News Category: Local News

Three killed in two-vehicle crash near Sturgis

STURGIS, S.D. (Press Release) – Three men died Tuesday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash near Sturgis. Names of the people involved are not yet being released pending notification of family members. A 2016 Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck and trailer was eastbound on Interstate 90 when it was rear-ended by a 2015 Maserati Ghibli. All three occupants… Read more »

Three killed in two-vehicle crash near Sturgis

STURGIS, S.D. (Press Release) – Three men died Tuesday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash near Sturgis. Names of the people involved are not yet being released pending notification of family members. A 2016 Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck and trailer was eastbound on Interstate 90 when it was rear-ended by a 2015 Maserati Ghibli. All three occupants… Read more »

Aberdeen hospitals managing COVID-19 patient demand

ABERDEEN, S.D. (By Elisa Sand esand@aberdeennews.com) – Health officials continue to recommend masks, social distancing and good hygiene as the number of COVID-19 patients increases at both Avera St. Luke’s Hospital and Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center. Ashley Erickson, CEO for Sanford Aberdeen, and Kelli Fischer, chief nursing officer at Avera St. Luke’s, appeared at the… Read more »

Aberdeen hospitals managing COVID-19 patient demand

ABERDEEN, S.D. (By Elisa Sand esand@aberdeennews.com) – Health officials continue to recommend masks, social distancing and good hygiene as the number of COVID-19 patients increases at both Avera St. Luke’s Hospital and Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center. Ashley Erickson, CEO for Sanford Aberdeen, and Kelli Fischer, chief nursing officer at Avera St. Luke’s, appeared at the… Read more »

Former Watertown mayor, Lake Area Tech president passes away

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — Former Watertown mayor and Lake Area Technical College (LATC) President Gary Williams has died. Williams spent 16 years leading LATC, and later became mayor in 2009, defeating then-incumbent Paul Fox in a runoff election. Williams career as mayor ended in 2009, when he lost to then-city councilman Steve Thorson. Thorson says… Read more »

Former Watertown mayor, Lake Area Tech president passes away

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — Former Watertown mayor and Lake Area Technical College (LATC) President Gary Williams has died. Williams spent 16 years leading LATC, and later became mayor in 2009, defeating then-incumbent Paul Fox in a runoff election. Williams career as mayor ended in 2009, when he lost to then-city councilman Steve Thorson. Thorson says… Read more »

Rounds says President knew stimulus talks weren’t going anywhere

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNAX) – President Trump announced he was giving up on Congressional negotiations over another coronavirus stimulus package until after the election. South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds says the President knew the talks weren’t going anywhere. Rounds says there is plenty of blame to go around. Rounds says Republicans could support a plan that… Read more »

Rounds says President knew stimulus talks weren’t going anywhere

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNAX) – President Trump announced he was giving up on Congressional negotiations over another coronavirus stimulus package until after the election. South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds says the President knew the talks weren’t going anywhere. Rounds says there is plenty of blame to go around. Rounds says Republicans could support a plan that… Read more »

Walworth County Commission votes to close jail

SELBY, S.D. (By Elisa Sand esand@aberdeennews.com) – A month after a lawsuit was filed in federal court questioning the safety of the Walworth County Jail in Selby, commissioners voted to close the facility. At their meeting Tuesday, county commissioners agreed to add an emergency motion to their agenda following an executive session during which legal… Read more »

Walworth County Commission votes to close jail

SELBY, S.D. (By Elisa Sand esand@aberdeennews.com) – A month after a lawsuit was filed in federal court questioning the safety of the Walworth County Jail in Selby, commissioners voted to close the facility. At their meeting Tuesday, county commissioners agreed to add an emergency motion to their agenda following an executive session during which legal… Read more »

Cwach says state falling far short in overall COVID testing

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – During Monday’s special session, democratic legislators attempted to amend the spending resolution to move more money to COVID-19 testing and tracing. Representative Ryan Cwach of Yankton says the state is falling far short in overall testing. Cwach says more testing would solve a lot of problems. Cwach says more testing would… Read more »

Cwach says state falling far short in overall COVID testing

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – During Monday’s special session, democratic legislators attempted to amend the spending resolution to move more money to COVID-19 testing and tracing. Representative Ryan Cwach of Yankton says the state is falling far short in overall testing. Cwach says more testing would solve a lot of problems. Cwach says more testing would… Read more »

Lawmakers sign off on Joint Committee on Appropriations recommendations

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota lawmakers signed off on recommendations of the Joint Committee on Appropriations during the special session Monday. Representative Jean Hunhoff of Yankton, a member of the JCA, says they put a lot of work into those spending decisions.   The state got over $1.2 billion from the federal government for… Read more »

Lawmakers sign off on Joint Committee on Appropriations recommendations

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota lawmakers signed off on recommendations of the Joint Committee on Appropriations during the special session Monday. Representative Jean Hunhoff of Yankton, a member of the JCA, says they put a lot of work into those spending decisions.   The state got over $1.2 billion from the federal government for… Read more »

Rapid City City Council votes to continue to allow urban hens

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Rapid City City Council after much discussion voted to continue urban hens until at least mid-November on a 6-3 vote. The issue was not without controversy, with both advocates and opponents in attendance to plea their case for or against urban birds. Some of the complaints include issues of sound,… Read more »

Rapid City City Council votes to continue to allow urban hens

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Rapid City City Council after much discussion voted to continue urban hens until at least mid-November on a 6-3 vote. The issue was not without controversy, with both advocates and opponents in attendance to plea their case for or against urban birds. Some of the complaints include issues of sound,… Read more »

South Dakota seeing boom in renewable energy projects

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – Power production is changing rapidly across the country and regulators are sometimes scrambling to keep up. South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Chairman Gary Hanson says the state is seeing a boom in renewable energy projects. Hanson says the PUC also works with legislators on consumer protection legislation. Hanson says there is… Read more »

South Dakota seeing boom in renewable energy projects

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – Power production is changing rapidly across the country and regulators are sometimes scrambling to keep up. South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Chairman Gary Hanson says the state is seeing a boom in renewable energy projects. Hanson says the PUC also works with legislators on consumer protection legislation. Hanson says there is… Read more »

Supreme Court hears case against Pierre, fire department

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court will decide whether the city of Pierre and its fire department are liable for a traffic crash that caused permanent damages to a motorcycle driver and a passenger. Fire department volunteer Gerrit Tronvold was driving to a training session in 2016 when he ran a stop… Read more »

Supreme Court hears case against Pierre, fire department

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court will decide whether the city of Pierre and its fire department are liable for a traffic crash that caused permanent damages to a motorcycle driver and a passenger. Fire department volunteer Gerrit Tronvold was driving to a training session in 2016 when he ran a stop… Read more »