South Dakota

South Dakota Governor signs trucker English proficiency and CDL bills to ‘deliver Dalilah’s Law’

Published

1 month ago

March 11, 2026

South Dakota Governor signs trucker English proficiency and CDL bills to ‘deliver Dalilah’s Law’

This week, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed two bills imposing stricter language and citizenship requirements on commercial driver license (CDL) holders.

On March 10, 2026, Rhoden signed the following two bills into law in an effort to strengthen standards for CDL holders in South Dakota:

SB 164, which requires CDL holders to be proficient in the English language
SB 180, which modifies requirements regarding non-domiciled CDLs

Rhoden said in a news release announcing the signing of the bills into law that South Dakota has now satisfied President Trump’s call for states to pass “Dalilah’s Law,” which would “increase standards for English proficiency and prohibit states from issuing CDLs to undocumented immigrants.”

Trump pushed for “Dalilah’s Law” during his State of the Union address in February.

“These bills are commonsense steps to improve public safety by guaranteeing that truckers can read our road signs and making sure that only citizens and legal immigrants hold CDLs. South Dakota will continue to prioritize strong licensing standards so all drivers are traveling safely and responsibly,” Rhoden said.

Rhoden also said that the state has partnered with federal immigration authorities for an enforcement detail.

“The [South Dakota] Department of Public Safety (DPS) recently conducted an enforcement operation alongside the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. DPS also reviewed its process for non-domiciled CDLs to ensure illegal immigrants are not operating with or receiving CDLs in South Dakota,” Rhoden said.

Dalilah’s Law was named for Dalilah Coleman, a child who was injured in a June 20, 2024, crash in California involving Partap Singh, who was driving a semi truck. Officials said that Singh was an Indian national present in the U.S. illegally. He was later taken into U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

Much action has already been taken at a federal level over the past year to tighten citizenship requirements for obtaining a non-domiciled CDL and to increase English Language Proficiency enforcement for truck drivers.

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South Dakota

4,000 lottery winners for Mount Rushmore fireworks

Published

4 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

4,000 lottery winners for Mount Rushmore fireworks

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Around 4,000 people were selected to attend the fireworks show at Mount Rushmore July 3.

A lottery was created for the event at the national memorial and cost $1 per application. Each applicant could select up to four tickets.

According to the National Parks Service, South Dakota had the most lottery applicants and received the most reservations. The state had 316 applications which include tickets for 1,198 people. Colorado had 74 applications covering 275 people.

There were 102,991 requests for the tickets, Katlyn Svendsen with Travel South Dakota said in a news release. Travel South Dakota is the state government’s tourism agency.

Those who wanted tickets were able to put their names into the randomly selected lottery administered by Recreation.gov from April 8 to April 12. The winners were notified April 14.

Total attendance for the 2026 event was reduced from the 2020 event to enhance visitor experience and prioritize safety and security for guests. There were around 7,500 guests at the 2020 event.

“Tickets were assigned at random with either parking garage or shuttle options,” the National Park Service said in an email to KELOLAND News. “Seating at the event will be available on a first-come-first-served basis within the developed area of the memorial.”

According to the news release from Travel South Dakota, 30 pyrotechnicians and trained highline operators will install fireworks and lighting at designated locations at the memorial. The event begins at 4 p.m. and will conclude around 4 p.m.

The state contracted earlier this month with Pyro Spectaculars to produce the display at a maximum cost of $700,000 for the event, officially called South Dakota’s Freedom 250 Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration. Based in California, Pyro Spectaculars also did the 2020 event.

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South Dakota

Connie Carlisle of Fort Pierre to be honored by South Dakota State Historical Society

Published

16 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Connie Carlisle of Fort Pierre to be honored by South Dakota State Historical Society | DRGNews

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South Dakota

South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame to induct 21 new members in September

Published

1 day ago

April 14, 2026

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South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame to induct 21 new members in September

The South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday, April 14, that its newest induction class will feature 21 people, including six who will be inducted posthumously.

The induction ceremony will be on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. These 21 inductees will bring the total up to 418 in the hall of fame.

2026 South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame Class

Taylor Baker: Rapid City Stevens (1998), Kansas State (2004)
Mike Begeman: Parker (1975), Augustana (1979)
Howard Blumhardt (posthumously): Bowdle (1946), South Dakota (1950)
Frank Cutler: Langford (1978), South Dakota State (1983)
Julie (Krauth) Dearring: Des Moines Roosevelt (IA) (1989), Augustana (1994)
Laticia DeCory: Pine Ridge (1989), Utah State (1994)
Jim Dorman: Castlewood (1970), South Dakota State (1975)
Dan Freidel: Armour (1980), Augustana (1984)
Barry French (posthumously): Sioux Falls Washington (1940), Purdue (1947)
Jeff Fylling (posthumously): Lennox (1974), Augustana (1978)
Randi (Morgan) Haines: Mitchell (2000), Dakota Weslyan (2004)
Mylo Jackson (posthumously): Ardmore (1929), Northern State (1934)
Greg Jimmerson: Rapid City Stevens (1993), Stanford (1998)
Louis Koupal (posthumously): St. Wenceslaus Catholic Parochial High School (1915)

Tim Miles: Doland, South Dakota native
Mike Miller: Mitchell (1998), Florida
Kent Mueller: Freeman (1976), Dakota Weslyan, South Dakota (1985)
John Papendick: Bridgewater (1978), South Dakota State (1984)
Thelma (Austin) Smalley (posthumously): Wagner (1926)
Jim Sorensen: Sioux Falls Washington (1962), Augustana (1966)
Jason Sutherland: Watertown (1993), Missouri (1997)

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