March 11, 2020

PIERRE, S.D. — As the South Dakota Legislature enters its final day to finalize a budget, lawmakers are squabbling over how to spend $13 million in unexpected one-time funds. Republican lawmakers are negotiating competing proposals on how to use the money. It appears that 2% inflationary increases to fund salaries for teachers, state employees and […]

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem says three more positive tests for COVID-19 were released today, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 8. The Governor says the three new cases are in Minnehaha and Bon Homme Counties. Two of the cases are in Minnehaha; a male in the 40-49 […]

BILLINGS, Mont. — A Canadian company says it has started preliminary work along the proposed Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the U.S. as opponents wait for a judge to rule on their request to block the project. TC Energy spokeswoman Sara Rabern said Wednesday the Calgary-based company was moving equipment this week and will […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The major health care systems in South Dakota are gearing up for the possible spread of Covid-19 infections. The first cases were reported in the state yesterday (Tuesday). At Monument Health in Rapid City, they report physicians and caregivers have been planning and preparing for weeks to confront the virus. The […]

PIERRE, S.D. — Preliminary election results say members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe have passed a referendum to legalize medical and recreational marijuana on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. A proposal to to allow alcohol in the tribe’s casino failed. The results will be certified in the next week. The preliminary tally from […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — A former priest accused of stealing $260,000 in cash donations from the Diocese of Rapid City has been found guilty on all 65 charges against him. Marcin Garbacz, 41, had no reaction when a judge read the federal jury verdicts Tuesday on wire fraud, money laundering, filing false tax returns and […]

WEBSTER, S.D.—The search for a missing South Dakota man is over. Authorities have been looking for 67-year-old Richard “Butch” Carpenter, who last known to be in the Bitter Lake area near Waubay around nine o’clock Sunday night. Today, the Day County Law Enforcement issued a statement saying, “Richard “Butch” Carpenter was located along with his […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Tuesday that more than 134 nursing homes across the country have adopted a “no visitors” policy in an effort to lower the risk of exposure to the coronavirus among older veterans who are particularly vulnerable to infection. VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said earlier Tuesday that those […]