Articles by Travis Kriens

Melissa Avelino/South Dakota News Watch South Dakota’s rural areas have seen a net loss of population over the past three decades, though many of those people who left for cities like Sioux Falls and Rapid [Read More…]

Federal changes to food assistance will cost South Dakota $5 million annually

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Federal changes to a food assistance program will cost South Dakota $5 million starting next fiscal year, according to the state Bureau of Finance and Management. The situation “could be much [Read More…]

Fiscal responsibility or neglect of state priorities: Surplus sparks debate about budget cuts

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Now that South Dakota has finished its fiscal year with a $63 million surplus, some Democrats and people affected by budget cuts are criticizing the state’s Republican administration and legislative majority [Read More…]

Sioux Falls prison plan should come with more state support for released inmates, speakers say

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — Mayor Paul TenHaken isn’t “kicking and screaming” against the proposed construction of a larger men’s prison in northeastern Sioux Falls. But he’s not thrilled about it. “There are [Read More…]

Feeding South Dakota Seeks State Support After Federal Funding Cuts

Feeding South Dakota is requesting financial assistance from the state after losing $2.5 million in federal funding due to budget cuts backed by the White House. CEO Lori Dykstra emphasized the nonprofit’s urgent need for [Read More…]

Tribal health officials work to fill vaccination gaps as measles outbreak spreads

Arielle Zionts/KFF Health News RAPID CITY — Cassandra Palmier had been meaning to get her son the second and final dose of the measles vaccine. But car problems made it difficult to get to the [Read More…]

Tuesday Sports: July 22, 2025

TUESDAY SPORTS, JULY 22, 2025 MITCHELL KERNELS — Mitchell 16-and-under baseball (19-10 on the season), awaits the Class A 16U state tournament July 25-27 in Yankton. Mitchell will begin state tournament play at noon Friday [Read More…]

Ohtani’s big homer and Smith’s 2 blasts help Dodgers end home woes with 5-2 win over Twins

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the first after giving up a leadoff homer to fellow All-Star Byron Buxton, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Minnesota Twins [Read More…]

South Dakota State Selected Second in Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Poll

SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota State has been picked to finish second in the upcoming 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference race, according to a poll announced Monday that was conducted among the league’s 10 coaches, [Read More…]

Miller Man Dies in Two-Vehicle Crash Near Huron

Beadle County, S.D.- A Miller, SD man died in a two-vehicle crash this morning in Huron, SD. The names of the persons involved have not been released pending notification of family members. Preliminary crash information indicates [Read More…]

Republican candidate spends $187,000 on TV ads so far, a year before South Dakota’s primary election

Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota Republican governor candidate Toby Doeden spent about $187,000 on broadcast television ads in the first month after his campaign announcement, one year before the state’s Republican primary election. Candidates [Read More…]

Ranchers found guilty of animal mistreatment and illegal sales

Bart Pfankuch, South Dakota News Watch MARTIN, S.D. – Two Bennett County ranchers were taken straight from a courtroom to a jail cell in a case that involved mistreatment of cattle and the false branding [Read More…]

New processing centers raise hopes for South Dakota hemp, tempered by challenges

Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight WINFRED — Ken Meyer’s boots imprint the fine layer of dust settled over the concrete floor as he walks through South Dakota’s first industrial hemp processing facility. It’s loud. Fans whirl [Read More…]

Denny Hamlin survives rain delay, overtime finish to win for 2nd straight year at Dover

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Denny Hamlin balked when a surfboard he was asked to sign for charity was placed on the floor. At his age, Hamlin cracked, he might not be able to get back [Read More…]

British Open champion Scottie Scheffler says comparisons to Tiger Woods ‘a bit silly’

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — Another comparison between Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler surfaced during the final round of the British Open. This one wasn’t about numbers or trophies, but a fist pump. And it was for par. [Read More…]

Monday Sports: July 21, 2025

MONDAY SPORTS, JULY 21, 2025 AMATEUR BASEBALL – SUNDAY Kimball/White Lake 3, Chamberlain 2 – Ethan Price with five shutout innings with 10 strikeouts, allowing just two hits. Wessington Springs 5, Burke 1 (7 innings) [Read More…]

Lewis hits 2 homers and Ryan strikes out 11 as Twins top Rockies to avert series sweep

DENVER (AP) — Royce Lewis hit two home runs — his first career multi-homer game — and Joe Ryan struck out 11 in seven innings as the Minnesota Twins beat the Colorado Rockies 7-1 on [Read More…]

Rockies beat Twins 10-6 for first home series victory of the season

DENVER (AP) — Ezequiel Tovar hit a three-run homer to break a fifth-inning tie and the Colorado Rockies won a home series for the first time since late last season with a 10-6 victory over [Read More…]

McMahon and Beck homers send MLB-worst Rockies to a 6-4 win over the Twins