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News
Previous News HeadlinesJuly 4th, 2009 Communities Bugged By Cuts To Mosquito Control EffortsMillions of mosquito eggs laid across southern Texas after Hurricane Ike hit the coast last summer are waiting for the little bit of rain and hot summer days they need to hatch. That’s got the man whose job it is to fight the bugs worried — he’s already running out of money.Rounds Says Palin Decision A SurprisePIERRE (AP) — Gov. Mike Rounds says the decision by Sarah Palin to resign as Alaska governor is a surprise.S.D. Has Second Flu HospitalizationPIERRE (AP) — A second South Dakotan has been hospitalized because of swine flu.Audit: Neb. Patrol Lost Guns, Laptops, EquipmentLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Laptop computers, sophisticated forensic-investigation equipment and shotguns are among the items the Nebraska State Patrol listed as property they had but couldn’t find, an audit shows.Nebraska Group: Johanns Staff Called Police During ForumOMAHA, Neb. — What was to have been a serious discussion Friday turned into a case of finger-pointing and accusations between a health care reform advocacy group and the staff of Republican Sen. Mike Johanns.Thune: Republicans Weakened In SenateRepublican Sen. John Thune says Republican proposals could hit a roadblock in the Senate with the official election of Democrat Al Franken in Minnesota.Nebraska GOP Takes Aim At ‘Rural Tour’OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Republican Party is taking issue with President Obama’s summer “rural tour” that will include a stop in western Nebraska.Smoking Ban Petitions ChallengedPIERRE — The expanded smoking ban passed by the South Dakota Legislature should be allowed to take effect immediately because opponents failed to collect enough valid signatures to put it to a statewide vote, supporters of the ban said Thursday.Lincoln Woman Is Fined For Dog AttackLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 51-year-old Lincoln woman has been fined $150 for her pit bull’s attack on a 10-year-old boy.July 3rd, 2009 Zoo Seeks Name For New Sea Lion PupOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo has launched a contest to name one of its newest residents — a female sea lion pup.Warren Buffett Gives $1.43B To CharitySEATTLE (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett has donated $1.25 billion in Berkshire Hathaway Inc. stock to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.Sioux Falls Police Nab Purse SnatchersSIOUX FALLS (AP) — Sioux Falls police say two people took a woman’s purse as she stood outside a laundromat and then tried to use the victim’s credit card at a gas station.Neb. Poison Center Urges Caution With Torch FuelOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Regional Poison Center is advising parents to use caution with fuel used for patio tiki torches.Fewer Residents Hunting WaterfowlPIERRE (AP) — Fewer South Dakotans have been hunting ducks and Canada geese in recent years, state wildlife officials say.July 2nd, 2009 Blockade Seeks To Stop Reservation DrinkingWHITECLAY, Neb. (AP) — Activists plan a blockade on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation north of Whiteclay, Neb., home to several outlets that sell beer to residents of the dry reservation.Neb. Cuts 7 State Employee PositionsLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska state agencies have eliminated seven employee positions in an effort to deal with budget woes.Closing Arguments Set In Child Abuse TrialSIOUX FALLS (AP) — Attorneys are presenting closing arguments in the trial of a former Sioux Falls day-care provider accused of shaking a baby and banging the infant’s head in November 2007.Official Announces Money For Indian AreasKYLE (AP) — A U.S. Treasury Department official was in Kyle, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, on Wednesday to announce $11.3 million from the agency’s Community Development Financial Institutions fund and the economic stimulus act for economically distressed Native communities nationwide.More Lion Hunting Allowed In New S.D. RulesPIERRE (AP) — South Dakota hunters will get a chance to kill more mountain lions next year under changes in the hunting season approved Wednesday by the Game, Fish and Parks Commission.Midwest Economy Showing Some SparkOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A survey of business leaders in nine Midwestern and Plains states suggests that the region’s economy continues to show signs of improvement, but job losses persist.Expert: Progress Made At