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Local government cybersecurity program moves forward with administrative hire • South Dakota Searchlight

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Local government cybersecurity program moves forward with administrative hire • South Dakota Searchlight


Michael Waldner, of Madison, will lead the effort to establish the state’s local government cybersecurity grant program, Dakota State University announced in a news release Monday.

The Municipal Cybersecurity Grant Program, under the Attorney General’s Office and in partnership with the university, aims to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure for South Dakota local governments.

Michael Waldner will serve as the director of the Municipal Cybersecurity Grant Program. (Courtesy of Dakota State University)

Even though the program’s name focuses on municipalities, it’s open to cities and counties. The program will provide “secure email solutions, technical support, risk assessments, and specialized training,” based on the news release.

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The Legislature approved $7 million in funding for the program last winter as a response to mounting cybersecurity concerns among city and county governments. Many lack proper training and equipment to defend themselves and the taxpayer money and information they’re entrusted with. 

Waldner previously directed South Dakota’s centralized education email system, which is what lawmakers hoped to model the program after. Waldner held the role for nine years before leaving in 2008. He also served as project manager for FirstNet, the network used by law enforcement in the state. Most recently, he served as coordinator for the ConnectSD Broadband initiative, which aims to expand internet access statewide.

The need for a centralized local government email system has grown in recent years as local governments become larger targets for cybersecurity attacks.

Brown County suffered a cyberattack in 2021 affecting services, and the city of Sioux Falls sent two electronic payments to someone impersonating a vendor in 2018. Hutchinson County was hit by a ransomware attack in 2019, which temporarily shut down accounts that contained receipts and records for $4 million in county business, according to the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan.

State spends over $100,000 each year bolstering local governments’ cybersecurity

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“This program is an important step toward making South Dakota a model of cybersecurity for the nation,” Attorney General Marty Jackley said in the news release.

State and local governments experienced 148% more malware attacks and 51% more ransomware incidents during the first eight months of 2023, compared with the same period in 2022, according to a Center for Internet Security report. 

The 2024 report on ransomware in state and local government identified a 51% drop in ransomware attacks, which is attributed to fewer governments paying ransoms, making them less attractive targets to cybercriminals. But when the attacks are successful, they’re growing more costly to local governments.

The state effort is a four year program, set to end during the summer of 2028, according to the university. An advisory council including representatives from state, local and federal government departments and agencies, as well as cybersecurity organizations in the state, will provide assistance.

 

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for June 9, 2025

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The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at June 9, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from June 9 drawing

30-33-40-43-52, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from June 9 drawing

03-07-17-29-46, Lucky Ball: 15

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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from June 9 drawing

06-14-35-44-49, Star Ball: 05, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America 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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Komet Caisen Thome Commits to South Dakota

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Komet Caisen Thome Commits to South Dakota


The major local, regional and national news events, sports, weather conditions and traffic are examined and reported by the ABC 6 News Team.

(ABC 6 News) — After a strong senior campaign with the Kasson-Mantorville Komets, Caisen Thome will continue to play football at the Division I level, joining the University of South Dakota.

Thome originally signed with Iowa Western, but switched to follow in his father’s footsteps as a coyote. Caisen was featured as a Prep Athelte of the Week this past football season, you can watch his story here.

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A strictly free market would make businesses free to ignore South Dakota | Opinion

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A strictly free market would make businesses free to ignore South Dakota | Opinion


South Dakota Republicans could be choosing from a crowded field when they make their choice for governor in the 2026 primary. With as many as five candidates in the race, would-be governors will need to find a way to distinguish themselves from the pack. 

The first announced candidate for that race was Speaker of the House Jon Hansen, a Dell Rapids attorney. He declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in April. 

Hansen was the first candidate for governor to come from the new MAGA wing of the South Dakota Republican Party—referred to as “grassroots patriots” in his announcement speech. His campaign platform contains many of the topics his wing of the party has made a priority: cutting government spending, allowing school choice, protecting private property rights, opposing abortion and tightening election laws.

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Another topic that Hansen touched on was ending “corporate welfare.” That’s the name he has given to the practice of using taxpayer dollars to boost private business. His example of corporate welfare gone bad was Tru Shrimp. The company was given a $6.5 million loan of state and local funds six years ago to build a facility in Madison. While the company did manage to change its name to Iterro, it has yet to break ground. 

“I think it’s just unnecessary government mingling, and it’s risky business, and they’re wasting our taxpayer dollars to do it,” Hansen said in a South Dakota Searchlight story. “It’s the sort of stuff that we want to say ‘no more’ to. Let’s get back to the free market, low tax and low regulation.”

South Dakota got serious about using state dollars to entice and build business in 1987 when Gov. George Mickelson helped to create the Revolving Economic Development and Initiative Fund. Mickelson was able to convince the Legislature to implement a 1% sales tax increase that would sunset once it had raised $40 million for the REDI Fund. Since then the Governor’s Office of Economic Development has made loans and grants worth millions of dollars to new and existing businesses and industries in the state. 

Taking state government loans and grants out of the marketplace would certainly be one way Hansen could approach his new role if he were elected governor. That tactic, however, fails to consider the fact that a financial boost from the state is sometimes what it takes to get the free market interested in investing in South Dakota. 

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Putting an end to low-interest government loans would certainly put the state at a disadvantage when it comes to competing with other states for business and industry.

A recent news release from the GOED showed just how invested the state has become in helping businesses grow. The news release noted a $3.4 million grant for the Big Stone Energy Storage Project thermal energy facility, a $2.6 million grant for a Bel Brands expansion and a $250,682 grant to Dakota Line Energy for a lagoon digester. 

The news release said the grants would result in $419 million in capital expenditures and create 180 full-time jobs. In essence, the state is betting $6 million in hopes of getting a $419 million payoff. That kind of “government mingling,” as Hansen called it, seems to offer pretty good odds. It is, however, as he noted, “risky business.”

At its heart, investing in economic development will always be a bit of a gamble. That’s why we expect government officials to place safe bets, though there is always the chance for a bust like Tru Shrimp. That’s the nature of any gamble.

Hansen won’t be the only “patriot” in the Republican primary for governor, with Aberdeen businessman and political influencer Toby Doeden also declaring his candidacy. If “corporate welfare” is going to be an issue in the GOP primary, the people who like to use state loans and grants to boost their local economies have got to do a better job of telling about the benefits of government investment. 

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One way to do that would be to keep telling their story after the initial news release has been issued. Beyond the cliched photo of local officials with hardhats and shovels for a groundbreaking, taxpayers deserve regular updates on capital expenditures and job creation. This would add a layer of government transparency to the use of tax dollars. It would also soften the criticism from people like Hansen when an outfit like Tru Shrimp is slow to pay off on its state investment. 

Politicians often like to tout the benefits of the “free market.” By curtailing state grants and low-interest loans, that market will be free to invest in states that are more financially welcoming. 

In 1987, the state’s economy was badly in need of a jump-start, and it got one from Gov. Mickelson and the REDI Fund. Since then, that gamble has paid off more often than it’s gone bust. What Hansen calls “corporate welfare” has been a usually sound investment for South Dakota. 

Dana Hess spent more than 25 years in South Dakota journalism, editing newspapers in Redfield, Milbank and Pierre. He’s retired and lives in Brookings, working occasionally as a freelance writer.



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