South Dakota is recognizing 988 Day on September 8, spotlighting the life-saving impact of the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The South Dakota Department of Social Services and The Helpline Center are hosting events and art installations in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Vermillion, and Brookings to raise awareness about the easy-to-remember three-digit 988 number.
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness and encourage life-saving conversations. The National Alliance on Mental Illness urges people to recognize warning signs, talk openly, and offer support with the message: Start a conversation. Be the difference. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential help.
A Mitchell woman and man accused in a major child abuse case pleaded not guilty last week in Davison County court. Becky Robertson faces charges of accessory to a felony and witness tampering, while Eric Opperman is charged with 44 felonies and a misdemeanor tied to alleged abuse involving multiple minors over more than a decade.
Eight Mitchell teachers are starting the school year with new classroom resources thanks to $14,000 in KIDS Grants. The awards, ranging from $700 to $5,000, support creative projects, technology, sensory tools, fitness events, and new reading resources. Now in its 11th year, the KIDS Grant program has invested more than $174,000 in Mitchell classrooms, funded by donations from local families, businesses, and organizations.
The historic Corn Palace seats are headed for salvage after the top bidder in an online auction failed to pick them up. A city crew began hauling the 1,772 chairs to H and R Salvage west of Mitchell, where the wood will be separated and the metal recycled.
At 95 years old, Sioux Falls athlete Don Phillips is breaking national records at the National Senior Games in Iowa. The Korean War veteran and retired veterinarian won gold medals in multiple events, including sprints and shot put, while setting new records in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
South Dakota will invest more than $1.1 billion in road and bridge projects under a newly approved four-year transportation plan starting in 2026. The plan dedicates nearly $600 million for highway upgrades, $400 million for bridge repairs and replacements, and additional funding for safety improvements. Transportation officials emphasize maintaining existing infrastructure as a top priority but warn that declining fuel tax revenues and uncertain federal funding could impact projects. The $245 million Platte-Winner bridge rebuild has already been delayed until next year.
Governor Larry Rhoden has approved the deployment of 12 South Dakota National Guard soldiers from the 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Rapid City to Washington, D.C. The troops will support the DC National Guard on a 30-day mission, with the option to extend up to 90 days.
The Davison County Commission meets this morning in Mitchell with a full agenda, including a public hearing on a temporary liquor license and raffle for the Corn Palace Shrine Club, a discussion with Sheriff Harr about the jail phone contract and training requests, and the 2026 provisional budget hearing and adoption. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the North Offices Building on North Main Street.
Bill Mawhiney, longtime leader of the South Dakota Afterschool Network, has launched his campaign for the U.S. House. Emphasizing that he is not a career politician, Mawhiney says his focus will be on putting people ahead of politics and giving rural and working families a stronger voice. Based in Sioux Falls, where he lives with his husband and two children, Mawhiney has spent nearly 20 years championing childcare, education, and afterschool programs across South Dakota.