Columbus
South Dakota Searchlight
Trump questions NY guilty verdicts after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling
WASHINGTON — A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision absolves him. New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could […] The post Trump questions NY guilty verdicts after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Parole denied for Indigenous activist convicted of killing FBI agents
A Native American man convicted of killing two FBI agents 49 years ago in South Dakota has lost what could be his final chance at parole, after widespread activism in support of his release. Leonard Peltier, 79, is serving two consecutive life terms in prison and is reportedly in failing health. His latest parole hearing […] The post Parole denied for Indigenous activist convicted of killing FBI agents appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Regulators begin study of NorthWestern’s proposed 9% natural gas rate increase
State regulators will take six months to study NorthWestern Energy’s proposed 9% natural gas rate increase, which the company says would cost a typical residential customer an additional $8.38 per month, or $100.56 per year. The proposal would generate an additional $6 million in annual revenue for NorthWestern, which delivers natural gas to about 50,000 […] The post Regulators begin study of NorthWestern’s proposed 9% natural gas rate increase appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses
WASHINGTON – Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation. In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the […] The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
More states consider voter ID laws amid conflicting research on their impact
Nevada voters may decide in November whether they should join three dozen other states in requiring voters to present valid identification before casting a ballot. And Maine may not be far behind, as the push for voter ID requirements grows nationwide despite conflicting studies over their effects. Conservative organizers in Nevada say they have gathered […] The post More states consider voter ID laws amid conflicting research on their impact appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Law banning sale of some near-pot products takes effect, but won’t prevent every legal high
As of today, several varieties of intoxicating hemp products are illegal to sell or produce in the state of South Dakota. That doesn’t necessarily put them out of reach for South Dakotans. It also doesn’t mean death for the market in alternative intoxicants that’s emerged across South Dakota and the nation in part thanks to […] The post Law banning sale of some near-pot products takes effect, but won’t prevent every legal high appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Ex-trooper, now a cannabis grower, wants answers on fake weed inaction
Alan Welsh wasn’t just a cop. He was a Very Important Cop. The kind of cop who gets a legislative commemoration for an outstanding career upon retirement. Now he grows marijuana for a living. The shock of seeing Welsh in a room full of pot without a badge on his chest or a story to […] The post Ex-trooper, now a cannabis grower, wants answers on fake weed inaction appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Libertarians nominate Public Utilities Commission candidate
The Libertarian Party of South Dakota has nominated Gideon Oakes, of Keystone, as its candidate for the Public Utilities Commission in the Nov. 5 general election. Oakes will face incumbent Republican Kristie Fiegen and Democrat Forrest Wilson. Fiegen has served on the Public Utilities Commission for over a decade, after being appointed to the position […] The post Libertarians nominate Public Utilities Commission candidate appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case
WASHINGTON — U.S. presidents enjoy full immunity from criminal charges for their official “core constitutional” acts, but no immunity for unofficial acts, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, sending former President Donald Trump’s election interference case back to the lower courts. The justices left open the question of how far the boundaries of such official acts […] The post Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
South Dakota’s Wind Cave is now the world’s sixth longest
HOT SPRINGS — Wind Cave in South Dakota’s Black Hills is now the sixth longest cave in the world as explorers have discovered new passageways, bringing the total length to 167 miles. The addition of these new passageways moves Wind Cave up one spot, from seventh to sixth, on the list of the planet’s longest […] The post South Dakota’s Wind Cave is now the world’s sixth longest appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
‘Sacred Return’: Tribal ceremony honors birth of prophesied white buffalo calf
HEBGEN LAKE, Montana — The birth of a sacred white buffalo calf earlier this month in Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley fulfills a tribal prophecy, according to Native American spiritual leaders. The prophecy means people need to take better care of Mother Earth and must come together to do so, leaders and elders told a […] The post ‘Sacred Return’: Tribal ceremony honors birth of prophesied white buffalo calf appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
‘Fake weed’ ban will take effect Monday as lawsuit against it proceeds
