South Dakota State News

Police searching for suspect after 1 injured by gunshot

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:41:24 +0000

SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) -- A Sioux Falls man was shot in the leg Wednesday morning, police said at Thursday's police briefing.

Two men and a woman were in an alleyway on 2nd Street when an argument broke out around 9:30 a.m. Police are still trying to figure out what the dispute was about.

The man shot the other man in the leg. The victim, 39, was taken to the hospital for his injuries. Police are still looking for the suspect that shot him.

All three people knew each other, SFPD spokesman Sam Clemens said.

Mitchell considers prison; Meet Miss SD; Rain chances

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:42:37 +0000

SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) -- Here are this morning's top stories with KELOLAND On the Go.

We have an update on the case that involves a man charged with attempted first degree murder of law enforcement in both Minnehaha and Union County.

Project Prison Reset’s task force is recommending existing Department of Corrections facilities or the Worthing or Mitchell areas for new men’s prison construction. Mitchell city leaders want the group to consider Davison County.

Just a year and a half ago, Jamee Kattner had never considered being in a pageant before. But then, a group of students mistook her for the then-Miss South Dakota.

On radar, rain is developing and expanding to the northeast. The steady rain areas in far southwestern SD will expand to the northeast during the day.

President Trump announces travel ban

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:19:49 +0000

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - President Donald Trump announced a new travel ban. The restrictions would impact 19 countries. The White House is pointing to national security concerns.

President Trump is linking last weekend's attack in Boulder, Colorado to a new round of travel restrictions, a move critics are calling politically motivated.

"We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” said Trump.

President Trump is blocking entry from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Haiti, and Somalia and imposing additional restrictions on seven others.

"We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” said Trump.

The president points to the attack in Boulder as proof the U.S. needs stronger immigration controls but the suspect, in that case, is from Egypt, a country not on the list.

"In the 21st century, we've seen one terror attack after another, carried out by foreign visa overstayers,” said Trump.

The White House says the man overstayed a visa, something the president argues this ban will help prevent.

"And nothing will stop us from keeping America safe,” said Trump.

The ban takes effect Monday to give airports and agencies time to prepare.

Chapel's laser focus

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 03:25:46 +0000

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) -- A century-old chapel in the heart of Sioux Falls has been posing for its close-up.

A drone, equipped with remote sensing equipment, has performed a flyover of the Glidden Memorial Chapel, located in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

The technology, called LiDAR, uses light and radar to map out every inch of the building, inside and out. It's the first phase of what will be an extensive makeover of the historic building.

The chapel also shares a technological tie to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

This is a virtual blueprint of the 101-year-old Glidden Memorial Chapel.

"It gives you dimensions, it gives you space, you can ask the machine to take you upstairs or onto the next side to go 50-feet above and see what it's like from that view," Doug Pederson of Pederson Contracting Corporation said.

This 3-D imaging of the chapel contains millions of points that provide architects with precise 3-D measurements of the building.

"4.947 feet from the bottom of that stone to the grade where the stone meets to the underside of that sandstone," Schemmer Associates Senior Architect Robin Miller said.

There's a learning curve to this new technology, behind every corner and every wall.

"The first time we used this technology, we were trying to show-off how good we were at it. And one of our operators got lost in the middle of a wall and couldn't figure out how to get out," Miller said.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery will use the data collected to begin a major restoration of the chapel. Moisture through the decades has weakened the chapel's floor to the extent that no one is allowed inside. The floor will eventually have to be replaced, as part of upgrades to this longtime landmark.

"When people ask me where's Mount Pleasant, I say, well, it's the chapel on 12th Street. Everybody knows this chapel. They didn't know what was Mount Pleasant, but they know the chapel," Mount Pleasant Cemetery Association President Fred Gage said.

The imaging will be a big time-saver in preparing the chapel for renovations.

