Erik Thorstenson
Morning Anchor
Sioux Falls
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Erik grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, and graduated from the University of South Dakota. During college, he got his first taste of broadcasting at WNAX Radio in Yankton.
After school, Erik worked three years as a news/sports reporter at KTIV-TV in Sioux City.
Erik has won several Associated Press awards including Best Sportscast four times. He was the 2006-07 South Dakota High School Coaches Association Sportscaster of the Year.
In January of 2020, he moved to Morning Anchor. Erik can be seen on weekdays on Dakota News Now from 5 am to 7 am.
Erik and his wife Amy live in Sioux Falls and are the proud parents of daughters Kate and Brooke, and sons Luke and Jack.
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Elijah Schipper is this week's "Someone You Should Know."
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Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week: standout student & multi-sport athlete at Oldham-Ramona
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Miss South Dakota USA Amber Hulse is heading to the national competition in Reno, Nevada. We caught up with her at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport, before she left for her trip.
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The Central Valley Struttin’ Gobblers National Wild Turkey Federation’s annual banquet is this Saturday in Hartford.
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Bobby Menzie is this week's "Someone You Should Know."
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The Washington Pavilion is gearing up for its first week of Live & Local, and the group Improv Falls is preparing to take center stage.
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Kaylea McBrien is this week's "Someone You Should Know."
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Dr. Abi Polzin, from the Sanford Emergency Department, joined Dakota News Now on Wednesday morning, to talk about the signs of sepsis. And what you should do if you have it.
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Sioux Falls City Planning Projects Coordinator Jeff Schmidt, joined Dakota News Now on Tuesday morning, to talk about this year’s Citizen Planning Academy.
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O'Gorman High School teacher Jane Bradfield is this week's "Someone You Should Know."
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605 Magazine owner & publisher Alana Snyder, joined Dakota News Now on Thursday morning to talk about what’s in the September issue.
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Harlan Temple is this week's "Someone You Should Know."
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An all female standup comedy show takes place this Thursday at Lucky’s Bar in Sioux Falls. Event host Alisha Rayne, joined Dakota News Now on Tuesday morning.
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Christy Menning, with the McCrossan Boys Ranch, joined Dakota News Now on Friday morning, to talk about their 15th annual rodeo. It’s a fundraiser for the McCrossan Boys Ranch.
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Siouxland Libraries Director Jodi Fick joined Dakota News Now on Thursday morning, to talk about the programs offered during the school year. She also talked about the libraries budget needs heading into 2024.
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Superintendent Dr. Jane Stavem joined Dakota News Now on Tuesday morning, to talk about the start of the new school year. The Sioux Falls School District starts classes on Thursday.
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Sioux Falls Director of Public Works Director Mark Cotter, and Director of Planning & Development Jeff Eckhoff, joined Dakota News Now on Thursday morning, to talk about their departments budget proposals for 2024.
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Looking at the prep football teams and players to watch in South Dakota, Northwest Iowa & Southwest Minnesota!
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Tom Gunlicks is this week's "Someone You Should Know."
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Scott & Dawn Rysdon joined Dakota News Now on Wednesday morning to talk about South Dakota Light the Night. It’s an event for those who’ve been touched by cancer. It takes place Setember 30th at Falls Park.
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The first annual Dairy Dash will take place this Saturday, starting at 8am at Good Earth State Park near Sioux Falls. Event organizer Ariana Mount and ambassador Maren Jensen joined Dakota News Now on Friday morning to talk about the event.
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Throughout the month of August, the Sioux Falls city departments are presenting their proposed budgets for next year, to the City Council. Parks & Recreation Director Don Kearney, joined Dakota News Now on Thursday morning, to talk about their needs.
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Holly Hoffman has written a new motivational book, titled “Three Step Stride.” She joined Dakota News Now on Tuesday morning to talk about it.
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Wendy Ahrendsen has taught swimming lessons and been a coach with the Brookings Swim Club for 25 years, and she is this week's Someone You Should Know.
