Articles by Travis Kriens

Union County, S.D.- A 66-year-old man died Saturday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash one mile south of Beresford, SD. Preliminary crash information indicates the Gene J. Eli, the driver of a 2004 Kawasaki VN750 motorcycle was southbound [Read More…]

Hometown of Laura Ingalls Wilder set for a growth spurt

Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch De SMET, S.D. – A rural South Dakota county known mainly as the former home of beloved author Laura Ingalls Wilder is on the precipice of rapid growth [Read More…]

U.S. Postal Service pauses downgrade of South Dakota mail operations

Stu Whitney / South Dakota News Watch SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The U.S. Postal Service has agreed to “pause” until at least next year a controversial plan to downgrade post office operations in Sioux Falls [Read More…]

South Dakota Trust Assets Surge, Cryptocurrency Plays a Role

South Dakota’s trust assets have seen a significant increase, rebounding from a slight dip reported last year due to a decrease in the value of digital assets. This rebound has been attributed to the recovery [Read More…]

Grocery tax repeal validated for the ballot

South Dakota Searchlight – The South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office said Monday that a petition seeking to repeal the state sales tax on groceries has enough signatures from registered voters to make the Nov. [Read More…]

Kevin Williamson Named Dakota Wesleyan’s 20th Head Men’s Basketball Coach

Mitchell, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan University Athletic Director Ross Cimpl has announced the appointment of Kevin Williamson as the new DWU men’s basketball head coach. Williamson, a 2007 graduate of the University of Great Falls, holds [Read More…]

Initial test finds ‘forever chemical’ in Mount Rushmore drinking water at level exceeding new limit

Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight A sample of Mount Rushmore National Memorial’s drinking water had levels of a “forever chemical” exceeding new limits established by the federal government. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS, is a member [Read More…]

Trump trial arrives at a pivotal moment: Star witness Michael Cohen is poised to take the stand

NEW YORK (AP) — The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump’s hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American [Read More…]

Santana homers, Ober fans 10 as red-hot Twins beat Blue Jays 5-1 for 17th win in 20 games

TORONTO (AP) — Carlos Santana hit a three-run home run, Bailey Ober matched his career high by striking out 10 over 6 1/3 shutout innings and the Minnesota Twins won for the 17th time in [Read More…]

Hawks win NBA lottery in year where there’s no clear choice for No. 1 pick

CHICAGO (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks came in facing slim odds. They walked away with their biggest victory in years. The Hawks won the NBA draft lottery on Sunday, landing the No. 1 pick and [Read More…]

Defending champ Nuggets tie Timberwolves with 2nd straight road win, 115-107 in Game 4

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Denver Nuggets were far from done after dropping the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals at home in humbling fashion. Nikola Jokic scored 16 of his 35 points in [Read More…]

Haliburton, Pacers take advantage of short-handed Knicks to even series with 121-89 rout in Game 4

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — After three games that went down to the wire, the Indiana Pacers were off and running early in Game 4. The short-handed New York Knicks just didn’t have the legs to keep [Read More…]

Court upholds a Nebraska woman’s murder conviction, life sentence in dismemberment killing

The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction and life sentence of a woman in the 2017 death and dismemberment of a Nebraska hardware store clerk. Bailey Boswell, 30, was convicted in 2020 of first-degree murder, [Read More…]

Jayson Tatum scores 33 points, Celtics rebound from loss to beat Cavs 106-93 for 2-1 series lead

CLEVELAND (AP) — Green uniforms. Big shots. Championship-level intensity. The Boston Celtics looked much more like themselves in Game 3. Jayson Tatum scored 33 points, Jaylen Brown added 28 and the No. 1-seeded Celtics bounced [Read More…]

Mavericks take 2-1 series lead with 105-101 Game 3 victory over Thunder

DALLAS (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 22 points, including a running left-hander in the lane in the final minute to help Dallas hold on, and the Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-101 on Saturday [Read More…]

South Dakota State Softball Falls in Tournament Final to Omaha

BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State was unable to earn a victory in two meetings against Omaha in the 2024 Summit League Softball Championship on Saturday, May 11, as the Mavericks claimed the tournament title over [Read More…]

Man behind the ballot: How a Democrat changes laws in a Republican state

Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight Since 2014, South Dakotans have voted for ideas including a higher minimum wage, stricter anti-corruption laws and expanded Medicaid eligibility. This November, statewide ballots are likely to include measures that would restore [Read More…]

Sixth tribal nation bans Noem for comments on cartels, Native children