South Dakota

Members of Congress condemn violence after shots fired at Trump rally • South Dakota Searchlight

Published

2 years ago

July 14, 2024

Members of Congress condemn violence after shots fired at Trump rally • South Dakota Searchlight

WASHINGTON — Members of Congress rejected political violence Saturday after a shooting at Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Pennsylvania left at least one rallygoer dead and forced the Secret Service to rush the former president off stage.

Local authorities confirmed the shooter was killed, according to The Associated Press.

The shooting at a crowded outdoor rally in Butler, just an hour outside Pittsburgh, occurred less than 48 hours before the Republican National Convention is set to begin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump is expected to become the party’s official presidential nominee on Thursday.

Video footage of the rally shows Trump bringing his hand to the right side of his face and ducking down behind the podium just after several gunshots and screams were heard. U.S. Secret Service agents huddled around the former president and raced him off the stage as he reached out to pump his fist in the air toward the crowd.

Trump campaign spokesman Steve Cheung issued a statement shortly after that the former president is “fine” and that he thanked law enforcement.

‘Praying for President Trump’

Members of Congress from both political parties uniformly condemned violence in a wave of social media posts and official statements.

On X (formerly Twitter), Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, referenced his wife, Kimberley, and said they are “praying for the safety of President Trump and everyone who attended the rally in Pennsylvania, and I’m carefully monitoring the situation.”

His fellow South Dakota Republican Sen. Mike Rounds posted, “Relieved to hear that the former President is doing well. Incredibly sad to hear of the rally attendee who was killed. Continuing to pray for those in attendance and the families of those killed and injured. Thank you to all of the first responders.”

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, posted, “Praying for President Trump.”

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, posted on social media that he was “Praying for President Trump.”

“Kelly and I are praying for President Trump and all the attendees of the campaign rally today in Pennsylvania, and we send our gratitude to the law enforcement who responded at the scene,” Speaker Johnson wrote.

“I have been briefed by law enforcement and am continuing to monitor the developments,” Speaker Johnson added. “This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, released a written statement saying that he was “horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe.”

“Political violence has no place in our country,” Schumer wrote.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, wrote on social media that “all Americans are grateful that President Trump appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful rally.”

“Violence has no place in our politics,” McConnell wrote. “We appreciate the swift work of the Secret Service and other law enforcement.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, wrote on social media that his “thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump.”

“I am thankful for the decisive law enforcement response,” Jeffries wrote. “America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable.”

Members of Congress react with horror

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania issued a statement that he was monitoring the situation that unfolded in Western Pennsylvania.

“(A)nd I’ve reached out (to) the State Police to offer support. Political violence is never acceptable and I am hoping former president Trump & all attendees are safe. Everyone in Butler should listen to law enforcement,” Casey wrote on social media.

Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, whose wife Gabby Giffords, a former congresswoman, was shot in 2011 at an event, posted that they were both “horrified.”

“Gabby and I are horrified by the incident in Pennsylvania,” Kelly wrote. “No one should ever have to experience political violence — we know that firsthand. We’re keeping former President Trump, his family, and everyone involved in our thoughts.”

Giffords wrote on her own social media feed that “Political violence is terrifying. I know.”

“I’m holding former President Trump, and all those affected by today’s indefensible act of violence in my heart. Political violence is un-American and is never acceptable — never,” Giffords wrote.

Video of the shooting at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. (C-SPAN via X)

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, wrote on social media that “(p)olitical violence is despicable, and there is no place for it in America.”

“I’m grateful that former President Trump is safe, and to the law enforcement officials who risked their lives to take action” Peters wrote. “I will continue to closely monitor this developing situation.”

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins wrote on social media that she was “very relieved that President Trump appears to be OK; however, this violence is absolutely appalling.”

“Thank God for the Secret Service and first responders who hurried President Trump out of harm’s way,” Collins wrote.

Quick response

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, commended the quick response of Secret Service agents and other authorities on the scene.

“My thoughts and prayers are with former President Donald Trump and his family after hearing news of a shooting at his campaign rally today,” DeLauro of Connecticut posted on social media.

House Republican Mike Turner of Ohio, chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, issued a statement saying “As the situation unfolds in Butler, Pennsylvania, I urge everyone to join me in praying for President Trump and our country.”

