PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A legislative panel is beginning the process of hiring a new director for the South Dakota Legislature’s staff. Jim Fry, former director of the Legislative Research Council, resigned in September after a report prepared by an outside organization criticized his office. He said he was preparing to retire anyway, and...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota’s representatives to Congress are naturally divided along party lines when it comes to their opinion of the Affordable Care Act, but all of them agree that it’s their duty to help citizens figure out the law and find health insurance. Republicans Kristi Noem and John Thune are...

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) – The National Audubon Society’s 114th annual Christmas Bird Count begins Saturday. Counts around the country will run through Sunday, Jan. 5. The western South Dakota and Black Hills of Wyoming region will host at least 12 bird counts, 10 of which are official counts that contribute data to the...

WASHINGTON (AP) – Partisan politics are coloring governors’ decisions on whether to expand Medicaid in their states. The question of whether more low-income people receive Medicaid coverage may have less to do with their need than with how their states vote in governors’ races. Medicaid is the government health insurance program for the poor....

PIERRE, S.D  –  As Attorney General, I am disappointed to have read certain Editorials relating to the state’s investigation into the $550,000 diversion of funds to the federal EB-5 program.  Because it is uncharacteristic of reputable news sources to present inaccurate information to the public, I hope they take this opportunity to present accurate...

ONIDA, S.D. – (DRG News) A former Onida resident was found guilty of Simple Assault of a Law Officer and Theft during a jury trial yesterday.  41-year-old Jimmy Wipf was originally charged with Aggravated Assault on a Law Officer and Petty Theft for an incident that took place June 1 in Onida.  Authorities were...

RAPID CITY, S.D. – (DRG News) A Pierre soldier arrived back in South Dakota Thursday after serving a three-month deployment in Afghanistan with a South Carolina National Guard unit.  The South Dakota National Guard’s Public Affairs Office says that SD Guard Soldier Major Murray Thompson arrived at the Rapid City airport yesterday.  He had...

UNDATED – (DRG News) A Fort Pierre man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for Bank Fraud.  40-year-old Wyatt Rasmussen received a sentence of 33 months in custody to be followed by three years of supervised release.  In addition, Rasmussen was ordered to pay restitution of $238,969.59.  Rasmussen was indicted in federal court for...

(From the South Dakota National Guard’s Public Affairs Office) A welcome home ceremony will be held for 68 Soldiers of the 152nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, South Dakota Army National Guard, on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 3:30 p.m. (CT) at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, after completing a five-month deployment to Afghanistan in...

FORT YATES, N.D. (AP) – Forty-five members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who served as code talkers during World Wars I and II have been honored posthumously for their service. Family members of the former soldiers were presented Congressional Gold Medals during a ceremony in Fort Yates on Thursday. The medals were first...