U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Congress must return to the traditional appropriations process to fund the government, urging lawmakers to work together after the recent 43-day federal shutdown ended. Thune emphasized that regular order is the most transparent and effective way to pass spending bills.
Preview: Warm daytime highs, chilly nights — a great weekend for outdoor plans in Mitchell, SD.
Dakota Wesleyan University’s Theatre Department will hold open auditions Dec. 8–9 for its spring production of The Three Musketeers. Community members are encouraged to participate in the fast-paced, comedy-driven adaptation.
Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum says buying radio equipment ahead of schedule could save the city $300,000. The City Council has approved the first reading of the proposal, with final consideration expected in early December.
More than 130 Soldiers from the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 665th Support Maintenance Company in Mitchell have been activated for federal duty and will deploy to Europe to provide critical maintenance support for U.S., NATO, and partner forces. The unit will spend the next year at the Grafenwöhr Training Area in Germany.
South Dakota lawmakers have ordered annual performance reviews of the state Department of Education as student reading scores lag and nearly half of students read below grade level, according to Education Secretary Joe Graves. The move increases legislative oversight of student achievement.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks officials say late fall is a critical time to check docks and boat lifts for zebra mussels, with new detections confirmed at Sheridan Reservoir. The discovery marks the second zebra mussel–positive waterbody in western South Dakota.
Sioux Falls City Council members have set the process for filling an upcoming vacancy created by Councilor Sarah Cole’s move out of the city. Nominations are due Dec. 5, with the appointment scheduled for Dec. 9.
South Dakota’s Marcus and Jackie Isakson have been honored as this year’s Angels in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute for their extraordinary commitment to fostering and adoption.
The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development and related boards have approved more than $176 million in projects statewide, supporting growth in agriculture, manufacturing, and small business while creating 175 new full-time jobs.