Name Released in Custer County Fatal Crash
HERMOSA, S.D. – A 78-year-old Hermosa woman has been identified as the person who died Wednesday night in a one-vehicle crash west of Hermosa.


Names Released in Hanson County Fatal Crash
MITCHELL, S.D. – Two women from Mitchell have been identified as those who died Tuesday night in a one-vehicle crash east of Mitchell.


News Tips For December 15 – 21, 2018
Saturday, December 15, 11 a.m. CST, Yankton – Gov. Dennis Daugaard will speak at the deployment ceremony for the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 174th Cyber Protection Team, Yankton High School, Yankton.

Governor's Column: Sharing the Joy and Peace of Christmas
Sometimes I wonder if every kid who grew up on a South Dakota farm or ranch went out with their dad on Christmas Eve searching for Santa Claus.


Noem Applauds TAG Following Retirement Announcement
Governor-elect Kristi Noem today applauded the dedicated service of Major General Timothy A. Reisch following his retirement announcement. Reisch has served as The Adjutant General (TAG) for South Dakota since April 2011. He will continue serving until his retirement in June 2019.

There’s No Time Like Fair Time at the 2019 SD State Fair
The South Dakota State Fair has announced its 2019 State Fair theme – “There’s No Time Like Fair Time!”

Custer County Fatal Crash
Hermosa, S.D. – A 78-year-old woman died Wednesday night in a one-vehicle crash west of Hermosa.


Hanson County Fatal Crash
MITCHELL, S.D. – Two people died and another was seriously injured Tuesday night in a one-vehicle crash east of Mitchell.


SDDA Seeks Dicamba Cutoff Date
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) has applied for Special Local Needs registration labels, also known as 24(c) labels, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the following products: Engenia, Fexapan and Xtendimax with VaporGrip Technology.

South Dakota teachers, school counselors go above and beyond with professional certifications
Five South Dakota teachers and four school counselors have earned national certifications in 2018, demonstrating advanced knowledge and skill in their professions.


Department of Transportation & Lincoln County Seek Public Input into Lincoln County Master Transportation Plan Study
YANKTON, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation, in collaboration with Lincoln County and the Sioux Falls MPO, will hold two public open houses as part of the Lincoln County Master Transportation Plan.


Governor-elect Noem Announces Staff Hires
Governor-elect Kristi Noem today announced a key round of governor’s office staff hires. The following people will begin serving on January 5, 2019.

Governor's Column: We Don't Spend Money We Don't Have
Every December, the state legislature meets to receive a budget proposal from the governor. This proposal is the starting point for the legislative budget process, which ends with the passage of a budget bill at the end of session in March.

News Tips For December 8 – 14, 2018
Saturday, December 8, 10 a.m. CST – Fort Sisseton Historic State Park is hosting a Frontier Christmas. Celebrate the season with Christmas crafts, roasted chestnuts, homemade bread, sleigh rides and caroling. Find more information online, or call 605-448-5474.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF HIGH RISK INMATE RELEASE
Corrections Secretary Denny Kaemingk is providing notification to law enforcement and the public about the pending release of a state prison inmate. Inmate Cory Yellow Boy, age 28, is currently serving a 3-year sentence for second-degree escape from Pennington County.

State Historical Society announces spring Deadwood Fund grant applications
The South Dakota State Historical Society announces that the applications for the first round of the 2019 Deadwood Fund grant program are due on Feb. 1, 2019, for work beginning no earlier than May 1, 2019.

Name Released in Lyman County Fatal Crash
IONA, S.D. – A Houston, Texas man has been identified as the person who died early Monday morning in a one-vehicle crash south of Iona in Lyman County.


Noem Announces GOED Appointment
Governor-elect Kristi Noem today announced that Steve Westra will serve in her administration as Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).

Lake Andes Job Service Moving to New Location
The Lake Andes Job Service office is moving to 140 W. Highway 50.

Names Released in Fall River County Fatal Crash
OELRICHS, S.D. – A Hot Springs, S.D., woman has been identified as the person who died in a two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon east of Oelrichs.

