The Lake Mitchell restoration project is facing another setback after state officials ordered new safety studies before a planned drawdown can proceed. The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources is requiring a dam breach analysis and updated flood study, delaying the project by up to six months and adding as much as $200,000 in costs.
A new WalletHub study ranks South Dakota 47th in the nation for teachers in 2025, citing low average pay, limited school funding, and weak income growth potential. While the state ranked 19th for starting salaries and 22nd for student-teacher ratios, it slipped to 44th in average pay and 41st in per-student spending.
A Sioux Falls man with a history of fleeing police is headed to federal prison. Boru Wako, Jr. was sentenced to seven years for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and illegal receipt of a firearm while under indictment.
The South Dakota Department of Corrections is alerting the public to the release of 49-year-old Carl Six Toes, a high-risk offender. Six Toes completed his full sentence for sexual contact with a person incapable of consenting in Minnehaha County and will not be under parole supervision.
Central Electric Cooperative is now accepting Operation Round-Up grant applications from local organizations through Oct. 31. Nonprofits, schools, municipalities, and community groups can apply for up to $3,000 in funding for projects that benefit members in Aurora, Brule, Buffalo, Davison, Hanson, Jerauld, Miner, and Sanborn Counties.
Authorities have identified 67-year-old Timothy Nelson as the victim of a fatal car-versus-pedestrian crash west of Irene. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says Nelson was struck by an eastbound Tesla while walking in the roadway and later died at the hospital. No charges are pending.
South Dakota lawmakers will revisit a $650 million men’s prison proposal in Sioux Falls on September 23. The revised plan trims costs from an earlier $825 million version while still providing 1,188 cell beds, 300 dorm beds, and dayroom space above national standards.
Students at the University of South Dakota are protesting the planned firing of art professor Michael Hook after backlash over his social media post on Charlie Kirk’s death.
LifeScape is warning that a proposed South Dakota Department of Social Services rule could cut its Medicaid funding by $10 million annually. The nonprofit says the 80% reduction threatens therapy services for more than 3,300 children and families who rely on its specialized care.
More than 1,200 people joined the Out of the Darkness Walk in downtown Sioux Falls to support suicide prevention. Hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the event has raised over $44,000 toward its $90,000 goal, offering hope and awareness for those affected.