Rural

Dangerous wild animals encroaching on South Dakota neighborhoods

SPEARFISH, S.D. – Holly Hansen doesn’t have hard data to prove that potentially dangerous wild animals are entering residential areas with greater frequency, but she does have some pretty strong anecdotal evidence. In early May, a black bear entered her suburban Spearfish property and killed 16 ducks, chickens and

Long-held rural values at odds in South Dakota gun range debate

Long-held rural values at odds in South Dakota gun range debate

RAPID CITY, S.D. – An effort to build a huge gun range and shooting complex north of Rapid City has created divisiveness and hard feelings between two of South Dakota’s most iconic populations. The values run deep and histories stretch long among people in the two groups – those devoted

Fatal train crash highlights lack of railroad crossing protections in South Dakota

Fatal train crash highlights lack of railroad crossing protections in South Dakota

HARRISBURG, S.D. – Jodi Kuipers learned the hard way how much time, work and determination it takes to get safety improvements made at a railroad crossing in South Dakota, even at the site of a tragedy that took the lives of two of her closest family members. Driven first by

Easter Sunday offers break in church attendance decline

Easter Sunday offers break in church attendance decline

South Dakota churches will undoubtedly see attendance jump during Easter services on Sunday as Christians come out in large numbers to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But behind the scenes, many church leaders will worry whether they can maintain the holiday momentum as religious affiliation and church attendance continue

How some South Dakota churches are adapting to attendance declines

How some South Dakota churches are adapting to attendance declines

Falling attendance and membership at many South Dakota churches has prompted pastors, leaders and elders to look for creative ways to keep people engaged and pursuing a larger purpose. Constanze Hagmaier, bishop of the South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said that includes using technology to

11 billion-pound mystery: The chemicals South Dakota trains carry

11 billion-pound mystery: The chemicals South Dakota trains carry

Each year, trains carry nearly 11 billion pounds of chemicals through South Dakota’s cities and countryside, much of it on century-old tracks, a South Dakota News Watch analysis has revealed. Finding out which specific compounds are in those potentially toxic payloads is extremely difficult or even impossible for the

Critics say South Dakota governor and Legislature falling short in preventing spread of invasive zebra mussels

The confirmed finding last summer of zebra mussels in Pactola Reservoir – 15 miles west of Rapid City in the Black Hills National Forest – has sparked greater scrutiny of South Dakota’s efforts to protect bodies of water from aquatic invasive species, which spread exponentially and can negatively impact ecosystems, water