South Dakota
Drop in International Student Enrollment at South Dakota Universities Not as Steep as Nationwide
Our ridiculous Trumpist racism has cost South Dakota some international students:
…international student enrollment increased by 23 students this fall at South Dakota Mines, a public university in Rapid City. But the overall enrollment of international students across South Dakota’s six public universities dropped by 76 students, from 2,233 to 2,157. The drop comes after a 10-year high last fall that capped four straight years of increases.
The largest drops in international student enrollment this fall were at South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota — with 35 and 94 fewer international students, respectively [Makenzie Huber, “International Student Numbers Decline in South Dakota amid Immigration Crackdown,” South Dakota Searchlight, 2025.12.21].
Somehow the home of Kristi Noem didn’t scare off as many international students as other states:
The roughly 3% drop in the state this fall was less than the national 17% drop in international student enrollment [Huber, 2025.12.21].
But any decline in international student enrollment costs us real money:
International students contribute to research and economic development across the state, Riley said. The students, at public and private schools, contributed $67.1 million across South Dakota during the 2024-2025 academic year, according to a report from NAFSA [Huber, 2025.12.21].
International students do more real good for South Dakota’s wealth and workforce than any of those plutocrat tax-dodgers stashing their billions in Phillips Avenue trusts. We should recruit more students to come study and work here and support our universities, science, and state economy.
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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