Stories

The adult child payment requirement has been on the books in South Dakota since 1939 and is rarely used. But as nursing homes increasingly face financial struggles, some legal experts say elder-care providers may see it as an avenue to collect unpaid bills.

Economic pressures, low reimbursement rates and staff shortages are contributing to financial stresses for skilled care facilities. Three have closed in recent years and two more are slated for shutdown in February, creating hardships for residents and workers.

A constitutional amendment making sports betting legal in South Dakota will be presented to lawmakers in January. If approved by the Legislature, the amendment also would need voter approval. Betting on sports would be allowed in Deadood and at tribal casinos, but not through the state's video lottery system.

Most farmers who applied for assistance received less than $20,000 in the first round of federal payments this fall. The government program is designed to mitigate agricultural producers' financial losses due to the ongoing trade war with China.

Registered nurses in South Dakota earn less than their counterparts across the country. That presents an additional hurdle for health-care providers already struggling to fill open nursing positions. Hospitals, universities and governments are working together to manage the staff shortages.

The Sioux Falls woman has spent roughly a decade in prison, and swears that she is done with drinking, drugs and the abandonment of her children. 'I'm just tired, tired of this life, really.'

At 35, Brandi Snow-Fly has reunited with her children and is working to avoid the triggers and traps that led to her addiction. She listens to scripture, stays away from her old friends, sets healthy boundaries and routines for herself and her children, listens to advice and most of all has not given up on herself or her family.

Teresa Peratt has been been sober for more than 20 years and now helps others try to beat addictions. But she is always on guard against the power of meth. 'That's the thing with meth. It doesn't give you room for anything else.'

Valerie Henry thought she was hiding her meth addiction until her life collapsed around her. Now, she sees things clearly. 'It all happened. I lost everything. I lost my children. I lost my brother. I lost my mind and there are parts of those things that don't come back.'

A growing body of research indicates women use and react to meth differently than men, often with more dangerous consequences. But there also is evidence that women are more capable of quitting meth and show a stronger response to treatment. Five South Dakotans share their addiction stories.