"If you think about it, instead of having two guys in there with a tape measure moving a ladder around for eight hours, we came in with a drone for a couple hours and got better measurements than we would have ever got," Mount Pleasant Cemetery Manager Matt Gage said.

A hand-held camera took images of the chapel's interior, including the basement, where bodies used to be stored.

"And you can see right here was the opening, so they could have a casket down below and raise it into the opening of the floor above," Miller said.

Measurements provided by the imaging will also provide key data for a planned expansion of the chapel.

"If we put on an addition, for example, we want to make sure it's compatible with the building. We don't want to have it necessarily compete with the building, because you can't duplicate this. But you can make it something compatible and make it more functional," Pederson said.

This type of laser scanning was used to create a virtual model of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after it was heavily damaged by fire in 2019.

"I saw a thing actually on CBS This Morning about how they had used LiDAR after the fire to find all the measurements of the things that were unsafe and they couldn't get to and all that stuff, and then they were able to re-create places that things were missing so they could bring it back to what it was," Matt Gage said.

The chapel is on the National Historic Register, so any upgrades will have to maintain its historical significance.

"As we refurbish this building and bring it to usable use, there are quite a few code conditions that were not in place at the time the building was constructed," Miller said.

With much of the preliminary, technical work now wrapping up, the actual refurbishing of the chapel can't get underway until the cemetery collects more donations from the public.

"And we've got to go step-by-step and basically we have to fund the project as we proceed, so that's very important," Pederson said.

Actual construction could still be months away, depending on how much money the cemetery raises. An ambitious project to preserve Sioux Falls' past, while remaining laser-focused on the future.

"This building was probably built by people who were born in the 1800s. And what they accomplished is nothing short of amazing and it amazes us to this day," Pederson said.

The cemetery hopes to hold not only funerals, but weddings in the chapel, once it's fully restored.

Matt Gage says he's also fielded questions from churches that want to hold Sunday services there.

If you'd like to donate to the project, click here

Judge won't hide officers' names in SF shooting case

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 03:13:04 +0000

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) - There is an update on one of the cases involving a man charged with multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder of law enforcement officers in two different counties.

Initially, the names of the officers involved were redacted from court documents. However, a judge has ruled that it will no longer be the case.

It was a crime spree that started in Sioux Falls and ended more than 30 miles south along Interstate 29. Court documents say 25-year-old Samir Albaidhani allegedly shot an officer in Sioux Falls, took off in a stolen SUV and was involved in a second exchange of gunfire near the Beresford exit.

Following his arrest, Albaidhani was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement in Minnehaha County.

Initially, the affidavit did not include the names of the officers, instead calling them "Officer #1 and #2" as part of the case was sealed.

On May 7, a motion to keep those names hidden was filed by an attorney of "interested parties."

It requested, "removing or redacting the names from all current and future filings and removing all identifying information regarding the identities of Sioux Falls Police Department officers."
The judge denied that motion, saying, "Officers One and Two do not have a constitutional right to prevent the public disclosure of their names or initials."

On April 28 the defense filed a motion for the judge to, "disqualify" himself from further proceedings.

The judge denied that request via email saying he's aware that he was the sentencing judge in prior cases involving Albaidhani, but that doesn't impact his ability to fairly handle the case.

The "interested party" that filed the motion to seal can appeal the ruling. However, as of now, those files will be unsealed in 30 days.

City leaders ‘would like to have a prison in Mitchell’

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 03:12:17 +0000

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Project Prison Reset's task force is recommending existing Department of Corrections facilities or the Worthing or Mitchell areas for new men's prison construction.

Mitchell city leaders want the group to consider Davison County.

City leaders from Mitchell said they've already gathered support when it comes to listing Davison County as a possible location.

"The chamber and development corporations both passed resolutions separately to bring a prison to Mitchell. The county commission has supported a prison in Mitchell," Mitchell Chamber and Development CEO Mike Lauritsen said.

