State News - SD/MN

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - Law enforcement agencies in Sioux Falls and Brookings are continuing an active investigation following the discovery of the body of 14-year-old McKenna Wendel.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - If you feel like oncoming traffic is getting brighter and harder to look at, you aren’t alone. A new survey released by AAA South Dakota reveals that 6 in 10 drivers are struggling with headlight glare after dark, raising serious concerns about nighttime road safety.

Northeast Radio SD News – De Smet, SD - Two owners of a De Smet manufacturing company have been sentenced to federal prison and home confinement for failing to pay over $600,000 in employment taxes to the IRS.

Northeast Radio SD News – Sioux Falls, SD - For the first time in history, the WNBA is coming to South Dakota.

Northeast Radio SD News – Minneapolis, MN - The U.S. Attorney’s Office has announced five more guilty pleas in the sprawling “Feeding Our Future” fraud investigation, bringing the total number of convictions in the case to 63.

Northeast Radio SD News – Box Elder, SD - The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has launched an inquiry into an officer-involved shooting that took place on Saturday, March 21, in Box Elder. The incident, which involved the South Dakota Highway Patrol, marks the first such shooting in the state this year.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - A 39-year-old Sioux Falls woman will spend the next two decades in federal prison following a June 2025 fentanyl distribution case that nearly claimed a woman’s life.

Northeast Radio SD News – Custer, SD - Firefighting efforts on the Qury Fire are entering a new phase as officials announce significant progress in containing the blaze. As of Sunday, March 22, the fire is reported at 9,168 acres with 70% containment.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - South Dakota is officially stepping away from managing its own industrial hemp program. Senate Bill 39, which has successfully navigated the state legislature and received final legislative approval this month, will shift the oversight of the state’s hemp growers to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - Otter Tail Power Company (OTP) has officially moved forward with its annual regulatory ritual: updating the rates it pays to independent energy producers.

Northeast Radio SD News – Vermillion, SD - The University of South Dakota (USD) is taking a major step forward in its commitment to student-athletes with the announcement of the Gassen Family Fieldhouse, a state-of-the-art indoor facility slated for completion in June 2028. The Office of the State Engineer (OSE) is currently seeking Statements of Qualifications from firms interested in providing Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) services for this landmark project.

Northeast Radio SD News – Custer, SD - Firefighters have successfully held containment lines across the Qury Fire perimeter despite an increase in mapped acreage. As of Tuesday evening, March 17, 2026, the wildfire is officially estimated at 9,059 acres. While the size has grown due to interior burning and more accurate mapping, containment remains steady at 27 percent.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - A proposal to mandate a statewide ban on student cellphones in South Dakota schools fell short in the House on Thursday. Following a debate that pitted local control against concerns over youth mental health and digital distractions, lawmakers ultimately voted down Senate Bill 198.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - The South Dakota Department of Education has officially named Amanda Edlund as the parent-nominated 2026 Special Education Staff of the Year. Edlund, a dedicated speech-language pathologist in the Harrisburg School District, received the honor during the annual South Dakota Special Education Conference held in Sioux Falls on March 4.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - The South Dakota Department of Education (DOE) has announced that eight elementary schools across the state have been selected to participate in the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) project. This initiative is designed to improve mathematics outcomes for students with disabilities in grades Pre-K through 5.

The South Dakota Senate on Tuesday failed to pass a bill that would have authorized $87 million in federal spending authority for broadband expansion grants through the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

House Education Committee lawmakers in South Dakota decided on Monday to postpone a plan that would have limited student cell phone usage during school hours. The decision came after critics argued that local districts already have established policies and should retain autonomy over the matter.

Northeast Radio SD News - Elkton, SD - The Brookings County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance following a series of burglaries at the Twin City Fan facility located at 210 Badger Street N.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - State legislators from Districts 7 and 8 gathered on Saturday for a public forum to update constituents on key issues as the 2026 Legislative Session moves toward its final weeks. The “Legislative Coffee” event featured a detailed look at the state budget, the debate over legal gender definitions, and the potential entry of hyper-scale data centers into the South Dakota economy.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The South Dakota Department of Health is calling on agricultural producers, farm owners, and field employees to stay vigilant against the New World screwworm (NWS), a dangerous parasite that can cause severe injury or death in livestock, pets, wildlife, and even humans.