South Dakota teachers are earning just over $56,000 on average in 2025, falling short of the nearly $60,000 pay target set two years ago. Despite a small bump in national ranking—from 49th to 46th—progress remains slow. The Teacher Compensation Review Board met Monday to address ongoing pay gaps, teacher shortages, and school capacity issues.
The 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally revs up Friday in South Dakota’s Black Hills, drawing bikers from around the globe for the world’s largest motorcycle gathering. To manage the surge in traffic, officials have installed additional stop signs, speed trailers, traffic signals, and message boards.
Governor Larry Rhoden has ordered flags at the South Dakota State Capitol to fly at half-staff Friday in remembrance of former state legislator and Mitchell Mayor Lou Sebert. Sebert, who served in the South Dakota House from 1999 to 2006 and as Mitchell’s mayor from 2006 to 2012, will be honored during a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m.
Mitchell, South Dakota, faced strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding Tuesday night as a severe storm moved through the region. Crews and law enforcement assessed storm damage, while Northwestern Energy addressed downed power lines.
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) advanced major housing priorities for South Dakota during a bipartisan Senate Banking Committee markup, securing the inclusion of four of his bills in the Road to Housing Act. This marks the first significant update to the USDA’s Rural Housing Service in over a decade.
A 37-year-old Murdo firefighter tragically died Saturday evening in a rollover crash while responding to a grass fire north of Draper, South Dakota. He was driving a fire tender when the vehicle left the road and rolled, ejecting him.
After months of public debate, the Mitchell City Council has quietly approved tax increment financing (TIF) and rezoning for the Peaceful Pines Senior Living Center. The 59,000-square-foot facility will feature 55 units offering assisted living, independent living, and memory care, as well as on-site amenities like a dining room, salon, and fitness area.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol will conduct sobriety checkpoints in 13 counties throughout August—including Minnehaha, Pennington, Lincoln, and Davison—as part of a statewide effort to prevent drunk driving.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has launched Operation Prairie Thunder, a major new public safety initiative that brings together local law enforcement, sheriff’s departments, the National Guard, the Department of Corrections, and federal agencies like ICE.
In Washington, D.C., the Senate continues to advance President Trump’s nominees despite what Republicans call historic obstruction from Democrats. As of last week, 105 executive and judicial nominees have been confirmed—nearly double the number confirmed at this point in Trump’s first term.