The Mitchell City Council approved a resolution on Monday that expresses interest in having the facilities built in Davison County, citing the need to meet criminal justice system demands.

Lauritsen hopes the city's efforts to inform the public about possible economic opportunities will set them apart from other potential sites.

"This would be huge for our community. That's why we've done all of this work. We want it to go to Mitchell," Lauritsen said. "I know there's been struggles in other communities, and I think that's the reason we've made these steps."

The proposed site is a couple miles south of town. Mitchell leaders said the location would have minimal impact on the community but would be close enough to offer rehabilitation resources to inmates.

"If you want to do rehab programs, we've got some of the best programs in the state right there," Mitchell Area Housing President Terry Sabers told the task force Tuesday. "Dakota Wesleyan University is there. If you want more advanced programs, they are another three miles away."

They also asked the task force to consider Mitchell's secondary water system.

"Having that secured, our vision plan ten years ago was to have enough water for 130 years plus growth. So, we are really well situated there," Davison County Commissioner John Claggett said.

There were no final decisions made at yesterday's task force meeting, but it did serve as another opportunity for input and consideration.

"We'd like to have a prison in Mitchell," Lauritsen said.

At Mitchell's city council meeting Monday night, some residents expressed concerns about community safety and increased crime if prison facilities are built there.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Mitchell Development Corporation announced it will hold three community forums to discuss the proposed site.

The organization said in a news release a Mitchell Prison Task Force, made up of city and county officials, community leaders and representatives from the Governor's office will hold the following forums:

Tuesday, June 17th, 2025: In-person forum at Mitchell Technical College Auditorium, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 18th, 2025: Virtual forum at 7:00 p.m. (Access links will be available on the City and Development Corporation websites)
Tuesday, June 24, 2025: Community Debate at Dakota Wesleyan University, 5:30 p.m.

South Dakota lost one of its legendary football players this week

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 23:16:54 +0000

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- South Dakota has lost one of its legendary football players this week.

Doug Eggers, who grew up in Wagner, played five seasons in the NFL, including along side Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts.

Eggers died this week at the age of 93.

KELOLAND News sat down with a man who knew Eggers well, because his dad played with him in Baltimore.

Eggers graduated from South Dakota State University 1952, where he was a standout linebacker for the Jackrabbits.

After a stint in the Army, Eggers signed with the Baltimore Colts in January 1954.

He played with Buzz Nutter, who was the center back then. The two became close friends.

KELOLAND News talked with Buzz's son Brian, who remembers his dad and Eggers hunting in South Dakota.

"The Eggers owned a lot of land in South Dakota and we would go out there every year to go pheasant hunting," Brian Nutter said. "It was the greatest experience of my life, we had the best times, I probably went for 20 some years."

Eggers played in 46 games for the Colts. The 6-foot, 213-pound linebacker is credited with four career pass interceptions and eight fumble recoveries.

Nutter says he remembers his dad telling him stories about how tough Eggers was as a linebacker.

"You'd love to meet him in a bar, but I don't think I'd love to meet him on the football field, because he was hard, he was a man," Nutter said.

In an interview with Ghosts of 33rd Street, Eggers talked about the year Johnny Unitas joined the team.

"He struggled a little bit the first part of that season that was in '55," Eggers said.

But Eggers says Unitas turned it around the following year thanks to another legendary quarterback, Otto Graham.

"Otto Graham gave him tips like put air under the ball, keep the receiver running and he passed on his knowledge to John," Eggers said.

After pro football, Eggers went on to own an equipment company, but those who played football with him say he was a like a wrecking machine.

"He was tough as nails, because that was the way he was brought up, you know they were farmers and had a tough life and it just made them hard people, but he was a super gentleman, super," Nutter said.

After playing with the Colts, Eggers went onto play with the Chicago Cardinals for a short time.

ICE arrest at Minnehaha County Courthouse

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 23:16:25 +0000

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- The Minnehaha County Public Defender's Office is raising concerns about public trust in the justice system after an ICE arrest at the Minnehaha County Courthouse resulted in a mistrial Friday.

