Articles by Travis Kriens

Anna Claire Vollers/Stateline Nine months after Monroe County Hospital in rural South Alabama closed its labor and delivery department in October 2023, Grove Hill Memorial Hospital in neighboring Clarke County also stopped delivering babies. Both [Read More…]

State Prison Offender Dennis Lufkins Passes Away at 76

A state prison offender, Dennis Lufkins, age 76, has died while in custody. Lufkins passed away on June 15, 2025, at the Jameson Annex medical unit, where he was receiving care. At the time of [Read More…]

Red Sox trade Rafael Devers to the Giants in a blockbuster deal

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox traded slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday in a deal that could shake up pennant races on both coasts. San Francisco sent right-hander Jordan [Read More…]

J.J. Spaun weathers the worst of wet Oakmont to win US Open

OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — J.J. Spaun endured the toughest test in golf on the toughest course in America in the worst kind of conditions. And then he turned this miserable, wet Sunday at Oakmont into [Read More…]

Panthers move to the verge of 2nd straight Stanley Cup title by beating the Oilers 5-2 in Game 5

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Brad Marchand is making more highlights for his new team, Sam Bennett is piling up the goals again and the Florida Panthers are on the verge of hoisting the Stanley Cup for the [Read More…]

Mauricio Dubón’s walk-off single lifts Astros over Twins 2-1, sweep 3-game series

HOUSTON (AP) — Victor Caratini tied it with a sacrifice fly in the ninth and Mauricio Dubón hit a walk-off single in the 10th on Sunday to help the Astros beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 [Read More…]

Rookie Cam Smith hits walkoff single to give Astros a thrilling 3-2 win over Twins

HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Cam Smith hit a tiebreaking RBI single off closer Jhoan Duran with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Houston Astros a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on [Read More…]

No Kings protests around the nation denounce Trump’s actions

June 15, 2025 Travis Kriens

States Newsroom With the nation’s capital hosting multimillion-dollar celebrations and a parade marking the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s birthday Saturday, huge No Kings demonstrations blanketed the country from coast to coast [Read More…]

South Dakota loses $5.6M in federal funding to expand digital access, help with unemployment insurance

June 15, 2025 Travis Kriens

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight The Trump administration recently terminated more than $5 million promised to South Dakota for expanded access to digital technology. That increases the administration’s total federal funding cuts impacting South Dakota state [Read More…]

Altuve and Melton each have 3 RBIs as Astros beat Twins 10-3

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve and rookie Jacob Melton drove in three runs each as the Houston Astros jumped on Chris Paddack early and cruised to a 10-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday [Read More…]

Game 4: Gilgeous-Alexander goes wild in the 4th, Thunder rally to top Pacers 111-104 and tie Finals

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Game on the line, season quite possibly on the line, the Oklahoma City Thunder had only one place to turn. They went to the MVP. And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered, scoring 15 of [Read More…]

Sam Burns leads US Open with 65 and avoids calamity at Oakmont

OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — The pounding rain arrived far too late to douse so many of the meltdowns across Oakmont on Friday in a U.S. Open that produced a brilliant round by Sam Burns and [Read More…]

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz: former House speaker and husband killed in politically motivated shooting

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in a politically motivated assassination. A second lawmaker and his wife were shot and wounded. [Read More…]

‘No Kings’ protests planned in multiple South Dakota cities

South Dakota Searchlight Nationwide protests against the Trump administration are planned this Saturday, including in South Dakota cities. “No Kings” is the theme of the protests, which will coincide with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, [Read More…]

Litigation results in payments for southeast South Dakota landowners along rail-to-trail route

Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight Seven landowners in Bon Homme and Charles Mix counties will receive a total of nearly $128,000 from the federal government after the U.S. Court of Federal Claims found their land was [Read More…]

What concealed carry on campus means for South Dakota schools

Emily DeCock/South Dakota News Watch The boards that oversee South Dakota’s 10 public colleges are drafting policies in accordance with a new state law that will allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus. Starting [Read More…]

Friday Sports: June 13, 2025

FRIDAY SPORTS, JUNE 13, 2025 AMATEUR BASEBALL – THURSDAY Parkston Rays 7, Platte 5 – Seth Muth with four hits, RBI and run. Hunter Hewitt with three hits for Platte. Dimock/Emery 3, Mitchell 2 (11 [Read More…]

Minnesota women’s coach Dawn Plitzuweit gets 2-year contract extension with raise

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota women’s basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit has received a two-year contract extension that was approved Thursday by the university’s board of regents. Plitzuweit is 47-29 over two seasons at Minnesota, including 13-23 [Read More…]

Brian Flores still finds joy running the Vikings defense after being passed over for head coach jobs

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings were in full-team drills during minicamp on Thursday, when an unexpected pre-snap alignment by the defense prompted new center Ryan Kelly to ask coach Kevin O’Connell about the call he [Read More…]

Hirata, Willis earn First Team All-American honors at NCAA Championships