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Ranchers found guilty of animal mistreatment and illegal sales
Bart Pfankuch, South Dakota News Watch MARTIN, S.D. – Two Bennett County ranchers were taken straight from a courtroom to a jail cell in a case that involved mistreatment of cattle and the false branding [Read More…]
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New processing centers raise hopes for South Dakota hemp, tempered by challenges
Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight WINFRED — Ken Meyer’s boots imprint the fine layer of dust settled over the concrete floor as he walks through South Dakota’s first industrial hemp processing facility. It’s loud. Fans whirl [Read More…]
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Severe weather wallops Woonsocket
A line of severe weather roared through Woonsocket around 3pm Sunday. Sanborn County Sheriff Tom Fridley says straight line winds estimated around 70 miles an hour hit the community. “Took a lot of big trees,” [Read More…]
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Another successful Corn Palace Stampede Chili Cook-off in the books
A dozen camps vied for the best chili during Sunday’s annual Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Chili Cook-off. Judges selected Iverson’s first-place, AKG second-place and Pheasant Country third-place. People’s choice went to Twin City Fan. Davison [Read More…]
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Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Parade award winners
Congratulations to all participants in the 54th Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Parade! YOUTH Ultimate Kicks MHS Colorguard Grace Baptist Church HORSE DRAWN CK Fencing Hendrickson Les Schwab COMMERCIAL Performance Pet Crane Realty Paulsons RETAIL Menards [Read More…]
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South Dakota Regents approves ‘seismic shift’ to allow guns on campus
Emily DeCock, South Dakota News Watch BROOKINGS, S.D. – The South Dakota Board of Regents voted 9-0 Thursday to update its policy to comply with a new state law that allows students and others to [Read More…]
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SD Public Broadcasting considering cuts, layoffs after Congress rescinds federal funding
South Dakota Searchlight-Makenzie Huber South Dakota Public Broadcasting is bracing for potential cuts and layoffs after Congress canceled $1.1 billion in previously approved nationwide funding for public media. The federal funding went to the Corporation [Read More…]
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Governor Rhoden announces special legislative session date regarding a new state prison
Governor Larry Rhoden has announced the date of the special session to consider and pass legislation for a new prison. The special session will be on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 9:00 am CT. Governor [Read More…]
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Mitchell School Board approves GBR roof repair bid and surpluses old high school items
The Mitchell School Board unanimously approved a bid to repair the Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary School roof. Superintendent Joe Childs says there were nine bidders. “The bid is just north of $255,000 to Guarantee Roofing [Read More…]
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University gun policy approved by South Dakota Board of Regents
By Emily DeCock South Dakota News Watch BROOKINGS, S.D. – The South Dakota Board of Regents voted 9-0 Thursday to update its policy to comply with a new state law that allows students and others [Read More…]
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Universities push to restore campus maintenance funding after $9 million legislative cut
Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota public university leaders called on lawmakers Thursday in Brookings to restore $9 million in campus maintenance funding after a cut enacted by the Legislature earlier this year. “As I stated in the past, and [Read More…]
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34 year old man from Clark indicted for first-degree murder
A 34 year old man from Clark has been indicted for First-Degree Murder in the death of his mother. A Clark County Grand Jury indicted Bowen Fladland on Wednesday. The next hearing is scheduled for [Read More…]
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New Mitchell High School open house draws rave reviews
The phrase, “if you build it they will come” held true during Wednesday’s open house at the new Mitchell High School. Superintendent Joe Childs felt the excitement as the doors opened. “Everybody that I’ve spoken [Read More…]
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First Human West Nile Virus Case of 2025 Reported in Brookings County
The South Dakota Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed the first human West Nile virus case of the 2025 season in a resident of Brookings County. South Dakota has reported more than 2,864 human cases [Read More…]
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Medicaid cuts in federal budget could hit rural health hard in South Dakota
Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch Wade Erickson doesn’t want to seem like an alarmist. But Erickson, CEO of Horizon Health Care in South Dakota, has serious concerns about how the Medicaid cuts embedded [Read More…]
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South Dakota schools left ‘scrambling’ after feds withhold $25.8 million in funding
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Teacher contracts were signed in the spring and school district budgets were prepared months ago. But weeks before school starts, South Dakota schools are missing $25.8 million they planned to use [Read More…]
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Pierre Police investigating fatal shooting involving a juvenile
A 14 year old boy from Fort Pierre is dead after a shooting incident Tuesday afternoon in Pierre. Information from the Pierre Police Department says at approximately 2:45pm Tuesday, Patrol Officers were dispatched to the [Read More…]
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Grants Available For Historic Churches
PIERRE, S.D. – The history of nearly every South Dakota town is in some way intertwined with a church – both the institution and the building. Churches represent who we were, who we are, and, [Read More…]
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Legislative committee finalizes benefit cut for needy families
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight Starting in August, low-income South Dakota families participating in a welfare program will receive less money to spend on necessities such as gas, groceries, utilities and rent. The benefit cut is [Read More…]
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South Dakota senator’s deal sparing tribes helps advance bill stripping funds from NPR, PBS, foreign aid
Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday night moved one step closer to canceling $9 billion in previously approved funding for several foreign aid programs and public broadcasting after GOP leaders addressed [Read More…]