South Dakota
Columbus Zoo's The Wilds relocates bison to South Dakota
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced that the Wilds, the Wildlife Restoration Foundation and the InterTribal Buffalo Council have successfully relocated 74 bison to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.
The bison were previously in The Wilds’ conservation center. The relocation is part of The Wilds’ new bison conservation plans in hopes of improving the population.
“The transfer of these bison is a crucial step in our mission to restore this keystone species to its native range while respecting the profound cultural connections many tribes and communities have with the bison,” said Vice President at The Wilds Joe Smith in a release. “This collaborative effort underscores the vital importance of bison in maintaining the health of prairie ecosystems and in supporting cultural heritage.”
The Columbus Zoo wrote in a release that the American bison are critical for the health and diversity of prairie ecosystems. Prairies used to span more than 142 million acres in the U.S., but are now one of the most endangered, as there are less than 5% of the ecosystem remaining. Bison graze those lands, adding nutrients back into the soil and help created shallow wetlands that help amphibians and birds, plant species and more.
Bison are now near extinct because of over-hunting and westward expansion. While they are pivotal for prairie lands, they also play a role in the lives of Tribal nations across the Great Plains, which use bison for food, shelter, clothing, spiritual rituals and more, according to the Columbus Zoo.
The Wilds and its partners are working to transition a herd of around 150 bison on 600 acres into a prototype conservation herd, which is managed by a zoological institution, according to the Columbus Zoo. To achieve this, The Wilds is taking the following steps:
- Maintaining the natural herd structures and behaviors
- Ensuring genetic diversity and quality
- Implementing advanced herd management and health strategies
- Restoring native grasslands
- Enhancing public education and guest experiences
For more information, click here.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Governor Rhoden officially signed HB 1082 into law on Friday, March 27.
HB 1082 is a bill that establishes parameters for reimbursing school districts that provide free or reduced-price meals to students.
Representative Kadyn Wittman, who has worked to pass the bill for several years, expressed excitement and gratitude in a post to Facebook on Friday.
“10,000 kids across our state will now have access to free school meals. No stigma. No barriers. Just the support they need to learn and grow,” wrote Wittman.
“So incredibly grateful to everyone who made this happen. This is a big win for South Dakota families!”
You can see the full bill and its sponsors here.
Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Students at South Dakota Mines heard Wednesday from retired four-star general Maryanne Miller about her journey to the highest ranks of the U.S. military.
Miller is a retired four-star U.S. Air Force general. She is the only member of the Air Force Reserve ever to be promoted to this level.
She spoke about finding greatness and living a life of fulfillment. Her stories came from her time in the Air Force and as a volunteer for Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s Missionaries of Charity.
“We so much get focused on what is our next step in life, what’s the next career move, how do we make ourselves better in our career, and we forget about how do we make ourselves better as a human being,” Miller said. “Because they have to go tandem. If it’s not tandem, you’re going to get off track.”
Miller was commissioned in 1981 and rose through the ranks before becoming a four-star general in 2018. She was the only woman serving as a four-star officer in the military at the time. She retired in 2020 after serving for almost 40 years.
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Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
South Dakota
USDA to offer distaster assistance to South Dakota agriculture producers impacted by winter storms
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering financial and technical assistance to South Dakota farmers and livestock producers who may have been impacted by the recent winter storms.
“I encourage impacted producers to contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.” said Richard Fordyce, Production and Conservation Under Secretary.
FSA’s Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program can assist landowners with financial assistance to restore damaged land and conservation structures or forests.
“Our staff will work one-on-one with landowners to make assessments of the damages and develop methods that focus on effective recovery of the land.” said Jessica Michalski, Acting NRCS State Conservationist in South Dakota.
For more information about the disaster assistance program, click here.
Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
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