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Friday, June 13, 2025

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Tensions over L.A. immigration sweeps boil over as Padilla is tackled, ICE arrests pick up; IN residents watch direction of Trump spending bill amid state budget cuts; More than two dozen 'No Kings' events planned Saturday across Montana.

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Democrats demand answers on CA Sen. Padilla's handcuffing and removal from a DHS news conference. Defense Secretary Hegseth defends the administration's protest response as preventative, and Trump vows protests of Saturday's military parade will be met with "heavy" force.

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EV charging stations are harder to find in rural America, improving the mental health of children and teachers is the goal of a new partnership in seven rural states, and a once segregated Mississippi movie theater is born again.

South Dakota slides in latest child well-being ranking

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Monday, June 9, 2025   

South Dakota has fallen five spots in an annual national ranking that summarizes child well-being data. At 26th in the nation, policy experts pointed to some key areas of concern.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation's latest Kids Count Data Book said when breaking down the ranking into specific categories, the numbers are even more troubling. For example, South Dakota ranks 27th for family and community support, including a rise in kids living in single parent households.

Xanna Burg, Kids Count director for South Dakota, said there is lack of progress in other areas, too.

"If we look at the economic and education sections, though, we're seeing data that they're staying stagnant, or trending in the wrong directions," Burg pointed out. "We're not seeing a ton of progress."

For health coverage, voters in 2022 approved expanding the state's Medicaid program but when federal pandemic rules allowing for automatic enrollment ended, thousands of children were removed from the Medicaid rolls, despite still being eligible. As Congress debates limiting the scope of safety-net programs, Burg urged state lawmakers to consider the added pressure South Dakota might feel.

Nationally, the report showed a 5% increase in kids ages 16-19 who are not in school or working, a trouble spot for South Dakota as well.

Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, said the nation is at a critical stage, which needs to be prioritized by decisionmakers.

"With things like internships and apprenticeships -- stronger and, in some cases, alternative education -- so that they have an opportunity to thrive and to move forward from education and into the workforce," Boissiere recommended.

Mirroring national numbers, South Dakota kids are falling behind in reading and math proficiency among lower grade levels. Kids Count researchers credited state lawmakers for having more conversations about boosting early childhood support but said South Dakota needs to catch up with its neighbors in making such investments.

Disclosure: The Annie E. Casey Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Children's Issues, Education, Juvenile Justice, and Welfare Reform. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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