Missouri River water project expansion boosts SD’s future water supply, plus a reminder: South Dakota is home to the Lakota/Dakota, is landlocked in the Upper Midwest.
Fall River Health Services is funding infrastructure for Cascade Hills, a subdivision near Hot Springs, SD, to create 48 affordable housing units for staff amid a persistent worker shortage. South Dakota Housing Authority has approved grants; prices in the plan range around $285,000–$350,000 for varied housing types. Construction may begin soon as infrastructure work starts.
Herreid, South Dakota, is rebuilding its population and economy through a unique funding model for housing development. Local leader Werner has secured over $2.2 million in grants to support new homes, apartments, and municipal projects, aiming to attract families and workers to the declining town.
Bryon Noem, husband of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has been exposed for engaging in a cross-dressing fetish community, sending explicit messages and payments to women online since 2020. The scandal has prompted widespread local and political reactions, with questions about privacy and public image ongoing.
Temperatures are rising across multiple regions, driven by ongoing climate patterns. Spain, Brazil, and North America are experiencing above-average heat, with forecasts indicating these trends will continue. A potential super-strength El Niño is contributing to global warming, impacting weather patterns worldwide. This story is current as of Mon, 20 Apr 2026.
Several US states are implementing or considering temporary bans on new data center construction, citing concerns over resource use, pollution, and infrastructure. Maine has approved a moratorium, while others like Georgia are moving toward similar measures. The federal government is also contemplating a nationwide pause.
Purdue Pharma has reached a plan to dissolve the company and replace it with Knoa Pharma as a broad settlement resolving thousands of opioid lawsuits takes effect. The Sackler family’s contributions total up to $7 billion over 15 years, with most funds going to government entities to fight the opioid crisis. Individual victims will receive a smaller portion, while many observers urge greater accountability.
The Lewis & Clark Regional Water System and related projects are expanding water capacity along the Missouri River. The base system now delivers 44 million gallons daily to 20 communities, with two expansions under way and a separate pipeline project to support growth in the Black Hills region. Together, the initiatives could cost tens of billions and serve hundreds of thousands more residents over the next 40–50 years.
The Senate has cleared a path to debate a roughly $70 billion bill funding ICE and CBP, with Republicans rallying to pass it via budget reconciliation. Democrats are set to offer amendments, including a bid to permanently ban a $1.776 billion settlement fund tied to allies who supporters say were persecuted.
Zach Lahn has won the Republican gubernatorial primary in Iowa, challenging Trump’s pick Randy Feenstra. Democrat Rob Sand is seeking to flip the governorship, arguing for balanced government amid a Republican trifecta in Des Moines. The primary outcome also intersects with potential shifts in California and a Democratic Senate bid in Iowa.