According to an emailed statement to KELOLAND News, Traci Smith with the Minnehaha County Public Defender's Office said, “The ICE agents' presence coincided with the presence of witnesses who had been subpoenaed to testify on behalf of the Defendant.”

Smith said jurors were on a break and many of them saw the ICE arrest, which happened in front of both the witnesses’ wife and infant daughter.

“Because of the scene it caused, the Judge declared a mistrial,” Smith said. “The witness had been lawfully subpoenaed to appear and testify. The actions of the prosecutor and ICE not only disrupted the trial but directly undermined the Defendant’s constitutional right to a fair trial and caused irreparable harm to the judicial process.”

Smith said the person on trial is a U.S. citizen.

“The removal of a witness under these circumstances sets a dangerous precedent and casts a long shadow over the integrity of our justice system,” Smith said. “The chilling effect this incident is likely to have on future witness cooperation, especially within our immigrant communities, cannot be overstated. If individuals fear that coming to court could lead to their detention or deportation, they are less likely to report crimes. Victims will be less likely to cooperate with investigations — this jeopardizes both justice and public safety for all.”

KELOLAND News has reached out to the Minnehaha County State's Attorney's office and the Department of Homeland Security. Any statement will be added to this story.

Huron company added to prison discussion

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 23:15:59 +0000

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- A Huron company could have a pivotal role in the next South Dakota men's prison project.

Trussbilt is one of a few manufacturers in the U.S. that makes modular steel prison and jail cells and metal panels, ceilings and other metal material for such projects.

The company was mentioned during Tuesday's Prison Project Reset task force meeting on Tuesday. Michael Gouluff of Elevatus Architecture of Fort Wayne, Indiana, said Trussbilt has been involved in several jail or detention projects.

Gouluff said modular steel cells could be used in a possible men's prison project in the state.

The task force has been considering possible prison projects and sites. On Tuesday, it asked contract manager JE Dunn to develop possible plans for a $600 million project using sites near Mitchell, Worthing or existing prison campuses. If accepted, a new plan would replace a rejected $825 million plan with about $730 million of that in actual construction costs. It would also replace a $1.9 billion to $2.1 billion project for 1,500 to 1,728 beds with another phase of at least 1,728 to follow proposed by Arrington Watkins.

"We build to whatever standard we are held to," Trussbilt president Mark Harvey said in a Wednesday interview with KELOLAND News.

Trussbilt has been involved in prison or jail projects around the country, Mexico, Canada, Mexico and southeast Asia, Harvey said.

The cells are built in Huron. The fixtures such as the toilet and mirror are attached at the plant. The fully assembled cell with four walls and a ceiling are shipped to the construction site.

"They use a crane to lift them off the trailer and set them on concrete," Harvey said. The cells are rolled in on skates to the proper place where they are welded in place.

"They can be set side-by-side or stacked on top of each other for a mezzanine level," Harvey said.

The modular, or pre-fabricated cells, can help reduce project costs, Gouluff said.

Construction publications also said modular cells can work well for tight spaces and small sites.

Several task force members said on Tuesday that they were interested in the modular cells.

Gouluff's firm was not hired by the state to provide a review of the men's prison or to recommend a project, but it was at Tuesday's meeting during the public comment period. State Attorney General Marty Jackley also shared a letter from Elevatus days prior to Tuesday's meeting which said a men's prison could be built for around $525 million.

The price quote was repeated on Tuesday. Gouluff told the task force that if the state completes a new prison project in 20 months, the construction cost would be $525 million to $550 million.

Later in the meeting, the task force reached a consensus on $600 million for 1,500 to 1,700-bed prison. The task force also removed the original 160-acres selected as a prison site between Harrisburg and Canton in Lincoln County.

