Bad River’s mouth. The fish was one of 13 paddlefish turned loose into Lake Sharpe from Fort Pierre’s Bad River boat ramp in mid-May. They joined another 10 fish released into Hipple Lake […]

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — Music was always a part of Camille Fischer’s life. She sang and played piano from a young age, at school and at church and, upon graduation from Roncalli High School in 1982, began studying music education at Northern State University and joined a band. “I started singing and playing piano when […]

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — A fifth generation is taking over a family-owned furniture store in Brookings that has been open for 134 years. Husband-and-wife team Alfred and Deanna Rude are paring back their involvement with Rude’s Home Furnishings, the Brookings Register ( ) reported. Her nephew, Nick Hanson, is stepping in. Nick “has been assisting […]

WATERTOWN, S.D. (AP) — The president of a South Dakota technical school was stealthily handed a special medallion by President Barack Obama during a visit to the state earlier this month. Lake Area Technical Institute President Mark Cartney received a “challenge coin” from Obama while shaking his hand, the Watertown Public Opinion ( ) reported. […]