WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — A wet summer had a major impact on South Dakota’s economy….from agriculture to tourism. Jim Hagen is South Dakota’s Tourism Department Secretary. He says bad weather impacted the state right away this spring, and it never really got much better. But Hagen says the tourism industry was able to weather the… Read more »

CONDE, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota Senator John Thune has introduced new legislation to help the National Weather Service improve their forecasting ability. State Farmers Union President Doug Sombke says while improving weather accuracy can be helpful for farmers what Congress really needs to do is address climate change. He says climate change has been… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KBHB) – Authorities have released the name of the individual involved in a massive police presence at Rushmore Mall in Rapid City Sunday night. Police were dispatched to the mall around 5:00 after a report of a man with a gun threatening people at the haunted house attraction. As it turned out,… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – Governor Kristi Noem and First Gentleman Bryon Noem launched South Dakota’s first-ever First Gentleman’s Initiative today. Bryon Noem’s initiative, “This is South Dakota,” will highlight the role smaller communities play in South Dakota’s landscape and the importance of preserving the state’s rural culture. As part of this effort, Noem will… Read more »

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — A high school football player from Britton is hospitalized after sustaining a severe head injury during a game in Warner Friday night. According to his Caring Bridge page, junior quarterback Trevor Zuehlke was taken by ambulance to Aberdeen, and then airlifted to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, where a CT… Read more »

WAUBAY, S.D. (KXLG) – The Day County Sheriff’s Office isn’t releasing a name yet, but has confirmed a drowning over the weekend on Bitter Lake near Waubay. Day County Sheriff Ryan Rucktaeschel (RUCK-TASH-EL) says the investigation is being conducted by his office and the Game, Fish, and Parks Department. He says all three of the… Read more »

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — A construction worker had to be rescued in Watertown Saturday afternoon after falling some 30 feet into the Big Sioux River bed.   It happened just after 12:30 at the scene of the U.S. Highway 212 construction project over the Big Sioux River.   Watertown Fire Rescue crews set up a… Read more »

STURGIS, S.D. (KBHB) – Authorities in Sturgis have identified the man shot and killed after he reportedly broke into a home early Sunday morning. Sturgis Police Chief Geody VanDewater says an autopsy is pending on 32-year-old Matthew Flagler. Flagler was shot once in the chest after breaking into a home in north Sturgis just before… Read more »

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — The National Weather Service has placed northeast South Dakota in a High Wind Warning starting this afternoon, and continuing into early Tuesday morning. Forecaster Aaron Dorn says winds out of the north-northwest will begin ramping up mid-afternoon today. Dorn says wind gusts of that nature will be strong enough to bring… Read more »

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — A motorcyclist from Watertown was killed early Saturday morning when he slammed into a house. Sergeant Trevor Barthel of the Watertown Police Department says it happened at 3:17 a.m. A motorcycle driven by 30-year-old Bryon Manning of Watertown was traveling southbound on 15th Street Northeast. It left the road and crashed… Read more »