House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York wrote on social media that “AMERICA IS PRAYING! GOD BLESS PRESIDENT TRUMP! #SAVEAMERICA,”

“I’m praying for President Trump. I hope everyone will join me,” former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy wrote on X.

“Jacquie and I are praying for President Trump and all of the attendees at today’s rally. President Trump is a proven warrior who has overcome adversity time and time again. He will rise above this horrifying situation stronger than ever,” House Republican Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota posted.

Former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney, an outspoken critic of Trump and ranking member of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, said news of the shooting was “horrifying.”

“Violence of any kind has no place in American politics. We are grateful for the reaction of Secret Service and other law enforcement and pray for the former president and all those injured,” Cheney wrote on social media.

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on social media saying he was “shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump.”

“We pray for his safety and speedy recovery,” the leader of the U.S. ally said.

— South Dakota Searchlight contributed to this report.

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South Dakota

USD Sanford medical school location to open mid-2028 in Sioux Falls

Published

2 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

USD Sanford medical school location to open mid-2028 in Sioux Falls

The home for the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine in Sioux Falls will be the Talley Building on the Sanford medical campus, university officials announced April 2.

This news came after the Aug. 14, 2025, announcement that the medical school would move the first 18 months of doctor of medicine training — Pillar 1 — from Vermillion to Sioux Falls by the summer of 2027. The last 30 months of M.D. training has long been in Sioux Falls.

At the time, officials said learning would continue in temporary locations in Sioux Falls on the Sanford campus while a new, permanent building was to be built in 7-10 years at a location to be determined, but the April 2 announcement about the use of the Talley Building “expedites” this part of the process, according to a release from USD.

Construction is expected to begin this summer, with all areas fully open and operational by mid-2028, USD spokesperson Alissa Matt said.

Students who start their doctor of medicine degree program in fall of 2027 will still complete their first year of Pillar 1 in Vermillion, and complete the last few months of the pillar in Sioux Falls. Students who start the degree program in fall of 2028 will learn in Sioux Falls.

The South Dakota Board of Regents signed off on a memorandum of agreement April 2 stating Sanford Health would fund the design and construction of a 4,400 square foot anatomy lab on the hospital’s main Sioux Falls campus, as well as renovate the 50,000 square foot Talley Building, named for former medical school dean Robert Talley.

Talley was a “driving force” in initially establishing the medical school in Sioux Falls, and the building named after him will now house the M.D. program and medical student support services, according to a release from USD.

USD’s medical school would use the spaces under a lease agreement that’s yet to be seen. The agreement also states that “additional research space not yet identified may be planned and designed in future phases as programmatic needs evolve.”

Facilities could include classroom and instructional labs, clinical training and simulation spaces, research and innovation areas, faculty and learner collaboration spaces, shared conference and meeting rooms, and technology infrastructure that supports modern medical education, according to the agreement.

In addition to the partnership with Sanford Health, Avera plans to provide classroom space in Plaza 3 on the Avera McKennan campus to “support collaboration and integration with health systems in Sioux Falls,” Matt said.

Avera Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kevin Post noted in a news release that Avera has a long history of working with USD’s medical school — including more than half of USD Frontier and Rural Medicine students in Avera communities — and views it as a vital state resource.

USD President Sheila Gestring said in a news release that the university and medical school are grateful for Sanford and Avera’s generosity in providing space to support medical education.

“These plans create a cost-effective path forward and enable us to expedite this transition — positioning USD to deliver the best possible medical education even sooner,” Gestring said.

Sanford Health President and CEO Bill Gassen said in a news release that expanding the medical school’s presence on the Sanford campus creates “an environment where education, research and clinical care come together in powerful ways.”

Medical school dean Dr. Tim Ridgway said in a news release that the support of Sanford, Avera, Monument Health, Veterans Affairs Health and independent providers is “critical in our shared mission to serve the state.”

“We could not develop physicians without the resources and residencies they provide or without our clinical faculty,” Ridgway said. “Together, we are shaping the future of medical education and improving quality health care for communities across South Dakota.”

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South Dakota

South Dakota women’s basketball’s successful season started with portal risks

Published

14 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

South Dakota women’s basketball’s successful season started with portal risks

VERMILLION — This South Dakota women’s basketball team was built in a modern style — with lots of veterans looking to revive their careers or get a final chance to prove themselves through the transfer portal.

