The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into an officer-involved shooting that occurred Monday afternoon in Sioux Falls. Authorities say police were attempting to arrest Deondre Blackhawk on burglary, drug, and aggravated assault charges when he allegedly opened fire on officers
Sioux Falls is likely to remain the home of South Dakota’s men’s state penitentiary, as the Project Prison Reset Task Force recommends building a new 1,500-bed state prison in northeast Sioux Falls.
Plans to dredge Lake Mitchell are progressing, with construction expected to begin in 2026. Barr Engineering updated the Mitchell City Council on the project Monday, detailing a phased approach starting with a lake drawdown this fall, followed by dredging and spillway reconstruction.
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.
Sioux Falls native Hope Grismer is running across South Dakota—430 miles from Spearfish to Brookings—in under 10 days to raise money for Feeding South Dakota. Starting July 7, Grismer aims to beat the current run record of 10 days, 7 hours while raising $4,300 to fight food insecurity.
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.
U.S. Highway 14-A in Spearfish Canyon has reopened after a weekend rockslide forced a temporary closure near Savoy. The South Dakota Department of Transportation warns drivers to expect rough road conditions and reduced speed limits while crews continue cleanup and blasting work.
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.
Syphilis cases are declining in South Dakota, dropping over 40% from their peak in 2022. The state Department of Health credits the progress to a statewide response involving tribal health services, hospitals, jails, and other partners.
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.