Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - As the South Dakota legislative Session came to a close on Thursday, March 12, 2026, Nathan Sanderson, Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers Association (SDRA), shared a positive outlook for the state’s business community.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The heat was on in the kitchen this week as South Dakota’s top high school culinary and hospitality students gathered in Pierre for the 2026 South Dakota ProStart Invitational. Held March 9-10, the high-stakes competition saw familiar faces returning to the winner’s circle, with Mitchell CTE, Harrisburg High School, and TF Riggs High School all securing top honors for the second consecutive year.

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.

Northeast Radio SD News - Brookings, SD - A multi-agency response prevented a residential fire from spreading to nearby homes Monday afternoon. On March 2, 2026, at approximately 3:57 p.m., Brookings 911 Dispatch alerted first responders to a structure fire at 3026 Sunnyview Drive, located just north of Brookings.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - In a move set to shake up South Dakota’s Republican primary, Navy veteran and local business owner Justin McNeal has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. McNeal, a political newcomer, is positioning himself as a grassroots alternative to two-term incumbent Senator Mike Rounds, focusing his campaign on fiscal responsibility, term limits, and a return to “principled leadership.”

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.

The Senate Taxation Committee voted 4–3 on Friday to kill Senate Bill 243, ending Sen. John Carley’s proposal to replace property taxes with a retail “transaction fee” that supporters said could eliminate owner-occupied property taxes first.

Northeast Radio SD News - White, SD - Two individuals were transported to the hospital Saturday evening following a single-vehicle rollover accident just east of White.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - A February 5 police pursuit in Rapid City has turned fatal after one of the five individuals injured in a two-vehicle crash succumbed to her injuries. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) released the names of the victims involved on Monday.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - Governor Larry Rhoden has announced the allocation of more than $5.8 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support four major infrastructure projects across the state. The grants, stemming from the October 1, 2025, application cycle, are designed to bolster essential services and improve the quality of life for South Dakota residents.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - The South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) Board of Directors will convene for a special meeting on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 1:00 PM Central Time. In a shift from standard procedure, board members will attend the Session exclusively via Zoom.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - High school football fans in the Sioux Falls metro area can look forward to some heavy-hitting interstate action over the next two seasons.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) has issued a reminder to motorists and commercial carriers regarding upcoming spring load restrictions aimed at protecting the state’s highway infrastructure.

Northeast Radio SD News - Vermillion, SD - The University of South Dakota’s Knudson School of Law has announced that Michelle A. Behnke, President of the American Bar Association (ABA), will deliver the keynote address at the annual Thurgood Marshall Lecture on Feb. 25.