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A stone cold mystery: New native tool added to Brookings County Museum's collection

The mysterious large, grooved stone tool donated to the museum this summer is at left. Its use is unknown. A regular sized banded stone hammer or axe is at right. The leather-bound war club in the foreground was owned by Frank Gray Owl of Volga and acquired by the museum seventy years ago.
The Brookings County Museum in Volga recently received a Native American stone tool that weighs 19.5 pounds. It’s by far the largest Native American stone weapon, tool or ornament in the …

Brookings County buys old BATA building

Brookings Area Transit Authority, directed by Travis Bortnem, was named the South Dakota Transit Agency of the Year by the Dakota Transit Association. 
The award was presented to the Brookings organization Sept. 14 and is the first time the local transit authority has won the top award in the state.
BROOKINGS — The Brookings County Commission approved purchasing the old Brookings Area Transit Authority building for $449,000 on a 5-0 vote during Tuesday morning’s meeting. The …

South Dakota Supreme Court will consider legality of Igloo bunker leases

Hundreds of concrete bunkers, shown in 2024, are part of the Vivos xPoint community south of Edgemont.
The South Dakota Supreme Court will decide the legality of a disputed lease signed by dozens of people who live in former military munitions bunkers located near Edgemont in southwestern South …

Horse sale revived at South Dakota State after decades-long hiatus

For the first time in more than two decades, South Dakota State University held a horse sale from members of the university’s herd. The animals, which are an integral part of equine courses within the Department of Animal Science, were 1 to 3 years old and brought an average price of $2,500 apiece.
BROOKINGS — Last month, for the first time in more than 20 years, the South Dakota State University Horse Unit held a public sale of horses from its herd. The unit, located within the …

Flooding damages areas in northeast South Dakota

Flooding in Sisseton on June 13.
Flooding damaged homes and properties in the Glacial Lakes region, but it appears the worst of it was avoided in northeast South Dakota. Now, the recovery begins. Flooding did do meaningful …
More local news

Ride through returns to Downtown Brookings

BROOKINGS — A downtown tradition cruises into its second half-century this weekend as Sioux River ABATE celebrates the 51st annual Brookings motorcycle ride through Sat., June 21. …

New ambulance purchase is goal of Aiming to Inspire Health fundraiser and raffle

BROOKINGS — Brookings Health System Foundation will hold the 16th annual Aiming to Inspire Health fundraiser, presented by First Bank & Trust, on Aug. 7 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Brookings …

'Legion Ride 605' receives $200 in Arlington stop

The annual “Legion Ride 605” is a fundraiser for the South Dakota American Legion Foundation. Donations from this ride benefit veterans in need or children and youth programs …

Juneteenth celebration returning to Brookings

BROOKINGS —The Brookings Human Rights Commission will present the city’s sixth annual Juneteenth celebration at Pioneer Park in Brookings on Thursday.   Participants can once …

Minnesota shooting suspect had dozens of potential targets, prosecutors say

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The man charged with  killing one Minnesota  lawmaker and wounding another in what prosecutors have described as a meticulously planned attack, had dozens of …

Brookings volleyball event will raise funds for ALS research

BROOKINGS — ALS is an incurable disease that damages nerve cells, causing muscle atrophy and weakness — but supporters of the Kiss My ALS Foundation will show no weakness Sat., June 21, …
Obituaries
Linda Tempel
Linda Tempel
Linda Catherine Tempel, age 81, died Tuesday March 11, 2025, at Banner Del Webb Hospital in Surprise, Arizona. A celebration of life/open house for Linda Tempel will be held Saturday June 21, from …
Terry Hanna
Terry Hanna, Toronto, died Jan. 21, 2025. Terry spent his lifetime raising cattle, hogs, and buffalo on his farm. In the 1980s Terry began his Hanna Trucking company business — growing his …
Donald Johnston
Donald O. Johnston
Donald O. Johnston passed away on June 4. at age 96, following a short battle with pancreatic cancer at Peaceful Pines Senior Living Center in Brookings, South Dakota. Donald was born to Oscar L. …
Frank Seivert
Frank Seivert
Frank Patrick Seivert, 79, of Elkton, died at his home on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church …
Irene Koch
Irene Koch
Irene Dorothy Koch passed away June 6, 2025, in Flandreau, SD. A funeral service will be held for Irene 11 a.m. Monday June 16, at United Parish of Elkton with a visitation prior from 10 to 11 a.m. …
Local sports

