• FORT MEADE, S.D. (AP) -- Officials with the Veterans Affairs Black Hills Health Care System say the organization has successfully completed a survey by a national accrediting agency.
• The Joint Commission, which accredits health care programs around the nation, gave its approval to the VA Black Hills Health Care System's hospital, long-term care, behavioral health and home-based primary care programs.
• VA Black Hills Health Care System director Steve DiStasio says the accreditation survey evaluated the system's compliance with national standards of care.
• The VA Black Hills Health Care system provides medical and surgical care, residential rehabilitation treatment, nursing home care and psychiatric inpatient services to veterans living in South Dakota and portions of Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. It operates the Fort Meade and Hot Springs VA medical centers and some outpatient clinics.
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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Sioux Falls leaders say the city has set a new record for construction, with more than two months left in 2013.
• The value of building permits issued by the city recently hit nearly $524.3 million, more than $1 million over the previous record in 2007.
• The city planner says the projects include large commercial buildings as well as an increase in housing units.
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