Noem Signs Six Bills Into Law
Governor Kristi Noem signed the following pieces of legislation today

State Historical Society makes more issues of historical newspapers available online
Several more South Dakota newspaper titles have been added to the growing online database of historical United States newspapers available to the public, according to the South Dakota State Historical Society.

Highway Patrol Women’s Recruiting Seminars This Week in Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Highway Patrol this week holds recruiting seminars for women in three different South Dakota cities.


Noem Streamlines Education Processes for Military Families, Signs Additional Legislation into Law
Governor Kristi Noem yesterday signed legislation to streamline school enrollment processes for military families relocating to a new school district.

Governor's Column: Putting Knowledge to Work
Growing up, I loved working on the farm with my dad. It’s a good thing, too, because there was plenty of work to get done. We’d stay in the fields from dawn to dusk, but we didn’t know any other way.


Noem Levels Scholarship Playing Field for Homeschool Students, Signs Eleven Bills into Law
Governor Kristi Noem today signed a bill to make homeschool students eligible, on an equal basis, for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship.


SDDA Announces the 2019 Wildfire Awareness Month Coloring Contest
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Wildland Fire Division is calling all kids, ages 3-12, to showcase their artistic abilities in this year’s Wildfire Awareness Month Coloring Contest.

State Historical Society seeks nominations for Governor’s Awards, board positions
The South Dakota State Historical Society in Pierre is seeking nominations for the annual Governor’s Awards for History and two positions on its board of trustees.

SDRC Assistive Technology Trainings
The South Dakota Rehabilitation Center for the Blind (SDRC) would like to invite anyone who is a South Dakota resident and has a visual impairment to participate in two training events.


Noem Appoints Bies, Whitmyre to Game, Fish and Parks Commission
Governor Kristi Noem today announced that she has appointed Travis Bies of Fairburn and Robert Whitmyre of Webster to the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission.

USS Pierre has State Historical Society remembering other Pierre vessels
South Dakota U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds recently announced the naming of an Independence-variant, Littoral Combat Ship, the “USS Pierre,” after South Dakota's capital city. The ship is the third United States naval vessel named for Pierre. To celebrate this recent naming, the South Dakota State Historical Society offers the following background on the previous vessels named for Pierre.

Governor appoints BraveHeart to South Dakota Arts Council
Gov. Kristi Noem announced her selection of artist Keith BraveHeart to serve on the South Dakota Arts Council.


President Orders Flags at Half-Staff to Honor Former Lawmaker
President Donald Trump today ordered flags nationwide to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Saturday, February 9, 2019, to honor the life of former Representative John David Dingell, Jr. of Michigan.

Noem Approves Nine Bills
Governor Kristi Noem signed the following pieces of legislation this afternoon:

Governor's Column: Advancing Agriculture
Agriculture is the foundation of South Dakota's economy and our number one industry – by a significant margin. All in all, it contributes about $25.6 billion to the economy, so when ag prospers, South Dakota prospers. Of course, when droughts hit or markets slide, everyone feels that too.

Noem Encourages Legislators to Table Industrial Hemp Discussions
Governor Kristi Noem today asked the South Dakota legislature to table discussions on legalizing industrial hemp this legislative session.

Docent training at Cultural Heritage Center set for Saturday, Feb. 23
The South Dakota State Historical Society Museum, located at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre, is looking for individuals interested in sharing their time, expertise and love of history to become volunteer docents.

I-29 Open from Sioux Falls to North Dakota Border
Officials are opening the entire previously closed portion of Interstate 29 from Sioux Falls to the North Dakota border effective immediately (7 a.m.)


Noem Orders Capitol Flags at Half-Staff to Honor Former Lawmaker
Governor Kristi Noem today ordered flags at the South Dakota State Capitol to be flown at half-staff from 8am until sunset on Friday, February 8, 2019, to honor the life of former state legislator Carol Fitzgerald of Rapid City.

Inmate Gregory Harrison Placed on Escape Status
State prison inmate Gregory Harrison has been placed on escape status.

I-29 Closing Sioux Falls to North Dakota Border
No Travel Advised On Many Northeast/Eastern State Highways. Officials with the South Dakota Departments of Transportation and Public Safety are closing Interstate 29 from Brookings to the North Dakota border at 5 p.m. CST today (Feb.7) and from Sioux Falls to Brookings at 6 p.m. CST.


Noem Selects Sixth Circuit Judge
Governor Kristi Noem today announced the selection of Christina Klinger to serve as judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Noem Vetoes Bill Regulating Solar Energy
Gov. Noem today vetoed Senate Bill 14 and sent the following message to the South Dakota Senate:

Students visit Pierre for CTSO Legislative Shadow Day
February is National Career and Technical Education Month. As part of the celebration, 43 student leaders came to Pierre Feb. 5-6, for the South Dakota Career and Technical Student Organizations’ Legislative Shadow Day.

