Sioux Falls drivers should prepare for multiple road and lane closures this week, including major disruptions on Cliff Avenue, Ellis Road, and 12th Street. Projects range from traffic light replacement to utility work and road repairs, with some lasting through November.
Rural health providers in South Dakota are sounding the alarm over looming Medicaid cuts tied to a new federal budget law. With millions at stake, leaders warn of delayed care, reduced services, and possible clinic closures—especially in underserved communities.
South Dakota lawmakers will reconvene in Pierre this September for a special legislative session focused on selecting a site and securing funding for a new state prison. Following months of planning by the Project Prison Reset task force, this pivotal session aims to address overcrowding and aging correctional facilities across the state.
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken says the city is bracing for major budget cuts tied to Governor Rhoden’s property tax reform, despite the law not taking effect until 2027. The city anticipates a $8–$10 million revenue loss over three years and has already begun cost-cutting measures, including closing school-based clinics, reducing library hours, and scaling back community programs.
Job seekers in the Mitchell area are invited to a pop-up employment event on Tuesday, July 29 at the Chamberlain Community Center. The event offers direct access to employment specialists and services including job search assistance, resume building, and on-the-job training programs.
Mitchell High School has announced that the first day of school will be Wednesday, August 20. Registration Day is scheduled for Wednesday, July 30, with sessions from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.
The Mitchell Board of Education will hold a special meeting today at 5:30 p.m. to consider a new roof for Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary and declare several district items as surplus. Superintendent Joe Childs is recommending the lowest of nine bids for the full roof replacement. The current roof is in poor condition, according to district officials. The board will also review a long list of items for surplus, including kitchen equipment, student desks, gym bleachers, exercise machines, and even the “Home of the Kernels” sign from the former high school. The public meeting will be held at the Mitchell Career and Technical Education Center.
The Sioux Falls City Council has unanimously approved a $113,000 plan to demolish a deteriorating, state-owned building on East 10th Street, citing safety concerns and frequent police calls. Finance Director Shawn Pritchett acknowledged earlier miscommunication over redevelopment plans, but emphasized the urgency due to over 20 reported incidents—mostly break-ins—since May.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley joined 24 other attorneys general at the White House for the signing of a new federal law targeting Fentanyl copycats.
Creighton University’s latest Rural Mainstreet Index shows modest economic growth in the region for a second straight month. The survey, which gathers input from small-town bankers, highlights growing concerns over weak commodity prices.