Latest News
Reliance Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine in the Pierre Area
A 51 year old man from Reliance is sitting in a federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Heath Choal was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by three [Read More…]
Support for SD biomedical students falls victim to Trump diversity cuts upheld by Supreme Court
Makenzie Huber-SD Searchlight A program supporting rural and first-generation college students pursuing graduate degrees in biomedical research at the University of South Dakota is among the victims of Trump administration grant cancellations upheld recently by [Read More…]
Pennington County motorcycle fatality
A 27 year old woman from McCall, Idaho died in a single motorcycle crash seven miles south of Keystone Saturday evening. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety reported around 5:05 pm, the driver of [Read More…]
Avon educator selected as 2026 South Dakota Teacher of the Year
Becky Haenfler, a middle school English Language Arts teacher at the Avon School District, has been named the 2026 South Dakota Teacher of the Year. Secretary of Education Joseph Graves made the announcement at a [Read More…]
South Dakota’s Public Universities Report Steady Enrollment
South Dakota’s public university system continues its upward momentum in student enrollment. This marks the fourth consecutive year of targeted system growth and the second successive year with more than 36,000 students – a notable [Read More…]
Mitchell Technical College announces record fall enrollment
Mitchell Technical College has announced a record-breaking enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester, with 1,344 students enrolled—an 8.6% increase over last fall’s total of 1,237. This marks the highest enrollment in the college’s history and [Read More…]
Advocates plead with state officials to preserve funds for disability services provider LifeScape
Josh Haiar-SD Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — Emotional testimony spilled out Wednesday as about 75 people pleaded with South Dakota social services officials to halt a proposed rule change that testifiers said could drastically slash Medicaid [Read More…]
South Dakota turkey farms impacted by bird flu
Josh Haiar-SD Searchlight South Dakota is at the epicenter of this fall’s bird flu season with a total of 134,900 turkeys at three facilities already killed to contain the spread, and reports coming in about [Read More…]
High Plains Processing celebrates its completion
Around 1,000 people gathered at the new High Plains Processing plant to celebrate its completion. Governor Larry Rhoden praised the investment. “It’s just part and parcel with what we’ve done in South Dakota,” said Rhoden. [Read More…]
Mitchell School Board focuses on student fund-raising policy
The Mitchell School Board is working on updating a policy regarding fund-raising for a variety of activities involving students. Superintendent Joe Childs says fund-raising has evolved over the years. “We just wanted to begin with [Read More…]
Gov. Rhoden Releases Full Plan for New Prison
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden released the full plan for a new prison to be built at the Benson Road site in Sioux Falls. This plan reflects the unanimous agreement by the prison task [Read More…]
Former USDA appointee announces Democratic bid for Congress
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Former U.S. Department of Agriculture appointee Nikki Gronli announced her candidacy for South Dakota’s lone U.S. House seat Monday morning, potentially setting up the first Democratic primary race for the seat [Read More…]
Trump administration selects Black Hills uranium mining proposal for fast-track permitting program
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Federal officials have chosen a long-lingering uranium mining proposal in southwestern South Dakota for an expedited permitting process. That doesn’t mean the Dewey Burdock project is greenlit. Instead, it means the project will [Read More…]
Trump-China trade dispute heightens harvest anxiety for South Dakota soybean farmers
Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight RAPID CITY — Jerry Schmitz is rarely at a loss for words about soybeans. But when asked if farmers have faith in a good outcome from the Trump administration’s trade standoff [Read More…]
Rehfeldt Recognized with Avera Queen of Peace Hospital DAISY Award
Avera Queen of Peace Hospital has announced Althea Rehfeldt, RN, is the most recent recipient of its quarterly nurse recognition program called the DAISY Award. The DAISY Program honors and celebrates the skillful and compassionate [Read More…]
Howard High School named a “National Blue Ribbon School”
Three South Dakota schools have been selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools. This prestigious award recognizes schools for their excellence in overall academic performance or for their progress in closing the achievement gap among student [Read More…]
Lake Mitchell restoration project delayed
The Lake Mitchell restoration project is now on hold. In a news release, Mayor Jordan Hanson says the South Dakota Department of Ag and Natural Resources informed the city it will be required to complete [Read More…]
DCI Rule Haakon County Officer Involved Shooting In Hostage Situation Justified
A South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation review has determined three officers were justified in their use of force during a pursuit and hostage situation that occurred Tuesday night, Aug. 5, in Haakon County. “Tribal, [Read More…]
Trunk or Treat ends its longtime Halloween tradition
Trick or Treaters will have one less opportunity to grab goodies this Halloween Season. Mitchell Middle School’s annual Trunk or Treat event is ending. Middle School counselor and Unfiltered Reality Advisor Traci Moore says Trunk [Read More…]
First state-funded ‘Prairie Thunder’ patrol results in 44 felony drug arrests in Sioux Falls
John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight Hundreds of people were ticketed or arrested during a state-funded saturation patrol that put 15 additional state troopers on the streets of South Dakota’s largest city last week. The troopers labored [Read More…]
You must be logged in to post a comment.