Articles by Travis Kriens

John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight A bill to require high school coaches to report abuse and neglect earned the full support of a South Dakota House of Representatives panel on Friday. House Bill 1187 earned yes votes [Read More…]

Jackrabbits Split Opening Day in Texas

COMMERCE, Texas – South Dakota State softball earned a victory in its opening game of the season, then dropped a one-run contest, to close out its first day of the 2026 season at Cain Family Field. [Read More…]

Johansen Departs; Matt Vitzthum Named New USD Head Football Coach

VERMILLION, S.D. — After one season as head football coach and seven seasons on staff at the University of South Dakota, Travis Johansen departs as head football coach, Athletic Director Jon Schemmel announced Friday afternoon. Matt Vitzthum has been named the 32nd head [Read More…]

Friday Sports: February 6, 2026

FRIDAY SPORTS, FEBRUARY 6, 2026 MITCHELL KERNELS — Mitchell Kernels Wrestling lost a pair of duals on Thursday night at Pierre with the boys falling 64-11 and the girls 64-15. The Kernel girls will compete [Read More…]

South Dakota State Scholarship Auction Set For May 2

The 2026 edition of the Jackrabbit Athletic Scholarship Auction is set for Saturday, May 2. This year’s event will again be held at the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex. Individual tickets, as well as table and event sponsorships, are available [Read More…]

Vinatieri Receives Hall of Fame Call From Canton

SAN FRANCISCO — Former South Dakota State standout and the National Football League’s all-time scoring leader, Adam Vinatieri, was announced Thursday night as a member of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Born [Read More…]

Coyotes Win Defense Struggle at Denver, 53-42

DENVER, Colo. – South Dakota women’s basketball relied its defense in a 53-42 win over Denver Thursday night in Denver. South Dakota needed a dominant second half defensively to pick up a win, and the Coyotes did [Read More…]

With electricity bills rising, some states consider new data center laws

Kevin Hardy/Stateline As Americans grow increasingly frustrated over their electricity bills, states are trying to keep the nation’s growing number of data centers from causing higher energy costs for consumers. For years, many states competed [Read More…]

South Dakota Republican leaders argue about economic development in front of reporters

Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight PIERRE — The divide in South Dakota’s Republican Party over the government’s role in economic development spilled into public view Thursday at the state Capitol as two of the party’s top [Read More…]

Effort to require elections for excess school taxation falters in state House

Meghan O’Brien/South Dakota Searchlight PIERRE — A proposal to require local elections when a school board decides to exceed property tax limitations failed Wednesday in the South Dakota House on a 29-39 vote, and an [Read More…]

State House rejects liability protections for unapproved COVID therapies

John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight The South Dakota House of Representatives defeated a bill meant to serve as a liability shield for doctors and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense two drugs used off-label for COVID-19 treatment. [Read More…]

South Dakota House of Representatives advances food stamp soda ban

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Lawmakers in the South Dakota House of Representatives endorsed a bill Wednesday barring the purchase of soft drinks with benefits from a food assistance program. The House voted 58-11 in favor [Read More…]

Thursday Sports: February 5, 2026

THURSDAY SPORTS, FEBRUARY 5, 2026 MITCHELL KERNELS — Five Mitchell High School seniors were honored Wednesday during Signing Day for their plans to compete in college athletics. Track athletes Avrie London (Dakota State), Taylor DeJong [Read More…]

Mathiowetz Leads South Dakota State in Home State at St. Thomas

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The South Dakota State women’s basketball team led wire-to-wire in an 84-51 victory over St. Thomas Wednesday night at the Tommies’ Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. Madison Mathiowetz, a Sleepy Eye, Minn. [Read More…]

Jackrabbits Fall to Tommies

BROOKINGS, S.D. – St. Thomas shot 71% from the field in the second half and used a 17-0 scoring run to pull away from South Dakota State for a 77-62 road victory on Wednesday, Feb. 4, [Read More…]

Local, Regional and National Sport stories

Coyotes Grind Out Overtime Win at Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For the second game in a row, the South Dakota basketball team forced overtime after trailing at half, but this time finished the job by downing Kansas City 82-75 Wednesday night. After [Read More…]

SDSU Softball Picked Third in Preseason Poll, USD at Fourth

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State’s Akayla Barnard and Abby Gentry were recognized, while the Jackrabbits were picked to finish third, as a part of the 2026 Summit League Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced on Wednesday. South Dakota State [Read More…]

South Dakota State Football Adds 17 Mid-Year Transfers

South Dakota State head coach Dan Jackson officially announced Wednesday the addition of 17 transfer student-athletes to the Jackrabbit football team. All 17 recently enrolled in classes and will participate in upcoming spring practices. “We’ve added a [Read More…]

South Dakotans’ biggest needs, according to 211 calls

Molly Wetsch/South Dakota News Watch SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Some of South Dakotans’ greatest needs for resources in 2025 surrounded housing, food and utilities, according to the Helpline Center’s 211 data from around the state. [Read More…]

Grant County man visits public places in Brookings, Milbank while infectious with measles