South Dakota

South Dakota looks to space for high-speed internet access initiative

Published

2 months ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

South Dakota looks to space for high-speed internet access initiative

Joshua Haiar
| South Dakota Searchlight

It’s expensive to extend fiber-optic cable to the remaining locations in South Dakota that don’t have high-speed internet, so the state is leaning into providers offering service from satellites in space.

The state’s ConnectSD initiative, which began in 2019, had helped bring broadband access to 91% of South Dakota by 2024. A state report noted the remaining 9% would be costly, given the price of bringing miles of fiber to remote areas with few customers.

The broadband initiative has cost $300 million so far, with funding from federal, state and private sources. Gov. Larry Rhoden announced recently that the state will soon receive another $72 million in federal funding for the effort.

A little more than a third of the new funding will go toward “Low Earth Orbit Satellite” technologies, like SpaceX’s Starlink, to reach 2,705 of the 7,060 locations in the state targeted for the funds. Most of the other targeted connections will come by way of fiber-optic cable, and 177 will come via signals beamed from cellular towers.

The satellite funding will not be used to pay for individual subscriptions, said a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

“Instead, the award reserves network capacity with the provider so service is available in those locations,” said Bri Vande Pol. “The provider is reimbursed on a per-location basis only when a customer subscribes to the service.”

Vande Pol said the federal funding requires providers to make high-speed internet available to each eligible location for at least 10 years. She said the provider receives 25% of the award upon confirming service is available, and the remaining payments for the reserved network capacity are made quarterly over the 10-year period.

The new federal money comes from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, authorized by the 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Act, passed during the Biden administration.

“Under the Trump administration’s changes to that program, states are encouraged to use a technology-neutral approach and connect locations in the most efficient way possible,” Vande Pol said.

“In some of South Dakota’s most remote areas, Low Earth Orbit satellite service is a strong, reliable solution that meets performance standards while allowing us to maximize the reach of available BEAD funding,” she added.

As of June 2025, South Dakota’s ConnectSD program had used $84.4 million in state general funds, $88.5 million in federal funds and $129.6 million in private investment from broadband providers to connect about 31,000 locations. The state and federal money has mostly been spent on grants to service providers, to help them expand their networks.

Rhoden’s latest proposed budget asks lawmakers to authorize $87 million in federal funding to be spent on broadband in the coming fiscal year.

Rhoden spokesperson Josie Harms said the $72 million figure announced in a press release represents “the amount that will actually be awarded to the subrecipients.”

“The $87 million amount is the total spending authority, which includes the project costs as well as administrative costs and marketing costs,” she wrote in an email to South Dakota Searchlight.

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

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South Dakota

Washington beats South Dakota State 72-54 for 1st women’s NCAA Tournament win since 2017

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Washington beats South Dakota State 72-54 for 1st women’s NCAA Tournament win since 2017

FORT WORTH, Texas — Avery Howell had 30 points and nine rebounds to lead Washington to its first women’s NCAA Tournament victory since 2017, beating South Dakota State 72-54 on Friday.

South Dakota State jumped out to a 13-3 lead in the first five minutes, but the game was tied at 15 when Howell made a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left in the first quarter. Howell made another 3 only 55 seconds into the second quarter to break that tie and put Washington (22-10) ahead to stay.

Howell, the transfer from Southern Cal who as a freshman last season was part of the Trojans’ run to the Elite Eight, finished with seven 3s.

“That allowed me to have some experience and just feel really comfortable in these type of high-pressure situations,” Howell said, referring to her previous NCAA tourney. “That just allows me to hopefully be a calming presence on the court and just be there for my teammates and for my coaches in any way that I can.”

Brooklyn Meyer had 29 points and seven rebounds for South Dakota State (27-7), which had its 10-game winning streak snapped. Emilee Fox had 14 points.

Brynn McGaughy added 14 points in 18 minutes for the sixth-seeded Huskies, whose last NCAA tourney win came on their way to the Sweet 16 nine years ago. They lost a First Four game to Columbia last season in what had been their only other appearance since then.

“Just really exciting because this is a program that has a lot of great history, a lot of great alumni, so many people that have poured into this university and this women’s basketball program,” coach Tina Langley said. “These young women, they’ve come in here and they’ve done something really hard and I think it says a lot about who they are.”

Washington guard Avery Howell (2) celebrates after sinking a basket as South Dakota State’s Hadley Thul (11) follows behind in the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 20, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. Credit: AP/Tony Gutierrez

Quick start for Jackrabbits

Meyer had seven points as the Jackrabbits got out to that early 10-point advantage.

“Felt like we were just rebounding well and taking good looks on offense and just being aggressive on both sides,” Meyer said.

“Couldn’t have asked for a better way to get the game going. So you start having a sense that, OK, there’s some things that are working for us,” South Dakota State coach Aaron Johnston said. “You know, we just gave up offensive rebounds, way too many offensive rebounds that were not contested ones. … I think that got them going and then we just started turning it over too much.”

Washington finished with a 40-25 rebounding margin, including 14 offensive boards that led to 14 second-chance points.

Washington head coach Tina Langley reacts to play in the... — Washington head coach Tina Langley reacts to play in the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against South Dakota State, Friday, March 20, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. Credit: AP/Tony Gutierrez

Ending another 20-win season

The Jackrabbits ended their 15th consecutive 20-win season, matching schools like No. 1 overall seed UConn, Baylor, Louisville and South Carolina with that kind of active streak.

The 11th-seeded Jackrabbits from the Summit League have twice won as a double-digit seed, including over seventh-seeded Oklahoma State last March.

Up next

The Huskies on Sunday play host and third-seeded TCU (30-5), an Elite Eight team last season that has won 43 consecutive home games since February 2023. The Horned Frogs beat UC San Diego 86-40 in their first-round game earlier Friday.

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SD Lottery Millionaire for Life winning numbers for March 19, 2026

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at March 19, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 19 drawing

07-35-55-56-57, Bonus: 04

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

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

Published

1 day 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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