"I walked away from the table not feeling great," task force member Republican Sen. Jim Mehlhaff said in a Wednesday interview with KELOLAND News.

He's concerned the parameters may not be able to produce enough beds or that the sites may not be adequate.

A second consultant, Arrington Watkins, has said the state needs at least 1,500 bed project immediately. It could use as many as 1,728 beds, architect Mike Quinn said on Tuesday. In the next several years, there will be need for another 1,700-bed project, he said.

"We had the presentation from Elevatus Architects who claim they can provide that type of prison," Mehlhaff said of a possible $600 million project with 1,500 beds.

On Tuesday, McMillan told the task force that its request meant it would no longer be able to consider a 100-year plan for a prison project.

"We will give them options," Vance McMillen of JE Dunn, said on Wednesday.

McMillan said on Wednesday that any possible options may not have many details, but it will give the task force on idea of what size and what type of project on the suggested locations can be built and completed for $600 million or less.

Harvey said on Wednesday that the 100 year life is part of the discussion with prisons.

"One of the things we go back and forth with on the concrete industry it that pre-cast will 100 years or what have you," Harvey said.

Steel modular cells will also last 100 years, Harvey said. If the finish is maintained on a modular cell, "our panels will be there just as long as concrete," Harvey said.

Pre-fabricated cells are well suited to dense areas or smaller sites and can streamline the construction process, according to the Samuels Group.

The Samuels Group also noted some downsides with this type of construction. The noise levels can be higher than a traditional concrete build and they are not as flexible with changes that may be required during construction.

But the noise level is not a concern with Trussbilt, Harvey said. Trussbilt is able to load its products with lightweight grout which reduces noise and noise reverberation. Harvey said.

Harvey said Trussbilt will be interested in the prison process, particularly if and when requests for construction and material proposals happen.

Mehlhaff said while he is disappointed the roughly $65 million spent on the Lincoln County site seems to have been lost now, he does know the site and the $825 million and a possible higher price won't be pursued because of political pressure.

"I'd rather spend $200 million in today's dollars for the extra life from 50 years to 100 years. Who knows what that will cost in 50 years," Mehlhaff said.

Still, "Right now, we need 1,500 beds," Mehlhaff said. "We need to solve that immediately and replace the Hill."

JE Dunn plans to submit options to the task force for its July 8 meeting.

Former mayor back in court for triple homicide

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:06:23 +0000

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) - The man accused of murdering three people in Centerville was back in court Wednesday.

Wednesday's hearing comes a little more than a year after 65 year old Jay Ostrem was accused of shooting and killing three men.

In total, 34 people -- 20 of them family of the victims -- gathered in the courtroom on the 3rd floor of the McCook County Courthouse for Wednesday's status hearing, which began at 12:24 p.m., nearly an hour and a half after its scheduled time.

The judge on the case apologized to those in attendance for the delay, noting that it was due to time spent with the attorneys working out times and dates for the proceedings going forward.

Beginning the status hearing, the judge expressed that the hearing would be to go over details of a proposed order, including scheduling future hearings.

Noteable dates from Wednesday's status hearing

Jury Trial:

The jury trial for Ostrem is tentatively scheduled for March 12-27, 2026. The first two days of the trial would be reserved for jury selection, while opening statements would begin on March 16.

The judge noted that consideration is being given regarding the question of jury selection and venue. Though the alleged crime happened in Turner County, the court house in that county is no longer usable.

The plan is to hold the trial in McCook County, with a Turner County jury, though the judge stated that plans are being considered in the event that the trial must be held in Turner County.

Pre-Trial Status Hearings:

Status hearings will be held on the following dates:

July 16, 2025
- Juror questionnaires are to be agreed upon at this hearing
September 24, 2025
January 14, 2026
February 11, 2026
- The court will require jury instructions from both parties by February 6, ahead of this hearing.

The hearing adjourned at 12:46 p.m., with lawyers for the state remaining afterward to speak with the family members gathered.

