Latest News
Mitchell School Board tackles policy review
The Mitchell School Board took a deep dive into policy series 1000-1200 as part of its annual review. Superintendent Joe Childs says it’s critical for the board to stay up to date on policies. “There’s [Read More…]
South Dakota school district creating different path to graduation
For high school students who aren’t thriving in a traditional classroom, a South Dakota school district is trying a different approach. Gold Prospect Academy is a new alternative high school in the Lead-Deadwood school district [Read More…]
Codington County Flock cameras removed following vandalism
Codington County has pulled the plug on its four Flock License Plate Reader cameras in the county due to repeated vandalism. Sheriff Brad Howell says the County Highway Department was removing the fourth and final [Read More…]
Pine Ridge man convicted of federal drug crime
A federal court jury has convicted a 41 year old man from Pine Ridge of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City. The verdict [Read More…]
South Dakota’s cybersecurity program is running out of time, money as local governments face attacks
Pennington County residents haven’t been able to access some services since a cyberattack knocked out county computer systems in July. The water system in Rapid City, which is part of Pennington County, was among the [Read More…]
Solutions-based programs filling resource gaps in schools
Elena Tittel/South Dakota News Watch SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Two expanding grassroots efforts are supporting South Dakota schools by providing kids with experiences they might not otherwise receive. Among them: a Book-A-Month Club, field trips, [Read More…]
Senator Mike Rounds subjects Postal Service to multiple pressure points
Meghan O’Brien/South Dakota Searchlight About two years ago, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, started hearing increasing complaints about slow mail delivery. Veterans weren’t receiving their prescriptions on time, he said, or medications got lost [Read More…]
Avian flu affects 77,700 South Dakota birds, raising state’s four-year outbreak total to 8.1 million
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Bird flu has returned to South Dakota, with federal officials confirming detections in two flocks this month after nearly a month without U.S. cases. The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus — [Read More…]
Western South Dakota lawmaker takes plea deal to drop road-damage charge from felony to misdemeanor
John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight A South Dakota Republican state lawmaker pleaded no contest Friday to a misdemeanor for damaging a road in Butte County in a case that began with a felony charge. Rep. Travis [Read More…]
The new school year for Mitchell public schools is off to a good start
The 2026-2027 school year for Mitchell public schools is off and running. “Kicked off the first day with our after-school program as well,” said Superintendent Joe Childs. “So we’ve been pretty excited about that. I’ve [Read More…]
Parker man sentenced to more than two years in federal prison
A 39 year old man from Parker is sitting in a federal prison following a sentencing hearing earlier this week. The U-S Attorney’s Office is reporting Michael Sherard was sentenced to 27 months in federal [Read More…]
Poor coordination, missing documents, mismatched training: Report analyzes prison releases in SD
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota prisons struggle to prepare inmates for release, and the support systems meant to help them on the outside often fall short, according to a report from a national nonprofit. [Read More…]
Authorities investigating a fatal paraglider accident
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported paraglider accident northeast of Aberdeen Wednesday. According to a news release, sheriff deputies, the Frederick Fire Department, Aberdeen Medics, Careflight and the South Dakota highway patrol [Read More…]
Veterans Benefits Seminar coming to Mitchell
DAV (Disabled American Veterans) is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families, helping more than 1 million veterans in positive, life-changing ways each year. One [Read More…]
Rounds announces bill to encourage converting cropland back to pasture
Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight MITCHELL – Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds unveiled a bipartisan bill Wednesday at Dakotafest that would pay farmers to convert less-productive cropland back to grass and allow the acres to be [Read More…]
Kernel Quackers Hunt Coming to Mitchell During Corn Palace Festival Week
MITCHELL, S.D. – Mitchell residents and visitors will have a chance to hunt for hidden ducks during Corn Palace Festival Week. Mitchell Main Street & Beyond is organizing the Kernel Quackers Hunt, which will run [Read More…]
Severe Storms Produce 4-Inch Hail and 111-MPH Winds Across Western South Dakota
Two long-track supercell thunderstorms caused widespread damage across western South Dakota on Aug. 11, producing hail as large as 4 inches in diameter and wind gusts reaching 111 mph, according to the National Weather Service [Read More…]
FEMA Approves Mitchell Acquisition, Demolition of Two Flood-Prone Homes
MITCHELL, S.D. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a proposal to acquire and demolish two residential properties in Mitchell’s floodplain and convert the sites to green space. The properties are at 504 West [Read More…]
Names released in McCook County fatal crash
Two people died early Monday morning in a two-vehicle crash on I-90 near Bridgewater. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety reported around 1:20 am, 53 year old Derrick Jason Brousseau from Pacolet, South Carolina [Read More…]
South Dakota’s U.S. Senators pleased with delay of 50% tariff on certain Canadian products
President Trump late Tuesday night announced the United States had agreed to delay placing a 50% tariff on $20-billion dollars of certain Canadian products. Senator Mike Rounds called it a work in progress. “This is [Read More…]