WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following commentary: * * * Christmas Old and New * The Christmas season is here, and with it come the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of yuletide. To this day, the smell of lutefisk and lefse still brings me back to Christmas Eve at my grandmother's house. While the Thune family has since replaced my grandmother's Norwegian fare with clam chowder on Christmas Eve, the warm feeling of gathering with family to celebrate th  more

RAPID CITY, South Dakota, Dec. 17 -- The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology issued the following news release: * * * Corn Waste to Advanced Biomaterials: Mines and Dakota BioWorx Launch New Bioprocessing Partnership South Dakota Mines and Dakota BioWorx have launched a first-of-its-kind effort in South Dakota to turn corn stover, the leftover stalks and leaves from corn harvest, into high-value biomaterials that could someday be used in advanced medical applications. The collaborati  more

BROOKINGS, South Dakota, Dec. 18 -- South Dakota State University issued the following news: * * * New donation to SDSU Archives explores unique part of state's agricultural history By Ellen Koester South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections has some brand-new additions to its collection: More than 70 South Dakota brand books and other items from the history of branding in the state. Brands are marks that identify who owns what livestock, be it cattle, horses, mules, buf  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * EPA Selects Local Governments from Utah and South Dakota to Receive Over $8.3 Million in Solid Waste Infrastructure Grants * DENVER - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has selected two local governments from Region 8 to receive over $8.3 million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants to help improve post-consumer materials management and in  more

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Dec. 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa posted the following news release: * * * Iowa Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth Conspiracy Caught transporting meth from Iowa to South Dakota for distribution * A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty December 16, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Cori Benson, 36, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At the plea he  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Johnson Votes to Lower Health Insurance Premiums by 11% * Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) voted to pass the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, which makes targeted reforms to health care costs. "The Affordable Care Act made health care unaffordable for the American family. Many families are paying more for their health insurance than they p  more

WILMINGTON, Delaware, Dec. 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware posted the following news release on Dec. 15, 2025: * * * Medical Biller Charged with Diverting Opioids and Federal Health Care Fraud Benjamin L. Wallace, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that a federal grand jury in Wilmington, Delaware, returned an indictment charging Ty Mauldin, 34, of South Dakota, with ordering thousands of opioid pills by stealing the identity of medi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce Patent and Trademark Office issued the following news release: * * * Montana selected for new USPTO community engagement office location * New community engagement office to serve as innovation center for local/regional innovators ALEXANDRIA, VA The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced the selection of Montana as the first of several new locations of community engagement offices to serve innovators in part of the ei  more

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota posted the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025: * * * Pine Ridge Woman Sentenced for Her Role in Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on December 15,  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * President Trump Signs Johnson Provisions into Law * Washington, D.C. - Today, two provisions led by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) were signed into law by President Trump. The provisions would strengthen America's deterrence against China and prohibit men from competing in women's sports at military academies. "My provisions w  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * President Trump Signs Johnson's Wounded Knee Memorial Bill into Law * Washington, D.C. - Today, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, introduced by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), was signed into law by President Trump. "It has been almost 135 years to the day of the tragedy that unfolded at Wounded Knee and today, the president signed my bill into law to preser  more

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota posted the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025: * * * Rapid City Woman Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Interstate Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentenci  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Rounds Leads Legislation to Increase Transparency and Accountability for Financial Regulators * WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced legislation to increase transparency and accountability within the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). The FSOC Improvement Act would  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Rounds Secures South Dakota Wins in Final 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 Senate's passage of the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. This is the 11th NDAA that Rounds has helped author as a memb  more

BROOKINGS, South Dakota, Dec. 19 -- South Dakota State University issued the following news: * * * Oakwood literary magazine reimagined through estate gift By Amber Turner South Dakota State University's student-produced literature and arts magazine, Oakwood, has been a community and regional favorite for decades. Thanks to a generous estate gift from Mary F. Buckmiller, the School of English and Interdisciplinary Studies will revamp the publication to continue flourishing in the future. Th  more

BROOKINGS, South Dakota, Dec. 17 -- South Dakota State University issued the following news: * * * Researchers investigating mule and white-tailed deer populations in South Dakota By Addison DeHaven A new study from South Dakota State University is working to better understand juvenile survival rates for mule and white-tailed deer in the western half of the state. After birth, a fawn will instinctively hide in the short-grass prairies of western South Dakota, camouflaged and out of sight fr  more

BROOKINGS, South Dakota, Dec. 18 -- South Dakota State University issued the following news: * * * SDSU welcomes newest South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership class During their first seminar, the 22 members of the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership Class XIII cohort visited the South Dakota State University College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences last week to learn about the wide-reaching impact of the college, and the university, on agriculture in the sta  more

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Dec. 18 [Category: BizHospital] -- Sanford Health posted the following news release: * * * Surgical Critical Care Fellowship earns GME accreditation * FARGO, N.D. - The University of North Dakota and Sanford Health Fargo Surgical Critical Care Fellowship has obtained accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is based at Sanford Medical Center Fargo, the only Level I Adult Trauma Center in No  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Applauds Passage of Annual Defense Policy Bill, Ellsworth Air Force Base Priorities * WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes significant provisions for Ellsworth Air Force Base, the forthcoming B-21 bomber mission, and the South   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune on a Year of Results: Safer Streets, More Money in Americans' Pockets, New Opportunities * 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): "We are, as you all know, wrapping up what I think has been an incredibly histori  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune on Senate Republicans' Record-Breaking Year * 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, as... we're about to wrap up... our legislative work for 2025, I would say it's been quite a busy year here in the Unite  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune, Smith Introduce Legislation to Support U.S. Honey Producers * WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today introduced the Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025, legislation that would support American honey producers and producers of other commodities, like crawfish, garlic, and mushrooms, who have been harmed by unfair trade practices, primar  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: NDAA Prioritizes Readiness, Deterrence, and Safety * 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, this week the Senate will be taking up the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. "For the 6  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 -- Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Republicans Are Delivering for South Dakota * 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 a busy year here in the United States Senate. "The new Republican majority has been working hard to deliver  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Senate Republicans Break Confirmation Records Amid Historic Obstruction * 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, either today or tomorrow, we will confirm another nominations package, bringing the total n  more

RAPID CITY, South Dakota, Dec. 19 -- The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology issued the following news release: * * * A Tradition Carried Forward: Ceremonial Mace Marks 20-Year Tradition at South Dakota Mines Commencement For two decades, the South Dakota Mines ceremonial mace has marked the start of commencement, carried by the faculty chair as part of the academic procession. The mace, an enduring symbol of the university's distinctive identity and mission, will once again be on dis  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * U.S. House Passes Johnson's Bill to Strengthen Supply Chains and Counter China * Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House unanimously passed the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025, led by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and John Garamendi (D-CA). Johnson introduced this legislation in June to reauthorize the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the independent fe  more

VERMILLION, South Dakota, Dec. 17 -- The University of South Dakota issued the following news: * * * Forging a New Road: Alternative Paths to Physicianship During interview season, every corner of the Lee Medicine building hides a potential student, each with their own reasoning and desire to become a physician. Interviews and personal statements alike are populated with: "Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a doctor..." * But the road to medicine is not always so direct. With the aver  more

VERMILLION, South Dakota, Dec. 19 -- The University of South Dakota issued the following news: * * * The Transformative Impact of Medical Research In South Dakota, health care challenges are shaped by geography, an aging population, workforce shortages, chronic diseases and mental health needs. The University of South Dakota's Sanford School of Medicine is not only training South Dakota's future doctors to meet these needs but is also leading innovative research efforts that impact the health  more