Articles by J.P. Skelly

Josh Haiar-South Dakota Searchlight The South Dakota House of Representatives advanced a bill 49–19 that would ban the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines, sending the legislation to the state Senate. Eminent domain [Read More…]

Gov. Larry Rhoden announced several staff changes Monday, two days after taking office when former Gov. Kristi Noem resigned to join President Donald Trump’s cabinet. Among the key changes, longtime governor’s office spokesman Ian Fury [Read More…]

A former South Dakota Department of Social Services employee was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to using a DSS grocery voucher, intended for families in need, for personal use. 28 year old Amalia Escalante Barrientos [Read More…]

Governor Larry Rhoden announced his plans to be officially sworn in as the 34th Governor of South Dakota. The oath of office will be administered on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 11:00 am CT by [Read More…]

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem resigned Saturday morning, minutes after being confirmed as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Noem, the first female governor of South Dakota, wrote a letter to her [Read More…]

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has been confirmed as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following a Senate vote on Saturday morning. Noem received 59 votes in favor and 34 votes [Read More…]

South Dakota Broadcasters Association-Austin Goss A South Dakota legislative committee passed a bill Friday aimed at limiting carbon pipeline projects by stripping the power of eminent domain for carbon dioxide transportation. House Bill 1052, which [Read More…]

South Dakota Searchlight-Josh Haiar A committee of South Dakota lawmakers voted 4-3 to endorse a bill Thursday in Pierre that would require public school districts to teach the Ten Commandments and display them in every [Read More…]

The vast majority of discussion during Tuesday’s Mitchell City Council meeting focused on the Corn Palace and a proposed $12-million dollar plan for upgrades. However longtime Mitchell resident Roger Musick offered a different perspective. He [Read More…]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just moments before leaving office, President Joe Biden commuted the life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. Peltier was denied parole [Read More…]

South Dakota Searchlight-Josh Haiar PIERRE — A committee of South Dakota lawmakers endorsed a bill Friday that would require pornographic websites to implement age verification measures. The House State Affairs Committee passed the measure 11-2, [Read More…]

Attorney General Marty Jackley says two South Dakota Penitentiary inmates have been sentenced to additional time in prison after they had earlier been found guilty of assaulting two correctional officers at the South Dakota Penitentiary [Read More…]

The James Valley Drug and DUI Court celebrated the achievements of four new graduates Thursday afternoon. Judge Donna Bucher shared, that between them, Samantha, Adrianne, Nikole and Bianca have 2,228 days sober, have paid more [Read More…]

Those attending Thursday’s James Valley Drug and DUI Court graduation got more than they bargained for from keynote speaker, Davison County Jail Administrator Grant Lanning. “On paper, I look pretty good, and yes, that kind [Read More…]

Muth Electric recently announced the appointment of David Muth as Chief Executive Officer of Muth Electric. The appointment was effective January 1st part of a four-year succession plan. “As we look to the future, one [Read More…]

Hiring and keeping Davison County corrections officers and deputies is a continuing challenge. Sheriff Steve Harr discussed the issue during Tuesday’s Davison County Commission meeting. “I don’t know what the answer to it is,” Harr [Read More…]

There’s a new option available in Mitchell for those experiencing a mental health crisis. Michelle Carpenter is Executive Director of Dakota Counseling Institute Downtown. “We have psychiatric appointments, outpatient appointments and then we would have [Read More…]

The Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, Development Corporation, CVB and Mitchell Main Street and Beyond celebrated their 2024 successes and honored several individuals and organizations during Wednesday’s annual recognition event. Lifequest received the Community Service [Read More…]

Governor Kristi Noem delivered what’s most likely her final State of the State address before she leaves office before a joint session of the South Dakota Legislature on its opening day. District 20 State Representative [Read More…]

By: Josh Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem used her State of the State address on Tuesday to say goodbye. Noem is expected to resign sometime after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on [Read More…]