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Tom Griffith

Tom Griffith

Tom Griffith of Deadwood has been a journalist, editor and photographer in Arizona, Montana and South Dakota. He has written or co-authored more than 70 books and had features published worldwide.

Nearly a quarter of SD school districts adopt four-day calendar

Nearly a quarter of the school districts in South Dakota have opted for a four-day school week over the past decade, joining an increasing trend toward the altered schedule nationwide. According to the South Dakota Department of Education, 34 school districts, or nearly 23 percent of the 149 statewide are

Internet coverage, reliability in rural areas hinders development

South Dakota is threatened by a growing urban-rural digital divide, endangering residents’ quality of life and economic development efforts unless significant investments are made in advanced mobile technology, a new study suggests. Researchers from the University of South Dakota and Virginia’s Old Dominion University interviewed and surveyed rural South

New machines, games help video lottery revenues rebound in SD

Eight years after a smoking ban dealt South Dakota video lottery owners a heavy blow, the industry has quietly remade itself, last year recording nearly its highest revenue in 30 years. The games brought in $221 million in fiscal 2018, substantially higher than the $176.6 million achieved at the

In 30 years, gaming has revitalized and challenged Deadwood

As Deadwood saunters into its 30th year with legalized gaming, the Wild West town made famous by Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and a posse of other western legends, doesn’t resemble its former self. The historic place perched in the highest reaches of the northern Black Hills once glittered

Deadwood officials leading effort to legalize sports betting in South Dakota

Next month, the South Dakota Legislature will be asked to pave the way for legalized sports betting in the state. Proponents pushing a constitutional amendment to allow the gaming in Deadwood casinos want lawmakers to place the question on the 2020 ballot. Several states now offer sports betting and others

Low pay complicates efforts to attract, retain nurses in South Dakota

The nursing industry is under pressure in South Dakota as an aging population, fewer nursing students and an older workforce are combining to create staffing shortages. But the state has an added challenge in filling open nursing positions – pay. National nursing studies show RNs in South Dakota earn less than

County auditors focus on preventing hackers, ensuring election security

Some county auditors in South Dakota are getting nearly daily security updates from the Department of Homeland Security. At least one has thwarted hacking attempts already and many are leaning heavily on the state’s information technology specialists as they prepare for the midterm elections. The auditors are responsible for