COVID-19

In The Moment … June 16, 2020 Show 839 Hour 1

In The Moment … June 15, 2020 Show 838 Hour 2

Each week we have asked various medical professionals to join us to provide the most current information available regarding COVID-19. Each of these segments has been informative as these said professionals learn new stuff every day. Joining us today is Dr. Shankaar Kurra, he's the vice president of medical affairs at Monument Health.

South Dakota had fewer new unemployment claims last week than any other state, and it was the only state with fewer than 1,000 new claims. 

The number of new claims in South Dakota was 817. That continues a downward trend since weekly claims peaked at more than 8,000 in early April. 

City leaders in Sturgis are considering a compromise plan for this year’s annual motorcycle rally. 

Some residents say canceling the rally would devastate the local economy. Others say allowing the rally would expose residents to an outbreak of COVID-19. 

In The Moment … June 9, 2020 Show 834 Hour 2

The disruption in the supply food chain has been an issue for South Dakota producers, particularly pork producers. The physical and emotional stress placed on these individuals is real.  Joining us today is Karl Oehlke, he's a physician assistant with Avera Medical Group/University Psychiatry Associates. He's also a 3rd generation farmer.  

Health reporting on SDPB is supported by Monument Health of Rapid City

In The Moment … June 9, 2020 Show 834 Hour 2

As we continue our conversations on the pandemic's consequences for the food supply chain, we look at the economic impacts of meat plant closures. The weaknesses we're seeing now were there before COVID-19...so what do we need to do after? Evert Vander Sluis joins us now, he's a professor of economics at South Dakota State University.

In The Moment … June 8, 2020 Show 833 Hour 1

The most recent jobs report seemed to give the stock market a shot of optimism after tanking in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. But things are still pretty bleak...and to be honest, I'm as confused as most people.  Luckily, Rick Kahler is here to help us out.  He's the founder and president of the Kahler Financial Group, a leader in the field of financial therapy, and the author of several financial books including 2009's Wire for Wealth. 

During the pandemic, South Dakotans haven’t had to look for work while receiving unemployment benefits. 

But that could change by August. 

In The Moment … June 3, 2020 Show 830 Hour 2

Being elected mayor of any city brings challenges but who could have predicted being that mayor during a pandemic followed by large peaceful protests calling for police reform paired with unrest and looting? Paul TenHaken is the mayor of Sioux Falls and is experiencing just that. He joins us today with insight as to how leading South Dakota's largest city given the circumstances has been.

In The Moment … June 3, 2020 Show 830 Hour 2

COVID-19, protests, civil unrest, and election results. Just another typical week in South Dakota! Well, not really, and that's why we've called in the Dakota Political Junkies. We welcome Jon Schaff, professor of Political Science at Northern State University in Aberdeen, and Tom Dempster, former assistant majority leader of the South Dakota State Senate. Hello, Tom.

The SDPB News Podcast is where we bring you South Dakota's top news and politics headlines from the past 24 hours.

Each day, SDPB's journalism team works to bring you pertinent news coverage. We then compile those stories into one neatly formatted daily podcast so that you can stay informed. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify today.

The coronavirus pandemic could be a pivotal moment for the beef industry, because it’s shining a new light on old problems. 

One of those problems is a lack of competition in beef processing. Four big companies control more than 80 percent of the industry. It’s called “packer concentration,” and it's been a sore subject with ranchers for more than 100 years. 

In The Moment … June 1, 2020 Show 828 Hour 2

South Dakota's U.S. Congressman Dusty Johnson joins us next. He's been working to alleviate the challenges COVID-19 has brought to the meat supply chain. Today we start out by discussing the protests across the America.

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In The Moment … May 29, 2020 Show 827 Hour 1

The top doctor at Sanford Health says South Dakota will continue a pilot study of the drug hydroxychloroquine, but the drug will not go to people who are sick with COVID-19. 

Instead, researchers will look at the drug’s ability to prevent or lessen the severity of the disease. 

In The Moment … May 28, 2020 Show 826 Hour 1

Each Thursday night, On Call with the Prairie Doc® can be seen on SDPB TV at 7 central 6 mountain. Tonight's episode takes a look at "Finding Balance in a World with Covid-19." Dr. Andrew Ellsworth is with Avera Medical Group in Brookings and is one of the Prairie Doc® physicians. He joins us with a preview.

