PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The wife of South Dakota U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, Jean Rounds, cast the only vote against the building of an eight-foot tall wrought iron security fence around the Governor’s Residence in Pierre last Friday. The Senator says that vote was made with discussion but no input from him. Rounds says it’s… Read more »
News Category: Uncategorized
Bishop asking people to return to Sunday mass
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Sioux Falls Bishop Donald DeGrood has re-instituted the obligation to attend Sunday mass for most Catholics in the sprawling Diocese. Sioux Falls may be the first diocese in the country to do this.The obligation was suspended because of COVID-19 concerns, but Bishop DeGrood says the Diocese has been “blessed”… Read more »
Regents approve policy that could require face masks on campuses
BROOKINGS, S.D. (WNAX) – The South Dakota Board of Regents has approved a policy that could require face masks in most public areas on university campuses. Regents General Counsel Nathan Lukkes says they have been working quickly on the policy. Lukkes says they will have multiple options in the policy. Level one would require the… Read more »
Livermont named Administrator for Avera Gettysburg Hospital
GETTYSBURG, S.D. (KCCR) – A Pierre native has been named Administrator for the Avera Gettysburg Hospital. Kristi Livermont says she has experience working with Avera properties in Mitchell as an Administrative Fellow. Livermont’s excited to get in at Avera Gettysburg Hospital as a new facility is being constructed. Livermont says work on the Avera Missouri… Read more »
Traffic down, rate of speed up in South Dakota
PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The South Dakota Department of Transportation has reported that traffic on state highways is down about 40 percent, mostly due to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The Highway Patrol is also reporting that total speeding tickets are down 53 percent from mid-March to early May compared to last year. Assistant… Read more »
Legislators facing some difficult decisions on budget
YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – While states sales taxes for March in South Dakota were up 4.5 percent over last year, other revenues tumbled as the pandemic took hold. Total tax revenues to the state were down about $30 million dollars in April over a year ago. Representative Jean Hunhoff of Yankton says legislators will have… Read more »
State shows slight increase in unemployment claims
PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – A total of 5,389 South Dakotans filed their first weekly claim for unemployment benefits last week (April 19-25). State Sec. of Labor and Regulation Marcia Hultman says it was only 94 claims over the prior week’s total (5,295). Hultman says as of April 11, over 19,500 (19,664) continued claims by… Read more »
First half of federal money has arrived
CANTON, S.D. (WNAX) – The Executive Board of the South Dakota legislature got an update on federal funding coming to the state due to the coronavirus pandemic. Senator Jim Bolin of Canton says Auditor General Marty Guindon (gwin-don) told them the first half of the federal money is in the bank. Bolin says federal rules… Read more »
Lack of broadband access still an issue in rural America
CONDE, S.D. (WNAX) – The coronavirus pandemic is highlighting the lack of broadband access in rural America. South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke says with social distancing and students needing to go on-line for their education that access is becoming more critical and in some areas of South Dakota it isn’t available at all.… Read more »
Authorities identify human remains found on Rapid City golf course
RAPID CITY, S.D. (Argus Leader) — Authorities have identified the human remains found recently near a creek on a golf course in Rapid City. Police say the remains are those of a woman who disappeared in 2015. Malinda Ader was 35 when she went missing. A grounds keeper at the Rapid City Elks Golf Course… Read more »