Plans to dredge Lake Mitchell are progressing, with construction expected to begin in 2026. Barr Engineering updated the Mitchell City Council on the project Monday, detailing a phased approach starting with a lake drawdown this fall, followed by dredging and spillway reconstruction.
Mitchell is no longer in the running for South Dakota’s next men’s prison. The state’s Prison Project Reset Task Force voted Tuesday to remove the city from consideration, citing strong public opposition and workforce concerns.
The South Dakota Department of Health is marking 25 years of Bright Start, a home visiting program that has supported over 5,000 families since its 1999 launch. Bright Start connects pregnant women with registered nurses who provide in-home education, resources, and support through the child’s second birthday.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is warning the public to be on alert for disaster relief scams following the recent flash floods in Texas. Jackley says scammers often take advantage of natural disasters to trick well-meaning donors.
U.S. Highway 14-A in Spearfish Canyon has reopened after a weekend rockslide forced a temporary closure near Savoy. The South Dakota Department of Transportation warns drivers to expect rough road conditions and reduced speed limits while crews continue cleanup and blasting work.
The Pine Ridge Reservation remains under a state of emergency as the Oglala Sioux Tribe continues to face severe public safety challenges. Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out says little progress has been made since his December plea for more law enforcement, drug enforcement, and jail space.
The South Dakota Project Prison Reset task force is meeting today to evaluate potential locations for a new men’s state prison, with two northeast Sioux Falls sites—North Bahnson Avenue and Benson Road—leading the shortlist.
A suspect in last summer’s deadly Dunham Park shooting is now back in South Dakota. Authorities say Lamont Burks Jr. and another man opened fire at the Sioux Falls park in August 2024, killing one person and injuring three others. Burks was arrested in South Carolina in November and was extradited to Minnehaha County, where he was booked into jail on Friday.
A proposed 25-acre development near Lake Mitchell could break ground this fall, pending final rezoning approval from the Mitchell City Council during tonight’s meeting. Spearheaded by developer Justin Thiesse, the mixed-use plan includes new housing, a senior living center, daycare, a coffee shop, and more.
A new after-school program in the Mitchell School District is stirring debate among local childcare providers. Launching in the 2025–26 school year, the KERNELS Program will offer free academic support and enrichment for elementary students from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m., funded by a private grant.