Articles by J.P. Skelly

A 55 year old woman from Mitchell and a 66 year old woman  from North Jackson, Ohio have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Catherine Hamilton [Read More…]

The U.S. Navy will commission the future USS Pierre, an Independence-variant littoral combat ship, in Panama City, Florida, Nov. 15. The naming of LCS 38 honors the legacy of the citizens of Pierre and the [Read More…]

The South Dakota Department of Revenue estimates that tax collections from the 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally totaled $1,581,736, marking a 13% increase over last year’s collections of $1,399,501. These figures include revenues from state sales [Read More…]

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is turning to advanced technology to make dangerous vehicle pursuits safer for both the public and law enforcement. Troopers now have another key tool to track suspects without putting lives [Read More…]

Mitchell Technical College has been recognized as the #1 community college in South Dakota and ranked #13 nationally in WalletHub’s 2025 Best & Worst Community Colleges report. Each year, WalletHub evaluates more than 650 community [Read More…]

SD Searchlight-Makenzie Huber U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune was blunt in his opening remarks during a Dakotafest policy discussion on Wednesday about the state of agriculture. While South Dakota farmers in parts of the [Read More…]

SD Searchlight-Makenzie Huber The United States can win the “AI race,” but not without the infrastructure and data centers necessary to develop the emerging technology, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson told members of the Greater Sioux [Read More…]

Congressman Dusty Johnson continued his mission of recognizing veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam era from 1955 to 1975 Thursday at Mitchell VFW Post 2750. “Our office has honored more than 1,200 [Read More…]

On Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, two-way traffic is scheduled to be shifted onto the newly reconstructed southbound lanes of S.D. Highway 37 north of Mitchell. The traffic switch is anticipated to be complete by the [Read More…]

South Dakota Public Broadcasting Executive Director Julie Overgaard announced today layoffs that will affect 15 SDPB employees. The affected positions are across the spectrum of programs and services that SDPB provides. They impact SDPB local [Read More…]

Dakotafest is a magnet that draws agricultural leaders like American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall. “I come to be at Dakotafest to meet the farmers and ranchers here in South Dakota and also be [Read More…]

A new federal farm bill is two years overdue but finally writing a new one will be a priority when Senators and Congressmen return to Washington next month. Senator John Thune says much of the [Read More…]

The leaders of two Mitchell educational institutions are marveling over the generosity of Roger and Vicki Musick. The Mitchell couple recently donated $33-million dollars toward boosting pre-k through university-level education opportunities. Dakota Wesleyan University president [Read More…]

Roger and Vicki Musick of Mitchell have made a transformative $33-million dollar donation with the goal of elevating local education in making Mitchell an exceptional place to raise a family. Roger Musick is a believer [Read More…]

A special art display celebrating conservation in agriculture is coming together just in time for Dakotafest and Corn Palace Festival. A news conference and unveiling of photographs of Mitchell area producers is set for 5pm [Read More…]

Mitchell Public, Catholic and Mitchell Christian Schools are set to start the new school year this week. Shawn Steward of Triple-A South Dakota says traffic and pedestrian safety is a top priority. “We’re just reminding [Read More…]

Makenzie Huber-South Dakota Searchlight A nonprofit organization providing legal aid for low-income South Dakotans is attempting to take over the federal funding and territory of a similar organization, following accusations of the latter group’s ineffectiveness. [Read More…]

A new Daktronics scoreboard is up and running at Joe Quintal Stadium, just in time for the fall athletic season, thanks to a boost from Bankwest. Activities Director Corey Aadland says it’s what he’s wanted [Read More…]

A 39 year old man from Mitchell is facing several charges following a vehicle pursuit early Thursday morning north of Mitchell. A news release from the Davison County Sheriff’s Office indicated around 1:10 am, a [Read More…]

Giant portraits celebrating American farmers and ranchers will be on display during Dakotafest and the Corn Palace Festival here in Mitchell next week. Invest in Our Land Executive Director and Aberdeen, SD, area native Rebecca [Read More…]