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Tourism slowdown could devastate Keystone, gateway to Mount Rushmore

As the tourism industry across South Dakota faces potential economic disaster in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the small town of Keystone is in a particularly precarious position. The town of 327 people nestled in the central Black Hills at the base of Mount Rushmore National Memorial survives almost

SD businesses and governments brace for ‘almost non-existent’ 2020 tourism season due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has almost completely shut down tourism in South Dakota, one of the state’s largest industries. The loss of visitors now and potentially into the summer tourism season threatens to cut off a vital economic lifeline for businesses and their employees and eliminate a major source of

Municipal elections and SD presidential primary could be delayed due to COVID-19

Amid growing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, South Dakota lawmakers will consider a bill to postpone upcoming city elections in Sioux Falls, Brookings and other cities at least until June, and to allow Gov. Kristi Noem to delay the presidential primary from June 2 to July 28. The elections bill

Legislative special session likely needed to redo state budget due to COVID-19 pandemic

The South Dakota Legislature will likely hold a special session by the end of June to address financial uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to potentially remake the coming year’s spending plan passed earlier this month, legislative fiscal leaders say. Members of the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee

Beef producers in SD reeling from COVID-19 epidemic and price irregularities

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned a bad situation for South Dakota beef producers into a crisis in which low market prices and corresponding revenue losses may force some ranchers into bankruptcy. Beef producers are seeing what in January was an $80 profit on each animal sold fall to a $75

Experts: SD health care system could be overwhelmed if COVID-19 takes hold

If the COVID-19 pandemic grows rapidly in South Dakota — as it has in other states and nations — the state’s hospital systems are likely to be quickly overwhelmed, according to medical experts in South Dakota and elsewhere. It is unknown if the state has enough ventilators or intensive-care beds, and

Sioux Falls biotech firm rushing to develop coronavirus treatment

A Sioux Falls company — with its team of scientists and a herd of genetically engineered cows — is working quickly to develop and produce an effective treatment for people infected with the coronavirus. SAb Biotherapeutics has emerged as a major player in the effort to generate a viable antidote to the