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South Dakota Man Faces Federal Charges for Alleged Production of Child Pornography
Jason Honetschlager is set to appear in federal court next month, facing charges of producing child pornography. Arrested on November 8th in Milbank, South Dakota, he is accused of coercing an individual under 18 into [Read More…]

Single Application for Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County received only one application for a medical marijuana dispensary license during the recent application period, with Shangri-La LLC of Brandon submitting the proposal. The locally-owned company, in partnership with a national firm, is [Read More…]

City leaders in Madison fund child care center with tax district typically used for roads, sewer
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Brooke Rollag cannot work without child care. The mother of four is the economic development director for the Lake Area Improvement Corporation in Madison. Her job is to understand what businesses [Read More…]

South Dakota Supreme Court Upholds Verdict in 1992 Cold Case Will Dispute
The South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled against a circuit judge’s decision to set aside a jury’s verdict in a contested will case involving the estate of reclusive farmer Russell Tank. The verdict favored Tank’s [Read More…]

Sisseton Man Pleads Guilty to 1992 Cold Case Murder; Admits to Voluntary Manslaughter
57-year-old Jay Adams, Jr., from Sisseton, pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in a 1992 cold case from Roberts County. Adams acknowledges using blunt force trauma in a crime characterized as premeditated and deliberate, committed in [Read More…]

Grand Gateway Hotel Faces New Allegations of Anti-Indigenous Discrimination Despite DOJ Settlement
South Dakota’s Grand Gateway Hotel, previously under DOJ scrutiny for discriminatory actions, is facing fresh accusations of anti-Indigenous practices. A lawsuit filed by the White family claims their reservation was canceled due to racial discrimination, [Read More…]

Explosion Sparks Grain Elevator Fire in Chandler, Minnesota; One Injured
A grain elevator fire erupted in Chandler, Minnesota, triggered by an explosion, with emergency crews responding just after 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Multiple fire departments, including mutual aid from surrounding agencies, are involved. One person [Read More…]

National Park Service Bans Helicopter Tours Over Mount Rushmore and Badlands
The National Park Service (NPS) has implemented new rules in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration, prohibiting helicopter tours over Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. Commercial flights are required to maintain a [Read More…]

Protesters Demand Resignation of State’s Attorney Over Controversial Plea Deal in Native American Teen’s Hit-and-Run Death
Activists gathered at the Pennington County Administration Building on Tuesday to call for the resignation of State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel, citing a perceived lack of justice for Native Americans, particularly in the controversial plea deal [Read More…]

Manhunt Underway for Carjacking Suspects in Brookings County
A man and woman engaged in a carjacking in Arlington and an attempted one in Volga, South Dakota, prompting an extensive search by law enforcement. The suspects threatened a person with a rifle, stole a [Read More…]

Abundant Corn Harvest Challenges Northeastern South Dakota Farmers
In northeastern South Dakota, a surplus of corn has led to logistical challenges as harvest season concludes. Farmers are dealing with long wait times at elevators, limited operating hours, and an abundance of corn piles. [Read More…]

Demand remains high for ‘heritage turkeys’ grown in South Dakota
Bart Pfankuch and Mark Andersen/South Dakota News Watch STURGIS, S.D. – During the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions in the food production supply chain and workforce sometimes led to empty grocery shelves, pushing some consumers to turn [Read More…]

South Dakota College Proposes Certificate Program for Medical Marijuana Dispensary Workers
Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is considering a semester-long certificate program for medical marijuana dispensary workers. The proposed curriculum includes courses on medical marijuana laws, pharmacology, ethics, compliance in dispensing, and a [Read More…]

Life Sentence for Sioux Falls Man in Brutal Stabbing Attack
Isaiah Dubray, a Sioux Falls man, has been sentenced to life in prison for a violent attack in a central Sioux Falls apartment building. In October 2022, Dubray stabbed and killed a man, leaving a [Read More…]

Tragic Collision Claims Life of USD History Professor and Renowned Scholar, Clayton Lehmann
On November 14, a fatal collision between a car and a bicycle occurred at the intersection of East Main Street and Anderson Street in Vermillion. The bicyclist, identified as Clayton Lehmann, a 67-year-old professor at [Read More…]

New policy leads to settlement in ballot petitioner rights lawsuit
SIOUX FALLS, John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight — Minnehaha County commissioners signed off on a settlement agreement Tuesday to dismiss a lawsuit accusing them of violating the First Amendment rights of people collecting signatures for ballot [Read More…]

Severe weather becoming larger factor for concert-goers, Sioux Empire Fair director says
SIOUX FALLS, John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight – Insurance coverage allowed South Dakota’s most well-attended fair to avoid the sting of financial loss in 2023. Sioux Empire Fair Director Scott Wick told Minnehaha County commissioners on Tuesday [Read More…]

Multiple South Dakota Communities Awarded Child Care Grants
SIOUX FALLS, SD – Today, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) announced multiple recipients of Governor Kristi Noem’s Investment Plan for Child Care. “These grants will help parents expand their child care options,” said Governor [Read More…]

Parents Charged in Deadly Drunk Driving Crash Face Federal Charges Including Involuntary Manslaughter and Child Abuse
Sheldon Flute and Erica Weston, parents involved in a fatal drunk driving crash near Loneman, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Reservation, are now facing federal charges. Sheldon Flute is charged with involuntary manslaughter for [Read More…]

Sisseton Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison on Sexual Contact Charges
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a Sisseton man has been convicted and sentenced to a combined 25 years in prison after earlier pleading guilty to three counts of Sexual Assault [Read More…]
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