Mount Blogmore, a Rapid City Journal blog focusing on politics in South Dakota and nationwide, has been named by the Inland Press Association as the Best Staff-Written Blog in the country in the over 20,000 circulation category.

The blog was started in Sept. 2004 to cover that year's election and was continued after the election because of its wide appeal and popularity.

"Mount Blogmore has been the foremost blog in South Dakota for years, and we're thrilled that it has been recognized as the best staff-written blog in the country," Journal editor Mikel LeFort said. "Bill Harlan and Kevin Woster - and their loyal Blogmorite following - have built that blog into a must-read for thousands of people."

The current Mount Blogmore lineup includes Harlan, Woster and government reporter Scott Aust.

The Inland Press Association, founded in 1885, is a nonprofit organization owned by its member newspapers and operated by a volunteer board. Inland has more than 1,200 daily and weekly newspaper members in all 50 states, Canada and Bermuda.