YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Avera Health announced last week that it would invest fifty million dollars in pay for new and existing employees and hold health insurance premiums steady for the next year. Doug Ekeren, President of Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton and Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell, says they need a full staff… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- With cooler temperatures on the way, and rising natural gas prices, there are programs available to help pay expected higher heat bills. South Dakota Department of Social Services Secretary Laurie Gill says they have applications for the low income energy assistance program, or LiHEAP on their website. Gill says they have staff that… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The approval of SB55 task force recommendations by the South Dakota Board of Regents last week will have some academic impacts. Vice President for Academic Policy and Planning, Janice Minder, outlined how they will make changes to their program review process. Minder says the six universities will also be posting more information about… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D.(KOTA)- Monday was Indigenous Peoples day, and a march was held by native activists an  allies in Rapid City from Sioux Park to Sioux San Hospital, near the site of the former Indian Boarding School. Lafawn Janis is on the Rapid City Indian Boarding School Land Team, and helped organize the event, and… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Aberdeen American News)- There are 2 political forum coming up this week at Pizza Ranch. The Brown County Democratic Forum meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Aberdeen Pizza Ranch, 1010 Sixth Ave. S.E. Guest speaker is Rick Weiland, president and CEO of Weiland, Samuelson and Roosevelt a strategic advisory firm that advises purpose-driven organizations on a broad array… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The House and Senate Legislative Redistricting Committees start their road tour today. The three day tour are holding public sessions in Box Elder, Mission, Mobridge, Aberdeen, Watertown and Sioux Falls. Committee member, Representative Ryan Cwach of Yankton, says the local input is important. Cwach says there can be local issues that have an… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota Senator John Thune says he will decide soon on running for another term next year. He says he is not in a rush to announce. Thune says he will decide by the end of this year Thune was first elected to the Senate in 2004 when he defeated incumbent democratic Senator… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota Board of Regents has mandated that the six universities move away from diversity efforts and focus on student opportunities. During their meeting at the School of Mines in Rapid City this week, University of South Dakota President Sheila Gestring explained the changes they are making on their campus, Gestring… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- A pact that spanned multiple decades proved fruitful for the South Dakota Lottery newest million-dollar prize winners. Emil Goodteacher and Donna Knodel of Yankton became the South Dakota Lottery’s latest big winners by claiming a $2 million prize from the Aug. 28 Powerball drawing. The friends won the game’s second prize, which also… Read more »