Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Canadian company that wants to build the Keystone XL pipeline is taking steps to circumvent one of the major roadblocks in Nebraska. But in seeking approval Monday for the same contentious route through the state, TransCanada could create another round of lengthy delays in an already drawn-out process. It also […]

BRUCE, S.D. (AP) — Law enforcement authorities in eastern South Dakota say two fishermen found the body of a Sioux Falls man in Oakwood Lake. The Brookings County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 73-year-old Martin Jepson was found floating in the lake around 2:30 p.m. Monday. The sheriff’s office says the men noticed an […]

SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) — A giant pumpkin that was brazenly stolen from the yard of a residence in South Dakota has been found and returned. Matthew Murraine tells the Black Hills Pioneer (http://bit.ly/1FRqmwm ) that a man found his 100-pound pumpkin in a rural area near Spearfish and returned to him last week. Murraine says […]

SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) — A giant pumpkin that was brazenly stolen from the yard of a residence in South Dakota has been found and returned. Matthew Murraine tells the Black Hills Pioneer ( ) that a man found his 100-pound pumpkin in a rural area near Spearfish and returned it to him last week. Murraine […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Commission has once again declined to increase licenses for nonresident waterfowl hunters. The commission has refused to consider a petition from the South Dakota Opportunity Group sportsmen’s organization that advocated changes including increasing nonresident waterfowl licenses by 5 percent. The Capital Journal reports ( ) […]

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — A longtime hotel in Aberdeen is closing after more than five decades in business. The Ramada Aberdeen Hotel and Conference Center has 151 rooms, a restaurant and a bar, along with nearly 11,000 square feet of banquet space. It opened in 1964. Owner Dakota Lodging says the addition of hotels and […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The Rapid City Council has approved longer office terms for future mayors and council members. The mayor’s term will go from two years to four years starting in 2019. City council terms will go from two years to three years starting next year. Current Mayor Steve Allender made the proposal […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The planting of winter wheat in South Dakota continues to progress ahead of the average pace. The Agriculture Department says in its weekly crop report that 83 percent of the crop is now seeded, up from 72 percent a week earlier and ahead of the long-term average of 72 percent. […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Former Rapid City mayor Sam Kooiker (KWAY’-kur) is taking a new job in his home state of Iowa. Kooiker will become city administrator of Cherokee, Iowa, by January. Cherokee is a city of about 5,500 people, about 50 miles from where Kooiker grew up in Boyden, Iowa. Kooiker served two […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Rapid City police have identified a man killed in a house fire. Authorities say 79-year-old Fred Morgan was pronounced dead at a hospital after being pulled from the home Thursday night. The official cause of death was not immediately released. Authorities said after the fire that Morgan had suffered burns […]