Gov. Daugaard To Appoint David Mickelson To Board Of Regents
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint David Mickelson of Sioux Falls to the South Dakota Board of Regents.


First Lady Invites Families To Oahe Days Book Walk
First Lady Linda Daugaard is inviting children to participate in a book walk at Steamboat Park on Saturday, June 23, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. CDT. The book walk will be part of the Oahe Days Arts and Music Festival.


Governor's Column: SD's Strong Foundation
This month marks the 110th anniversary of the laying of the State Capitol cornerstone. The four-foot by four-foot Ortonville granite cube, which features an engraving of the State Seal on the south side, was laid in a Masonic ceremony on June 25, 1908, two years before workmen completed the building.

Gov. Daugaard Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration For Spring Flooding
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration to help three northern South Dakota counties recover from spring flooding that did more than $3.1 million in damage to public property.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will be a guest on 1240 AM KCCR with Zach Nelson.


Gov. Daugaard Orders State Capitol Flags At Half-Staff For Former Rep. Albert Kocer
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is ordering flags to fly half-staff at the State Capitol on Monday, June 25, to honor the life of former state Rep. Albert Kocer.


DENR Secretary Urges Rollback Of Corps’ Water Supply Rule
Secretary Steve Pirner, head of the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources, appeared in front of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight today to testify about the Corps of Engineers’ attempt to charge for surplus water.

South Dakota Maintains AAA With Fitch
Today Fitch announced that it has reaffirmed South Dakota’s AAA Issuer Default Rating with a stable outlook.


Governor's Column: Three More Trail of Governors Statues
June is a beautiful time to visit our Capital City. The flowers at the State Capitol are in bloom, the sun shines brightly on the Fighting Stallions and the veterans memorials, and fishing and sport boats flock to the Missouri River.

News Tips
On Friday, June 15, Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the Trail of Governors ceremony for the unveiling of the bronze statues of governors McMaster, Sharpe and Herseth in the Capitol Rotunda.


Governor's Column: Some Environmental Markers
Growing up on a farm, my sisters and I were raised to leave things better than we found them. This meant taking care of the land, planting trees, maintaining our barn and treating the animals well.

News Tips
On Monday, June 4, Gov. Dennis Daugaard will join local leaders for a Discovery District project announcement at University Center in Sioux Falls.


Gov. Daugaard Requests Flags At Half-Staff To Honor Rep. Jim Schaefer
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has requested that all flags in the state be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. until sunset on Saturday, June 2, to honor the life of state Rep. Jim Schaefer, of Kennebec, on the day of his funeral.


State Rep. Jim Schaefer Dies
State Rep. Jim Schaefer of Kennebec died yesterday while working on his ranch. Schaefer had served in the State House of Representatives since 2011.

Mike Jaspers to Depart as Secretary of Agriculture
South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Mike Jaspers announced today he will leave his position as secretary of the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, effective July 1, 2018.


Don Kirkegaard to Depart as Secretary of Education
South Dakota Secretary of Education Don Kirkegaard announced today he will leave his position as secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education in July.


Governor Requests Flags At Half-Staff On Memorial Day Morning
Gov. Dennis Daugaard asks that flags be flown at half-staff on the morning of Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, in observance of fallen military service members.

Governor's Column: In The Spirit Of Dr. Mead
In the late 19th Century, Dr. Leonard Mead served as the superintendent of South Dakota’s hospital for the mentally ill. Dr. Mead was known for treating his patients with dignity and he had a kind of compassion that wasn’t common enough for the time.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the South Dakota Boys State Convention at Northern State University in Aberdeen.


Gov. Daugaard To Appoint Judge Mark E. Salter To South Dakota Supreme Court
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint Mark E. Salter of Sioux Falls to the South Dakota Supreme Court. Salter is a circuit court judge in the Second Judicial Circuit.


Sustained Effort Needed to Reduce Infant Mortality
South Dakota’s infant mortality rate increased in 2017, according to new data released today by the Department of Health. There were 12,128 births in 2017 and 94 infant deaths for a rate of 7.8 deaths per 1,000 live births.


President Orders Flags At Half-Staff For Santa Fe Victims
President Donald Trump has called for flags at half-staff out of respect for the victims whose lives were taken by the violence perpetrated in Santa Fe, Texas, today.

