Potential COVID-19 Exposure at Sitting Bull Stampede.

State Health officials announced Wednesday, July 8th, that an individual who attended the Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo in Mobridge has tested positive for COVID-19. The individual attended the event while able to transmit the virus to others on these dates and times: June 30th from 5 p.m. -7 p.m. July 1st from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. Due to the risk of […]

BREAKING: Over 50% of positive individuals on CRST are under the age of 18


Chairman Harold Frazier said of the 27 individuals who have coronavirus, 14 of them are under the age of 18 years old. Statistically, this equates to 51.85%. The new spike of the positive cases on CRST was expected after the Fourth of July holiday, said Danette Serr, CRST Tribal Health Department Director. Serr explained to the West River Eagle on […]

Mount Rushmore Fourth of July underscore cultural fault lines


Republican luminaries gathered at Mount Rushmore on Friday for a celebration of the Fourth of July which layered patriotism over protest and American exceptionalism over Indigenous sovereignty.  The event encapsulated the conflict of cultures and national identities in 21st century America. Mount Rushmore emerged as a powerful national symbol in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in May and the […]

Governor Noem exposed to Covid-19, joined Trump on Air Force One


Shortly after fireworks display above Mount Rushmore on Friday, Gov. Kristi Noem accompanied President Trump aboard Air Force One despite having had close contact with Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, the day before.  Guilfoyle, a top fundraiser for the Trump campaign, tested positive for coronavirus in South Dakota before she was set to attend the fireworks display at Mount Rushmore. The […]

Judge rules Dakota Access Pipeline to shut down pending review


A federal judge in the District of Columbia ruled that the Dakota Access Pipeline must be shut down and be emptied of oil by August 5 pending an extensive environmental impact review by the Army Corps of Engineers. Judge James Boasberg’s 24-page ruling is connected to his earlier ruling in April regarding the environmental review, and this current decision is […]

Supreme Court deals major blow to Keystone XL project


The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a permit program run by the Army Corps of Engineers allowing expedited environmental impact rulings on pipelines crossing waterways was valid. What is different about this ruling however is that the Keystone XL Pipeline was specifically excluded from the decision. What the Court did specifically was to issue a brief unsigned order which rejected […]

COVID-19 cases increase on CRST


COVID-19 cases have increased on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe reservation to a total of 12 as of Tuesday, July 7.  The tribe is continuing to offer free testing to all residents of CRST, tribal and non-tribal members (see page B2). There were over 1,900 test kits available at the Cheyenne River Health Center (IHS). In his daily radio address […]

What nurses connected to Ag have to say about COVID



With more than 6,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota, there’s a chance you may know someone who has been impacted by the disease. But there’s also a good chance you don’t. So, South Dakota Farmers Union reached out to nurses who not only know rural community members impacted by COVID-19, but they also have some suggestions on how […]

New laws took effect July 1 in South Dakota

State paid Family Leave  Paid family leave for state employees will take effect. The South Dakota State Legislature passed and Governor Kristi Noem signed SB 186 during this past legislative session to put this benefit into effect. Paid Family Leave will provide parents 60% of their normal salary for up to 8 weeks when they welcome a new child through […]

WIC Program announces new income guidelines

The South Dakota Department of Health has released new income guidelines for the WIC Program effective July 1, 2020.   WIC is a special supplemental nutrition program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provided at no cost to eligible moms, infants and children. Its goal is to offer education on healthy eating, nutrition and breastfeeding, make referrals to other services […]