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honey bees. The USDA announced the funding Friday.
• The program allows for managing or replacing existing vegetation, known as "covers", with lower cost, high nutrition seed mixes that can support plants that benefit pollinators like the honey bee.
• The honey bee population in the country has been declining for decades. The USDA says there were 6 million honey bee colonies in 1947. There are an estimated 2.5 million today.
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• MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) -- A South Dakota health care provider has announced plans to build a new $16.5 million medical office building on the south side of Mitchell.
• Avera Health and Avera Queen of Peace Hospital announced plans Friday morning for the project.
• KSFY reports that Avera officials are calling the location the Grassland Health Campus. Leaders hope it will serve as the future home of Avera Queen of Peace Hospital and its facilities.
• The office building will have 70,000 square feet. The Argus Leader writes that it will house family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, occupational medicine, urgent care, laboratory and imaging services.
• Groundbreaking for the new building is expected to begin August.
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• DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa and Nebraska cities along the Missouri River are preparing for flooding, but it is not expected to be extensive.
• At Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, the river is expected to crest Sunday morning at 31.6 feet. That's above the 29-foot flood stage and should mean flooding of riverside parks in both cities.
• At Blair, Nebraska, the river should reach nearly 30 feet Saturday night, above the 26.5-foot flood stage.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reducing water releases at Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, South Dakota, from 30,000 cubic feet per second to 12,000 to lower flood risk.
• The river at Sioux City will remain below flood stage. About 43 miles downstream at Decatur, Nebraska, it is expected to reach flood stage Saturday morning and then fall.

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