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3 days ago
Sioux Falls Airport Expansion Breaks Ground This Week
The Sioux Falls Regional Airport is set for a major expansion as crews break ground tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. on a project adding a new concourse and five gates. Airport officials say the upgrade will enhance travel options, provide more space for passengers, and prepare the airport for future growth.
3 days ago
South Dakota Marks 988 Day With Awareness Events
South Dakota is recognizing 988 Day on September 8, spotlighting the life-saving impact of the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The South Dakota Department of Social Services and The Helpline Center are hosting events and art installations in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Vermillion, and Brookings to raise awareness about the easy-to-remember three-digit 988 number.
4 days ago
September Marks Suicide Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness and encourage life-saving conversations. The National Alliance on Mental Illness urges people to recognize warning signs, talk openly, and offer support with the message: Start a conversation. Be the difference. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential help.
4 days ago
Mitchell Pair Plead Not Guilty in Child Abuse Case; Trials Set for December
A Mitchell woman and man accused in a major child abuse case pleaded not guilty last week in Davison County court. Becky Robertson faces charges of accessory to a felony and witness tampering, while Eric Opperman is charged with 44 felonies and a misdemeanor tied to alleged abuse involving multiple minors over more than a decade.
4 days ago
Mitchell Teachers Get $14K in KIDS Grants for Classroom Projects
Eight Mitchell teachers are starting the school year with new classroom resources thanks to $14,000 in KIDS Grants. The awards, ranging from $700 to $5,000, support creative projects, technology, sensory tools, fitness events, and new reading resources. Now in its 11th year, the KIDS Grant program has invested more than $174,000 in Mitchell classrooms, funded by donations from local families, businesses, and organizations.
4 days ago
Corn Palace Seats Headed for Scrap After Auction Winner No-Shows
The historic Corn Palace seats are headed for salvage after the top bidder in an online auction failed to pick them up. A city crew began hauling the 1,772 chairs to H and R Salvage west of Mitchell, where the wood will be separated and the metal recycled.
4 days ago
Sioux Falls Veteran, 95, Shatters Records at Senior Games
At 95 years old, Sioux Falls athlete Don Phillips is breaking national records at the National Senior Games in Iowa. The Korean War veteran and retired veterinarian won gold medals in multiple events, including sprints and shot put, while setting new records in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
4 days ago
South Dakota Greenlights $1.1 Billion Transportation Plan
South Dakota will invest more than $1.1 billion in road and bridge projects under a newly approved four-year transportation plan starting in 2026. The plan dedicates nearly $600 million for highway upgrades, $400 million for bridge repairs and replacements, and additional funding for safety improvements. Transportation officials emphasize maintaining existing infrastructure as a top priority but warn that declining fuel tax revenues and uncertain federal funding could impact projects. The $245 million Platte-Winner bridge rebuild has already been delayed until next year.
4 days ago
Governor Rhoden Sends South Dakota Guard Unit to Washington
Governor Larry Rhoden has approved the deployment of 12 South Dakota National Guard soldiers from the 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Rapid City to Washington, D.C. The troops will support the DC National Guard on a 30-day mission, with the option to extend up to 90 days.
4 days ago
Davison County Commission to Hear Budget, Jail Contract, and Corn Palace Items
The Davison County Commission meets this morning in Mitchell with a full agenda, including a public hearing on a temporary liquor license and raffle for the Corn Palace Shrine Club, a discussion with Sheriff Harr about the jail phone contract and training requests, and the 2026 provisional budget hearing and adoption. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the North Offices Building on North Main Street.
5 days ago
Nonprofit Leader Bill Mawhiney Enters U.S. House Race
Bill Mawhiney, longtime leader of the South Dakota Afterschool Network, has launched his campaign for the U.S. House. Emphasizing that he is not a career politician, Mawhiney says his focus will be on putting people ahead of politics and giving rural and working families a stronger voice. Based in Sioux Falls, where he lives with his husband and two children, Mawhiney has spent nearly 20 years championing childcare, education, and afterschool programs across South Dakota.
5 days ago
Mitchell Man Faces Child Sex Abuse Charges
A 65-year-old Mitchell man, Curtis Buchholz Sr., is facing serious felony charges after multiple juveniles accused him of sexual abuse spanning several years. Arrested in late August, Buchholz pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual contact with a child under 16, each carrying a potential 15-year prison sentence. The first report surfaced in 2023, with additional victims later coming forward. His trial is scheduled for December, where he could face up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
5 days ago
Sanford Health to Acquire Lewis Drug Stores
Sanford Health announced plans to acquire all 60 Lewis Drug locations across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota in a deal expected to close this fall. The acquisition will expand pharmacy access, especially in rural communities, while maintaining the Lewis Drug name, employees, and customer experience. Officials say the move builds on Sanford’s longstanding partnership with Lewis and strengthens healthcare services across the region.
5 days ago
South Dakota Unveils ‘Dakota Liberty’ Beer for America’s 250th
South Dakota is raising a glass to America’s 250th birthday with a new commemorative beer. “Dakota Liberty” was unveiled at the State Fair in Huron and later featured at a Tap Haus sampling event. A portion of proceeds will support the South Dakota America 250th Commission, which is organizing statewide celebrations, heritage projects, and historic events leading up to the nation’s semiquincentennial.
5 days ago
Lawmakers Eye Impact of Massive Data Centers on South Dakota’s Power Grid
South Dakota is drawing attention from high-tech companies looking to build massive data centers powered by new energy infrastructure. State Representative Karla Lems recently toured Applied Data’s two-million-square-foot facility under construction in Ellendale, North Dakota
5 days ago
Lawmakers to Decide on $650M Prison Plan in September Special Session
South Dakota lawmakers will convene in Pierre on September 23 for a special legislative session to decide on the future of a new state prison. The proposal calls for a $650 million, 1,500-bed men’s correctional facility in northeast Sioux Falls, following the collapse of earlier plans in Lincoln County.
7 days ago
Seniors, Soldiers, and the State Fair By Rep. Dusty Johnson
BIG Update I joined the Peaceful Pines Senior Living Center in Huron to talk about my work in Washington and…
7 days ago
South Dakota Lawmakers to Decide on $650M Sioux Falls Prison Proposal in Special Session
A special legislative session on Sept. 23 will determine whether South Dakota moves forward with building a new 1,500-bed men’s prison in northeast Sioux Falls. Governor Larry Rhoden says the task force plan offers a better site at a lower cost after earlier proposals fell through.
1 week ago
SD Supreme Court Weighs Discipline for Huron Attorney
The South Dakota Supreme Court is weighing discipline for Huron attorney Tucker Volesky over his handling of a ranch dispute case. Accused of filing frivolous lawsuits and making false claims about judges, Volesky faces a possible 30-day suspension, though his lawyer urged public censure instead.
1 week ago
Highway Patrol Sets September Sobriety Checkpoints
The South Dakota Highway Patrol will hold sobriety checkpoints in 15 counties during September, including Minnehaha, Hutchinson, Jerauld, and Charles Mix, to deter impaired driving. The effort is supported by the Office of Highway Safety and local law enforcement.
