Latest News
Eligible families may apply for free or reduced-price meals for school year 2025-26
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Education Child and Adult Nutrition Services has announced the policy for free or reduced-price meals or milk. The policy applies to children unable to pay the full [Read More…]
DWU Appoints Faculty Member to New Position
Dakota Wesleyan University announced this week that Dr. Tressa Wede, associate professor of education at DWU, has been appointed to the new position of Director of Education and Community Engagement. Wede’s new role is funded [Read More…]
What to know about the Black Hills Corp. and NorthWestern Energy merger
Molly Wetsch South Dakota News Watch By the end of 2026, South Dakota residents from the far corners of the Black Hills to the southeastern tip of the state could be sharing an energy provider. [Read More…]
DWU Receives 5-Year Grant Renewal for Student Support Services
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Dakota Wesleyan University a federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant totaling more than $1.5 million to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income, first-generation students, and [Read More…]
Thune True Value Hardware and Appliance Center earns a special honor
A family-owned hardware has been named the 2025 All Star for South Dakota by HBS Dealer Magazine. Thune True Value Hardware and Appliance Center has been serving Mitchell and the surrounding area for more than [Read More…]
DOC Secretary Kellie Wasko resigns effective October 20th
South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota’s beleaguered secretary of corrections has resigned. Gov. Larry Rhoden told South Dakota Searchlight that Kellie Wasko delivered the letter announcing her Oct. 20 departure on Tuesday, though the letter is [Read More…]
Ethan School Board Members honored for years of service
Ethan School District School Board Members Paula Vogel and Shawn Jerke were honored by Associated School Boards of South Dakota with the Distinguished Service Award, which honors school board members for reaching milestone years in [Read More…]
Value-added farm featured at the South Dakota State Fair
A combination farm and agricultural research organization shared its story during Value-Added Day at the South Dakota State Fair. Christina Lind says Blue Dasher Farm is a diverse operation. “Some of our primary products are [Read More…]
Tourism numbers dipping
The owners of the Fort Hays Old West Town, a tourism destination just south of Rapid City, have about 150 days each year to turn a profit, relying on robust visitor spending from Mother’s Day [Read More…]
Names released in multi-vehicle fatal crash near Highmore
Three people were injured, one fatally, in a multi-vehicle crash six miles east of Highmore shortly after 10 o’clock Wednesday morning. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety reported three motorcycles were traveling westbound on [Read More…]
Gov. Rhoden Mobilizes SDNG to DC at the Request of President Trump
Governor Larry Rhoden today (Sunday) announced the mobilization of 12 South Dakota National Guardsmen to support ongoing operations in Washington D.C. at the request of President Donald J. Trump. “South Dakota stands in solidarity with [Read More…]
One-third of South Dakota school districts remove or lock away student phones
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Platte-Geddes Superintendent Joel Bailey remembers an “eerily quiet” lunch room when his students were still allowed to use their cellphones during the school day. “We decided that since the kids are [Read More…]
State denies federal accusation about gender language in grant-funded sex education
Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight The Trump administration’s accusation that South Dakota’s federally grant-funded sex education materials contain “gender ideology” is not accurate, according to state officials, while advocates for transgender people are condemning the federal [Read More…]
Welcome to the SHED!
Sheep producers across the state celebrated their first South Dakota State Fair in the brand new Shed complex in Huron. Department of Ag and Natural Resources Secretary Hunter Roberts says the Shed has been years [Read More…]
Dakota Wesleyan University celebrates its 140th anniversary
Dakota Wesleyan University is celebrating its 140th anniversary. President Dan Kittle told a gathering the communities of Ordway and Mitchell were vying for the opportunity to host DWU back in 1885. “At that time the [Read More…]
From barn to table: How agritourism is reviving rural South Dakota
Molly Wetsch/South Dakota News Watch LENNOX, S.D. – Just 20 minutes away from South Dakota’s biggest city is an unexpected oasis. Chickens and geese freely roam, goats bleat for treats and a traditional barn with [Read More…]
Growing crop supply and weakened foreign demand are hurting South Dakota’s economy, council says
Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight Farmers across South Dakota are seeing healthy crops, but abundant supply and weakening foreign demand are driving prices down, some of the state’s economic advisers said during a Thursday virtual meeting. [Read More…]
Sanford Health to Acquire Lewis Drug in Fall 2025 Merger
Sanford Health has announced a merger with Lewis Drug, set to take effect in fall 2025. Lewis Drug, a pharmacy and retail chain with over 60 locations across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, will maintain [Read More…]
Father and son recognized for life saving efforts
A father and son were recognized Wednesday for saving a couple and their dog from a mobile home fire in Mount Vernon on April11th. Deputy Trestin Jerke was conducting a traffic stop when he and [Read More…]
Road closure Thursday at First and Main
The City of Mitchell Street Department will be working on removal of street lights, sidewalk and curb and gutter at intersection of 1st Ave and Main St. Thursday July 28th, 2025. The intersection will be [Read More…]
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