Articles by Travis Kriens

MITCHELL, S.D. — Dakota Wesleyan University Softball is honored to announce that Renita “Toni” Closner has been named the 18th head coach of the program ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Closner has experience in the NAIA [Read More…]

Palace City Post 18 Closes Home Schedule With Senior Night Doubleheader Against Yankton

MITCHELL, S.D. — Palace City Post 18 wraps up its home schedule Tuesday by hosting Yankton in a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. at Cadwell Park. The twinbill also serves as Senior Night for Post [Read More…]

Tuesday Sports: July 14, 2026

TUESDAY SPORTS, JULY 14, 2026 PALACE CITY LEGION BASEBALL — Palace City Post 18 Legion baseball hosts Yankton on Tuesday in a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. at Cadwell Park. The games will serve as [Read More…]

Six Jacks Named to Stats Perform Preseason Team

CHICAGO — Led by first-team selection Quinten Christensen on the offensive line, six South Dakota State football players were recognized Monday on the 2026 Stats Perform Football Championship Subdivision Preseason All-America Team. A senior-to-be from Wessington Springs, [Read More…]

Pierre Jr., Hardman Tabbed Stats Perform Preseason All-Americans

VERMILLION, S.D. — A pair of Coyotes, running back Charles Pierre Jr. and linebacker Gabriel Hardman, have been named Preseason All-American selection by FCS Stats Perform, it was announced on Monday morning. Second Team – Charles Pierre Jr., running back [Read More…]

Jordan Walker spoils Philly’s Kyle Schwarber party, rallies to win Home Run Derby

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jordan Walker played spoiler in Philadelphia and homered on his last six swings to knock off Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and silence the Philly boo birds in the final round, becoming the [Read More…]

Governor celebrates surplus as Democratic lawmaker says state missed opportunities to help people

Meghan O’Brien/South Dakota Searchlight The deposit of a $69 million budget surplus has grown South Dakota’s state government reserve funds to $325 million, according to an announcement from Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden’s office Monday. The surplus is [Read More…]

$10 million settlement over online gaming child exploitation will fund safety, after-school efforts

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — Roblox, a gaming platform popular with children, will pay South Dakota nearly $10 million over four years and implement new protections for young users under a settlement announced [Read More…]

Monday Sports: July 13, 2026

MONDAY SPORTS, JULY 13, 2026 PALACE CITY LEGION BASEBALL — Palace City Post 18 Legion baseball went 1-3 over the weekend at the Gopher Classic. On Saturday, Post 18 lost to Bloomington, Minnesota, 3-0, followed [Read More…]

Water quality buffer program grows following $8 million boost from lawmakers

Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight A state program that pays landowners to plant vegetation along streams now has 130 buffer projects spanning 379 miles of shoreline statewide, and more landowners are waiting to enroll. The update, [Read More…]

South Dakota court system eyes third circuit consolidation in 50 years, raising concerns about ‘mega circuit’

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota’s court system intends to merge the Fourth and Seventh judicial circuits, creating one that will cover nearly a third of the state’s land area. The Fourth Judicial Circuit encompasses [Read More…]

Twins beat Angels 4-2 and head into break winning 8 of their last 9 series

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Trevor Larnach homered and drove in two runs, Ryan Jeffers added a two-run double and the Minnesota Twins beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 Sunday and have won eight of their last [Read More…]

Alvarez’s 112th-minute goal helps lift Argentina past Switzerland 3-1 and into World Cup semifinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Perhaps it is in Argentina’s character that the reigning World Cup champion always finds a way to win. Perhaps it is simply its ability to suffer. Whether it was tiny Cape Verde [Read More…]

Bellingham scores twice to lift England past Haaland and Norway 2-1 and into World Cup semifinals

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jude Bellingham locked arms with teammate Harry Kane as England fans belted out the Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” Bellingham certainly earned the serenade. He scored twice on Saturday — an equalizer in [Read More…]

Royce Lewis homers, doubles to lead Twins over Angels 5-3

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Royce Lewis hit a two-run homer and sparked the go-ahead rally with a seventh-inning double Saturday as the Minnesota Twins beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3. Joe Ryan allowed two runs and six [Read More…]

Palace City Post 18 drops pair of games at Gopher Classic

Palace City Post 18 was shut down by strong pitching and dropped both of its games Saturday at the Gopher Classic, falling 3-0 to Bloomington Post 550 before suffering a 9-1 loss to Rosemount Post [Read More…]

Sioux Falls’ Jack Radel selected No. 28 overall by Astros in MLB Draft

Sioux Falls Roosevelt graduate Jack Radel became one of the highest-drafted players in South Dakota history Saturday when the Houston Astros selected the Notre Dame right-hander with the No. 28 overall pick in the first [Read More…]

Vaughn Grissom hits HR, Angels beat Twins 4-3 to snap 5-game skid at Target Field