LATEST SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REPORT ON THE STATE’S ECONOMY SHOWS GOOD EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS

PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) – South Dakota’s unemployment rate stayed at 1.9 percent in January, well below the national average of 4.1 percent, according to a report released Friday by the state Department of Labor and Regulation.

The state’s workforce grew to 491,500 people in January. That’s up 0.2 percent from December and 1.5 percent higher than one year ago.

About 45,070 workers remain available statewide to fill jobs at new or expanding businesses.

Construction jobs increased by 7.5 percent compared to January 2024, adding 1,900 workers despite typical winter slowdowns. However, the industry saw a seasonal decline of 6.8 percent from December.

The health care and social assistance sectors gained 2,100 jobs over the past year, an increase of 3 percent. Hospitals alone added 800 new employees.

Sioux Falls continues to lead South Dakota economically, with average annual pay at $63,530 compared to the statewide average of $57,141.

Union County reported the state’s highest average wage, $71,873, while Mellette County had the lowest, $34,887.

Inflation remains a factor for South Dakotans. The Consumer Price Index rose by 3 percent compared to January 2024.

Housing starts fell by nearly 10 percent from December and dropped slightly—0.7 percent—from one year ago. That signals a modest cooling in the construction market.

Borrowing costs improved for businesses and consumers as the Bank Prime Loan Rate dropped to 7.50 percent. That’s down almost 12 percent from last January.

Leisure and hospitality employment grew by 3.3 percent over the past year, adding 1,500 jobs statewide. The sector still saw a seasonal decline of 4.1 percent from December levels.

Professional and business services also expanded, gaining 1,300 jobs since last January. The sector now employs about 37,400 people statewide.

In January, county-level unemployment varied widely across South Dakota. Rates ranged from a low of 0.8 percent to a high of 4.7 percent in counties with fewer job opportunities.

State officials say overall job creation remains strong statewide heading into spring. Employers’ primary challenge is finding enough available workers, rather than creating new positions.

 

LAWMAKER ASSERTIONS OF VOTER FATIGUE DOESN’T STOP LEGISLATURE FROM SENDING FOUR MEASURES TO THE BALLOT

PIERRE, S.D. (Makenzie Huber / South Dakota Searchlight) -After some South Dakota lawmakers complained about fatigue from the number of questions on the ballot, they’re sending four of their own measures to voters.

South Dakotans considered seven ballot questions during the 2024 election, including four state constitutional amendments. Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, said that resulted in “millions of dollars in out-of-state money coming for deceptive, emotionally charged ads stating half-truths.”

“The voters are weary of that,” he said. “They’re fatigued.”

Hughes was speaking on behalf of his own resolution that will go to voters as a ballot measure. It will ask voters to approve a 60% threshold to pass constitutional ballot questions, rather than a simple majority.

That’s one of the four questions lawmakers sent to the 2026 general election ballot this legislative session, which has one day left on March 31 to consider the governor’s vetoes. Seven other proposed ballot questions from legislators failed to cross the finish line.

Lawmakers’ eagerness to put their own measures on the ballot is “a little ironic” said Samantha Chapman, advocacy manager with the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota.

“The Legislature is contradicting itself and contributing to said ‘ballot fatigue,’” Chapman told South Dakota Searchlight.

Another six potential ballot questions from the public are already listed on the Secretary of State’s website. None of those questions have been approved for petition circulation yet.

Following are the questions that South Dakota voters will see from legislators — if they don’t approve more next session.

Allowing the Legislature to remove South Dakota from expanded Medicaid

South Dakota voters will decide next year whether to continue requiring Medicaid expansion if federal support for the program declines.

Medicaid is government-funded health insurance for people with low incomes, and for adults and children with disabilities. In 2022, South Dakota voters expanded Medicaid eligibility to adults with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level, to capitalize on a 90% federal funding match included in the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. The expansion is part of the state constitution and can only be altered by voters.

The ballot question will ask voters to authorize the termination of Medicaid expansion if federal support falls below 90%. Speculation about a reduction in federal Medicaid expansion funding has been swirling as the Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress look for spending cuts.

Last fall, South Dakota voters authorized state officials to consider imposing work requirements on people covered by Medicaid expansion. The state has not yet applied for federal permission to impose those requirements.

Requiring a 60% vote to amend the state constitution

Four years after Constitutional Amendment C and eight years after Constitutional Amendment X failed at the ballot box, voters will once again consider if the threshold for approving certain types of ballot questions should be raised from a simple majority.

Amendment C sought to require a three-fifths vote for the approval of ballot questions that would increase taxes or fees or require the state to appropriate $10 million or more in the first five fiscal years after a measure’s passage. The measure was defeated by 67% of voters.

South Dakota voters rejected Constitutional Amendment X in 2018, which would have raised the approval requirement for constitutional amendments to 55%. It was defeated with 54% voting against it.

Hughes’ new proposal would raise the constitutional amendment approval threshold to 60%. Supporters of the proposal argue that a higher threshold is necessary to protect the state constitution from frequent changes and to ensure that only amendments with broad public support are adopted. They also say the proposal could discourage out-of-state interest groups from trying to amend South Dakota’s constitution, and keep the constitution reserved for language dealing with the structure of government rather than policy matters.

Opponents argue that voters have spoken on the matter, and there’s no need to ask them again.

Creating an unclaimed property trust fund

Voters will see a ballot question in 2026 asking permission for the state Investment Council to manage a trust fund for unclaimed property.

