he State Senate has passed a bill requiring schools to accept cash for event tickets, reviving a measure that previously failed in the House.
Leonard Peltier was released in North Dakota on Tuesday, as his sentence commuted by President Biden
The South Dakota House Health and Human Services Committee voted on Tuesday to reject a complete repeal of the state’s medical marijuana program, instead approving more targeted changes to patient identification requirements.
Sioux Falls’ Mayor and Police Chief presented the semi-annual crime statistics on Tuesday, revealing a notable increase in both the city’s population and crime rates.
A South Dakota Senate committee has taken a strong stance against online pornography by endorsing a bill aimed at holding websites accountable for ensuring age verification to protect minors. Lawmakers have spent months studying the issue, responding to growing concerns over the accessibility of explicit content to children.
The Mitchell City Council will meet today to review several significant proposals for the Corn Palace, including a $12 million expansion plan, a $500,000 project to replace seating and add ADA rails, and allocating $600,000 from the entertainment tax for plaza improvements. The council will also address other financial matters and hear variance requests for two properties. The meeting is set to begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Justin Preuschl, a former teacher at Whittier Middle School in Sioux Falls, is now facing 47 federal charges related to child pornography and transferring obscene materials to a minor. The charges, which were filed in federal court, accuse Preuschl of committing these crimes from June 2021 through February 2024—two years longer than previously known. Preuschl, who lost his teaching job a year ago after being charged with solicitation of a minor, pleaded not guilty to all charges in court on Thursday.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley reassured the public that the state’s involvement in a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s stance on gender dysphoria under Section 504 will not affect disability accommodations for school-aged children in the state. Jackley emphasized that the lawsuit, which South Dakota joined in 2024, is focused on gender dysphoria as a disability, not the rights of students with disabilities. Disabled students will continue to receive necessary services without disruption, despite the ongoing legal challenge.
Governor Larry Rhoden revealed plans to expand the South Dakota Highway Patrol in Sioux Falls, citing the area’s 70% growth over the last 25 years and the need for more local law enforcement presence. The expansion will add eight troopers and one sergeant to the current team of 27 officers. Funding for the expansion, which will total around one million dollars, will come from the State Highway Fund, supported by vehicle registrations and the state gas tax. The proposal still requires approval through the state legislature’s appropriations process.
Lawmakers in Pierre are pushing to expand South Dakota’s childcare assistance program to support childcare workers earning up to three times the federal poverty level. The proposal aims to help these employees secure affordable care for their own children, addressing a key barrier to workforce participation. Supporters of the bill see it as a vital step in attracting more individuals back to the state’s workforce, strengthening the economy and ensuring better support for the childcare sector.