South Dakota
ACLU OF SD looking for “Election Observer” volunteers
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – As we inch closer to another hotly contested general election, it’s important to know that those who work our elections and those voting are following the rules.
Shortly after the June 4 primaries, absentee ballots were challenged at two precincts in Minnehaha County, one of the precincts had 132 ballots thrown out which were later added back, but didn’t change the result of any election after a recount.
The ACLU chapter of South Dakota is now looking to expand their ability to ensure cases like this aren’t necessary.
For the first time, the ACLU Chapter of South Dakota is bringing in volunteers to be a part of an “Election Protection Team” as Election Observers.
These observers will monitor polling places to ensure there is no voter suppression, make suggestions to improve future elections and ensure all voters know their rights.
“If an individual were to come to a polling location and they believe all absentee ballots should be discarded, that would be an unlawful challenge and we would want to make sure our Election Observers are taking notes and letting us know right away,” SD ACLU Advocacy Manager Samantha Chapman said.
Training will take place next week, first in Aberdeen on the 20th and then in Sioux Falls on the 21st. Chapman says she’s excited to get these communities involved.
“We see this as a great opportunity to connect with folks in these communities to reinforce voting rights for the people who live there and again to have a strong presence to make sure that all votes are counted and heard on election day,” Champman said.
If you’re interested in being a volunteer, you can register here: https://www.aclusd.org/electionprotection.
Absentee voting begins September 20th. The voter registration deadline is October 21st.
Chapman says the group has learned a lot from the North Dakota chapter in the 2022 Midterm Elections, including suggestions left by the chapter to county officials on how to improve the election process in the future.
Copyright 2024 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Vermillion guard Taylor Reuvers is staying home as the junior announced her commitment to USD via X on Tuesday.
Reuvers earned first team All-State honors as a sophomore, averaging 27.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. The 2028 graduate led her squad to a 13-9 record for the 2025-26 season.
Oklahoma didn’t suffer any strong wind damage this week, but wind farms in South Dakota certainly did.
Several wind turbines were toppled by the 130 MPH winds that hit the central part of the state Monday morning. They were described as straight line winds and not tornadoes. But the winds compared to those recorded in some tornadoes.
The 131-mph wind was recorded at Holabird in Hyde County at 6:15 a.m. local time.
A picture of the extensive damage showed at least 7 of the wind towers were bent over by the powerful Mother Nature.
According to a report by Energy News Beat, storm chaser Jakob McMillin documented the scene in a widely shared post on X (formerly Twitter), showing multiple wind turbine towers collapsed or heavily damaged, with blades and structural debris scattered across the prairie. In replies to his post, McMillin stated he observed “over 20” turbines destroyed or critically damaged.
The Affected Wind Farm
The damaged facility is the South Dakota Wind Energy Center (also known as the Highmore Wind Energy Project or Highmore Wind Farm), located approximately 10 miles south of Highmore.
- Number of turbines: 27
- Turbine model: GE Vernova 1.5s (1.5 MW each)
- Total nameplate capacity: 40.5 MW
- Commissioning year: 2003 (South Dakota’s first major wind farm)
- Owner/Operator: NextEra Energy Resources (formerly FPL Energy)
- Power purchaser: Basin Electric Power Cooperative
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 29, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 29 drawing
10-14-41-53-59, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from June 29 drawing
08-13-29-30-31, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 03
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 29 drawing
04-25-26-31-36, Bonus: 04
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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