• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- Some environmental groups plan to use Earth Day to call attention to old uranium mines in South Dakota and elsewhere.
• Defenders of the Black Hills and Clean Up The Mines say they'll announce a nationwide campaign to clean up all abandoned uranium mines in the United States.
• The event is scheduled for April 22 near Hermosa.
• The groups say South Dakota has at least 270 abandoned, open-pit uranium mines.
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• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association along with several other industry groups is hosting four meetings in the western part of the state to provide ranchers information about available disaster relief programs.
• The meetings will take place Monday and Tuesday in Eagle Butte, Hermosa, Union Center and Interior.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that producers will be able to sign up for Livestock Disaster Programs starting Tuesday at Farm Service Agency offices across South Dakota.
• Officials with the service agency will attend the meetings to provide details about documentation requirements. Accounting experts will also be at the meetings to give a basic overview of potential tax implications.
• The available programs will provide payments to eligible producers for livestock deaths and grazing losses.
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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- The South Dakota state veterinarian is urging horse owners to vaccinate the animals and take other measures to prevent the spread of a virus
• Equine herpes virus has been found in South Dakota. It takes three forms. A potentially deadly, neurological version of the virus has limited treatments available.
• A respiratory version of the virus causes fever and coughing. And a reproductive version can cause a mare to miscarry.

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