South Dakota court suspends law license of former attorney general after fatal accident
The South Dakota Supreme Court has ordered a six-month suspension of former state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg’s law license.
Errant ostrich brings traffic to a halt in South Dakota after escaping from a trailer
An ostrich brought traffic to a halt in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as motorists tried to lure and nudge the towering bird off a multilane thoroughfare.
Multiple crew failures and wind shear led to January crash of B-1 bomber, Air Force says
A fiery January crash of a B-1 bomber aircraft in South Dakota was caused by multiple crew failures, winter weather and a last-minute brush with wind shear that resulted in all four members ejecting and the total loss of the $450 million warplane.
South Dakota Gov. Noem's official social media accounts seem to disappear without explanation
Longstanding official social media accounts belonging to South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem appear to have been deleted without explanation.
Severe weather wreaks havoc across the US — from Midwest flooding to deadly Northeast storms
Severe weather over days has caused havoc and destruction across the U.S. That includes torrential rains and flooding in the Upper Midwest and powerful storms in the Northeast that left a least two people dead from falling trees.
Tribes honor the birth of a rare white buffalo calf in Yellowstone and reveal its name: Wakan Gli
Native American religious ceremonies with dancing, drumming, singing and the retelling of a sacred legend commemorated the recent birth of a rare white buffalo calf in Yellowstone National Park.
Swollen river claims house next to Minnesota dam as flooding and extreme weather grip the Midwest
A house that was teetering on the edge of an eroding riverbank near a Minnesota dam has collapsed into the river as extreme weather and flooding continue to grip the upper Midwest.
Midwestern carbon dioxide pipeline project gets approval in Iowa, but still has a long way to go
Iowa regulators have approved a controversial carbon dioxide pipeline for transporting emissions of the climate-warming greenhouse gas for storage underground.
Iowa floodwaters breach levees as even more rain dumps onto parts of the Midwest
Severe storms with tornado warnings brought hail and heavy rain to parts of the Midwest as floodwaters breached levees in Iowa, creating dangerous conditions that prompted evacuations.
Millions swelter as temperatures soar across the US, while floodwaters inundate the Midwest
Millions of Americans sweated through yet another scorching day, while floodwaters forced evacuations in parts of the Midwest, including a town in Iowa whose own water-level gauge was submerged.
An anti-abortion group in South Dakota sues to take an abortion rights initiative off the ballot
An anti-abortion group in South Dakota has filed a lawsuit to block an abortion rights measure from the November ballot.
Biden and Trump win Democratic, Republican elections in some of 2024's last primary contests
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump won Democratic and Republican primaries in a handful of states Tuesday, among some of the last contests on the 2024 primary calendar.
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the South Dakota presidential and state primaries
South Dakota Republicans’ tug-of-war over their party identity continues in Tuesday’s election, with district-level primaries the main event.
Pronouns and tribal affiliations are now forbidden in South Dakota public university employee emails
A new South Dakota Board of Regents policy keeps employees from including their gender pronouns in school email signatures and other correspondence.
South Dakota governor, a potential Trump running mate, writes in new book about killing her dog
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem — a potential running mate for presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump — is getting attention again.
South Dakota legislator calls for inquiry into Gov. Noem's Texas dental trip and promo video
A Democratic legislator is calling for an inquiry into South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem’s trip to Texas for dental work and a promotional video in which she praises the dental office.
South Dakota Sen. John Thune jumps into race to succeed McConnell as Senate leader
South Dakota Sen. John Thune is entering the race to be the next Republican leader of the U.S. Senate after Sen. Mitch McConnell steps away from the post in November.
South Dakota Republican lawmakers want clarity for the state's abortion laws. They propose a video
South Dakota’s Republican-controlled Legislature has approved the creation of a video to outline the state’s abortion laws and to clarify when health care providers are legally allowed to intervene.
Bill headed to South Dakota governor would allow museum's taxidermy animals to find new homes
South Dakota's Legislature has made it easier for the city of Sioux Falls to find new homes for more than 150 taxidermy animals of its arsenic-contaminated collection.
