Rural

Home heating costs high and getting higher in South Dakota

Many South Dakota consumers already facing high prices for gasoline and groceries should also expect to pay far more to heat their homes this winter, with prices for propane and heating oil already far higher than last year and rising fast. Some experts worry the high prices could push some

Rising prices for meat and other groceries placing financial burden on South Dakota families

Rising food prices have added another financial burden on South Dakota families already facing increased costs for essential goods and services during the pandemic and amid a recent spike in inflation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the average price of food bought for home consumption has risen at double the typical

Investigation part 1: Questions arise over COVID grants received by state senator’s son

UNION CENTER, S.D. – The son of a South Dakota state senator received more than $1 million in COVID relief funding for a business he says is located in Union Center but which public records and other data indicate actually operates in Texas. Chris Cammack, son of Senate Majority Leader

Labor shortage and COVID-19 costs causing crisis in South Dakota's long-term care industry

Finding a safe, affordable and accessible nursing home or assisted-living center for sick or elderly South Dakotans has become more difficult in recent years but is getting harder than ever due to a shortage of facility workers and financial losses suffered amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The labor shortage affecting businesses

Wildlife officials express strong stances for and against S.D. pheasant predator bounty program

A former South Dakota Game, Fish and Park leader with vast experience in wildlife management has expressed strong disagreement with current GFP leadership on whether a state predator bounty program protects young pheasants or is the right way to get youths involved in outdoor activities. In an online panel discussion

South Dakota Matters: The Future of Pheasants — News Watch to host online panel discussion

South Dakota Matters: The Future of Pheasants — News Watch to host online panel discussion

Join South Dakota News Watch Content Director Bart Pfankuch as he hosts a discussion among four top wildlife management experts from South Dakota regarding pheasant management and the controversial Nest Predator Bounty Program. The event will be held live on Facebook at 7:30 p.m. Central, 6:30 p.

Viability of rural ambulance services in S.D. at risk due to staffing and funding shortages

Rural ambulance services in South Dakota are having an increasingly hard time recruiting volunteers and generating revenues, putting the stability of the services at risk and making it more likely that rural residents will endure longer response times in emergencies or possibly lose ambulance service altogether. While most larger cities