Ostrem is a former Centerville mayor and was also a law enforcement officer.

South Dakota man charged in 2013 death of girlfriend takes plea offer, avoiding murder charge

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:40:39 +0000

More than a decade the decomposing body of 38-year-old woman was found in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the boyfriend accused of her murder took a plea offer the day before trial. Meshell Will was reported missing in August…

Noem looking to further bolster Texas security efforts at US-Mexico border

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:56:46 +0000

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says her administration is considering boosting its support for Texas’ efforts to deter immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. In a speech to a joint session of the Legislature on Wednesday, she mentioned sending more razor…

Georgia governor signs bill that would define antisemitism in state law

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 22:39:19 +0000

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has signed a law defining antisemitism in state law. Kemp, in a Wednesday signing ceremony, proclaimed support for Jewish residents despite concerns that the measure would hamper people opposing the actions of Israel. The measure had…

What to know about how lawmakers are addressing deepfakes like the ones that victimized Taylor Swift

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 21:33:27 +0000

The growing issue of AI-generated deepfakes has already been a hot topic in state legislatures. Then Taylor Swift was victimized with her face appearing on pornographic images. At least ten states have deepfake laws on the books, and now most…

Editorial Roundup: South Dakota - Advisory

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:40:08 +0000

Eds: The South Dakota editorial roundup will not move this week due to a lack of editorials of state-wide interest. We will resume the roundup at its normal time on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.

Some Republican leaders are pushing back against the conservative Freedom Caucus in statehouses

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 14:18:05 +0000

Some Republican lawmakers are pushing back as the conservative Freedom Caucus Networks expands from Washington, D.C., into state capitols. The organization is attempting to push the Republican Party further to the right. But some fellow Republicans don't like the group's…

Legislative panel shoots down South Dakota bill to raise the age for marriage to 18

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 17:46:04 +0000

Sixteen- and 17-year-olds call still wed in South Dakota after a legislative committee shot down an effort to raise the age of marriage to 18. KELO-TV reports that the House State Affairs Committee on Monday voted 8-5 to reject the…

There's a wave of new bills to define antisemitism. In these 3 states, they could become law

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:12:42 +0000

Lawmakers in more than a half-dozen U.S. states are pushing laws to define antisemitism, triggering debates about free speech and bringing complicated world politics into statehouses. The definition lays out standards for determining in which instances criticism of Israel amounts…

Georgia lawmakers, in support of Israel, pass bill that would define antisemitism in state law

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 20:33:14 +0000

Georgia lawmakers in a show of support for Israel have given final passage to a bill to define antisemitism in state law, sending it to the governor for his expected signature. The Senate approved the measure by a 44-6 vote…

South Dakota Senate OKs measure for work requirement to voter-passed Medicaid expansion

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 22:07:23 +0000

The South Dakota Senate has approved a resolution for a 2024 ballot measure to impose work requirements for Medicaid expansion recipients. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives. South Dakota voters in 2022 approved a constitutional amendment for…

Two men convicted of kidnapping, carjacking an FBI employee in South Dakota

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 17:30:07 +0000

A federal jury in South Dakota has convicted two men on several charges related to the 2022 kidnapping of an FBI employee. The Rapid City Journal reports that 29-year-old Deyvin Morales and 25-year-old Juan Alvarez-Soto were found guilty of kidnapping,…

Montana man convicted of killing eagles is sentenced to 3 years in prison for related gun violations

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:32:32 +0000

A Montana felon previously convicted of killing eagles to sell their parts on the black market has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for related gun violations. U.S. District Judge Susan Watters on Wednesday sentenced Harvey Alvin Hugs…

Editorial Roundup: South Dakota

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 12:10:39 +0000

Yankton Press & Dakotan. January 22, 2024.

