South Dakota

Questions that banks never ask

Published

1 year ago

October 21, 2024

tanawit1992@hotmail.co.th / Depositphotos.com

PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) — The South Dakota Bankers Association is teaming up with the Attorney General’s office as part of a nationwide effort called “Banks Never Ask.”

Bankers’ Association President Karl Adam says it focuses on antipphishing and scamming awareness.

The Attorney General’s Office and the South Dakota Bankers offer these tips:
 Scammers will advise you not to talk with others regarding the transaction – this is a RED flag.
 Organizations, including banks, and government agencies do not ask for money by telephone or on the internet.
 Do not click on pop-up messages that appear on computers.
 Talk to someone you can trust before you provide money or personal information to someone who contacts you.
 Check and double check email addresses if they are asking you to send money.
 If the caller represents a business or government agency, don’t trust the telephone number they give you. Hang up and call the organization’s office.
 Treat calls or emails demanding immediate action with suspicion.
 Do not give into high pressured sales tactics.
 Do not provide financial or personal information over the phone or via the internet.
 These scams are like other such scams – offering you something for money, but not delivering.
 Do not deposit a check and then wire money.
 If you are asked to send money, get off the telephone and seriously think about you are being asked to do.

You can find more information by going to this website: https://www.banksneveraskthat.com/

If you think you have been victimized, follow this link to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division https://consumer.sd.gov/ or call 1-800-300-1986.

(Story Courtesy: DRG Media Group)

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South Dakota

South Dakota medical marijuana cards are going digital

Published

2 hours ago

February 19, 2026

Press Room

South Dakota medical marijuana cards are going digital

John Hult
| South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota is transitioning to a primarily digital system for medical marijuana cards.
The state’s Department of Health will begin issuing digital cards after selecting a vendor this summer.
Patients will still have the option to request a physical plastic card.

PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota medical marijuana cards will soon be primarily digital.

The cannabis card news came Tuesday at the Capitol during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ Health and Human Services Committee.

Rep. Josephine Garcia, R-Watertown, had planned to testify on her bill to create digital cards, but instead sat down before the committee and asked its members to table it.

Garcia is the chairwoman of the state’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee, which had discussed legislation to require the Department of Health to provide digital cards.

On Tuesday, Garcia announced that the Department of Health had agreed to pursue digital cards without legislation.

The department is looking for vendors now and will select one during the summer, Garcia said, reading from a letter to the committee from Health Secretary Melissa Magstadt. The vendor will build the digital card system in the fall. Once the system is ready, the department will begin issuing digital cards to anyone who doesn’t ask for a plastic card. No implementation date was offered.

The shift to digital cards will “enhance convenience for patients and caregivers,” the letter said.

Magstadt was in the room for the hearing and thanked Garcia for reading the letter. The committee voted 13-0 to table Garcia’s bill.

Patients with a medical recommendation for marijuana pay initial and annual fees for plastic, driver’s license-sized cards, which let them legally purchase marijuana products at dispensaries around the state. Recreational marijuana use remains illegal in South Dakota.

Digital cards would be accessible on patients’ smartphones.

South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

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South Dakota

South Dakota mental health nonprofit shuts down over financial problems

Published

14 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Press Room

South Dakota mental health nonprofit shuts down over financial problems

NAMI South Dakota, a nonprofit that provides free mental health support to residents across the state, has announced that its Board of Directors made the “difficult decision to dissolve the organization.”

NAMI South Dakota’s phone went unanswered as of Feb. 13. Its website is mostly inactive, with a brief message about support group meetings being canceled, but it offers online resources on the general NAMI website.

The most recent post on its Facebook page was on Feb. 5.

In an email statement to employees and supporters, NAMI South Dakota stated the directive does not “reflect the importance of our mission,” but rather a response to the “significant and ongoing financial challenges facing the nonprofit sector nationwide.”

Those challenges included reduced funding, rising operational costs and increasing financial uncertainty.

“We are incredibly proud of the work NAMI South Dakota has accomplished over the years,” the organization stated. “… we have been able to raise awareness, reduce stigma and provide hope and resources to countless individuals and families impacted by mental illness.”

About NAMI South Dakota

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) maintains itself as the “nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization,” with more than 650 state organizations and affiliates.

There were eight affiliates in South Dakota in addition to classes, programs and wellness activities offered in Sioux Falls, Sisseton and Milbank via the NAMI South Dakota Consumer Council.

NAMI South Dakota has provided more than 1,500 phone referrals and served 80 individuals at its annual conference. More than 4,700 people were reached by signature programs and 2,000 more by community events, according to the organization.

Staff members were informed of NAMI South Dakota being dissolved and that they were no longer employed with the organization by email Feb. 4.

