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South Dakota

2024 tourist season off to a great start in Rapid City

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2024 tourist season off to a great start in Rapid City


RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Tourism plays a big part in our community and the tourist season in the Black Hills is in full swing.

Memorial Day weekend is around the time South Dakota sees an increase in tourists. Tourism is a crucial industry for western South Dakota. Black Hills & Badlands Tourism Association President Michelle Thomson knows it. She says they, as well as other tourist associations, ramp up to promote and bring in tourists during the summer season.

“We work really hard to target the correct markets and to target the correct people to bring them into this area and get them to spend as much time as possible really experiencing how wonderful this area is,” Thomson said.

According to the Economic Impact of Tourism in South Dakota, since 2020, an average of 14 million visitors traveled here and spent an average of 4.3 billion dollars. Last year, more than 57 thousand jobs were supported, and 384 million dollars in tax revenue was generated thanks to tourism alone.

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Thomson says this year in the Black Hills and Badlands, things are taking off a little slower but she’s not worried.

“Research is showing that maybe we’re a little bit soft going into the summer, but it’s nothing for us to be worried about yet because we do have a lot of summer left and we always have a very strong fall travel season as well,” Thomson said.

On the other hand, CEO of Visit Rapid City Brook Kaufman says lodging is up 23% compared to last year in Rapid City.

“And then rate continues to inch up as well, so what people paid last year per a hotel room versus this year, we’re seeing a slight increase as well so really a good strong start financially to the visitor season in Rapid,” Kaufman said.

For the first time this year, Travel South Dakota developed a Head for the Hills Mobile Passport activity available to visitors looking to maximize their time in South Dakota by checking out over 40 different attractions.

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“So it’s been a really fun way to promote more of what there is to see and do in the Black Hills and Badlands region. People can check that out on Travel South Dakota.com,” Thomson said.

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South Dakota

Doeden’s portfolio: Real estate, car dealerships, bitcoin and a TIF

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Doeden’s portfolio: Real estate, car dealerships, bitcoin and a TIF


ABERDEEN, S.D. – Businessman Toby Doeden, whose campaign for governor has hinged largely on the elimination of all property taxes, has links to real estate investment companies that would save more than half a million dollars annually under that plan, according to public records.

Though Doeden said his experience in business is his primary qualifier for governor, little was known about the extent of his ventures and wealth.

Searches of the Better Business Bureau, court records and the state of South Dakota’s consumer protection portal paint a generally positive picture: Doeden’s companies are in good standing and have not had any major outstanding legal or civil issues.

His current statement of financial interest submitted to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office lists him as an owner, employee and shareholder, partner or shareholder of 24 companies.

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Here’s a snapshot of Doeden’s business activities, based on public records:

  • Doeden owns the Aberdeen Chrysler dealership in Aberdeen and Redfield Ford in Redfield. 
  • At least 75 properties linked to his companies in Aberdeen and Groton have a current taxable portfolio value of more than $34 million and a property tax commitment this year of at least $558,129. Those properties include single-family homes, commercial buildings and multi-family buildings. Many of the mortgages for those properties were taken out on five-year terms. At least 20 of them have been fully satisfied, with several others partially paid. 
  • Doeden was a partner in Plaza Rentals when the city of Aberdeen implemented a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district for several apartment buildings that the company purchased and redeveloped. 
  • His Tenth Street Properties is the deed holder to the building housing Street Corner Urban Market – another LLC tied to Doeden – in Aberdeen, as well as Legends Liquor and Casino. Others are Grand Casino, Royal Casino, and Mulligan’s Sports Bar and Casino, which is also located in the complex owned by Tenth Street Properties. 
  • One of his businesses was involved in the zoning of a building for 150 bitcoin mining units near his Aberdeen dealership. That zoning permit, which was issued to son Jackson Doeden and company Plaza Rentals, was initially granted in February 2022 for 70 units and was upgraded to 150 units in June 2022, according to Aberdeen News and minutes from the Aberdeen Board of Zoning meetings. Aberdeen Community Development planner Eric Miller told News Watch that as far as he knew, the mining operation was still active. Bitcoin mining units are large, complex computers that generate units of cryptocurrency through computing efforts. 
  • Doeden also runs a charitable organization called the 4J Foundation.
Republican candidate for governor Toby Doeden gives a speech to a room full of supporters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on June 2, 2026.

(Photo by Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Doeden touts his business experience as his biggest qualification for governor, often calling himself the “outsider” and the “businessman.”

Because no candidate received 35% of the vote in the June 2 primary, Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden will meet July 28 in a runoff election.

Doeden has largely self-funded his campaign by loaning it another $2 million this year, in addition to the $2 million he put up in 2025.

