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Human Remains Found on South Dakota Reservation Identified as Sioux Woman Who Disappeared Over 1 Year Ago

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1 year ago

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Human Remains Found on South Dakota Reservation Identified as Sioux Woman Who Disappeared Over 1 Year Ago


Authorities have identified a body found on a South Dakota reservation in January as a Sioux woman who disappeared more than a year ago.

The remains of Michelle Elbow Shield were found in the town of Interior on the Pine Ridge Reservation in January, forensics lab Othram said in a statement.

The Native American woman was last seen in Rapid City in October 2023 and reported missing a short time later, they added.

The cause and manner of Elbow Shield’s death are under investigation “as well as the circumstances around her disappearance.”

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Rapid City Police Chief Don Hedrick said that authorities invested “thousands of hours” in the investigation into Elbow Shield’s disappearance, according to CBS affiliate KELO-TV.

“We hope this recent news can offer some sense of closure for her loved ones,” he added. 

Michelle Elbow Shield.

Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety


Nellie Bald Eagle, Elbow Shield’s grandmother, previously told KELO-TV that it was not in her granddaughter’s character to go somewhere without letting someone know.

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“If she left someplace you know, she let somebody know. Or if she’s farther away from town, she’ll let somebody know,” she explained. “And there was this friend of hers that told me she contacted him every day.”

Initially, authorities were unable to identify Elbow Shield “due to the condition of the woman’s remains,” according to Othram.

Hedrick said a break in the case came “thanks to information shared by the public,” KELO-TV reported. 

Othram said they worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit and the Rapid City Police Department to identify the remains through “advanced DNA testing.”

A comprehensive DNA profile was developed for Elbow Shield using “Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing,” and a potential relative was eventually identified, the company said.

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The individual provided a sample, and Elbow Shield was identified a short time later, they added.

Othram said it’s “the first publicly announced case in South Dakota where investigators used technology developed by Othram to identify an individual.”

“Something like this is heartbreaking for a family to go through,” Kristen Mittelman, chief development officer at Othram, said in a statement, KELO-TV reported. “But being able to deliver answers is important so that law enforcement can get to the truth.”

Hedrick said the police department plans “to use all available combined resources in order to bring this case to a resolution.”

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“We remain committed to fully investigating the circumstances surrounding her disappearance through collaboration with the involved public safety agencies in order to uphold justice in the case,” the sheriff explained.

Police and Othram did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.



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South Dakota

SD Lottery Millionaire for Life winning numbers for March 5, 2026

Published

6 hours ago

on

March 6, 2026

By


The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 5, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 5 drawing

17-20-23-30-33, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

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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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South Dakota

DOE selects nine school districts for 2026 South Dakota Perkins Reserve grant

Published

18 hours ago

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March 5, 2026

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DOE selects nine school districts for 2026 South Dakota Perkins Reserve grant


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Nine school districts have been selected as recipients of the 2026 Perkins Reserve Grant by the South Dakota Department of Education.

The grant provides major equipment upgrades for Career and Technical Education programs, helping to equip students with the skills and experiences needed for post-secondary education and the workforce.

“CTE programs are constantly evolving to match the pace of workforce needs,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Joseph Graves.

“The South Dakota Perkins Reserve Grant aids schools in equipping students with current technologies, resources, and tools, offering students a realistic, hands-on learning experience that will strengthen their marketability to colleges or employers once they leave the K-12 education system.”

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The following school districts have been named as the 2026 recipients:

  • Aberdeen School District:
    • Awarded $30,233 for new precision machine equipment for the manufacturing program.
  • De Smet School District:
    • Awarded $15,898 for modernizing metal fabrication within agriculture programs.
  • Lake Preston School District:
    • Awarded $43,160 for expansion of program offers in multiple career clusters to strengthen industrial alignment.
  • McLaughlin School District:
    • Awarded $11,997 to purchase equipment to offer a new culinary arts program.
  • Menno School District:
    • Awarded $32,844 to purchase small engines and attend professional development opportunities to enhance the agricultural mechanics program.
  • Mitchell School District:
    • Awarded $38,663 for the modernization of the automotive technology lab.
  • Timber Lake School District:
    • Awarded $42,400 for the expansion of agriculture course offerings to strengthen industry alignment.
  • Wakpala School District:
    • Awarded $40,145 to purchase a skid steer simulator to enhance the agriculture and construction program.
  • Wolsey-Wessington School District:
    • Awarded $26,201 to purchase industry-aligned equipment to enhance the agriculture and construction program.

You can learn more about the South Dakota Perkins Reserve Grant at doe.sd.gov.

Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.



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SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for March 4, 2026

Published

1 day ago

on

March 5, 2026

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The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing

07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Lotto America numbers from March 4 drawing

33-38-39-47-51, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from March 4 drawing

02-18-22-30-32

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing

12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03

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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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