Latest News
Senate panel endorses billions for B-21s and millions for South Dakota construction
John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight Funding for the B-21 bomber program, construction money to support it at a base near Rapid City, and money for a Watertown National Guard vehicle maintenance building are wins for South [Read More…]
Pierre Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder Conviction
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a Pierre man has been sentenced to life in prison without the opportunity for parole after earlier being found guilty of Second Degree Murder in [Read More…]
Davison County Commissioners select a new County Treasurer
Davison County Commissioners have named a new County Treasurer. Chairman Randy Reider says the group interviewed four strong candidates. “And we made an offer to Tonya Ford, who works in the Treasurer’s Office,” Reider said. [Read More…]
The Patriot Tour stops in Mitchell
An organization dedicated to raising money to help veterans in need stopped in Mitchell to share its message in front of the Statue of Liberty mural at the Corn Palace. Kevin Stoterau is a member [Read More…]
Dakota Wesleyan University welcomes the “Cowboy Astronomer”
Dakota Wesleyan University will bring a unique astronomy experience to campus this week with multiple showings of “The Cowboy Astronomer,” an exploration of the stars from a cowboy’s point of view. Shows will be presented [Read More…]
Countdown to Mitchell High School open-house
The Mitchell School District is hosting a community open-house at the new high school on Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm. Superintendent Joe Childs is excited. “We know the building won’t be 100% complete,” Childs said. [Read More…]
Mitchell School Board annual meeting takes an unusual turn
Monday’s Mitchell School Board meeting featured an unusual twist as the group closed out business for the 2024-2025 school year. However newly elected board member Kimberly Lofgren was involved in a two-vehicle collision around noon [Read More…]
Rural State Republican Senators, Including Senator Mike Rounds, Push Back On Defunding Public Media
Inside Audio Marketing This will be a critical week for public media funding, with the Senate expected to vote on a package of $9.4 billion in funding already appropriated by Congress that President Trump wants [Read More…]
South Dakota Ends Fiscal Year with $63 Million Operating Surplus
The state of South Dakota closed the state fiscal year 2025 budget year with an operating surplus of $63 million. “South Dakota is a leader in our nation – especially when it comes to disciplined [Read More…]
Former vice presidential candidate calls Noem ‘antithesis of the South Dakota I know’
John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz regaled about a thousand people at a South Dakota Democratic Party fundraiser Saturday night with jabs at the state’s former and current governors, advice [Read More…]
How Wall is building a model to encourage housing growth
Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch WALL, S.D. – This small western South Dakota town known internationally for Wall Drug and its proximity to Badlands National Park seemed like the perfect place for Ana [Read More…]
Miner County fatal crash victim indentified
A man from Webster died and his passenger was injured in a single vehicle motorcycle crash early Thursday morning, five miles east of Fedora. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety reported around 2am, 53 [Read More…]
DANR and DOH Announce Air Quality Alert for South Dakota
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is issuing an air quality alert for areas of South Dakota where smoke from wildfires in Canada is forecasted to settle. The smoke [Read More…]
Wyoming financial planner ‘pausing’ TikTok deal he says would benefit South Dakota
John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight Reid Rasner says he’s paused his efforts to purchase TikTok for $47.45 billion and possibly place some of its operations in South Dakota. South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden had thrown his [Read More…]
Smoke, steam and flooded toilets: Just another day at the state penitentiary
South Dakota Searchlight-John Hult SIOUX FALLS — The scene was surreal from the jump. There we were, a gang of eight reporters scrunched together in the claustrophobic lobby of the state penitentiary, waiting for a [Read More…]
Operation Round-Up grant awarded to Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota
The Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota got a boost from Central Electric’s Operation Roundup program. Representatives Merl Bechen and Tara Miller presented a check for $2,200 for kitchen appliances in its family visitation center. [Read More…]
Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota celebrates its new location
The Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota celebrated its new home with staff, friends and community leaders at its new location at 1600 North Kimball in Mitchell. Coleen Hoffman is Safe Place executive director. “I’m [Read More…]
Miner County fatal motorcycle crash
A 53 year old man from Webster man died and his passenger was injured in a single vehicle motorcycle crash early Thursday morning, five miles east of Fedora. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety [Read More…]
State lawmaker files statement of candidacy to run for U.S. House
Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight A Republican state legislator from Madison filed his statement of candidacy Wednesday to run for South Dakota’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Casey Crabtree is the second Republican to take [Read More…]
After new prison vote, Corrections leader says penitentiary should ‘never have another inmate in it’
John Hult-SD Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko said Wednesday she’s buoyed by a vote from the state’s prison task force endorsing a $650 million, 1,500-bed men’s prison in [Read More…]