Articles by J.P. Skelly

John Hult-SD Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko said Wednesday she’s buoyed by a vote from the state’s prison task force endorsing a $650 million, 1,500-bed men’s prison in [Read More…]

A woman from Brandon has been sentenced to five years in prison, with 3½ years suspended, after earlier pleading guilty to one felony count of Attempt to Distribute a Controlled Substance. 46 year old Melissa [Read More…]

A 34 year old man from Clark man has been charged with First-Degree Murder and Second-Degree Murder in the death of a Clark resident Tuesday. Bowen Fladland was arrested Tuesday after a deceased female was [Read More…]

The Project Prison Reset Task Force has removed Mitchell and Worthing as sites for a new South Dakota Men’s prison. That leaves two locations in Sioux Falls in the running. The task force’s decision on [Read More…]

The Project Prison Reset Task Force has removed Mitchell and Worthing as sites for a new South Dakota Men’s prison. That leaves two locations in Sioux Falls in the running. The task force met for [Read More…]

The Mitchell City Council has green-lighted a major economic development project just north of Lake Mitchell. The group unanimously approved rezoning of the land from Urban Development District to Lakeshore Planned Unit Development District. City [Read More…]

The Division of Criminal Investigation, at the request of Sioux Falls Police Department, is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Monday night, in Sioux Falls. “The Attorney General’s Office and DCI take officer involved [Read More…]

A 33 year old man from Yankton has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. Matthew Williams was sentenced to 22 years in [Read More…]

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley warns South Dakotans to be vigilant about money donation scams for relief efforts stemming from the Texas flash floods. “Scammers use tragedies like this to prey on the public’s [Read More…]

First Friday’s in Mitchell took on a patriotic theme in observance of Independence Day. “Everyone wore their red, white and blue,” said Elizabeth Luczak of Mitchell Main Street and Beyond. “And it has been a [Read More…]

The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office says 48 year old man from Mitchell has been indicted on 44 felony counts of crimes against children including First-and Fourth-Degree Rape, Aggravated Incest, and the Manufacturing and Possession [Read More…]

A life-saving opioid antidote is now available to the public free of charge. Lana Loken is a member of the Davison County Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Coalition. “Setting up a Narcan, or Naloxone center [Read More…]

Josh Haiar-South Dakota Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr picked South Dakota as the place to unveil what he called a “Build America Agenda,” aimed at cutting regulations and revitalizing the [Read More…]

The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a former Rapid City Gymnastics Coach who faces federal Child Pornography charges. 25 [Read More…]

Work is progressing at two housing developments in Mitchell. Mitchell Area Housing Incorporated president Terry Sabers says street work is underway at both Ridgeview on Foster and South Lake. “We got the contractors back there,” [Read More…]

A former state Department of Social Services employee was sentenced Tuesday to 13 years in prison, with six years suspended, after earlier being convicted of stealing $1.78 million in state and federal funds from the [Read More…]

South Dakota News Watch By Bert Pfankuch U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson formally entered the 2026 race for South Dakota governor Monday, promising to bring a positive leadership style to efforts to strengthen families, better educate [Read More…]

The South Dakota Department of Corrections reported Sunday evening state prison offender Philip Campling has died of apparent natural causes. The 73 year old Campling fell ill at the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield [Read More…]

A 44 year old woman from Yankton sustained fatal injuries in a single vehicle crash early Saturday morning, four miles south of Wagner. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety reported around 1:45 am, the [Read More…]

Mitchell firefighters spent about four and a half hours Saturday afternoon battling a fire north of Mitchell. Battalion Chief Zach Dalrymple they found small grass fire in the north ditch on 250th street east of [Read More…]