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South Dakota Housing launches homebuying assistance program for recent grads
South Dakota Housing will launch its Grants for Grads program Friday, aiming to help college and technical-college graduates purchase their first home in South Dakota. The program is available “for a limited time.” The program existed under former Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s administration in an effort to attract workers to the state, but ended in 2019, […] The post South Dakota Housing launches homebuying assistance program for recent grads appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Noem meets with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s cabinet in Baton Rouge
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who’s in the midst of a controversy over admitting to killing her dog and goat, was in Louisiana to meet with Gov. Jeff Landry’s cabinet Thursday at the state Capitol, multiple attendees at the meeting confirmed to the Louisiana Illuminator. Noem has been in consideration to […] The post Noem meets with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s cabinet in Baton Rouge appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Biden backs peaceful protest, denounces campus ‘chaos’ over Gaza
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden responded Thursday to weeks of protest on college campuses calling for a ceasefire in Gaza with a brief statement that the right to protest should be protected, but “not the right to cause chaos.” “We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent,” Biden said from […] The post Biden backs peaceful protest, denounces campus ‘chaos’ over Gaza appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
‘A stark warning’: Latest carbon dioxide leak raises concerns about safety, regulation
LOUISIANA — It wasn’t the wail of a siren or the buzz of an emergency phone alert that warned Tanya Richard a pipeline near her home was spewing poison gas. The first hint that something was wrong came from her cats, a motley collection of free-roaming felines that fled her property as the dense cloud […] The post ‘A stark warning’: Latest carbon dioxide leak raises concerns about safety, regulation appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Noem blames ‘fake news’ for backlash against her killing a dog and goat
Who’s to blame for the outrage about South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s fatal shootings of a dog and goat? “Fake news,” according to her. Noem, a Republican, appeared Wednesday night on Fox News with anchor Sean Hannity for her first interview since the story broke last week. In his introduction, Hannity said Noem “is being […] The post Noem blames ‘fake news’ for backlash against her killing a dog and goat appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. House splits on GOP-led Alaska and mining industry bills aimed at Biden agenda
The U.S. House passed a bill Wednesday to counter an Interior Department order canceling oil and gas leases in a section of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, taking aim at the Biden administration’s conservation agenda that Republicans say weighs environmental concerns too heavily at the expense of economic opportunity. But the Republican majority also suffered a setback […] The post U.S. House splits on GOP-led Alaska and mining industry bills aimed at Biden agenda appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. House approves definition of antisemitism as campus protests continue
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans Wednesday passed a bill, with heavy support from Democrats, that would define antisemitism for the Department of Education, amid nationwide college campus protests in which students are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The 320-91 vote would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism in Title VI of […] The post U.S. House approves definition of antisemitism as campus protests continue appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Group submits abortion-rights ballot petitions as opponents pledge legal challenge
SIOUX FALLS — The group leading the effort to put abortion rights on South Dakota’s November ballot said Wednesday it was turning in far more petition signatures than required, while an opposition group said it will challenge the legitimacy of the petitions. The ballot-question committee proposing the measure, Dakotans for Health, held a press conference […] The post Group submits abortion-rights ballot petitions as opponents pledge legal challenge appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Marjorie Taylor Greene to force vote next week on ousting U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson
WASHINGTON — Two U.S. House Republicans, aggrieved by Speaker Mike Johnson’s bipartisanship amid divided government, said Wednesday they plan to force a vote next week on removing him from the leadership office — despite the extremely long odds of success. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie held a press conference just […] The post Marjorie Taylor Greene to force vote next week on ousting U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Tax refund programs open to senior citizens and people with disabilities
South Dakota senior citizens and people with disabilities have until July 1 to apply for sales or property tax refunds under the state’s Tax Refund Program, according to the Department of Revenue. Eligible people may be refunded a portion of the sales or property taxes they paid from the previous year. Sales tax refund applicants […] The post Tax refund programs open to senior citizens and people with disabilities appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Puppy-killing Kristi Noem may have brought us together
I dated a guy in college who grew up on a farm in southern Illinois — El Paso, Illinois, to be precise. The first time I visited his family, I was enveloped in a different world, stereotypical but wonderful in countless ways. The house is what I think of whenever I read something about farm […] The post Puppy-killing Kristi Noem may have brought us together appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. House votes to kill BLM rule, delist gray wolf, end Boundary Waters mining limits
The U.S. House approved four bills focused on natural resources and land management Tuesday, promoting a Republican message of dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s approach to conservation. The four bills would force the withdrawal of a recent Bureau of Land Management rule that would allow leases for conservation, remove mining restrictions near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, […] The post U.S. House votes to kill BLM rule, delist gray wolf, end Boundary Waters mining limits appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Biden administration to greatly ease marijuana regulations
The Biden administration plans to remove marijuana from a list of the most dangerous and highly regulated drugs, the Department of Justice said Tuesday night. The Drug Enforcement Administration will propose moving the drug from a Schedule I substance, which also includes heroin and methamphetamine, to Schedule III, which is the category for regulated-but-legal drugs […] The post Biden administration to greatly ease marijuana regulations appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Critic says Noem’s workforce ad campaign should be ‘as dead as Cricket’ after dog scandal
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s fame has powered a national workforce recruitment campaign, but some think her newfound infamy might doom it. However, the state office managing the campaign says it will not change course. The future of Noem’s starring role in South Dakota’s $9 million Freedom Works Here ad campaign is triggering debate after […] The post Critic says Noem’s workforce ad campaign should be ‘as dead as Cricket’ after dog scandal appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Company earns final approval for exploratory gold drilling above Spearfish Canyon
A federal agency has issued final approval of a company’s plan to conduct exploratory drilling for gold above Spearfish Canyon. The company is Colorado-based Solitario Resources. Project maps show some of the proposed drill sites are less than a mile from the canyon rim in the Black Hills National Forest, about 15 miles southwest of […] The post Company earns final approval for exploratory gold drilling above Spearfish Canyon appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Trump says he’d use police, National Guard and possibly the military to expel immigrants
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump in his second term would carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants by utilizing local law enforcement, the National Guard and potentially the U.S. military, according to a lengthy interview he conducted with Time magazine. “When we talk military, generally speaking, I talk National Guard,” the presumptive 2024 GOP […] The post Trump says he’d use police, National Guard and possibly the military to expel immigrants appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump is planning to release more details in the weeks ahead about how his administration would regulate access to medication abortion, according to comments he made during a lengthy interview with Time magazine published Tuesday. Trump, the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee for president, said that he has “strong views” about access to […] The post Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Yellen touts success of IRS direct free-file pilot program, which includes SD
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Internal Revenue Service saw a successful tax filing season, providing high levels of customer service, enforcing collection from the wealthy and launching a free filing option for taxpayers, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told tax writers on Capitol Hill Tuesday. The agency “met or exceeded” goals for the filing season and “successfully” […] The post Yellen touts success of IRS direct free-file pilot program, which includes SD appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Trump fined $9,000 for violating gag order in NY hush-money trial
Former President Donald Trump defied a gag order in his New York state hush-money trial by posting attacks on likely witnesses on his social media platform and campaign website, the judge in the case ruled Tuesday. Judge Juan M. Merchan fined Trump $9,000 for nine violations of an order barring him from making public statements […] The post Trump fined $9,000 for violating gag order in NY hush-money trial appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
A rushed farm bill is a bad one
A five-year farm bill was supposed to have been approved last year, but was held up in the House over disagreements on food stamps, conservation, crop insurance and funding. House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., announced recently that he will find a way to push a farm bill out before Memorial Day in order […] The post A rushed farm bill is a bad one 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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