Experts spotlight youth mental health, suicide prevention Rates of suicide among young people have increased by about 36% in roughly the last two decades and the surge has caught the attention of federal policymakers. The Biden administration has a new National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and a Federal Action Plan, highlighting the need for a coordinated approach to prevention and equity in treatment and research. It follows the Bipartisan Policy Center's launch of a youth mental health task force in January. ...(Read More ..read more

Solar projects underway in South Dakota The construction of more solar farms in the U.S. has been contentious but a new survey shows their size makes a difference in whether solar projects are favored by neighbors. South Dakota's largest solar installation, the Wild Springs project in New Underwood, began operations in March and covers more than 1.5 square miles. ...(Read More ..read more

Report: SD Medicaid expansion enrollment remains low Last year's Medicaid expansion in South Dakota increased eligibility to another 51,000 adults but a new report showed among people across the state who qualify, only 39% are enrolled. Groups likely to be uninsured include young adults and American Indian young adults. About half of those who are uninsured now qualify for Medicaid benefits. ...(Read More ..read more

Nursing homes get a boost from SD Legislature Nursing homes across South Dakota will soon receive a boost in support, as part of the most recent legislative session. Facilities caring for Medicaid recipients are reimbursed by the state for some of the cost. Reimbursement rates have been calculated based on patient needs, occupancy and funds available in the state budget. ...(Read More ..read more

Go for a walk and kick workplace sluggishness aside Tomorrow is National Walking Day in the U.S., and in states like South Dakota, health experts and business leaders are trying to convince more people to get their feet moving. The American Heart Association says nearly a quarter of U.S. adults are sedentary for more than eight hours every day. ...(Read More ..read more

Pesticide-drift concerns still hang over ag industry Pesticides are still common in agriculture. Organic producers who avoid them have seen ups and downs in pushing for stronger regulations, and they point to a South Dakota example of the harm associated with widespread use among neighboring farms. At the heart of the regulatory fight is the application of the weed-killing pesticide dicamba, and how it can drift from one farm to another. ...(Read More ..read more

Controversial Midwest pipeline plan still in play New public hearings and legal decisions are expected in the coming weeks and months about a controversial pipeline project in the upper Midwest. The company behind the effort appears ready for the long haul but so are its opponents. Summit Carbon Solutions has been seeking permits and trying to acquire land in multiple states, including South Dakota, for a maze of pipelines it wants to build. ...(Read More ..read more

SD public defense duties shift from counties to state South Dakota is creating an Office of Indigent Legal Services after House Bill 1057 passed the Legislature with nearly unanimous support this month. The U.S. Constitution gives all people accused of a crime the right to a lawyer. ...(Read More ..read more

SD hopes new platform 'connects the dots' for community wellness South Dakota has a higher-than-national-average rate for certain health indicators, such as high blood pressure in adults. State officials hope an emerging digital tool will help some communities achieve better outcomes by overcoming some barriers. The state health department is rolling out its Nexus SD platform in Rapid City and Mitchell. ...(Read More ..read more

Community health centers get long-awaited funding lifeline The bipartisan spending deal approved by Congress provides a boost to community health centers in South Dakota and around the country. The package of six appropriations bills continues funding for several programs and helps avoid a partial government shutdown. And there's more money for community health centers, which focus on offering preventive care to underserved populations. ...(Read More ..read more