PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – A ground breaking ceremony was Friday morning at the site of Pierre’s new drinking water treatment facility. In June 2018, 73% of those voting in Pierre approved the plan to build a new $37.5 million water treatment facility in Steamboat Park to reduce the high mineral content found in the… Read more »

AVON, S.D. (WNAX) – School districts across the state are working through their back to class plans as most will welcome students back later this month. In the Avon District, face masks usage will be recommended for students and staff. Superintendent Tom Culver says they know it will be a challenge for the kids in… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – The Risk Management Agency of USDA has extended the deadline for premium and administrative fee payments on crop insurance. Yankton Crop Insurance Agent Dave Hubbs says it gives farmers more time to get those payments in without picking up interest fees by moving the deadline back a couple of months. He… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court has ruled that the Dakota Access Pipeline can continue operating pending further court proceedings. Six ag groups from South Dakota and North Dakota filed the court action. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says it’s important DAPL… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – The value of all land and buildings on farms in South Dakota has gone down from last year (2019) to this year (2020). The US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service says farm real estate value for 2020 averaged $2,010 per acre, down $60 per acre (3%) from last… Read more »

FREEMAN, S.D. (Press Release) – A Tabor, S.D. woman has been identified as the person who died early Tuesday morning in a one-vehicle crash south of Freeman. A 2011 Subaru Legacy was southbound on U.S. Highway 81 when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle eventually went into the west ditch. Brooklyn Zimmerman,… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – The City of Aberdeen has scheduled a city-wide ground spray for mosquitoes on Thursday, Aug. 6 between the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The adulticiding equipment is noisy and travels at 10 mph. The mosquito control trucks are identified and travel with a flashing yellow light. To ensure… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – People in the U.S., Canada, Australia and the EU have received unsolicited packets of seeds from China. Osama El-Lissy is with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection program. He outlines what you should do if you receive one of the seed packets. He… Read more »

PLATTE, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem had a conference call with legislative leaders last week to talk about the federal funds the state has received and the possibility of a special session. House Majority Leader Lee Qualm of Platte says they are waiting on more information from Congress. The state got over… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – Governor Kristi Noem announced that award-winning country music superstar Chris Young will headline the concert at this year’s inaugural Governor Noem’s Sportsmen’s Showcase and Concert. The Showcase and Concert will be part of the annual Governor’s Hunt, a long-standing part of South Dakota’s pheasant hunting tradition. “South Dakota is home… Read more »

BROOKINGS, S.D. (KJJQ) – The Brookings School Board approved the plan for students to return to school. It will include face-to-face, in-school classes five days a week. Masks will be required for all students, staff and visitors. School Superintendent Klint Willert says they took a great deal of input from parents and staff, including a… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – The Department of Social Services (DSS) will convene the Commission on Child Support in 2021 to review child support guidelines. Federal law calls for the review to be completed every four years and was to be done in 2020, but due to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – Sixteen sobriety checkpoints in 12 different counties are planned for August by the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.   The checkpoints are done each month in different counties as a way to discourage drivers from drinking and then driving.   August checkpoints are scheduled in the counties of: Charles… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – Governor Kristi Noem has ordered that flags at the South Dakota State Capitol be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sundown on Wednesday, Aug. 5, in honor of former Attorney General Mark Meierhenry. Meierhenry was South Dakota’s 26th Attorney General, serving from 1979-1987; he had previously served as deputy attorney… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A man was arrested Friday after being accused of pointing a gun at two people and firing it outside an apartment complex in Rapid City. The 18-year-old man was taken into custody after surrendering to law enforcement officers many hours later. Witnesses told police the man pointed a handgun at… Read more »