PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – The South Dakota Department of Education has released its strategic plan, which will guide the department’s activities through 2024. Secretary of Education Dr. Ben Jones says chief among the priorities is championing excellence in the South Dakota K-12 education system. He says to that end, the top two priorities are… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KELO.com) —  The pilot and a passenger worked for three hours to remove ice and snow from the private plane that crashed near Chamberlain killing nine people November 30. That’s from the preliminary report released Tuesday by the National Transportation Safety Board: https://ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20191217.aspx The report also says that witnesses told investigators that snow limited… Read more »

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – A Sioux Falls man will spend decades in prison for charging at officers with knives outside of a jail earlier this year. Forty-four-year-old George Rinzy Jr. was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in the state penitentiary. Rinzy was shot by law enforcement outside the Minnehaha County Jail after causing a… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – Beginning at approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, the following road will be closed to thru traffic for work on a water line: First Ave. N.E. from N. Lincoln St. to N. Jay St. Work will be completed as quickly as possible. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KBHB) – Rapid City police are investigating an armed robbery of the Boyds Drug RX Express on the 2600 block of Mount Rushmore Road. Witnesses say a male suspect entered the pharmacy around 11 a.m., showed a gun and demanded property. Police did not elaborate on what that property was. The suspect… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (KCCR) – A Kansas truck driver challenged the Pierre railroad viaduct and lost Monday night. Pierre Police Captain Bryan Walz says 59 year-old Rex Birney of Dighton, Kansas was hauling a cattle trailer south through Pierre on Euclid Avenue when he attempted to pass under the 11-foot three-inch clearance that has been the… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is planning to have another go at riot-boosting laws next year. Noem championed the laws passed earlier this year before they were successfully challenged in court. The Republican governor has sent lawmakers proposed changes that she says protect people from violence while also protecting free speech… Read more »

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – A Sioux Falls man accused of hitting a police officer with a motorcycle and threatening two others has been indicted on assault charges. Police say officers were directing traffic in downtown Sioux Falls last July when the man revved the motorcycle’s engine nearby. When the officers went to speak with… Read more »

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — A South Dakota candidate for U.S. Senate introduced herself to the audience at Monday night’s Watertown City Council meeting. District 32 Republican State Representative Scyller Borglum of Rapid City is running for the Senate seat now held by Mike Rounds. She says there are three main issues she’d like to tackle.… Read more »

PIEDMONT, S.D. (KBHB) – Fire crews in the Piedmont area responded to a vehicle fire Monday night. The fire was located on Telluride Street. Rapid City Fire tweeted it had sent Truck 3 to the incident to assist Piedmont crews in putting the fire out. The fire was threatening the structure when authorities arrived. The… Read more »

CANTON, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, during her budget address, proposed that special education services be reclassified and that an additional $14 million in state funding be added. Senator Jim Bolin of Canton has served on special education study committees the past two years and says it is a good move by… Read more »

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — It’s not only the holiday season, but the influenza season too, and South Dakota’s state epidemiologist says the flu is making an appearance in the state as we wrap up the year. Dr. Joshua Clayton is with the South Dakota Department of Health. He says the strain of flu that’s showing… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (HubCityRadio.com) – Holiday shoppers have one week remaining to purchase those Christmas gifts. Karla Spear, Aberdeen Mall Manager, said that things have been going well so far this season. She said this an important time of the year for businesses at the mall. There are a few seasonal businesses that set up shop… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (KWAT) – China has expressed cautious optimism about an agreement to start dialing down a trade war that it blames the U.S. for starting. Chinese experts and news media said over the weekend that the deal would reduce uncertainty for companies and lay the foundation for further talks. The two countries announced a… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – State employees in South Dakota are facing the prospect of no raise next year following the budget proposal laid out by Governor Kristi Noem. Eric Olilla, (oh-LEE-la) Executive Director of the South Dakota State Employees Organization, says the raise employees got last year was soaked up by changes to their insurance… Read more »