In The Moment … May 28, 2020 Show 826 Hour 1

A record number of South Dakotans have already mailed in their votes for the state primary election. Primary day is Tuesday, June 2. Because of the threat of COVID-19, people who have never considered the prospect of early voting are weighing their options. SDPB's Kevin Woster joins us for an update. You can find his reporting at sdpb.org/woster. 

Mosquito Season is nearly upon us. The good news? You can’t get COVID from Mosquitoes.

“There is currently zero evidence that suggests you can get COVID-19 from a mosquito bite,” says Amanda Bachmann.

Amanda Bachmann is the Pesticide Education and Urban Entomology Field Specialist for SDSU Extension. West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, Bachmann says extensive research into other corona viruses, like SARS have researchers saying COVID-19 cannot be transmitted by mosquitoes or other insects.

In The Moment … May 27, 2020 Show 825 Hour 1

The spread of Sars-CoV-2 has caused shortages of some medications, which has many wondering about the supply chain for pharmaceuticals. Tom Johnson, Pharm.D., is assistant vice president of hospital pharmacy for Avera Health. He joins us with an update on those shortages and on the availability of medications like Remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine. Those two medications are being studied for their potential to ease the symptoms of the most severe COVID-19 cases. 

In The Moment … May 26, 2020 Show 824 Hour 1

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the world, medical professionals and scientists learn more and more every day. Each week, we have brought local doctors on this show and have asked them what do we know this week? Dr. Shankar Kurra is Vice President of Medical Affairs at Monument Health, he joins us with more.

The nation's unemployment rate is around 15%, “2020 Homeless Count” numbers are in, Rapid City sees an uptick in COVID-19 cases, tribes maintain sovereignty regarding their checkpoints, and CFAP provides up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America's farmers and ranchers.  

In The Moment … May 21, 2020 Show 822 Hour 1

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there are immigrant families who don't have access to either state or federal or federal support. A fundraising effort called the Emergency Relief Fund for Immigrants in South Dakota aims to provide short term financial assistance to these families and individuals. Nancy Reynoza is the executive director of Que Pasa Sioux Falls. Taneeza Islam is the director for South Dakota Voices for Peace both are a part of The South Dakota Dream Coalition which is behind this fund.

In The Moment … May 21, 2020 Show 822 Hour 1

State health officials say the majority of COVID-19 cases connected to the Smithfield meatpacking plant in Sioux Falls have recovered. Meanwhile, other meatpacking plants in the state are seeing cases among employees.

Smithfield was the largest cluster of COVID-19 cases in the nation in mid-April. In total, 841 employees and 245 of their close contacts tested positive. Two employees died.

As of Wednesday, state epidemiologist Josh Clayton says all of the close contacts have recovered. Ten Smithfield employees still have active cases of the coronavirus. 

In The Moment … May 19, 2020 Show 820 Hour 2

In The Moment … May 18, 2020 Show 819 Hour 2

The coronavirus pandemic began a couple of months ago and as time passes by, our health professionals are learning more and more. We've been talking with local medical professionals to tell us what we know now that we didn't know let's say last week. Dr. Kevin Post is chief medical officer with the Avera Medical Group.

Health reporting on SDPB is supported by Monument Health of Rapid City

Unlike many careers, COVID-19 did not change the way farmers and ranchers do their jobs. What the pandemic did change was how much they get paid. 

“You know, being out here on the farm, it’s kind of the definition of social distancing. Thing is, at this time of year, I don’t go to town anyway. We are calving and planting.”

It’s calving season on Scott Kolousek’s farm. But instead of feeling joy with each new life, the Wessington Springs, South Dakota cow/calf producer says he’s anxious.

Unemployment benefits paid to South Dakotans have totaled $87.8 million since the pandemic began affecting the state’s economy in mid-March. 

That’s according to Marcia Hultman, the head of the state Department of Labor and Regulation. 

“Eight weeks ago it was like a light switch was flipped, and claims instantly – and to a degree never before seen – began to hit our system,” Hultman said. 

The South Dakota Department of Health is organizing mass COVID-19 testing of all nursing home and assisted-living residents and employees. Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon says that’s the first of several vulnerable populations the state is targeting over the next several weeks. 

Malsam-Rysdon says the mass testing will start next week with nursing homes and attached assisted living facilities in communities with significant spread of COVID-19. She admits it’s a tall order.