State response to Smithfield ammonia release criticized
Water quality advocates say the state of South Dakota acted prematurely in reporting last week that human health was not at risk from high ammonia releases at the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources filed limited public notice before the violations stopped and
Rivers at risk: Read about your city’s water pollution concerns
Every day, South Dakota’s 20 most populous cities dump 49.2 million gallons of treated human and industrial wastewater into state rivers and creeks. Here is a look at those 20 cities and how they process wastewater, what it costs, recent inspection results, and how much is dumped where.
Rivers at risk: Pollution problems persist as state oversight lags
Part of a series of stories examining river quality in South Dakota.
Bridge program pits S.D. counties against each other for limited money
South Dakota’s counties and cities are making progress in the overwhelming task of repairing and replacing hundreds of deteriorating bridges.
But the competition for state grant money that helps with costs is increasingly aggressive, in some cases pitting counties with more money against those who have little in the
SD school districts increasingly rely on tax opt-outs to aid strained budgets
While South Dakota teachers have earned raises over the past two years courtesy of a new half-cent sales tax, school districts across the state continue to struggle with their budgets.
Nominal increases in state aid to education have crippled local budgets and caused many districts to consider significant programming cuts
Russian woman and South Dakotan connected by mysterious business
For reasons known only to him, embattled political operative Paul Erickson started a new business in South Dakota in June.
By spending just $150 and filling out some online paperwork, Erickson formed Medora Consulting LLC, a company with no stated purpose or partners.
The LLC, or limited liability company, was