Articles by Travis Kriens

International educators help alleviate South Dakota teacher shortage
Bart Pfankuch, South Dakota News Watch STEPHAN, S.D. – “Three, two, one. OK, in your seats.” Just as she did as a teacher in her native Philippines, Madgelie Camba uses a countdown method to gain [Read More…]

Republican SD lawmakers pursue a multifaceted crackdown on citizen-backed ballot measures
Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight Some Republicans, many of them aligned with anti-abortion groups, are tired of South Dakotans petitioning their ideas onto the ballot. “There are things being put on the ballot that they [Read More…]

House shoots down prison money, but new vote looms
John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight PIERRE — A legislative maneuver meant to secure funding and continue discussion on an $825 million men’s prison failed by two votes Friday in the South Dakota House of Representatives. [Read More…]

Late rally not enough, Yotes falls to Mavericks 93-85
OMAHA, Neb. — The South Dakota basketball team nearly completed a double-digit comeback over the Omaha Mavericks for the second time this season but fell short in a 93-85 defeat to the Mavs. Chase Forte scored a [Read More…]

Brooklyn Meyer Scores Career-High 34 Points at Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Powered by a career-high 34 points from Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State top Kansas City 80-60 Saturday afternoon at the Swinney Center. South Dakota State improves to 24-3 on the season and 14-0 [Read More…]

Tigers Push No. 7 Dordt to the Brink in Thrilling Battle
The Dakota Wesleyan Tigers (20-8, 13-7 GPAC) came close to pulling off an upset against No. 7-ranked Dordt University (26-2, 18-2 GPAC), falling 77-74 in a thrilling game on February 22, 2025, at the Corn [Read More…]

Tigers Take Down Top-Ranked Dordt in Overtime
The Dakota Wesleyan Tigers (23-5, 18-4) pulled off a thrilling 76-66 overtime win over No. 1 ranked Dordt University (26-2, 20-2) on February 22, 2025, at the Corn Palace. This victory avenged their December loss [Read More…]

‘Cruelty was the point’: South Dakota federal workers, programs feel the pain of Trump firings and freezes
Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight Darwin Hertzel reported to his job with the Natural Resources Conservation Service on Feb. 14 and opened an email. “Some very generic, no-name email. It was a template,” he said. “It [Read More…]

NDSU Holds Off Late SDSU Rally
BROOKINGS, S.D. – North Dakota State got a game-high 28 points from Jacksen Moni and kept South Dakota State from completing a second-half comeback as the Bison defeated the Jackrabbits, 77-68, in a Summit League men’s [Read More…]

Forte pours in 30 points, Yotes down St. Thomas 85-80
VERMILLION, S.D. — Chase Forte continued his impressive season Wednesday night pouring in a season high 30 points to help the South Dakota basketball team earn an 85-80 win over St. Thomas. Forte went 10-for-18 from the [Read More…]

Do South Dakotans have the highest rate of medical debt in the nation?
Yes. Megan Luther/South Dakota News Watch Nearly 18% of South Dakota adults have medical debt, the highest percentage in the nation, according to the health nonprofit organization KFF, which analyzed Census data between 2019 to [Read More…]

South Dakota High School Basketball Media Poll – February 17
The South Dakota Prep Media Basketball polls for the week of Feb. 17 are listed below, ranking the top-five teams in each class, record, total points and previous ranking. First-place votes received are indicated in [Read More…]

SDSU Toughs Out Victory in Vermillion
VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota State used a second-half surge to overcome an early deficit at South Dakota on Sunday to earn a 94-91 victory in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. The Jackrabbits claimed the Interstate [Read More…]

Bates sets uneven bars state meet record to finish second in the All-Around
Mitchell’s Bentley Bates set a new Class AA state gymnastics meet record with a score of 9.916 in the uneven bars on her way to a second place finish in the all-around competition in Watertown [Read More…]

SDSU Rallies to Beat USD for 60th Straight Summit League Win
BROOKINGS, S.D. – The South Dakota State women’s basketball team secured at least a share of the Summit League regular season title Saturday afternoon with a 71-61 win over South Dakota at First Bank & [Read More…]

Growth in Sioux Falls prompts governor to add Highway Patrol troopers
Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden announced plans Friday to add an additional Highway Patrol squad for the Sioux Falls area. “My philosophy is that the best way to [Read More…]

Legislative panel supports higher age for lottery tickets, more video lottery machines per business
Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight A South Dakota Senate committee advanced bills Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre to raise the age for buying a lottery ticket and increase the number of video lottery machines [Read More…]

Mitchell Gymnastics Finishes Second at State Meet Behind Harrisburg
Mitchell Kernels gymnastics finished in second place at the Class AA state meet in Watertown on Friday with a team score of 148.633. Harrisburg won the team title with 152.983 team points. It’s the first [Read More…]

Jackrabbits Stretch Winning Streak to 12 with Win in Fargo
FARGO, N.D. – The South Dakota State women’s basketball team picked up a 68-53 road win against North Dakota State Wednesday night at the Scheels Center. The Jackrabbits improve to 22-3 on the season and remain [Read More…]

Coyotes pick up 63-56 victory in defensive battle with Roos
VERMILLION, S.D. – The Coyotes, behind stout defense and a career-high in scoring for Gabby Wilke, picked up a much-needed 63-56 victory over Kansas City in the annual Pink Game Wednesday night inside the Sanford Coyote [Read More…]
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