A new East River middle school will be named after one of the state's most influential politicians. A public middle school set to open in Sioux Falls in August 2014 is being named after the late George McGovern. School district officials approved the move this week.

The former U.S. senator and unsuccessful 1972 Democratic nominee for president died last October, at the age of 90.

The school naming committee cited his work to fight world hunger, including helping establish school lunch programs in poor nations.

Associated Press