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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Smoky skies, overdose deaths, waterpark opens for season
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – It's a warm, sunny day in KELOLAND, though wildfire smoke still hangs in the air. Let's get a check on the latest in news and weather with KELOLAND On The Go. A Sioux Falls teenager charged in a deadly car crash more than a year ago now wants his trial moved. Defendant in deadly SF crash wants new trial location Three recent overdose deaths are focusing renewed attention on the fentanyl problem in Sioux Falls. Overdose deaths prompt response from Police Chief We have new information about a Hot Springs man who had been missing for nearly a year. Missing Hot Springs man's remains found Highs will stay above average in the 70s and 80s with winds staying on the lighter side East River. While there will be plenty of sunshine, the blue skies will be covered with haze as Canadian wildfire smoke sinks southward. Storm Center AM Update: Smoke and Warmth Hangs Around The first waves of customers have also arrived at Wild Water West. The water park, west of Sioux Falls, held its official opening of the season Friday, following a soft-opening on Thursday. Opening weekend at Wild Water West For the latest in news and weather, use the KELOLAND News app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
SFPD: 7 confirmed overdose deaths so far in 2025
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Police in Sioux Falls continue to see the impact of drug and alcohol addictions in the community. Container homes face challenges in Sioux Falls market Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum said there's been seven overdose deaths in Sioux Falls, which is below 10 at the same point in 2024. He said one additional possible overdose death is still awaiting toxicology reports. 'They're all bad drugs,' Thum said. 'There's no safe way to do drugs.' Thum said the recent drug overdoses in the state prison has brought additional discussion about deadly drugs in the community. 'This is an issue and problem we continue to work on collectively,' Thum said. He said parents can't have enough conversations with kids about the dangers of drugs and addiction. There are overdoses that police aren't aware about because NARCAN might be used or someone might be helped before it results in a death. 'NARCAN is buying another chance but that only works with fentanyl,' Thum said. KELOLAND News will have more coverage from Thum's news conference on addiction impacts in Sioux Falls. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Flashback Friday: Rapid City seniors pound the pavement
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) —With the upcoming warmer temperatures many people will likely take their exercise routines outside this weekend, or just enjoy some fresh air with a stroll through the park. In this week's Flashback Friday, KELOLAND's Perry Groten takes us back to 1986 where some Rapid City Seniors were pounding the pavement for better health. This is not your everyday stroll through the park. These elderly athletes are pounding the pavement for fun, for a little competition, and a lot better health. 'I feel stronger, and my heart keeps pumping better, yeah I love it, I've been walking everyday.' 'That's not unusual for the elderly of 1986 they're very interested and involved in physical fitness.' Walkers to your marks. Get Set. Go! From the word go there was no stopping them. Competitors between the ages of 55 and 79 circled the course as part of two days of track and field events, less games like bowling and golf. Most train all year long, because walking a two mile race isn't easy no matter what the age. 'If you sit in a chair all day and sit at a desk sit in the car well those muscles are slowly dying, if you're out walking, working, using an axe or a shovel or anything that's going to use some muscles and increase the heart rate well you're going to improve your health.' After winning the race Callahan put his feet up for a quick rest, because in just a few minutes, he'll do it all over again. Perry Groten, KELOLAND News, Rapid City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
South Dakota reaction to international student impacts
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – South Dakota schools, politicians and lawyers are weighing on the national conversations surrounding international student visa restrictions across the country. Within the last week of May, the Trump administration announced two orders to limit international student activity in the country: The U.S. State Department will cancel any new F-1 student visa embassy appointments– an interview process for international students looking to pursue an education in America- all while social media vetting expands. The U.S. State Department will revoke the visas of some Chinese students, who reportedly hold connections to the Communist party or study in 'critical fields,' according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Major gold find near Spearfish, South Dakota reported Republican U.S. Sen. John Thune told KELOLAND News the Trump administration is applying more scrutiny to who's entering the U.S. 'If somebody has been identified and perhaps is going to lose their status or visa in this country, there's a reason for that, and we just need to make sure that's the case,' Thune said. Thune said dangerous, illegal criminals should be the target for the Trump administration and he thinks the administration is doing good work at making America safe, especially at the Southern border and through stricter vetting processes. 'If you're in this country and you're following our laws in this country, you should be fine,' Thune said. 