PIERRE, S.D. – (DRG News) A Pierre man received an award recently from the South Dakota Parks and Recreation Association (SDPRA). Each year, the association recognizes organizations and individuals for their work and dedication to communities through parks and recreation. This year, the 2014 SDPRA Distinguished Professional Award was given to Tom Farnsworth, Parks...

PIERRE, S.D. – (DRG News) The busy summer travel season in South Dakota is complete for another year and now a new group of visitors, from hunters to off-season tourists, are making trips to the state.  The Secretary for South Dakota’s Department of Tourism James Hagen says the start of this year’s peak tourist...

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from former U.S. Senate candidate Clayton Walker. Walker, who’s been indicted on election law violations, sued to have his name place on the November ballot as an independent candidate. Walker argued that South Dakota’s petition requirements were unconstitutional and that the petition filing...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rick Weiland says he’s launching a national petition drive to urge Democratic senate candidates to oust Harry Reid as the Senate majority leader. Weiland said Friday he wants senators to enlist Elizabeth Warren or another member of their caucus to challenge Reid if Democrats retain...

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Four groups in the Dakotas, two in North Dakota and two in South Dakota, are getting grants through the federal Agriculture Department’s Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program. The program aims to help develop or expand rural businesses, especially co-ops and mutually owned businesses.   In South Dakota, the Value Added Agriculture Development Center...

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – Trick-or-treaters across South Dakota will have decent weather to venture out for Halloween. The state forecast calls for highs Friday from the upper 30s in the northeast to the lower 50s in the southwest. And there’s no mention of rain. Among those greeting kids at the door will be Gov....

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – Campaign finance reports show incumbent Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard has brought in more than three times as much money as state Rep. Susan Wismer in the race for South Dakota’s next governor. The final reports published before the election show Daugaard has raised about $690,000 since the primary fundraising period...

PIERRE, S.D. – (DRG News) Two fires, deemed suspicious in nature, were put out last night on LaFramboise Island by the Pierre Fire Department. Pierre Fire Chief Ian Paul says crews were told that smoke was spotted on the island about 5:35 p.m. Wednesday. He says firefighters found two small fires about a mile...

PIERRE, S.D. – (DRG News) A former Pierre man was honored yesterday as part of a dedication event held at Pierre’s Arboretum. The arboretum holds a number of different native species of trees and is located in southeast Pierre near the Izaak Walton Club. Yesterday, two benches, some recent tree plantings and a sign,...

PIERRE, S.D. – (DRG News) An inmate at the South Dakota Women’s Prison has been sentenced for an assault incident at the prison in Pierre. 23-year-old Amada Portillo is currently serving a five-year sentence out of Hughes County for a 2012 count of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Most recently, the South...