The South Dakota Department of Corrections released two agency leaders and a top correctional officer with little fanfare.

DOC spokesman Michael Winder confirmed Director of Prisons Amber Pirraglia, as well as South Dakota State Penitentiary Warden Joseph Roemmich, and Cody Hanson, a correctional major who led the uniformed officers within the Sioux Falls prison, are “no longer employed” by the state in a brief email to The Dakota Scout.

Winder did not respond to specific questions asking for the rationale behind the terminations, but DOC Secretary Nick Lamb said the decision was made to realign the positions with his vision for the department in an Aug. 5 statement to The Scout.

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Stay up to date with The Dakota Scout + Lyrical Limelight event listings from across the state. From festivals and concerts to theater performances, local sports and community gatherings, we bring you the latest updates on entertainment and activities for all interests. Whether you’re seeking family-friendly fun, cultural experiences or vibrant nightlife, you’ll find plenty of exciting events to explore.

Submit your events to The Dakota Scout and Lyrical Limelight by emailing events@thedakotascout.com.

THIS WEEK

Friday, Aug. 7

Shootout at the Lake

All day | Horsemen’s Sports Inc Arena, Mitchell

The two-day rodeo event returns Aug. 7-8 at Horsemen’s Sports Inc Arena. Dustin Evans is scheduled to perform Friday, while the city-approved event permits also cover amplified sound and fireworks.

Ride the Rush Veterans Breakfast

7-10 a.m. | Main Street Square, Rapid City | Free

Veterans and community members can gather for a free breakfast presented with VFW Post 1273. The morning includes veteran speakers, music from the Lonely Rangers and other services and activities downtown.

Trail of Governors unveiling of former Gov. Kristi Noem’s statue

10 a.m. | South Dakota State Capitol grounds, Pierre

The Trail of Governors Foundation will unveil its statue honoring former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem during a public ceremony on the Capitol grounds.

Sioux Empire Fair

10 a.m.-close | W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, Sioux Falls | Free until 1 p.m.; then $10 adults, $5 ages 6-12

The Sioux Empire Fair concludes its 2026 run Aug. 7-8 with carnival rides, livestock exhibitions, food vendors, demonstrations and scheduled entertainment. Children 5 and younger receive free admission.

Jazzed with Bobby Gripp

Noon-1 p.m. | Old Courthouse Museum plaza, Sioux Falls | Free

Bobby Gripp performs during the Old Courthouse Museum’s outdoor summer concert series. Guests may bring lunch and a chair or blanket for the midday performance.

‘Curveballs’ documentary premiere

4:30-7 p.m. | El Riad Shrine, Sioux Falls

The premiere introduces a documentary about the LS Warriors National Amputee Baseball Team. The public event offers a closer look at the players, their stories and the team’s role in adaptive sports.

Free First Friday

5-8 p.m. | Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls | Free

Visitors can explore more than 100 exhibits in the Kirby Science Discovery Center and the galleries of the Visual Arts Center without paying admission during the Pavilion’s monthly evening event.

August Open Streets and Wags & Wine

5-8 p.m. | Phillips Avenue between Ninth and 11th streets, Sioux Falls | Free

Downtown Sioux Falls closes part of Phillips Avenue to traffic for an evening of outdoor activities, vendors and the Summer Art & Wine Walk. August’s edition includes the Wags & Wine pet theme.

Backyard BBQ Brisket Cookoff

6 p.m. Friday; activities continue Saturday | Fischers Lilly Park, Fort Pierre | $20 donation for Saturday tasting; lunch $10

The cookoff begins Friday with the Calcutta before Saturday’s breakfast, lunch and public brisket sampling. Attendees can taste entries and vote during the noon-3 p.m. sampling period.

Garden Party

6:30-8 p.m. | McCrory Gardens, Brookings | Free

McCrory Gardens hosts an outdoor evening with SDSU ice cream, live jazz and lawn games. Guests can explore the gardens while listening to music.

Chris Smith: East Coast Trio

Aug. 7-8 6:30-8 p.m. and 9-10:30 p.m. | Trio Jazz Club, Sioux Falls

Drummer Chris Smith leads a trio featuring saxophonist Doug Stone and bassist Josh Paris. Two separate performances are scheduled Friday night at Trio Jazz Club.

