Government » Page 5
2 weeks ago
City of Sioux Falls Sees Signs of Economic Rebound With Lowest-in-Nation Jobless Rate
Sioux Falls is showing signs of economic rebound with a nation-leading 1.7% unemployment rate and growth in the construction sector. City Finance Director Shawn Pritchett reports improving sales tax receipts, though revenues remain below budget projections.
2 weeks ago
Sioux Falls Sales Tax Collections Show Modest August Uptick
Sioux Falls saw modest improvement in sales tax revenue for August, but city officials say more growth is needed to meet 2025 budget goals. Finance Director Shawn Pritchett told the City Council that while August showed progress after a year of lagging revenues, sales tax collections must rise by 4.8% for the remainder of the year to hit budget targets.
2 weeks ago
Rounds Pushes Postmaster General to Restore Reliable Mail Service in South Dakota
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is pressing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to restore reliable mail delivery in South Dakota, citing widespread delays with letters and newspapers taking weeks to arrive within the state. In a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, Rounds criticized USPS’s operational changes, saying they fail to meet the agency’s federal obligation for universal service.
2 weeks ago
Attorney General Jackley Announces Five People Indicted for Transporting Contraband to Prison Inmates
PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces five people, including one former state correctional officer and…
2 weeks ago
Safety Concerns Rise at Highway 37 Intersection Near New Soybean Plant
With the High Plains Processing soybean plant set to open south of Mitchell, South Dakota, officials are raising new concerns about safety at the busy Highway 37 intersection leading into the facility.
2 weeks ago
Missing Castlewood Toddler Found Dead in Slough
Authorities are investigating two stabbings at the South Dakota State Penitentiary over the weekend. The Attorney General’s Office confirmed that both the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Department of Corrections Inspector General are leading the probe.
2 weeks ago
Investigations Underway After Two Stabbings at State Penitentiary
Authorities are investigating two stabbings at the South Dakota State Penitentiary over the weekend. The Attorney General’s Office confirmed that both the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Department of Corrections Inspector General are leading the probe.
2 weeks ago
SDSU Researchers Create Healthier Organic Red Food Dye
South Dakota State University (SDSU) researchers have created a breakthrough organic red food dye that could replace synthetic additives in candy, drinks, and other products. The dye, made by cultivating microorganisms in bioreactors using sugar beet molasses and corn syrup, also delivers added health benefits with vitamins and antioxidants. With a nationwide synthetic dye ban expected by 2027, SDSU’s innovation not only offers a healthier natural food coloring alternative but could also drive business growth and economic opportunities in South Dakota.
2 weeks ago
Attorney General Targets Vape Shops Over Illegal Sales to Minors
The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs will honor fallen Marine Private First-Class Peter R. Ommen with a bridge dedication this week. The U.S. Highway 14A bridge over Deadwood Creek will be named in his memory. Ommen, a U.S. Marine killed in action in Vietnam in April 1967, will be remembered during a dedication ceremony on Thursday at the Pizza Lab in Central City.
2 weeks ago
Bridge to be Dedicated in Honor of Fallen South Dakota Marine
The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs will honor fallen Marine Private First-Class Peter R. Ommen with a bridge dedication this week. The U.S. Highway 14A bridge over Deadwood Creek will be named in his memory.
2 weeks ago
Innovation Expo Brings Entrepreneurs and Investors Together in Sioux Falls
StartUp Sioux Falls will host its annual Innovation Expo on Thursday, September 18, 2024, at The District, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and tech founders from across the region and the nation.
2 weeks ago
Lawmakers Convene Sept. 23 for South Dakota Prison Special Session
South Dakota lawmakers will convene for a special legislative session on September 23, 2024, called by Governor Larry Rhoden, to consider authorizing the Department of Corrections to purchase land and begin planning a new state prison. The session starts at 9:00 a.m., with draft bills already available on the Legislative Research Council (LRC) website.
2 weeks ago
Committee Passes Johnson’s Bill to Strengthen Supply Chains and Counter China
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025, led…
2 weeks ago
Fair City Foods, North Huron’s Only Grocery Store, Closing in October After Decades of Service
Fair City Foods, the only grocery store on the north side of Huron, has announced it will close next month. The longtime business will begin liquidating inventory on September 24, with its final day set for October 15. In a statement, Fair City Foods thanked the Huron community for years of support, calling the closure a difficult but heartfelt decision.
2 weeks ago
State Approves Incentives for Solar Farm, Cheese Plant Expansion, and Local Business Growth
South Dakota’s Board of Economic Development has approved nearly $3 million in tax relief for a 585-acre solar farm in McCook County, a $10 million state loan to expand Bel Brands’ Brookings cheese plant, and a grant to Ally Dakota Development.
2 weeks ago
Reliance Man Sentenced in Federal Meth Conspiracy
A Reliance man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his role in a large meth distribution ring. Heath Choal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine after prosecutors linked him to an operation that moved up to 35 pounds of meth in the Pierre area from 2023 to 2024. He will also serve three years of supervised release.
2 weeks ago
Mitchell Moves Forward With First Roundabout Design
The Mitchell City Council has approved design work for a single-lane roundabout at West 23rd Avenue and North Ohlman Street, with construction possible in 2026. The $500,000 project is part of broader infrastructure upgrades to water, sewer, and storm drainage along North Ohlman.
2 weeks ago
Lake Mitchell Drawdown Delayed by New State-Required Studies
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.
2 weeks ago
South Dakota Near Bottom in Teacher Rankings
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.
2 weeks ago
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison on Firearm Charges
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.