Kelly Armstrong, North Dakota's lone congressman, runs for governor

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 21:51:02 +0000

North Dakota's only member of the U.S. House of Representatives is running for governor of the sparsely populated state. Republican Rep. Kelly Armstrong's announcement comes a day after Gov. Doug Burgum said he won't seek a third term. Armstrong, an…

After stalling in 2023, a bill to define antisemitism in state law is advancing in Georgia

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 00:38:19 +0000

A bill to define antisemitism in Georgia law stalled in 2023 over how the measure should be worded. But now it's moving ahead, backed by a heavy Republican push to support Israel in its war with Hamas and Jewish Georgians…

'Burn, beetle, burn': Hundreds of people torch an effigy of destructive bug in South Dakota town

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 19:53:20 +0000

In what’s become an annual winter tradition, hundreds of people carrying torches set fire to a giant wooden beetle effigy in Custer, South Dakota, to raise awareness of the destructive impact of the mountain pine beetle on Black Hills forest…

South Dakota bill advances, proposing more legal representation for people who can't pay

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 00:04:40 +0000

A South Dakota bill advanced Friday that proposes a statewide commission focused on indigent defense, or legal representation for those without the ability to pay. Only three of the state’s counties – Minnehaha, Pennington and Meade – have a dedicated…

North Dakota lawmaker who insulted police in DUI stop gets unsupervised probation and $1,000 fine

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 23:16:24 +0000

A North Dakota Republican lawmaker has been sentenced to serve nearly a year of unsupervised probation to pay $1,000 in fines and fees after pleading guilty to a drunken driving charge earlier this month. The charge is connection to a…

Indiana bill defining antisemitism advances to state Senate

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 20:47:52 +0000

The Indiana state House of Representatives has unanimously passed bill that defines antisemitism as religious discrimination in education code. Opponents to the bill say it could be used to shut down support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel in classrooms…

Nevada Supreme Court panel won't reconsider ‘Dances With Wolves’ actor Nathan Chasing Horse case

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 20:44:54 +0000

A panel of Nevada Supreme Court justices won’t reconsider former “Dances With Wolves” actor Nathan Chasing Horse’s request to dismiss an indictment that accuses him of leading a cult, taking underage wives and sexually abusing Indigenous women and girls. The…

A push for a permanent sales tax cut in South Dakota is dealt a setback

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:49:56 +0000

Supporters of a proposed permanent sales tax cut in South Dakota have been dealt a setback. Senate budget writers Thursday tabled a bill the House overwhelmingly passed last week. The bill would make permanent a four-year sales tax cut the…

South Dakota House passes bill that would make the animal sedative xylazine a controlled substance

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 23:31:25 +0000

The South Dakota House has passed a bill that would make xylazine a controlled substance. Xylazine is a large-animal sedative that is being mixed with fentanyl and then used by some people. The measure would establish penalties of up to…

Editorial Roundup: South Dakota

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 12:10:41 +0000

Yankton Press & Dakotan. January 16, 2024.

Arctic freeze continues to blast huge swaths of the US with sub-zero temperatures

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 01:55:01 +0000

It’s another day of brutally cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills across much of the United States. Monday promised to deliver the coldest temperatures ever for Iowa’s presidential nominating contest and hold up air travelers yet again. It will also…

A weekend of ferocious winter weather could see low-temperature records set in the US heartland

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 14:08:00 +0000

Icy winter weather blanketed the U.S. on Saturday as a wave of Arctic storms threatened to break low-temperature records in the heartland, spread cold and snow from coast to coast and cast a chill over everything from football playoffs to…

States with big climate goals strip local power to block green projects

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 05:12:59 +0000

More than a dozen states have given themselves the power to override local zoning restrictions that block large-scale renewable energy projects. The decisions come as some states implement ambitious goals requiring utility providers to generate 100% carbon-free energy by 2040.…

Snow, ice, wind and bitter cold pummels the northern US in dangerous winter storm

