Category Archives: Local/State Headlines
Governor Rhoden Backs GRIT's Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Recommendations
South Dakota's Governor's Resilience and Infrastructure Task Force (GRIT) presented its initial recommendations to Governor Larry Rhoden and the state's congressional delegation, focusing on strengthe...
Jim Kallas Nov 20, 2025
Convicted Sex Offender Gets 35 Years for Assaulting, Abducting South Dakota Teen
Sean Carlos Payne, 34, of Bellevue, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a 13-year-old South Dakota girl and transporting her across state lines. He plead...
Jim Kallas Nov 20, 2025
Rapid City Schools Approve 2026-27 Calendar With Later Start, More Student Days
The Rapid City Area Schools Board unanimously approved the 2026-27 academic calendar, featuring a later start date of Aug. 24, 2026, and an end date of May 31, 2027-five and six days later, respective...
Jim Kallas Nov 20, 2025
Dispensary Alleges Rapid City Violated Its Own Cannabis Ordinances
Puffy's Dispensary has filed a 23-page lawsuit against Rapid City in Seventh Judicial Circuit Court, alleging the city failed to follow its own medical cannabis ordinances and misled the company about...
Jim Kallas Nov 20, 2025
Measles Resurfaces in South Dakota as Vaccination Rates Drop
Measles is making a comeback across the Northern Plains as vaccination rates decline. South Dakota has reported 12 confirmed cases since May, with North Dakota reporting 28 and Minnesota 24. South Dak...
Jim Kallas Nov 20, 2025
DoorDash Data Breach May Impact South Dakota Users
The online delivery platform DoorDash has confirmed a data breach that may have affected customers, drivers, and merchants in South Dakota, including those in Rapid City and other communities across t...
Jim Kallas Nov 20, 2025
Library Budget Slashed, Salaries Posted Online
Pennington County's proposed 83% cut to Rapid City Public Library funding-from $475,000 to $81,000 in 2026-has ignited public backlash and internal tensions. Library Director Terri Davis said the redu...
Jim Kallas Nov 19, 2025
Gov. Larry Rhoden Enters South Dakota GOP Primary for Full Term
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden officially launched his campaign Tuesday for a full term, joining a crowded Republican field ahead of the June 2026 primary. Rhoden, 66, assumed office in January after ...
Jim Kallas Nov 19, 2025
Sanford Health Eyes Local Talent to Staff New Rapid City Hospital
Sanford Health's upcoming 168-bed Black Hills Medical Center in Rapid City will need to rely heavily on local workforce pipelines, including Western Dakota Technical College. The new facility will exp...
Jim Kallas Nov 19, 2025
Pennington County Crime Drops in Q3, Except for Vehicle Thefts
The Pennington County Sheriff's Office reports a decline in most crime categories for the third quarter of 2025 compared to last year, with the exception of a slight rise in motor vehicle thefts. "Aut...
Jim Kallas Nov 19, 2025