Adjacent State Students Offered South Dakota Tuition Advantage
New students from adjacent states will soon experience the South Dakota Advantage, a tuition program that state public universities will offer, starting next summer, to new freshmen and new transfer students from six surrounding states.

Great Chapter in my Book of Life
With pen in hand I struggle to write this, my last column as Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs. Perhaps Winnie the Pooh said it best when he said “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”


Retention rate strong at state technical institutes and Governor named Friend of Technical Education
he retention rate at South Dakota’s four technical institute’s is 78 percent, which matches last year’s rate. The state Board of Technical Education heard a report on the retention rates at its meeting earlier today. The retention rate measures all students who enroll one fall and return to the institution the following fall, in this case, fall 2017 to fall 2018.

DENR Fines Smithfield Foods for August 2018 Surface Water Violations
The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has fined Smithfield Foods $53,382 for August 2018 Surface Water Discharge Permit violations.

Registration for 22nd Annual Mickelson Trail Trek Opens Dec. 12
PIERRE, S.D. – Registration for the 22nd Annual Mickelson Trail Trek opens at 8 a.m. MT on Dec. 12.

USD and SD Mines Build on Biomedical Engineering Partnership
The South Dakota Board of Regents has greenlighted a collaborative undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering to be offered jointly by the University of South Dakota and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. This degree and other academic program requests approved this week aim to meet emerging workforce needs and economic development trends across the state.

Public Universities Respond to State Workforce Education Needs
The South Dakota Board of Regents this week approved new academic program requests to meet emerging workforce trends across the state.


Noem Statement on Governor Daugaard’s Final Budget Address
Governor-elect Noem released the following statement following Governor Dennis Daugaard's final Budget Address:

DPS Plans Checkpoints for December
PIERRE, S.D. – State Department of Public Safety officials want you to celebrate the holidays, but be careful in doing so.


Governor-elect Noem Seeks Public Input for District 9 House Nomination
Governor-elect Kristi Noem is seeking public input as she looks to appoint a service-first South Dakotan to fill the District 9 House vacancy. The opening was created after Representative-elect Deb Peters announced she would not be taking the oath of office in January. Peters will continue serving until January 4, 2019. Governor-elect Noem will appoint a legislator to serve during the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions.

State Library chosen as a NASA@ My Library partner
The South Dakota State Library has been selected to receive resources, training and support through NASA@ My Library, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education initiative that aims to increase and enhance STEM learning opportunities for library patrons across the country. South Dakota was one of 14 state libraries to receive the NASA@ My Library grant.

Lyman County Fatal Crash
IONA, S.D. – One person died early Monday morning in a one-vehicle crash south of Iona in Lyman County.

Fall River County Fatal Crash
OELRICHS, S.D. – One person died and two others were injured in a two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon east of Oelrichs.

Municipal tax changes effective January 1, 2019
Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, two South Dakota communities will implement new municipal taxes or update their current municipal tax rate.


Name Released in Minnehaha County Fatal Crash
HUMBOLDT, S.D. – A Kimball, S.D., man has been identified as the person who died early Wednesday afternoon in a one-vehicle crash at the Humboldt exit on Interstate 90.


President Orders Flags At Half-Staff To Honor The Life Of Former President George H.W. Bush
President Donald Trump has ordered flags at half-staff immediately for 30 days to honor the life of former President George H.W. Bush.

Minnehaha County Fatal Crash
BRANDON, S.D. – An 18-year-old man died Friday afternoon in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 90 east of Brandon.


Gov. Daugaard To Give Farewell Address and Final Budget Proposal on Tuesday
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will give his farewell address and final budget proposal on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m. CST in the state House Chamber.

Governor's Column: Progress in Transparency
As Americans, we are privileged to live in a free society where we can elect our own leaders. Democracy only works, however, when government is transparent and open about its operations, so that the people can vote based on good information.

Capitol Portrait of Gov. Daugaard To Be Unveiled
Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s official portrait will be unveiled for the public on Tuesday, Dec. 4. The brief ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. CST, following the Governor’s budget address.

News Tips For December 1 – 7, 2018
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will give his final annual Budget Address in the State House Chamber.

Dante bank listed on National Register of Historic Places
The Security State Bank in Dante was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to the South Dakota State Historical Society.

