EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth story in a series about the COVID-19 vaccine.

SIOUX FALLS (AP) — South Dakota is expected to receive 7,000 doses this week of the recently-approved Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of stories about the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of stories about the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a series of five stories about the COVID-19 vaccine and its distribution in South Dakota. You will hear from people who have received the shot, nurses who administered the shot, healthcare officials who have coordinated the distribution and even Rep. Dusty…

PIERRE — South Dakota remains in Phase 1D of its vaccination plan, with people 65 years and older qualifying for the vaccine. But starting on or about March 8, people younger than 65 with one underlying health condition will be eligible for the vaccine.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine offers strong protection against severe COVID-19, according to an analysis released Wednesday by U.S. regulators that sets the stage for a final decision on a new and easier-to-use shot to help tame the pandemic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — COVID-19 vaccine makers told Congress on Tuesday to expect a big jump in the delivery of doses over the coming month after a rocky start to inoculations, and the companies insist they will be able to provide enough for most Americans by summer.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell underscored the U.S. economy’s ongoing weakness Tuesday in remarks that suggested that the Fed sees no need to alter its ultra-low interest rate policies anytime soon.

PIERRE — The South Dakota Department of Health has announced that starting on Monday the age of those who qualify to receive their COVID-19 vaccination will be dropping to those who are 65 and over.

PIERRE — South Dakota will see a 5.4% increase in the number of COVID-19 doses it gets from the federal government in the coming week. And that doesn’t even include the 2,600 doses that 13 retail pharmacies in the state will get to administer to its customers.

PIERRE (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers were attempting to contain the spread of the coronavirus on Monday after the first reported case in the Legislature this session.

SIOUX FALLS (AP) — South Dakota health officials on Sunday reported five new deaths due to the coronavirus, lifting the total number of fatalities to 1,809 since the start of the pandemic.

BELLE FOURCHE — The 4.5-acre lot known as the Shopko building in Belle Fourche will soon have new ownership. Firefly Builders, Inc., said their offer to purchase the building has been accepted and they expect to close on the commercial property at a future date.

LEAD — Childhood vaccines that are already routinely administered could be effective against combating COVID-19, local virologist Dr. John Andrews said.

SPEARFISH — In an effort unseen in the history of the healthcare network, Monument Health has coordinated with the city of Spearfish to set up a large-scale vaccination distribution center to help expedite the fight against COVID-19.

BELLE FOURCHE — The Belle Fourche School District is weathering the pandemic storm as well as can be expected, according to Superintendent Steve Willard’s state of the district address during a Jan. 25 meeting.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told Republican senators during a two-hour meeting he’s unwilling to settle on an insufficient coronavirus aid package after they pitched their slimmed down $618 billion proposal that’s a fraction of the $1.9 trillion he is seeking.

RAPID CITY — Monument Health announced that it is rolling out a new way for patients to schedule a vaccination or to place their names on a waiting list to be notified  when they can receive the vaccine.

(AP) — With demand for COVID-19 vaccines outpacing the world’s supplies, a frustrated public and policymakers want to know: How can we get more? A lot more. Right away.

BELLE FOURCHE –– Many Northern Hills parents are filled with concerns about health, finances, security, and more, but in Belle Fourche, Lunchtime Solutions has gone the extra mile to ensure parents needn’t worry about how they’ll feed their kids.  

SPEARFISH — A banner hung on Spearfish Monument Hospital honoring healthcare workers.

SIOUX FALLS (AP) — South Dakota health officials on Monday reported 32 new cases of the coronavirus, the lowest daily total since late July.

BELLE FOURCHE –– Butte County has seen a consistent increase in the number of criminal cases handled by the state’s attorney’s office in the last handful of years, and even during a global pandemic, 2020 was no different.

SPEARFISH — makeSPACE is launching its local fundraising effort to encourage people who are able to share a portion of their federal COVID stimulus checks with those in the community that are more financially impacted by the pandemic.