South Dakota state government

FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2002, file photo, the sun rises on Mt. Rushmore National Memorial near Keystone, S.D. as the flag is flown at half staff in honor of the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States. President Donald Trump is planning to kick off Independence Day weekend in South Dakota with a show of patriotism _ fireworks popping, fighter jets thundering overhead and revelers crowding beneath a piece of classic Americana _ Mount Rushmore. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch, File)

Wildfire near Mount Rushmore contained ahead of Trump visit

Jun. 25, 2020 4:57 PM EDT

CUSTER, S.D. (AP) — A wildfire located near Mount Rushmore in South Dakota has been completely contained, according to Gov. Kristi Noem's office. The fire comes amid preparations for President Donald Trump's visit to the monument for Independence Day celebrations and fireworks next week. The state called...

South Dakota tribe sues feds to keep COVID-19 checkpoints

Jun. 24, 2020 5:31 PM EDT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe alleges in a lawsuit that the federal government has been trying to coerce and threaten the tribe ever since South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem asked for help stopping its COVID-19 checkpoints on state and federal highways. The tribe filed the lawsuit Tuesday...

Voters wait in line to cast their ballots in the state's primary election at a polling place, Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Atlanta, Ga. Some voting machines went dark and voters were left standing in long lines in humid weather as the waiting game played out. (AP Photo/Ron Harris)

The Latest: Ga. Democratic Senate primary too early to call

Jun. 10, 2020 1:57 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the 2020 primary elections (all times EDT): 1:45 a.m. The Democratic Senate primary in Georgia is too early to call. In Georgia, candidates must win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff. With more than half of the expected vote counted at 1:30 a.m. EDT, Jon Ossoff...

FILE - This March 22, 2019, file photo shows Mount Rushmore in Keystone, S.D. Organizers have scrapped plans to mandate social distancing during President Donald Trump's appearance at a July 3, 2020, Mount Rushmore fireworks display and won't limit the crowd due to coronavirus concerns, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Thursday, June 4, 2020. The Republican governor said the National Park Service is dolling out 7,500 tickets via lottery for the event, which marks the first time in a decade that fireworks will be set off at the memorial in recognition of Independence Day. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Social distancing not required at Trump Mount Rushmore event

Jun. 4, 2020 2:19 PM EDT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Organizers have scrapped plans to mandate social distancing during President Donald Trump's appearance at a July 3 Mount Rushmore fireworks display and won't limit the crowd due to coronavirus concerns, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Thursday. The Republican governor said the...

The Care19 app is seen on a cell phone screen, Friday, May 22, 2020, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Care19, a contact tracing app is being pushed by the governors of North Dakota and South Dakota as a tool to trace exposure to the coronavirus. But tech firm Jumbo Privacy points out the app violated its own privacy policy by sharing location and identification information with third-party companies like Foursquare, BugFender and Google. (AP Photo/Stephen Groves)

Tech privacy firm warns contact tracing app violates policy

May. 22, 2020 3:43 PM EDT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A contact tracing app pushed by the governors of North Dakota and South Dakota as a tool to trace exposure to the coronavirus violated its own privacy policy by sharing location and user identification information with third-party businesses, according to a report from a tech...

FILE - In this March 18, 2020 file photo, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, left, updates media on the COVID-19 pandemic during a news conference at Monument Health in Rapid City, S.D. While many other governor’s have broken from President Donald Trump on stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of coronavirus or when to restart economic activity, Noem has tracked close to the president. (Jeff Easton/Rapid City Journal via AP, File)

Noem: Tribes' checkpoints dispute not just about coronavirus

May. 21, 2020 6:07 PM EDT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said on Thursday that her stance against Native American tribes operating coronavirus checkpoints on federal and state highways isn't just about the response to the coronavirus pandemic, but about setting “precedent” on tribes' ability to...

FILE - In this April 13, 2020, file photo, Gov. Kristi Noem speaks at the Sanford Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. Noem appeared headed Monday, May 11, 2020, for a legal confrontation with two Native American Indian tribes over highway checkpoints intended to keep the coronavirus away from their reservations. The issue pits a governor who has taken a mostly hands-off approach to restrictions during the pandemic against tribes who say her actions are inadequate to prevent infections. (Abigail Dollins/Argus Leader via AP, File)

South Dakota gov. takes tribe checkpoint flap to White House

May. 20, 2020 6:18 PM EDT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Wednesday she is appealing to President Donald Trump's administration in her standoff with two American Indian tribes over coronavirus checkpoints they set up on federal and state highways. Noem said at her daily briefing that she has sent...

FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2017, file photo, Chairman Harold Frazier of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe leaves federal court in Washington. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem appeared headed Monday, May 11, 2020, for a legal confrontation with two Native American Indian tribes over highway checkpoints intended to keep the coronavirus away from their reservations. Both tribes said over the weekend the checkpoints would stand on their reservations. “We will not apologize for being an island of safety in a sea of uncertainty and death,” Frazier said in a statement. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen File)

Native American tribe says sovereignty allows checkpoints

May. 13, 2020 5:39 PM EDT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The head of a Native American tribe said Wednesday it won't comply with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's demand to remove coronavirus checkpoints it set up on federal and state highways that run through its reservation. Harold Frazier, the chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe,...

South Dakota's Noem asks tribes again to talk on checkpoints

May. 12, 2020 10:14 PM EDT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Tuesday held off on her threat to sue Native American tribes that have set up highway checkpoints intended to keep the coronavirus away from their reservations, saying instead she would like to work out an agreement. The Republican governor gave two...

FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2019 file photo, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem gives her first State of the State address in Pierre, S.D. While many other governor’s have broken from President Donald Trump on stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of coronavirus or when to restart economic activity, Noem has tracked close to the president. (AP Photo/James Nord, File)

South Dakota Gov. Noem, tribes in virus checkpoints standoff

May. 11, 2020 6:51 PM EDT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem appeared headed Monday for a legal confrontation with two Native American Indian tribes over highway checkpoints intended to keep the coronavirus away from their reservations. The issue pits an ambitious governor who has taken a mostly hands-off...

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