A group of South Dakotans, organized by Indivisible 605, protested government cuts impacting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) near the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls. The protest, held on Friday, called for increased support for veterans and criticized recent program reductions under the Trump administration. In response, the VA defended its efforts to reform, stating that these changes have been necessary for years. The department also emphasized that less than one percent of its workforce has been laid off, dismissing concerns over the cuts.
South Dakota’s unemployment rate remains impressively low, continuing to outpace the national average. The state’s unemployment rate held steady at just 1.9% in January, far below the national rate of 4.1%. This positive trend highlights the state’s thriving economy, with nearly 500,000 workers in South Dakota’s workforce as of January. State officials are optimistic about job growth heading into the spring, emphasizing strong job creation across South Dakota.
Sioux Falls has been ranked the fourth happiest city in America, according to a new study by WalletHub. The study compared 182 of the largest cities, including the 150 most populated cities and top cities from each state, based on key factors like emotional and physical wellbeing, income and employment, and community and environment. This recognition highlights Sioux Falls’ high quality of life, with the city excelling in these critical areas. Rapid City also earned a spot on the list, ranking number 33, further solidifying South Dakota’s reputation for happiness and wellbeing.
Governor Rhoden has successfully signed Senate Bill 216 into law, marking a significant step in providing property tax relief for South Dakota homeowners. Signed in the Capitol Rotunda, the bill introduces a three percent countywide cap on property tax assessment increases, offering much-needed financial relief. In addition, it raises the income and home value limits for the state’s assessment freeze program, ensuring more residents benefit from these changes. Set to take effect over the next five years, this landmark legislation is a win for South Dakotans, providing long-term stability for homeowners across the state.
South Dakota House members failed to override Gov. Larry Rhoden’s veto of a childcare assistance bill today (Thursday), with the vote falling short of the required two-thirds majority.
Summit Carbon Solutions has requested a suspension of its current carbon pipeline application in South Dakota following the signing of House Bill 10-52 into law. The company filed a motion with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission this week, citing changes in the ability to obtain survey permission due to the new legislation. Under the law, Summit must obtain landowner approval to conduct surveys along the proposed pipeline route, which they say will prevent them from completing their permit application in time. As a result, Summit is asking for the proceedings to be paused until they are able to proceed with the project.
South Dakota’s two major airports are facing uncertainty regarding their expansion projects after Senate Bill 127, which aimed to allocate funding for these initiatives, failed to pass in the House earlier this week. The bill would have provided crucial support for ongoing projects at both the Sioux Falls and Rapid City Regional airports. Sioux Falls Regional Airport officials highlighted that the potential state funding was a key part of their $120 million plan to design a new concourse.
The Sioux Falls Convention Center has issued a warning about a fraudulent vendor show being promoted on social media. The event, called the Small Biz Spring Fling, has been shared on local arts and vendor pages, but the convention center clarified that no bookings have been made for the event, and the venue has not been reserved for the listed dates. Officials are urging the public not to contact the email provided in the post, as they believe it to be associated with a fake account.
South Dakota lawmakers have approved a 1.25% increase in education funding, as proposed by former Governor Kristi Noem in her final budget. While the increase is now official, many educators are expressing disappointment, as funding had been raised by at least 4% in each of the past three years. Advocates had hoped for a 3% increase, and now, with tighter financial conditions, some schools may face the difficult decision of making budget cuts to navigate these challenging times.
At the Mitchell School Board meeting on March 10, Superintendent Joe Childs announced that the district had made significant strides in reducing chronic absenteeism, achieving a 4.7% overall improvement. Mitchell Middle School saw a notable 3% drop, with Attendance Liaison Aaron Klinger playing a pivotal role in helping students stay in school, particularly at the middle school level. Other schools, such as Gertie Belle Rogers and L.B. Williams, also showed strong improvements, with absenteeism decreasing by 15% and 28%, respectively.