South Dakota

Syphilis cases on the rise in South Dakota

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2024

Syphilis cases on the rise in South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – South Dakota is on the wrong end of a growing syphilis concern in the United States.

The Mount Rushmore State sits at the top of primary and secondary cases in women of childbearing age, and number two in congenital syphilis cases which deals with infants.

Dr. Ashley Sands specializes in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Sanford Health. She says more accurate testing shows that this trend has been going up since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting not just adults but infants.

“Our syphilis rates all over the country have really skyrocketed over the last three to five years. With that comes an increase in congenital syphilis,” said Sands.

Those rising numbers aren’t spread across the state evenly either, with Native Americans seeing the largest increase in congenital syphilis.

“Whereas it’s one in 275 births across the state of all races, it’s one in 42 of our American Indian population,” said Sands.

Sands said that infection takes a toll on an infant and can lead to major complications and sometimes death. Treating it in infants it also much more intensive.

“Syphilis in infants can touch every organ of the baby’s body. From the brain to the bone marrow to the lungs and the liver. It can end in death of the baby. It’s something that we are seeing a lot of,” said Sands.

Sands wants to make people aware of the growing health concern, and wants people to know that syphilis is easy to treat in adults, which cuts down on the risk for infants.

“You can be tested very easily. Anybody can go their physician, their family clinic and get a simple blood test. Then it’s treated in adults very easily,” Sands said.

Access can be an issue, especially in rural areas of the state, but Sands says there are other options for getting treatment for syphilis than just going to a clinic, which can be difficult.

“I know it’s difficult to get in. There are fewer clinics. But there are ways to not just go to your family clinic. There are very quick point of care testing that can be done,” Sands said.

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South Dakota

KOTA Cares: Western South Dakota Community Action brings aid to those in poverty

Published

11 hours ago

September 26, 2024

Press Room

KOTA Cares: Western South Dakota Community Action brings aid to those in poverty

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – This week we are highlighting Western South Dakota Community Action as part of our KOTA Cares series. The non-profit will be celebrating 60 years in 2025 and does it all when it comes to helping people move out of poverty.

The organization originally began to help the Rapid City area but currently serves 15 counties including Butte, Harding, Meade and Ziebach.

They have numerous programs from helping with transportation, employment, housing, basic needs to Medicare and other insurance plans and more.

They also have a thrift store that receives donations nearly every day from community members. The organization’s executive director, Shawn Burke, said they keep prices low so the people they serve can buy items for themselves.

Their programs include educational opportunities like their garden.

”We want to grow things that people can grow for themselves, that they can learn to cook or process or freeze or can and add to other food they might get, either charitable food or purchased food. Be able to get more nutritious food with a higher nutritional value,” Burke said.

If you are interested in donating your time or money to the organization, you can find more information on their website.

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South Dakota

Two deputies taken to the hospital after an accident near McCook Lake

Published

22 hours ago

September 26, 2024

Press Room

Two deputies taken to the hospital after an accident near McCook Lake

MCCOOK LAKE, S.D. (KTIV) – An investigation is underway in Union County, South Dakota after a sheriff’s vehicle wrecked near North Sioux City, Wednesday evening.

That crash happened just after 6 p.m. near the McCook Lake, South Dakota entrance at Highway 105 and 484th Avenue.

Union County Sheriff Jim Prouty tells KTIV, two deputies were in the pickup responding to a call when they tried to pass another vehicle. They then had to swerve to avoid a vehicle trying to turn and entered the ditch. Both deputies were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating this crash.

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South Dakota

‘Dirty Jobs’ star Mike Rowe to visit for 10-year anniversary of Build Dakota scholarships

Published

1 day ago

September 25, 2024

Press Room

‘Dirty Jobs’ star Mike Rowe to visit for 10-year anniversary of Build Dakota scholarships

“Dirty Jobs” star Mike Rowe is stopping at all four of South Dakota’s technical colleges Thursday to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Build Dakota scholarship.

Build Dakota scholarships were founded in 2015 to cover the entire cost of attending the two-year technical colleges in the state. They’re given to 400 to 500 students each year. During the last 10 years, more than $21 million in matching scholarships have been awarded to nearly 4,000 students alongside more than 500 industry partners, according to a press release.

An endowment created by a $25 million gift from T. Denny Sanford and $25 million from the state fund half of each scholarship and is then matched by an industry partner, according to past Argus Leader reporting. In exchange for the scholarship, students must work in South Dakota for three years after graduating.

These scholarships cover all of the recipient’s tuition, fees, books and uniforms. At Southeast Technical College, for example, they’re available for 30 of the college’s “most in-demand careers.” This school year, STC has awarded 164 Build Dakota scholarships, all of which were sponsored by an industry partner.

Rowe will visit STC in Sioux Falls first Thursday morning, then Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, Mitchell Technical College in the afternoon and then Western Dakota Technical College in Rapid City.

More: ‘Dirty Jobs’ host jumps into South Dakota technical education

Each visit, except for LATC, will feature a fireside chat and media availability with Rowe. At LATC, he will be present for a ribbon cutting of the Archway Plaza. At STC, Rowe will also be present for a livestream viewing of a mock emergency scenario lat the STC Healthcare Simulation Center.

Other speakers at the STC event will include STC President Cory Clasemann, STC 2024 graduate and Mike Rowe Scholar Tyler Lee, First Premier Bank CEO Dana Dykhouse and Journey Group CEO Randy Knecht.

Rowe is an author, advocate for skilled trades and the founder and CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, which provides scholarships across the nation for high school students planning to attend technical colleges.

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