MARION, S.D. (WNAX) – Combining rapid growth in electric service along with future needs is a challenge for Southeastern Electric. The cooperative, based in Marion, serves a large rural area along with rapidly growing residential developments near Sioux Falls and Harrisburg. Manager Brad Schardin says they hope to avoid major rate hikes next year. They… Read more »

OACOMA, S.D. (KWAT) — Amanda Harris, a fourth-grade teacher at Endeavor Elementary in the Harrisburg School District, has been named the 2020 South Dakota Teacher of the Year. Secretary of Education Ben Jones made the announcement at a banquet in Oacoma. Harris has taught in the Harrisburg School District since 2013. She has served on… Read more »

HAYES, S.D. (Press Release) – A 50-year-old woman died Saturday morning in a one-vehicle crash west of Hayes. Name of the deceased has not yet been released pending notification of family members. She was the only person involved. A 2004 Buick LaSabre was eastbound on U.S. Highway 14 when the driver lost control. The vehicle… Read more »

CAP Cadet Kyle Clement uses direction-finding equipment in the search for a missing plane near Aberdeen. Photo courtesy CAP. ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) continued searching for an aircraft that went missing last week, presumably between Aberdeen, South Dakota, and Oakes, North Dakota. Nearly 90 personnel and four aircraft from units… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – He’s known nationally as a Jeopardy champion and USA Today staff member, but Eddie Timanus got his educational foundation in Aberdeen at the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Timanus also has fond memories of helping his father, Chuck Timanus, with his Northern Wolves Basketball and Football radio broadcasts… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – Governor Kristi Noem has ordered flags at the South Dakota State Capitol to be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. until sunset on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, to honor the life of Doris Miner, a former legislator. Miner was first elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives in 1977,… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – Governor Kristi Noem, in conjunction with Avera Health Plans and Sanford Health Plan, is pleased to announce health insurance coverage options that include Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy in the South Dakota insurance market for 2020. “As governor and as a mom, I understand how important it is to get… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – Due to the Native American Day Holiday observance on Monday, Oct. 14, city garbage will change. Residents who normally have their garbage picked up on Monday are reminded to have their garbage out for pick-up by 8 a.m. Tuesday. Both Monday’s and Tuesday’s garbage will be picked up on Tuesday.… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – Northern State University is shelving or postponing additional Gypsy Day events due to the inclement weather. Postponed or Delayed The groundbreaking ceremony for the on-campus sports complex has been postponed. The NSU swim meet versus Augustana has been postponed. NSU Soccer’s matchup versus Minnesota Duluth has been moved back to… Read more »

HURON, S.D. (KWAT) — The 2019 South Dakota State Fair attendance numbers are out, more than a month after the fair wrapped up in Huron. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture says 205,172 people attended this year’s fair. Gate revenue was up 2.7 percent, carnival rides were up eight percent, and sales tax collections rose… Read more »

OMAHA, Neb. (WNAX) – The Corps of Engineers is predicting a near record year for run off into the Missouri River basin. Kevin Grode, reservoir regulation team lead for the Corps in Omaha, says run off so far this year is the second highest on record. Grode says they are seeing much above average run… Read more »

BUTLER, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say a South Dakota man was taken to a Minnesota burn center after he was injured in an explosion at this home. Day County Sheriff Ryan Rucktaeschel says the Butler man was trying to light his furnace Thursday morning when something went wrong. The unidentified man was the only one… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota’s Interim Legislative Hemp Study Committee is in the process of writing a bill that would legalize the growing of industrial hemp in 2020. That’s despite the Governor’s threat to veto it. Although they’ve begun the process the committee won’t finish it until federal rules from the USDA come out.… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – A council dedicated to overseeing juvenile justice reform may have some changes for the 2020 legislature to consider. The “Juvenile Justice Public Safety Improvement Act Oversight Council” was formed as part of the reform package passed several years ago and met this week in Sioux Falls. Senator Craig Kennedy of Yankton,… Read more »