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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Avera Health has received a $35 million donation to support construction of a new children’s hospital, marking the largest single gift in the system’s history. The contribution comes from philanthropist and [Read More…]

Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight RAPID CITY — Firefighters who’ve been busy battling wildfires in South Dakota’s Black Hills celebrated the opening Monday of two state-funded buildings to house their trucks, equipment and training. Jay Wickham, [Read More…]

John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight Members of a Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force plan to talk through South Dakota’s options for a prison seminary program, learn more about behavioral health at a soon-to-open Rapid City women’s prison [Read More…]

South Dakota Searchlight U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, has opened up a bigger lead in the race for the Republican nomination for governor, according to new poll results. The poll, commissioned by South Dakota News [Read More…]

Amelia Schafer/ICT ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. — Sahela Sangrait’s family, friends and community aren’t done demanding justice for her. Roughly one dozen community members gathered outside Ellsworth Air Force Base on April 17, in [Read More…]

Alex Brown/Stateline The U.S. Forest Service’s plan to close scores of research stations could threaten the nation’s wildfire readiness, many foresters fear, and erode decades of work to understand timber production, soil health, pests and [Read More…]

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Democrats are running for 46 of South Dakota’s 105 legislative seats — leaving 56% of seats without a Democratic candidate. That doesn’t bode well for the party ahead of November, said [Read More…]

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight It would cost up to $4 million to cut down Milbank’s ash trees, after state and city officials detected a beetle last summer that threatens to decimate the northeastern South Dakota [Read More…]

PIERRE, S.D. – Demand for the upcoming July 3 fireworks celebration at Mount Rushmore National Memorial soared with 102,991 tickets requested for the official Freedom 250 event. Approximately 4,800 participants will be able to attend the event. The randomly [Read More…]

David Lightman WASHINGTON — Tucked into Donald Trump’s new budget request is a plan that could dramatically change — and, critics say, slash — how much money and help states provide to people needing jobs [Read More…]

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Early and absentee voting for the June 2 primary election will be delayed, several election officials in South Dakota said Wednesday. Early voting is supposed to begin on Friday, but some [Read More…]