With the opening of session comes the naming of new leaders and the voices of present leaders. For some South Dakotans, much of that is rebuilding faith in key state institutions after a few long years.

The opening of the 100^th South Dakota legislative session Tuesday also meant the delivery of what appears to be Gov. Kristi Noem’s final State of the State address.

Noem appears to be on the fast track to a Washington DC role in the looming Trump administration, as the likely upcoming Secretary of Homeland Security.

For her final address to South Dakota, though, Noem evoked the life of Gladys Pyle, the state’s first female Secretary of State and one-time candidate for governor.

“88 years later, I became the first female Governor of the state of South Dakota, but Gladys’ story reminds me sometimes that obstacles that people face sometimes prepare them for greatness,” Noem said. “America has been through a very difficult time, and now we stand on the cusp of a great American comeback.”

In the Senate Chris Karr was named as the new Pro Tempore of the chamber, a role reserved for senior members of the body. He said now is the time to reestablish trust in state institutions.

“What is paramount to me as I approach this position is the integrity of this institution,” Karr said. “I have sometimes called this institution an idea machine, because it takes ideas, and it puts them through a process – an adversarial process – of proponents and opponents. If we respect that process, I can assure you of a few things. That we can vet any idea no matter how controversial.”

Tuesday marked legislative day 1. Session runs through mid-March.

Read Noem’s full address here

MITCHELL — There’s a new No. 1-ranked team in Class AA boys basketball.

One of two remaining undefeated teams in the division, Sioux Falls Lincoln claimed the No. 1 position this week after slotting in at No. 2 since Dec. 16. While Lincoln was No. 2 for much of the 2022-23 season, it’s the Patriots’ first time atop Class AA since Feb. 18, 2019.

Lincoln garnered 16 of 17 first-place votes and 84 vote points this week, while Mitchell hung onto one top vote and 59 points for No. 2 in the poll, just ahead of No. 3 Brandon Valley with 53 points.

The defending state champion Kernels, who had occupied the top spot since taking over on Jan. 22, 2024, had a 22-game win streak snapped by No. 4 Harrisburg, which then lost to Huron, one of three teams receiving votes.

The South Dakota Prep Media basketball polls for the week of Jan. 13, 2025, are listed below, ranking the top five teams in each class. First-place votes are indicated in parentheses and teams are ranked by total points received.

1. Sioux Falls Lincoln (16), 6-0, 84; 2. Mitchell (1), 6-1, 59; 3. Brandon Valley, 5-1, 53; 4. Harrisburg, 4-2, 31; 5. Spearfish, 6-0, 13.
Others receiving votes: Sioux Falls Washington 8, O’Gorman 5, Huron 2.

1. Sioux Falls Christian (17), 6-0, 85; 2. Hamlin, 5-2, 60; 3. Dakota Valley, 7-0, 53; 4. Rapid City Christian, 9-0, 37; 5. Lennox, 6-1, 17.
Others receiving votes: West Central 2, St. Thomas More 1.

Complete control: Sioux Falls Christian defeated Hamlin 75-60 in a battle of Class A boys heavyweights over the weekend, and now SFC has the distinction of being the unanimous No. 1. Even with the loss, Hamlin remained at No. 2, seven vote points ahead of No. 3 Dakota Valley. Overall, the entire top-five order remained unchanged, with Rapid City Christian at No. 4 and Lennox at No. 5. Only three total votes landed outside the top five, with West Central getting two and St. Thomas More getting one.

1. Castlewood (14), 6-1, 81; 2. Dell Rapids St. Mary (3), 7-0, 70; 3. Viborg-Hurley, 7-1, 53; 4. Leola/Frederick Area, 8-0, 29; 5. Howard, 6-2, 18.
Others receiving votes: Wessington Springs 2, Freeman 1, Wolsey-Wessington 1.

Widening the gap: Last week, No. 5 Howard was separated from Wessington Springs as the top vote recipient outside the rankings by just one vote. This week, that margin expanded to 16 points, as the rest of the top five stayed intact. Four total votes landed outside the top five, with Springs still leading the way, followed by Freeman and Wolsey-Wessington. Neither received votes last week.

1. O’Gorman (17), 6-0, 85; 2. Sioux Falls Washington, 7-0, 67; 3. Brandon Valley, 5-1, 52; 4. Rapid City Stevens, 8-1, 34; 5. Spearfish, 4-2, 7.
Others receiving votes: Aberdeen Central 5, Harrisburg 3, Mitchell 2.

Battle of unbeatens on tap: No. 1 O’Gorman and No. 2 Sioux Falls Washington, the last two undefeated squads in the Class AA girls standings, square off on Tuesday night to decide the top team in the division. As it stands, O’Gorman is the unanimous No. 1 with 17 first-place votes, leading a top five that hasn’t changed since Dec. 16. Mitchell joined those receiving votes this week, while Brookings fell out.

1. Sioux Falls Christian (14), 8-0, 81; 2. Vermillion (1), 7-1, 64; 3. Mahpiya Luta (2), 8-0, 53; 4. Dakota Valley, 8-0, 22; 5. Hamlin, 5-2, 18.
Others receiving votes: Wagner 10, Elk Point-Jefferson 5, Rapid City Christian 2.

Patient Panthers: Out to an 8-0 start, Dakota Valley entered the Class A girls top five for the first time this season, checking in at No. 4. The Panthers had received votes in each edition of the poll before cracking the rankings this week. Last week’s No. 3 Wagner dropped a 47-43 final to Class B No. 4 Ethan, which caused the Red Raiders to fall out of the top five, though they still received 10 votes.

1. Centerville (16), 9-0, 84; 2. Parkston (1), 8-0, 64; 3. Lyman, 5-0, 51; 4. Ethan, 7-1, 38; T-5. Dell Rapids St. Mary, 7-1, 6; T-5. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket, 5-2, 6.
Others receiving votes: Andes Central/Dakota Christian 1, Colman-Egan 1, Corsica-Stickney 1, Kadoka Area 1, Bennett County 1, Harding County 1.

Quite the cluster: While the top four in the Class B girls poll remained firm, the group battling for the No. 5 spot continued to grow. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket maintained its No. 5 ranking but fell into a tie with Dell Rapids St. Mary for the spot, both teams receiving six votes. Among those outside the poll receiving votes, six programs got one vote apiece. This class is poised to see some shakeup in next week’s poll, as No. 1 Centerville squares off with No. 4 Ethan and No. 2 Parkston battles No. 3 Lyman at the Hanson Classic on Saturday.