Governor's Column: Appreciation for South Dakota Newspapers
The week of Oct. 1 is National Newspaper Week, an opportunity to recognize the important role newspapers play in our country.

News Tips For Sept. 23– 29, 2017
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the groundbreaking for the Hybrid Turkeys Hatchery in Beresford.


Gov. Daugaard To Appoint Judge Steven R. Jensen To South Dakota Supreme Court
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint Steven R. Jensen of Dakota Dunes to the South Dakota Supreme Court. Jensen is a circuit court judge and the presiding judge of the First Judicial Circuit.


First Lady To Hold Book Walk
First Lady Linda Daugaard will hold a book walk for children in the backyard of the Governor’s Mansion on Monday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m. CDT.


Governor's Column: 2017 Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup
On Friday morning, Sept. 29, a few dozen cowboys will put on their boots and saddle their horses. Custer State Park employees will arise before dawn. And thousands from across the state, country and world will gather, all to continue a 52-year tradition.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will participate in the Western Governors’ Workforce Workshop in Denver.


Gov. Daugaard Awards Equipment Grants To Tech Schools
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today he is awarding over $860,000 in Future Funds to fund equipment needs in Build Dakota-eligible programs at South Dakota’s four technical institutes.


Gov. Daugaard Orders State Capitol Flags At Half-Staff For Former Rep. Oscar Huber
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is ordering flags to fly half-staff at the State Capitol on Thursday, Sept. 14, to honor the life of former state Rep. Oscar Huber.


Governor Seeking Interns For Spring Term
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is currently seeking applications for two spring 2018 Governor’s Office internships in Pierre. The positions will be paid and run from January through May 2018.


Governor Asks For Flags At Half-Staff On 9/11 Anniversary
The White House has issued a proclamation designating Friday, Sept. 8, through Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, as National Days of Service and Remembrance.

Governor's Column: Recovering Debts Owed To South Dakotans
When a debt is owed to you, sometimes it can be difficult to collect. Whether it’s a grocery store that receives a bad check, a carpenter seeking payment on a bill or a person who loans a friend fifty dollars, it’s not enjoyable or easy to recover what you are owed.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will be the keynote speaker at the Sioux Empire Housing Annual Breakfast at the Holiday Inn Downtown Starlight Room in Sioux Falls.


$3.3 Million Recovered In Year One Of State’s Debt Collection Efforts
More than $3.3 million has been recovered in the first year of South Dakota’s Obligation Recovery Center program, according to a report released today by the Bureau of Administration.


Build Dakota Scholarship Recipients Announced for 2017-18 School Year
The Build Dakota Scholarship Board has selected 285 students as recipients of the Build Dakota Scholarship for the 2017-18 school year.


Gov. Daugaard To Appoint Doug Barthel To District 10 House Seat
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint Doug Barthel to fill the District 10 vacancy in the State House of Representatives.


Governor's Column: Fortifying SD’s Defense Against Animal Disease Threats
The last day of August was an eventful one for Linda and me. We stopped first in Huron at the South Dakota State Fair where we toured the value-added agriculture tent and also attended the Century Farms Recognition and Salute to Veterans ceremonies.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the groundbreaking for the Dakota Plains Ag Center, LLC at the Napa Facility in Yankton.


Governor's Column: Beacom College At DSU A Step Forward For South Dakota
South Dakota is full of hidden gems. One secret we’ve kept too well is Dakota State University. DSU is one of the nation’s leading schools for cybersecurity, and it is rising to a new level of excellence.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at two state fair events: the Century Farms and Ranches Recognition program and the Salute to Veterans program.


Gov. Daugaard Orders State Capitol Flags At Half-Staff For Former Majority Leader Roger McKellips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is ordering flags to fly half-staff at the State Capitol on Saturday, Aug. 26, to honor the life of former state Sen. Roger McKellips.


Gov. Daugaard Orders State Capitol Flags At Half-Staff For Former State Superintendent Gordon Diedtrich
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is ordering flags to fly half-staff at the State Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 23, to honor the life of Gordon A. Diedtrich who served as state superintendent of public instruction.

38 Students Receive Dakota Corps Scholarships
Thirty-eight South Dakota high school graduates have been awarded Dakota Corps scholarships to pursue careers in critical-need occupations within the state.


Governor's Column: There's Something For Everyone At The State Fair
Before the season turns and the kids are fully immersed in school activities, there’s one more summer event you will want to experience.

News Tips
The South Dakota Board of Regents will hold a brief meeting in the Brinker Room of Heston Hall on the Dakota State University campus to approve items associated with construction at Dakota State University.


Governor's Column: Graduating College, Career and Life Ready
It’s hard to believe my oldest grandchild is starting kindergarten this year. With a week-and-a-half left before his first day, Henry is looking forward to starting school.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak and help present 52 veterans with the Republic of China Mutual Defense Commemorative Badge at a ceremony recognizing South Dakota Veterans who served in Taiwan during from 1955 to 1979.


Centerville Capital For A Day Schedule Announced
On Tuesday, Aug. 15, Centerville will be South Dakota’s Capital for a Day. Activities for the day will include a Main Street walk, community social, business tours and a roundtable meeting.


