South Dakota

McCook Lake victims still ‘in the dark,’ waiting for FEMA help nearly seven weeks after flood • South Dakota Searchlight

Published

2 years ago

August 9, 2024

McCook Lake victims still ‘in the dark,’ waiting for FEMA help nearly seven weeks after flood • South Dakota Searchlight

Nearly seven weeks after the devastating June 23 flood at McCook Lake, victims are still in limbo about the possibility of federal aid, and some feel abandoned by government officials.

Renae Hansen is a flood victim and works with the McCook Lake Izaak Walton League, which has tried to fill some of the leadership and organizational gaps in the flood response.

“We have no idea what’s happening or what to expect,” Hansen said. “It feels like we’re being kept in the dark.”

The flood destroyed or severely damaged at least 40 homes and some infrastructure in the McCook Lake area. Some flood victims — including some who lack flood insurance — are staying in hotels or with family or friends as they wait for news about possible help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Hansen also described the confusion and lack of coordination on the ground in McCook Lake, noting that the Izaak Walton League was filling recovery roles beyond its expertise because no other institution was doing it. She recently moved away from that effort to resume handling the organization’s primary obligations.

“We were just trying to help,” she said. “But we didn’t have any official support or direction. We had volunteers trying to log damages without any guidance from the city or state.”

FEMA wait explained

Some residents expressed their frustration about the wait for federal assistance on Monday during a North Sioux City Council meeting. More than a month passed between the flood and Republican Governor Kristi Noem’s July 26 request to the president for a major disaster declaration, and there has been no word yet on a presidential declaration that would trigger FEMA aid.

Hansen wants to know why it took that long and is calling for more state action.

“We have residents on the brink of homelessness,” Hansen said. “We need answers, but we also need support.”

‘We have nothing’: Flood victims say government failures continue after botched flood warning

In Iowa, which also experienced flooding from the same historically heavy rainstorms in late June, President Joe Biden approved that state’s disaster declaration on June 24. However, Iowa had already been working with FEMA regarding other storms that began on June 16.

Tony Mayne is a media relations specialist with the FEMA Region 8 Office. He said South Dakota took the “standard” route for its disaster declaration, and Iowa chose the “expedited” route.

“South Dakota determined the process that would be best for the state,” he said.

Mayne said the expedited route is for disasters where officials are confident they know the extent of the damages — because if an overestimation is submitted, the state pays the difference. Mayne did not speak for the state of South Dakota but said flood damage across the 25 affected counties varies widely in comparison to McCook Lake.

“Sure, damage to that one area is obvious,” he said. “It’s not just that one area.”

In response to questions about the process from South Dakota Searchlight, Noem’s spokesman, Ian Fury, pointed to a previous press release comment by Kristi Turman, director of the Division of Emergency Services at the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

“This thorough damage assessment was normal protocol for a presidential disaster declaration,” Turman said, “and it’s an important part of the process to make sure all eligible counties and citizens are included.”

As flood victims wait on assistance, some contractors who assisted with the flood preparations and response are being paid. During the North Sioux City Council meeting, council members approved several pay requests for the flood, including a $59,000 payment to The Blue Cell, a contractor based in Colorado. North Sioux City’s mayor said state officials advised hiring Blue Cell to help manage the disaster. Todd Manns, Blue Cell’s owner, did not respond to an interview request.

Noem: ‘Everything we can to help’

Hours before the McCook Lake flood on June 23, Noem held a press conference in North Sioux City where neither she nor any of the other public officials in attendance expressed any grave concerns about McCook Lake, even though a record crest was already projected on the nearby Big Sioux River.

The main focus of the press conference was a voluntary evacuation order for nearby Dakota Dunes and the construction of a temporary levee, which neither Noem nor anyone else at the press conference clearly explained was intended to divert water toward McCook Lake. Authorities hoped water wouldn’t reach the lake and assumed that if it did, the lake would swell manageably, and excess water would drain toward the Missouri River. Instead, floodwaters slammed into the lake on the evening of June 23 and caused catastrophic damage.

Following the June 23 afternoon press conference, Noem flew to a speaking engagement for a county Republican Party fundraiser in Tennessee while the floodwaters ravaged McCook Lake that night.

From June 23 to 27, Noem shared over a dozen posts on her personal X (formerly Twitter) profile, mostly about the southeastern South Dakota flooding. Two linked to videos of press conferences that have since been deleted. Posts show she visited the region in that timeframe.

“My heart goes out to the families on McCook Lake whose homes were destroyed by this flooding,” she shared. “We’ll keep doing everything we can to help with the situation.”

“Everything” did not include deploying the National Guard, which Noem declined to do.

