After months of public debate, the Mitchell City Council has quietly approved tax increment financing (TIF) and rezoning for the Peaceful Pines Senior Living Center. The 59,000-square-foot facility will feature 55 units offering assisted living, independent living, and memory care, as well as on-site amenities like a dining room, salon, and fitness area.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol will conduct sobriety checkpoints in 13 counties throughout August—including Minnehaha, Pennington, Lincoln, and Davison—as part of a statewide effort to prevent drunk driving.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has launched Operation Prairie Thunder, a major new public safety initiative that brings together local law enforcement, sheriff’s departments, the National Guard, the Department of Corrections, and federal agencies like ICE.
Cornerstones Career Learning Center received welcome news as federal funding has been secured, allowing its adult education and workforce training programs to continue through the end of the fiscal year. With service locations in Aberdeen, Huron, Mitchell, Yankton, and Vermillion, Cornerstones provides essential support to South Dakotans seeking career advancement, GED completion, and job readiness skills.
In Washington, D.C., the Senate continues to advance President Trump’s nominees despite what Republicans call historic obstruction from Democrats. As of last week, 105 executive and judicial nominees have been confirmed—nearly double the number confirmed at this point in Trump’s first term.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is warning residents to be cautious of storm repair scams that often surface after severe weather. Homeowners are urged to verify contractor credentials, avoid rushing into agreements, and report suspicious activity. Anyone who believes they’ve been targeted can file a complaint at Consumer.sd.gov.
The South Dakota Department of Health reports the state’s first West Nile Virus death of the season. Three human cases have been confirmed in Brookings, Marshall, and Spink counties, though the county of the fatal case has not been disclosed.
Just before 1 a.m. Sunday, Mitchell police responded to reports of a truck driving without headlights in the Activities Center parking lot on North Minnesota. The vehicle nearly struck parked cars and a squad car before the driver, who showed signs of impairment, was stopped.
South Dakota lawmakers face another year of declining sales tax revenues, a key source for the state budget. Economist Derek Johnson from the Bureau of Finance and Management reports that federal funding is also dropping, putting added pressure on the appropriations committee. If revenue losses continue, legislators may be forced to revise the state budget to address the shortfall.
South Dakota Senator Ernie Otten warns that a 10% reduction in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits is only the beginning of tough budget choices facing the state’s appropriations committee. With roughly 2,500 low-income families relying on the program—currently receiving just over $550 per month—the cuts raise concerns about how vulnerable households will manage rising expenses and limited aid.