South Dakota
South Dakota Senate revives bill to expand powers for state auditor • South Dakota Searchlight

The state Senate voted unanimously to grant the state auditor the right to access and investigate agency records on Thursday — 24 hours after shooting down the idea by a single vote.
The Wednesday loss for Senate Bill 60 at the state Capitol in Pierre came amid confusion over a compromise amendment meant to appease the concerns of the governor’s office. The bill was introduced by Attorney General Marty Jackley and supported by Auditor Rich Sattgast.
Several lawmakers said Wednesday from the Senate floor in Pierre that all three offices had agreed to remove the audit and investigatory authority of the auditor from the original bill, so as not to duplicate the work of the attorney general.
Others signaled that such a move would defang the bill, and that they preferred the attorney general-supported version that cleared a Senate committee on Jan. 27.
The auditor and attorney general sat in the gallery for the second round of debate on the bill Thursday. Jackley brought it to lawmakers at the start of session in the face of the myriad scandals involving former state employees.
- Ex-Department of Social Services (DSS) employee Lonna Carroll is accused last July of embezzling $1.8 million from the state.
- Former Department of Revenue employee Sandra O’Day allegedly created 13 fake vehicles to help her secure $400,000 in loans before her death last year. Two more former revenue department employees, Lynne Hunsley and Danielle Degenstein, were later charged for malfeasance.
- Renee Strong faces felony charges for allegedly submitting falsified reports of food-service health inspections for the Department of Public Safety.
- Former DSS employee Amalia Escalante Barrientos pleaded guilty last month to a misdemeanor for using a voucher intended for a foster family to buy groceries for herself.
Senate revives auditor authority bill
After the Senate voted to reconsider SB 60 on Thursday, Sen. Jim Mehlhaff, R-Pierre, moved an amendment similar to the one he’d spoken against the day before. There was “quite a bit of confusion” Wednesday about Jackley’s position on the compromise amendment, he said, but “this is very much supported by the attorney general,” as well as the governor’s office and auditor.
Currently, the state auditor doesn’t have the authority to access agency records and assess their financial and operational fidelity. In its original form, SB 60 empowered the auditor with access to the financial and internal records of state agencies for the purposes of conducting audits, and to conduct investigations.
The governor’s office had argued that an elected state auditor doesn’t necessarily have the professional expertise to conduct agency audits. There were also concerns about duplicating investigative efforts.
Thursday’s amendment still removed audit authority, but preserved access to records, as well as the ability to investigate financial transactions. In the event malfeasance or irregularities emerge, the auditor would report them to the attorney general.
Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, said he was pleased to see the state office-holders compromise with the legislature to ease their worries about the bill’s value as a bulwark against misconduct.
“Do I still like the original bill? I do. Is this amendment, I think, a compromise we should move forward? I think it is,” Karr said.
Wednesday’s version of the bill died 17-18; Thursday’s iteration passed 35-0.
The Senate did vote Wednesday to advance another Jackley-backed transparency bill, Senate Bill 61, which seeks to strengthen the state’s internal control board.
Senate Bill 60 now moves to the state House of Representatives.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.

South Dakota
SD Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for June 9, 2025
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at June 9, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 9 drawing
30-33-40-43-52, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from June 9 drawing
03-07-17-29-46, Lucky Ball: 15
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from June 9 drawing
06-14-35-44-49, Star Ball: 05, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America 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.
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.
South Dakota
Komet Caisen Thome Commits to South Dakota

The major local, regional and national news events, sports, weather conditions and traffic are examined and reported by the ABC 6 News Team.
(ABC 6 News) — After a strong senior campaign with the Kasson-Mantorville Komets, Caisen Thome will continue to play football at the Division I level, joining the University of South Dakota.
Thome originally signed with Iowa Western, but switched to follow in his father’s footsteps as a coyote. Caisen was featured as a Prep Athelte of the Week this past football season, you can watch his story here.
South Dakota
A strictly free market would make businesses free to ignore South Dakota | Opinion

