South Dakota
Fact brief: Was an east-west split of Dakota Territory considered?
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Legislation was considered to split Dakota Territory east-west at the Missouri River instead of the current north-south split that was approved in 1889.
A retrospective released by the state of South Dakota on the 125th anniversary of statehood noted that the east-west proposal did have some support.
The East/West Dakota would have followed the Missouri River and aligned regions with similar geographic and cultural identities.
The north-south border decision was motivated partially by resentment between the northern and southern portions of Dakota Territory over the location of the state capital. In 1883, the territory’s capital was moved from Yankton to Bismarck.
Other reasons cited included separate railroad systems, economic ties to major eastern cities (Sioux Falls and Fargo) and the growth of separate systems of public institutions.
This fact brief responds to conversations such as this one.
Sources
State of South Dakota, 125th anniversary story
BigThink.com, East and West Dakota? Here’s What Those States Would Look Like
Medium, A Tale of Two States
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Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) -Nebraska softball defeated South Dakota 4-1 in the opening game of its first NCAA Regional at Bowlin Stadium since 2013.
South Dakota took an early 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Wahoo native Autumn Iverson hit a home run to left field that struck the scoreboard. The Coyotes started five players from Nebraska in their lineup.
Nebraska tied the game in the fifth inning when Hannah Coor hit a two-out triple up the middle that rolled to the wall, scoring Jordy Frahm.
Hannah Camenzind followed with a fly ball to right field that scored Coor with the go-ahead run. Camenzind was thrown out attempting to stretch the hit into a triple, ending the inning.
The Huskers added insurance runs in the sixth inning when Kacie Hoffmann, an Elkhorn South alum, hit an RBI double that scored Samantha Bland and Kennadi Williams to make it 4-1.
Frahm closed out the game in the seventh inning. Bella Bacon caught a line drive for the final out.
Nebraska will play Grand Canyon on Saturday at noon in the winner’s bracket.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – As it gets closer to summer, more drivers will be on the road and the South Dakota Highway Patrol wants to remind drivers to stay vigilant behind the wheel.
With summer vacations, joy rides in the nice weather, and more drivers on the road, travel will be busier than usual.
On top of that, an increase in construction projects could cause delays and change traffic patterns.
All of this means drivers should stay alert when they are behind the wheel.
“With all of the traffic going on during the summer time during the road construction, we just want to remind people on the roadway to slow down, pay attention to the traffic signs, the construction workers, and the traffic ahead of them,” Trooper Tori Hurtig of the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Also, reminding motorcyclists and drivers to remain aware of their surroundings.
“Be a proactive and defensive driver, so watch where you are going, watch where the other drivers are going, and also try and avoid any unnecessary corrective actions as well,” said Hurtig.
Highway Patrol also wants to remind people to wear seatbelts and, if driving a motorcycle, to wear a helmet.
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Copyright 2026 KTIV. All rights reserved.
HURON — Blake Ellwein of Huron has been named as the 2026 South Dakota Mr. Basketball award winner by Hansen Anderson Basketball.
The 6-foot-10 senior guard and South Dakota State University recruit led Huron to a 20-4 record and the state Class AA boys basketball championship. He made 25 of 27 free throws in the state tourney.
Ellwein is the all-time leading scorer at Huron High School with 1,535 career points. He averaged 21.5 points per game in his senior season. He is a three-time Class AA all-state selection and three-time All-Eastern South Dakota Conference player who earned all-tournament honors three times at state AA tourneys.
Since the award was first presented in 1978, Ellwein is the third Huron player selected for the honor. He joins Rod Merriam in 1980 and Eric Hall in 2004 as previous honorees for the Tigers.
Other finalists included: Jackson Wadsworth of Hamlin, Samuel DeGroot of Sioux Falls Lincoln, Marvin Richard III of Pine Ridge and Will Kuhl of West Central.
The award is voted on yearly by all boys basketball coaches in the state and was presented at a ceremony held Thursday, May 14, in the Huron Arena.
Wagner standout and University of Nebraska recruit Ashlyn Koupal of Wagner recently was named South Dakota’s Miss Basketball for 2026.
Hansen Anderson basketball was founded in 1977 by Richard Hansen and Dave Anderson. The annual publication highlighsteams and players from across the state.
South Dakota’s Mr. Basketball Winners
2026: Blake Ellwein, Huron.
2025: Griffen Goodbary, Sioux Falls Christian.
2024: Jacob Mehrman, Harrisburg.
2023: Joe Sayler, White River.
2022: Kalen Garry, De Smet.
2021: Matthew Mors, Yankton.
2020: Ryder Kirsch of St. Thomas More.
2019: Noah Freidel of Tea Area.
2018: A.J. Piltzuweit of Vermillion.
2017: Matt Cartwright of Sioux Falls O’Gorman.
2016: Ty Hoglund of Dell Rapids.
2015: Bo Fries of Langford Area
2014: Steven Schaefer of Rapid City Stevens
2013: Zach Hanson of Pierre.
2012: Skye Warwick of St. Thomas More.
2011: Zach Horstman of Winner and Liam Duffy of St. Thomas More.
2010: Jared Hannigan of Aberdeen Central.
2009: Tony Fiegen of Madison.
2008: Louie Krogman of White River.
2007: Matt Malloy of Parkston.
2006: Zach Finley of St. Thomas More.
2005: Eric Krogman of Elkton.
2004: Eric Hall of Huron.
2003: Paige Paulsen of Custer.
2002: Matt Hammer of Elkton.
2001: Josh Mueller of West Central.
2000: Steve Anderson of Rapid City Central.
1999: Denver TenBroek of McIntosh.
1998: Austin Hansen of Brandon Valley and Mike Miller of Mitchell.
1997: Austin Ledeboer of Armour.
1996: Todd Schlekeway of Mobridge and John Sivesind of Sioux Falls Roosevelt.
1995: Chris Janssen of Emery.
1994: Chuck Welke of Warner.
1993: Jason Sutherland of Watertown.
1992: Lance Luitjens of Custer and Eric Lappe of Harrold.
1991: Eric Kline of Aberdeen Central.
1990: Brent Lindskov of Isabel.
1989: Eric Piatkwoski of Rapid City Stevens.
1988: George Bettelyoun of Pine Ridge.
1987: Kyle Jordre of Platte.
1986: Sam Goodhope of Winner.
1985: Bart Fredrick of Mitchell and Randy Leslie of Sioux Falls Washington.
1984: Todd Smith of Wakonda.
1983: Luther Hippe of Sioux Falls Washington and Troy Schaefer of Pierre.
1982: Lonni Stover of Webster.
1981: Alan Miller of Stickney.
1980: Rod Merriam of Huron.
1979: Mark Smidt of Sioux Falls Washington.
1978: Barry Glanzer of Armour.
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