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Statewide South Dakota 911 outage caused by hurricane in southern US, provider says • South Dakota Searchlight

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Statewide South Dakota 911 outage caused by hurricane in southern US, provider says • South Dakota Searchlight


A second statewide 911 outage this year is suspected to have been caused by Hurricane Beryl making landfall in Texas on Tuesday night and damaging network infrastructure, according to South Dakota’s 911 telecommunications provider Lumen, formerly known as CenturyLink. 

Investigations into the cause are still ongoing, said spokesman Matthew Villarreal.

“Our techs worked hard to fix an intermittent disruption affecting some customers’ ability to reach 911 in South Dakota and parts of Nebraska,” Villarreal said in an emailed statement. “We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding.”

South Dakota signed its contract with Lumen for “Next Generation 911 services” in 2019 and has since renewed the contract until 2029. The contract is for up to $36.33 million.

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Lumen is headquartered in Louisiana, with network infrastructure running throughout the country. April’s statewide 911 outage in South Dakota was caused by a company installing a light pole in Kansas City, Missouri, the company said at the time.

In addition to the statewide outages, an outage in January disrupted 911 service in southeastern South Dakota, leaving customers in Lincoln, Union, Miner and Minnehaha counties unable to call 911 with a landline for hours, according to reporting from Siouxland Proud.

This week’s hurricane also caused an AT&T network outage impacting 911 calls in Texas and Louisiana.

Company with $36 million SD 911 contract says outage caused by Missouri light pole installation

Sioux Falls residents were without 911 services for about six hours between two outages Tuesday night and into early Wednesday morning, said Michael Gramlick, Sioux Falls assistant fire chief and director of Metro Communications. The outage affected hundreds of calls for emergency services throughout South Dakota.

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Gramlick said the state’s largest city was “immediately aware” of the outage, and its Metro Communications took steps learned from April’s outage to troubleshoot and keep 911 services up and running, including alerting residents to call a non-emergency number or text 911. 

The city had 522 calls for service (including text messages and calls to the non-emergency number) during the outage — twice as many calls as a typical day. Many were “test calls” by residents, Gramlick added, and all calls received a call back from 911 services.

The two outages are forcing 911 communications offices — both locally and at the state level — to reevaluate redundancy efforts, Gramlick said.

“We don’t want to believe that this is a regular occurrence, but our job is to plan for those occurrences,” Gramlick said. 

Stephanie Olson, deputy director of operations for Pennington County 911, said the western side of the state experienced a similar outage timeline. Staff in the dispatch center were notified of the first outage Tuesday night by the state 911 coordinator, but noticed the second outage themselves.

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“We can see when someone is attempting to call 911, but then our phone system doesn’t ring, so we know there’s a problem with the phone system,” Olson said. The county called back 32 residents when the initial call didn’t come through.

Residents calling from Verizon and AT&T phones were calling a dead line, Olson explained, while some T-Mobile and landline phones were diverted to alternate 911 centers in Canada and Colorado that handle misrouted calls.

“We’re learning to continue educating our staff and citizens on the capabilities of 911 and that text is available. That was up and running all night,” Olson said. “If they call and can’t get through, we have redundancies in place.”

State agency to probe why 911 network backup systems failed to work

The Federal Communications Commission announced after this year’s earlier statewide outage it would investigate recent outages across the country. The FCC recently declined to provide an update on the investigation to South Dakota Searchlight.

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“As a general practice, we don’t comment on investigations,” an FCC spokesperson said in an email.

After a 2020 outage in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and North Carolina, the commission investigated whether Lumen, in addition to three other companies, failed to deliver 911 calls and timely notify public safety customers. In a settlement, Lumen agreed to implement a compliance plan and pay a $3.8 million civil penalty.

Lumen serves the Omaha area and some other eastern Nebraska counties. The company is being investigated there for recent outages in 2023 and earlier this year, according to the Nebraska Examiner.

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety, which manages the state contract with Lumen, did not issue a news release about this week’s outage and did not respond to emailed questions from South Dakota Searchlight by the time this article published.

