South Dakota

Article lists South Dakota last among each U.S. state in safety for LGBT+ individuals

Published

1 year ago

June 13, 2024

Article lists South Dakota last among each U.S. state in safety for LGBT+ individuals

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A website focused on home security and community safety, Safe Home, recently released rankings of each U.S. state and the District of Columbia based on safety for LGBT+ community members. The list and accompanying article have spread around social media this week, and particularly in South Dakota. The Mount Rushmore State ranks dead last according to Safe Home’s criteria.

Rapid City Native American Two-Spirit Activist Monique “Muffie” Mousseau agrees.

“The Governor’s office, until they educate themselves with all of these beautiful, wonderful colors and why they exist,” Mousseau said while holding up a pride flag-themed notebook. “I really don’t feel like this state is going to move up the ranks.”

Mousseau’s organization, Uniting Resilience, advocates for members of the Native American LGBT+ community and environmental issues. Since marrying her wife 18 years ago, she said she has seen positive and negative moments for people like her in South Dakota, but there has not been a significant increase or decrease in quality of life.

Safe Home’s criteria for ranking states in terms of safety for LGBT+ individuals include state laws and recent hate crime statistics. South Dakota reported 16 sexual orientation-related hate crimes and one gender orientation-related hate crime from 2020 through 2022 per the Department of Justice.

Particular laws that Safe Home’s writers cited as reasons for South Dakota’s bottom ranking and “F” grade include including criminalization of exposing others to HIV, preferential adoption policies favoring heterosexual couples, bans on individuals using opposite-sex bathrooms in public schools, and bans on gender transition medical care for children.

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South Dakota

New residential treatment program for women to be built in Yankton

Published

59 minutes ago

July 16, 2025

Press Room

New residential treatment program for women to be built in Yankton

YANKTON, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Governor Rhoden announced on Wednesday that Avera Sacred Heart Hospital will receive $3.8 million in state funds to build an 18-bed facility for women, including pregnant mothers, undergoing residential substance use disorder therapy.

Funding made available from SB196 in the 2022 legislative session is being provided to Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, following their grant application with the Department of Social Services.

“This facility will support pregnant and young mothers struggling with addiction. It will prove a safe, supportive place for these mothers to receive clinical support for their addiction,” said Governor Larry Rhoden.

Avera Sacred Heart Hospital will construct and own the facility and will partner with Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services to provide programs and services.

DSS will also accredit the treatment services to be delivered in the new facility.

“These programs provide a safe, supportive environment where women can begin to heal, rebuild their lives, and access the comprehensive care they need to achieve long-term recovery,” said DSS Cabinet Secretary Matt Althoff.

“We are grateful for Governor Rhoden and the State of South Dakota’s support of this work and caring for this important population,” said Victoria Hanson, PhD, Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Regional President & CEO.

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South Dakota

South Dakota Chislic Festival returns to Freeman next weekend

Published

21 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota Chislic Festival returns to Freeman next weekend

FREEMAN, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Thousands are expected in Freeman later this month for the South Dakota Chislic Festival.

The free, family-friendly event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on July 26 at the Freeman Prairie Arboretum.

This year marks the final annual festival. Going forward, the event will move to an every-other-year format to allow for future upgrades and new attractions.

Learn more at SDChislicFestival.com.

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South Dakota

South Dakota DOH secretary talks future of AI in healthcare

Published

2 days ago

July 14, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota DOH secretary talks future of AI in healthcare

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Healthcare in a state like South Dakota, with a small population and a lot of land, can be a large task to manage.

At the Rotary Club meeting of Sioux Falls, a group of healthcare advocates discussed some of the issues facing the system today.

The Secretary of the Department of Health spoke with Dakota News Now about how Artificial Intelligence can help bridge the gap between some of these issues.

Secretary Melissa Magstadt says the department has incorporated AI for small tasks such as summarizing big documents and writing emails, and has also used AI for a range of purposes in its epidemiology department.

“Using this capability, I don’t think we understand quite yet, but we’re looking into the Department of Health on how we use it to analyze our data more thoroughly, how do we use it for our planning decisions,” Magstadt said.

Magstadt says the use of AI, along with consistent investment in tools like telehealth or mobile clinics, will help expand healthcare to South Dakota’s urban population, but especially its rural communities.

“All of those pieces will add to a part of how we deliver healthcare easily to the people that need them, no matter where you choose to live, whether it’s in the frontier of South Dakota or an urban area, they all have their challenges.”

At the next Rotary Club meeting, a panel will discuss developing health care providers for the next generation of South Dakotans.

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