Latest News

Lawmakers, prison officials shut out public during discussion of weekslong lockdown
John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight Lawmakers on an audit committee got a rundown Monday about a weekslong lockdown at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, but every word that hadn’t already appeared in [Read More…]

Two Suspects Arrested Following Shoplifting Incident and Vehicle Chase in Watertown
Two suspects, Kyle Covington, 36, and Tammy Dunfee, 46, both from Colorado, have been arrested after fleeing from law enforcement in a stolen vehicle following shoplifting incidents at Running’s and Tractor Supply in Watertown on [Read More…]

Angela Wilkerson Resigns as Mayor of Sturgis After Seven Months Amid Conflict and Challenges
Angela Wilkerson has resigned as mayor of Sturgis after just over seven months, citing persistent personal attacks and conflicts with the city council. In her resignation statement, she expressed that these challenges were detrimental to [Read More…]

Mitchell Police seeking information regarding a fire
In the afternoon hours of October 14th, someone started a fire in the Pioneer Park restrooms. Officers found someone had emptied the toilet paper dispenser and caused a small fire in the restroom. At this [Read More…]

41 Organizations To Share $5 million in Victim Grants
Attorney General Marty Jackley says $5 million in grants will be shared by 41 organizations who will use the funds to assist children who have been abused or neglected, victims of domestic violence, and victims [Read More…]

South Dakota school report card showing growth
The South Dakota Department of Education recently released its 2023-24 Report Card today. The report showed academic growth in English language arts and mathematics. The statewide attendance rate also increased from 86 percent to 87 [Read More…]

Poll: Support slips for abortion, open primaries, grocery tax measures
Stu Whitney/South Dakota News Watch Support for ballot measures on abortion rights, open primaries and repealing the state food tax has dipped since May, according to a statewide poll co-sponsored by South Dakota News Watch. [Read More…]

Advocates turn in petition urging acceptance of $69M for energy rebates; no response from Noem
Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight A rural advocacy group has turned in its petition signed by 904 South Dakotans urging Governor Kristi Noem to reconsider her decision to reject nearly $69 million in federal funds for [Read More…]

Counties fending off a storm of election-related lawsuits
Makenzie Huber and Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight Some county officials in South Dakota are still dealing with a flurry of election-related litigation that began last spring, despite several losses by plaintiffs claiming violations of election [Read More…]

Native American cultural site forgotten in Iowa, preserved in South Dakota
Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch LYON COUNTY, Iowa – In the far northwest corner of Iowa, a mown trail winds among burial mounds and artifacts of the Oneota people, a cultural grouping of Native American nations [Read More…]

Funeral mourners recall Tim Johnson’s hard work, humor, faith and devotion to family
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — Tim Johnson’s legacy stretches across South Dakota. It’s in each drop of water from the Mni Wiconi water project, the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, and several [Read More…]

Pot laws in South Dakota: Thousands of charges, few harsh penalties imposed
John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight It’s true that on paper, South Dakota’s cannabis laws are some of the strictest in the nation. It’s also true that judges rarely impose the most severe sanctions available in [Read More…]

Officials urge voters to be prepared and consider voting early as turnout predictions grow
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight The county officials who run South Dakota’s elections want voters to study up and prepare for long wait times on Election Day, if they don’t plan to vote early. As of [Read More…]

Fatal Crash in Jackson County
An unidentified man died in a single vehicle crash four miles west of Kadoka Friday evening. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety reported preliminary crash information indicates the driver of a pickup truck was [Read More…]

Turning Dirt at South Lake Estates
Dirt is moving at the South Lake Estates housing development near Lake Mitchell. Terry Sabers is president of Mitchell Area Housing, Inc, or MAHI. He says there are 55 total lots with MAHI owning 37. [Read More…]

City of Mitchell Issues Utility Work Notice
Water service in the area of South Harmon Dr will be disrupted on Monday, October 21st, 2024, starting at 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM for Utility Improvements to the water supply infrastructure. Additionally, they will [Read More…]

With Republican control of Legislature assured, Democrats target competitive districts
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight It’s no secret that Republicans will keep control of the South Dakota Legislature this election year. The questions heading into the Nov. 5 election are whether the results will widen the [Read More…]

Anti-abortion faith group emerges after earlier formation of abortions-rights group
South Dakota Searchlight A group working against the abortion-rights measure on South Dakota’s Nov. 5 ballot announced Thursday that 220 faith leaders in the state oppose the measure. The announcement came one month after an [Read More…]

Company proposing Lake Preston jet fuel plant receives $1.46 billion federal endorsement
John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight The U.S. Department of Energy has granted a conditional loan guarantee worth $1.46 billion to Gevo, the Colorado company that aims to build the nation’s first ethanol-to-jet-fuel facility near Lake [Read More…]

South Dakota scores above neighboring states, national average on ACT
Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota students’ average ACT score in 2024 was unchanged from last year — a low point in ACT scores over the past five years. But it remains higher than [Read More…]
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