A Yankton woman died in a one-vehicle crash early Saturday morning about four miles south of Wagner, South Dakota. Authorities say the vehicle entered a ditch after the driver lost control and over-corrected on 394th Avenue around 1:45 a.m. A passenger from Wagner sustained minor injuries.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is applauding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Texas’ age verification law for adult websites, clearing the way for South Dakota’s similar legislation to take effect.
The Sioux Falls Area Fugitive Task Force faced a high-risk arrest late last week when a suspect who had previously threatened law enforcement pulled a gun during a confrontation. The task force—comprised of members from the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Sioux Falls Police Department, and South Dakota Highway Patrol—responded swiftly, with a sheriff’s deputy firing and striking the armed man.
A former Huron pastor is facing child pornography charges after authorities searched his home and church office. Kevin W. Koester, who served at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church since 2019, is charged with two counts of manufacturing or possessing child pornography. Investigators say two illegal images were found on a church computer.
Justin Rackley, the man accused in a triple homicide during a backyard gathering in June 2024, appeared in court Thursday for a status hearing. Rackley remains in custody at the Minnehaha County Jail and recently submitted a handwritten note asserting his right to a speedy trial. Prosecutors and defense attorneys met with the judge to review the case’s progress.
The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office is set to deploy license plate reader cameras to enhance public safety and aid in criminal investigations. Captain Joe Bosman told county commissioners the technology will help locate fugitives and track suspicious vehicles.
South Dakota lawmakers are launching a summer study on the state’s high incarceration rates through the Legislature’s Interim Committee on Incarceration and Re-entry. Unlike previous discussions focused on building new prisons, this effort targets sentencing guidelines, inmate rehabilitation, and reentry support.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced indictments in connection with two fatal drug overdoses at the state penitentiary in 2024. Inmate Manarion Fuse is charged with distributing synthetic drugs that led to an inmate’s death in February and faces up to 70 years in prison.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that 24 inmates have been indicted following a violent disturbance at the Sioux Falls state penitentiary on May 27. The incident left 14 inmates injured, including four hospitalized, and resulted in charges such as aggravated assault, simple assault, and rioting.
Sioux Falls Police are investigating four separate weekend shootings across the city, including incidents near downtown and an apartment complex east of I-229 and 21st Street. While no life-threatening injuries were reported, the shootings have sparked concern among residents.