Cassidy Daniels

7-9:30 p.m. | Levitt at the Falls, Sioux Falls | Free

Join us for a free outdoor concert at Levitt at the Falls featuring Cassidy Daniels, a North Carolina-born artist and writer with a soulful voice and incredible lyrics. Bring a lawn chair, your crew and your own snacks — or enjoy food trucks and beverages on site!

Frozen Jr.

7-9 p.m. | Orpheum Theater Center, Sioux Falls

Young performers present a stage adaptation of the Disney story, featuring familiar characters and songs. Performances within this week’s window continue Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

James and the Giant Peach Jr.

7 p.m. | Belbas Theater, Sioux Falls

Spotlight Theatre Company presents the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s story about a boy who takes an unusual ocean voyage with a group of giant insects. Additional performances are scheduled Saturday at 1 and 3:30 p.m.

Open Streets Dance at Cherapa Place

8-10 p.m. | Cherapa Place Plaza, Sioux Falls | Free

The Open Streets program continues after dark with an outdoor dance featuring Undercover Band. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the plaza.

Geddes Fur Trader Days

Time not listed | Locations around Geddes

The community celebration runs Aug. 7-9 with a parade, flea market, softball, a 5K, children’s activities, bull riding, a tractor pull and other events.

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Times vary | Sturgis and surrounding Black Hills communities | Costs vary

The 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally begins Aug. 7 and continues through Aug. 16 with concerts, motorcycle events, vendor areas, organized rides and gatherings throughout the northern Black Hills.

Saturday, Aug. 8

Megadeth

Saturday, August 8 • 10:30 p.m.
Wolfman Jack Stage at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, Sturgis • Buffalo Chip admission required

Megadeth brings its thrash-metal catalog to the Buffalo Chip during the opening weekend of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Sensory Friendly Swim

8:30-10:30 a.m. | Spearfish Rec and Aquatics Center, Spearfish | Registration required

The Autism Society of the Black Hills hosts a quieter swimming session with reduced crowds and sensory demands. Advance registration is recommended.

Adams Homestead Celebration

10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, North Sioux City | Free

The annual celebration explores pioneer and farm life through threshing demonstrations, corn shelling, candle and rope making, Dutch oven cooking, homestead tours and a pie contest.

USS South Dakota Day of Honor

10 a.m. | Battleship South Dakota Memorial, Sioux Falls

The observance begins with a Sioux Falls Municipal Band brass quintet performance at 10 a.m., followed by the formal ceremony at 11. The submitted program lists South Dakota Veterans Affairs Secretary Jeremiah Schneider as guest speaker, with a noon book release focused on Calvin Graham, who became a combat veteran at age 12.

Twin Brooks Threshing Show

1 p.m. Saturday parade | Twin Brooks | $10 weekend admission; children under 12 free

The two-day agricultural history show includes antique machinery, demonstrations, food and parades. Saturday’s parade begins at 1 p.m., with another scheduled Sunday at 3 p.m.

Karts and Mowers at University Plains Speedway

3 p.m. | University Plains Speedway, Brookings | $5 ages 12 and older; younger children free

Kart and racing-mower competitors take to the speedway for an afternoon of short-track racing. Spectator gates open at noon, followed by hot laps at 2 p.m. and racing at 3.

Dr. Feelgood Street Dance

7-10 p.m. | Mitchell Main Street, Mitchell

Dr. Feelgood performs during an outdoor street dance in downtown Mitchell. The event is scheduled as part of the city’s summer special-event calendar.

Kory and the Fireflies

7-9:30 p.m. | Levitt at the Falls, Sioux Falls | Free

Join us for a free outdoor concert at Levitt at the Falls featuring KORY and the FIREFLIES, a Sioux Falls favorite delivering energetic, feel-good performances. Bring a lawn chair, your crew and your own snacks — or enjoy food trucks and beverages on site!

Ne-Yo Night featuring Soleil

8 p.m. doors | ICON Events, Sioux Falls

ICON hosts a Ne-Yo-themed nightlife event featuring Soleil. The listing is a tribute-style event and does not advertise an appearance by Ne-Yo himself.

Horse Nation Indian Relay Races

Time not listed | Lower Brule PowWow Grounds, Lower Brule

Teams compete Aug. 8-9 in high-speed Indian relay racing, with riders changing horses during the race. The weekend is part of the Horse Nation Indian Relay tour.

