SIOUX FALLS (AP) - Heavy rains and tornadoes were among the major events of 2014 in South Dakota, but it was a political storm that largely dominated the news. Here are some of the state's biggest stories, in no particular order:
VISA PROGRAM
The state's handling of the federal EB-5 investment-for-green-card program prompted several investigations but failed to affect any races in November's election. Attorney General Marty Jackley told lawmakers in July he was ready to charge Richard Benda, former head of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, with stealing $500,000 had Benda not committed suicide in 2013. No one else has been charged.
REPUBLICAN TAKEOVER
Former Gov. Mike Rounds avoided a runoff in a crowded field of GOP challengers, including two who were charged with breaking election laws, and overcame scrutiny about the EB-5 program to beat a Democrat and two independent candidates. On Jan. 6, he takes over the U.S. Senate seat left open by the retirement of Democrat Tim Johnson, which means Republicans will hold every statewide office for the first time in more than 50 years.
ADVERTISEMENT
FAREWELL TOUR
Johnson traveled across the state in the fall to personally thank people who supported him during his 36 years in office, first in the state Legislature and then in Congress as a representative and senator. During a U.S. Senate floor speech in December, Johnson stressed the need for more bipartisanship. He plans to retire in Sioux Falls.
GAY MARRIAGE
Six couples filed a lawsuit in May challenging the state's ban on gay marriage. A federal judge in Sioux Falls refused to dismiss the case but has yet to schedule any hearings.
DEEP FREEZE
South Dakota was among the states on the leading edge of a blast of Arctic cold caused by a "polar vortex" that blanketed much of the U.S. in early January. Temperatures and wind chills plunged well below zero, and high winds and snow made travel difficult.
FLOODING
An extra-cold winter gave way to a wetter-than-normal June that caused serious flooding across much of southeast South Dakota. Interstate 29 at North Sioux City was shut down for a day when crews built a temporary levee to protect nearby houses from the swollen Big Sioux River. In Canton, more than 8 inches of rain fell in one day, flooding about 1,100 homes. The heavy rains also affected agriculture, dousing already saturated fields and delaying planting for some farmers. Then in September, more heavy rains put off some of the harvest.
ADVERTISEMENT
TORNADO DAMAGE
A June tornado damaged or destroyed dozens of houses and businesses in Wessington Springs and displaced about 100 people. Despite the devastation, no one in the town of 850 died or was seriously injured.
NOTABLE DEATHS
South Dakota lost two notable figures in May. Don Meyer, one of the winningest coaches in college basketball who recovered from a near-fatal car accident and liver cancer before closing out his career at Northern State University, died at 69. Days later, Ruth Ziolkowski, who carried on her late husband's dream of honoring Native Americans by carving the likeness of warrior Crazy Horse into the Black Hills, died of cancer at 87.
FATAL DOG ATTACK
A pack of dogs mauled an 8-year-old girl to death in November while she was sledding on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The family of Jayla Rodriguez is raising money for a nonprofit called Jayla's Dream, an effort to improve animal control and start a shelter.
125 YEARS OF STATEHOOD
South Dakota joined sister state North Dakota in marking 125 years of statehood in November. Numerous communities held events throughout the year. Among them: a wagon train from Yankton, the capital of Dakota Territory, to Pierre; and a South Dakota Symphony Orchestra performance in the Capitol rotunda.