Neb. CenterLINCOLN, Neb. — Progress is being made to correct problems at a state center for the developmentally disabled that has faced hundreds of cases of alleged abuse and neglect in recent years, but more must be, an official charged with inspecting the facility said in a report issued Wednesday.July 1st, 2009 Defense Gets Turn In Child Abuse TrialSIOUX FALLS (AP) — The prosecution has rested in the trial of a former Sioux Falls day-care provider accused of assaulting a baby in her care two years ago.Fireworks Banned In S.D. State ParksPIERRE (AP) — South Dakota officials say people should leave their fireworks at home when they visit state parks and recreation areas over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.S.D. Tourism Tax To Increase WednesdayPIERRE (AP) — South Dakota’s tourism tax increases by 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent with the start of the fiscal year on Wednesday.ACLU: Wedding Bias Allegations ResolvedOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A civil liberties group says five Nebraska counties accused of discriminating against immigrants seeking marriage licenses have changed or are working to change their policies.Neb. Census: Big Towns Bigger, Small SmallerLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The big keep getting bigger and the small keep getting smaller when it comes to Nebraska towns according to new U.S. Census data that shows the trend more pronounced in Nebraska than in neighboring Kansas and Iowa.Neb. Judge Rejects Flag Law AppealOMAHA, Neb. — A judge agreed Tuesday to let prosecutors move forward with their case against a Kansas woman accused of violating Nebraska’s flag-desecration law.5 Pools Closed After Bacteria TestsHURON (AP) — The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which regulates municipal swimming pools in the state, has closed pools in five cities due to unsafe levels of pseudomonas bacteria.June 29th, 2009 JBS Swift Beef Co. Expands Beef RecallGREELEY, Colo. (AP) — JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo., is voluntarily expanding its beef recall to include about 380,000 pounds of products because of possible E. coli contamination.BOR Projects Receive Stimulus FundsSIOUX FALLS (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says three rural water projects in North Dakota and South Dakota will share $93 million under the federal economic stimulus package.Mountain Lion Season On GF&P AgendaPIERRE (AP) — The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission plans a public hearing on plans for the next mountain lion hunting season and several others when it meets Wednesday in Pierre.Officials Emphasize Need For HIV TestingOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — State health officials say one in three Nebraska residents with HIV/AIDS doesn’t even know he or she has been infected.S.D. Swine Flu Count Rises To 25PIERRE (AP) — South Dakota reports its first hospitalization for swine flu.Neb. Official: Girl At Festival May Have Swine FluOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Pennsylvania girl who was among 2,400 people attending an international thespian festival in Nebraska likely has swine flu, a health official told The Associated Press on Sunday.Federal Judge Liking Sentencing FreedomABERDEEN (AP) — A federal judge in South Dakota says he and his colleagues are now more able to craft what they determine to be more appropriate sentences after nearly 20 years of having limited freedom to punish criminals as they see fit.Service Reading News To Blind CutABERDEEN — A program that helps visually impaired South Dakotans keep abreast of the news will no longer be available come the end of the month.National Sex Offender Registry Delayed A YearSIOUX FALLS — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. has given states and American Indian tribes another year to feed a national Internet database set up to protect children by showing where possible predators live and work.No Change For Rounds In RGAPIERRE (AP) — A change in leadership for the Republican National Governors Association will likely not mean much for Gov. Mike Rounds.Man Gets 10 Years For Hitting WomanRAPID CITY (AP) — A federal judge in Rapid City sentenced a 40-year-old Pine Ridge man to 10 years in prison for hitting a woman in the head with a stereo speaker.Sioux Falls Gets First Electric VehicleSIOUX FALLS (AP) — The city of Sioux Falls has begun using its first electric utility vehicle.Testing Shows No New Neb. Bovine TB CasesLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska agriculture officials say