Mayor appoints County Commissioner as new Public Health Director
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Mayor Paul TenHaken has appointed a new Public Health Director for the city and many area residents quickly recognized the name. Joe Kippley is currently the Director for the Sanford Cardiology Clinic, and also serves as a Minnehaha County Commissioner. He fills a vacancy that was create...
May 15, 2024
Sioux Area Metro about to unveil new transit routes
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- SAM - Sioux Area Metro - is about to grow in Sioux Falls. The city's Public Transit Advisory Board will be asked to adopt changes proposed by SAM's new transit provider, VIA. Emily Shapiro, VIA's general manager for Sioux Falls, says the changes are the result of public input gathered ov...
May 14, 2024
BBB offers scam recovery help
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- If you've become a victim of a scam, chances are you need help recovering. The Better Business Bureau has launched a new online resource designed to provide that help. South Dakota Vice President for the Burea, Jesse Schmidt says reaching out is an important step in recovering. Schmidt s...
May 13, 2024
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Senator Ernst calls for IRS to investigate "non-profits" engaged in protests
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KELO.com) -- Some pro-Palestinian organizations may get a review from the Internal Revenue Service. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is leading 15 of her colleagues in demanding the IRS investigate if 501(c)(3) organizations that have backed the violent pro-Hamas protests on college campuses violated the terms...
May 11, 2024
Sioux Falls drug dealer gets 20 year sentence
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- A Sioux Falls drug dealer will be off the streets for a long time. Jason Winckler, 44, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a fentanyl overdose. Winckler sold a man a fentanyl laced pill, which was then given to the customer's girlfriend. The woman overdosed, but w...
May 11, 2024
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Alleged vehicle scam operator nabbed by police
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- A Sioux Falls woman faces a long list of charges after trying to flee from police. 40-year old Leslie Epling was allegedly buying used cars by giving the sellers bad checks, and then trying to sell them quickly on Facebook Marketplace. Police set up a sting operation to catch Eplin at Le...
May 10, 2024
State and local law enforcement teaming up for traffic saturation patrols
SIOUX FALLS,SD (KELO.com) -- Sioux Falls is growing - in more ways than one. Along with population growth, there's also a growing number of traffic offenses, and a higher risk of serious accidents. Police Chief Jon Thum says his department is teaming up with the Sheriff's Department and Highway Patrol to conduct satu...
May 10, 2024
Officers and witnesses dealing with emotions of deadly crash
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Police are still working on the investigation into a deadly car crash in Sioux Falls two weeks ago. As they do, officers and those who saw the aftermath are dealing with emotions and memories. Police Chief Jon Thum said that takes time and conversation. The accident claimed the lives of...
May 09, 2024
Perfect attendance leads to brand new SUV for O'Gorman student
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Perfect attendance has created some extra jingle in the pocket of an O'gorman High School Senior. For Tate Bathke, that jingle is a set of keys to a brand new Ford Bronco Sport. His perfect attendance placed his name into a drawing - and he won! The raffle was also a win for the school....
May 09, 2024
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High speed chase starts in Minnesota, ends near Colman
COLMAN, SD (KELO.com) -- A high speed chase that started in Minnesota Wednesday ended at a farm near Colman. 39-year old Coty Tellinghuisen of Pipestone, Minnesota is being held in the Brookings County Detention Center on a number of charges. Speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour on a state highway north of Brookings an...
May 09, 2024
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Police Chief Jon Thum - Heart of the City award winner
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- As a life-long resident of Sioux Falls, Police Chief Jon Thum has a heart for the city. Now, he also has the "Heart of the City" - an award he received at the Experience Sioux Falls event Tuesday night. Chief Thum is one of a half-dozen people recognized for their inspiration, ...
May 08, 2024
77-million dollar aquatic bond on hold
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- It's a 77-million dollar package that will affect recreational opportunities in Sioux Falls for decades, but it will have to wait. City finance director Shawn Pritchett says it's apparent city councilors aren't comfortable with the user fees that would have to be charged to cover expenses...
