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.
South Dakota’s new House Bill 1259 is now in effect, banning individuals from using bathrooms or changing facilities in public schools or state buildings that do not align with their biological sex.
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.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is warning the public to be on alert for disaster relief scams following the recent flash floods in Texas. Jackley says scammers often take advantage of natural disasters to trick well-meaning donors.
West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquito populations across three South Dakota counties—Brown, Minnehaha, and Lincoln—but no human cases have been reported yet. Sioux Falls Public Health Director Joe Kippley confirms the virus was recently found in local mosquito swarms.
Sioux Falls police have released new details in the death of 39-year-old Doris High Elk, who died after being pushed off a retaining wall near the 8th Street bridge on June 30. High Elk succumbed to her injuries in the hospital on Sunday. The suspect, Jubal Rattler, was already in custody on an aggravated assault charge.