the results of the first week of testing for bovine tuberculosis have come back negative.Neb. Surpasses Requirement For Stimulus DollarsLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has surpassed a requirement meant to ensure federal-stimulus dollars for state highways are spent quickly, and officials say they are poised to beat another deadline by several months.S.D. Businesses To Pay Unemployment Surcharge Next YearPIERRE — South Dakota businesses will pay $36.1 million in surcharges next year to replenish the state trust fund that pays unemployment benefits, which is expected to go broke late this year due to rising joblessness, state Labor Secretary Pam Roberts said Monday.Many Neb. Cattle Die In Heat WaveOMAHA, Neb. — More than 2,000 Nebraska cattle died last week during an unexpected spike in temperatures and humidity levels, with one feedlot alone losing 250 cattle, officials estimated Monday.June 27th, 2009 Cattleman Surprised With $16K Legal BillPIERRE (AP) — Cattle rancher and auctioneer Herman Schumacher was surprised to find a sign posted on the door of his Herreid home saying he owes nearly $16,000 in legal fees to Tyson Fresh Foods.Mitchell Men Sentenced For Repeat DUIsMITCHELL (AP) — Two Mitchell men with a combined 16 drunken driving convictions have been sentenced to prison.Swine Flu Test Not Back On Festival AttendeeLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A state spokeswoman says officials are still awaiting results of a swine flu test for a youth attending the annual International Thespian Festival on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.Possibly Fewer Flights Into, Out Of AberdeenABERDEEN (AP) — An Aberdeen travel agent says Aberdeen Regional Airport apparently will lose one of its four daily flights in mid-August.Sioux Falls Stockyards Holds Final Cattle SaleSIOUX FALLS (AP) — The Sioux Falls Stockyards has held its final cattle sale after 92 years of business.Neb. Files Objections To GM BankruptcyLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning has filed objections to General Motors’ bankruptcy plans on behalf of Nebraska and 41 other states.Thune, Dorgan Seeking To Boost Standing Rock PatrolsSIOUX FALLS (AP) — U.S. Sens. John Thune and Byron Dorgan want to replenish the number of law enforcement officers assigned to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation that straddles their states.Court Upholds Dismissal Of S.D. Tribe’s Land LawsuitPIERRE — An appeals court on Friday refused to reinstate the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s lawsuit that sought to prevent the federal government from transferring thousands of acres of land along the Missouri River to the state.Extreme Heat Kills Hundreds Of Cattle In NebraskaOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A combination of high temperatures and humidity in Nebraska has killed hundreds of cattle, authorities said.Neb. Court: Tribe Can Intervene In Kids’ CasesLINCOLN, Neb. — Financially strapped American Indian tribes do not have to hire attorneys to represent their interests in child welfare cases, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled on Friday.June 26th, 2009 JBS Swift Recalls 41,000 Lb Of BeefGREELEY, Colo. (AP) — JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley has recalled about 41,000 pounds of its beef products because of possible E. coli contamination.Tornadoes Sweep Through RegionBISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Storms spawned two tornadoes in southwest North Dakota and as many as five in southeast South Dakota. Hail hit both states, strong winds downed power lines in South Dakota and a twister in North Dakota’s Stark County destroyed several farm buildings.Court Upholds Deaf Woman’s ChargesPIERRE (AP) — The state Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the murder and kidnapping convictions of a deaf woman accused of killing another deaf woman and cutting her up with a chain saw.Thune Succeeds Ensign For GOP PostWASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans on Thursday elected Sen. John Thune to the leadership post vacated by Sen. John Ensign, who stepped down after admitting to an extramarital affair with a campaign aide.Neb. Man Who Fled With Family SentencedPIERCE, Neb. (AP) — A northeast Nebraska man who vanished with his wife and children after being questioned on domestic-abuse allegations has been sentenced to prison for probation violation.HEALTH CARE - Rounds: States Can’t Bear CostPIERRE — Gov. Mike Rounds says he and other governors told President Barack Obama and congressional leaders