 

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Iverson Ford Welcomes the 2027 Ford Expedition to Drivers Across Eastern South Dakota

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Iverson Ford Welcomes the 2027 Ford Expedition to Drivers Across Eastern South Dakota


Iverson Ford now offers the 2027 Ford Expedition, giving families throughout Huron, Mitchell, Aberdeen, Watertown, Brookings, De Smet, Redfield, Miller, and surrounding South Dakota communities access to a full-size SUV with advanced technology, impressive capability, and spacious three-row comfort.

— Iverson Ford is proud to offer the 2027 Ford Expedition, providing drivers throughout Eastern South Dakota with Ford’s latest full-size SUV engineered for growing families, outdoor adventures, towing capability, and everyday versatility. The newest Expedition combines three-row comfort, advanced driver-assist technologies, modern connectivity, and confident performance for today’s active lifestyles.

Located at 2500 Dakota Avenue South in Huron, Iverson Ford serves customers from Huron, Mitchell, Aberdeen, Watertown, Brookings, De Smet, Redfield, Miller, Woonsocket, and surrounding South Dakota communities. As part of the Iverson Auto Group, the dealership offers an extensive selection of new Ford vehicles supported by experienced product specialists, financing professionals, and certified Ford service technicians. 

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The 2027 Ford Expedition continues Ford’s commitment to delivering capability and comfort in one versatile SUV. Designed for families who need generous passenger space and flexible cargo capacity, the Expedition is well suited for daily commuting, weekend road trips, towing recreational equipment, and exploring South Dakota’s parks, lakes, and outdoor destinations.

“Our team enjoys helping customers find an SUV that fits both their lifestyle and long-term transportation needs,” said a representative of Iverson Ford. “The 2027 Ford Expedition offers the capability, technology, and versatility that many South Dakota families value, whether they’re traveling across town or across the state.”

Demand for full-size SUVs continues to grow as drivers seek vehicles that balance passenger comfort with towing capability and advanced safety features. Iverson Ford helps customers compare Expedition trim levels, explore available technologies, and select the model that best matches their family’s needs while providing continued support through financing, certified maintenance, and genuine Ford parts. 

Drivers interested in the 2027 Ford Expedition are encouraged to browse available inventory online or visit Iverson Ford in Huron to experience the SUV firsthand.

About Iverson Ford

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Iverson Ford is a full-service Ford dealership located in Huron, South Dakota. Serving drivers throughout Huron, Mitchell, Aberdeen, Watertown, Brookings, De Smet, Redfield, Miller, and surrounding communities, the dealership offers new Ford vehicles, quality pre-owned vehicles, financing, certified Ford service, genuine OEM Ford parts, and customer-focused automotive solutions backed by more than 75 years of service through the Iverson Auto Group.

Contact Info:
Name: Iverson Ford
Email: Send Email
Organization: Iverson Ford
Address: 2500 Dakota Ave S, Huron, SD 57350
Phone: +16053526464
Website: https://www.iversonford.com/

Release ID: 89197473

In case of identifying any problems, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content shared in this press release, or if a press release needs to be taken down, we urge you to notify us immediately by contacting error@releasecontact.com (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our dedicated team will be readily accessible to address your concerns and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any issues identified or assist with the removal process. We are committed to delivering high-quality content and ensuring accuracy for our valued readers.

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Petition to clarify South Dakota proof of citizenship law shot down over technicality

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Petition to clarify South Dakota proof of citizenship law shot down over technicality


Under state law, any “interested person” can petition state boards to change administrative rules.

But South Dakota citizens and organizations don’t qualify as “persons” under that chapter of state law. The existence of that limitation surprised some members of the state Board of Elections on Wednesday during a meeting called for the express purpose of voting to advance or defeat a rules package the body spent two hours pondering last week.

The League of Women Voters leaned on what it believed to be its right to petition state board earlier this month when it offered the board a series of rule changes the group argued were necessary to standardize the administration of a new state law that requires first-time voter registrants to provide proof of U.S. citizenship.

The board dismissed the petition in a 5-2 vote on Wednesday after one of the board members told the group that the advocacy nonprofit lacks the legal standing to ask for the changes.

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Last minute check of statutes calls petitioners’ status into question

The definition of a “person” able to petition a state board for a rule change only includes political subdivisions or agencies of the state, board member and retired Rapid City attorney Scott McGregor said.

McGregor did not attend the initial board meeting last week when the petition was presented, but he reviewed the matter over the weekend, he told South Dakota Searchlight after the meeting. With a 40-year career “making legal arguments based on statutory interpretations,” McGregor also reviewed relevant laws regarding the petition process.

