Associated Press

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — State Corrections officials are working to address the use of an illegal synthetic drug at the minimum security unit of the State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Authorities believe smuggled synthetic drugs likely sickened two inmates this week, and they say similar incidents have occurred in the past. State Corrections Secretary […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A convicted sex offender has pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography in a Sioux Falls court. The Argus Leader ( ) reports 40-year-old Mario Castaneda Jr. initially faced five child pornography charges after officers followed a lead from a Rapid City internet detective. Deputy Minnehaha County […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Farmers have until Friday to make some key decisions that will govern their operations for the next five years under the new farm bill. The first deadline of Feb. 27 requires them to update base acre and yield history for their chosen crops. Those are then used to calculate choices […]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota congressional delegation is continuing to urge Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald to withdraw plans to reconfigure the VA Black Hills Health Care System from President Barack Obama’s budget proposal. Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds and Rep. Kristi Noem met with McDonald Tuesday to reiterate their concerns. […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The state House has shot down a proposal that would have allowed unilateral no-fault divorce in South Dakota. The House voted 44-25 against the plan, which advocates have said would make it easier for domestic violence victims to escape abusive marriages. Democratic Rep. Ray Ring of Vermillion says his measure would […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The winning numbers in Wednesday evening’s drawing of the South Dakota Lottery’s “Dakota Cash” game were: 04-09-16-18-31 (four, nine, sixteen, eighteen, thirty-one)

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A state House committee has approved a proposal to exempt youth from the minimum wage hike to $8.50 per hour that voters approved in November. The House Commerce and Energy Committee on Wednesday voted 11-2 for the plan, which would carve out a $7.50 youth minimum wage. Republican Sen. David Novstrup […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota U.S. Sen. John Thune is pushing for a legislative solution to Internet regulation after the Federal Communications Commission votes on its rules as part of the so-called “net neutrality” debate. The commission will vote Thursday on whether to put Internet service in the same regulatory camp as telephone communications.buy […]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — In a story Feb. 17 about an abortion bill, The Associated Press erroneously reported that a Planned Parenthood spokeswoman, Jennifer Aulwes, said abortions using an approach known as dilation and evacuation aren’t performed in South Dakota. Aulwes said Planned Parenthood, which operates South Dakota’s only clinic that provides elective abortions, doesn’t […]

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The company trying to build a pipeline to carry Canadian oil south to the Gulf Coast says its efforts to force Nebraska landowners to agree to the project remain on hold because of several pending lawsuits. Earlier this month, a Holt County judge issued a temporary injunction blocking TransCanada’s eminent domain […]