Governor's Column: $30.7 Million More To Support Education
If you’ve ever taken a course on psychology, you have probably heard of the marshmallow test. The social experiment was first initiated at Stanford in the 1960s and it involves sitting a child in a room by themselves with a marshmallow.

News Tips
The Extraordinary Cost Oversight Board will hold a special meeting via teleconference with a public listening place in Conference Room 5 on second floor of the MacKay Building, 800 Governors Drive.


Gov. Daugaard Appoints Kent Shelton As Third Circuit Judge
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint Kent A. Shelton of Huron as a circuit court judge in South Dakota’s Third Circuit Court.


Governor Seeking Fall Intern Applicants
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is currently seeking applications for the 2018 Governor’s Office internship program in Pierre. The positions will be paid and run from September through December 2018.

President Calls For Flags At Half-Staff For Peace Officers Memorial Day
President Donald Trump has proclaimed Tuesday, May 15, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the period of May 13 through May 19 as Police Week.

Governor Daugaard’s Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Sports Betting
Gov. Dennis Daugaard issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on sports betting.


Governor's Column: To The Classes Of 2018
Congratulations to the classes of 2018! To all high school, college and technical school students graduating in South Dakota, I commend you for reaching this milestone.

News Tips
On Monday, May 14, at 2 p.m. CDT, Gov. Dennis Daugaard will be a guest on 1240 AM KCCR with Zach Nelson.


Governor's Column: Appreciation For My Co-Workers
Aaron Scheibe has been instrumental in getting companies like Agropur and Terex to invest millions of dollars in South Dakota’s economy, and he played a key role in the development of Foundation Park, the state’s first mega industrial site.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will attend the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitor's Bureau Annual Luncheon at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.


Gov. Daugaard Requests Flags At Half-Staff To Honor Rep. Sean McPherson
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has requested that all flags in the state be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. until sunset on Friday, May 4, to honor the life of state Rep. Sean McPherson, of Rapid City, on the day of his funeral.


Over-Width Planters and Fertilizer Application Vehicles Allowed Extended Travel Time
Due to cold weather that has caused a delayed planting season, Gov. Dennis Daugaard has signed an Executive Order to allow over-width planting, fertilizer and agricultural chemical application vehicles to travel during nighttime hours in South Dakota.

First Lady's Column: A Summer Reading Challenge
Now that it is starting to feel a little more like spring, students are looking forward to summer. The family vacations, camping trips, picnics and baseball games will soon begin and our children will get a well-deserved break from their studies.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will be in Volga on Tuesday, May 1, attending a ceremonial groundbreaking at Prairie AquaTech at 2 p.m. CDT.


Governor’s Statement on the Passing of Rep. McPherson
Gov. Dennis Daugaard offered the following statement on the passing of State Rep. Sean McPherson of Rapid City.


South Dakota No Longer Last In Average Teacher Pay
For the first time since 1985, South Dakota’s average teacher salaries in the 2016-17 school year were no longer the lowest in the nation.

SD Participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Program
South Dakotans will have the chance to throw out unneeded prescription drugs on Saturday, April 28, as law enforcement agencies across the state participate in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Program.


Gov. Daugaard Appoints Costello and Judson To Economic Development Board
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has appointed Pat Costello and Matt Judson to serve on the Board of Economic Development. Costello, vice president of Schoeneman’s in Sioux Falls, and Judson, president of First National Bank in Pierre, replace Greg Heineman and Tony Klein.

Gov. Daugaard Touts Early Results of New Grants for Grads Housing Program
South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard today released early results of the recently launched South Dakota Housing Development Authority Grants for Grads program, which aims to assist recent graduates in purchasing their first home in South Dakota.


Governor's Column: Celebrating South Dakota’s Conservationists
In South Dakota, we are fortunate to live on a landscape managed by dedicated farming and ranching families. For generations, they’ve known that their livelihoods depend on being good stewards of soil, water, livestock and wildlife.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the 2018 Associated School Board’s Academic Excellence Recognition Luncheon at the Ramkota in Pierre.


Gov. Daugaard Declares Day of Remembrance for Anniversary of State Plane Crash
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has declared tomorrow as a day of remembrance to memorialize Gov. George S. Mickelson and the seven other individuals who lost their lives in a state plane crash 25 years ago.

