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South Dakota Searchlight
13 trainees sign up for state’s first-ever tribal law enforcement course
Thirteen tribal law enforcement recruits have signed up for the state’s first-ever tribal law enforcement-specific training session starting June 3 in Pierre. The trainees are from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, according to the state Attorney General’s Office. The rest of the 24-member class will consist of 11 […] The post 13 trainees sign up for state’s first-ever tribal law enforcement course appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
States need to keep PFAS ’forever chemicals’ out of the water. It won’t be cheap.
In recent years, Michigan has spent tens of millions of dollars to limit residents’ exposure to the harmful “forever chemicals” called PFAS. And some cities there have spent millions of their own to filter contaminated drinking water or connect to new, less-polluted sources. “We’ve made significant investments to get up to speed,” said Abigail Hendershott, […] The post States need to keep PFAS ’forever chemicals’ out of the water. It won’t be cheap. appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Bipartisan border bill likely doomed in approaching U.S. Senate vote
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democrats are pushing for a second attempt to pass a bipartisan border security bill that failed in February after Republicans walked away from the very deal they helped craft, and it’s likely to fail again when the Senate votes on the legislation Thursday. “So why are we bringing this bill up […] The post Bipartisan border bill likely doomed in approaching U.S. Senate vote appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Flandreau tribe says Noem ban ‘is imminent’
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe said Tuesday that its president “informed the governor that a ban from our territories is imminent,” according to a news release obtained and published by multiple media outlets. South Dakota Searchlight’s messages to tribal officials seeking further comment were not immediately returned. The tribe was the only one of nine […] The post Flandreau tribe says Noem ban ‘is imminent’ appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Open primaries measure approved for the ballot
A petition that would establish open primary elections in South Dakota has enough signatures from registered voters to be placed on the Nov. 5 ballot, according to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office. The office made the announcement Tuesday, triggering a 30-day window for challenges to the petition’s validity. It’s the third citizen-initiated measure […] The post Open primaries measure approved for the ballot appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Trump declines witness stand as testimony in his first trial concludes
WASHINGTON — The end of the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president is in sight as Donald Trump’s defense team rested its case Tuesday in Manhattan, where jurors have heard weeks of testimony from nearly two dozen witnesses about Trump’s alleged reimbursement of hush money meant to silence a porn star before the […] The post Trump declines witness stand as testimony in his first trial concludes appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund $300 million in grants to boost exports
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday $300 million in funding for more than 60 groups seeking to diversify American agricultural exports. “USDA is pleased to be able to provide the startup capital to tap into these opportunities,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a call with reporters Monday night previewing the announcement. […] The post U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund $300 million in grants to boost exports appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
VA reaches 1 million toxic exposure claims granted, including nearly 4,000 in SD
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is set to announce in New Hampshire on Tuesday that 1 million claims have been granted for benefits under the toxic exposure law that Congress approved less than two years ago, following the military’s use of open air burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. The law, approved with broad bipartisan […] The post VA reaches 1 million toxic exposure claims granted, including nearly 4,000 in SD appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Prosecution rests in Trump hush money trial, after former fixer Cohen is grilled
NEW YORK — New York state prosecutors rested their case against Donald Trump Monday after four days of testimony from their key witness, Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen, who says the former president was well aware of a hush money cover-up. The defense paints Cohen as a liar. The Manhattan criminal trial, the first ever […] The post Prosecution rests in Trump hush money trial, after former fixer Cohen is grilled appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
State awarded $3 million in EPA funds for cleanups at Fort Sisseton, Box Elder, Sioux Falls, Lead
Sioux Falls, Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, Box Elder and the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead will benefit from $3 million in cleanup funds awarded Monday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The money comes from the EPA’s Brownfields program, which offers grants to state and local partners for the assessment and recovery of […] The post State awarded $3 million in EPA funds for cleanups at Fort Sisseton, Box Elder, Sioux Falls, Lead appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt introduces bill to end a state’s Medicaid funding if it blocks IVF
WASHINGTON — Two Republican U.S. senators have teamed up to try to prevent states from banning in vitro fertilization, months after the Alabama state Supreme Court upended access to the procedure by ruling fertilized embryos were children under state law. Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama and Ted Cruz of Texas introduced a three-page bill on […] The post U.S. Sen. Katie Britt introduces bill to end a state’s Medicaid funding if it blocks IVF appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Q&A: How an anti-vaccine bill motivated a South Dakotan’s award-winning response
Dr. Allie Alvine went to Pierre in 2020 with a concern and came home with a mission. At the state Capitol, she testified against a bill that would have repealed the immunization requirements that apply to most school children. “I saw the anti-vaxxers there, and they were a large group,” she said. Lawmakers rejected the […] The post Q&A: How an anti-vaccine bill motivated a South Dakotan’s award-winning response appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
As states loosen childhood vaccine requirements, health experts’ worries grow
Louisiana Republican state Rep. Kathy Edmonston believes no one ought to be required to vaccinate their children. So, she wants schools to proactively tell parents that it’s their right under Louisiana law to seek an exemption. “It’s not the vaccine itself, it is the mandate,” Edmonston told Stateline. “The law is the law. And it […] The post As states loosen childhood vaccine requirements, health experts’ worries grow appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Property taxes, sales taxes on a collision course in South Dakota
In the last legislative session, lawmakers weren’t able to agree on any significant changes to the property tax system. House Bill 1208, requiring the director of equalization to adjust certain agricultural land values, failed in the House on a 25-44 vote. Senate Bill 167, limiting annual valuation increases in owner-occupied single-family dwellings, failed in the […] The post Property taxes, sales taxes on a collision course in South Dakota appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Navajo leaders outraged after a Lakota student’s tribal regalia was removed at graduation
Graduation season is typically a time for celebrating the success of students making it through their education programs. For some Indigenous students, part of that celebration includes having tribal regalia or objects of cultural significance as part of their cap and gown during the graduation ceremony. In Arizona, Indigenous students are protected under state law. […] The post Navajo leaders outraged after a Lakota student’s tribal regalia was removed at graduation appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
More than half of states sue to block Biden Title IX rule protecting LGBTQ+ students
WASHINGTON — Twenty-six GOP-led states are suing the Biden administration over changes to Title IX aiming to protect LGBTQ+ students from discrimination in schools. Less than a month after the U.S. Department of Education released its final rule seeking to protect against discrimination “based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics,” a […] The post More than half of states sue to block Biden Title IX rule protecting LGBTQ+ students appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Farm bill text released in U.S. House, setting up fight with Senate
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Agriculture Committee Friday released the draft bill text of the long-awaited $1.5 trillion farm bill, which is likely to face opposition in the Senate from Democrats due to disagreements over federal anti-hunger programs and climate change requirements. The chair of the committee, GOP Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania, said […] The post Farm bill text released in U.S. House, setting up fight with Senate appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Noem doubles down on cartel talk, asks tribes to partner with state
PIERRE — At the end of a week in which two more tribal nations voted to ban her from their lands, Gov. Kristi Noem called on tribal leaders to partner with state law enforcement to battle drug activity on reservations. The governor was flanked by her tribal relations secretary and newly hired tribal law enforcement […] The post Noem doubles down on cartel talk, asks tribes to partner with state appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
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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.
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