Latest News
Thanksgiving death brings the number of suspected prison drug overdose fatalities in 2025 to eight
John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight The state Division of Criminal Investigation will lead an inquiry into the eighth suspected fatal overdose in South Dakota’s prison system this year. The state Department of Corrections announced the [Read More…]
Corsica community braces for the impending closure of its nursing home
Community leaders in Corsica say they are determined to keep elder care — and the jobs that depend on it — in their town, despite news that the local nursing home will close Nov. 30. [Read More…]
Biologist cautions next generation against trusting a career with the federal government
Makenzie Huber-SD Searchlight When 9-year-old Liz Renner visited the Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery in southeastern South Dakota with her grandfather, she was hooked. In adulthood, she devoted more than a decade of education and [Read More…]
China soybean pledge lifts prices, but South Dakota farmers still nervous
Joshua Haiar-South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota soybean industry leaders said Monday that a new trade pledge with China is lifting prices but hasn’t erased anxiety about how much farmers depend on a single foreign buyer. [Read More…]
Kingsbury County shooting investigation
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating a Saturday night shooting incident in Iroquois that resulted in one person being injured and the other being arrested. “DCI was requested by Kingsbury County officials [Read More…]
Tribal radio funding flows, but future remains uncertain after clawback of public media money
John Hult-South Dakota Searchlight PORCUPINE — For the past few weeks, Oitancan “Oi” Zephier has labored among piles of vinyl records nearly 2 feet high. KILI-FM, the Porcupine, South Dakota-based tribal public broadcasting station Zephier [Read More…]
Monument could lose millions due to Sanford Health expansion
Bart Pfankuch, South Dakota News Watch RAPID CITY, S.D. – Monument Health could lose $40 million a year in federal revenue, be forced to reduce some medical services and have to cut back on construction [Read More…]
Ethan fifth-graders celebrate DARE graduation
The fifth grade class at Ethan celebrated a special graduation Friday. The students successfully completed the DARE program. Its objective is to teach elementary students to resist peer pressure to use drugs, alcohol, tobacco other [Read More…]
Amid water pollution debate, report shows results of $3 million river buffer program
As a public debate begins about agriculture and water pollution in South Dakota, a new report shows the effects of a $3 million effort to mitigate the problem. South Dakota’s top state Senate Republican and the governor [Read More…]
Officer involved shooting under investigation
Attorney General Marty Jackley says the Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Friday night, Nov. 21, in Beresford involving a Beresford Police Department officer. “DCI will conduct a thorough, [Read More…]
State continues to incentivize dairies as industry struggles to find workers
Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight As some South Dakota dairy farmers struggle to find workers and as the state’s unemployment rate remains the lowest in the nation at 1.9%, South Dakota’s economic development office continues to approve incentives for [Read More…]
Fire Damages Reptile Gardens; Several Animals Killed
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A pre-dawn fire tore through a detached agricultural shelter at Reptile Gardens early Friday, killing an undetermined number of tortoises and alligators and forcing the popular attraction to close for the [Read More…]
Attorney General Jackley Encourages Shoppers To Watch for Holiday Scams
Attorney General Marty Jackley is warning holiday shoppers this season to watch out for scammers as well as low prices. “Scammers never take off the holidays,” said Jackley. “Consumers need to be careful whether they [Read More…]
Previewing the 2026 South Dakota Legislative session in Mitchell
Newly minted South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ryan Budmayr presented his first 2026 legislative preview to the Mitchell Rotary Club. He believes tax increment finance districts, property tax relief and data centers [Read More…]
High Plains Processing gets good news from the South Dakota Railroad Board
The High Plains Processing facility south of Mitchell has gotten an economic boost. The South Dakota Railroad Board recently approved an additional $5.7-million dollars in low interest loan funding to complete rail infrastructure for HPP, [Read More…]
Authorities snag alleged credit card fraudsters
Interstate 29 part of what connects several states in the central part of the United States is an integral section of the transportation system. It also offers easy access to businesses in cities along the [Read More…]
California Man Sentenced To 12 Years in Prison for Online Scam
A 36 year old man from California man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for an online scam that cost a Chamberlain resident $472,000. Chee Yeng Wong pleaded guilty Tuesday in Brule County [Read More…]
New task force set to review current South Dakota open meetings laws
A newly established Advisory Task Force Committee on Open Meetings Laws will hold its first meeting Tuesday, Nov. 25, in Pierre. The task force is different than the South Dakota Open Meetings Commission, consisting of [Read More…]
Relaunched Open Meetings Commission finds violations in five of six cases
South Dakota Searchlight-Joshua Haiar The Lincoln County Commission violated South Dakota’s open-meetings laws when three commissioners attended a November 2023 open house for a carbon dioxide pipeline without notifying the public, the state’s Open Meetings [Read More…]
Mitchell School Board gets a taste of MTC
Mitchell Technical College hosted the Mitchell School Board as part of its annual facilities tour. MTC President Theresa Kriese appreciated the opportunity. “So having them on campus, getting them exposed, giving our students and our [Read More…]
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