All articles tagged with #south dakota
Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Deputy Katherine Frank, 26, died on Oct. 12 after being shot during a Friday night incident in southwest Sioux Falls. A 39-year-old suspect faces multiple charges, and a public memorial has been established at the local Law Enforcement Center.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem filed for divorce from her husband of 34 years, Bryon Noem, citing 'irreconcilable differences.' The filing, signed in April 2026 but only recently made public, follows a tabloid scandal involving Bryon Noem and Noem’s dismissal from the DHS in March. Noem’s attorney confirmed the filing, while Bryon Noem’s lawyer expressed sadness but prioritized family stability.
Incumbent South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, a Republican, endorsed Democrat Terrence Davis for the office, citing concerns over the GOP nominee's approach to election integrity. Johnson lost the June Republican convention to Heather Baxter but argued that the office requires stability and professionalism over political provocation. The endorsement drew sharp condemnation from state Republican leadership, including House Speaker Jon Hansen, who called it a 'huge mistake.' Baxter countered that the party label reflects a governing philosophy, while Davis welcomed the support as validation of his competence. The move highlights growing internal GOP tensions regarding election policies, mirroring similar cross-party endorsements seen in other states this cycle.
A federal judge denied a preliminary injunction against South Dakota’s proof-of-citizenship voting system after the state voluntarily fixed its misleading voter registration notices. The court deemed the immediate issue moot because Secretary of State Monae Johnson implemented the changes requested by plaintiffs, including the League of Women Voters and voter Jaysen Hill. While the state disabled an automated letter that incorrectly cited address issues for 'federal-only' voter status, the lawsuit continues regarding the requirement for original documents rather than photocopies.
A bronze statue honoring former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was unveiled in Pierre, drawing online laughter and disbelief as the ceremony unfolded with drapes being pulled away and attendees reacting to the life-size sculpture.
Kristi Noem attended the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue of herself on horseback in Pierre, South Dakota, to honor her six-year governorship, a ceremony notable for the absence of her husband and unfolding personal and political scandals, including Noem’s ouster from DHS, tabloid-reported romance rumors with Corey Lewandowski, and Lewandowski’s visible efforts to regain influence with Donald Trump.
Julian Beaudion, South Dakota's Democratic Senate nominee, withdrew from the race—the third Democratic withdrawal in a red-state contest this year—opening the field for independent candidate Brian Bengs to challenge Republican incumbent Mike Rounds. Beaudion cited threats and a devastating house fire, and said he would not endorse Bengs, prioritizing his family's safety.
Democratic Senate nominee Julian Beaudion dropped out under party pressure, clearing the way for independent Brian Bengs to challenge Republican Sen. Mike Rounds in November—a move part of a pattern in red states where Democrats exit to back independents with stronger fundraising and polling.
Julian Beaudion withdraws from the South Dakota Senate race, clearing the field for independent Brian Bengs to take on incumbent Republican Mike Rounds in a contest that could shift dynamics in a GOP-leaning state.
NBC News projects South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden won the Republican nomination in a runoff against Toby Doeden, moving on to face Democrat Dan Ahlers in November; Rhoden, elevated to governor after Kristi Noem left for a federal homeland security post, campaigned on tax cuts and crime reduction, while Doeden pushed bold conservative leadership and immigration measures; both aligned with Trump, who did not endorse in the race.
Utah stays No. 1 overall in U.S. News 2026 Best States rankings for the fourth year, while Texas leads the nation in the economy category; South Dakota jumps to No. 2 and North Dakota rises to No. 4 as growth shifts toward the Midwest and South, with multiple states topping specific categories across eight metrics, and no state excelling in every area.
A Live Casinos ranking evaluated night-sky darkness and cloud cover across all 50 states, naming South Dakota the best state for stargazing with a 7.79/10 star-visibility score; about half the state lies in the darkest Bortle categories and annual cloud cover is around 11.65%, with Sanborn County highlighted as the prime viewing spot. Wyoming and Alaska also rank highly, followed by Montana, Arizona, Nevada, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Oregon.
Trump heads to Mount Rushmore for a 250th‑anniversary event, but carving a fifth presidential likeness is deemed physically impossible by the monument’s fixed design; however, Interior Secretary Burgum says there could be room for a Trump face. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has introduced legislation to authorize the carving, but the bill is stalled and unlikely to clear the Senate. The visit unfolds in a different political climate than 2020, alongside revived but incomplete projects like the Garden of American Heroes.
In February 2023, Gov. Kristi Noem commuted the life sentence of a man named Milk for a 1993 stabbing death in Winner, South Dakota. Prosecutors later filed charges tying Milk to the death, with South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley saying the commutation was Noem’s decision. The Associated Press notes Noem has since joined NovaRed Mining in a strategic advisory role.
A South Dakota rancher’s gut feeling led paleontologists to a 67-million-year-old T. rex skeleton unearthed on his land; now nicknamed Gus, the 38-foot fossil is headed to Sotheby’s with estimates up to $30 million, potentially delivering a multi-million windfall to the landowner’s widow under private-land fossil ownership laws.