PIERRE, S.D. — A plan to restore some of the state’s permitting authority over a proposed uranium mine was rejected by a South Dakota Senate panel Thursday after lawmakers said they see no need … more

LEAD, S.D. — They used rubber bullets and fictitious scenarios, but the skills developed by more than 25 local law enforcement officers recently at an active shooter training held at Lead-Deadwood … more

HELENA, Mont. — A state judge has ruled that a Montana ranch for troubled children adopted abroad is not an exempt church ministry and must be licensed by the state. Ranch For Kids owner Joyce … more

HELENA, Mont. — An advocacy group told a judge Thursday that a new voter-approved law unconstitutionally requires state agencies to determine who is an illegal immigrant and turn them over to … more

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota is on the lookout for dairy cows. Gov. Dennis Daugaard and state agriculture officials are traveling this week to the World Ag Expo in Tulare, Calif., with the … more

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The list of South Dakota lakes with worrisome levels of mercury in fish grew again in 2012. But state environmental specialists say that doesn’t mean people should stop eating … more

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico has brokered an agreement with federal regulators and the state’s largest utility that aims to settle more than a year of wrangling over the best way to curb … more

DENVER — A storm that toppled trees, whipped up blinding dust storms and may have spawned some tornadoes closed highways in Wyoming Tuesday and was slowing flights at Denver International … more

BOULDER — A man suspected of hiding in the tank of a portable toilet at a Boulder yoga festival and spying on women in other bathrooms will be allowed to plead not guilty by reason of … more

BILLINGS, Mont. — An environmental group has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn government approvals for seven coal mines in four states. Jeremy Nichols with WildEarth … more