State Historical Society board approves 13 property tax moratorium applications
The South Dakota State Historical Society board of trustees recently approved 13 applications in five counties for the eight-year state historic preservation property tax moratorium for restoration and rehabilitation made to historic buildings.

2019 Family Fun Saturday schedule set at Cultural Heritage Center
The popular Family Fun Saturday programs are back at the Cultural Heritage for 2019 with many new activities and topics.

Consumers Should Beware of Unlicensed Money Lenders
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation cautions consumers about unlicensed money lenders, both online and in-person.


Noem Statement on President Trump’s State of the Union Address
Governor Kristi Noem today issued the following statement after President Trump’s State of the Union address.

Noem Approves Legislation to Expand South Dakota Energy Potential
Governor Kristi Noem today approved legislation to expand South Dakota renewable energy production.


Governor's Column: Protecting Our Way of Life
More than 230 years ago, the Founding Fathers of our country penned the Constitution that has since laid the framework of centuries of policies. Many things have changed since then, but our core American values have not.

State Historical Society awards four historic preservation grants
Historic preservation projects in Deadwood, Lead, Sioux Falls and Watertown have received matching grants from the South Dakota State Historical Society.

February Sobriety Checkpoints Announced
PIERRE, S.D. – A total of 17 sobriety checkpoints are planned for 14 South Dakota counties during the month of February.


Noem Approves Constitutional Carry Legislation, Nine Other Bills
Governor Kristi Noem today signed her first bill into law. SB47, which Noem signed today, will further protect the Second Amendment rights of South Dakotans by allowing constitutional carry.

Author V.J. Smith to tell about “Richest Man in Town” at Cultural Heritage Center
Aaron “Marty” Martinson was not a billionaire, but that’s what author V.J. Smith called Marty in his best-selling book, “The Richest Man in Town.” Smith will tell about the life lessons Marty taught him and the journey of writing a best-selling book at 7 p.m. CST on Monday, Feb. 11, at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.

New members join South Dakota Historical Society Foundation board
The South Dakota Historical Society Foundation board of directors has named new officers and welcomed new board members for 2019.

Summer Food Service Program seeking sponsors to serve communities
In an effort to fend off hunger, the South Dakota Department of Education’s office of Child and Adult Nutrition Services is seeking sponsors for a federally-funded program that provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months.

State Community of Practice Team Holding Trainings
The South Dakota Community of Practice for Supporting Families (CoP) is hosting a pair of free training sessions in February for professionals and family members who want to assure that individuals with disabilities, special healthcare needs and/or who are aging sustain a good quality of life.


SD State Fair Adds Brothers Osborne to Grandstand
The South Dakota State Fair and C&B Operations are proud to welcome Brothers Osborne to the SD State Fair grandstand on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.

The VA’s Appeals Modernization Act will go live February 19, 2019. What does that mean for our veterans and their appeals?
The VA’s Appeals Modernization Act will go live February 19, 2019. What does that mean for our veterans and their appeals?


Pennington County Fatal Crash Update
RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota’s Highway Patrol continues its investigation into a two-vehicle crash that killed one person Friday in Rapid City.


Committee Approves Noem’s Bill to “Crack Down” on South Dakota Abortion Providers
Governor Kristi Noem today applauded the Senate Health and Human Services Committee after their approval of her bill to further “crack down” on South Dakota abortion providers.

Governor's Column: Revitalizing Rural South Dakota
Hometowns are the heartbeat of South Dakota. I’m proud to be from a rural hometown. It’s where I learned the values of hard work and self-reliance, where Bryon and I chose to raise our kids, where we started an insurance business and hunting lodge, and where my family has farmed and ranched for a century. But many small towns like ours are struggling today.

Pennington County Fatal Crash
RAPID CITY, S.D. - One person died Friday morning in a two-vehicle crash that occurred in Rapid City.


State Historical Society makes historic maps available on South Dakota Digital Archives
Dakota Territory maps have been added to the growing online database of historical content available from the South Dakota State Historical Society in Pierre.


Eat ice cream, make snowmen Feb. 3 at Cultural Heritage Center
Whether there is snow on the ground or not, visitors to the Cultural Heritage Center can build three different snowmen and enjoy South Dakota State University ice cream on Museum Activity Day on Sunday, Feb. 3.

SHIINE Program Seeking Volunteers
The South Dakota Senior Health Information and Insurance Education (SHIINE) program is currently seeking volunteers for all aspects of the SHIINE program.


Names Released in McCook County Fatal Crash
SALEM, S.D. – A Salem woman has died as a result of injuries suffered in a vehicle-tractor crash that occurred Wednesday, Jan. 16, west of Salem.