Sunday, Aug. 9

YUNGBLUD

Sunday, August 9 • 10:30 p.m.
Wolfman Jack Stage at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, Sturgis • Buffalo Chip admission required

English rock performer YUNGBLUD headlines the Buffalo Chip with a late-night set during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Lyrical Limelight has covered Yungblud in Seattle; click here to see a previous review.

South Dakota’s Shortest Triathlon

8 a.m. | Black Hills State University, Spearfish

The accessible, family-focused triathlon encourages participants of different experience levels to swim, bike and run a shortened course. Proceeds support the BHSU Triathlon Team and Black Hills Gold Swim Team.

Good Roots Pizza Night

4:30-7:30 p.m. | Good Roots Farm and Gardens, Brookings | Menu prices vary

Good Roots serves wood-fired pizzas in its outdoor farm setting. Preordering is encouraged because available quantities and pickup times can fill before the event.

Monday, Aug. 10

Skillet

Monday, August 10 • 10:30 p.m.
Wolfman Jack Stage at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, Sturgis • Buffalo Chip admission required

Christian hard-rock band Skillet performs during the Buffalo Chip’s Sturgis Rally concert series. Click here to read Lyrical Limelight’s previous review of Skillet.

Mondays at McKennan: Surfin’ Safari

7 p.m. | McKennan Park Bandshell, Sioux Falls | Free

Surfin’ Safari performs an outdoor concert centered on surf-rock and beach-era favorites. Guests may bring lawn chairs or blankets.

Brown County Fair

Times vary | Brown County Fairgrounds, Aberdeen | Prices vary

The Brown County Fair runs Aug. 10-16 with agricultural competitions, family activities, carnival rides, free-stage music and seven nights of grandstand entertainment. Grandstand attractions and rides require separate tickets or passes.

Tuesday, Aug. 11

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Tuesday, August 11 • 10:30 p.m.
Wolfman Jack Stage at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, Sturgis • Buffalo Chip admission required

Lynyrd Skynyrd brings its Southern-rock catalog to the Buffalo Chip during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Jacket Ride for Veterans

8:30 a.m. | The Joy Center, Spearfish | Registration fee supports veterans

The charity ride travels through Spearfish Canyon and Vanocker Canyon. Motorcycles, cars and other vehicles are welcome, with proceeds supporting veterans.

World Famous Krank Daddies with EFS of Frank and Common Echo

Tuesday, Aug. 11 • 8 p.m.
The Den, Sioux Falls • Free • 21+

The World Famous Krank Daddies bring their energetic rockabilly sound to The Den with support from EFS of Frank and Common Echo.

Wednesday, Aug. 12

Meet Sioux Falls’ Real-Life Superpower Dogs

11 a.m. | Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls | Demonstration included with museum admission; film tickets separate

The Sioux Falls Police Department K-9 Unit gives a demonstration from 11-11:30 a.m. in Mary W. Sommervold Hall. A screening of “Superpower Dogs” follows at noon in the Wells Fargo CineDome.

World Cup Wine Dinner featuring Marcus Hanson

6:30 p.m. | Trio Jazz Club, Sioux Falls | $120, including gratuity

The dinner pairs four courses with wines from Germany, Portugal, Spain and France. Marcus Hanson provides wine education through a program combining discussion, dining and musical performance.

Thursday, Aug. 13

Caster Volor with Devils on Deck and Rivorium

Thursday, August 13 • 7 p.m.
Bigs Bar, Sioux Falls

Caster Volor headlines a three-band bill at Bigs Bar with Devils on Deck and Rivorium. The event page confirms the date, time and venue, but the image does not show an admission price or age restriction.

Barbie: From Exhibition to Big Screen

5 p.m. activities; 6:30 p.m. film | Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls | $8.75 plus tax

The evening begins with access to the “Barbie: A Cultural Icon” exhibition and themed activities in the Visual Arts Center. A screening of the “Barbie” movie follows in the Wells Fargo CineDome.

Downtown at Sundown

5:30 p.m. vendors; 6 p.m. music | Downtown Brookings | Free

Downtown Brookings hosts an outdoor evening with live music, food, drinks and local vendors. The event is part of the community’s summer Downtown at Sundown series.

