Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Tourists visiting Mount Rushmore should be aware that a wide stretch of the Great Plains encompassing parts of western South Dakota and north-central Nebraska, is experiencing unhealthy air quality conditions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The area includes Badlands National Park and the Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, both recommended for visitors to the area.

The weather seems it will be accommodating for all the spring Easter events that begin this week. Families can enjoy egg hunts, hikes, brunches, prizes and zoo animals through Easter weekend on April 20. Even your dog can win a prize or two. Inspiring Musical Theater Co. will bring its fifth annual “Passion and the Cross” April 11-19 to the Orpheum Theatre Center downtown. The one-act play is a two-hour musical featuring a cast of 120 adults and children. Tickets are $15 to $20. There'll be over 4,000 Easter eggs...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — As then-Gov. Kristi Noem crisscrossed the country — stumping for President Donald Trump and boosting her political profile beyond her home state — she refused to reveal what her extensive travel was costing taxpayers. In the weeks since Noem became Trump’s Homeland Security secretary, that mystery has been solved: South Dakota repeatedly picked up the tab for expenses related to her jet-setting campaigning. An Associated Press analysis of recently released travel records found more than $150,000 in expenses tied to Noem’s political and personal activity...

BROOKINGS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - South Dakota State is in need of a new men’s basketball head coach for the third time in their Division One era. Eric Henderson stepped down on Friday to accept the men’s basketball head coaching position at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Drake is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference coming off a 31-4 season in which they reached the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Their previous head coach, Ben McCollum, left to take the open position at the University...

Some Fareway stores now sell Powerball and Mega Millions tickets at the regular grocery cash registers. (Radio Iowa) ️ Summit Carbon Solutions is trying to pause its permitting schedule after South Dakota adopted a new eminent domain ban. • Iowa's permits for the $9 billion project stipulate that construction may not begin if it gains permits in North and South Dakota. (Iowa Capital Dispatch) An AR-15 rifle was used in a Des Moines park shooting that seriously injured a woman this week. (WHO-13) ️ Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The company behind an $8.9 billion carbon-capture pipeline proposed for five Midwestern states said Wednesday it wants to indefinitely delay its plans after South Dakota passed a law limiting its ability to acquire land for the project. But even as it filed a motion to suspend its pipeline permit application timeline with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, the Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions said it remains committed to the pipeline. Summit attorney Brett Koenecke said the action was needed because the legislation approved by South...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A new law in South Dakota prohibiting the use of eminent domain to acquire land for carbon capture pipelines raises questions about the viability of a proposed 2,500 mile (4,023-kilometer) project snaking through five Midwest states. Summit Carbon Solutions, the company behind the estimated $8.9 billion pipeline, vowed to keep pursuing the project despite South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden’s announcement Thursday that he had signed a bill into law that will make routing the line much more difficult. The law bans Summit from forcing South...

There’s understandably a lot of love for the 63 amazing national parks across the United States. But you can find some real magic in the thousands of state parks in our country as well. I’ll never forget visiting Custer State Park in South Dakota and feeling such awe at the sight of the granite formations, pine-speckled hills and herds of free-roaming bison. I couldn’t believe I’d barely heard of the park before my trip. The experience made me wonder, what other state parks have people been sleeping on? With that...