McCook Lake catastrophe shatters complacency around old flood plans

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell joined Noem in McCook Lake to survey the devastation days after the flood. “I am going to do everything I can to get assistance to our communities ASAP and help these families start to recover their lives,” Noem wrote in posts featuring photos with Criswell.

South Dakota U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson told South Dakota Searchlight on Wednesday that he thinks FEMA aid will be approved soon.

“This is a no-brainer,” said Johnson, a Republican. “This is not a close call. This was a devastating event.”

However, Mayne, the spokesperson for FEMA, said the agency can’t do much for the people who lost their homes. FEMA’s Individual Assistance program is designed to meet basic needs and help households recover, but it typically covers only essential expenses such as temporary housing and minor repairs.

“We’re not going to make you whole, we’re not going to rebuild your house,” he said, advising residents to turn to local organizations and nonprofits.

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, said it’s unlikely the congressional delegation will be able to secure federal funding beyond the FEMA aid.

“We’ll look at what other options might be out there, but it’s going to be challenging,” he said.

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South Dakota

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

Published

7 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

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.”

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.

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South Dakota

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

Published

19 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

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.

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

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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South Dakota

South Dakota lawmakers push bill criminalizing deepfakes nearer to governor’s desk

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

South Dakota lawmakers push bill criminalizing deepfakes nearer to governor’s desk

John Hult
| South Dakota Searchlight

PIERRE — A bill from South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley to criminalize the creation or sharing of deepfakes was amended this week to more clearly define what constitutes nudity before it reaches Gov. Larry Rhoden’s desk.

The amendment, added on the floor of the House of Representatives, came in response to concerns about unintended consequences.

Senate Bill 41 creates a class of felony crime for the creation or distribution of images digitally altered to depict a person in a state of nudity or involved in a sexually explicit act, commonly referred to as deepfakes.

In testimony in the House Judiciary Committee on Monday in Pierre, Jackley pointed to the case of Mark Rathbun, a former Division of Motor Vehicles employee who is accused of taking images of women and girls from state databases and creating sexual images.“This is real, and it’s something that we unfortunately are seeing happen in our state,” Jackley said.

The judiciary committee voted 8-3 to send the bill to the House floor but not before a discussion on its potential to criminalize political memes.

The bill’s definition of nudity originally encompassed a partial state of nudity. Fort Pierre Republican Rep. Will Mortenson asked Jackley if that would include a fabricated topless photo. Jackley said yes. Then Mortenson asked if a fabricated image of Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker without a shirt, if shared by President Donald Trump on social media, would put the president in line for felony charges.

Jackley said a Pritzker image wouldn’t qualify because Pritzker is male, but Mortenson pushed back.

He noted that partially nude fabrications would be a felony if done with the intent to “self-gratify or alarm, annoy, embarrass, harass, invade the privacy of, threaten, or cause emotional, financial, physical, psychological, or reputational harm to that individual.”

Nothing in the bill specified that a person in a digitally fabricated topless image must be female.

“We just said that half-nude is a state of nudity, and so now he’s shirtless, and the point of this is to embarrass this guy,” Mortenson said of his topless Pritzker meme scenario.

Mortenson voted against the bill in committee but brought an amendment Tuesday to define nudity as inclusive of male or female genitalia, buttocks or the female nipple.

The amendment passed, but it did not address every concern about the bill.

Democratic Rep. Kadyn Wittman of Sioux Falls asked Jackley during the bill’s committee hearing why he didn’t use it to enhance penalties for people who film others in states of undress or participating in sexual activity against their will.

That behavior is a felony if it involves the recording of a minor, or if it happens repeatedly. The new penalties for deepfakes would be added to the same chapter of South Dakota law.

“Why is the first time hidden recording a misdemeanor generally, but a digitally fabricated image would automatically be a classified felony,” said Wittman.

Jackley said he feels that the creation of digitally manipulated sexual images, even if they aren’t shared, signals “significant criminal intent.” He told South Dakota Searchlight after the committee meeting that he’s open to addressing that issue, but that SB 41’s primary purpose was to target deepfakes.

On the House floor, Wittman was one of two representatives to say the bill’s felony penalties could be unnecessarily harsh in instances where young people make “a stupid decision” and create a deepfake.

“I feel like, in a lot of situations, this bill covers behavior that could be covered by a lower level of offense,” Wittman said.

Supporters countered that the creation of fake nudes can do real psychological damage to real people, and that the state needs to clearly signal that doing so is a serious crime.

“It’s only fun and games until it happens to you,” said Rep. Mary Fitzgerald, R-St. Onge.

The bill passed the House 60-6. It now moves to the state Senate, which passed the bill 32-0 on Jan. 16. The Senate would need to approve the amended version of the bill before it could be delivered to Gov. Larry Rhoden to sign or veto.

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