South Dakota is moving forward with plans for a new state prison in Sioux Falls, securing an option to purchase land in the city’s northeast corner along Benson Road. The proposal, set for review during a special legislative session on September 23rd, would pave the way for a modern correctional facility to replace the aging state penitentiary and address the state’s growing inmate population.
A petition to set term limits for Mitchell’s mayor and city council is just short of qualifying for the ballot. The proposal, backed by Councilman Mike Bathke, would cap officials at three consecutive terms — counting past and current service — potentially changing six of eight council seats by 2027. Supporters say the measure would bring fresh leadership, while opponents argue experience is vital for completing long-term city projects.
Four South Dakota men were arrested during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in a multi-agency child exploitation sting. Investigators say each suspect was caught attempting to meet someone they believed was a 14-year-old girl. The operation, led by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force with local, state, and federal partners, is part of the DOJ’s Project Safe Childhood initiative.
The Mitchell Board of Education will once again attempt to elect a president and vice president after a July vote deadlocked between current president Brittni Flood and member Terry Aslesen. Business manager Craig Bruening has been leading meetings in the interim.
The Sioux Falls City Council is set to vote on an ordinance banning tents and encampments in public spaces, a move that could impact the city’s homeless population. Officials say camps, including hidden sites along the Big Sioux River, are on the rise.
South Dakota nonprofit Emily’s Hope is expanding its statewide effort to prevent opioid overdoses by installing naloxone distribution boxes in public locations. Since May 2024, kits containing naloxone, gloves, and recovery resources have been placed from Sioux Falls to Rapid City, the Pine Ridge Reservation, and now Sturgis.
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken says the city has no legal power to block Governor Larry Rhoden’s Operation: Prairie Thunder, a state-led immigration enforcement initiative in partnership with ICE.
South Dakota is cracking down on illegal robocalls as part of a new multi-state effort, Operation Robocall Roundup. Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that nearly 40 telecom companies have received warning letters urging them to block unlawful calls linked to scams.
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Four local newspapers in South Dakota — including the Brookings Register, Huron Plainsman, Redfield Press, and Moody County Enterprise — shut down overnight, leaving their communities without a local news source.