South Dakota
Men’s basketball: South Dakota State escapes St. Thomas’ snare with 1-point win
The feel-good story that has been St. Thomas men’s basketball this season was on the brink of taking the noise level up another notch Thursday night at Schoenecker Arena.
With the Tommies clinging to a one-point lead over perennial Summit League power South Dakota State in the closing seconds, guard Raheem Anthony, who led an impressive second-half comeback, was at the free-throw line for two shots.
But Anthony, who delivered 18 second-half points, missed both free throws, setting up SDSU’s Zeke Mayo to be the hero, as the Jackrabbits guard scored with six seconds remaining for an 81-80 SDSU victory.
It was a sudden reversal that stunned a crowd of 1,515 that was sure it was witnessing the Tommies about to emerge as the only undefeated team in the Summit. Instead, the Tommies dropped to 12-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play after letting a lead that grew to as many as eight points slip away.
“I don’t think anyone in our locker room looks at those two free throws as the reason we lost,” said St. Thomas coach Johnny Tauer. “There were 130 possessions between the two (teams). It’s not the last shot their guy made, it’s not those free throws, it’s the compilation of that.
“Raheem was unbelievable the second half, what he did and what he has done for us all season.”
Indeed, with the Tommies trailing by nine at halftime, Anthony and Kendall Blue led the charge in the second half as the Tommies turned the tables on the Jackrabbits and were the more aggressive team.
Blue, who scored 17 points, and Anthony, two of the Tommies’ most dynamic players, were getting it done both by being aggressive toward the basket and by hitting some clutch 3s.
The Jackrabbits finished the first half on a 12-0 run to take a 39-30 lead into the locker room. SDSU had an 18-4 edge in points in the paint in the half, helping the Jackrabbits shoot 57.1 percent from the field.
In contrast, seven of the Tommies’ first-half baskets were 3-pointers, connecting on 7 of 22 (31.8 percent).
“We didn’t shoot it great in the first half,” Tauer said, “but I liked the shots we were getting. Actually, at halftime it’s not like we overhauled anything. I thought we were a little more successful getting the ball to the basket in the second half.
“They are very good at taking away the paint, so that’s not easy to do. I probably would have told you coming into the game that we were going to shoot a lot of 3s, because of how they defend and how difficult they make it to get into the paint.
“Some of it was in transition; we were able to get rebounds and get paint touches and transition 3s.”
The Tommies went on a run of their own at the start of the second half, outscoring the Jackrabbits 13-3 in the first four minutes to cut SDSU’s lead to 42-41.
St. Thomas regained the lead with nine minutes to play on a pair of free throws by Blue, at 58-57. When Blue hit a 3 with six minutes, 42 seconds to play, the lead was 67-60.
A couple of minutes later, a three-point play by Blue on a drive to the basket had the Tommies up 70-62, and all signs were pointing to another eye-opening win for the Tommies.
The Jackrabbits, however, had other plans.
“As a competitor, losing a tough one like that, you always look back on plays you would love to have back,” said Tommies forward Brooks Allen, who scored 11 points as one of four Tommies in double figures. “Unfortunately, that’s not how the game works, that’s not how life works.
“It’s a long season. We’re not done yet. We’ll have a lot more to show you guys.”
South Dakota
Suspicious package prompts brief evacuation in Keystone; bomb squad clears scene
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A suspicious package prompted a precautionary evacuation in Keystone Friday evening before authorities determined the scene was safe.
According to the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 7:30 p.m. July 3 to a report of a suspicious package in the parking lot of a business in Keystone.
Based on information available at the scene, deputies evacuated the immediate area as a precaution while the package was investigated.
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation Bomb Squad responded and safely evaluated the package. After technicians determined there was no threat, the area was reopened.
The sheriff’s office thanked those who were evacuated for their patience and cooperation during the incident.
Responding agencies included the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and Pennington County Search and Rescue.
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South Dakota
SD Lottery Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life winning numbers for July 3, 2026
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 3 drawing
05-09-29-47-57, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 3 drawing
07-08-24-42-47, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
South Dakota
Trump at Mount Rushmore: Speech time, how to watch live
How Fourth of July became a celebration of history and hope
From revolution to massive fireworks, July Fourth evolved into a celebration of history, heritage and America’s values.
President Donald Trump will kick off Independence Day weekend with a speech at Mount Rushmore beneath busts of four of his predecessors.
As part of a day of festivities tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, the president will address visitors to the South Dakota landmark in a keynote address on Friday, July 3. at approximately 8:30 p.m. MT/10:30 p.m. ET according to the schedule released by the White House.
After the president’s remarks, the night will end with a massive fireworks display. It will be Mount Rushmore’s first time hosting a July 3 fireworks display since 2020, which Trump also attended during his first term in office.
Earlier in the day, there will be a slew of activities and programming on site for visitors before the evening festivities. The National Park Service and the state are coordinating the celebration, and a ticket lottery to attend has already closed.
Here’s what to know about the timing of the Mount Rushmore celebrations and how to tune in.
What will be at the Mount Rushmore July 3 event?
The event on July Fourth eve will feature myriad exhibits, reenactors and interactive experiences throughout the day, according to Freedom 250, the group working with Trump’s administration to coordinate the weekend’s events.
At night, it will transition into a tribute to the Armed Forces, including military bands, aviation flyovers and precision drill demonstrations, the group said.
After, South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will take the stage to introduce Trump.
Following the president’s remarks, the event will conclude with the fireworks show.
What time is Trump speaking at Mount Rushmore? See schedule
Trump is expected to deliver his Mount Rushmore address at 8:30 p.m. MT (10:30 p.m. ET), according to the White House, though organizers have not yet released a detailed event schedule.
However, the day’s programming is set to run from 4-10 p.m. local time, according to the National Park Service.
The fireworks, which will close out the event, are expected to begin around 9:30 p.m. local time, according to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Where to watch Trump’s speech at Mount Rushmore
The Mount Rushmore event will be streamed live on Travel South Dakota’s website.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
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