• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- About $554,000 in federal funding is being made available to six South Dakota health centers so they can help uninsured people find health insurance coverage under the federal health overhaul law.
• The centers eligible to apply for the funds are the City of Sioux Falls Health Department, Community Health Center of the Black Hills in Rapid City, Horizon Health Care of Howard, Prairie Community Health of Isabel, Rural Health Care of Fort Pierre and the Union County Health Foundation of Elk Point.
• The funding is part of a national effort to help uninsured people get health insurance.
• Officials say the money will allow the health centers to hire new staff, train existing staff and conduct activities to help people understand their options for getting private health insurance or Medicaid coverage.
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• DE SMET, S.D. (AP) -- Pierre takes a back seat to De Smet on Friday as part of South Dakota's ongoing Capital for a Day promotion.
• Gov. Dennis Daugaard and other state officials are planning roundtable meetings with De Smet business and community leaders, and there will also be a coffee and constituent outreach.
• De Smet Mayor Gary Wolkow (WAHL'-koh) says he's looking forward to showcasing new businesses, new medical facilities and a new community center.
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• DAVID PITT,Associated Press
• DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- A wet spring continues to soak the soil across much of the Midwest, causing the prolonged drought to slowly retreat westward, the weekly drought report released Thursday said.
• Sections of central Iowa, southeast Minnesota and western parts of Wisconsin and Missouri saw notable improvement in drought conditions during the week ending at 7 a.m. Tuesday, the U.S. Drought Monitor's report said. The drought also has subsided for nearly two-thirds of Iowa, most of Missouri and Arkansas.

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