GOP lawmakers try to thwart abortion rights ballot initiative in South Dakota
South Dakota’s Republican-led Legislature is trying to thwart a proposed ballot initiative that would enable voters to protect abortion rights in the state constitution.
What to know about South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's banishment from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
For the second time as governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem has been banished from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
South Dakota tribe bans governor from reservation over US-Mexico border remarks
The Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota has banned Gov. Kristi Noem from the Pine Ridge Reservation, one of the largest in the U.S. This comes days after the Republican governor gave a speech about wanting to send razor wire and security personnel to Texas to help deter immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.
There's a wave of new bills to define antisemitism. In these 3 states, they could become law
Lawmakers in more than a half-dozen U.S. states are pushing laws to define antisemitism, triggering debates about free speech and bringing complicated world politics into statehouses.
South Dakota House passes bill that would make the animal sedative xylazine a controlled substance
The South Dakota House has passed a bill that would make xylazine a controlled substance.
Major Navigator CO2 pipeline project is on hold while the company reevaluates the route in 5 states
One of the two biggest proposed carbon dioxide pipeline projects in the Midwest is being put on hold so the company can reevaluate the route.
Deadly bird flu reappears in US commercial poultry flocks in Utah and South Dakota
Highly pathogenic bird flu has made its first appearances in U.S. commercial poultry flocks this season, affecting one turkey farm in South Dakota and one in Utah.
CO2 pipeline project denied key permit in South Dakota; another seeks second chance in North Dakota
South Dakota regulators have denied a construction permit to a carbon dioxide pipeline project.
Natural history museum closes because of chemicals in taxidermy collection
A South Dakota museum is closing after almost 40 years over concerns that the chemicals in its taxidermy collection could endanger visitors and staff.
South Dakota governor prods Washington to address national drug shortages
As the U.S. struggles with prescription drug shortages, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has advanced a modest plan that she hopes will prod Washington to address weaknesses in the international pharmaceutical supply chain.
S. Dakota Senate suspends lawmaker after vaccine exchange
The South Dakota Senate has suspended a Republican state senator in a rare move that stripped her of legislative power while keeping the allegations against her a secret.
Some Jan. 6th rioters gain sympathy for cause in red states
Some participants in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection are taking their case that the 2020 presidential election was stolen to sympathetic audiences, including elected officials, in red states.
Medical marijuana firms lead donors for legal weed campaigns
Donors associated with companies holding medical marijuana licenses are providing most of the funding for ballot measures that would legalize recreational marijuana in several states.
South Dakota prosecutor: No charges for Noem's airplane use
A South Dakota prosecutor who was overseeing an investigation into Gov. Kristi Noem’s use of state government aircraft says that the investigation found nothing to support a criminal prosecution.
Ethics board keeps 'action' secret on complaint against Noem
A South Dakota ethics board is keeping it a secret what action it took after finding there was evidence Gov. Kristi Noem improperly intervened in her daughter’s application for a real estate appraiser license.
Conservative college's curriculum gets foothold in S. Dakota
A proposal for South Dakota's public school standards for American history was influenced by a conservative private college enjoying outsize influence among top Republicans.
Board: SD Gov. Kristi Noem may have 'engaged in misconduct’
A South Dakota ethics board has found enough information that Gov. Kristi Noem may have “engaged in misconduct” when she intervened in her daughter’s application for a real estate appraiser license to potentially take action against the Republican governor.
Wounded Knee artifacts highlight slow pace of repatriations
Tribes in South Dakota are working with a rural Massachusetts museum to return hundreds of items believed to have been taken from ancestors massacred at Wounded Knee Creek in 1890.
GOP governors mulling 2024 run aren't rushing abortion laws
Several Republican governors seen as potential 2024 presidential candidates have been cautious to push new abortion restrictions in their state since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
South Dakota senators silent on AG impeachment vote
South Dakota senators are staying silent on how they will vote as they weigh whether to remove Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg from office for his conduct surrounding a 2020 fatal car crash.
South Dakota’s Noem, Thune repel GOP challenges from right
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has won the Republican primary for another term, defeating a former legislative leader who accused her of using the office to mount a 2024 White House bid.