Fellowship Jazz Center Orchestra featuring Alyssa Allgood

7 p.m. | Levitt at the Falls, Sioux Falls | Free

Join us for a free outdoor concert at Levitt at the Falls featuring Fellowship Jazz Center Orchestra with special guest Alyssa Allgood, celebrating the legacy of big band jazz with world-class artistry and fresh, diverse voices. Bring a lawn chair, your crew and your own snacks — or enjoy food trucks and beverages on site.

Whitey Morgan and the 78’s

7 p.m. | Crow Peak Brewing Co., Spearfish

Whitey Morgan and the 78’s bring their independent honky-tonk and outlaw-country sound to Crow Peak Brewing during rally week.

Tyler Hubbard with BlackHawk

8 p.m. | Brown County Fairgrounds, Aberdeen | $50 general admission through Aug. 9; $60 beginning Aug. 10

Tyler Hubbard headlines the Brown County Fair grandstand with special guest BlackHawk. The concert is one of the fair’s separately ticketed evening attractions.

Have an event we should consider for a future roundup? Send the event name, date, time, location, ticket or event link, and a short description to Lyrical Limelight/The Dakota Scout.

Future Events

Check back each week for an updated list of future events.

Children’s Theater Workshop: Space Pirates!

Friday, Aug. 14 • 7 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 15 • 10 a.m.
Grand Opera House, Pierre • Pay what you can

The Crane Wives

Friday, Aug. 14 • Doors at 7 p.m. / show at 8 p.m.
The District, Sioux Falls • All ages

Fallen Hero Bridge Dedication for Tate Mills

Saturday, Aug. 15 • 2 p.m.
Four miles south and 0.3 mile east of Volga, Brookings County

Glenn Stanton: The Family Project

Tuesday, Aug. 18 • 7 p.m.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls • Free

McCrossan Boys Ranch Volunteer Fire Rescue Pro Rodeo

Saturday, Aug. 22 • Gates at 4:30 p.m. / rodeo at 5:30 p.m.
McCrossan Boys Ranch, Sioux Falls • $15 in advance / $20 at the gate / ages 10 and younger free

Writing Your Best Chapter: The Power of Giving Back

Monday, Aug. 24 • 2 p.m.
Waterford Dining Room at Touchmark at All Saints, Sioux Falls

Isabella Oliver of the Helpline Center leads a presentation about volunteerism, community involvement and finding meaningful ways to give back. Reservations are requested by Friday, Aug. 21.

American Legion Auxiliary Public Bingo

Tuesday, Aug. 25 • 5 p.m. social / 6:45 p.m. bingo
South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Sioux Falls

Mac McAnally

Wednesday, Sept. 16 • 7 p.m.
The District, Sioux Falls

Veterans Stand Down

Friday, Sept. 18 • 8:30-11:30 a.m.
South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Sioux Falls

Downtown Sioux Falls Riverfest

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 3-8 p.m.
Cherapa Place Plaza, Sioux Falls

Eerie Echoes Vol. 6

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 8 p.m.
The Grain Bin, Brandon • $30 • 18+, The lineup includes The Confused, The Disarmed, M.A.J., Twisted Darkness, Oswald and Morris and Spike Cadaver.

Josh Packard: Church Refugees and Meaning Making

Tuesday, Sept. 22 • 7 p.m.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls • Free

Huron Fine Arts Hall of Fame Celebration Concert

Saturday, Sept. 26 • 7 p.m.
Huron High School Auditorium, Huron • Free

South Dakota Rock & Rollers Hall of Fame Induction Weekend

Saturday, Sept. 26-Sunday, Sept. 27
Ramkota Exhibit Hall, Sioux Falls

Jo Dee Messina: Bridges Tour

Sunday, Sept. 27 • 7 p.m.
Mary W. Sommervold Hall at the Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls

South Dakota Festival of Books

Saturday, Oct. 3
Holiday Inn City Centre and nearby downtown venues, Sioux Falls

James K.A. Smith: Who Are We Becoming?

Monday, Oct. 5 • 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 6 • 10 a.m.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls • Free

Ronda Civic with Fuzz Evil, Nathan Gillis and Aerica Lauren

Thursday, Oct. 15 • 7 p.m.
The Grain Bin, Brandon • $15 in advance / $20 at the door • All ages

Zach Top: Cold Beer & Country Music Tour

Thursday, Oct. 15 • 8 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Saints of Sickness Tour

Thursday, Nov. 12 • Doors at 6 p.m.
The Grain Bin, Brandon • $20 in advance / $25 at the door • All ages, The touring bill includes Elisium, Etched in Embers, On My Six and Driven Under.

Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue

Thursday, Nov. 12 • 7 p.m.
Orpheum Theater Center, Sioux Falls

Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero

Friday, Dec. 4 • 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5 • 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6 • 1 and 5 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Bert Kreischer: Permission to Party

Thursday, Dec. 10 • 7 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Toughest Monster Truck Tour

Friday, Jan. 22, 2027 • 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027 • 1 and 7:30 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls • Tickets start at $25

A $15 million grant tied to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will help South Dakota’s largest city bring a long-dormant quartzite quarry into the Falls Park campus.

The Sioux Falls City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a series of resolutions and budget amendments allowing the Parks and Recreation Department to accept the three-phased contribution coming from the Bezos Earth Fund, a Bezos-founded philanthropic organization that works to fund climate change and nature preservation projects.

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BROOKINGS — “I don’t think you can force a scene to come to you. There’s Brookings, for example. How many, six or seven permanent bar stages? There was a time where those were pretty busy.”

Toby Kane is discussing what’s the same — and what isn’t — in the Brookings and Sioux Falls music scenes from the 1990s to now. This isn’t just a nostalgia act, though there is plenty to be had for that heyday of creativity and freedom. This is also about the present, as Kane and Flood Romeo bandmates Monte Amende, Dan Anderson and Darren Matthes are set to play a pair of shows this weekend. The first one, at Phil’s in Sioux Falls at 7 p.m. Friday, will mark a return to a bar they played often in their heyday in the ’90s and 2000s.

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The unmistakable rumble of twin-cam engines sprawling across the Black Hills marks the start of what’s become South Dakota’s most iconic tradition.

Although the 86th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally doesn’t officially kick off until Friday, the population boom that’s happened every year for the last nine decades is upon the communities that dot the greater Rapid City area. And the added public safety efforts that come with it have the South Dakota Department of Transportation and their law enforcement partners making some changes to speed limits, intersection controls and traffic behavior expectations.

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“Traffic calming” is an odd phrase. It sounds technical, maybe even a little dull. But at its core, it asks a very human question: what should our streets feel like for the people using them?

I think about this most as a parent. A crosswalk can look simple on a map, but it feels different when you are standing at the curb with your child’s hand in yours, wondering whether the next driver will slow down.

In those moments, infrastructure is not abstract. It is personal. It either tells you that you belong there, or it makes you feel like you are in the way.

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Gov. Larry Rhoden’s decisive victory in South Dakota’s first-ever Republican gubernatorial runoff was aided by a previously undisclosed deployment of U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson’s political operation.

Both Johnson and the governor’s campaign have confirmed publicly for the first time that Johnson’s field staff, voter data and campaign resources were enlisted in Rhoden’s runoff effort against opponent Toby Doeden.

“I had some great field staff and some great data and we were able to deploy both of those to be helpful to Larry,” Johnson told The Dakota Scout of his off-radar involvement in the GOP primary election during the eight weeks that followed his third-place finish in the June 2 election behind Doeden and Rhoden.

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The evening first appeared in one enormous frame: the curved wooden shell glowing at the edge of downtown Sioux Falls, hundreds of folding chairs planted across the grass and a pale blue sky broken into long strokes of cloud. The large video screen carried the performance to the back rows, where the stage itself had become a small rectangle beyond a congregation of lawn chairs.

It was Friday night at Levitt, but the view contained more than a concert. Food trucks lined the perimeter. People settled into chairs brought from home or bought right there at the Levitt. A child rode higher than the heads around them. Near the front, standing bodies had begun to gather against the rail. Farther back, a curly-haired dog named Barry Boy rested between pairs of shoes, watching the evening with the solemn patience of someone who had not been consulted about the lineup.

The free July 31 concert paired Omaha-rooted troubadour Kris Lager with British blues-rock guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor. Levitt listed Lager as the opening act before Taylor’s headlining performance, placing two artists under the blues banner who have spent much of their careers finding ways around its borders.

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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Julian Beaudion withdrew from the race Tuesday, just minutes before the deadline to have his name removed from the general election ballot.

Reached shortly after the deadline, Beaudion said he was saddened to leave the race, but he said it was best for his family.

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South Dakota’s Republican runoff for governor produced an unexpected experiment in election reform.

