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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Leaders from the South Dakota governor's office and the state National Guard say a recent visit to Suriname (SUR'-ih-nahm) helped strengthen ties between the state and the South American country.
• The Defense Department-sponsored partnership was established about seven years ago and numerous exchanges have taken place to develop military, political, social and economic ties. Lt. Gov. Matt Michels (MY'-kuhls) and state Guard commander Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch (rysh) visited the country late last month and met with several officials including Suriname's president.
• Some South Dakota Guard soldiers carried U.S. and state flags in Suriname's National Day parade. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement that the presence of the South Dakota color guard "underscores the ties of friendship" between the two countries.
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• HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has appointed former Montana state Sen. Kim Gillan to lead a six-state region.
• The Billings Democrat will be HHS' director of Region VIII, which includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
• Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says Gillan was chosen because of her experience in public service and her involvement in health-related policy initiatives.
• Gillan said Wednesday she will be based in Denver and will begin her new duties next month.
• The 61-year-old Gillan served 16 years in the Montana Legislature. She lost to Republican Steve Daines in the 2012 election for Montana's only U.S. House seat.
• She was previously an energy analyst and business consultant and helped devise training programs to prepare women prisoners to re-enter the workforce.
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