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 02:05:01 +0000

A dangerous winter storm swept the northern U.S. on Friday, with blinding snow in some places, freezing rain in others, and bitter cold temperatures and whipping winds across several states. Authorities in Cook County, Illinois say a man died from…

South Dakota House passes permanent sales tax cut bill

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 22:03:42 +0000

South Dakota's Republican-controlled House of Representatives has passed a bill to make a temporary sales tax cut permanent. The House passed the bill in a 54-12 vote Friday. It now goes to the Senate. The bill would make permanent the…

Teenager gets life sentence, possibility of parole after North Dakota murder conviction

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 19:29:43 +0000

A North Dakota teenager was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after his murder conviction last year. Jesse Taylor Jr. was convicted of murder for the September 2022 shooting death of a South Dakota man at…

Editorial Roundup: South Dakota - Advisory

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:57:54 +0000

Eds: The South Dakota editorial roundup will not move this week due to a lack of editorials of state-wide interest. We will resume the roundup at its normal time on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2023.

A North Dakota lawmaker is removed from a committee after insulting police in a DUI stop

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 22:56:52 +0000

A North Dakota Republican lawmaker has been removed from a legislative committee following a traffic stop in December. State Rep. Nico Rios, of Williston, was arrested on a drunken driving charge. Rios blasted police with vulgar, homophobic and anti-migrant language…

Tribal flags celebrated at South Dakota Capitol, but one leader sees more still to do

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 22:01:32 +0000

Two of nine tribal nations within South Dakota's boundaries presented their flags on Wednesday to display in the state Capitol rotunda in Pierre. Gov. Kristi Noem and representatives from the Standing Rock and Rosebud Sioux tribes celebrated the flags as…

Gov. Kristi Noem touts South Dakota's workforce recruitment effort

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 22:42:00 +0000

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is touting her state's economic strength and employment outlook for job seekers in her State of the State address to the Legislature. She highlighted her “Freedom Works Here” workforce recruitment ad campaign on Tuesday.…

Blizzard conditions bear down on central US, closing schools and highways

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 02:07:23 +0000

A “highly impactful” winter storm began delivering a punch to the country’s midsection with blizzard conditions that could dump as much as a foot or more of snow. The storm shut down schools and highways in several Midwest states Monday.…

South Dakota lawmakers see alignment with Noem as session begins

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:11:07 +0000

South Dakota’s Republican-controlled Legislature convenes Tuesday in Pierre for its annual session, expected to last into early March. Second-term GOP Gov. Kristi Noem gave her budget address in December. She pitched a nearly $7.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2025…

A B-1 bomber crashes while trying to land at a South Dakota Air Force base. The crew safely ejects

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 17:49:57 +0000

The Air Force says a B-1 Lancer bomber from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota crashed while trying to land and all four crew members ejected safely. The military says the B-1 was on a training mission when the…

Pilot accused of threatening to shoot airline captain midflight calls it a misunderstanding

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 00:44:48 +0000

A co-pilot accused of threatening to shoot his captain for proposing they divert their flight to get medical attention for a passenger has appeared in federal court for the first time since his indictment. Former Delta Air Lines pilot Jonathan…

Editorial Roundup: South Dakota - Advisory

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 12:10:37 +0000

Eds: The South Dakota editorial roundup will not move this week due to a lack of editorials of state-wide interest. We will resume the roundup at its normal time on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2023.

South Dakota Shakespeare Festival to run in Vermillion for a full week in June, will feature national Shakespeare performer

Fri, 12 May 2023 11:30:00 +0000

The free festival will feature Shakespeare events each day. June 14 will see a special performance and workshop from Devon Glover (@TheSonnetManNYC), a rapper, poet, playwright and teacher who's appeared on national TV and at worldwide Shakespeare fests.

USD to offer a new music degree

Sun, 07 May 2023 15:01:00 +0000

The University of South Dakota has introduced the Bachelor of Science in music with a specialization in industry and technology. USD is the only institution in the South Dakota Board of Regents to offer such a program.