SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA (KMHL) – Smithfield Foods Inc. announced over the weekend that the Sioux Falls facility will remain closed until further notice. The news comes after South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken sent a letter to the company recommending they remain closed for two weeks. More than 100 employees at the plant have tested positive for COVID-19. The plant employs around 2800 in Sioux Falls. In a press release from the company, Smithfield said some activity will occur at the plant on Tuesday – and the company will resume operations in Sioux Falls once [...]

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - The Minnesota Health Department says their latest research indicates the COVID epidemic is much more widespread than originally thought, with only about one percent of the actual cases being detected through testing. Multiplied out, that would come to over 133 thousand COVID cases in Minnesota. The state Health Department's Kris Ehresmann (AIRZ-man) says so far in *detected* cases the numbers are trending similar to nationally. "We've got 20 percent of our cases hospitalized and deaths are at four percent of the cases that we have identified," said Ehresmann. Ehresmann says even though Minnesota has focused its COVID [...]

SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA (KMHL) – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has declared a public health emergency in Minnehaha County with the number of coronavirus cases spiking in that area. South Dakota health officials say there was a one-day increase of 83 new confirmed cases of the virus in the county Friday – the largest one-day increase in cases. The decision comes as South Dakota officials confirmed 190 cases – primarily employees connected to Smithfield Foods – have more than doubled the number of confirmed cases two days prior.

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - Governor Tim Walz says he's "deeply concerned" that dozens of COVID-19 illnesses have shut down Smithfield Foods' Sioux Falls plant, a major processor of pork coming from Minnesota and other states. The company announced plans to temporarily close it's Sioux Falls plant for three days to step up it's cleaning processes and add barriers to promote more social distancing. The union representing workers at the Sioux Falls plant said more than 120 employees of the plant have COVID-19. "They are shut down because of what can happen if you don't get the social distancing and don't get [...]

SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA (KMHL) – Problems with the coronavirus aren’t stopping at the South Dakota border. The union that represents workers at Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls says more than 120 workers at the plant have become infected with COVID-19. The company announced today that the plant, which employs about 2,800 people in Sioux Falls will be closed for three days. "Smithfield Foods is taking the utmost precautions and actions to ensure the health and well-being of our employees - with an even increased emphasis on our critical role in the ongoing supply of food to American families," said [...]

ST. PAUL (KMHL) – Lawmakers in the Minnesota House and Senate announce an agreement on the Insulin Affordability Act which has been stuck since the last legislative session. The legislation ensures that Minnesotans have access to affordable insulin if they face an emergency, with insulin manufacturers participating in the solution. "The Insulin Affordability Act will ensure that Minnesotans  who are in need of insulin can get it at an affordable price," said Rep. Mike Howard (D - Richfield) the chief author of the legislation in the House. "Never again will a Minnesotan lose their life because they can't afford the insulin [...]