South Dakota News & Current Events

The Prison Policy Initiative reported South Dakota has an incarceration rate of 812 per 100,000 people. There are renewed calls for policymakers to stick with effective reform efforts, hopefully reducing the number of repeat offenders. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Getting a read on SD's incarceration woes and improving re-entry

Setting aside funding for a new South Dakota prison is a thorny issue for state lawmakers this year. There is also renewed talk about the state's …

As part of the Trump administration's budget-cutting moves, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has eliminated $1 billion in programs connecting local producers with food banks and school lunch programs. (Adobe Stock)

USDA cuts could halt progress of SD local food scene

South Dakota farmers leading the "locally grown" movement have visions of a dynamic regional food production system but some of it is in doubt with lo…

A new land agreement in South Dakota expands the presence of Newton Hills State Park. Conservation voices said the surrounding wilderness is home to the only oak species native to the state, the bur oak, which is resilient to extreme hot and cold temperatures. (Photo courtesy of Conservation Fund)

Future murky for public lands, but SD has a success story

For decades to come, South Dakotans can make use of an expanded wilderness in the southeastern part of the state, as a new land deal will keep …

Climate experts say drought can reduce both the availability and quality of water necessary for productive farms, and can also lead to insect outbreaks. (Adobe Stock)

SD farmer flexes drought-fighting muscle in face of dry conditions

The South Dakota region has seen some wet weather in recent days, but the entire state is still in varying levels of drought status. That has …

From data centers to clean-energy projects to factory farms, rural communities are being asked to shoulder a number of key projects factoring into how society functions, potentially leading to a major dynamic shift in how local residents organize their response. (Adobe Stock)

Power of rural organizing reflected in SD carbon pipeline law

The future of a big carbon capture project in the Midwest was thrown off balance after a new South Dakota law was adopted. Rural property owners made …

The Universal Service Fund, currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, provided more than $4 billion to carriers nationwide in 2023 to connect households in the nation's most rural communities. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS to decide future of fund seen as lifeline for rural broadband

Later this month, on March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that challenges the constitutionality of a federal fund that aids …

Higher petition signature requirements are among the many changes South Dakota Republicans are pushing for citizen-led ballot initiatives. (Adobe Stock)

Rule changes sought for SD citizen-backed ballot questions

A South Dakota Senate committee considers several bills today to overhaul rules for getting citizen-led measures on the ballot. The proposals are …

According to a new national report, businesses are responding to a patchwork of abortion bans across the country, with some offering relocation assistance and expanded benefits amid a backlash against tighter restrictions. (Adobe Stock)

New findings: State workforces suffer when abortion restrictions tighten

The 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn federal abortion protections continues to be felt. New research now suggests states where bans have …

U.S. beef producers face increased global competition and advocates for smaller livestock farms said tools like truth in labeling bring a level of fairness. (Adobe Stock)

Mandatory 'Made in USA' labeling for beef gets another look

Spring is around the corner, and as Midwesterners might be dreaming about firing up their grills and stocking up for barbecues, there is a renewed …

The U.S. Energy Information Administration said after nearly two decades of stagnation, electricity demand is starting to grow and is not expected to slow at all in the coming years. (Adobe Stock)

As electricity demand soars, U.S. urged to find power grid consensus

South Dakota is cited in a new report which argues to avoid an energy crisis, America needs to have a shared vision of what a strong power grid looks …

Through a legislative proposal, South Dakota agriculture officials are trying to generate an extra $350,000 in permitting fees, so they can maintain oversight of concentrated animal feeding operations. (Adobe Stock)

South Dakota poised to boost fees that help regulate CAFOs

Rural communities in the U.S. remain at the center of debate about the growing presence of large livestock operations. South Dakota lawmakers are …

With the inclusion of workforce certificates and certifications, South Dakota's overall rate of educational attainment has increased by 16.9% since 2009. (Adobe Stock)

Degree attainment numbers in SD look good; more progress sought

South Dakota has made notable progress in boosting the number of working-age adults who hold a degree or credential beyond high school. That's …

A new study looking at drought impacts on grasslands found that such lands in China saw a 43% reduction in annual productivity, compared with just a 25% reduction in North America under the same conditions. (Adobe Stock)

SD grasslands might be more vulnerable to drought than other regions

Grasslands are considered a vital component of South Dakota's landscape. But on the heels of new research, an expert suggests they might not fare as …

Ted Blakey (right) has long been admired for his civil rights work in South Dakota. State historians are hoping to get more artifacts related to Blakey and other prominent Black figures donated as they continue with a museum renovation. (African American Registry)

Short on artifacts, SD historians ask for help recognizing Black trailblazers

Events for Black History Month are being held around the U.S. In South Dakota, leaders of the state's main history museum, which is currently under …

Opponents of a South Dakota bill that would require the Ten Commandments be posted in all public school classrooms say it would be an unfunded mandate. (Adobe Stock)

