South Dakota

Black Hills Renaissance Festival moves to new location, doubles in attendance

Published

1 year ago

June 17, 2024

Black Hills Renaissance Festival moves to new location, doubles in attendance

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Thousands arrived at Recreational Springs Resort Saturday to celebrate the fourth annual Black Hills Renaissance Festival.

This is the festival’s first year at the resort, and Lead Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jami Grangaard said the relocation was necessary due to the festival’s popularity.

“As much as we wanted to keep this event in the city of Lead, we basically outgrew the locations that we were able to have it,” Grangaard said. She also mentioned ticket sales on Eventbrite doubled last year’s totals.

Most attendees were dressed in medieval clothing and moved from attraction to attraction. The festival was originally supposed to debut in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic made Shareece Tatum, the festival’s executive director, need to change plans. When the Lead Area Chamber of Commerce members reached out to her the following year about creating an event, Tatum took her chance.

“I was like, ‘Well, I have a half-baked ren fair that was supposed to happen in 2020, you want me to give it a shot?’ And they’re like, ‘Let’s do it,’” Tatum said.

While Grangaard had received lots of positive feedback about the festival, she said some attendees had been frustrated by limited parking space. Grangaard explained attendees can ride a free shuttle bus to the festival from Lead, and they should not park alongside U.S. Highway 85, where they risk parking tickets and their cars being towed.

More information and a link to purchase tickets can be found on the Black Hills Renaissance Festival’s website.

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South Dakota

New residential treatment program for women to be built in Yankton

Published

2 hours ago

July 16, 2025

Press Room

New residential treatment program for women to be built in Yankton

YANKTON, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Governor Rhoden announced on Wednesday that Avera Sacred Heart Hospital will receive $3.8 million in state funds to build an 18-bed facility for women, including pregnant mothers, undergoing residential substance use disorder therapy.

Funding made available from SB196 in the 2022 legislative session is being provided to Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, following their grant application with the Department of Social Services.

“This facility will support pregnant and young mothers struggling with addiction. It will prove a safe, supportive place for these mothers to receive clinical support for their addiction,” said Governor Larry Rhoden.

Avera Sacred Heart Hospital will construct and own the facility and will partner with Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services to provide programs and services.

DSS will also accredit the treatment services to be delivered in the new facility.

“These programs provide a safe, supportive environment where women can begin to heal, rebuild their lives, and access the comprehensive care they need to achieve long-term recovery,” said DSS Cabinet Secretary Matt Althoff.

“We are grateful for Governor Rhoden and the State of South Dakota’s support of this work and caring for this important population,” said Victoria Hanson, PhD, Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Regional President & CEO.

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South Dakota

South Dakota Chislic Festival returns to Freeman next weekend

Published

22 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota Chislic Festival returns to Freeman next weekend

FREEMAN, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Thousands are expected in Freeman later this month for the South Dakota Chislic Festival.

The free, family-friendly event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on July 26 at the Freeman Prairie Arboretum.

This year marks the final annual festival. Going forward, the event will move to an every-other-year format to allow for future upgrades and new attractions.

Learn more at SDChislicFestival.com.

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South Dakota

South Dakota DOH secretary talks future of AI in healthcare

Published

2 days ago

July 14, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota DOH secretary talks future of AI in healthcare

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Healthcare in a state like South Dakota, with a small population and a lot of land, can be a large task to manage.

At the Rotary Club meeting of Sioux Falls, a group of healthcare advocates discussed some of the issues facing the system today.

The Secretary of the Department of Health spoke with Dakota News Now about how Artificial Intelligence can help bridge the gap between some of these issues.

Secretary Melissa Magstadt says the department has incorporated AI for small tasks such as summarizing big documents and writing emails, and has also used AI for a range of purposes in its epidemiology department.

“Using this capability, I don’t think we understand quite yet, but we’re looking into the Department of Health on how we use it to analyze our data more thoroughly, how do we use it for our planning decisions,” Magstadt said.

Magstadt says the use of AI, along with consistent investment in tools like telehealth or mobile clinics, will help expand healthcare to South Dakota’s urban population, but especially its rural communities.

“All of those pieces will add to a part of how we deliver healthcare easily to the people that need them, no matter where you choose to live, whether it’s in the frontier of South Dakota or an urban area, they all have their challenges.”

At the next Rotary Club meeting, a panel will discuss developing health care providers for the next generation of South Dakotans.

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