South Dakota

A South Dakota city landed on a best places to live list. See how it scored.

Published

2 years ago

September 12, 2024

A South Dakota city landed on a best places to live list. See how it scored.

Each year, Livability.com publishes its top 100 places to live in the United States, focusing on small- to medium-sized cities, and the results might be surprising.

This year’s list features one South Dakota city. Sioux Falls made the list, receiving a score of 741.

Why is Sioux Falls, South Dakota a top place to live?

Sioux Falls takes the billing for being the most populous city in South Dakota, according to U.S. Census data, with a population of 202,078 and one of the fastest-growing Midwest cities. Sioux Falls received a LivScore of 741, placing it ahead of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which has a score of 740, and Duluth, Minnesota, which has a composite score of 736.

Sioux Falls scored the highest in the categories of housing, cost of living, health and amenities, according to Livability.

Nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenspaces, Sioux Falls offers a unique blend of urban amenities and natural beauty. It’s a city that not only provides a hub for leisure activities but also boasts a thriving economy. The South Dakota city has a strong job market driven by healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, while maintaining affordable housing options.

How does Livability determine its top places to live list?

The methodology for Livability’s list is designed to identify cities that offer the best combination of affordability, opportunity, and quality of life. The media company partners with Applied Geographic Solutions to curate the list based on 100 data points across eight categories:

Economy: Includes unemployment rate and income growth
Housing and cost of living: Considers affordability and tax rates
Amenities: Covers cultural, leisure and shopping options
Transportation: Examines car ownership, walkability and commute times
Environment: Assesses population density, air quality and disaster risks
Safety: Looks at crime rates and overall community security
Education: Evaluates school quality and educational attainment
Health: Considers life expectancy and health care access

Each city is assigned a Livability Score (LivScore), derived from a proprietary algorithm that weighs each category, with a possible score of 1000. The company looks at 2,000 cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000 each year.

The final list of 100 cities represents the top 5% of cities within the studied range.

The top five cities

While the list doesn’t officially rank each city, these five cities had the highest LivScore among the 100 places on this year’s list:

Carmel, Indiana, with a LivScore of 875
Cary, North Carolina, with a LivScore of 874
Columbia, Maryland, with a LivScore of 874
Fishers, Indiana, with a LivScore of 864
Naperville, Illinois, with a LivScore of 862

Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for May 9, 2026

Published

4 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at May 9, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 9 drawing

15-41-46-47-56, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from May 9 drawing

08-12-13-27-42, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 04

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from May 9 drawing

01-02-04-08-18

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 9 drawing

08-11-17-29-49, Bonus: 02

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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South Dakota

Human trafficking survivor advocate to speak at Rapid City church event

Published

16 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Human trafficking survivor advocate to speak at Rapid City church event

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A Rapid City church is hosting a free community event Thursday to raise awareness about human trafficking, with organizers saying the danger may be closer than people think.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at Bethlehem Lutheran Church is opening the presentation to the entire community because organizers say awareness alone can save a life.

“If we can get 20 people to understand what to look for — if we can get 20 people to understand that this organization exists — then we can start shining light into every corner, and suddenly it’ll be a better world,” said Alexandra Loverink, co-president of LWML Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Event details

The free presentation is Thursday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Rushmore Street. The speaker is Reverend Tess Franzen, founder of Freedom’s Journey, a Rapid City-based ministry that has assisted hundreds of trafficking survivors over more than a decade.

Franzen said the problem in South Dakota is far more widespread than most people realize.

“We see mostly sex trafficking, but much of what we see is — some people might call it homegrown or familial,” Franzen said. “We see trafficking here where young people are being trafficked out, their family members are selling access to them when they’re children. And in many cases, they don’t really even realize there’s anything wrong with it.”

Organizer Cari Garwood-Beard said Franzen’s presentation changed how she sees her own neighborhood, and she wants others to have that same wake-up call.

“She told a story about her neighbor one time — just a good old guy — and found out that he was a trafficker. Her neighbor, who she thought was above boards,” Garwood-Beard said. “And it really hit home. My next-door neighbor could be.”

A freewill offering will be collected for Freedom’s Journey at Thursday’s event. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is at 1630 Rushmore Street.

Resources

If you suspect trafficking, dial 9-1-1 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

For more information about Freedom’s Journey, visit their website or call 805.380.8009.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life winning numbers for May 8, 2026

Published

1 day ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing

37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing

14-16-21-43-51, 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.

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