South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and will lead the Department of Homeland Security

Rhoden, previously the lieutenant governor of South Dakota under former Gov. Kristi Noem, officially succeeded to governor of South Dakota during a private swearing-in ceremony Monday. The new governor was joined by members of his family, Democrat and Republican leaders from both state chambers, and several prominent state leaders and employees.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavor, with NASA astronauts Warren "Woody" Hoburg and Stephen Bowen, the United Arab Emirates' Sultan Al-Neyadi, and Andrey Fedyaev of Russian space agency Roscosmos aboard, approach the International Space Station. Credit: NASA | time-lapse edited by Space.com's [Steve Spaleta]

A new era begins for South Dakota today as Larry Rhoden took the oath of office to become the state’s 34th governor.He also makes his own history, becoming the first governor to take over the position in the midst of the legislative session.

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden delivered his first joint address to the South Dakota Legislature as governor on Tuesday. His full speech is here:

Gov. Larry Rhoden received Kristi Noem's official resignation as South Dakota governor on Saturday as she joined the Trump administration.

Donald Trump loyalist and immigration hardliner Kristi Noem has been confirmed by the Senate to lead the Department of Homeland Security. The South Dakota governor, who has pledged to secure the US border and support deportation efforts, sailed through her Senate confirmation with a vote of 59-34.

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as the head of the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday with some Democrats backing the South Dakota governor's nomination. The chamber voted 59-34 to confirm Noem who will head up a federal agency that will be at the forefront of President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary on Saturday, putting the South Dakota governor in charge ... State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.