Dakotas get money for heating aid

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Dakotas are getting more than $24 million in federal money to help needy families pay their heating bills through the rest of the calendar year.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says North Dakota is getting about $6.8 million and South Dakota about $17.2 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

The program better known as LIHEAP helps eligible families pay the costs of heating and insulating their homes in the winter and cooling their homes in the summer.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the government is releasing a large allocation of LIHEAP funds now so states have adequate funding for their energy assistance programs as the weather turns colder. About $2.7 billion is being released nationwide.

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