'I think that most of the work that's being done right now to identify people, it's people who represent national security threats, people who are perhaps have, you know, some sort of criminal activity on their records.' In response to the recent national reports and how South Dakota could be affected, the South Dakota Board of Regents (BOR) sent KELOLAND News the following statement: The South Dakota Board of Regents and its universities are closely monitoring the ongoing national discussions about student visa appointments and potential delays that may affect our current and future students. Our public university system is committed to welcoming prospective students who are navigating the complexities of the international application process in an effort to study in the United States at one of our six institutions. Shuree Mortenson, BOR Director of Communications These are not the first attempts from the Trump administration to crack down on international students' activity. Back in April, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terminated immigration records across the nation, even in South Dakota. In April, School of Mines graduate student Priya Saxena filed a lawsuit against DHS, suing the department for revoking her F-1 student visa and terminating her SEVIS records without notice. Jim Leach, a Rapid City attorney representing Saxena in her lawsuit, said the federal government's actions were unlawful. 'I chose to become her lawyer because I thought what was happening to her was really terrible and wrong, and as soon as I started to look at it, I saw that it was completely unlawful,' Leach said. Further, Leach said everyone deserves due process under the law, even with the newest attempts to limit international student activity in the U.S, and the federal government needs to be accountable. 'What they've done so far — which the courts have really uniformly held was unlawful — was just telling foreign students, leave,' Leach said. 'Well, there's a process they have to go through and the process is set by law. And the reason that's important is that reflects the separation of powers we have in this country.' Leach said international students make the state's economy stronger, as these students pursue degrees and jobs in STEM and agriculture fields. 'These are just people who came here to study' Leach said. 'Foreign students, they tend to be really good people. And they're here because they want to try and they want to learn. And I don't think we have any reason to be afraid of them. We should welcome them.' In South Dakota, over 2,200 international students attend a South Dakota public university, with 250 international students attending a private higher institution in the state, according to a 2025 BOR report. Back in March, KELOLAND News reported on the exact number of international students at each public university, with the largest international student population being at South Dakota State University (SDSU), the University of South Dakota (USD), and Dakota State University (DSU). In May, Saxena got her legal status back to graduate from the School of Mines. Then, a judge ordered a preliminary injunction for Saxena to keep her legal status and pursue further education in the state. '[Saxena] is the kind of person who helps make our society better,' Leach said. 'We accomplished so much through technological advances, and she's at the forefront of chemical and biological engineering.' For Saxena, the next step is to make the injunction permanent — although there's no scheduled court date at this time, Leach said. A permanent injunction would secure Saxena's opportunities in education and bar DHS from further tampering with her immigration records. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sculptor, civil rights advocate Porter Williams dies
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A Sioux Falls man known as an advocate for civil rights and Black history, along with his sculptures, has died. Porter Williams died Sunday at the age of 82, according to a social media post by the Sioux Falls Art Council. Al Schoeneman: A life of lumber and philanthropy Over the years, KELOLAND News has done many stories on Williams; a man described by many as an inspirational leader, who fought racial discrimination back in the 1980s. Williams was the founder of the South Dakota African American History Museum at the Washington Pavilion. In one of his last interviews with KELOLAND News he talked about the museum and the people who are enshrined there, including the story of Cleveland Abbott, an American football player, coach, and educator. And Kenny Anderson, who was the first black person to serve on the Sioux Falls city commission. 'It's just when you dig into it and if you dig into it just a little deeper, you can find more history,' says South Dakota African American History Museum Founder Porter Williams. Williams dedicated his life to civil rights; especially through his sculpture work. 'So what I tried to do is record Black history,' said Porter Williams, sculptor. His most known sculpture is of Martin Luther King Jr. He created the statue to remember MLK's visit to Sioux Falls in 1961. 'He was a great man, he really pulled off something in America at that time that nobody else had the ability to do,' Williams said. The sculpture is located in Van Eps Park, which is near the same spot where King stayed during his visit to Sioux Falls. Williams also sculpted the bust of Captain 11 that sits just outside our studio. He even replaced every cobblestone on this stretch of 6th Street near the St. Joseph Cathedral. 'Well, approximately 13,000 stones and I had five or six people doing it,' Williams said. Cementing a lasting legacy that's uniquely unmatched in South Dakota history. Funeral arrangements for Williams are still pending. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