May 08, 2024
Safer firefighting foam from new soybean product
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- The latest product from the humble soybean is boasting big benefits for the environment, farmers and firefighters. Cross Plains Solutions has created SoyFoam, which is an effective fire suppressant. Unlike similar products that have been used for decades, it doesn't contain harmful PFA's...
May 07, 2024
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Fentanyl Awareness Day: "You only get one chance"
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed by fentanyl. Angela Kennecke's daughter Emily was among those victims six years ago. Following her daughter's death, Kenneck founded Emily's Hope, a non-profit agency that warns people of the dangers of fentanyl, and tries to protect those ...
May 07, 2024
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Importance of cyber security growing
MADISON, SD (KELO.com) -- It isn't a new issue, but it's becoming more important by the day. Data privacy and security was the focus of a Round Table discussion at Dakota State University, hosted by Senator John Thune. The challenge of keeping data safe has been on the mind of SDSU professor Michael Adelaine for deca...
May 06, 2024
DWU students get hands on experience in generating economic report
MITCHELL, SD (KELO.com) -- A new economic report is giving Dakota Wesleyan University students a valuable life experience. The students helped develop a new economic report that will be valuable to economic developers. There's no shortage of information to be researched, but Professor Dr. Tracy Dice says one big chal...
May 06, 2024
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Sioux Falls woman targeted by scam
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- It started with a pop-up that said her computer had a problem. It ended with 58-thousand dollars lost to scam artists. The Sioux Falls woman was told she was accused of money laundering. Police Information Officer Sam Clemens says she followed instructions and withdrew the money from se...
May 06, 2024
Officers justified in shooting suspect
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Attorney General Marty Jackley says Sioux Falls police officers were justified in shooting a man last month. Police were trying to serve a mental health detention warrant for Daniel McKillip. He refused to comply and armed himself with two knives. McKillip survived the shooting and was ...
May 03, 2024
Higher education opportunity for former prisoners
BROOKINGS, SD (KELO.com) -- You could consider it a second chance powered by higher education. South Dakota State University was awarded a three-year, 150-thousand dollar grant by the Mellon foundation's Higher Education in Prison program. The effort is being led by Vice-Provost, Dr. Victor Taylor. He says it's pers...
Apr 30, 2024
Witness gives his account of deadly accident
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Sioux Falls police are still working on the investigation into the deadly weekend crash that killed two teenagers, and probably will be working on it for several weeks. In the meantime they're relying on clips from neighborhood surveillance cameras - and witnesses like Steve Blumke who sa...
Apr 30, 2024
Two teens die in tragic crash
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- It was the most catastrophic accident he's seen in 17 years of police work. Sioux Falls Police Lieutenant Andrew Siebenborn arrived shortly after a deadly crash that killed two young teenagers at about 6 Saturday morning at 18th and Second Avenue. The crash took the lives of two 15 year o...
Apr 30, 2024
Two juveniles killed in Sioux Falls crash
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- An early Saturday morning crash has killed two juveniles. At 6 am a Dodge Durango SUV lost control and collided with a tree and a house at the intersection of East 18th Street and 2nd Avenue. There were at least 7 juveniles in the vehicle, with two pronounced dead at the scene and 5 take...
Apr 27, 2024
Sioux Area Metro seeking public input on proposed changes
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Sioux Falls Area Metro -- SAM -- wants to hear from you. TransitTech provider Via operates the city's public transit network, and is opening its doors to public input. Via will host a drop-in session at the Downtown Library May 6th that you can attend in person or you can leave online fe...
Apr 26, 2024
Bill Nye "The Science Guy" headlines Washington Pavilion 25th Anniversary celebration
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Bill Nye the Science Guy will be a part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Washington Pavilion. He'll make a presentation, which will be followed by Q & A the evening of May 2nd. "It is a dream come true for us to host Bill Nye at the Washington Pavilion. While planning o...
Apr 25, 2024
Circus comes to town with cotton candy, clowns and...protestors
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- PETA supporters are calling for the El Riad Shrine Circus to stop using animals in their acts. The Circus just opened Thursday afternoon. During Saturday's performances, PETA activists will be converging outside the Sioux Falls Arena to protest, saying the animals are subjected to cruel ...
Apr 25, 2024
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