WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Five State Transportation Departments have submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) seeking clarity in proposed regulations regarding Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones. This public comment letter, addressing Docket No. FAA-2025-1908, urges the agencies to explicitly permit these operations to support state transpo  more

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Oct. 9 [Category: BizHospital] -- Sanford Health posted the following news release: * * * Children's GALA raises nearly $1.5 million for pediatric ED * The David H. & Christine Billion Pediatric Emergency Department will feature many amenities geared towards children, including lifesaving pediatric equipment such as a dedicated pediatric CT scanner, faster access to important pediatric support services, space and technology to help caregivers collaborate more effec  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following commentary: * * * Democrats' Shutdown Drags On * The government shutdown has entered its second week. In that time, Democrats have had numerous opportunities to end the shutdown by supporting the clean funding extension that has already passed the House and that President Trump is ready to sign. But, at the behest of their far-left base, they remain determined to prolong the government shutdown and the pain it is ca  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 -- The Norbeck Society, a grassroots organization based in Rapid City, South Dakota, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) opposing the agency's proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This rule is intended to protect approximately 44 million acres of national forest land designated as roadless areas across the United States. In their letter, the Norbeck Society emphasizes the critical environmental and social  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- NUREV Group Inc., Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the agency's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on normalizing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. The organization, dedicated to supporting rural businesses through aerial photography and videography, has outlined key recommendations aimed at facilitating a safer and more efficient regulatory pathway for small operators in the unmanne  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Rounds Secures South Dakota Wins in Senate-Passed FY26 NDAA * WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, released the following statement on the full Senate's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. This is the 11th NDAA that Rounds has helped auth  more

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Oct. 9 [Category: BizHospital] -- Sanford Health posted the following news release: * * * Sanford Fargo hosts Boo to the Flu * FARGO, N.D. - Keep your children protected this season by saying, "Boo the Flu." Sanford Children's invites parents and their children to attend Boo to the Flu at Sanford Amber Valley Campus, 4837 23rd Ave. S., from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. Use door 4837 on the west side of campus. The event aims to create a fun and positiv  more

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 7 [Category: Government/Public Administration] -- The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators posted the following news: * * * South Dakota Implements CDLIS Solution for DACH * AAMVA congratulates South Dakota on successfully implementing Commercial Driver License Information System (CDLIS) solution to connect to the Drug and Alcohol Clearing House (DACH) on September 30, 2025. All migration activities have been completed. CDLIS and State-to-State (S2S)  more

RAPID CITY, South Dakota, Oct. 8 -- The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology issued the following news release: * * * South Dakota Mines Physics Undergrad Selected for Prestigious Nuclear Science Award It was art that first drew Ryan Cantz to the world of physics. After graduating high school in New Jersey, he wasn't sure what direction to take. "I was an 18-year-old trying to figure out life, and I didn't want to commit to anything without knowing 100%," said Cantz. While searching  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Delivers Remarks on Two-Year Anniversary of Terrorist Attack on Israel * Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, before I begin, I want to note that today marks two years since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Isra  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Joins Guy Benson on Fox News Radio * Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Guy Benson on Fox News Radio. On Democrats' shutdown hypocrisy: "[Democrats are] voting against a clean, nonpartisan,... continuing resolution that has no policy riders, no... partisan priorities for Republicans. It's simply a funding resolution  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Joins Larry Kudlow on Fox Business * Click here to watch. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business. On Congress' responsibility to fund the government: "Nobody likes shutdowns.... Nobody gains from a shutdown, Larry. But the truth is, in this case, we've put before [Democrats] something they voted for 13 times when Biden wa  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Joins Maria Bartiromo on Fox News * Click here to watch. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News. On Congress' responsibility to fund the government: "There's not a lot to negotiate, Maria. The Democrats just need to open up the government. Right now, we're at a stalemate. They've now voted four   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Joins Squawk Box, ABC News * Click here to watch Squawk Box and here to watch ABC News. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Joe Kernen on CNBC's Squawk Box and Linsey Davis on ABC News. On Congress' responsibility to fund the government: "The only thing standing between the government being opened up again and us having a conversation about this is five  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune on Israel-Gaza Peace Agreement * Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, before I begin, I want to mention the very welcome news that the first phase of the historic Israel-Gaza peace plan brokered by President Trump and h  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Americans Pay the Price for Democrats' Government Shutdown * Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Every day that the Democrats keep the government shut down is creating more, and worse, consequences for the American people.  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 10 * Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.). Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Well, good morning. "Leader Chuck Schumer may think that every day that goes by, the shutdown gets better for the political prospects of the Dem  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Eight * Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, we are now in day eight of a government shutdown, which is truly unfortunate and unnecessary, and totally at the behest of left-wing Democrat special in  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Nine * Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, we are now nine days into the Democrats' government shutdown. "Nine days in which Democrats have had multiple opportunities to support a clean, nonpart  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Seven * Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, it's been one week since Democrats shut down the government. "One week since Democrats put their far-left base before the American people. "Over the  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Six * Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, we're now in day six of the Democrats' government shutdown. "Day six. "And I'm wondering just what exactly Democrats think they're gaining from all of  more