Health

Chronic liver disease is now the leading cause of death of South Dakotans in their 30s. “Alcohol is particularly challenging because it's prevalent. It's relatively cheap, and it's not in any way illegal."

South Dakota hospitals generally fared well, with only two of 12 receiving 3-star ratings and none getting 2-star or 1-star ratings in 2025.

113,000 South Dakotans in 2023 were considered food insecure, and South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative aims to fix that.

While the full effects aren't yet known, rural health providers expect bad news and potentially ominous outcomes. "It could lead to people being more sick and also some more people dying before they would otherwise."

"I don't care if 50 people read this story and 49 think ‘What a loser.’”

USDA spokesperson says cutting roughly $1 billion in federal funding for locally grown food for schools and charities signals "a return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives."

Turkeys, cattle, cats and pheasants in South Dakota have been infected with bird flu. Scientists worry: Is a large human outbreak next? South Dakota is second in the nation for bird flu outbreaks at commercial poultry farms and an infection at a pheasant farm that led to the death of 30,000 birds.