Top News Stories

One property tax bill left to consider for last legislative day
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- Governor Rhoden calls it the beginning of the largest property tax cut in South Dakota history. Legislators have approved the Governor's plan to allow counties to add a half-penny sales tax to provide property tax relief. That came despite criticism from Representative Will Mortenson that it ...
Mar 06, 2026
Olivier26 / Depositphotos.com

Former governor Noem ousted as Homeland Security Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC (KELO.com) -- Former Governor Kristi Noem is out as Homeland Security Secretary. She spent the week defending her policies before Congress before President Trump made the announcement. She's been under pressure since the shooting deaths of two anti-ICE protestors in Minnesota in January.
Mar 06, 2026

Supporters: data center bill offers protection from higher electric rates
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- The South Dakota legislature is putting the finishing touches on what supporters call the Data Center Bill of Rights for Citizens. House Speaker Jon Hansen says it's a product of seeing what has happened to electric rates in other states that have built data centers. It's designed to prevent ...
Mar 06, 2026
Sepia100 / Depositphotos.com

Cell phone ban for schools defeated
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- A ban on cell phone use during school hours is done for the year after an hour-long debate in the State House. The bill was rejected by a one-vote margin twice in committee but forced onto the full House floor with an amendment, where it lost by ten votes. Supporters pointed to concerns about...
Mar 06, 2026
mast3r / Depositphotos.com

Legislature working to define gender, as SD Supreme Court rules on birth certificate changes
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- A bill to define between a man and woman will be heard by the full South Dakota Senate. Opponents claim the bill would have broad impacts on contracts, policies and statutes. It was approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee. At the same time, the South Dakota Supreme Court has de...
Mar 06, 2026
serezniy / Depositphotos.com
Local News

Planning commission approves TIF and conditional use permit for new Smithfield plant
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Next stop: the Sioux Falls City Council. The city's planning commission has approved a Tax Increment Financing District for moving the Smithfield Foods plant from the falls to the city's northwest side. That came over the objection of residents near the proposed plant. Nancy Simon's hom...
Mar 06, 2026

Former police chief pleads guilty in animal cruelty case
BROOKINGS, SD (KELO.com) -- Former SDSU Police chief Tim Heaton pleads guilty to animal cruelty. He originally faced five counts, but pleaded guilty to one as part of a plea bargain. Feces a foot deep was found in his home, along with frozen water pails and structural damage from a previous fire. He'll be sentenced...
Mar 06, 2026

Celebration and frustration with positive crime stats
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- State and local law enforcement officials are riding high on lower crime stats for 2025. Violent crimes and property crimes were down sharply from 2024, while fraud and cyber cases were up. But, frustration lurks in the midst of the celebration. Mayor Paul TenHaken and Police Chief Jon ...
Mar 04, 2026

Sioux Falls serving up championship welcome for Summit League fans
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- It's official. March Madness has arrived in Sioux Falls with the Summit League men's and women's basketball championships. The first game is Wednesday night, featuring ORU and Kansas City. The city is going all out, creating 'Summit League Central' at Jacobson Plaza at The Falls, free p...
Mar 04, 2026

Violent and property crime numbers hit lowest level in five years
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Law enforcement in Sioux Falls has something to brag about: violent crime is at a five year low. The city grew by about five thousand people in 2025, and as Mayor Paul TenHaken pointed out, "Not all of the new residents are choir boys." On a per-capita basis, violent crime, and...
Mar 03, 2026
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Local Sports

Sioux Falls serving up championship welcome for Summit League fans
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- It's official. March Madness has arrived in Sioux Falls with the Summit League men's and women's basketball championships. The first game is Wednesday night, featuring ORU and Kansas City. The city is going all out, creating 'Summit League Central' at Jacobson Plaza at The Falls, free p...
Mar 04, 2026

Sioux Falls Youth Hockey girls team to honor former teammate suffering from rare cancer
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- The Sioux Falls Youth Hockey Association girls varsity team will host a "Grey-Out" Game vs Aberdeen on Sunday, February 15 at Scheels Iceplex to honor former standout goaltender and Brandon native, Riley Vander Esch, as she battles diffuse midline glioma, a very rare and aggress...
Feb 11, 2026

USD's Johansen makes jump to Big 10
VERMILLION, SD (KELO.com) -- USD football coach Travis Johansen is leaving Vermillion after one season for Rutgers in the Big 10. He guided the Coyotes to the FCS quarterfinals and a final ranking of 11th in 2025. Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Vitzthum was named head coach.
Feb 09, 2026

