MITCHELL, S.D.(KMIT)- A Mitchell man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to first-degree rape of a minor under the age of 13. 43-year old Robert Gerstenecker faced multiple counts of child pornography and was scheduled to go to trial in October.  Several other charges were dropped in exchange for the guilty plea. A tip from a reporting… Read more »

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.(WNAX)- The second annual Sioux Falls Area Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive will be held at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds on Thursday. The event is co-sponsored by Sioux Valley Energy, Southeastern Electric, East River Electric, Xcel Energy and the City of Sioux Falls. Ben Pierson with Sioux Valley Energy says it’s a hands… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D.(WNAX)- Continued climate change may lead to a drop in snowpack runoff into the Missouri River system. Darren Clabo, a meteorologist at the School of Mines in Rapid City, says more of that precipitation will fall as rain rather than snow. Clabo says heavy rain events can occur, causing rapid rises in river… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- The permitting process for a proposed wind farm along the Hughes/Hyde County is moving again after being put on pause this spring.  The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission approved a joint stipulation and second revised procedural schedule for the 72-turbine North Bend Wind Farm project.  Arron Scheibe with May Adam, the Pierre law… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota State Lottery reported continued growth in sales and revenue in the last fiscal year. Director Norm Lingle said scratch ticket sales set a record. Lingle says lotto ticket sales were also up. Lingle says video lottery revenue was also up significantly. Lingle told the Lottery Commission at their meeting last… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(Press Release) – On Tuesday, Governor Kristi Noem celebrated Fitch Ratings’ reaffirmation of South Dakota’s AAA credit rating. “This rating again demonstrates that our conservative fiscal policies are working,” said Governor Noem. “Our administration has made it a priority to not raise taxes. We’ve paid off bonds and debt, balanced our budget, and grown… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- One person has died in a crash of a small helicopter northwest of Yankton. Yankton Assistant Fire Chief Larry Nickels says the call came in just before 10AM. Nickels says the craft was destroyed on impact. Nickels says they are waiting for state and federal investigators. A sixty-five-year-old California man was killed in… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- A competency hearing for a Pierre murder defendant was scheduled for Monday at the Hughes County Courthouse.  That hearing became a status hearing in the case because, according to Hughes County States Attorney Jessica LaMie, the mental competency of Miranda Henry is not an issue at the moment. LaMie says both sides have… Read more »

VERMILLION, S.D.(WNAX)- University of South Dakota President Sheila Gestring gave her annual “State of the U” speech last week. She says they are focused on helping students in and out of the classroom. Gestring says students can also turn to their peers for help. Gestring says they also provide financial and other aid. USD also… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota State Treasurer Josh Haeder is running for a second, four-year term. He says there are programs he wants to follow up on. Haeder says he is the face of the cash return program for a reason. Haeder says he wants to continue the financial literacy classes for high school students he… Read more »