May 23, 2012
Watch Fed President Speech at Data Matters Forum Live Stream

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolise President Narayana Kocherlakota is addressing a crowd in Rapid City, S.D., on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. 

Thank you everyone for watching the live stream. The recorded video from the even will be up shortly

August 17, 2012
Rapid City and City Growth

 

July 11, 2012
Brendan Johnson meets with OST about suspicious deaths
June 24, 2012
Black Hills Knowledge Network Partners With KOTA's My Town

The Black Hills Knowledge Network is pleased to announce a new partnership with KOTA TV's My Town website.

My Town was launched as a hyperlocal news website, giving locals a way to post news and information about the Black Hills. Watch the video below as project director Eric Abrahamson describes the Black Hills Knowledge Network's local news and information aggregation, community archives and data initiatives.

June 21, 2012
State Resources

State Departments

South Dakota Department of Labor

The DOL promotes economic and financial opportunites and security to workers and business owners with quality assistance, safe business practices, and employment solutions in today's workforce.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

June 12, 2012
Priority Use Considered For Rapid City Recreational Facilities

Public works committee considers policy that would establish proportionate use for Rapid City recreational facilities.

Larger groups could see more use of Rapid City recreational facilities. A policy being considered by the Public Works Committee at their June 12 meeting would establish proportionate use of facilities like the community gyms and the Roosevelt Park Ice Arena during prime usage hours.

May 29, 2012
Kocherlakota crowd
May 29, 2012
Kocherlakota speaks
May 25, 2012
Video for Data Matters Forum on the Economy is Now Online

Speech by President Narayana Kocherlakota of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis focuses on the effect of low interest rates and monetary policy on unemployment in the United States.

The video from the Black Hills Knowledge Network's Data Matters Forum on the Economy is now available to watch on YouTube through this link. You can also check out news coverage of the event through the following links:  

Fox Business News

Bloomberg News

May 23, 2012
Live Stream

 

 

 

If you are having problems viewing the live stream? You can download the appropiate plugins from the following sites.

If you are running safari on a mac : Click here

If you are running Chrome: Click here

May 22, 2012
Data Matters crowd May 16
May 22, 2012
Data Matters health thumb
May 22, 2012
Hollingsworth speaks
May 22, 2012
Lon Kightlinger
May 20, 2012
Economic Development Sought by Ward 3 Candidates in Rapid City

Rapid City elections are scheduled for June 5, 2012. Ward 3 candidates Chad Lewis and Dan Michael both agree that the city needs to develop ways of bringing and keeping businesses. However they differ in the way to accomplish this. All media stories, polling information, and voter registration information are available from the Black Hills Knowledge Network's Rapid City Elections page.

Ward 3 candidates Chad Lewis and Dan Michael both agree that the city needs to develop ways of bringing and keeping businesses. However, they differ in the way to accomplish this. Lewis favors improved infrastructure while Michael thinks improving the quality of life for residents will bring businesses to Rapid City.  Read the full story from the Rapid City Journal.

May 19, 2012
Home Ownership Rate
 
May 17, 2012
Revised Garbage Discount Would Follow Income Guidelines for Rapid City Seniors

Rapid City's proposed garbage discount would follow income guidelines for senior citizens.

The Rapid City Public Works Director proposed a change to the current reduced garbage fees.  The change would add an income requirement for the discount that would be identical to the one use by City Water and Sewer billing.  The recommendation will be presented to City Council for the first time on Monday May 21, 2012. Proposed change is available from the Rapid City City Council agenda page.

May 16, 2012
Task Force Recommends Limitations on Billboard Animation, Size, and Digitization Time

Rapid City Council reviews more than a dozen proposed changes to city's sign code.

A three-hour work session by Rapid City Council members yielded several approved billboard and sign changes. All changes will require two more council readings before becoming official. The first reading will likely be scheduled for June 4, 2012.

Read the full article in the Rapid City Journal.

Follow the billboard discussion here.

May 15, 2012
Health Rankings Reveal Progress and Setbacks

Our new data visualization tracks health rankings over the last three years for each of our seven Black HIlls counties as measured by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute.

Each year, health rankings for every county in the United States are published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute. Rankings are based on criteria ranging from the rate of early death (mortality), reported incidences of poor health (morbidity) and a variety of social and economic factors affecting health and wellness.

May 11, 2012
School Board Studies Early-Release Days in 2012-1013

Getting students to and from school plays a big role in early release plan.

The proposed dates for early release Wednesdays will likely change after Union contract negotiations have been completed.

Read full article in Rapid City Journal. 

The board will look further at the tentative early-release at its next regular meeting Thursday May 17 at 5:30 PM.  Agendas and Minutes.

May 8, 2012
Data Matters crowd April 27
May 8, 2012
Data Matters Eric Abrahamson April 27
May 8, 2012
Data Matters Rick Melmer
May 5, 2012
Rick Melmer speaks

Former South Dakota Education Secretary Rick Melmer speaks at the Black Hills Knowledge Network's Data Matters forum on education April 27 in Rapid City. Melmer predicts more complex assessment tests coming soon for K-12 students.

April 30, 2012
Tracking Substandard Housing Poses Challenge to Rapid City

Building Services Division seeks new processes, more staff and the cooperation of landlords and tenants in coping with the issue.

When renters complain, Rapid City's Building Services Division staff can require landlords to make repairs if a dwelling doesn't meet code. But officials concede that they are short-staffed and do not have processes in place to track whether or not the building owner has made the required improvements. A new computer system should help, but rising demand for building permits means the city's six building inspectors are already pressed for time.