Latest News

For the third time in the past four years, Mitchell gymnastics are state champions in Class AA with a team score of 151.444, defeating second place Harrisburg by nearly 1.5 points. The Kernels set a [Read More…]

American Legion Suspends Mitchell Baseball Association Affiliation Amidst Charges

The American Legion Department of South Dakota has decided to suspend its affiliation with the Mitchell Baseball Association following severe indictments involving a coach, a board member, and several players. Six players from the 2023 [Read More…]

South Dakota Man Receives 45-Year Sentence for Child Exploitation and Pornography of Own Daughter

Timothy Scott White, a resident of Vale, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted enticement of a minor via the internet, and receipt of child [Read More…]

State Supreme Court clarifies conflicts of interest; Noem pledges to fill legislative seats

John Hult and Seth Tupper, South Dakota Searchlight Legislators can have contracts with state government if the money comes from the annual budget bill, but not if the money comes from any other bill. That’s [Read More…]

What to know about Kristi Noem’s banishment from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

For the second time as governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem has been banished from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Last week, the Oglala Sioux Tribe said the Republican governor was no longer welcome on tribal lands, [Read More…]

Lawmakers slam uses of fund controlled by governor, but panel rejects reduction in revenue

Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight Lawmakers grilled a representative of the Governor’s Office about a fund controlled by the governor, but a legislative committee rejected a bill Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre that would [Read More…]

House panel rejects change for filling legislative vacancies

John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight The citizens of the Rapid City area have gone without full representation now for more than half of the 2024 legislative session – and may well go without until the [Read More…]

Chinese spies came to South Dakota, state official tells legislators

Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight During testimony Thursday on a bill to ban ownership of agricultural land by foreigners from six countries, a state official told lawmakers that Chinese spies visited South Dakota two years ago. Hunter [Read More…]

Use it or lose it: South Dakota rushing to invest $700 million on water projects

Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota lawmakers, state agency leaders and water system managers are hustling to spend roughly $700 million in COVID-era funding on water and sewer projects [Read More…]

South Dakota State receives grant to preserve roads, bridges

BROOKINGS — South Dakota is home to more than 80,000 miles of roads and over 5,000 public bridges. Maintaining and preserving all the state’s infrastructure on a year-to-year basis can be both challenging and time [Read More…]

Scramble is on for state’s remaining federal pandemic aid

Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota has $130 million of federal pandemic aid left and an abundance of ideas about how to spend it. The requests from legislators are more than double the available funding. [Read More…]

Gunshots Fired in Sioux Falls Road Rage Incident

A road rage incident in western Sioux Falls escalated into gunfire on Wednesday evening. Two drivers engaged in a dispute near 12th Street and Valley View Road, with one driver eventually pursuing the other to [Read More…]

Natural Gas Leak at International Kitchen in Aberdeen

Aberdeen Fire Rescue responded to a report of natural gas odor at International Kitchen on 6th Avenue SE on Thursday morning. Investigation revealed high levels of natural gas within the restaurant. Fire crews secured the [Read More…]

South Dakota Senate Advances Bill for Harsher Penalties in Fentanyl-Related Deaths

Senate Bill 6 in South Dakota proposes stricter penalties for individuals distributing fentanyl resulting in death. Sponsored by Republican Sen. David Wheeler, the bill aims to address the growing fentanyl crisis, doubling potential prison sentences [Read More…]

South Dakota Reports Decrease in Overall Crime Rate for 2023

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces a 2.57% decrease in overall criminal offenses reported in 2023 compared to 2022, attributing the decline to proactive law enforcement efforts. Serious crimes like homicides, sex offenses, and [Read More…]

Debate Ensues Over County Taking Over Stretch of 214th St Due to Increased Traffic from New Interstate Exit

A recent surge in traffic along 214th Street, particularly due to the new Exit 130 connecting to 20th Street South off Interstate 29, has prompted discussions within Brookings County Commission regarding the potential transfer of [Read More…]

Funeral Details Revised for Fallen Moody County Chief Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Prorok

Funeral arrangements for Kenneth Prorok, the Moody County Chief Deputy Sheriff who tragically passed away while on duty, have been updated. The service will now be held at Dakota State Fieldhouse in Madison on Thursday, [Read More…]

Bill to open puberty blockers to trans kids with parental approval fails in committee

John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight An effort to open up certain kinds of medical care for transgender youth whose parents consent to the treatment failed in a state Senate committee on Wednesday morning. Parents of [Read More…]

Statement of opposition to abortion-rights ballot measure passes legislative committee

Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight PIERRE — Republican lawmakers declared their opposition Wednesday to a potential November ballot question that would reinstate abortion rights. Rep. Gary Cammack, R-Union Center, introduced a resolution raising concerns about the ballot measure, [Read More…]

Two people died late this morning in a two-vehicle crash in McCook County