that states cannot afford to bear the bulk of the cost of national health care reform.Smoking Ban On BallotPIERRE — An expanded smoking ban approved by state lawmakers won’t take effect as scheduled next week because opponents gathered enough petition signatures to put the issue before voters, Secretary of State Chris Nelson said Thursday. Supporters of the ban immediately questioned the validity of the signatures.Omaha Police Keep Watch Over MallsOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police are patrolling malls in the city in the wake of telephone threats from a man saying he planned to shoot people at a mall.June 24th, 2009 Official: S.D. Short On Highway FundsPIERRE — Federal stimulus money will boost South Dakota’s highway construction in the next few years but won’t solve its long-term funding shortfall for road and bridge work, state Transportation Secretary Darin Bergquist said Wednesday.Rapid City Working On Bus Driver Cell PolicyRAPID CITY (AP) — Rapid City is likely to join Sioux Falls in banning city bus drivers from using cell phones while behind the wheel.Charges Filed Against N.D. Bison RanchBISMARCK, N.D. (AP) —The Sioux County state’s attorney says charges have been filed against the owner of a ranch along the North Dakota-South Dakota border where hundreds of bison broke loose, trampling fences and feasting on other ranchers’ hay supplies.Warren Buffett: Economy Remains FlatOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett says the economy has not yet had any bounce and will take some time to recover.NTSB: Plane Tried To Land Before CrashingDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board says a small plane tried to land in a corn field before it crashed in northwest Iowa, killing all three Wisconsin men on board.Judge To Issue Opinion In Open Meetings DisputeMITCHELL (AP) — A judge in Mitchell says he’ll issue an opinion within 10 days in a dispute over South Dakota’s open meetings law.Some Neb. Stimulus Projects Won’t Start This YearLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Millions of dollars worth of Nebraska road projects meant to stimulate the economy won’t start this year, even though the worst of the downturn may already have passed.Crews Rescue S.D. Worker From RavineONIDA (AP) — Emergency crews rescued a worker after the road grader he was on slid into a 65-foot-deep ravine.June 23rd, 2009 S.D., Countrywide Reach SettlementPIERRE (AP) — Attorney General Larry Long says South Dakota has reached a settlement with Countrywide Financial Corp. over the marketing of subprime and other high-risk mortgage products in the state.Sioux Falls Bus Drivers Can’t Talk, DriveSIOUX FALLS (AP) — City bus drivers in Sioux Falls are now banned from using cell phones while they’re driving.Aberdeen Nursing Program On ProbationABERDEEN (AP) — The nursing program at Presentation College in Aberdeen is on probation because too few graduates in recent years passed a national nurse-licensing exam on the first try.Pierre Post Office Suicide Victim IdentifiedSIOUX FALLS (AP) — The FBI has released the name of a man who shot and killed himself Sunday afternoon in the Pierre post office.Former Sioux Falls Day-Care Provider On TrialSIOUX FALLS (AP) — Jury selection is under way in the trial of a former Sioux Falls day-care provider accused of shaking a baby and slamming the infant to the floor.Group Agrees To Buy Iowa Kosher SlaughterhouseIOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The president of a Canadian plastics plant and two partners have agreed to buy a struggling kosher slaughterhouse in northeast Iowa that was the site of a huge immigration raid in 2008.Judge To Rule On Abortion Donation CaseSIOUX FALLS (AP) — Circuit Judge Kathleen Caldwell said Tuesday she’ll decide soon whether to allow a lawsuit to continue that seeks the name of an anonymous donor who gave $750,000 toward the failed 2006 vote to ban most abortions in South Dakota.Rabies Cases On Rise In Neb. AnimalsLINCOLN, Neb. — Skunks are spreading more than bad odors in Nebraska: Rabies cases are on the rise and the striped animals are largely the cause.Study: Lower Niobrara Levels Would Hurt EconomyNIOBRARA, Neb. (AP) — A new study says ensuring the Niobrara River maintains its current flow is important because boating and tubing boosts the economy in north-central Nebraska.June 22nd, 2009 Petitions Filed For Public VotePIERRE — Casino owners and others opposed to expanding the state’s smoking ban filed petitions Monday that could have enough signatures to require a public vote on the issue.S.D. Cuts Funding For Program