U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) advanced major housing priorities for South Dakota during a bipartisan Senate Banking Committee markup, securing the inclusion of four of his bills in the Road to Housing Act. This marks the first significant update to the USDA’s Rural Housing Service in over a decade.
Back-to-school shopping is starting early in South Dakota as families aim to stretch their budgets amid rising costs and looming tariffs. At Sioux Falls’ Empire Mall, parents are turning to online deals, couponing, and reusing supplies to save money.
A 37-year-old Murdo firefighter tragically died Saturday evening in a rollover crash while responding to a grass fire north of Draper, South Dakota. He was driving a fire tender when the vehicle left the road and rolled, ejecting him.
After months of public debate, the Mitchell City Council has quietly approved tax increment financing (TIF) and rezoning for the Peaceful Pines Senior Living Center. The 59,000-square-foot facility will feature 55 units offering assisted living, independent living, and memory care, as well as on-site amenities like a dining room, salon, and fitness area.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol will conduct sobriety checkpoints in 13 counties throughout August—including Minnehaha, Pennington, Lincoln, and Davison—as part of a statewide effort to prevent drunk driving.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has launched Operation Prairie Thunder, a major new public safety initiative that brings together local law enforcement, sheriff’s departments, the National Guard, the Department of Corrections, and federal agencies like ICE.
Cornerstones Career Learning Center received welcome news as federal funding has been secured, allowing its adult education and workforce training programs to continue through the end of the fiscal year. With service locations in Aberdeen, Huron, Mitchell, Yankton, and Vermillion, Cornerstones provides essential support to South Dakotans seeking career advancement, GED completion, and job readiness skills.
In Washington, D.C., the Senate continues to advance President Trump’s nominees despite what Republicans call historic obstruction from Democrats. As of last week, 105 executive and judicial nominees have been confirmed—nearly double the number confirmed at this point in Trump’s first term.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is warning residents to be cautious of storm repair scams that often surface after severe weather. Homeowners are urged to verify contractor credentials, avoid rushing into agreements, and report suspicious activity. Anyone who believes they’ve been targeted can file a complaint at Consumer.sd.gov.
The South Dakota Department of Health reports the state’s first West Nile Virus death of the season. Three human cases have been confirmed in Brookings, Marshall, and Spink counties, though the county of the fatal case has not been disclosed.
