Federal tariffs imposed in 2025 added seven-tenths of a percentage point to consumer inflation by September, increasing costs for South Dakota households already squeezed by sluggish economic growth, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research study released this month.

Northern Plains News is launching a new election-analysis project that uses modeled simulations to show how South Dakota’s major 2026 races behave under shifting turnout and support patterns.

South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds is pushing back against President Trump’s plan to provide $40 billion in assistance to Argentina, warning that associated beef imports could devastate American ranchers already struggling with market challenges.