LifeQuest has asked the city of Mitchell to sponsor a grant for building several tiny homes for people with developmental disabilities on Eighth Avenue at North Gamble Street.
South Dakota farmers are growing increasingly concerned about the potential impact of tariffs imposed by President Trump. The President announced that agricultural tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China will take effect on April 2nd. Kevin Deinert, president of the South Dakota Soybean Association, highlighted Mexico as one of the state’s largest agricultural trade partners.
The heartwarming story of three puppies, Birdie, Brodie, and Bo, who captured local attention earlier this year, is set to have a happy ending. These ten-week-old puppies, who were originally reported to have been abandoned in a Sioux Falls dumpster, are now almost ready for adoption. However, authorities recently debunked the initial report, revealing that it was fabricated by the puppies’ original owner who simply didn’t want to care for them.
New South Dakota legislation, Senate Bill 193, is on its way to the House after passing the Senate with overwhelming support. The bill aims to allow non-English speakers to use state-approved interpreters during their driving tests for a state license. However, the driver would be responsible for covering the cost of the interpreter.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has expanded the state’s executive order to include a ban on two Chinese apps, DeepSeek and RedNote. This move restricts state devices and personal devices used by state employees during work hours from accessing these applications.
The South Dakota Senate Education Committee rejected a bill Tuesday that would have reduced state funding for the high school dual credit program, while advancing another education measure to appropriations. House Bill 1040, which proposed cutting the state’s share of dual credit tuition costs from two-thirds to 50 percent, failed on a 4-3 vote after committee members expressed concerns about passing costs to students and families.
Federal spending cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are having a significant impact on South Dakota, with several federal offices set to close across the state. The DOGE website now lists a dozen South Dakota locations, including the Small Business Administration (SBA) office in Sioux Falls, which has an annual lease of nearly $87,000.
A House bill aimed at boosting childcare employment is now headed to the Senate floor after being approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee with a 5-2 vote on Monday. House Bill 11-32 seeks to expand eligibility for the state’s Childcare Assistance Program by excluding both earned and unearned income from eligibility calculations for applicants employed by childcare service providers.
Governor Rhoden, alongside the South Dakota Department of Fish and Parks, is unveiling a new Habitat Conservation License Plate designed to support wildlife preservation. The plate features four vibrant habitat decals, including a deer, meadowlark, pasque flower, and pheasant.
Attorney General Marty Jackley is commending the House Judiciary Committee for approving two key anti-human trafficking bills. SB-58 focuses on revising provisions related to human trafficking, while SB-59 addresses the delivery and possession of unauthorized articles in state correctional facilities.