Dakotafest 2025 returns to Mitchell Aug. 19–21 with 400+ ag exhibitors, farm innovations, and family fun. Tickets $8 online, free for kids 17 and under.
The Mitchell School District launches a free after-school program this fall for K-5 students, offering academic help, fun activities, snacks, and family nights.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that a Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) review has determined that Sioux Falls Police Officers were justified in their use of force during a July 7, 2025 incident. According to the DCI, Deondre Gene Black Hawk, 24, fired a handgun at officers while they attempted to arrest him on multiple warrants for burglary and drug charges.
As mural season narrows between corn ripening and winter weather, Mitchell city officials are seeking a third-party contractor to take over Corn Palace mural installations. Despite no bids being received last week, a quote is expected soon, according to the Mitchell Republic. Jeff Hanson, the city’s decorating supervisor since 2011, stresses the urgency: corn must be installed within 30 days of harvest or it becomes too brittle.
Canadian wildfire smoke drifted into South Dakota over the weekend, prompting an air quality alert from the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
A major new affordable housing development is underway in Sioux Falls, led by real estate company Mailbox Money. Located near Veterans Parkway and Madison Street, the upcoming complex will become South Dakota’s largest apartment project by unit count.
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation is offering a free virtual layoff assistance workshop tomorrow at noon via Microsoft Teams.
Fans of South Dakota’s iconic Corn Palace have a chance to own a piece of history, as about 1,700 original chairs are being auctioned off during a major renovation project. The online auction, hosted by Purple Wave, is live now and will close at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19.
Two South Dakotans with some bumps in their past have officially been cleared to serve in law enforcement. On Wednesday, the state’s Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission gave the green light to Patrick Iyotte and Ashley Yellow Bull after separate hearings. Iyotte, now a deputy in Todd County, came clean about a 2019 crash where alcohol, THC, and cocaine were involved.
Deadlines are approaching for entries to the 2025 South Dakota State Fair, set for August 27 to September 1 in Huron. While the static entry deadline has passed, livestock entries must be submitted today.