South Dakota

Former South Dakota DOC warden speaks out against Lincoln County prison plan

Published

10 months ago

January 24, 2025

Former South Dakota DOC warden speaks out against Lincoln County prison plan

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – A longtime Chief Warden for the State of South Dakota has asked legislators to reconsider spending nearly a billion dollars on a new men’s prison in Lincoln County.

Douglas Weber retired from his position as chief warden for the South Dakota Department of Corrections in 2013 after working at the State Penitentiary for 32 years. With 16 years in the position, Weber is the second-longest-serving warden in the history of the state pen.

In a letter released on Friday and obtained by Dakota News Now, Weber wrote that he acknowledges there is a need to build new incarceration facilities in the state, but he does not agree with the current $825 million plan to build a new men’s facility in rural Lincoln County to replace the prison in Sioux Falls, which Weber refers to as “The Hill.”

Weber stated that the proposal for the new, 1,512-bed facility has “excessive initial estimated building costs” and the remote location will hinder prison services and create financial and logistical challenges.

Weber said the state should instead focus on Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield.

The facility was originally built as college dormitories, and Weber said Mike Durfee does not provide “adequate or appropriate safety and security features,” which was demonstrated with prison unrest last summer. He claimed the buildings are “extremely vulnerable” to damage from both weather disasters and inmate actions.

Both Mike Durfee and The Hill were originally built in 1881, but Weber said The Hill has maintained continuous upgrades in the main facility and with the addition of the Jameson Annex in 1993. This has allowed the Sioux Falls prison to “maintain its effectiveness as a safe, secure, and modernized linear style prison,” according to Weber.

Weber then suggested the possibility of state-owned land in both Minnehaha and Yankton County where a new facility could be placed that could “address the needs that are currently being debated.”

Weber advises the citizens of South Dakota to request their legislators pause additional funding and construction on the project this year and complete a summer study on other options.

Weber then called on the DOC to release transparent financial breakdowns on the funds requested for the project as well as cost estimations for the project and its ongoing operations, including the cost of connecting the proposed prison to Lennox by 14 miles of sewer pipelines.

Read Weber’s full letter below.

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Related Topics:against chief cost doc Doug douglas Featured land letter lincoln county location mens Mike Durfee plan Prison South Dakota springfield warden weber

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Nov. 19, 2025

Published

39 minutes ago

November 20, 2025

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 19, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Nov. 19 drawing

10-31-49-51-68, Powerball: 19, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Nov. 19 drawing

02-04-12-34-38, Lucky Ball: 16

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Nov. 19 drawing

12-31-39-40-42, Star Ball: 08, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from Nov. 19 drawing

04-20-23-24-35

Check Dakota Cash 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.

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

South Dakota reported fewer West Nile virus cases than officials expected in 2025. What happened?

Published

19 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota reported fewer West Nile virus cases than officials expected in 2025. What happened?

With 87 cases of West Nile virus reported in 2025, South Dakota seems to have avoided the widespread outbreak experts anticipated earlier in the year.

In July, shortly after the first human case of 2025 was detected, the South Dakota Department of Health released a report projecting more than 130 cases for the year. That would have been the most in a single year for the state since 2018, when 169 cases were detected.

However, Joshua Clayton, South Dakota’s state epidemiologist, told the Argus Leader that a combination of factors helps explain why there were fewer cases than expected.

“Weather patterns likely played a significant role, as stretches of hot, dry conditions can reduce mosquito survival and limit the opportunity for transmission,” Clayton said. “City and county mosquito control programs also contributed through consistent management efforts throughout the season.”

The willingness of residents to protect themselves by using bug spray and limiting time outside during peak mosquito hours likely helped limit infections too, Clayton said.

Sanford Health to build new Black Hills Medical Center with $300 million gift

The majority of this year’s cases happened in East River counties, which Clayton said matches a “long-standing transmission pattern” in the state. The region also gets more rain and has more wetlands and other low-lying places that create “ideal breeding areas for mosquitoes,” he added.

“Human factors add to this pattern, since eastern South Dakota has more residents, which increases the chance of exposure and increases the likelihood that cases will be detected and reported,” Clayton said.

South Dakota reported four deaths from West Nile virus in 2025. That matches the total from 2023, when 96 human cases were detected in the state, a health department report says. Nationally, 46 states had, as of Nov. 18, reported a total of 1,941 human cases of West Nile virus this year, according to the CDC.

What are the symptoms of West Nile virus?

Most people infected with West Nile virus don’t develop any symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, about one in five people develop a fever and other symptoms, and about one out of 150 people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

When it becomes a serious illness, symptoms can include: high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness or paralysis.

What are the best ways to prevent West Nile virus?

The health department says to take the following precautions to prevent mosquito bites and West Nile virus:

Apply mosquito repellents to clothes and exposed skin, and limit exposure by wearing pants and long sleeves in the evening.
Limit time outside between dusk and midnight, when mosquitoes are most active.
Remove standing water, which provides mosquitoes with a breeding ground. Routinely change the water in birdbaths and pet dishes, and drain water from flowerpots and other.

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South Dakota

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden announces he will run for a full term next year

Published

2 days ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden announces he will run for a full term next year

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden announced Tuesday he is joining the crowded Republican race for governor next June.

He’s seeking a full term after taking over the state’s top office in January when former Gov. Kristi Noem joined the Trump administration as Homeland Security secretary.

Rhoden spent six years as lieutenant governor and faces a slew of challengers, including U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson. In the majority red state of South Dakota, the winner of the Republican primary is typically the favorite to win in November.

Rhoden said his priorities include property tax cuts and public safety, and pledged to continue supporting low-tax, pro-gun and anti-abortion policies.

“I remain focused on keeping our state strong, safe and free, and I’m going to keep doing the people’s work because when I’m working, South Dakota is winning,” Rhoden said during his announcement, surrounded by family in front of a stone fireplace at a Rapid City hotel.

He’s kept a lower profile than Noem, who used her time as governor to build a national reputation. Rhoden’s biggest political victory this year was getting the state Legislature to sign off on a $650 million plan in September to replace the 141-year-old state penitentiary, an issue the Legislature had quarreled over for years.

Rhoden has also focused on property tax relief and immigration enforcement. And throughout this year, he has visited towns and businesses to tout economic development in the state.

“He is exactly what South Dakota needs right now: a steady, responsible governor who protects what’s working, fixes what isn’t and never forgets where he came from,” said Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen.

Rhoden, 66, was a member of the National Guard before he began his political career in 2001, serving in both the state House and Senate. He ran for U.S. Senate in 2014 and took conservative positions on issues like same-sex marriage, abortion and immigration, though he ultimately lost the race. Noem selected him as her running mate in 2018.

The governor comes from a line of ranchers and still operates the ranch he was born and raised on near Union Center.

Other Republicans in the race include businessman Toby Doeden and House Speaker Jon Hansen, who led a movement against a carbon capture pipeline.

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