A new law barring the production or sale of high-inducing, hemp-derived cannabis products will take effect Monday after a judge declined to block it. Hemp Quarters 605, a Pierre-based shop that sells those products, filed a lawsuit earlier this month in U.S. District Court in South Dakota. The business claims the new law’s provisions are […] The post ‘Fake weed’ ban will take effect Monday as lawsuit against it proceeds appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
SD water has lots of lithium, study says, as research into health effects continues
Much of South Dakota’s drinking water has more naturally occurring lithium in it than the federal government preliminarily advises as a healthy level, according to numbers in a recent study released by the U.S. Geological Survey. Lead study author Melissa Lombard hopes the data contributes to further research. “Lithium is becoming recognized as potentially having impacts […] The post SD water has lots of lithium, study says, as research into health effects continues appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Idaho abortion ruling doesn’t affect South Dakota law, attorney general says
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling that shields emergency room doctors from prosecution under Idaho’s near-total abortion ban won’t have any immediate impact on South Dakota, according to Republican Attorney General Marty Jackley. The court did not rule on the underlying arguments in the case, but rather remanded it back to the Ninth Circuit Court of […] The post Idaho abortion ruling doesn’t affect South Dakota law, attorney general says appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Democrats reel from ‘terrible’ Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a “terrible” showing and a “bad night.” Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, […] The post Democrats reel from ‘terrible’ Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
White House seeks emergency funds for Midwest disaster relief, Key Bridge in Maryland
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve billions in emergency funding for domestic priorities it says are essential, including border security, emergency preparedness and child care. The $4 billion in new emergency spending requested Friday calls on lawmakers to approve more funding than was included in the dozen annual government funding bills […] The post White House seeks emergency funds for Midwest disaster relief, Key Bridge in Maryland appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
13 states, including SD, opt out of summer food program for kids
A new, permanent summer grocery program will help nearly 21 million kids across 37 states get enough to eat this year while school’s out. But 13 states with Republican governors have opted out of the federal program, citing their opposition to what they deride as “welfare” and their unwillingness to cover administrative costs. Under the […] The post 13 states, including SD, opt out of summer food program for kids appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Iowa city, SD company face suit alleging contaminated water, $4 million in tainted cheese
A cheese manufacturer is suing the Iowa city of Sanborn for water contamination that allegedly infiltrated the plant and caused $4 million in damages. The Minnesota dairy cooperative Associated Milk Producers Inc., or AMPI, is suing not only the City of Sanborn in federal court, but also the company hired by the city to clean […] The post Iowa city, SD company face suit alleging contaminated water, $4 million in tainted cheese appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Flood washes away Noem’s false veneer of leadership
Severe weather brought a deluge to southeast South Dakota recently and exposed Gov. Kristi Noem’s faults. While the rain fell, she abandoned the state for a political conference and television interview. When catastrophic floodwaters surged toward McCook Lake, her cursory appearance there — along with her lackluster crisis communications and departure for an out-of-state political […] The post Flood washes away Noem’s false veneer of leadership appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Noem, who sent Guard troops to Texas, resists using them for her own state’s flooding
After ordering National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border three times, Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is defending her decision to avoid sending troops to flood-ravaged areas in South Dakota, saying it would be “extremely expensive” and that the Guard should only be used for “a very crisis situation.” Meanwhile, her spokesman left open the possibility […] The post Noem, who sent Guard troops to Texas, resists using them for her own state’s flooding appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
South Dakota Searchlight
2K+
Posts
10M+
Views
We use our journalistic searchlight to illuminate critical issues facing South Dakota, dissect the decisions made by state leaders, and explain the consequences of their policies and the role of politics on South Dakotans. We publish news and commentary that prioritizes accuracy, fairness, insight and civility. There is no charge to access our content, or to subscribe to our email newsletter. We invite and publish guest commentary that contributes to productive public discourse and adheres to our editorial policies. South Dakota Searchlight launched in 2022. We’re an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The staff of the Searchlight retains full editorial independence.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.