Category Archives: State News

Bill to Ban Hair Discrimination Advances in Nebraska

Nebraska lawmakers have approved new workplace protections that would ban discrimination against employees based on their hairstyles.  The measured advanced on a 38-0 vote through the first of three required votes. Senator Terrell McKinney of Omaha introduced the bill to prevent employers from harassing or firing employees based on hairstyles that are popular among black…read more »

Schroeder Fire now 100% Contained

After a full week of battling a wildfire in the Black Hills, officials have said the Schroeder Fire is now 100% contained.  The Schroeder Fire just northwest of Rapid City burned a total of 2,224 acres in the past week. Fire crews are continuing to patrol containment lines and repair ground disturbance, and there are…read more »

Vaccines For All in South Dakota

Starting Monday April 5, all South Dakota residents ages 16 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.  South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem made that announcement on Wednesday, and says the state remains a top leader in vaccination rates nationwide. For more information on vaccines and the latest numbers, go to the website www.covid.sd.gov…read more »

Major Fires Continue in Western SD

Wildfires in the Black Hills of South Dakota have shut down the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, forced evacuations in areas northwest of Rapid City and closed numerous roads. Interstate-90 was closed for Monday afternoon for a stretch in western South Dakota.  The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office calls the situation a “very active and dangerous scene”. …read more »

Grand Jury Convened in Omaha Area Deaths

The top prosecutor serving Omaha and areas in Douglas County Nebraska has convened a single grand jury to investigate more than a dozen in-custody deaths, including two people killed by Omaha Police. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine is leading the process and the unusually high number of cases represents a backlog as courts sought to…read more »

Record High on Rural Mainstreet Index in March

The new monthly survey of bankers points to a quickly recovering economy in rural parts of ten Plains and Western states including South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.  The overall index of the Rural Mainstreet Survey shot up to 71.9 in March from the 53.8 score in February.  The March reading score of 71.9 in the…read more »

More SD Groups Eligible For Vaccine Starting Monday

Fire service personnel and critical infrastructure workers in south Dakota will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Monday.  Health officials says many different sectors comprise the critical infrastructure groupl. South Dakota is still one of the nation’s leaders in vaccinations, and the state is expected to be ahead of the President’s timeline to ensure…read more »

Omaha Policeman Leaves Hospital After Being Shot

An Omaha police officer who was shot in the face and head last week after responding to a shoplifting call has been released from the hospital.  39-year-old Officer Jeffrey Wittstruck is now at home recuperating after a struggle last Friday with a man suspected of shoplifting a package of T-Shirts from a store in the…read more »

NPS Rejects Fireworks This July 4 at Mount Rushmore

The National Park Service has rejected South Dakota’s request for fireworks on July 4th this summer over the Mount Rushmore Memorial.  The NPS says potential risks to the park were still being evaluated from last year’s event which President Donald Trump attended. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem says she will do everything in her ability…read more »

Winter Storm Across SD and NEB

Yankton County remains in a Winter Weather Advisory until 10:00 this morning.  Wet, heavy snow has caused numerous schools to have late starts this morning. The winter storm has brought from 8 to 16 inches of snow to the Black Hills area, and up to 10 inches of snow for south central South Dakota and…read more »