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One dollar from every Dairy Queen Blizzard sold today, goes towards the Children’s Miracle Network. We were live at the Dairy Queen on Minnesota Avenue, to talk about what this day means.
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The Sioux Falls Central Bank locations will host a “Shred and Fed” event this Wednesday from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. It’s a chance to get rid of important documents and help two local nonprofits. (The time is a correction from what was shown in the interview with Central Bank’s Charity Heaton.)
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The Four Winds Music & Arts Festival takes place this weekend at three different downtown Sioux Falls locations. There will be numerous bands playing at the three day event. Zach Dresch and Nick Bader, joined Dakota News Now on Monday morning.
The festival takes place July 28-30 and is open to all ages.
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There will be classic cars, music, food, and drinks at the 6th annual Hot Classics Night, which takes place Saturday in downtown Sioux Falls. Kevin Nyberg, owner of Nyberg’s Ace, joined Dakota News Now on Thursday morning.
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There is a fundraiser, to help kids fighting cancer at the Sanford Children’s Hospital, which takes place on August 4th at The District. You could win $25,000 with a special raffle that is taking place. We learned more about it Thursday morning on Dakota News Now.
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The Sioux Falls American Legion Unit 15 will be holding a golf benefit for the Vets Community Project happening August 15 at Elmwood Golf Course. Event organizers Kasey Jacobsen and Deb Metzger joined Dakota News Now on Thursday morning to talk about the event.
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More than 15,000 hot dogs will be grilled on Thursday for Luverne’s 61st annual Hot Dog Nite. Jane Lanphere, from the Chamber of Commerce, and Travis Dunn, from Take 16 Brewing Company, joined Dakota News Now on Tuesday morning.
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Jesse Schmidt, with the Better Business Bureau, joined Dakota News Now on Thursday morning, to talk about what you should watch out for.
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Ashlyn and Abigail Bailey are this week's "Someone You Should Know."
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Staci Kroupuenski, with the Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety, joined Dakota News Now on Thursday, to talk about the July event, to raise awareness about domestic violence.
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Mary Spargur is this week's "Someone You Should Know."
605 Magazine owner and publisher Alana Snyder joined Dakota News Now on Tuesday morning to preview the July issue, which is the outdoor edition.
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Longtime Mitchell radio voice J.P. Skelly is this week's Someone You Should Know.
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Sanford’s Karla Haugan and Natasha Smith joined Dakota News Now on Wednesday morning to talk about how the health system is supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
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Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Ryne Sandberg will be in Sioux Falls next week to take part in the HyVee/Sanford Legends for Kids event. Sanford’s Brock Reynoldson joined Dakota News Now on Tuesday morning.
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Jean Pearson and Eric Saathoff, Sioux Falls Recreation program coordinators, joined Dakota News Now on Thursday morning to talk about the city pools and parks.
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Marian Cramer is this week's "Someone You Should Know."
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Camp founder Noah Clair joined Dakota News Now on Tuesday morning, to talk about his upcoming football camp in Brookings. The “Cash Money” Youth Skills Camp will take place June 24th.
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Event hosts Dave Holly and Emily Wilson joined Dakota News Now on Monday morning to talk about “The Vaudies” production. It’s also a fundraiser for the Mighty Corson Art Players.
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The free concerts take place at Good Earth State Park each Sunday at 4 p.m. throughout the summer. Park Naturalist Jen Stahl joined Dakota News Now on Thursday morning.
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Annika Estwick is a great student who has a 4.07 GPA at Sisseton High School.
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Trisha Dohn with Well365 joined Dakota News Now on Thursday morning to talk about some healthy brunch ideas for mom on her big day.
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Jeff Clapper is this week's "Someone You Should Know."
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Chrissy Meyer with the American Heart Association joined Dakota News Now to talk about the significance of the month, which brings awareness to strokes.
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