McGregor said he wanted to see if “interested person” had a broad enough definition to include organizations such as the League of Women Voters.

“‘Person’ in various contexts has an awful lot of definitions,” McGregor said. “It depends on the section of the law you’re dealing with and the level of government you’re dealing with.”

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McGregor spoke with the Secretary of State’s Office and its legal counsel earlier this week to confirm his interpretation. Deputy Secretary Tom Deadrick told McGregor that other agencies have accepted rule petitions from individuals.

“Even if other agencies have done it,” McGregor told Searchlight,” that doesn’t change the law.”

McGregor told board members he was “shocked” by the limitations.

“That may be an oversight, but that’s all that’s in there,” McGregor said during the meeting.

Board member Kent Alberty said he was “disappointed” that the law’s restrictions on petitioners wasn’t shared with board members earlier. Alberty, during last week’s meeting, said that he saw a need for at least some standardization in procedures in the administration of the citizenship requirement.

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Alberty voted against the dismissal on Wednesday, as did Dewey County Auditor Jamalia Franzen.

McGregor told South Dakota Searchlight that the law should be reviewed legislatively.

“There is a certain unfairness to it,” McGregor said.

Acceptable documents for proving one’s citizenship under the new law in question on Wednesday include a birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, non-driver’s identification card or tribal identification card, or “any other type of acceptable documentation” under federal law. Photocopies of most of those documents are acceptable, but registrants using state- or tribally issued identification cards must have the physical cards with them.

If a voter does not provide necessary documentation, they are registered as federal-only voters and cannot participate in local or state elections.

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The League of Women Voters proposals included:

  • Allowing photocopies of identification cards, such as tribal IDs and driver’s licenses, to be used as proof of citizenship.
  • Recognizing tribal identification cards from any federally recognized tribe, rather than just the nine tribes in South Dakota.
  • Allowing voters designated as federal-only an opportunity to cast provisional ballots for local elections while appealing their eligibility.
  • Adding specific language to the state’s voter registration form to explain that not offering a physical South Dakota address would cause them to be designated as federal-only voters.
  • Adding language to notifications confirming a voter’s registration clearly saying if the registrant is a federal-only voter, as well as language explaining how to remedy the situation.

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson was ill during last week’s board meeting, at which the group took testimony from supporters of each rule. No one from her office was on hand to rebut the supporters, but her staff did file written responses in opposition.

On Wednesday, Johnson told the board that the new law, as written, does not allow photocopies of driver’s licenses, only the original card. She added that while no formal appeal process exists for voters registered as federal-only, they can remedy their status by resubmitting their registration with proper documentation.

“The League of Women Voters and other concerned organizations could look at amending the current law in the 2027 legislative session, if that is their wish,” Johnson said.

Johnson will not be seeking re-election for secretary of state in November. She lost the Republican nomination at last month’s state party convention to state Rep. Heather Baxter, who supported the bill that created the new law during the legislative session and will oversee its administration if elected. Baxter will face Democratic nominee Terrence Davis in the general election.

Baxter submitted public comment ahead of Wednesday’s meeting and compared the proposed changes to presenting a photocopy of identification to get through security at the airport or purchase alcohol. The state Department of Public Safety does not accept photocopies of identification documents, Baxter said.

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“So why allow the League to make such changes to what law already clearly states as well as other state departments?!” Baxter wrote.

Amy Scott-Stoltz, president of the League of Women Voters of South Dakota, said the organization is “disappointed” in the board’s decision and “reviewing our options” regarding advancing its proposals and challenging the board’s dismissal.

The group’s petition was meant to make sure the new law is “uniformly implemented across the state and that voters and county auditors alike would have clear guidance about their obligations under the law in advance of the November election,” Scott-Stoltz said.

“We intend to continue our work in South Dakota to ensure that every American citizen can access the ballot box,” Scott-Stoltz said.

— This story was originally published on southdakotasearchlight.com.

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SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for July 8, 2026

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

Here’s a look at July 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 8 drawing

12-29-37-43-55, Powerball: 18, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Lotto America numbers from July 8 drawing

17-26-31-32-37, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from July 8 drawing

07-11-18-31-33

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 8 drawing

16-18-43-48-50, Bonus: 01

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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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