A former South Dakota state employee accused of stealing nearly two million dollars is officially headed to trial. The case has drawn significant attention due to the large sum involved and the role Carroll held within the state agency.
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.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to review House Bill 1239 this week, a controversial piece of legislation aimed at limiting librarians’ rights. The bill, which has already passed the House, seeks to make it illegal for librarians to allow minors to check out books deemed inappropriate.
A House committee rejected a bill today (Monday) that would have expanded the list of crimes ineligible for presumptive probation and barred probationers or parolees from receiving it for new offenses.
Senate Bill 57, brought at the request of Attorney General Marty Jackley, failed on a 9-3 vote to send it to the 41st legislative day, effectively killing the measure.
The women’s tournament kicks off with top-seeded SDSU, who finished their conference season undefeated, facing the winner of the Omaha vs. Denver play-in game at 2:30 p.m. The #7 USD women will challenge #2 Oral Roberts at noon. On the men’s side, the action heats up with a “Battle of the Dakotas” quarterfinal between #3 SDSU and #6 North Dakota at 8:30 p.m., following the #5 USD vs. #4 NDSU matchup at 6:00 p.m.
South Dakota farmers are facing uncertainty as they head into planting season due to the state’s dry winter. With below-average snowfall, concerns are growing about the potential impact on crops in the coming months. Brent Greenway, treasurer of the South Dakota Soybean Association, highlighted the challenges of starting spring with such dry conditions, noting that having a good moisture reserve is ideal for giving crops a strong start.
Governor Larry Rhoden has assured South Dakotans that his use of state-issued credit cards will not reflect the spending habits of former Governor Kristi Noem. This statement comes in the wake of Noem’s credit card records, which were made public following her resignation to join President Trump’s cabinet. The records revealed over $600,000 in charges for luxury hotels, car rentals, and high-end meals.
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has approved the South Deuel Wind project, granting a construction permit for the wind energy facility. The project, which was approved on Friday, will include approximately 70 wind turbines spread across 30,000 acres.