'Ten Commandments' in public schools debate reaches South Dakota

A South Dakota House committee takes up a controversial bill today that would require all school districts in the state to display the Ten Commandment…

Hundreds of protesters, worried about the barrage of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump, gathered at Michigan's state Capitol Wednesday. Similar demonstrations were held across the country. (Photo courtesy of Kelsey Brianne)

Initial Trump actions spark nationwide protests

In rural states such as South and North Dakota and large urban centers around the U.S., protests were held Wednesday amid fears about the first wave …

According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 29% of eighth grade students in South Dakota reached the proficient level for reading. (Adobe Stock)

Solutions sought with lack of big turnaround in student test scores

South Dakota saw mixed results in a new national report measuring academic progress. Key voices in the world of education hope troubling trends seen …

Research firms said staffing shortages and not enough technology upgrades are making it harder for state and local governments to keep up with fraudsters eyeing services funded by taxpayers. (Adobe Stock)

SD among states debating tricky issue of combating government fraud

A South Dakota legislative committee Monday debated proposals designed to help combat government fraud and there were clear differences of opinion on …

Even in a digital age, advocates for public libraries say branches continue to prove their worth, including online databases for research, as well as free Wi-Fi in areas with broadband gaps. (Adobe Stock)

SD library services on state budget chopping block

South Dakota lawmakers will soon resume debate on a budget-cutting plan targeting library services within the state. Legislative committees are …

Larger livestock operations have become a flashpoint in Midwestern states, with backers saying they are modernized to feed the world at lower costs. But some local communities and environmentalists remain skeptical, with air and water quality concerns. (Adobe Stock)

SD pushes to keep certain CAFO details nearly out of reach

Larger livestock operations can be a thorny issue in rural areas and South Dakota lawmakers are proposing restricting feedlot details with more commun…

Policy experts say rural residents tend to have lower incomes and less access to employer-sponsored health coverage, making programs such sa Medicaid a more prominent option for health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Rural America would feel pain of deep Medicaid cuts

Congressional Republicans are taking a hard look at Medicaid as they pursue spending cuts and a new report shows how the public health program is prev…

Federal incentives are being offered for carbon capture projects, including a multistate pipeline proposal for the Midwest involving ethanol emissions. However, skeptics said the project's designs are too big for unproven technology. (Adobe Stock)

Carbon pipeline and landowner rights take their seat again in SD's capitol

South Dakota lawmakers begin a new legislative session today and are already hearing from worried landowners about their rights as a private company k…

Along South Dakota's Rosebud Reservation, Sicangu Co. members Mayce Low Dog and Karen Moore harvest local plants. (Photo courtesy of Grace Hussain)

For SD tribe, food sovereignty means eating climate-friendly

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Sentient/Just and Climate-Friendly Food…

With a pending rule excluding medical debt from loan applications, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau predicted an uptick of 22,000 affordable mortgages approved every year because applicants will not have old medical bills upending their loan request. (Adobe Stock)

Banks, lenders to no longer consider medical debt under new rule

South Dakota is among the states with the highest percentage of residents carrying medical debt but a new federal rule announced this week could ease …

In South Dakota, 68% of missing persons are Native Americans even though they only make up 9% of the state's population. (Adobe Stock)

Resource gaps cloud efforts on cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In South Dakota, the push to secure justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women remains …

According to the National Council of Urban Indian Health, the average age of Indian Health Service facilities is over 37 years and the maintenance backlog was about $515 million in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

SD’s Native population sees 'double whammy' of health barriers

Funding for the Indian Health Service has increased over the past decade but the agency remains underfunded, which affects both the health and …

In a new AARP survey, 90% of South Dakotans ages 45 and older said having adequate Social Security benefits is a priority. (Adobe Stock)

SD survey: Increasing concerns about health care, prescription costs

More middle-aged and older South Dakotans had financial concerns this year, especially around health care, according to a new survey. Advocates for …

A text from USPS? It could be a 'smishing' scam

Many people are still expecting holiday packages this week and the United States Postal Service is warning customers not to fall for "smishing" scams…

In 2024, there were 1,990 successful diversions of South Dakota youth from courts and detention, according to the state's Juvenile Justice Oversight Council. Of that total, 449 attempts were considered unsuccessful. (Adobe Stock)

A year of growth for juvenile diversion programs in SD

Nearly 2,000 South Dakota juveniles were successfully diverted from the state's court system this year, according to a new report. A 2024 law has …

South Dakota farms produced more than $3.8 billion of corn in 2023, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. A trade war renewed by the incoming Trump administration could harm the state's agricultural producers, according to policy analysts. (Adobe Stock)

Trump tariffs could hit farmers during a rough patch

As President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in next month, the farming community wonders if he'll follow through on tariff threats. One expert says for …

More than 700 rural hospitals - roughly 30% of all hospitals across the nation - are at risk of closing because of financial problems, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. (Adobe Stock)

Pilot program to help rural hospitals stanch financial bleeding

A new federal program launching next year is designed to help hospitals struggling to stay afloat in rural places such as South Dakota. About 360 …

