National News - Top Staff Picks
All National News
Fuel in tap water alarms Pearl Harbor military families
HONOLULU (AP) — Hundreds of military families living near Pearl Harbor have complained of stomach pain, nausea and other health ailments after the Navy's water system became contaminated by petroleum. The problems are afflicting one of the most important Navy…
Local communities light the menorah for eight nights of Hanukkah
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The story of Hanukkah begins about 200 BCE, when Greek-Assyrians ruled Jerusalem, living in harmony with the Jewish people until King Antiochus decided to subjugate them. "In doing so, he was…
Rapid City resident charged in January 6 capitol riot
RAPID CITY, S.D. - A Rapid City resident has been charged by complaint for his alleged involvement in the Capitol riots in Washington, D.C., on January 6. According to the criminal complaint filed…
Colorado supermarket shooting suspect incompetent for trial
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, appears before Boulder District Court Judge Thomas Mulvahill at the Boulder County Justice Center in Boulder, Colo. on Thursday, March 25, 2021. Three days after he was led away in handcuffs…
Biden signs stopgap funding bill to keep government running
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signed into law the stopgap spending bill that will keep the federal government running through Feb. 18. The White House thanked congressional leaders for their work where they had defused a partisan standoff…
Stocks slump after murky jobs report, as markets swing
Wall Street is slumping Friday following a mixed reading on U.S. jobs, one that investors said was tough to parse, in the market’s latest bout of dizzying trading. The S&P 500 was 1.6% lower after erasing an early gain. It’s…
Thousands of Air Guard, Reserves don't meet vaccine deadline
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 11,000 members of the Air National Guard and Reserves did not meet Thursday’s deadline to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and could begin to…
No currency manipulator labels from US, China on watch
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will not designate any country as a currency manipulator, but it did name…
Where's the snow? Rockies winter starts with a whimper
DENVER (AP) — Denver’s winter has started with a whimper, and the parched mountains to the west aren’t faring much better. The Mile High City has already shattered its 87-year-old record for the latest measurable snowfall. It's also a little…
Suspect’s parents charged in Michigan school shooting
Students hug at a memorial at Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Authorities say a 15-year-old sophomore opened fire at Oxford High School, killing four students and wounding seven other people on…
Deal reached to reduce Yellowstone's bison herd by 600-900
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — As many as 900 bison from Yellowstone National Park could be shot by hunters, sent to slaughter or placed in quarantine this winter in a program that seeks to…
Growth in US service sector reaches new heights in November
WASHINGTON (AP) — Growth in the services sector, where most Americans work, hit an all-time high in November, surpassing the previous record set in October. The Institute for Supply Management…
US jobless rate sinks to 4.2% as many more people find jobs
WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers slowed the pace of their hiring in November, adding a still-solid 210,000 jobs, the fewest in nearly a year. Friday’s report from the Labor Department also showed that the unemployment rate fell sharply to 4.2%…
Oregon officials ask public help to find killers of 8 wolves
Officials in Oregon are asking for help locating the person or persons responsible for poisoning an entire wolf pack in the eastern part of the state earlier this year. The Oregon State Police said Thursday it has been investigating the…
November economy index falls, but confidence ticks up
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey of business leaders in nine Midwest and Plains states shows the region's economy remains healthy, and overall confidence in the economy over the next six months has improved. But about half of…
Broad rally lifts US stocks after run of volatile trading
Stocks rose broadly on Wall Street Thursday as investors continue to monitor the spread of the new coronavirus variant as well as measures that governments are taking to restrain it. The S&P 500 rose 1.4% and the Dow Jones Industrial…
Wildfire destroys 24 houses in central Montana town
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A late-season wildfire pushed by strong winds has ripped through a tiny central Montana farming town, burning two dozen homes and four grain elevators that had stood for more than a century. Fergus County officials were…
House votes to avert shutdown, but quick Senate OK in doubt
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a bill that funds the government through Feb. 18 and avoids a short-term shutdown after midnight Friday. But quick passage of the measure in the Senate is in doubt because of a fight…
Throwback Thursday: 1997 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree came from the Black Hills
BLACK HILLS, S.D. — A neat throwback Thursday from the Forest Service - the 1997 U.S. Capitol Christmas…
Omicron confirmed in Minnesota man who attended NYC anime convention
NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials say the omicron variant of the coronavirus has been found in a Minnesota man who attended an anime convention in New York…
As omicron looms, US is still battling the delta wave
While all eyes are on the new and little-understood omicron variant, the delta form of the coronavirus isn’t finished wreaking havoc in the U.S., sending record numbers of patients to the hospital in…
Prosecutors: Couple had 14-year-old 'in tow' at Capitol riot
DURHAM, N.C. — Prosecutors are recommending a three-month prison sentence for a North Carolina woman accused of bringing her…
Biden launching winter COVID-19 booster, testing campaign
BETHESDA (AP) — President Joe Biden is kicking off a more urgent campaign for Americans to get COVID-19 booster shots. Biden on Thursday is unveiling a winter plan to combat…
Two Black Hills area rodeos win PRCA "Rodeo of the Year" awards
LAS VEGAS — Two Black Hills area rodeos have won "Rodeo of the Year" awards from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Rodeo Rapid City won Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year, while Black Hills Roundup won Medium Rodeo of…
Holiday shoppers navigate shortages with mixed results
NEW YORK (AP) — The holidays have always been defined by disappointing out-of-stock messages on the most popular items. But the pandemic-induced supply chain snarls have created unprecedented shortages across all types of products. That has many customers buying early…
Christmas tree buyers face reduced supplies, higher prices