Stellar pitching leads Brookings Bandits to doubleheader sweep

Brookings' Tyson Antonen prepares to deliver a pitch to home plate during a 5-3 win over Spearfish on Tuesday night at Bob Shelden Field in Brookings.
The Brookings Bandits swept a legion baseball doubleheader against Spearfish on Tuesday night at Bob Shelden Field.
The Brookings Bombers White 13/14U team beat the Sioux Falls Chargers in a game that had 39 combined runs on Tuesday night.
Read more.
The Brookings Bombers Black 14U team split a pair of games on Tuesday night.
Read more.
The Brookings Bullets 16U team split a doubleheader with Renner on Tuesday night.
The Brookings Bombers Red 13U team was swept in a doubleheader against Tea on Tuesday night.
The Brookings Cubs improved to 9-2 on the season as they beat the Sioux Falls Squirrels 18-8 on Monday night at Bob Shelden Field.
The Brookings Bombers White 13/14U team went 2-1 in a tournament in Pierre over the weekend.
SDSU Jackrabbits Athletics

South Dakota State to play Gonzaga in Sioux Falls

South Dakota State Center Brooklyn Meyer attempts a shot during an exhibition game against St. Cloud State at First Bank & Trust Arena in Brookings on Oct. 30. SDSU announced Monday that it will be playing Gonzaga this upcoming season in Sioux Falls on Nov. 20.
The South Dakota State women’s basketball team will take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs in a nonconference contest November 20 at the Sanford Pentagon. The on-sale date for tickets will be announced later.

Jackrabbits to play Montana in Rapid City in November

The South Dakota State women’s basketball team will take on the Montana Lady Griz in a nonconference contest November 15 at Summit Arena at the Monument.

South Dakota State soccer releases 2025 schedule

The South Dakota State soccer team has completed its 2025 schedule and will embark on its 26th season as a program this fall. The Jackrabbits make their return to the pitch after a 2024 season that saw SDSU earn its second consecutive Summit League tournament championship and its 15th overall conference title. 

Six Jackrabbit wrestlers place at U20 trials and U23 nationals

Six Jackrabbits earned spots on the podium at the U20 World Team Trials and U23 U.S. Nationals.

South Dakota State's Cody Larson punches ticket to nationals in Oregon

South Dakota State’s Cody Larson runs in the 3000-meter steeplechase race at the NCAA West First Round.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Cody Larson will head to Eugene, Oregon, for South Dakota State, while the other 10 Jackrabbits wrapped up their season Saturday afternoon at the NCAA West First Round. …

South Dakota State rodeo team to send six to nationals

he SDSU Rodeo team national qualifiers at their final rodeo of the regular season. From left are Ron Skovly (coach), Kaden Wooters, Arabella Cook, Rayha Richert, Lan Fuhrer, Trey Frank and Dalton Kunkee.

After 10 collegiate competitions, hundreds of hours of practice and more than 5,000 miles traveled, six members of the South Dakota State University Rodeo team have qualified for the 2025 College National Finals Rodeo competition later this month in Casper, Wyoming.

Police report
Read all about recent cases handled by circuit and magistrate courts in Brookings County.
Read all about recent cases handled by circuit and magistrate courts in Brookings County.
Opinion

History leans heavily on secretary of defense position

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth salutes during a ceremony at the U.S. cemetery to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6 in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy.

As long as I can remember, probably going back to President John F. Kennedy, I have taken an interest in who gets named to a president’s cabinet, with a special interest in who gets named to …

The relatively recent movement of private equity firms into both ownership and management of health care organizations has prompted increasing attention and, in many cases, concern from health care …
The political bromance between President Trump and Elon Musk may be over — or not! — but the damage done by the tech billionaire’s pet project, the Department of Government …
U.S. presidents who thought they could easily restrain Benjamin Netanyahu have quickly learned their lesson. “Who’s the (expletive) superpower?” Bill Clinton reportedly exploded …
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