South Dakota holds off Indiana State in Homecoming thriller

Indiana State’s late surge came up just short against South Dakota and fell 19–14 in the Sycamores’ Homecoming game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The Coyotes’ balanced attack and stout defense proved just enough to withstand a determined...

South Dakota Board Of Regents Holds First Reading Of Post-Tenure Review Policy

PIERRE — The South Dakota Board of Regents has held the first reading of a proposed policy establishing a process for post-tenure review of faculty across the state’s public university system. The new policy is the result of extensive efforts that...

A 30-year-old Rapid City park is one step closer to being replaced

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - One Rapid City park is one step closer to getting a major upgrade after moving forward at Tuesday’s public works meeting. Both the upper and lower playgrounds at Robbinsdale Park are slated for replacement with new...

Bobby Bones Shares Laughs About His Wife’s Pregnancy Quirks

Bobby Bones Says He’s “Not Pregnant,” But It Sure Feels Like It Bobby Bones made it clear right away — he’s not pregnant. His wife is. But lately, he says it feels like he’s the one taking some of the blame for what she’s going through. Right now,...

What Gutting Special Education Means For South Dakota?

South Dakota schools could lose millions in special education and other federal funding due to proposed budget cuts and a federal funding freeze. The current administration's recent reduction-in-force has eliminated nearly all staff in the Office...

South Dakota leaders pledge to cover Rushmore lighting during shutdown

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden has pledged to pay $217 of his own money to keep Mount Rushmore lit for the next week. Rhoden’s Saturday morning announcement came in tandem with pledges from West River lawmakers to personally pay the national...

Sioux Falls tests a new art initiative using pavements as a canvas

A new art initiative that uses pavement as a canvas is being tested by the City of Sioux Falls. The Sioux Falls Intersections project put artist Cameron Abbas’ art on the crosswalks downtown. Abbas said the designs are supposed to resemble home...

Summit Carbon Delays Shift Jet Fuel Project North

Oklahoma Ties to Carbon Pipeline Complications Delays in the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline keep reshaping plans across the Midwest. The project includes investment from Oklahoma City energy leader Harold Hamm. His involvement keeps Oklahoma...

Sioux Falls' 8th annual Native American Day Parade

Three young girls carry the banner for the 8th annual Native American Day Parade on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, along Phillips Avenue in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This year’s theme was, “Pezuta Waste Aupi,” which translates to, “To Bring Good...

Sioux Falls service club introduces civil discourse theme in public Q&As

A 340-member club of business and professional leaders in South Dakota’s largest city hopes its public Q&A events will counteract what club members call a growing breakdown in communication and trust among Americans. Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary...

South Dakota Brewery Wins Gold Medal at Great American Beer Fest

2025 continues to be a good year for South Dakota beer. Bringing home the gold At the just-completed Great American Beer Festival in Denver, more than 400 medals were awarded in more than 100 categories, and a brewer is heading back to the Mount...

How to get an annual pass to South Dakota's state parks for 2026

There are more than 60 state parks and recreation areas spread across South Dakota – and if you're planning to visit in 2026, annual passes are already available. The annual entrance licenses, valid from Oct. 1, 2025, to May 23, 2027, can be...

SDPB Presents South Dakota Symphony Orchestra’s Performance Of ‘Giants In The Earth’

VERMILLION — South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB) will broadcast the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra’s landmark performance of “Giants in the Earth,” the opera inspired by Ole Edvart Rølvaag’s celebrated novel about immigrant life on the...

South Dakota Power 5 Poll for Oct. 13: Avon climbs to top spot in Class 9B

There's a new No. 1 team in Class 9A following Monday's latest edition of the South Dakota Power 5 Poll. Avon takes over as the top team in South Dakota's smallest nine-man class after last week's No. 1 team, Sully Buttes, was upset by...

Rapid City Rush season starts Friday

Former employees say DOC isn't ready for the new prison

Kevin Killough Statehouse Investigative Reporter 605-736-4396‬ kevin.killough@sdnewswatch.org PIERRE, S.D. – Jacob Gale spent a year as a correctional officer for the South Dakota Department of Corrections, working mostly at the Jameson Annex in...

South Dakota city encouraging growth by giving away lots in exchange for promise to build a home

The picturesque city of Chamberlain, South Dakota, on the shore of the Missouri River, is so eager to encourage development of new housing that it bought a tract of land and is giving away lots to anyone who promises to build a home. The free...

New mural on Sioux Falls Food Co-Op building celebrates farmers

Sioux Falls Food Co-Op Mural (Sioux Falls, SD) — South Dakota farmers are being recognized through a new mural in Sioux Falls. The Sioux Falls Food Co-op says the mural on the side of its building was painted as part of the Fairtrade America Mural...

South Dakota’s First Lady seeking nominations for first ever South Dakota Rising Award

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - South Dakota’s First Lady Sandy Rhoden is looking to recognize South Dakotans that bring a positive light to their communities. To do that she is seeking nominations for the first ever South Dakota Rising Award. There are...

Sioux Falls man sentenced to life in prison for triple homicide

A Sioux Falls man was sentenced to life in prison on three counts of first-degree murder, more than a year after he shot and killed three people while attending a bonfire. Justin Rackley will serve three consecutive life sentences without the...