Battle heats up over remaining federal rental assistance
A debate is playing out across the country as the Treasury Department begins reallocating some of the $46.5 billion in rental assistance from places slow to spend to others that are running out of funds.
US taps $420M to boost water supplies hit by climate change
Federal officials are funneling more money to rural water projects in several states as the Biden administration looks to put a dent in growing infrastructure needs amid drought and climate change.
Double-digit seeds continue winning in women's NCAAs
Double-digit seeds are leaving their mark on the first weekend of the women’s NCAA Tournament and bouncing some of the top players and teams in the country, including Iowa's Caitlin Clark and Baylor's NaLyssa Smith.
Transgender athlete ban, backed by Noem, clears committee
A South Dakota legislative committee has approved a bill championed by Gov. Kristi Noem to ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports leagues that match their gender identity.
South Dakota makes it harder for women to get abortion meds
South Dakota lawmakers have approved Gov. Kristi Noem’s new rule for medical abortions that make the state one of the hardest places in the U.S. to get abortion pills.
Engineer accused of attempting to pass US secrets to Russia
The Justice Department says an engineer who worked for decades as a federal defense contractor has been arrested on charges of trying to pass classified information to someone he thought was a Russian agent but who was actually an undercover FBI employee.
Noem's daughter says she's quitting real estate business
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s daughter says she will quit the real estate appraiser business following scrutiny over whether her mother used her influence to aid her application for an appraiser license.
OSHA, South Dakota pork plant settle coronavirus complaint
Federal safety regulators reach an agreement with Smithfield Foods to settle a contested citation of the company’s coronavirus safety measures during a massive outbreak last year at the South Dakota pork processing plant.
South Dakota Legislature moves for subpoenas on Noem meeting
South Dakota lawmakers have moved to subpoena a document and a former state employee at the center of questions about whether Gov. Kristi Noem used her influence to aid her daughter’s application for a real estate appraiser license.
Texas order reflects growing GOP vaccine mandates hostility
With the governor of Texas leading the charge, conservative Republicans in several states are moving to block or undercut President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private employers before the regulations are even issued.
Tractor-trailer driver sentenced for taking Virginia minors to South Dakota, engaging in criminal sexual activity
A tractor-trailer driver has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after authorities said he had sex with a 13-year-old girl from Virginia, who later gave birth to his child, while on a trip to South Dakota in his truck.
South Dakota AG reviewing Noem's meeting with daughter
The South Dakota attorney general says he is reviewing concerns from state lawmakers over a meeting Gov. Kristi Noem held last year that included both her daughter and a state employee who was overseeing her daughter’s application to become a certified real estate appraiser.
As daughter sought state license, Noem summoned agency head
Ethics experts are questioning whether South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem had a conflict of interest by meeting with her daughter and top state officials last year in the governor's office while her daughter was pursuing a real estate certification.
Ohio beats South Dakota 5-2, reaches LLWS championship game
Cooper Oden struck out six and allowed two runs over five innings Saturday as Ohio hung on to beat South Dakota 5-2 in a semifinal at the Little League World Series.
Sturgis bike rally revs back bigger, despite virus variant
Crowds of bikers are rumbling their way towards western South Dakota, raising fears that COVID-19 infections will be unleashed among the 700,000 people expected to show up at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Carbon-capture pipelines offer climate aid; activists wary
Two companies seeking to build thousands of miles of pipeline across the Midwest are promising the effort will aid rather than hinder the fight against climate change.
GOP donor funds South Dakota National Guard troops in Texas
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says she will use a donation from a Republican donor to fund a deployment of up to 50 South Dakota National Guard troops to the U.S. border with Mexico.
South Dakota's Noem launches legal strategy to take on Biden
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is likely to stay among conservative politicians favored by former President Donald Trump with the help of an unusual strategy for a governor.
