Northeast Radio SD News for Monday, October 13, 2025
News Broadcast Summary: Local Accident, Social Media Safety for Teens, and Environmental Concerns in the Black Hills
Local Traffic Accident in Watertown
Watertown Fire Rescue responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of 1st Avenue North and Broadway Street at approximately 11:45 a.m. Monday morning.1 Both vehicles sustained significant front-end damage and were disabled in the roadway.2 Emergency crews transported two individuals to Prairie Lakes Hospital for evaluation; their conditions have not been released. Watertown Police and Active Towing assisted Fire Rescue in securing the scene, clearing debris, and removing the vehicles, with the cause of the accident currently under investigation.3
South Dakota Health Leaders Address Teen Social Media Use
Health leaders in South Dakota are initiating discussions regarding social media, teens, and the challenges for parents setting safeguards.4 Researchers, focusing on the developing brains of young adults, continue to examine the harms of excessive screen time.5 The South Dakota Foundation of Medical Care collaborated with University of Michigan's Jane Harness to provide guidance. Harness recommends creating a household media plan, emphasizing making bedrooms and mealtimes screen-free to promote mental health and family communication.6 She also encourages parents to learn about app settings and filters.7 Experts advocate for a balanced approach, allowing teens to utilize social media benefits while teaching them to avoid basing self-worth on likes and to mute negative accounts.8 Harness noted that some teens attempt to disconnect but find it difficult to stay away.
AAA Warns of Peak Deer Collision Season
AAA is urging South Dakota drivers to be vigilant from October through December, the peak mating season when deer are most active, especially at dawn and dusk.9 Due to high-tech vehicle components, the average cost of a deer-related crash claim in 2024 rose to over 10$\$7,700$, a 40% increase in five years.11 Nationwide, deer collisions cause 440 deaths and 59,000 injuries annually, with 17 South Dakotans having died in animal-related crashes over the last decade.12 AAA advises drivers to scan the road, use high beams when safe, not swerve for deer, stay in their lane, and always wear a seatbelt.
Controversy Surrounds Black Hills Uranium Mining Proposals
A renewed interest in mining has spurred proposals in South Dakota's Black Hills, prompting conservation groups to issue warnings.13 One project seeks approval for exploration drilling for uranium near Craven Canyon.14 Dakota Rural Action, supporting a coalition of interveners, opposes the project, citing threats to water supplies, endangered species, agricultural production, and cultural sites significant to the Lakota Sioux people.15 Group organizer Rebecca Turk challenged the pro-mining argument that uranium aids low-carbon energy sources, arguing that the mining process itself is "incredibly dangerous."16 Opponents and supporters are preparing for public hearings led by the State Board of Minerals and Environment, even as a separate uranium project near the southern Black Hills National Forest awaits state and federal approval.17
