South Dakota

South Dakota committee OKs bill making school opt-out petitions easier

Published

3 weeks ago

February 25, 2026

South Dakota committee OKs bill making school opt-out petitions easier

Eight members of the House Education committee voted Wednesday, Feb. 25, to advance a bill that opponents called an “attack on public education.”

Senate Bill 223, brought by Sen. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, would give petitioners more time to gather fewer signatures to refer school district opt-outs to a vote. She said it’s a property tax relief bill with reasonable changes to refer opt-outs to the ballot.

Opt-outs allow school districts to raise additional operating funds beyond what they get in their existing tax levy, and in state aid, by “opting out” of those limitations to collect more taxes from property owners in the district.

Instead of having 20 days to get signatures from 5% of the total number of people registered to vote in the school district, the bill would give petitioners 40 days to collect signatures from either 5% of people who voted in the last school district election, or 50 voters, whichever is greater.

Sioux Falls School District Superintendent Jamie Nold said SB 223 “specifically attacks public schools,” and takes away school boards’ options to balance school district budgets because the state aid districts receive hasn’t met the rate of inflation for the last two years.

“Senate Bill 223 is an attempt to use the Legislature to negatively impact schools that serve all students,” Nold said. “Senate Bill 223 will continually make it harder for public schools to maintain a balanced budget, pay teachers and maintain local control.”

SB 223 previously passed on a 6-3 vote in the Senate State Affairs committee, and a 20-14 vote in the Senate. After the 8-7 vote in the House Education committee, SB 223 will move to the House in the coming days. If it passes there, it will land on Gov. Larry Rhoden’s desk.

‘Maybe, just maybe, there isn’t support to refer this to an election’

Much of the discussion on SB 223 centered on the most recent opt-out passed in the Sioux Falls School District −$2.1 million over 10 years, or $21 million total − and the failure of petition gatherers to get enough signatures to refer it to a vote. They needed 5,490 signatures, and only got 2,302 by the deadline. Peterson called it a “heroic effort.”

One of the proponents, Sioux Falls resident Amy Bruner, said the gathering of petition signatures included 50 volunteers. Peterson noted she was not involved in gathering signatures for the opt-out petition.

If the petition group’s goal was about 5,500 signatures, each of those 50 volunteers would’ve needed to gather 110 signatures over the 20-day period, or five to six signatures each day. The group as a whole needed to gather 275 signatures per day over 20 days.

Opponents argued that the failure of the petition group to gather more signatures from the public, or to find more people interested in gathering signatures, is evidence that people supported their local school board’s decision to opt-out.

“Maybe, just maybe, there isn’t support to refer this to an election,” said Heath Larson, lobbyist for Associated School Boards of South Dakota. “Maybe the people in the local community are supportive of what the local school board is doing, and they trust their local school boards.”

And while much of the discussion did center on the Sioux Falls School District, Nold said property tax issues and opt-outs aren’t a Sioux Falls issue alone. He said the district has the second-lowest levy of the 11 districts in the Sioux Falls metro area and is in the bottom 20% of South Dakota’s school districts in property valuation per student.

Opponents argue SB 223 makes it ‘too easy’ to refer opt-outs

The last school district election in May 2025 saw 2.33% of eligible registered voters − 2,958 of 126,334 − cast ballots in that election; which was one of the lowest turnouts in recent memory.

More people voted in the election than signed the petition to refer the opt-out to a vote.

If SB 223 had been in effect when the board passed the opt-out for fiscal year 2026 in June 2025, only 148 signatures would’ve been needed to refer the opt-out to an election.

Peterson said SB 223 wouldn’t make it “easy,” but “attainable” to refer opt-outs to an election.

But opponents, including South Dakota Education Association lobbyist Sandra Waltman and Sioux Falls School District lobbyist Sam Nelson, said SB 223 makes it “too easy” to refer opt-outs to elections.

Disagreement on public input, voter fatigue

While the proponents argued that SB 223 is about giving taxpayers a voice in local spending decisions, opponents said there are already opportunities to give input on those decisions.

That includes attending school board meetings, voicing concerns at those meetings during public comment time, contacting school board members and superintendents, voting in school board elections or running for school board.

When the Sioux Falls School District looks to pass an opt-out, it meets with community members and business leaders in its Finance Action Network to vet them in a five-month process before the opt-out is presented publicly to the school board, Nold said.

From there, the school board has three different public meetings to discuss the opt-out, with opportunities for the public to comment and give feedback, an “extensive process” before opt-outs are finalized and ratified, Nold explained.

Holding an opt-out election in an odd-numbered year would cost the district $63,000, Nold said. More elections would create voter fatigue, Waltman said.

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South Dakota

Louisville prevails, will face winner of Michigan State vs. South Dakota State

Published

7 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Louisville prevails, will face winner of Michigan State vs. South Dakota State

Detroit News staff and wires
| The Detroit News

Isaac McKneely drilled seven 3-pointers to help No. 6 Louisville build a big lead and hold off No. 11 South Florida 83-79 on Thursday in an NCAA Tournament first-round matchup at Buffalo, N.Y.

