SDPB News

A South Dakota-born navy veteran will be laid to rest next week with full military honors decades after he gave his life in service to the country. sdpb.org/2026-05-22/sou…

Watertown-based Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is beginning its transition to Sanford Health branding next month. sdpb.org/healthcare/202…

A new public poll shows a shakeup at the top of the GOP Republican Primary race for governor. Though some candidates are pushing back at the results. sdpb.org/politics/2026-…

A District 32 forum brought most of the Rapid City district’s candidates to the table for the public. The organizer of the event says clear-eyed debates on policy and living conditions is what politics should be at the local level. sdpb.org/politics/2026-…

SDPB chronicles the story of former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. Follow the story from after Ravnsborg struck and killed pedestrian Joe Boever in September 2020 to his impeachment and removal from office in 2022 in our 9-part podcast series Short Walk. ⬇️Listen⬇️ sdpb.org/podcast/shortw…

Across South Dakota, a silent crisis is creeping across the rangeland. Dubbed the "Green Glacier," Eastern Red Cedar trees are rapidly swallowing vast stretches of prairie, choking out grazing land and fueling wildfire risks. From threatening cattle production to draining vital water resources, this invasion is reshaping the landscape. On this episode of South Dakota Focus, we explore the devastation and the local efforts to halt the glacier's advance. Watch on SDPB Passport, the PBS App or YouTube. Passport: watch.sdpb.org/video/green-gl… YouTube: youtu.be/yFWSbNjFp-8

Hyperscale data centers sparked a heated debate during this year’s legislative session. While some lawmakers saw a path to revitalizing rural South Dakota, others feared the strain on water, power, and utility bills. South Dakota Focus examines these policy discussions and the resulting impact. Watch on SDPB Passport, the PBS App or YouTube. Passport: watch.sdpb.org/video/legislat… YouTube: youtu.be/jpPtlNTDPic

As one of the state’s largest industries, communities across South Dakota are getting their slice of the tourism pie. For Brookings, that means utilizing location and maximizing the infrastructure the community already has. ⬇️Read More⬇️ sdpb.org/business-econo…

A researcher at South Dakota State University hopes a forthcoming project can help doctors and patients navigate the feelings that come after giving birth through a project driven by her own lived experience. ⬇️Read More⬇️ sdpb.org/healthcare/202…

SDPB's Lori Walsh sat down with all five candidates running for mayor of Sioux Falls. Listen to their plans for leading the city. ⬇️ Listen ⬇️ SDPB.org/InTheMoment

At the Game, Fish and Parks Commission’s latest meeting, commissioners approved multiple changes to deer license numbers. The changes are to help deer populations in certain areas in the state, especially southeastern South Dakota. ⬇️Read More⬇️ sdpb.org/environment/20…

SDPB’s Jackson Dircks stepped inside the tractor for a farmer’s perspective on this vital time of year. sdpb.org/business-econo…

Fertilizer costs are at the forefront of many farmers minds and at a recent U.S. Senate Committee this week. sdpb.org/business-econo…

With appeal options nearly exhausted, it appears likely the life of the state's lone death row inmate will end by way of lethal injection. The state Attorney General said that execution is likely by the end of this year. sdpb.org/crime-courts/2…

A Centerville man has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in a triple homicide. sdpb.org/crime-courts/2…

The state Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway has both increased its cohort size and endowed about 50 new teachers. Advocates say in a state with a noted teacher shortage, it represents steps toward closing the gap for educators. sdpb.org/education/2026…

While the national wheat crop is projected to be the smallest in decades, South Dakota’s crop isn’t expected to see large reductions. sdpb.org/business-econo…

Officials say these 10 individuals were chosen for having a “profound impact in South Dakota and beyond.” sdpb.org/2026-05-13/sou…

Members of a state housing board are unsure the impacts of recently passed legislation on rural housing if demand for currently unused loans begins to rise. sdpb.org/business-econo…

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is looking at opening offices in South Dakota. sdpb.org/2026-05-12/ice…