Opinion

South Dakota’s pretty darn special. What other state has the lowest unemployment rate in America, the 2nd best overall tax system, the 2nd least regulations, no income tax, a AAA credit rating, a fully-funded pension, and 136 consecutive years of balanced budgets? Very few states can boast even one such accolade – and no other state can boast all of them together.

Eliza beth “Libbie” Custer never forgot the spring blizzard which raged in Yankton in April of 1874. The wife of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer had celebrated her 31st birthday with her husband less than a week earlier in a railroad car on the train carrying the Seventh Cavalry Regiment to a new assignment in Dakota Territory.

On July 10, 2025, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins ordered the immediate closure of southern border ports to livestock trade following renewed threats from New World Screwworm (NWS) spreading north from Mexico. The latest case was located just 370 miles south of the U.S./Mexico border.

Brindy Bolander of Winner is one of 14 South Dakota State University College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences students awarded a grant that will allow them to conduct a research project under the mentorship of a college faculty member. Bolander will use stable isotopes to determine the effect of hypoxia on Largemouth Bass diets in a research project in the area of natural resource management. David Coulter from the natural resource management department will mentor Bolander on the project.

The South Dakota Commission on Child Support is soliciting public input on potential changes to South Dakota child support guidelines and related state laws. Information on the potential changes is available on the Division of Child Support website at dss.

Some of our readers have had questions about the pool fund balance shown in the Gregory Times-Advocate from time to time, so the City Finance Office provided the following explanation to help clear up any confusion: Although it is perfectly clear to me, I realize that I am sitting in front of all these numbers that I have meticulously organized and broken down in this file in the cabinet and that file on the computer, but it occurred to me that maybe this is not as clear to those that do not stare at numbers all day. I thought I would take a moment and better explain the pool funds/accounts.

hoden South Dakota is the freest state in America, and that holds extra true for our 2nd Amendment rights. We have a long history of recognizing the 2nd Amendment dating all the way back to our early homesteaders – in fact, I just saw a mock shootout in 1880 Town.

Independence Day marks a pivotal moment in American History. On a summer day 249 years ago, inside Independence Hall, our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and declared liberty from tyranny. Their Declaration confirms that liberty is not a privilege, but a right given by our Creator. This day is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the American spirit – and of American freedom.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that delivers long-awaited tax relief to millions of older Americans.

The South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office is pleased to announce that the State of Minnesota has officially recognized Restricted Enhanced Permit holders who are under the age of 21 years old. This expanded recognition allows permit holders to legally carry in Minnesota.