Winter Storm Likely To Disrupt Weekend Travel
PIERRE, S.D. – Travel is expected to be impacted as winter’s first major storm makes its way across South Dakota this weekend.

SDDOT Awards Economic Development Grants
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Transportation Commission has awarded $4.7 million in economic development grants for infrastructure improvements in smaller communities in South Dakota.


Noem Invites "Trailblazers" to Apply for Cabinet Openings, Announces Key Administration Appointments
Governor-elect Kristi Noem today announced a targeted talent search for seven key cabinet posts: Secretary of Education, Secretary of Agriculture, Commissioner of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, Secretary of Social Services, Secretary of Human Services, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Secretary of Tribal Relations.

Minnehaha County Fatal Crash
HUMBOLDT, S.D. – One man died early Wednesday afternoon in a one-vehicle crash at the Humboldt exit on Interstate 90.


Name Released In Brookings County Fatal Crash
Brookings, S.D. – A Yankton, S.D., man has been identified as the person who died Sunday morning in a one-vehicle crash south of Brookings.

Gov. Daugaard Awards 10 Community Development Block Grants
PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard has awarded more than $5.6 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to 10 projects throughout South Dakota.


Governor-elect Noem Names Leadership Team
Governor-elect Kristi Noem today announced three key leadership team positions for her Governor’s office.

Governor Reappoints Members to Value Added Finance Authority Board
Robert Hull of Sisseton, Mark Gross of Sioux Falls, Marcia Hendrickson of Chancellor and Charles Jepson of Fort Pierre were reappointed to the South Dakota Value-Added Finance Authority (VAFA) board by Gov. Dennis Daugaard this month.

Pennington County Resident South Dakota’s First Flu Death Of Season
A Pennington County resident in the 60-69 age group is South Dakota’s first influenza death of the 2018–2019 season, the Department of Health reported today. To protect patient confidentiality, additional information about the deceased is not being released.

Name Released In Gregory County Fatal Crash
DALLAS, S.D. – A Winner, S.D. man has been identified as the person who was killed in a one-vehicle crash early Sunday night, Nov. 18, near Dallas, S.D.

Department of Revenue reminds consumers to check for sales tax when making online purchases
With the holiday season in full swing, the South Dakota Department of Revenue reminds consumers to make sure their online purchases include state and municipal sales taxes.


Brookings County Fatal Crash
Brookings, S.D. – A 24-year-old man died Sunday morning in a one-vehicle crash on 216th St., one mile south of Brookings, S.D.


South Dakota Maintains Highest Ratings with Moody’s and S&P
Today, Standard & Poor Global announced it has reaffirmed South Dakota’s AAA Issuer Credit Rating with a stable outlook.

Governor's Column: Making Progress on Teacher Pay
As I enter my final weeks as governor, many people are asking me to reflect on my time in office. I’m not a person who worries much about a “legacy.” I just hope that I have left things a little better than I found them. It is hard, though, not to reminisce about the events of the last eight years. One memory of which I’m very proud is the progress we made on teacher pay.

News Tips For November 24 – 30, 2018
Monday, November 26, 11 a.m. CST – The School Finance Accountability Board will meet via teleconference with a public listening place available on fourth floor of the Capitol Building in Room 412, 500 E. Capitol Ave.

Names Released In Charles Mix County Fatal Crash
PICKSTOWN, S.D. – A Rapid City, S.D., man has been identified as the person who died in a one-vehicle crash east of Pickstown on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Two other people were seriously injured.

Names Released In Minnehaha County Fatal Crash
HUMBOLDT, S.D. – A 38-year-old Fort Pierre, S.D., woman has been identified as the person who died in a one-vehicle crash that occurred Saturday morning near Humboldt. Four others were seriously injured.


Historical Society Press takes gold Literary Classics book award
“Glorious Fourth of July and Other Stories from the Plains,” a book released in December 2017 by the South Dakota State Historical Society, recently received recognition at the 2018 Literary Classics International Book Awards. The book took gold in the Picture Book/Early Reader, General category.

Name Released In Harding County Fatal Crash
BUFFALO, S.D. – A 21-year-old man from Redig, S.D., has been identified as the person who died late Wednesday, Nov. 14, in a one-vehicle crash south of Buffalo.