Unclaimed property consists of an array of abandoned or forgotten private assets, including money from bank accounts, PayPal accounts, stocks, life insurance payouts, uncashed checks, unused refunds, and even the contents of safe deposit boxes. Holders of the money or items, such as banks, try to find the owners. The property reverts to the state after three years.

Unclaimed property revenue surged to record levels during the past few years as people left assets behind during pandemic-motivated relocations, and because of Bancorp’s relocation of its national headquarters to Sioux Falls.

The state typically spends much of the revenue, while setting aside only a portion of it for people who come forward to claim their property. Yet rightful owners can claim their assets from the state at any time.

Much of the money is never claimed. Last year, as the state took in about $175 million of unclaimed property, it paid out $38 million in claims to 6,768 claimants. South Dakota has received $310 million worth of unclaimed property so far this year.

The ballot question is part of a legislative package passed this session to bring more predictability to the volatile revenue source, and to protect the state if claims increase. Senate Bill 155, which was signed by Gov. Larry Rhoden on Wednesday, would limit the amount of unclaimed property funds that can be used in the state’s general fund budget, and gradually transition all unclaimed property money into the trust fund. Interest from the fund would then be treated as revenue for the state’s annual budget.

Clarifying that non-U.S. citizens cannot vote in South Dakota elections

Senate Joint Resolution 503 sends a constitutional amendment to South Dakota voters clarifying a person must be a U.S. citizen to vote in any elections in the state. South Dakota’s voter registration form already requires voters to certify they’re citizens of the United States.

Sen. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, introduced the legislation. She said voters in several states have added similar clarifications in their state constitutions in recent elections. She added that the clarification ensures the “process remains secure” and that the “voices of American citizens aren’t diluted.”

Howard, who also introduced the unclaimed property ballot measure, told South Dakota Searchlight that ballot fatigue is “a very real concern,” but she has “confidence in our citizens.”

“They take time to research the issues and I do know no one here is in any way trying to take away or dilute the will of the voter,” Howard said. “We want to listen to the voters. It’s our intention, if anything, to maybe limit the influence of outside national organizations.”

 

POLICE FIND ABDUCTED CHILD, SOURCE OF AMBER ALERT, IN SIOUX FALLS UNHARMED

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – A one-year-old child from Sioux Falls who was kidnapped Thursday night has been found unharmed.

On Friday afternoon, Sioux Falls Police and a SWAT team were seen near West 9th Street and Summit Avenue. Witnesses told the Dakota News Now crew on the scene that they saw a child being taken away from the scene in an ambulance.

In a news release sent out later Friday afternoon, Sioux Falls Police said they learned the child may be in an apartment in the 100 block of South Summit Avenue.

As a handgun was used during the abduction, Sioux Falls SWAT and Crisis Negotiation Unit were called to search the apartment for the child.

Around 1:15 p.m., Javion Bluebird was found safe inside the apartment.

Arrest warrants were issued for Lelanna Majorie Darlene Sitting Up, a 29-year-old from Sioux Falls and Tianna Louise Bluebird, a 17-year-old from Sioux Falls. Both warrants were for kidnapping in the first degree and carry a $100,000 cash bond.

Tianna Bluebird was found inside the apartment and was arrested on that warrant.

Helena Havannah Bluebird, a 22-year-old from Sioux Falls, was also arrested for Abuse or Cruelty to a Minor.

The investigation is ongoing and police say there is a possibility of additional charges.

An Amber Alert was issued for one-year-old Javion Bluebird early Friday morning.

According to police, Javion was taken from his grandmother’s home by gunpoint by 29-year-old Lelana Sitting Up. The apartment Javion was taken from is located near West 18th Street and Summit Avenue.

 

WOMAN CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AFTER DEPUTIES FIND MAN DEAD INSIDE HOME

WHITING, IA (KTIV) – One person is dead, and another has been charged after deputies were called to a home in Monona County.

Fifty-four-year-old, Veronica Kluge of Whiting, Iowa was charged with first degree murder, after the Monona County Sheriff’s Office was called to a home at 16757 County Highway K42.

Deputies were called to the home at 12:05 a.m. on Sunday, March 16, according to a press release from the Monona County Sheriff’s Office.

Court documents reveal on Saturday, March 15, at 11:55 p.m., Kluge called 911, requesting an ambulance to come to the home.

During the call with 911, the person on the phone reportedly admitted to killing a person.

When the Monona County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene, they reportedly found a 50-year-old man, pronounced dead, inside the house, as a result of a stab wound.

A joint investigation was performed by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation and the Monona County Sheriff’s Office.

Kluge was taken into custody and transferred to the Monona County Sheriff’s Office, where she was later interviewed by law enforcement.

She was charged with murder in the first degree.

 

ELLSWORTH AIRMAN ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF BOX ELDER WOMAN

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Quinterius Chappelle, a 24-year-old airman from Ellsworth Air Force Base, was arrested on a federal murder charge in the death of Sahela Sangrait.

According to a release from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, investigators believe the 21-year-old woman was killed on the base. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has jurisdiction and will prosecute the case.

Chappelle is being held in the Pennington County Jail.

Sangrait’s body was found near Hill City by a hiker on March 4. She had been missing since August 2024.

According to the South Dakota Missing Persons Alerts Facebook page, Sangrait was last known to be staying in Eagle Butte with a friend. She left Eagle Butte and stated she was headed to Box Elder to pick up some of her belongings with plans to head to California. She was not heard from after that.

The investigation into Sangrait’s death is being conducted by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies: the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

Anyone with information about this case can contact the Rapid City FBI office at (605) 343-9632.