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Even Christmas trees aren’t immune to the pandemic-induced shortages and inflation plaguing the economy. Extreme weather and supply chain disruptions have reduced supplies of both real and artificial trees this season. Industry officials say American shoppers…
US jobless claims rise by 28,000, but still low at 222,000
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week, even though the U.S. job market has been rebounding from last year’s coronavirus recession. Jobless claims climbed by 28,000…
Police: FedEx packages found in woods at second Alabama site
JEMISON, Ala. (AP) — Police say nearly two dozen FedEx packages have been found in woods along a rural Alabama road about 75 miles from a ravine where hundreds of undelivered FedEx parcels previously were discovered. Police in Jemison said…
Minnesota not adding anxiety as condition for medical weed
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Department of Health says it would not add anxiety disorders as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, unlike neighboring North Dakota and three other states. State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says there's not…
Stocks churn as Wall Street's omicron ride keeps jolting
Wall Street has investors on another roller-coaster ride Wednesday, as an early stock market rally lost steam in afternoon trading. The S&P 500 was up 0.6% after having been 1.9% higher in the early going following some better-than-expected readings on…
Tesla officially moves headquarters from California to Texas
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tesla says it has officially moved its corporate headquarters from Silicon Valley to a large factory under construction outside of Austin, Texas. The company made the announcement Wednesday in a filing with U.S. securities regulators. CEO…
Fed survey finds supply-chain shortages boosting inflation
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is reporting that many parts of the country were hit by supply chain disruptions and labor shortages in November. In a survey…
Teams spend $1B on day MLB, union likely head to lockout
NEW YORK (AP) — Major league teams committed to over $1 billion in salaries in one day for the first time Wednesday, hours before the league was expected to lock out the players following…
Capital One drops all overdraft fees, latest bank to do so
NEW YORK (AP) — Capital One said Wednesday that will get rid of all overdraft fees, the latest bank to do so this year and one of the largest financial institutions to shy away from the long-hated practice. The Virginia-based…
Michigan teen charged in Oxford High School shooting
A well wisher kneels to pray at a memorial on the sign of Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. A 15-year-old sophomore opened fire at the school, killing several students and wounding…
GM cites improved chip supply in raising financial guidance
DETROIT (AP) — Citing an improved supply of automotive computer chips, General Motors raised its financial guidance on Wednesday and said it expects to return to a normal production rate by the end of next year. Chief Financial Officer Paul…
US official: 1st case of omicron variant identified in US
WASHINGTON (AP) — A person in California has become the first in the U.S. to have an identified case of the omicron variant of COVID-19. That's according to…
Justices signal they'll OK new abortion limits, may toss Roe
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court’s conservative majority is signaling it will uphold Mississippi’s 15-week ban on abortion — and may go much further to overturn the nationwide right…
CNN suspends Chris Cuomo for helping brother in scandal
NEW YORK (AP) — CNN says it is suspending anchor Chris Cuomo indefinitely pending a further review of documents revealing how he helped his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, when he was facing charges of sexual harassment. The…
Space junk forces spacewalk delay, too risky for astronauts
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA has called off a spacewalk because of menacing space junk. Two U.S. astronauts were set to replace a bad antenna outside of the International Space Station on Tuesday. But late Monday night, Mission Control…
Before holiday shopping, make sure you're protecting your personal and financial information online
RAPID CITY, S.D. — It's the most wonderful time of the year, but not just for those celebrating the holidays. Scammers looking to steal personal or financial information ahead of next year's tax season…
1st of 4 accusers takes stand at Ghislaine Maxwell trial
FILE - In this Nov. 7, 1991, file photo Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of late British publisher Robert Maxwell, reads a statement in Spanish in which she expressed her family's gratitude to the Spanish authorities, aboard the…
Stocks sink as omicron, rate worries rattle Wall Street
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s losses deepened on Tuesday after the head of the Federal Reserve said it will consider shutting off its support for financial markets sooner than expected. The S&P 500 was 1.7 percent lower in afternoon…
Canada adds 3 more countries to ban list because of variant
TORONTO (AP) — Canada is banning foreign nationals from three more countries because of concerns with the omicron COVID-19 variant and all air travelers coming to the country apart from the United States will have to be tested for COVID-19…
Pentagon chief says Guard who refuse vaccine cannot train, draw pay
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says no member of the National Guard will be allowed to participate in drills or other training required to maintain their status in the Guard unless they…
Panel weighs safety, effectiveness of Merck's COVID-19 pill
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health advisers are reviewing Merck's closely watched COVID-19 pill, which could become the first easy-to-use drug for American patients. The Food and Drug Administration asked its outside experts Tuesday whether the agency should authorize the pill.…
Rihanna's officially 'right excellent,' named Barbados hero
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The eastern Caribbean island of Barbados has honored Rihanna as a national hero at a historic moment for the nation. The government on Tuesday honored…
US tracking of virus variants has improved after slow start
The U.S. has improved its surveillance system for tracking new coronavirus variants such as omicron, boosting its capacity by tens of thousands of samples since early this year. The U.S. got a slow start compared to other nations where labs…
Biden puts focus on infrastructure amid new virus concerns
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will visit a Minnesota community college Tuesday to highlight how his $1 trillion infrastructure law will create jobs and help train workers. The trip occurs at a…
US consumer confidence falls in November to nine-month low
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence fell to a nine-month low in November, held back by rising worries about inflation and lingering concerns about the coronavirus. The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dropped to a reading…