South Dakota AG pleads not guilty in fatal crash hearing
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2014, file photo South Dakota Attorney General Ravnsborg speaks in Sioux Falls, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg pleaded not guilty in an initial court hearing Friday for three misdemeanor charges he is facing for striking and killing a man with his car last summer. The Republican attorney general did not appear at the courthouse in Pierre, South Dakota, but his lawyer Tim Rensch made the plea on his behalf. Nemec called Ravnsborg's decision not to plead guilty at the outset of the case “troubling.”“He was obviously outside of his lane. House lawmakers had moved to begin impeachment proceedings against the attorney general last month, but took a step back after the judge's order.
South Dakota House lawmakers leave AG impeachment in doubt
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2014, file photo South Dakota Attorney General Ravnsborg speaks in Sioux Falls, S.D. The House State Affairs Committee amended a resolution to impeach Republican Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, striking the articles of impeachment and replacing them with language that said he could potentially be impeached. AdHowever, Nick Nemec, Boever's cousin who has been outspoken against the attorney general since shortly after the crash, confronted lawmakers with his frustrations. AdIf the Legislature reconvenes, the House would need a simple majority to advance the impeachment charges to the Senate. There, it would require two-thirds of senators to convict and remove the attorney general from office.
Police grilled South Dakota AG on phone use before crash
Attorney General Ravnsborg has indicated he will not step down while he waits for the case against him to proceed. AdThe Republican attorney general is facing three misdemeanor charges in the Sept. 12 crash, as well as calls for his resignation from Gov. AdThe attorney general has been charged with using his phone while driving, but prosecutors said his phone records show he had locked the device about a minute before the crash. AdHe said, “I found the body and I just came to Tim, and I said: ‘Tim, Tim, Tim, you’ve got to come here. Meanwhile, prosecutors who charged the attorney general had asked the Department of Public Safety to not release the videos.
South Dakota House moves to impeach AG after fatal crash
Attorney General Ravnsborg has indicated he will not step down while he waits for the case against him to proceed. The Republican attorney general faces three misdemeanor charges but no felonies in the September death of 55-year-old Joseph Boever. It would take a simple majority in the House to advance the impeachment charges to the Senate. The attorney general could face up to 30 days in jail and up to a $500 fine on each charge, if convicted. “I never saw him.”__This story has been corrected to show that the resolution to impeach the attorney general has been filed in the House, but not formally introduced.
7-year-old South Dakota girl’s dream of having sled dog comes true
– Sloane Penfield and her new best friend, Harley, will be watching the Iditarod sled dog race closely this year. The 7-year-old has been dreaming of dog sledding for most of her young life. But before she could fill all those bottles, her dream came true. In November, her parents surprised her with a trip to Montana, a visit to Skinny Leg Sled Dogs and her very own sled dog. “They came out here we did a little sled ride together.
Trump loyalists in South Dakota turn on home state senator
Trump flags still fly over homes across South Dakota, showing enduring support for the former president. When Thune disputed the baseless allegations of election fraud, Trump declared the senator's “political career over” and suggested GOP Gov. One of them, Bruce W. Whalen, said Thune’s refusal to support Trump's claims of fraud has fueled interest. Volk has observed a steady rightward lurch in Republican politics over the years that has culminated in widespread support for Trump. “But there’s no way they’re going to get him to go away.”Others, like Tom Barnett, a former director of the state’s bar association, have given up on the Republican Party.
Experts say experience convinced Midwest of virus dangers
Since the middle of November, the entire region has returned to levels similar to those seen in October. Governors have used the declining numbers to justify their divergent approaches to fighting the pandemic, even jousting at times. As the pandemic crept into communities across the Midwest, more people had loved ones, friends or acquaintances fall ill or die. Many health experts warned that the region was ripe for widespread infections, especially as the weather cooled and people gathered inside, making it easier for the coronavirus to spread. Other experts say some pockets of people, such as those who work in meatpacking plants where infections were widespread, had experienced such high rates of infections that the virus has slowed.
Gonzaga strengthens grip on No. 1 spot in AP poll
1 spot in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll after beating Iowa. The Zags received 61 of 64 first-place votes from a media panel in the poll released on Monday. 2 Baylor got the remaining three first-place votes and No. Gonzaga had 54 first-place votes last week. ___More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25