Articles by Travis Kriens

It’s a done doula: South Dakota Medicaid to cover childbirth support starting in 2025
South Dakota Medicaid will start covering doula birth and postpartum services in 2025. Medicaid is a joint federal-state health insurance program for low-income and disabled people. Doulas are trained, non-medical professionals who provide physical, emotional and educational support to [Read More…]

Former Sioux Falls Sports Radio Host Sentenced to Prison for $5 Million Ticket Fraud Scheme
Jeff Thurn, a former Sioux Falls sports radio host, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for orchestrating a fraudulent ticket reselling scheme. Thurn, 39, of Hartford, South [Read More…]

Cattle tuberculosis confirmed in SD for first time since 2021
South Dakota Searchlight – Bovine tuberculosis has been confirmed in South Dakota cattle for the first time since 2021, State Veterinarian Beth Thompson said Tuesday. The infected steer was identified in late October by meat [Read More…]

Summit panelists say federal funding for rural water projects is likely to tighten
Former Governor’s Office of Economic Development Commissioner Scott Stern moderates a discussion on rural water systems on Dec. 10, 2024, at the Sanford Event Barn in Sioux Falls. Panelists are, from left, Lewis and Clark [Read More…]

Two Injured in Aberdeen Shooting; Police Say No Public Threat
Two people were hospitalized after a shooting in Aberdeen on December 10. Police responded to the scene on North Congress Street around 11 a.m. and found one individual with a gunshot wound. The second person [Read More…]

South Dakota Lawmakers Discuss Bill to Reconsider Felony Drug Offense Law
Local leaders gathered for a legislative breakfast on Tuesday to discuss key issues ahead of the 2025 legislative session. Among the topics was a proposed bill aimed at revising South Dakota’s unique law that classifies [Read More…]

Sioux Falls City Council Delays Vote on $68 Million Recreation and Aquatics Bond
The Sioux Falls City Council is still deliberating a $68 million bond to upgrade the city’s recreation and aquatics facilities, with the vote delayed yet again. Originally scheduled for May, the vote has been pushed [Read More…]

Native kids remain overrepresented in foster system; SD plans to invest in prevention, kinship care
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Native American children remain overrepresented in the South Dakota foster care system, accounting for 72.5% of the foster care population at the end of fiscal year 2024, according to new data. [Read More…]

Massive data centers consuming large amounts of energy have eyes on South Dakota
Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight Massive data centers used for cloud computing and artificial intelligence are consuming enormous amounts of energy, and developers are eyeing South Dakota as a potential location, regulators say. These “hyperscale [Read More…]

South Dakota High School Basketball Preseason Media Poll
The Preseason South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll has been released. Teams are ranked by points received and first-place votes are in parentheses. Boys Class AA 1. Mitchell (13) 69 2. Washington 49 3. Lincoln 24 4. [Read More…]

Darnold delivers for Vikings with career-high 347 yards and 5 TDs to beat Cousins, Falcons 42-21
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 347 yards and five touchdowns, both career highs, and the Minnesota Vikings pulled away from Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons 42-21 on Sunday for their sixth straight victory. Darnold added [Read More…]

South Dakota Department of Health Reports First Flu Death of the 2024-2025 Flu Season
PIERRE, SD – The Department of Health is reporting the first influenza death of the 2024-2025 season, a Corson County resident in the over 65 years age group. “Influenza can be a very serious illness,” said [Read More…]

Name Released of Freeman Man in Hutchinson County Fatal Crash
Hutchinson County, S.D.- A 49-year-old Freeman, SD man died Wednesday night in a single vehicle crash near Menno, SD. Preliminary crash information indicates Adam Van Hove, the driver of a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, was traveling east on US Highway [Read More…]

First 12-team College Football Playoff set, Oregon seeded No. 1 and SMU edges Alabama for last spot
The new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative. Perfect or 100% fair? Well, nobody ever believed that. The first expanded playoff bracket unveiled Sunday left a presumably deserving Alabama [Read More…]

SDSU Cruised to Victory over Eastern Washington
BROOKINGS, S.D. – Three Jackrabbits scored in double figures as the South Dakota State men’s basketball team defeated Eastern Washington, 74-53, in First Bank & Trust Arena on Saturday. The Eagles got out to a 5-0 [Read More…]

Brooklyn Meyer Drops Career-High 32 in Win at Montana
MISSOULA, Mont. – A 32-point performance from Brooklyn Meyer lifted South Dakota State basketball to a 78-70 win over Montana Saturday afternoon at Dahlberg Arena. SDSU improves to 7-2 on the year and has won four straight games [Read More…]

Big Second Half Sends Coyotes to FCS Quarterfinals
VERMILLION, S.D. — Three interceptions and 28 points in the second half lifted the No. 4-seed University of South Dakota (10-2, 7-1 MVFC) to their tenth win and sends them into the Quarterfinals of the NCAA [Read More…]

Proposed funding cut could sink network in as little as two years, SDPB director says
John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota Public Broadcasting could cease to exist in as little as two years if lawmakers adopt Gov. Kristi Noem’s $3.6 million budget cut, the network’s executive director said Friday. [Read More…]

‘Wild places are worth fighting for’: Concern grows for receding South Dakota wetlands
Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight EUREKA — John Cooper, 80 years old and with a new set of knees, still rises before the sun, dons waders, sets up decoys and tries to call in ducks. “I [Read More…]

Massive data centers consuming large amounts of energy have eyes on South Dakota
Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight Massive data centers used for cloud computing and artificial intelligence are consuming enormous amounts of energy, and developers are eyeing South Dakota as a potential location, regulators say. These “hyperscale [Read More…]
You must be logged in to post a comment.