PIERRE, S.D.(KELO)- South Dakota’s COVID hospitalization rate is down 31% over the past 14 days. As hospitalizations due to the coronavirus continue to drop, most who are hospitalized continue to be those that are unvaccinated. South Dakota Department of Health Interim Health Secretary Joan Adam: At least 71% of South Dakotan’s have received at least… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release) – The March Community Affairs Luncheon, hosted by the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce, will be held on Thursday, March 3rd  from 12-1 pm at the Best Western Ramkota Convention Center. Guest speaker will be Brown County Commissioner Doug Fjeldheim. Lunch will be served. Cost is $20 for Chamber members and $25… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The annual debate over dropping the sales tax on food in South Dakota ended in the Senate Taxation Committee Wednesday. Senator Reynold Nesiba of Sioux Falls, the prime sponsor, said the money is there to sustain dropping the four and a half cent state tax on groceries. Presentation Sister Lynn Marie Welbig supports… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- While active Covid-19 infection numbers are dropping sharply, hospitals will again be behind that trend. Doug Ekeren, President of Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, says the latest surge of infections was spread across all age ranges. Ekeren says their inpatient numbers have been up in all their departments. Ekeren says research continues… Read more »

BROOKINGS, S.D.(WNAX)- Lack of snow cover is widespread across much of the northern plains. South Dakota State Climatologist Laura Edwards says bare soil leads to deeper frost levels. Edwards says the climate outlooks don’t show much change through the end of the month. Edwards says this is normally the driest time of year anyway. There… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- The Yankton School District has now dropped the mandatory face mask policy, but a Covid-19 policy is still in place. The 4-1 vote came after several public comments were made attacking the policy and board members for supporting it, insinuating the decision was made to get federal grants. Crandall says the pandemic infection… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- A resolution that redefines when life begins has passed South Dakota’s House State Affairs Committee.  The 8 to 4 vote sends the bill to the House floor. If approved by both the House and Senate, the proposed amendment to the state constitution would go before voters at the next general election. Following the… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release)- The Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors recently voted in support of the following Legislative Bills being discussed in the South Dakota Legislature:   House Bill 1288 – $30 Million for a Northeast Regional Jail Facility located in Aberdeen Senate Bill 44 – $29.5 Million for the demolition and the… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release) – Northern State University’s Student Success Center has officially opened in its new centralized location on campus.     Advising Center/Navigate: Mewaldt-Jensen 122 American Indian Circle Program: Mewaldt-Jensen 112 Career Services: Mewaldt-Jensen 102 TRIO Student Support Services: Technology Center 159 TRIO Upward Bound: Mewaldt-Jensen 103 Tutoring Services, Academic Support, Supplemental Instruction and the Math Help Center:… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(KOTA)- While Ukraine has been the word of the minute for US Senator Mike Rounds – he says domestic issues are also cause for concern. Namely a pain we’re all feeling in our wallets – inflation. Rounds said in this case he can’t help but pin blame one place. Rounds is particularly concerned with… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(KELO)- Senator Mike Rounds is on the Senate Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees. Fox News asked him Tuesdy for the latest on the situation with Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine and some media have speculated that Russia could invade Ukraine soon. President Joe Biden Tuesday said the U.S. would continue its diplomatic efforts. Senator… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The individual who will lead South Dakota’s correctional system comes from Colorado where she was president of a company that administers health care service to state and local corrections partners. Gov. Kristi Noem Wednesday announced the appointment of Kellie Wasko as the new Secretary of Corrections, effective March 7. Wasko currently… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA)- HB1012 outlines “divisive concepts” teachers aren’t allowed to promote through coursework and training in higher education. These include labeling certain groups or people as inherently racist or sexist, and making students feel uncomfortable based on their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin. The bill originally referenced an academic concept called “Critical… Read more »