South Dakota’s unemployment rate remains impressively low, continuing to outpace the national average. The state’s unemployment rate held steady at just 1.9% in January, far below the national rate of 4.1%. This positive trend highlights the state’s thriving economy, with nearly 500,000 workers in South Dakota’s workforce as of January. State officials are optimistic about job growth heading into the spring, emphasizing strong job creation across South Dakota.
A woman from Mitchell, Tina Hauge, was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to methamphetamine possession. As part of a plea deal, additional charges against Hauge were dropped. She received a five-year suspended prison sentence, will serve 30 days in jail (with 18 days remaining), and will be on probation for two years. Hauge will also pay a $750 fine. The investigation began in October when Mark Leach, an employee of the Freedom Valu Center, was stopped by police and found with meth and drug paraphernalia. Further searches at Leach’s home and the Freedom Valu Center uncovered evidence of meth dealing and illegal prescription drugs, leading to Hauge’s sentencing and the previous conviction of another employee, Shelly Klapkin, in December. Leach, with a prior drug conviction, pleaded not guilty and is set for court again in May.
Mitchell man has changed his plea from not guilty to guilty in a rape charge related to a domestic incident in November 2024. Court documents show Azriel Fallis admitted to living with a minor and having sexual relations with her multiple times.
South Dakota Governor Rhoden has signed two important Senate bills backed by Attorney General Marty Jackley, set to strengthen law enforcement and protect public safety. Senate Bill 58 focuses on enhancing human trafficking enforcement by revising key provisions and prohibiting obstruction of trafficking efforts. Senate Bill 59 aims to crack down on the possession and delivery of unauthorized items within state correctional facilities, addressing serious security concerns.
Governor Rhoden has successfully signed Senate Bill 216 into law, marking a significant step in providing property tax relief for South Dakota homeowners. Signed in the Capitol Rotunda, the bill introduces a three percent countywide cap on property tax assessment increases, offering much-needed financial relief. In addition, it raises the income and home value limits for the state’s assessment freeze program, ensuring more residents benefit from these changes. Set to take effect over the next five years, this landmark legislation is a win for South Dakotans, providing long-term stability for homeowners across the state.
South Dakota House members failed to override Gov. Larry Rhoden’s veto of a childcare assistance bill today (Thursday), with the vote falling short of the required two-thirds majority.
Summit Carbon Solutions has requested a suspension of its current carbon pipeline application in South Dakota following the signing of House Bill 10-52 into law. The company filed a motion with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission this week, citing changes in the ability to obtain survey permission due to the new legislation. Under the law, Summit must obtain landowner approval to conduct surveys along the proposed pipeline route, which they say will prevent them from completing their permit application in time. As a result, Summit is asking for the proceedings to be paused until they are able to proceed with the project.
South Dakota’s two major airports are facing uncertainty regarding their expansion projects after Senate Bill 127, which aimed to allocate funding for these initiatives, failed to pass in the House earlier this week. The bill would have provided crucial support for ongoing projects at both the Sioux Falls and Rapid City Regional airports. Sioux Falls Regional Airport officials highlighted that the potential state funding was a key part of their $120 million plan to design a new concourse.
South Dakota lawmakers have approved a 1.25% increase in education funding, as proposed by former Governor Kristi Noem in her final budget. While the increase is now official, many educators are expressing disappointment, as funding had been raised by at least 4% in each of the past three years. Advocates had hoped for a 3% increase, and now, with tighter financial conditions, some schools may face the difficult decision of making budget cuts to navigate these challenging times.
At their March 3 meeting, the Mitchell City Council approved $180,000 in funding from a $5.75 million list of proposed projects. The approved funds will be allocated to several initiatives, including $100,000 for an additional airport hangar, $15,000 for the soccer complex concession stand, and $65,000 for a design plan to replace the tennis courts at Hitchcock Park.