South Dakota

The history of Alligators in South Dakota

Published

2 years ago

May 1, 2024

The history of Alligators in South Dakota

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Alligators in South Dakota. Of course, there aren’t any gators roaming around in a nearby lake.

However, alligators did once call the state home.

Believe it or not, alligators did roam the lands of what is now South Dakota millions of years ago.

Interim Director of Museum of Geology Darrin Pagnac says the earliest records of alligators in South Dakota come from the late Jurassic Period.

“Our earliest record here in the Black Hills is from about 150 million years ago from the Morrison Formation. Morrison Formation is where Dinosaur National Monument is. So, we get a lot of long neck dinosaurs and allosaurs and that sort of thing and crocodilians are very common,” says Pagnac.

Pagnac added that it is common to find alligator fossils from the late Cretaceous Period in the northwestern part of the state. He went on to say that although alligators survived the dinosaur extinction 66 million years ago, the reptiles would later go extinct in the lands of what is South Dakota today.

“About 38 to 35 million years ago, that’s probably about the time they went extinct. And their extinction coincides with uh drying and cooling trend that we see throughout South Dakota. We lost these tropical swamps and forests and things really changed to a more temperate kind of seasonal environment,” says Pagnac.

Reptile Gardens General Curator Terry Phillip says historically crocodilians have been one of the most successful groups of animals in the world and they have undergone very few changes in appearance in the last 200 million years.

“Anytime you have an animal that has a fossil record that goes back that far, with very few changes, size being the biggest change that you’re going to see. They just got a little smaller. But, when you see an animal that successful, it just shows the design concept was perfect to begin with,” says Phillip.

Since alligators have been non-existent in South Dakota for millions of years, Earl Brockelsby opened Reptile Gardens in 1937 as a way to reintroduce them to the state.

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South Dakota

Pictures of semi-truck, name of woman released in Minnehaha County fatal crash

Published

3 hours ago

January 11, 2026

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Pictures of semi-truck, name of woman released in Minnehaha County fatal crash

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota Department of Public Safety has released the name of the woman who was killed in a fatal crash in Minnehaha County last week.

64-year-old Patricia Archambeau of Mitchell died on January 5 due to her injuries in a crash that took place in the early hours of Saturday, January 3.

Archambeau’s 2012 Chevrolet Traverse was traveling eastbound on I-90 near mile marker 379, about four miles west of Humboldt, when she attempted to pull off on the side of the road.

At the same time, the Traverse was struck by a semi-truck, also traveling eastbound, and pulling a trailer. The truck continued driving east after the crash and has yet to be located.

On Sunday, the South Dakota Highway Patrol released two images of the semi-truck suspected of hitting Archambeau’s Traverse. The two photos were taken on I-29 near 41st Street in Sioux Falls at 2:25 a.m., about 12 minutes after the crash west of Humboldt.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol has released two images of a semi-truck believed to be involved in a fatal crash that took place last Saturday in Minnehaha County.(South Dakota Highway Patrol)

Highway Patrol is seeking more information about a red Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck, missing its passenger-side headlight. If anyone has information, they’re asked to contact Highway Patrol at 605-367-5700.

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South Dakota

South Dakota knocks off Denver 82-72

Published

15 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Cameron Fens scored 23 points as South Dakota beat Denver 82-72 on Saturday.

Fens also contributed 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Coyotes (9-9, 1-2 Summit League). Isaac Bruns scored 20 points while going 8 of 12 and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line and added six rebounds. Jordan Crawford went 5 of 11 from the field (3 for 7 from 3-point range) to finish with 13 points.

Gabe Oldham led the Pioneers (8-11, 1-3) in scoring, finishing with 24 points, 13 rebounds and two steals. Denver also got 19 points from Zane Nelson. Carson Johnson also put up 11 points and six assists.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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South Dakota

SD Highway Patrol releases new details on hit and run, asks for public’s help

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

SD Highway Patrol releases new details on hit and run, asks for public’s help

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota Highway Patrol is continuing to look for the suspect in a deadly hit-and-run near Humboldt, SD.

In a Facebook post, the SD Highway Patrol has released new details regarding the semi suspected of committing the hit and run.

According to police, the semi is a red Freightliner Cascadia semi, missing its passenger-side headlight.

The semi was traveling eastbound from the Humboldt area on I-90 in the early morning hours of Jan. 3, 2026.

Police are seeking information, video, or pictures from 2:13 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. along I-90 and I-29 from the public.

If you have any tips or footage, contact the South Dakota Highway Patrol District 2 Office at (605) 367-5700.

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