Thousands of Democrats and independent voters changed their registrations so they could participate in the Republican primary. They didn’t suddenly become Republicans. They simply wanted a meaningful voice in choosing the person who will likely become South Dakota’s next governor. And the system responded.

Toby Doeden entered the runoff with a passionate and loyal following. His populist message energized a segment of Republican voters and generated considerable attention throughout the campaign.

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Commissioner Doug Putnam called Lincoln County’s Justice Center a “boondoggle” Tuesday, drawing Chair Tiffani Landeen’s rebuke.

Putnam, the District 4 commissioner, questioned the size and financing of the county’s 74,000-square-foot building during an informational commission discussion. Landeen, the District 3 commissioner, later said he had not toured the facility or asked project officials for answers.

The exchange returned the county’s $54.88 million Justice Center bond to public debate. Earlier, IMEG engineers recommended a $2.5 million roundabout at County Road 106, also known as 271st Street, and Western Avenue after finding the intersection already performs poorly and could reach failing morning delays in 2027. However, no members of the public commented about the Judicial Center following Putnam’s comments.

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The U.S. Department of Justice has opened applications for more than $107 million in grant funding to help American Indian and Alaska Native tribes address public safety, crime prevention and victim services through the Fiscal Year 2026 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation program.

The department announced the funding opportunity, saying the grants will support federally recognized tribal governments and tribal consortia as they develop comprehensive strategies to improve public safety and respond to victimization.

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A longtime political adviser to Sen. John Thune will leave the staff to become the new executive director of the Center for Western Studies at Augustana University.

Augustana University President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin announced the appointment of Jon Lauck to the center on Monday. Lauck has been with Thune since Thune won office in 2004. Lauck replaces Harry Thompson, who retired July 31 after 42 years at Augustana.

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The human race has never been more connected to one another. We can reach family, friends and strangers across the world in mere seconds. Despite this alleged connectedness, loneliness is everywhere.

The U.S. Surgeon General referred to loneliness as an epidemic that is literally killing us, stating that lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. We all know smoking is dangerous, so why do we ignore the danger of loneliness? Ignoring it won’t make it go away.

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Send obituaries to obits@thedakotascout.com

To place a public notice in The Dakota Scout, email legals@thedakotascout.com

To submit a letter to the editor or a guest column to The Dakota Scout’s VIEWPOINTS section, email viewpoints@thedakotascout.com

SiouxFalls.Business

The Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center in Fort Pierre has a ground problem. Specifically, a sliding hillside.

The Casey Tibbs Foundation has called in local, state and private entities to evaluate the problem and assess hazards, reports DRG News.

“At this time,” the group said in a press release, “there is no imminent threat to the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center building, and the facility will remain open for normal business operations.”

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Read The Dakota Scout article that inspired this cartoon:

South Dakota’s public universities are getting in on the artificial intelligence (AI) race.

The Board of Regents has announced it’s making a major push into artificial intelligence, with four new degree programs educators and university leaders say will prepare South Dakota students for one of the nation’s fastest-growing technology fields.

“Artificial intelligence is reshaping every industry, and South Dakota’s public universities are committed to preparing students not only to use these technologies but to lead their development,” said Jeff Partridge, president of the Board of Regents, which recently OK’d a doctorate in artificial intelligence at Dakota State University and bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in artificial intelligence engineering at South Dakota State University.

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DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S SCOUTING LOUNGE?

Downloaded hundreds of times since both free and paid subscribers of The Dakota Scout received it in their inboxes seven days ago, there’s still time to catch up. Hit the link below to listen to “South Dakota Republicans will decide | Final days, final attacks | Finding humor in high-stakes politics | Win or lose, what’s next? | About those polls... | Audio wars”and check out all past shows in the podcast archive

KEEP SCROLLING FOR LINKS TO FIND The Dakota Scout STORIES & OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED DURING THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF The Scouting Lounge

*Opening sound clipped from GROWING UP SMITH motion picture.

There’s been a lot of chatter about South Dakota’s $69 million surplus, and much of it starts from a fair question.

“If we ended the year with money left over, why didn’t we spend it?”

Start with what the surplus is. South Dakota cannot run a deficit. Voters put that requirement in our Constitution in 2012, which means we will always end the year with a surplus. The question is never whether we have one but why, and how it was achieved.

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