The Argus Leader reached out to multiple NAMI South Dakota board members but had not received a response. Executive Director Sheri Nelson issued the same response previously given to employees.

Program Director, Brooke Hoffman of Sioux Falls, traveled throughout the state of South Dakota, speaking with K-12 students at various schools.

“I gave presentations about mental health, why it’s important, how to take care of it, warning signs, trusted adults. Suicide prevention to older kids,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman was the only program coordinator with the organization for the entire state of South Dakota, serving since September 2025.

Hoffman also had regular appointments with the Juvenile Detention Center in Sioux Falls and was scheduled to conduct crisis intervention trainings (CIT) with law enforcement at the Minnehaha County Jail and Public Safety Center in Sioux Falls.

“I was also invited to speak at the South Dakota HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) event in previous years,” Hoffman said. ‘A lot of kids attend that.”

HOSA lists NAMI as one of its many partners for the organization.

Hoffman was staying in Watertown while working with the Hamlin School District, one of five schools she worked with and more were in the process of being scheduled when she got the Feb. 4 phone call from Nelson telling her the organization had been dissolved and to stop all services.

“She then sent me the email to send to the schools I was working with,” Hoffman said, estimating the impact to be about 750 students.

Hoffman had been working under a Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) grant provided by SAMHSA that was awarded to South Dakota Behavioral Health, part of the South Dakota Department of Social Services. The grant was set to expire in September.

“It’s been a really hard blow for me personally,” Hoffman said. “I’m struggling a bit with my own mental health over it but trying to look forward too.”

Mental health in Sioux Falls

Beginning in 1988, Sioux Falls had a more localized NAMI affiliate, NAMI Sioux Falls, an independent nonprofit that offered classes and support services to local families.

In February 2020, NAMI Sioux Falls merged with the NAMI South Dakota office, a decision made by the national NAMI office, according to previous Argus Leader reporting.

“They have moved ahead with terminating the NAMI Sioux Falls Affiliate and have asked the NAMI South Dakota State Organization to step in to provide all programming for the Sioux Falls area,” NAMI South Dakota said in a statement.

In Sioux Falls, 16.8% of adults have been reported to have been diagnosed with depression and adolescent mental health ranked second in the city’s top three health priorities, according to the 2025 City of Sioux Falls Community Health Assessment.

Mental health in South Dakota

According to NAMI South Dakota data from May 2025, 166,000 state residents have a mental health condition, with more than 650,000 who live in communities without sufficient mental health care. More than 10,000 adolescents aged 12-17 have anxiety and depression in South Dakota, with 11,000 having serious thoughts of suicide per year.

Among six community health priorities, improving mental and behavioral health ranked 3rd in a 2023 South Dakota Department of Health Assessment on overall health.

Moving forward

Additional mental health resources, some of which are free, in Sioux Falls and throughout the state of South Dakota are listed on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, staffed in Sioux Falls by the Helpline Center.

As for Hoffman, the connections she made during her time with NAMI South Dakota have helped provide leads to new opportunities, while also working part time for Emily’s Hope.

“I have a few connections from being out in the community from volunteering with them and from working at NAMI,” she said. I’m just using what resources I have to get leads on a new role. Hopefully something similar to what I got to do for NAMI.”

“While NAMI South Dakota will be dissolving, the need for mental health support remains vital,” the Board of Directors said in a statement. “We encourage our community members to continue seeking and supporting mental health resources and organizations serving South Dakotans.”

Vanessa Carlson Bender is the real estate and development reporter for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Reach her at vbender@gannett.com.

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South Dakota

South Dakota Mines launches fourth annual ‘Raising for Rockers’ give-a-thon

Published

1 day ago

February 18, 2026

Press Room

South Dakota Mines launches fourth annual ‘Raising for Rockers’ give-a-thon

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – South Dakota Mines is aiming to raise $250,000 during its fourth annual Raising for Rockers give-a-thon, a 24-hour fundraising event supporting academic departments, student programs and hands-on learning initiatives.

The event runs noon Feb. 18 to noon Feb. 19, bringing together alumni, faculty, staff and supporters to contribute to 20 different initiatives that enhance the overall student experience.

Bailey Ellis, director of annual giving for the Center for Alumni Relations and Advancement, said the fundraiser is an opportunity for the Hardrocker community to make a direct impact on student success.

“This is a great opportunity for the Hardrocker community to come together and support academic departments and other initiatives that enhance the educational experience for our students,” Ellis said.

This year, donors have an added challenge: CARA will unlock a $6,250 nationwide match if donations are received from all 50 states.

Funds raised support a wide range of priorities, including student professional development, upgraded learning environments and opportunities for hands-on experiences across campus.

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