Associated Press

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — Until she started at public school in Mobridge, Jo’L Pretends Eagle never really considered going to college. “College opportunities were right in front of me,” Pretends Eagle told the Aberdeen American News ( ). “I never thought I would have college opportunities.” Pretends Eagle went to tribal schools until her grandmother, […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The Senate has voted to phase in the amount of funding available to college students who receive the state’s Opportunity Scholarship. Senators voted to amend the bill Tuesday to allow incoming South Dakota students to receive up to $1,300 for their first three years of college and up to $2,600 for […]

RUTLAND, S.D. (AP) — The Rutland School Board has approved a $450,000, five-year opt-out of the state-imposed property tax freeze to boost teacher salaries. Board President Billie Hoekman tells the Daily Leader ( ) that the additional money is needed to give teachers needed pay raises. Data from the state Department of Education show that […]

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota-based Titan Machinery is reducing its workforce by 14 percent and closing some stores after a drop in revenue. The West Fargo-based dealer of agricultural and construction equipment projects its revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 at $491 million, a drop of about 31 percent from the […]

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Unseasonably warm and dry weather is breaking temperature records and sparking fears of wildfires in the Dakotas. In North Dakota, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown and Williston all have tied or broken temperature records this week. National Weather Service reports show high temperatures in those cities approaching 60 degrees, tying or breaking […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Rapid City residents have rejected a proposed $180 million expansion of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Unofficial returns from Tuesday’s election show 61 percent of the 12,902 voters were against the idea. The project would have replaced the facility’s 9,400-seat arena with one that could seat up to 19,000 people. […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Stacie Schroder’s search for a home began the day she regained her freedom. Finding an apartment can be a complicated, time-consuming process for anyone. Schroder didn’t expect her search to be easy, but she also wasn’t prepared for the months of dead ends, denials and desperation that would come to […]

FREEMAN, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say a Montana man was killed in a two-vehicle crash in southeastern South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says 55-year-old Keith Stockard of Superior, Montana, died in the accident on Tuesday afternoon. The department says his vehicle was struck by a garbage truck after he attempted to […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Economic development leaders in part of western South Dakota have been recognized for coming up with a plan that helps the entire Badlands/Bad River region of Haakon, Jackson and eastern Pennington counties. The U.S. Agriculture Department says the area’s Stronger Economies Together long-range plan passed a High Quality Plan review, and […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — An artifact belonging to South Dakota’s Cultural Heritage Center is now on display at a world-renowned museum in New York City. South Dakota’s Sioux Horse Effigy is being showcased at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of an exhibition of Plains Indian masterworks. “The Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and […]