Articles by J.P. Skelly

John Hult-SD Searchlight South Dakota’s governor and lawmakers put more than two years of debate behind them recently with a decision to build a prison, but there’s more than rhetoric in the rearview. They’re also [Read More…]

Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November 2025 may be delayed or disrupted. While October benefits have been fully issued, future funding is not guaranteed. DSS is [Read More…]

Joshua Haiar and Seth Tupper-SD Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden and a group of legislators — including one seeking his job — made rival proposals this week to shift millions in [Read More…]

LSI, Inc., an Alpena, S.D. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,277,540 pounds of a ready-to-eat Korean barbecue pork jerky product that may be contaminated with pieces of metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and [Read More…]

Joshua Haiar- SD Searchlight Two days after a U.S. senator from South Dakota said he was encouraged by the desire of President Donald Trump to “do right” by American ranchers, Trump outraged many of them [Read More…]

Mitchell Area Housing Incorporated hosted a ribbon-cutting and open-house Thursday at its Ridgeview on Foster development on Mitchell’s eastside. Mitchell native Adam Kaemingk, representing Senator Mike Rounds led off. “These are the types of things [Read More…]

A 45 year old woman from Emery has been indicted on one count of Grand Theft for stealing between $100,000 and $500,000 from her employer. A Lincoln County Grand Jury indicted Paula Dockendorf on Oct. [Read More…]

Makenzie Huber-South Dakota Searchlight A legislative task force aiming to reduce property taxes for South Dakota homeowners advanced 18 proposals at its final meeting on Wednesday in Pierre, setting up a potentially long list of [Read More…]

South Dakota Searchlight Staff Leading Catholic officials in western South Dakota have issued a statement saying they “firmly reject” the secretary of defense’s recent affirmation of medals awarded for the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre. The [Read More…]

The South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) confirms that the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program continues to operate as normal. “There is no disruption to South Dakota WIC services,” said Melissa Magstadt, Secretary of [Read More…]

South Dakota News Watch and Dakota Wesleyan University are again sponsoring the state spelling bee that will send a winner to the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington. DWU will host the state competition [Read More…]

South Dakota Searchlight-Joshua Haiar Last month, utilities regulators voted 2-1 to tell a company that wants to put industrial scale batteries near Watertown that they’ll need a permit before they build. Last week, lawyers for [Read More…]

The South Dakota Municipal League recently inducted 21 individuals from across the state into its Hall of Fame. Three Mitchell City employees are among the honorees. Accounting and Administrative Technician Marilyn Jansen with 20 years [Read More…]

South Dakota Searchlight-Makenzie Huber About 3,500 people gathered in downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday for the latest No Kings protest — making it the city’s largest protest so far this year, according to organizer crowd [Read More…]

Two people died in a two-vehicle crash early Sunday morning eight miles south of Canton. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety reported around 6:20 am, a 52 year old male driver from Alcester was [Read More…]

Mitchell’s Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery Association is the latest recipient of an Operation Round-Up award from Central Electric Cooperative. The cooperative presented an $800 grant on October 17th at the cemetery located just south of [Read More…]

AAA South Dakota Roadside workers, including law enforcement officers, construction crews, utility workers, refuse collectors, and tow truck operators, risk their lives daily while working just feet from fast-moving traffic. Their roles are diverse, but [Read More…]

The dirt’s been turned and construction is in full-swing for Peaceful Pines Senior Living overlooking Lake Mitchell’s north shore. HME Care vice-president Dylan Kessler of Brookings says it’s a new brand of senior living. “Something [Read More…]

South Dakota Searchlight-John Hult A longtime South Dakota state employee from Spearfish was indicted this week in Lawrence County for allegedly falsifying child abuse reports. Attorney General Marty Jackley, who announced the charges against 56-year-old [Read More…]