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reports that the number of new visitors to its primary tourism promotion website in the second quarter was up nearly 28 percent from a year earlier.
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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota is one of 18 states receiving funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make improvements to rural electric infrastructure.
• Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak announced this week the loan guarantees that will help electric utilities make improvements to electric lines, transmissions facilities and smart grid technology.
• He says maintaining and upgrading rural electric systems improves reliability,

creates jobs and supports economic development.
• In South Dakota, East River Electric Power Cooperative will get $62 million to build 44 miles of transmission line and adds new substations. The Southwestern Electric Cooperative will get $39 million to improve 618 miles of distribution line, while Grand Electric Cooperative is awarded $14 million in loan guarantees to build and improve 185 miles of distribution and one mile of transmission line.
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• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- Lightning sparked several fires in the Black Hills Friday night but none topped an acre.
• The Great Plains Fire Information office says local, state and federal firefighters handled all of the small blazes, which occurred when thunderstorms moved through the area.
• Fires just north of Bearlodge campground, five miles north-northeast of Dewey, nine miles west-northwest of Argyle and one mile west of Marietta were all brought under control.
• Smoke was also spotted late Friday evening three miles south of the Elk Mountain Lookout on Wildcat Peak. Crews were on scene Saturday assessing the situation.
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