Gov. Daugaard Orders Flags At Half-Staff For Barbara Bush
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is asking that all flags in the state be flown at half-staff, effective immediately, to honor the life of First Lady Barbara Bush who passed away on Tuesday, April 17.


Governor's Column: A Legacy That Still Inspires
This coming week will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Gov. George S. Mickelson. On April 19, 1993, Governor Mickelson was returning from Cincinnati, Ohio, where he had been meeting with the owners of the John Morrell packing plant in Sioux Falls. The plane crashed near Dubuque, Iowa.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at Terex Utilities new facility ground breaking ceremony that is being held at 15th Avenue SE in Watertown.


Gov. Daugaard Orders State Capitol Flags At Half-Staff For Former Rep. Jim Endres
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is ordering flags to fly half-staff at the State Capitol on Thursday, April 12, to honor the life of former state Rep. James Endres.

Sen. Netherton Resigns, Governor Invites Public Input
State Sen. Jenna Netherton has resigned her seat in the South Dakota State Senate. Netherton, a Sioux Falls Republican, has served in the Senate since 2015, and previously served in the House of Representatives from 2011-14.


Governor's Column: Continuing The Courtesy Patrol's Legacy
Eighty-three years ago, Gov. Tom Berry appointed South Dakota’s first patrolmen to enforce traffic laws and provide assistance to the public.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will introduce European Union Ambassador David O’Sullivan at the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast at the Holiday Inn City Centre.


Governor's Column: Expecting Another Busy Year For South Dakota's Parks
It is officially spring and summer is around the corner. Now is a good time to plan a summer trip to one of our state parks. If not a week-long vacation, consider at least a weekend or weeknight stay.

Lost Documents Raise Dakota Statehood Questions
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today the authentication of historical documents proving North Dakota and South Dakota are actually one state. Overlooked addendums to the statehood proclamations of both states indicate the existence of a single state, “Dakota.”

Zolnowsky, Commissioner of Bureau of Information and Telecommunications, to Retire
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that David Zolnowsky, Commissioner of the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT), will retire at the end of this month.

News Tips
The Governor and First Lady are inviting families to take part in the 65th Annual Elks Easter Egg Hunt on the Governor’s residence lawn at 1 p.m. CDT on Easter. Children up to age 12 are invited to participate in the Easter egg hunt.


Daugaards Invite Families To Attend Annual Easter Egg Hunt
The Governor and First Lady are inviting families to take part in the 65th Annual Elks Easter Egg Hunt on the Governor’s residence lawn at 1 p.m. CDT on Easter.


Gov. Daugaard Signs Veterans Cemetery Bill
Gov. Dennis Daugaard today signed Senate Bill 91 to establish a new state veterans cemetery in East River South Dakota.

Governor's Column: A Challenge To The SD Ag Foundation
This past week, on Tuesday, March 20, we celebrated National Ag Day. It was a day proclaimed by the President to recognize the “preeminent role that agriculture plays in our daily lives” and “agriculture’s continuing importance to rural America and our country’s economy.”

Gov. Daugaard Signs Last Bills
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has signed the remaining bills from the 2018 Legislative Session into law. Senate Bill 166 was the final bill signed by Daugaard, and is anticipated to be the last bill he will sign as governor.

Gov. Daugaard Vetoes HB 1268
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed HB 1268, an Act to provide for revised dates to prefile legislation.

Gov. Daugaard Vetoes SB 94
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed SB 94, an Act to establish certain provisions regarding the opportunity scholarship program.

Gov. Daugaard Vetoes HB 1188
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed HB 1188, an Act to establish certain provisions regarding postsecondary tuition assistance programs.

Gov. Daugaard Issues Style and Form Vetoes
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has issued style and form vetoes for the following bills for SB 76 and SB 90.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the Teen Mock Legislative Session for Middle and High Schoolers on the fourth floor of the State Capitol Building.


Governor Signs Precision Ag Construction Legislation, Also Signs Other Bills
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has signed two bills authorizing and funding a precision ag facility at South Dakota State University. The legislation supports the nation’s first four-year degree in precision agriculture at SDSU.

Governor Signs Micro-Brewing Legislation, Additional Alcohol Bills
Today, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed Senate Bill 173, which removes barriers for microbreweries by increasing the production limit to 30,000 barrels of beer per year and allowing microbreweries to self-distribute their product.