WASHINGTON, March 25 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency issued the following news release: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Earl F. Ferguson, 26, of Philip, South Dakota, killed during World War II, was accounted for Sept. 30, 2019. In the summer of 1943, Ferguson was a pilot assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 aircraft on w  more

HURON, South Dakota, March 26 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service South Dakota office issued the following news release: USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) serving South Dakota (SD) is seeking proposals for Conservation Collaboration Grants or Agreements (CCG) to help address SD's most pressing natural resource concerns. Proposals are due April 30, 2020. "2020 will be our fourth year of engaging with partners through the CCG opportun  more

HURON, South Dakota, March 26 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service South Dakota office issued the following news release: After enduring soggy soils repeatedly during 2019, South Dakota growers can't wait to see crops emerge from last year's Prevented Plant fields. From field condition and weed control planning to fallow syndrome, fertility, green planting, and interseeding cover crops--check out current advice compiled by agronomists and soil scientis  more

KAMIAH, Idaho, March 26 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service unit - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests - issued the following news release: Personal use firewood cutting on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests will be free to the general public from April 1 through June 1, 2020. A personal use firewood permit will not be required during this time. Personal use firewood cutting allows you to remove downed timber or cut standing dead trees under most conditions on   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service announced that it intends to award a $88,145 cooperative agreement to the University of South Dakota's Missouri River Institute, for scientific research, land management, inventory and monitoring and environmental The categories of funding activity are a) education, b) employment, labor and training, c) environment, d) natural resources and e) science and technology and other research and development. The agen  more

HURON, South Dakota, March 27 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service South Dakota office issued the following news release: USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field offices (FO) in South Dakota (SD) are open by phone appointment only until further notice, and NRCS staff are available to continue to provide one-on-one, customer-specific advice to producers to help them meet their unique conservation and business goals. All USDA Service C  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a new pilot program that enables farmers in the Prairie Pothole region to receive payments for planting perennial cover for conservation use for three to five years. The new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP) pilot is available to producers in Iowa, Min  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 19-09436-108) summary on "Deficient Staffing and Competencies in Sterile Processing Services at the VA Black Hills Healthcare System, Fort Meade Campus South Dakota": Summary: The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection to assess an allegation that the Associate Director for Patient Care Services endangered patient safety by placing an  more