The Davison County Regional Railroad Authority has received approval for an additional $5.7 million in low-interest loan funding to complete major rail infrastructure at High Plains Processing south of Mitchell. The investment strengthens one of South Dakota’s largest value-added agriculture projects and expands rail capacity for regional producers.
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Creighton University’s latest Rural Mainstreet Index shows the regional farm economy improving modestly last month, though it continues to sit in negative territory. Low commodity prices and rising costs remain major challenges for producers.
With SNAP benefits delayed during the recent government shutdown, Team Buche Cares and Farmers Union Industries have launched statewide efforts to support families facing food insecurity. The groups are distributing 10,000 pounds of pork loin and have already provided $300,000 in SNAP replacement certificates.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Congress must return to the traditional appropriations process to fund the government, urging lawmakers to work together after the recent 43-day federal shutdown ended. Thune emphasized that regular order is the most transparent and effective way to pass spending bills.
A California man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after admitting to an online scam that stole $472,000 from a Chamberlain resident, according to the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office. The case was investigated by state, local, and federal agencies.
Sioux Falls tax collections are showing early signs of recovery, though receipts remain below projected budget levels. City officials say sales tax growth is improving as construction activity continues to surge.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has created a 15-member advisory task force to review the state’s Open Meetings Laws and recommend potential legislative updates. The group will hold its first meeting Nov. 25 in Pierre.
U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds and Angus King are urging federal agencies to release the maximum number of supplemental H-2B visas in Fiscal Year 2026 to help small businesses fill seasonal workforce gaps. The request follows three consecutive years of similar federal action.
Emily’s Hope and Let’s Be Clear have partnered with Brookings Health System to install a 24/7 community-access naloxone box, expanding access to life-saving overdose reversal medication in eastern South Dakota.
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson voted this week to release files connected to Jeffrey Epstein as part of an ongoing House Oversight Committee investigation. Johnson said the move supports transparency while protecting victims’ identities.