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.
South Dakota’s new House Bill 1259 is now in effect, banning individuals from using bathrooms or changing facilities in public schools or state buildings that do not align with their biological sex.
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.
West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquito populations across three South Dakota counties—Brown, Minnehaha, and Lincoln—but no human cases have been reported yet. Sioux Falls Public Health Director Joe Kippley confirms the virus was recently found in local mosquito swarms.
The Sioux Falls School Board has approved a ten-year opt-out from South Dakota’s state tax limits to raise $2.1 million annually starting in 2026, aiming to prevent deeper education budget cuts. Without the opt-out, the district warns it could face $15 million in cuts next year.
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.
Brookings police say there’s currently no indication of foul play in the death of 20-year-old South Dakota State football player Nate White, who was recently found unresponsive at his home. The cause of death remains unknown, and an investigation is ongoing as officials await autopsy, toxicology, and pathology reports.
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.