Freedom 250 and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) recently honored the Regional, People's Choice, and National Winners of the American Heroes Student Art Contest during a special awards ceremony in Washington DC. The South Dakota America 250 Commission celebrates the winners of the Freedom 250 Student Art...

The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands-- which includes the Fort Pierre National Grassland-- have issued a fire ban due to ongoing drought conditions and an elevated risk of wildfire. The ban applies to the Fort Pierre, Pine Ridge, Bessey, Fall River and Wall Ranger Districts. Along with the Fort Pierre National ...

A mandatory water use restriction is in effect in Fort Pierre while the West River/Lyman-Jones and Mni Wiconi Rural Water Systems try to keep up with demand caused by triple digit temperatures in the forecast for the next several days. Both water systems are pumping at maximum capacity, but the mandatory outside wateri...

This week (July 15, 2026), a Hughes County judge gave the State of South Dakota a permanent injunction against a co-owner of Advanced Resources LLC, which did business in the state as Patriot Warranty. The judge also awarded the State civil penalties and attorney's fees totaling more than $34,500 ($34,579) against Jack...

Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed legislation to create a clean fuel standard for the state. The new law, which has garnered support from Clean Fuels Alliance America, aims to drive demand and open a new market for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel, all while spurring economic activity and impr...

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed (July 17, 2026) an Executive Order (2026-08) to assist agriculture producers by easing transportation restrictions and increasing access to hay so farmers and ranchers can feed their livestock. According to Rhoden's Office, nearly 83% percent of the state is suffering from abno...

July 17, 2026: Five wheat milling executives from Peru spent the last few days of June (June 28-30, 2026) in the Pierre, Fort Pierre and Gettysburg areas of South Dakota touring wheat fields, farms and grain facilities to see firsthand how wheat is grown in the United States. South Dakota Wheat Commission Executive Dir...

Sixteen state corn organizations sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Richard Durbin requesting they call on the Department of Justice to expedite its investigation of the fertilizer industry. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson called for an investigation...

**CORRECTION: This story was first published on Jul. 12, 2026. It was updated on Jul. 17, 2026 to correct that 11 BIE secondary schools reported 100% growth or higher, not nine. UNDATED-AP- During his senior year of high school on the Puyallup Reservation, Gerald Dillon traded much of his academic coursework for career...

The Federal Trade Commission has warned people about this scam before, but like a bad sequel, it's back. People are telling the FTC they've gotten letters in the mail from law firms about unclaimed life insurance money. Have you gotten one of these? The "lawyer" says that one of their clients, with your same ...

U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on June 26, 2026. Rudolph Bissonette, 34, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of sup...

A jury has convicted John Odom Harris, Jr., age 41, of Stockton, California of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance - Methamphetamine following a 4-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 10, 2026. The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 ye...

NEW YORK (AP) - Big U.S. restaurant chains don't get linked to foodborne illness outbreaks often. But the number of meals they serve causes a lot of concern when contamination of some kind sickens customers. Federal health officials have identified iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in five state...

ATLANTA (AP) - Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served by Taco Bell locations across five U.S. states as a source of the widespread outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Thursday (July 16, 2026) confirmed the source and warned c...

July 17, 2026: LOS ANGELES (AP) - Chien Le first met the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara in 2005, a few years before Pannakara became a novice monk at the Texas Buddhist temple where he is now the deputy abbot. What struck Le then, and amazes him still, is Pannakara's iron-clad determination. "When he decides to do so...

UNDATED-AP- The World Cup has been a bonanza for beer in the U.S. Bars in Boston reported needing emergency deliveries to keep taps from running dry on some game days. Fans downed a total of 290,000 stadium beers during the six matches in Philadelphia, FIFA organizers said. But all that frothy foam obscures a cold real...

CASPER, Wyo. - The Oahe Zap battled back from multiple deficits but came up just short in heartbreaking fashion, falling 9-8 to the Casper Spuds on Saturday in Casper, Wyoming. The game ended on the final play of the night when a defensive miscue in the bottom of the ninth allowed the winning run to cross the plate. Ca...

BELLE FOURCHE, S.D. - Mobridge Post 4 is headed to the South Dakota State VFW 17U Championship game after completing an incredible comeback Saturday, defeating W.I.N. 19U 9-8 in walk-off fashion in the semifinal. W.I.N. jumped out early with a run in the first before adding five more in the second behind RBI hits from ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Lionel Messi and Argentina on one side. Lamine Yamal and Spain on the other. The World Cup final is finally here. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. EDT at MetLife Stadium. Argentina is seeking its fourth title, Spain its second - and could become the first nation to simultaneously hold the World Cup cro...

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) - Rory McIlroy saved one of his best shots at the British Open on Saturday for Bryson DeChambeau. The world No. 2 didn't hold back when asked for his thoughts on DeChambeau's conduct late Friday, when the American was involved in a lengthy, heated post-round exchange with rules officials as they...