PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- A group in southeast South Dakota is working quickly to come up with a plan to convert an unused rail line into a recreational trail. Robert Foley of Tyndall, with the group “Friends of the Tabor to Platte Rail to Trail” spoke to the state Railroad Board about their plans. Foley says the… Read more »

The Yankton County Commission reimposed an open burn ban at their meeting this week. Emergency Manager Paul Scherschligt says fields and ditches continue to dry out. Scherschligt says fires can start very quickly. Scherschligt says this ban may be on for a while. The Yankton area has received about five and a half inches of… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Bruce Cull, President of the National Field Archery Association, appeared before the Yankton County Commission this week to ask for financial help in staging a pair of world archery tournaments next month. He says there will be a big payback. Cull says they are developing a new type of tourism. Cull says much… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Aberdeen American News)- The burn ban in Brown County will no longer be in effect come Monday. The decision came following discussion by the Brown County Commission during its meeting this week. The burn ban has been in effect for about two months because of dry, hot weather. Commissioners previously asked Emergency Management Director Scott Meints to… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The head of the South Dakota National Guard says Governor Kristi Noem didn’t tell him she would use a private donation to help fund the deployment of the Guard to the Texas – Mexico border until after the mission was already planned. Major General Jeffery Marlette appeared before the interim Joint Committee on… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- Board of Regents officials appeared before the interim Joint Committee on Appropriations of the South Dakota legislature to answer questions about their work on diversity issues. Regents General Counsel, Nathan Lukkes, told legislators they have reconfigured their approach to on campus diversity. Lukkes says the Board made a policy change at their last… Read more »

MITCHELL, S.D.(KMIT)- The Taliban continues to flex its muscles in Afghanistan by cracking down on protests and attempting to prevent citizens from leaving.  Senator Mike Rounds says he does not agree with President Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops. Rounds says America’s presence in Afghanistan for twenty years was not in vain. He says there… Read more »

BROOKINGS, S.D.(KJJQ)- The Brookings City Council held a work session Tuesday night and devoted a portion of the meeting to a discussion of COVID-19. With the surge in cases, the state Department of Health has categorized Brookings County in the “high community spread” category. Among those speaking to the council Tuesday night, epidemiologist Bonnie Specker.… Read more »

BROOKINGS, S.D.(KJJQ)- Classes begin Monday at South Dakota State University in Brookings with move-in set to start on Friday. SDSU President Barry Dunn says enrollment numbers look similar to last year. Dunn says the number of high school students involved in dual-credit courses continues to increase. After falling significantly last year, international student numbers seem… Read more »