Both head coach Carrie Eighmey and her staff, as well as the first-year ‘Yotes, all felt they took a risk joining forces this offseason.

After a 26-10 season, the second-best win improvement in Division I women’s college basketball and a WNIT Fab 4 appearance, it’s safe to say that risk worked out well for all parties.

“We won 11 games last year,” Eighmey said. “So they took a leap of faith as well. And they joke with us that we took a chance on them. And so we all kind of feel like we took a chance on each other.”

The Coyotes’ entire seven-player rotation was in their first season in Vermillion, with Angelina Robles (Denver), Molly Joyce (Truman State), Jenna Hopp (South Dakota State), Elise Turrubiates (Tarleton State), Patience Williams (Georgia State), Josie Hill (Chicago State) and Tori Schlagel (Eden Prairie High School) all taking on large roles and learning how to play with each other on the fly.

Eighmey, Robles and many other South Dakota players are thankful for General Manager Devin Eighmey and his ability to craft this team.

“I’m just so grateful to Coach Carrie, Coach Dev, for allowing me to be a part of such a special program,” Robles said. “We really believe that we could have gone all the way, but ball didn’t bounce our way. I’m just super grateful for this group of girls and they made this season the best I’ve ever had, and I’m grateful.”

Robles, Turrubiates, Williams and Hill all played their last collegiate game on Wednesday, April 1, and were upset after the game ended, not only because their season was finished, but because they won’t get to play together again.

“I love them with all my heart,” Robles said. “I think we all came in with the same mindset of if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right and we’re going to do it together. And I think that’s exactly what we need to be setting the standard for everyone else that’s staying.”

Joyce is one of the top returners for next year, and this was her first season at the Division I level after two years at Division II. The move ended up being a great one for her, as she broke out to average 12.9 points for the Coyotes.

“My freshman year, I won seven games and my sophomore year, we won 14, so being able to come here and just be a dominant team was super special and just grateful that I got to be a part of this group because all these girls are my best friends,” Joyce said.

None of the players took advantage of the opportunity as much as Robles, who became the vocal and statistical leader of this South Dakota team and became a star in the league she spent her first three seasons in. Robles ended her senior season at 15.8 points per game and 38.0% shooting from three.

“She was a player that, you could see it at different times, she’s emotional,” Eighmey said. “I think one of the things that she grew so much in was just her ability to play with emotion, but not let being emotional take her away from what she was trying to do. I think the thing that was really neat about her was she started to really understand what winning looks like and what it takes to win, and I think that’s what gave her that swagger.”

Robles attributes her rise to stardom to her teammates and the faith her coach showed her early on this season. As she experienced some ups and downs throughout the season, everyone stuck together and came out better on the other side.

“I’ve said this so many times, but Carrie really believed in me and saw things that I was capable of that I didn’t even see for myself, so she put me in a great position,” Robles said. “And Coach Dev made sure that I was surrounded by great human beings off the court, but also on the court. We’re a selfless team and the whole plan was to make it as far as we could and we made it to April. Not a lot of teams can say that, so that’s a blessing and we just fought hard.”

Building this team wasn’t easy and a lot could’ve gone wrong, but all parties feel it was worth it. Even with a third-place finish in the Summit League and a loss in the WNIT semis, the coaches and players felt this team showed what a Carrie Eighmey-led team will look like from here on out.

“They show up, gave great energy,” Eighmey said. “It’s just fun to be around. Honestly, I think the way they played was very inspiring. I think it speaks to the way that people started showing up for this team and supporting this team. ‘Yote fans have always been very supportive of the women’s basketball program, but I felt like as this season continued to build and this team continued to become more and more of the best version of itself, people got on board and they were inspired and appreciated the way we played. It was a blast to coach them.”

The players all feel this season was a success, even without a trophy, and Eighmey will be the one to bring this South Dakota program back to the heights of the early 2020s.

“And I’m going to boldly say this, I see a Summit League championship in the next couple years,” Robles said. “So bring it back to South Dakota and I will be in the stands watching you guys get it.”

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South Dakota

$7.8 million to fight substance use disorder in South Dakota

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

.8 million to fight substance use disorder in South Dakota

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