A weekend grill fire in southwest Sioux Falls sent one person to the hospital after a deck explosion. Fire crews quickly contained the blaze and checked the home for further damage, though the victim’s condition has not yet been released.
Governor Larry Rhoden is joining 30 governors urging Congress to address rising drone threats. In a letter to lawmakers, they warn drones are increasingly misused for spying, stalking, and potential attacks.
Enrollment at South Dakota’s public universities is holding steady this fall, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth and the second straight year with more than 36,000 students enrolled.
An 18-year-old Lake Andes woman is facing two felony charges after allegedly threatening a woman and her infant during a rent dispute in Wagner. Police say Margaret Fischer struck the victim with a BB gun, pointed it at both her and the baby, and tried to push her down the stairs during the September 5 incident.
Membership rates at the Mitchell Recreation Center and Indoor Aquatic Center will rise by 3% in 2026 following approval from the Parks and Recreation Board. Annual family memberships will increase to $811.75, youth to $351, and adult memberships to $540.75, with monthly auto-renew options going up by $1–$2.
The Mitchell City Council is set to discuss a packed agenda today, highlighted by the city’s first proposed roundabout at West 23rd Avenue and North Ohlman Street.
Deanell Backlund of Mitchell, a longtime educator and community volunteer, is among 14 nominees for the 2025 Spirit of Dakota Award. The annual honor celebrates South Dakota women for leadership, service, and strength of character.
Senator Mike Rounds is inviting South Dakota high school seniors to apply for a nomination to the nation’s prestigious U.S. service academies. Applications for the Class of 2030 are due by October 10, with opportunities to attend the Air Force Academy, West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy.
Federal prosecutors have charged 88 people in South Dakota this summer in a sweeping drug trafficking crackdown tied to cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell says the indictments, spanning April through August, were the result of joint investigations by federal, state, tribal, and local task forces. Major cases involved large-scale conspiracies moving hundreds of pounds of meth and fentanyl through Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre, and Aberdeen.
South Dakota is facing a major bird flu outbreak, with more than 135,000 turkeys destroyed at three facilities to contain the spread. North Dakota has also reported cases, losing over 60,000 turkeys in commercial flocks. Agriculture officials stress that poultry products remain safe to eat despite the outbreak.