If Michigan State beats North Dakota State, also Thursday, the Spartans will face Louisville in a second-round game.

McKneely matched his season high of 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Ryan Conwell added 18 points with six assists and Sananda Fru notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Cardinals (24-10), who won their first NCAA Tournament game since 2017.

NCAA TOURNAMENT SCOREBOARD

Joseph Pinion (career-high 27 points) and Izaiyah Nelson (22) scored 22 and 15 points, respectively, in the second half as the Bulls (25-9) shot 47.6% after halftime but saw their 11-game win streak snapped.

South Florida’s leading scorer, Wes Enis (16.8 points per game), managed just four points on 2-of-15 shooting, including 0-for-11 from 3-point range. The Bulls made just 5 of 33 perimeter shots (15.2%).

The Cardinals, who shot 53.8% from the floor and 52% from 3-point range, appeared destined for a stress-free victory when they led by 22 with 11:23 left. But they got careless with the ball, committing 10 of their season-high 22 turnovers over the final 9:39.

The Bulls cut that deficit to six points with 1:58 left. Pinion missed a pair of 3-pointers in the final 90 seconds that could have made it a three-point game.

After a slow start from both teams, Louisville took command with a 17-6 run, highlighted by 3-pointers from four different players, to jump ahead 24-11 with 8:31 left in the half.

The Bulls missed 12 straight shots during that stretch to start 4-of-24 from the floor. South Florida heated up a small bit but still shot just 28.6% from the floor, including a ghastly 1-of-17 from 3-point range, as the Cardinals took a 37-27 lead into the intermission.

McKneely led Louisville with 11 first-half points anchored by making 3 of 4 threes. Nelson led South Florida with seven points.

After the Bulls cut the deficit to eight points early in the second half, the Cardinals again responded, this time going on a 16-4 surge to push their advantage to 20 with 14:26 left.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for March 18, 2026

Published

19 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at March 18, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 18 drawing

14-18-19-21-69, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from March 18 drawing

16-18-29-31-39, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from March 18 drawing

03-07-20-29-31

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 18 drawing

04-16-21-33-35, Bonus: 01

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 Wildfire Shuts Down Public Lands

Published

1 day ago

March 18, 2026

Press Room

South Dakota Wildfire Shuts Down Public Lands

South Dakota’s Black Hills are a natural wonder, with vast forests, unique rock formations, and stunning peaks. And now that region is under serious threat, with a major wildfire ravaging the area. In a harbinger of what may be to come this wildfire season, thousands of acres are ablaze and containment has challenged firefighting crews.

The Fire

The Qury Fire began on March 12, about 2 miles from the town of Custer, S.D., according to local authorities. On March 13, it merged with the Deer Fire to reach a size of 7,000 acres by that evening. The fire burned for several days without major progress on containment. The weather, particularly high winds, have made it more difficult for crews to contain the fire.

smoke cloaking forest in black hills, south dakota — (Photo/Qury Fire Information Page via Facebook)

Only on March 17 did authorities announce that a staff of 350 personnel had contained 27% of the 9,059-acre fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Governor Larry Rhoden praised and thanked firefighting crews. “While progress is being made, there is still important work ahead,” he said on Facebook.

Where Is It?

Custer, a town of about 2,300 people, lies in the heart of the Black Hills and is a primary gateway to outdoor recreation in the area. On March 17, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) issued a closure notice for portions of Black Hills National Forest.

Until April 16, an approximately 28,000-acre area is closed to the public. The forest is a habitat for several threatened and endangered species, including the black-footed ferret, northern long-eared bat, and monarch butterfly.

map in south dakota showing fire closure — The area closed is in yellow and red stripes; (photo/USFS)

Custer State Park, a popular site for camping and hiking, closed several roads, day-use areas, and trails. The park is home to large populations of bison and burros, but the park reported that the animals are currently located in the southeastern part of the park, far away from the active fire.

Why It Matters

Beyond the obvious damage to trees and wildlife, this fire is potentially a bad sign for this year’s fire season. The USFS says that typically, fire season in the Black Hills runs from May to October, so a fire of this size this early is unusual. Data suggests that on average, wildfires burn around 7,000 acres per year in the forest.

This recent winter was one of the warmest and driest on record for the area. Rapid City received just 6.5 inches of snow, about half the normal amount. Studies show that low snowpack and early-season snowmelt correlate with a greater risk of wildfires and longer fire seasons.

The possibility of an above-average fire season further calls into question the federal government’s plans to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with fireworks at Mt. Rushmore, about 20 miles away from Custer. Critics of the plan have long-cited wildfire risk in their objections.

Custer State Park is also a major tourism attraction and local economic engine. In 2021, 2 million people visited, a figure higher than for many national parks. The full extent of damage to the park is not clear, and time will tell what it means for visitors during the peak summer season.

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