News
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Rival SD school choice bills both fail in Education Committee
South Dakota Searchlight-Makenzie Huber Lawmakers in the House Education Committee shot down former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s proposed $4 million education savings account program and a similar, competing proposal Wednesday morning at the Capitol [Read More…]
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Governor Larry Rhoden announces his selection for Lieutenant Governor
Governor Larry Rhoden has selected his Lieutenant Governor. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am more than pleased to announce my selection to the next Lieutenant Governor of the State of South Dakota, Tony Venhuizen”, said Rhoden. [Read More…]
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Ban on eminent domain for carbon pipelines passes SD House, heads to Senate
Josh Haiar-South Dakota Searchlight The South Dakota House of Representatives advanced a bill 49–19 that would ban the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines, sending the legislation to the state Senate. Eminent domain [Read More…]
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Governor Larry Rhoden announces staff changes
Gov. Larry Rhoden announced several staff changes Monday, two days after taking office when former Gov. Kristi Noem resigned to join President Donald Trump’s cabinet. Among the key changes, longtime governor’s office spokesman Ian Fury [Read More…]
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Former South Dakota Department of Social Services employee pleads guilty and is sentenced
A former South Dakota Department of Social Services employee was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to using a DSS grocery voucher, intended for families in need, for personal use. 28 year old Amalia Escalante Barrientos [Read More…]
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Governor Larry Rhoden to officially take the oath of office on Monday
Governor Larry Rhoden announced his plans to be officially sworn in as the 34th Governor of South Dakota. The oath of office will be administered on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 11:00 am CT by [Read More…]
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Rhoden becomes South Dakota’s 34th Governor
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem resigned Saturday morning, minutes after being confirmed as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Noem, the first female governor of South Dakota, wrote a letter to her [Read More…]
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U.S. Senate Confirms Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has been confirmed as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following a Senate vote on Saturday morning. Noem received 59 votes in favor and 34 votes [Read More…]
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South Dakota legislative committee passes bill to limit carbon capture pipeline eminent domain
South Dakota Broadcasters Association-Austin Goss A South Dakota legislative committee passed a bill Friday aimed at limiting carbon pipeline projects by stripping the power of eminent domain for carbon dioxide transportation. House Bill 1052, which [Read More…]
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Bill requiring SD public schools to display and teach Ten Commandments passes committee
South Dakota Searchlight-Josh Haiar A committee of South Dakota lawmakers voted 4-3 to endorse a bill Thursday in Pierre that would require public school districts to teach the Ten Commandments and display them in every [Read More…]
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Mitchell resident speaks against a proposed $12-million dollar upgrade to the Corn Palace
The vast majority of discussion during Tuesday’s Mitchell City Council meeting focused on the Corn Palace and a proposed $12-million dollar plan for upgrades. However longtime Mitchell resident Roger Musick offered a different perspective. He [Read More…]
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Biden commutes Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier’s life sentenced just before leaving office
WASHINGTON (AP) — Just moments before leaving office, President Joe Biden commuted the life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. Peltier was denied parole [Read More…]
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Age verification bill for adult websites passes committee of SD lawmakers
South Dakota Searchlight-Josh Haiar PIERRE — A committee of South Dakota lawmakers endorsed a bill Friday that would require pornographic websites to implement age verification measures. The House State Affairs Committee passed the measure 11-2, [Read More…]
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Two Prison Inmates Sentenced for Assault on Correctional Officers
Attorney General Marty Jackley says two South Dakota Penitentiary inmates have been sentenced to additional time in prison after they had earlier been found guilty of assaulting two correctional officers at the South Dakota Penitentiary [Read More…]
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James Valley Drug and DUI Court celebrates four new graduates
The James Valley Drug and DUI Court celebrated the achievements of four new graduates Thursday afternoon. Judge Donna Bucher shared, that between them, Samantha, Adrianne, Nikole and Bianca have 2,228 days sober, have paid more [Read More…]
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Keynote speech with an unexpected twist
Those attending Thursday’s James Valley Drug and DUI Court graduation got more than they bargained for from keynote speaker, Davison County Jail Administrator Grant Lanning. “On paper, I look pretty good, and yes, that kind [Read More…]
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Mitchell based Muth Electric announces new CEO
Muth Electric recently announced the appointment of David Muth as Chief Executive Officer of Muth Electric. The appointment was effective January 1st part of a four-year succession plan. “As we look to the future, one [Read More…]
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Davison County Sheriff briefs commissioners on continuing personnel turnover
Hiring and keeping Davison County corrections officers and deputies is a continuing challenge. Sheriff Steve Harr discussed the issue during Tuesday’s Davison County Commission meeting. “I don’t know what the answer to it is,” Harr [Read More…]
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24 Hour Emergency Mental Health Crisis Care now available in Mitchell
There’s a new option available in Mitchell for those experiencing a mental health crisis. Michelle Carpenter is Executive Director of Dakota Counseling Institute Downtown. “We have psychiatric appointments, outpatient appointments and then we would have [Read More…]
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Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, CVB, MADC and Main Street and Beyond recognition event
The Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, Development Corporation, CVB and Mitchell Main Street and Beyond celebrated their 2024 successes and honored several individuals and organizations during Wednesday’s annual recognition event. Lifequest received the Community Service [Read More…]
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