For The BlindABERDEEN (AP) — A program that helps blind and visually impaired South Dakotans keep abreast of the news will no longer be available come the end of the month.Soybean Planting In S.D. Nearly CompleteSIOUX FALLS (AP) — The state’s corn crop needs some sun and hot weather to catch up to the average height for late June.Johnson To Meet With SotomayorSIOUX FALLS (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson says he will meet on Tuesday with Sonia Sotomayor, the president’s nominee to fill a U.S. Supreme Court vacancy.Work Begins On Homestake Underground LabSIOUX FALLS (AP) — Far below the Black Hills of South Dakota, crews are building the world’s deepest underground science lab at a depth equivalent to more than six Empire State buildings — a place uniquely suited to scientists’ quest for mysterious particles known as dark matter.Missouri Senator Derides Pallid Sturgeon Water PlanST. LOUIS (AP) — Two years after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers halted dredging projects in Missouri aimed at restoring habitat for an endangered fish along the Missouri River, Sen. Kit Bond has again raised concerns about the strategy, saying it’s environmentally unsound.Bovine TB Scare Rattles ProducersBASSETT, Neb. — Two positive tests for tuberculosis in one of the most productive ranching regions in the country are nothing to fret about, Monte Strelow claims.FBI: Apparent Suicide In Pierre Post OfficePIERRE (AP) — The FBI says a 65-year-old Pierre man apparently committed suicide in a post office here on Sunday.June 21st, 2009 Mount Marty Hosts Fast Track FridaysNew and prospective students interested in learning more about attending college this fall should attend Mount Marty’s Fast Track Fridays throughout June and July (excluding Friday, July 3). Mount Marty financial aid, admissions and registration staff are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Roncalli Center on the Mount Marty College campus in Yankton.Rib Feast Cook-Off Contest Set For FreemanFREEMAN — Area BBQ enthusiasts are sought to participate in the second annual Rib Feast in Freeman on the Freeman Academy campus on Saturday, June 27.Cardboard Boat Race, Safety Festival Sat.The Yankton Press & Dakotan and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with Yankton Motorsports LLC, are teaming up to present the Cardboard Boat Race and Water Safety Festival, set for Saturday, June 27, at Lake Yankton Training Dike Recreation Area.Small Business Workshop At TEC June 24The Department of Labor will jointly host a Small Business Workshop with the Department of Revenue and Regulation and Small Business Development Center at the Technical Education Center Community Room, 1200 West 21st St., Yankton, on Wednesday, June 24. The event runs from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.Peer Support Group For Yankton Co. To MeetPrairie Freedom Center for Independent Living sponsors a peer support group for people with disabilities. The next meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, in the community room (first floor) of Canyon Ridge Apartments, 1700 Locust, Yankton. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to attend.Sorensen Honored For Years Of ServiceAnyone growing up in a small town in South Dakota knows that for a community to work, it usually takes a few people who are willing to selflessly donate their time in order to promote the town in which they live.Queen For A YearTABOR — Tabor’s annual Czech Days celebration is steeped in tradition, and one of the most important — and certainly one of the busiest — took place Saturday night.CrownedMiss South Dakota 2008, Alexandra Hoffman crowns Morgan Peck, Miss South Dakota 2009. Peck, a Sioux Falls native who competed as Miss USD, will represent South Dakota at the Miss America pageant in January in Las Vegas. Miss Sioux Empire Fair Alexis LeVan of Sioux Falls was named first runner-up. Miss Eastern Plains Aja Kessler of Rapid City took second runner-up honors. Third runner-up was Miss SDSU, Rose Heeb of Midland. (Courtesy photo)June 20th, 2009 Midwest Bankers: Economy Remains WeakOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of rural bankers in 11 Midwest and Plains states suggests the region’s economy remains weak, but the bankers believe the worst of the recession has already passed.Neb. Jobless Rate Drops In MayLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new federal report says Nebraska’s unemployment rate of 4.4 percent in May was the lowest in the nation, tied with North Dakota. |
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