NDSU leaves Missouri Valley conference for Mountain West
BROOKINGS, SD (KELO.com) -- The SDSU Jackrabbits will notice something missing during next fall's football season. NDSU is jumping from the FCS Missouri Valley Conference to the FBS Mountain West Conference for football. The Jacks and Bison will compete against each other in other sports in the Summit League and Big ...
Feb 09, 2026

SDSU women's volleyball invited to compete in the NCAA tournament
Brookings, SD (KELO.com) -- Big news for South Dakota State women's volleyball! The team has been so successful that, despite their tournament loss, they've been invited to play in the NCAA tournament. The Jacks will face the Arizona Wildcats Friday at in California.
Dec 02, 2025
State News

One property tax bill left to consider for last legislative day
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- Governor Rhoden calls it the beginning of the largest property tax cut in South Dakota history. Legislators have approved the Governor's plan to allow counties to add a half-penny sales tax to provide property tax relief. That came despite criticism from Representative Will Mortenson that it ...
Mar 06, 2026
Olivier26 / Depositphotos.com

Supporters: data center bill offers protection from higher electric rates
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- The South Dakota legislature is putting the finishing touches on what supporters call the Data Center Bill of Rights for Citizens. House Speaker Jon Hansen says it's a product of seeing what has happened to electric rates in other states that have built data centers. It's designed to prevent ...
Mar 06, 2026
Sepia100 / Depositphotos.com

Cell phone ban for schools defeated
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- A ban on cell phone use during school hours is done for the year after an hour-long debate in the State House. The bill was rejected by a one-vote margin twice in committee but forced onto the full House floor with an amendment, where it lost by ten votes. Supporters pointed to concerns about...
Mar 06, 2026
mast3r / Depositphotos.com

Legislature working to define gender, as SD Supreme Court rules on birth certificate changes
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- A bill to define between a man and woman will be heard by the full South Dakota Senate. Opponents claim the bill would have broad impacts on contracts, policies and statutes. It was approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee. At the same time, the South Dakota Supreme Court has de...
Mar 06, 2026
serezniy / Depositphotos.com

Green light for $5-million airplane purchase
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- The South Dakota House ok's five-million dollars for a new Highway Patrol aircraft, despite concerns about a lack of transparency. Supporters of the purchase said the current aircraft lacks climate control causing pilot fatigue and extreme heat. Opponents want accountability on how the plane ...
Mar 06, 2026
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Mar 02, 2026
National News
Earthquake of magnitude 5.2 strikes Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region, GFZ says
March 7 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Saturday, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said.The quake was at a depth of 206 km (128 miles), GFZ said. (Reporting by Anan...
2h ago
Earthquake of magnitude 5.5 strikes Indonesia's southern Sumatra region, GFZ says
March 7 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 struck Indonesia's southern Sumatra region on Sunday, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The quake was at a depth of 101 km (62.76 miles), GFZ said. (Reporting by ...
4h ago
Hermes shows biker looks in dusky colours for fall/winter collection in Paris
By Helen Reid PARIS, March 7 (Reuters) - Hermes designer Nadege Vanhee took inspiration from the ambience of twilight for a fall/winter collection featuring fluid leather coats, zip-front mini dresses, and biker shorts. Guests entering the Garde Repu...
4h ago
Thousands of Americans evacuated from Middle East on charter flights, State Department says
March 7 (Reuters) - The United States has completed over a dozen charter flights and evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East since last week, the U.S. State Department said on Saturday. The Trump administration has faced criticism o...
6h ago
Trump cannot end protections for 350,000 Haitians, US appeals court rules
By Nate Raymond March 7 (Reuters) - A divided U.S. appeals court has refused to let the Trump administration revoke legal protections that allow more than 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S. and avoid being returned to their gang-violence-st...
8h ago
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Sioux Falls Day at The Capitol 2-19-2025 in Pierre
1 year ago
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Ag Appreciation Day 2023 Sioux Empire Fair
3 years ago
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Memorial Day Storm 2022
4 years ago
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May 12, 2022 Sioux Falls Area Straight-Line Wind Storm Photos
4 years ago
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Bald eagles on Mud Lake, Moody County, South Dakota
4 years ago
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Sioux Falls Day at The Legislature on February 16, 2022
4 years ago
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2nd Annual Sioux Falls Native American Day
5 years ago
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2nd Annual Sioux Falls Native American Day Parade
5 years ago
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TSO
5 years ago
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Possible Hotel Job Loses
5 years ago
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Minnehaha County Jail expansion tour
6 years ago
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Honoring Frontline Heroes
6 years ago
85
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2018 Midwest Communications CMN Radiothon
6 years ago
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USD v. SDSU women in Summit League Championship game
6 years ago