Department of Transportation Seeks Public Input for the Minnehaha County/Sioux Falls/Brandon Maple/Park Street Corridor Study
BRANDON, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), in collaboration with the Sioux Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Minnehaha County, City of Sioux Falls and the City of Brandon, will hold a public open house from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27th at the Brandon Valley Intermediate School (201 W. Park Street)


Governor-elect Noem Invites "Best and Brightest" to Serve in State Government
New website offers opportunity to submit resumes and stay updated on transition.

State Prison Inmate Melvin Edelman Dies
Melvin Edelman, age 72, died in a comfort care setting at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls November 19 following an illness.

2018 South Dakota Report Card to be released
At its meeting earlier today, the South Dakota Board of Education Standards received a briefing on the release of the 2018 Report Card, which is expected later this month. This is the state’s first Report Card under the Every Student Succeeds Act. The federal law requires new data items to be reported and that the information be concise, accessible and easy to read.

South Dakota Patient Under Investigation for Acute Flaccid Myelitis
The South Dakota Department of Health is investigating the first person reported with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in the state this year. The individual under investigation is a young adult and experienced a mild respiratory illness with fever prior to developing muscle weakness, for which they were hospitalized.

Gregory County Fatal Crash
DALLAS, S.D. – One person died early Sunday night in a one-vehicle crash west of Dallas, S.D.

DPS Officials Urge Safe Travel During Thanksgiving Holiday
PIERRE, S.D. – Everybody seems to be going somewhere for Thanksgiving and the South Dakota Department of Public Safety is urging citizens to get to their destinations safely.

Fire Safety A Must During Thanksgiving
PIERRE, S.D. – Home, especially in the kitchen, is the place to be for this week’s Thanksgiving holiday. But South Dakota’s Fire Marshal says it also can be a dangerous place to be if fire safety is not a priority.

Department of Transportation Seeks Public Input into the I-90 Exit 387 (Western Avenue - Hartford) Interchange Study
The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), in collaboration with the Sioux Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the City of Hartford, will hold a public open house from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 26, at the Hartford Area Fire & Rescue Station, 305 South Street


State Prison Inmate Randy Brave Back In Custody
He was apprehended in Mellette County earlier today and taken to the Winner City Jail.

Minnehaha County Fatal Crash
HUMBOLDT, S.D. – One person died and four others were seriously injured in a one-vehicle crash that occurred Saturday morning near Humboldt.


Inmate Randy Brave Placed on Escape Status
Inmate Randy Brave failed to return to Rapid City Community Work Center from a funeral furlough Nov. 17 and was placed on escape status.


Governor's Column: Thanksgiving - A Special Day to Share with Family and Friends
Back on the farm, we had a big dining room table that sat against one wall most of the year. On Thanksgiving, Dad pulled that table out into the middle of the room. Mom covered it with the good tablecloth and set the good dishes. She crowded every square inch of the table’s surface with turkey and mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, a real feast for our family to share after we gave thanks for the blessings we had enjoyed during the past year.

Christmas At The Capitol Tree-Lighting Ceremony
The 2018 Grand Lighting Ceremony for Christmas at the South Dakota Capitol will take place in the rotunda on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. CST.

News Tips For November 17 – 23, 2018
Tuesday, November 20, 9:45 a.m. CST, Sioux Falls – Gov. Dennis Daugaard and will attend and speak at the Discovery District Groundbreaking ceremony in Sioux Falls.

Pertussis Cases Rise In South Dakota
Recent reports of community increases in pertussis have the Department of Heath reminding parents to make sure their kids are appropriately immunized.

Harding County Fatal Crash
BUFFALO, S.D. – A 21-year-old male died late Wednesday night in a one-vehicle crash south of Buffalo.

South Dakota Tourism Wins Seven Top Travel Awards
The South Dakota Department of Tourism has been awarded seven awards in a prestigious international marketing competition.

TGIF – ThanksGiving is Forever, to our Veterans!
November is a month rich in history and filled with numerous opportunities to thank our veterans, our military personnel and their families. It is a season of gratitude that should have etchings of how we secured and maintain our freedoms.