South Dakota
Committee rejects bill to study and potentially redesign South Dakota state flag – South Dakota Searchlight
A bill that would create a commission to study and possibly propose a new state flag design to the Legislature and Governor’s Office failed in the Senate State Affairs Committee in a 5-3 vote on Monday.
Proponents of the bill, which was introduced by Democratic Sen. Reynold Nesiba from Sioux Falls, said a redesign could increase awareness of the state and bolster pride and unity among South Dakotans.
South Dakota fails four out of the five guidelines for “good flag design” put forth by the North American Vexillology Association, said Zach DeBoer, an educator and artist from Sioux Falls.
South Dakota’s flag has 17 words (more than any other state, and with South Dakota spelled out twice) and includes an intricate state seal on a blue background.
Such a wordy and complicated design prevents the state flag’s use on merchandise, DeBoer argued, and deters South Dakotans from identifying with and flying the flags themselves.
“People aren’t using our flag to show how proud they are of being from South Dakota. That’s not happening,” DeBoer told lawmakers. “You don’t see it on shirts or hats. You can’t find flag merch at Wall Drug or Reptile Gardens. You definitely won’t see anyone getting it tattooed on their body.”
Legislators who voted against the bill said the current state flag does its job well enough.
“Tradition is important,” said Sen. Erin Tobin, R-Winner. “I don’t feel we need to modernize our flag for reasons of PR.”
While Nesiba is term-limited in the Senate and does not plan to run for the House this year, constituents that brought the bill to his attention say they hope the discussion will continue in future sessions.
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South Dakota
Republican businessman Toby Doeden advances to primary runoff in South Dakota governor’s race
Republican businessman Toby Doeden has advanced to a runoff in South Dakota governor’s race, NBC News projects.
Gov. Larry Rhoden, who replaced Kristi Noem last year when President Donald Trump nominated her to lead the Department of Homeland Security, was battling with Rep. Dusty Johnson and former state House Speaker Jon Hansen for a second spot in the July 28 runoff. The primary will go to a runoff because no candidate eclipsed 35% of the vote.
Trump did not issue an endorsement in the race. Doeden branded himself on his campaign website as “a total political outsider who’s tired of the government’s failure to deliver on its promises” and one of Trump’s “fiercest supporters.”
Rhoden, a former lieutenant governor, agriculture secretary and lawmaker, campaigned on property tax cuts and lowering crime in his bid for a four-year term.
Johnson is the state’s lone representative in the House, where he previously was chair of the Republican Main Street Caucus. Hansen, who was elected to the South Dakota House in 2010, held several leadership positions before he became speaker.
The Republican nominee will be the favorite to win the general election in the solidly red state this fall. A Democrat has not served as governor in South Dakota since the 1970s, and Trump carried the state by 29 points in 2024.
News
Agronomist: eastern South Dakota crops hit and miss
An agronomist in eastern South Dakota says corn and soybeans are hit and miss as the growing season begins.
Steven Zemlicka with AgTegra Cooperative tells Brownfield, “We’ve got corn anywhere from V1 all the way up to V4. Biggest stuff’s maybe touching V5. Corn’s coming right along, looks pretty good. A little bit of hail here too, but I don’t think it’s going to be much of an issue. Stands for the most part are pretty good, pretty solid.”
Zemlicka says soybean emergence has been slow due to the wet, cool conditions, and there are a few fields that still need planted.
“People were still working on planting soybeans when we got the recent rain.”
He says recent rain totals ranged from a half inch to as much as four inches in the northeast part of South Dakota; the southern part of the state has been drier.
South Dakota’s corn is rated 61 percent good to excellent, with soybean conditions rated 57 percent good to excellent, according to USDA’s first condition ratings of the season.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – The South Dakota Community Foundation is encouraging nonprofits to apply for funding this June.
Beth Massa and Ginger Niemann joined us live with what you need to know before applying.
Watch the full interview above.
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