Ethanol industry and corn growers in SD facing economic ‘bloodbath’ due to COVID-19
The ethanol industry in South Dakota and across the Midwest is in an economic free-fall due to decreased global demand for ethanol-infused gasoline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fear of spreading the deadly virus has led governments around the world to cancel gatherings and urge or require people
Tourism slowdown could devastate Keystone, gateway to Mount Rushmore
As the tourism industry across South Dakota faces potential economic disaster in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the small town of Keystone is in a particularly precarious position.
The town of 327 people nestled in the central Black Hills at the base of Mount Rushmore National Memorial survives
SD businesses and governments brace for ‘almost non-existent’ 2020 tourism season due to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has almost completely shut down tourism in South Dakota, one of the state’s largest industries.
The loss of visitors now and potentially into the summer tourism season threatens to cut off a vital economic lifeline for businesses and their employees and eliminate a major source
Municipal elections and SD presidential primary could be delayed due to COVID-19
Amid growing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, South Dakota lawmakers will consider a bill to postpone upcoming city elections in Sioux Falls, Brookings and other cities at least until June, and to allow Gov. Kristi Noem to delay the presidential primary from June 2 to July 28.
The elections
Legislative special session likely needed to redo state budget due to COVID-19 pandemic
The South Dakota Legislature will likely hold a special session by the end of June to address financial uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to potentially remake the coming year’s spending plan passed earlier this month, legislative fiscal leaders say.
Members of the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations
Beef producers in SD reeling from COVID-19 epidemic and price irregularities
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned a bad situation for South Dakota beef producers into a crisis in which low market prices and corresponding revenue losses may force some ranchers into bankruptcy.
Beef producers are seeing what in January was an $80 profit on each animal sold fall to a
Experts: SD health care system could be overwhelmed if COVID-19 takes hold
If the COVID-19 pandemic grows rapidly in South Dakota — as it has in other states and nations — the state’s hospital systems are likely to be quickly overwhelmed, according to medical experts in South Dakota and elsewhere.
It is unknown if the state has enough ventilators or intensive-care
