July 1, 2002 - Federal officials have assigned a fire in the Black Hills of South Dakota as the highest priority in the Rocky Mountain region. Federal firefighters have taken over fighting the blaze. What's being called the Grizzly Gulch Fire, is burning 62-hundred acres in the northern hills. Nearly 7-hundred firefighters are working the blaze. The fire is about ten percent contained. The towns of Deadwood and Lead (LEED) have been evacuated. 15-thousand residents and tourists were moved to safer locations over the weekend. Officials hope an cold front will push the fire back toward already burned areas.
June 6, 2002 - New U.S. Census figures released this week, show South Dakota had the largest increase in the nation for household median income. The latest census information is for the ten year period between 1990 and 2000. South Dakota still has the poorest county in the nation, even though it had a 57 percent growth in median income. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland has this report:
June 3, 2002 - There's a lot of national attention focused on South Dakota politics this year. November is a long time away. But prime-time campaign ads are bombarding South Dakota voters. This year they'll elect a new governor and and two new members to congress. Tomorrow (Tuesday, June 4) voters will narrow the list of 15 major party candidates down to four. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland has this rundown of the candidates:
June 3, 2002 - South Dakota voters will have a constitutional amendment on the ballot tomorrow that bans anti-corporate farming. The amendment will prohibit companies from owning land or livestock in the state. This is the second time voters have considered a constitutional amendment that bans corporate farming. The first, known as Amendment E was struck down as unconstitutional last month. Tomorrow (TUESDAY) Amendment A is on the ballot. Lawmakers proposed the compromise version as a way to keep legislation on the books. Opponents say the new version is too weak and opens too many doors to corporate agriculture. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports:
May 28, 2002 - Some Sioux Falls families who have gone through the horror of losing a relative to suicide are trying to help others get through similar tragedies. Their group called LOSS - stands for Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors. They arrive shortly after a body has been discovered in order to offer support to the family. In Sioux Falls there are an average of two suicides every month. Officials believe if more people talk about suicide - it will help prevent other suicides. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports:
May 14, 2002 - The Census Bureau released demographic profiles today for five states. The data comes from the census long form questions. Those questionnaires were delivered to about one in six or 19 million households nationwide. The census information released for North and South Dakota profiles education, immigration and poverty statistics. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports:
May 8, 2002 - The competition for people's entertainment dollars is tight. Many regional theaters are struggling. In Sioux Falls, the 72-year old Community Playhouse closed mid-season. Two years ago the Playhouse asked the city for a bail out. So, the city purchased a downtown auditorium and a neighboring building. The plan was to connect the two into an impressive theatre facility. But instead, the project stands unfinished and in debt. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports:
May 7, 2002 - There's public debate over the management of many rivers in the U.S. Along the Missouri River, the hot topic is water level. The state of South Dakota has sued the U-S Army Corps of Engineers. The state wants the corps to wait two weeks before drawing down the reservoirs. That will allow smelt and walleye eggs to hatch. The fight is also about who should benefit from the way the U.S. Army Corps of engineers manages the river. In states like Missouri and Kansas, navigation is important. But upstream, above some of the rivers' huge dams, recreation brings in millions. As our series "Changing Currents" continues, Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland focuses on the Missouri River.
April 25, 2002 - Yesterday's visit by President George Bush to South Dakota had a clear and definite purpose, to raise money for Congressman John Thune. Thune is challenging incumbent Democrat Tim Johnson for the United States Senate. President Bush held a a private round table discussion with farmers. He also addressed a public rally for seven thousand people during his seven hour visit to Sioux Falls. Many saw the visit for what it was, a Republican president campaigning for a Republican senate hopeful. Still others saw the president's visit as a missed opportunity to talk about issues. We have two reports - the first from Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland:
April 24, 2002 - President George Bush visits Sioux Falls today (Wednesday) . He'll make a major agricultural address and attend a public rally for seven thousand people. But the real reason for his visit is to raise money for South Dakota Congressman John Thune. Thune, a Republican, is challenging incumbent Democrat Tim Johnson. It's a race that's bringing out the nations biggest political guns. It's a race the Bush administration wants to win badly. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland has this report on South Dakota's U.S. Senate race.