Deaths Dominate South Dakota’s Top Stories of 2012

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota lost some of its political legends in 2012, beginning with the death of former Gov. Bill Janklow in January and continuing through the fall with the passing of former Sen. and presidential nominee George McGovern.

A survey of Associated Press newspaper and broadcast members determined that these were among the state's biggest stories of the year.

The year's top 10 stories were:

• The executions of killers Donald Moeller and Eric Robert
• South Dakota's battle with drought
• The deaths of Janklow, McGovern, former U.S. Sen. Jim Abdnor and Native American activist and actor Russell Means;
• The opening of the world's most-sensitive dark matter lab in Lead;
• Several Sioux tribes' purchase of Black Hills land considered sacred
• A controversial ABC News report labeling finely textured beef as "pink slime."

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