News deserts are places without local news outlets that create original content. According to a 2024 report from the Local News Initiative, 75% of them are located in predominantly rural counties. (Adobe Stock)

SD Public Broadcasting: Proposed budget cuts could mean insolvency

Gov. Kristi Noem wants a big budget cut for South Dakota Public Broadcasting in 2026. That could hurt its nine television stations and 11 radio …

During the June floods in eastern South Dakota this year, the river level at the Big Sioux gauge hit 44.98 feet, breaking the previous record high by 7.28 feet, according to the High Plains Regional Climate Center. (Adobe Stock)

Weak protections for SD wetlands could lead to more flood damage

Wetlands protect against floods, like those some in eastern South Dakota experienced this June and researchers warned the growing presence of factory …

According to the American Library Association, the rate of book titles targeted for censorship in public libraries spiked 92% between 2022 and 2023. In school libraries, there was an 11% increase. (Adobe Stock)

SD libraries face future of stricter policies, slashed budgets

South Dakota librarians are implementing new policies for young readers in the new year and they are expecting future challenges, with the governor's …

Research on the effects of a school voucher program in Louisiana show academic performance decreased among kids who use vouchers to attend private schools. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Gov. sets aside 2026 SD funds for new education savings accounts

In this week's 2026 budget address, Gov. Kristi Noem proposed establishing education savings accounts for K-12 students in South Dakota. Opponents …

Community Health Centers across the United States serve 3.8 million patients age 65 and older as well as 9.4 million children, according to The National Association of Community Health Centers. (Nadzeya/Adobe Stock)

SD rep joins 300 in D.C. calling for more rural health center funding

Nearly 300 Community Health Center leaders from across the U.S. and South Dakota are on Capitol Hill today, urging Congress to act before their …

When South Dakota voters passed Medicaid expansion in 2022, the constitutional amendment included this language:

A long road for Medicaid work requirements in South Dakota

South Dakotans passed Amendment F on Election Day, opening the door to impose work requirements on people who qualify for expanded Medicaid benefits…

Some 75% of LGBTQ+ youth in South Dakota in 2022 reported experiencing anxiety, according to The Trevor Project. (Adobe Stock)

Calls to LGBTQ+ helpline surge following Election Day

Members of the LGBTQ+ community in South Dakota are concerned about what a second Trump presidency could mean for their safety, rights and …

According to the Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center, one in 40 Native American and Alaska Native babies born in the Great Plains region in 2022 had a syphilis infection. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal leaders call syphilis outbreak 'public health emergency'

By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the KFF Health News…

Ava Bruneau plays Ginebig: The Snake Game, a game of chance. Players roll or toss

Game time: Reviving the Ojibwe way with dice, cards

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servic…

South Dakota was the first state to rename

Wounded Knee Medal of Honor review process expected to slow under Trump

The idea of revoking military medals awarded to soldiers at the Wounded Knee Massacre has gained traction recently, but some expect that to stop …

In 2020, roughly 9.9% of all U-S adults over age 20 were, or 28.6 million people, were affected by cardiovascular disease, according to a review article from the American Heart Association. (Adobe Stock)

Advisory: Heart health plummeting in rural areas in SD and nationwide

It is National Rural Health Day and experts are flagging research showing increasing health disparities between urban and rural places, including in …

Just under 14% of South Dakota kids are American Indian or Alaska Native, but make up more than 62% of children in the state's foster care system, according to the National Indian Child Welfare Association. (Adobe Stock)

Remembering older kids in foster care on National Adoption Day

This coming Saturday is National Adoption Day and it is a good time to think about children who are older or have special needs and face more difficul…

Five of its six neighboring states have fewer restrictive laws on reproductive care than South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

SD keeps abortion ban, but 'the landscape is changing'

A majority of South Dakotans have voted to maintain a strict abortion ban but other factors are shifting the landscape for reproductive care in the st…

According to the South Dakota Secretary of State, South Dakota's Referred Law 21 was ousted by voters 59% to 41%. (Brent Coulter)<br />

Eminent domain reform could follow ousted SD pipeline law

In last week's election, South Dakota voters defeated the carbon pipeline law by a wide margin, but pipeline companies could still gain ground in …

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem in January offered support to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's border control initiatives, including personally delivering razor wire. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Immigrants' advocates strategize as Noem could head DHS

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to confirm his choice of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Department of Homeland Security and …

An Emmy award-winning television spot features regenerative ranching practices in grasslands on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. (Ron Nichols)

SD PSA on grasslands wins regional Emmy award

Native grasslands are the most threatened ecosystem in North America. A South Dakota advocacy group hopes its educational campaign will reach a …

Sioux Falls and Pierre both scored well on AARP's 2024 Livability Index, with particularly high rankings on the

Sioux Falls, Pierre rank high in the nation for 'livability'

Two South Dakota cities scored well this year on a national ranking of livable communities. In AARP's 2024 Livability Index, Pierre ranked 15th in …

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