Governor's Column: The 2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
It’s almost rally time in South Dakota. What started in 1938 as a single motorcycle race in a small town has grown into one of the largest and best-known motorcycle gatherings in the world.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard is speaking at the 2017 ASBSD, SASD Joint Convention at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.


Applications Now Open For Buffer Strip Incentives
South Dakotans can now apply to receive riparian buffer strip property tax incentives, Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today. To aid prospective applicants, the Daugaard Administration has rolled out a new web map to help landowners determine which waters qualify under the new riparian buffer strip program.


U.S. Labor Secretary To Attend Gov. Daugaard’s WGA Workforce Workshop
U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta will be in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Aug. 3, to attend Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s Workforce Development Initiative workshop.


Matt Michels Elected As National Lieutenant Governors Association Chair
Lt. Gov. Matt Michels today was selected by his peers to serve as chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association. The election took place at the lieutenant governors’ annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.

Governor's Column: No Better Place To Live And Work
When people around the country think about South Dakota, the first image that comes to mind is probably Mount Rushmore.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Annual Conference in Brookings at the SDSU Student Union.


Centerville To Be Capital For A Day
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that Centerville has been chosen to be South Dakota’s Capital for a Day on Tuesday, Aug. 15.


Gov. Daugaard Appoints Giles As First Circuit Judge
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint Magistrate Judge Chris S. Giles (J’-ylz)* as a circuit court judge in South Dakota’s First Circuit Court.


Gov. Daugaard Appoints Bern As First Circuit Judge
Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint Magistrate Judge Tami A. Bern as a circuit court judge in South Dakota’s First Circuit Court.


Governor's Column: Budget Practices -- SD vs. DC
I have long been troubled by the federal government’s budget situation. According to the online U.S. debt clock, which uses figures from the U.S. Treasury, our national debt is currently at 19 trillion dollars, or 61,346 dollars per citizen.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the activation ceremony for 15 Soldiers of the South Dakota National Guard 200th Engineer Company Bridge Training Team at TF Riggs High School Theater in Pierre.


South Dakota Ends Fiscal Year With Surplus
South Dakota state government closed the 2017 budget year on June 30 marking the sixth consecutive year with a surplus, Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today.


Governor's Column: The Direct Effects Of Financial Stewardship
As Governor of South Dakota, financial stewardship is one of my top priorities. When it comes to balancing the budget, managing the retirement system and maintaining our AAA credit ratings, I dive into the details.

News Tips
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the deployment ceremony for the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 216th Engineer Detachment at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial amphitheater.


Brookings Capital For A Day Schedule Announced
On Tuesday, July 18, Brookings will be South Dakota’s Capital for a Day. Activities for the day will include a Main Street walk, community social, business tours and a roundtable meeting.


Governor’s Mansion Tours Now Featuring Art By Harrisburg Student
As the free summer tours at the Governor’s mansion resume, First Lady Linda Daugaard is featuring Native American art from South Dakota artists, including a new painting by a Harrisburg student.


Governor's Column: Matching Students with Workforce Needs
Last week, I was honored to begin a one-year term as chairman of the Western Governors Association. The WGA includes governors of 19 western states – those to the north and south of South Dakota, and every state to the west. Each WGA chair selects a policy initiative to focus on during the chair’s one-year term. Over the next 12 months I will focus on workforce development.

News Tips For July 8 – 14, 2017
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the 2017 Council of Chief State School Officers Summer Leadership Conference at the Holiday Inn Rushmore Plaza in Rapid City.


Gov. Daugaard Names Inaugural Members to Government Accountability Board
Gov. Dennis Daugaard today announced his appointments to the new Government Accountability Board.


Governor's Column: South Dakota's Presidential Independence Day
It was an eventful Fourth of July week 90 years ago when President Calvin Coolidge spent the holiday in the Black Hills. He and First Lady Grace Coolidge came to the State Game Lodge at Custer State Park that summer to escape the noise and congestion of Washington, D.C.

Gov. Daugaard Appoints Jim Thares To Board Of Regents
Gov. Dennis Daugaard today announced that he will appoint Jim Thares of Aberdeen to the South Dakota Board of Regents.

News Tips
The Railroad Board of the South Dakota Department of Transportation will hold a meeting in the Commission Room of the Becker-Hansen building located at 700 E. Broadway Ave.


Gov. Daugaard Commends Release Of Additional CRP Acres
The Governor last week sent a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting the department make CRP acres available as soon as possible. The USDA on Friday announced the release of CRP acres to counties in the severe drought and extreme drought categories.


Gov. Daugaard Named WGA Chair Western Governors’ Workforce Initiative Announced
PIERRE, S.D. – This morning at a governors’ meeting in Whitefish, Mont., Gov. Dennis Daugaard was elected to serve as chair of the Western Governors’ Association. Gov. Daugaard will serve as chairman for one year.


Rep. Haggar Resigns, Governor Invites Public Input
State Rep. Don Haggar has resigned his seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives. Haggar, a Sioux Falls Republican, has served in the state House since 2013, and is currently the body’s speaker pro tempore.