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Doeden’s fast rise to success seems to have started roughly six years ago.

The South Dakota Secretary of State’s office shows that he took over Plaza Rentals as its registered agent in 2020. That’s also when he took ownership of the Aberdeen Chrysler Center after serving as general manager for nine years and gradually purchasing stock.

All but two of the 27 companies Doeden is linked to were incorporated in or after 2020. Doeden credits his innovative thinking to his success during the pandemic, citing a risk-taking approach and careful planning.

Doeden’s acceptance of a Paycheck Protection Program loan during the pandemic has come under scrutiny during the campaign. Federal records show Doeden’s company received $1.1 million for Aberdeen Chrysler Center, and Doeden said during a debate that 150 jobs were saved at his company from the program.

“I am extremely proud of the work my team and I have been able to accomplish over the years at Doeden Investment Group. Being able to give back to the people and state that have given me so much has been the honor of a lifetime,” Doeden said in a statement to News Watch, declining to answer specific questions for this story.

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Board approves higher income limit, higher prices for inmate-built affordable housing

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Board approves higher income limit, higher prices for inmate-built affordable housing


PIERRE, S.D. — A governor-appointed board unanimously approved higher prices and a higher income limit Monday for an affordable housing program.

The South Dakota

Governor’s House

program sells two- and three-bedroom homes built by inmates at Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield that are shipped across the state to eligible buyers.

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The program also offers daycare models, which can be owned by daycare providers or nonprofit organizations. For buyers in rural areas with less than 5,000 people, the authority provides

DakotaPlex

units intended to be used as duplexes, triplexes or quadriplexes.

Buyers are responsible for buying a building permit, finding a lot, laying the foundation and flooring, and hooking up utilities and appliances.

This year’s change is the “smallest price increase we’ve had in many, many years,” according to Mike Harsma, who heads the Governor’s House program for South Dakota Housing.

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On July 1, the start of the new fiscal year, the homes will be priced as follows:

  • Two bedroom: $89,000, up from $86,000, or a 3.49% increase.
  • Three bedroom: $99,000, up from $96,000, or a 3.13% increase.
  • Dakotaplex two bedroom: $99,000, up from $97,000, or a 2.06% increase.
  • Dakotaplex three bedroom: $109,000, up from $106,000, or a 2.83% increase.
  • Daycare: $99,000, up from $96,000, or a 3.13% increase.

Last year

, units increased at least 6%. The rise in prices this year is due mostly to increased fuel costs, according to Chas Olson, executive director of the South Dakota Housing Development Authority. The cost of delivery for a home is included in the total price of a Governor’s House.

A home produced by the South Dakota Governor’s House program.

Photo courtesy of South Dakota Housing Development Authority

“Whether we’re moving a Governor’s House from Springfield to Sioux Falls or we’re moving it across the state to Buffalo, South Dakota, we get the same amount for that moving fee,” Olson said. “The cost of fuel, where it is now and kind of the uncertainty around that, we had to build in a little bit of a cushion just to be sure that we weren’t taking too big a loss on the fuel.”

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Buyers of Governor’s Houses must meet income requirements. The board approved a higher income limit, now at 100% of the state’s median income, regardless of household size.

Families that make up to $103,400 now qualify for the program. In previous years, buyers in one- to two-person households could qualify if they made $72,380 or less and households of three or more people could qualify if they made $82,720 or less.

“It’s hard to get people qualified at those income levels,” Olson said. It had been about 14 years since that limit was adjusted, he said, “and with the cost of everything now, I mean, it was just time.”

Mortgage assistance program

Board members also approved a program that’s modeled after a

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piece of legislation

that failed earlier this year in the Legislature. It’s a mortgage assistance program for qualifying buyers of manufactured homes.

The authority also provides

down payment assistance

for traditional homes. Down payments for manufactured homes are often higher than a typical mortgage down payment, according to Amy Eldridge, of the authority.

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A

manufactured home

is a mobile home that’s built on a permanent framework. The homes must have all required utilities, including plumbing and climate control.

Eligible buyers can apply for a low-interest loan of up to 50% of their mortgage down payment from the assistance program, with total assistance not exceeding $10,000. The income limit for the program is $124,080.

Olson hopes to see the program available to interested buyers within the next month.

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“We just need more homes at lower price points,” he said, “and we need ways to get that done.”





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SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for June 20, 2026

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The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at June 20, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from June 20 drawing

16-20-44-48-50, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Lotto America numbers from June 20 drawing

08-14-31-41-52, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from June 20 drawing

02-09-15-27-34

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 20 drawing

01-10-16-30-31, Bonus: 04

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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.



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