South Dakota Republicans could be choosing from a crowded field when they make their choice for governor in the 2026 primary. With as many as five candidates in the race, would-be governors will need to find a way to distinguish themselves from the pack.
The first announced candidate for that race was Speaker of the House Jon Hansen, a Dell Rapids attorney. He declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in April.
Hansen was the first candidate for governor to come from the new MAGA wing of the South Dakota Republican Party—referred to as “grassroots patriots” in his announcement speech. His campaign platform contains many of the topics his wing of the party has made a priority: cutting government spending, allowing school choice, protecting private property rights, opposing abortion and tightening election laws.
Another topic that Hansen touched on was ending “corporate welfare.” That’s the name he has given to the practice of using taxpayer dollars to boost private business. His example of corporate welfare gone bad was Tru Shrimp. The company was given a $6.5 million loan of state and local funds six years ago to build a facility in Madison. While the company did manage to change its name to Iterro, it has yet to break ground.
“I think it’s just unnecessary government mingling, and it’s risky business, and they’re wasting our taxpayer dollars to do it,” Hansen said in a South Dakota Searchlight story. “It’s the sort of stuff that we want to say ‘no more’ to. Let’s get back to the free market, low tax and low regulation.”
South Dakota got serious about using state dollars to entice and build business in 1987 when Gov. George Mickelson helped to create the Revolving Economic Development and Initiative Fund. Mickelson was able to convince the Legislature to implement a 1% sales tax increase that would sunset once it had raised $40 million for the REDI Fund. Since then the Governor’s Office of Economic Development has made loans and grants worth millions of dollars to new and existing businesses and industries in the state.
Taking state government loans and grants out of the marketplace would certainly be one way Hansen could approach his new role if he were elected governor. That tactic, however, fails to consider the fact that a financial boost from the state is sometimes what it takes to get the free market interested in investing in South Dakota.
Putting an end to low-interest government loans would certainly put the state at a disadvantage when it comes to competing with other states for business and industry.
A recent news release from the GOED showed just how invested the state has become in helping businesses grow. The news release noted a $3.4 million grant for the Big Stone Energy Storage Project thermal energy facility, a $2.6 million grant for a Bel Brands expansion and a $250,682 grant to Dakota Line Energy for a lagoon digester.
The news release said the grants would result in $419 million in capital expenditures and create 180 full-time jobs. In essence, the state is betting $6 million in hopes of getting a $419 million payoff. That kind of “government mingling,” as Hansen called it, seems to offer pretty good odds. It is, however, as he noted, “risky business.”
At its heart, investing in economic development will always be a bit of a gamble. That’s why we expect government officials to place safe bets, though there is always the chance for a bust like Tru Shrimp. That’s the nature of any gamble.
Hansen won’t be the only “patriot” in the Republican primary for governor, with Aberdeen businessman and political influencer Toby Doeden also declaring his candidacy. If “corporate welfare” is going to be an issue in the GOP primary, the people who like to use state loans and grants to boost their local economies have got to do a better job of telling about the benefits of government investment.
One way to do that would be to keep telling their story after the initial news release has been issued. Beyond the cliched photo of local officials with hardhats and shovels for a groundbreaking, taxpayers deserve regular updates on capital expenditures and job creation. This would add a layer of government transparency to the use of tax dollars. It would also soften the criticism from people like Hansen when an outfit like Tru Shrimp is slow to pay off on its state investment.
Politicians often like to tout the benefits of the “free market.” By curtailing state grants and low-interest loans, that market will be free to invest in states that are more financially welcoming.
In 1987, the state’s economy was badly in need of a jump-start, and it got one from Gov. Mickelson and the REDI Fund. Since then, that gamble has paid off more often than it’s gone bust. What Hansen calls “corporate welfare” has been a usually sound investment for South Dakota.
Dana Hess spent more than 25 years in South Dakota journalism, editing newspapers in Redfield, Milbank and Pierre. He’s retired and lives in Brookings, working occasionally as a freelance writer.
-
Politics1 week ago
Michelle Obama facing backlash over claim about women's reproductive health
-
Finance1 week ago
Here's what will boost your feeling of financial well-being the most, researchers say
-
West3 days ago
Battle over Space Command HQ location heats up as lawmakers press new Air Force secretary
-
Technology1 week ago
Why do SpaceX rockets keep exploding?
-
World1 week ago
Two killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine before possible talks in Turkiye
-
World1 week ago
Ncuti Gatwa Bids Doctor Who Farewell as Finale Ends With a Most Surprising Twist — Grade It!
-
News1 week ago
Trump administration continues to target international students. What to know and what could be next.
-
Vermont1 week ago
MMU’s Bea Molson returns to glory, CVU girls claim doubles at tennis championships