South Dakota major disaster declaration Thune Rounds Johnson letter to Trump Trump disaster declaration South Dakota Larry Rhoden disaster request western South Dakota windstorm December 17-18 2025 Custer County storm damage Fall River County storm damage Pennington County storm damage FEMA preliminary damage assessment South Dakota $4.6 million storm damage South Dakota Black Hills Electric Cooperative outage 53,174 households power outages South Dakota 90 mph wind gusts western South Dakota storm recovery debris removal South Dakota electrical infrastructure damage West River wildfire fires triggered by windstorm South Dakota disaster assistance for Black Hills region South Dakota emergency operations plan activated rebuilding critical electrical infrastructure South Dakota West River storm cleanup and mitigation
Government
3 days ago
Thune, Rounds, Johnson Urge Trump to Approve Disaster Declaration for West River Windstorm Damage

Delegation Encourages Administration to Quickly Approve South Dakota Disaster Declaration
“[G]ranting a major disaster declaration would allow the state to continue removing debris, repairing roadways, and rebuilding critical electrical infrastructure, as well as continue disaster mitigation activities.”

Who Powers You Contest 2026 Central Electric Cooperative Who Powers You Touchstone Energy Cooperatives contest South Dakota community hero nominations nominate a local difference maker WhoPowersYouContest.com nominations April 19, 2026 nomination deadline KELOLAND Living weekly finalists May 2026 contest winners announced $3,000 grand prize community contest $1,500 second place prize $500 third place prize electric cooperative community recognition Mitchell SD community award contest South Dakota volunteer recognition program
Government
3 days ago
Central Electric Cooperative, Touchstone Energy Co-ops Open “Who Powers You” Contest Nominations Through April 19

Central Electric Cooperative and other regional Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are accepting nominations for the fifth annual Who Powers You Contest through April 19, 2026, recognizing local people making a difference.

College
3 days ago
Sports Roundup: Tuesday 2/3/26

Area high school basketball games & results, Mitchell vs SF Jefferson, SDSU vs St. Thomas and Timberwolves fall to Grizzlies.

Mitchell High School National Letter of Intent Signing Day Mitchell High School Signing Day Feb. 4, 2026 MHS Commons signing day 3:20 p.m. Mitchell SD student-athletes signing day National Letter of Intent Mitchell SD Avrie London Dakota State track and field Taylor DeJong Dickinson State track and field Tyler Christensen Dakota Wesleyan baseball Adam Kampshoff Dakota Wesleyan soccer Hunter Patton Mount Marty track and field Mitchell High School athletics college commitments South Dakota high school signing day Mitchell Kernels college signings Mitchell SD sports recruiting news South Dakota college athletics commitments
Sports
4 days ago
Mitchell High School to Hold National Letter of Intent Signing Day Feb. 4

Mitchell High School will host a National Letter of Intent Signing Day event Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in the MHS Commons, recognizing student-athletes committing to compete in college sports.

South Dakota HB 1133 HB 1133 campus concealed carry enhanced permit requirement college campus SD South Dakota campus carry law 2025 SB 100 House Education Committee vote HB 1133 HB 1133 defeated in committee enhanced concealed carry permit South Dakota Board of Regents campus carry policy concealed carry on college campuses South Dakota South Dakota technical college campus carry permitless carry vs enhanced permit SD campus firearm rules South Dakota universities South Dakota State University student government opposes HB 1133 University of South Dakota student government opposes HB 1133 Dylan Jordan HB 1133 sponsor South Dakota Board of Regents concealed carry rules enhanced permit training South Dakota firearms law self-defense argument campus carry SD “41st legislative day” bill killed South Dakota Legislature
Government
4 days ago
Campus carry bill fails in House committee

A South Dakota House committee voted 9-6 on Feb. 2, 2026, to defeat a bill that would have removed enhanced-permit requirements for concealed carry on public college campuses.

Avera Queen of Peace Hospital DAISY Award Mary Doyle RN DAISY Award recipient DAISY Award nurse recognition Mitchell SD compassionate nursing care Mitchell South Dakota OB-GYN clinic nurse supervisor Mitchell Avera OB GYN Clinic nurse supervisor patient-nominated nursing award South Dakota quarterly nurse recognition program Avera The DAISY Award nomination nominate a nurse DAISY Award DAISY Foundation Dakota Wesleyan University nursing graduate Mitchell Dakota Wesleyan University nursing alum Mitchell SD hospital nurse honored patient-centered care Avera Mitchell
People
4 days ago
Doyle Recognized with Avera Queen of Peace Hospital DAISY Award

Avera Queen of Peace Hospital has named Mary Doyle as its latest recipient of the DAISY Award, recognizing compassionate, patient-centered care.

High School
4 days ago
Sports Roundup: Monday 2/2/26

Area high schoool basketball games, Mitchell vs Sioux Falls Jefferson tomorrow & Timberwolves vs Grizzlies tonight.

College
1 week ago
WEEKEND SPORTS: Area HS games, Mitchell & DWU’s trio of events, SDSU Hoops & Timberwolves vs Grizzlies

Area high school basketball games for the weekend, Mitchell & DWU busy slates, SDSU Summit League games & Timberwolves vs Grizzlies.

South Dakota WIC program federal government shutdown South Dakota Department of Health Melissa Magstadt women infants and children WIC services South Dakota nutrition education breastfeeding support healthy food assistance family health programs
Local
1 week ago
South Dakota Reports Three More Flu Deaths; Seasonal Total Reaches Nine as Cases Rise

The South Dakota Department of Health reported three additional influenza-related deaths in the past week, bringing the 2025-26 season total to nine as statewide flu activity remains widespread.

Dakota Wesleyan University theatre cabaret DWU Theatre fundraiser Mitchell SD Broadway cabaret 401 Create by LifeQuest event Mitchell South Dakota theatre event Feb. 6 2026 Broadway musical numbers Mitchell SD DWU Ron and Sheilah Gates Department of Theatre Dakota Wesleyan University performing arts things to do in Mitchell SD Feb. 6 Mitchell SD live performance Friday night downtown Mitchell events theatre fundraiser tickets $10 Givebutter DWU tickets American College Theater Festival travel fundraiser ACTF Rochester Minnesota student travel college theatre festival South Dakota students
Government
1 week ago
DWU Theatre to host cabaret fundraiser

Dakota Wesleyan University’s theatre department will stage a one-hour cabaret fundraiser Feb. 6 at 401 Create by LifeQuest, featuring Broadway musical numbers and scenes from recent campus productions.