Columbus
South Dakota Searchlight
Experts say the economy is getting better, but consumers don’t feel that way. Here’s why.
Americans are still worried about their financial stability even as their recession fears lessen. High prices at the grocery store and consumers’ memories of their pre-pandemic budgets may be playing a role. Here’s what financial and economic experts have to say about what this week’s economic indicators tell us about people’s perception of the economy. […] The post Experts say the economy is getting better, but consumers don’t feel that way. Here’s why. appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Republicans to battle through dozens of contested primary elections in 2024
Republicans are poised for plenty of guaranteed state legislative victories in the 2024 general election. But most of the candidates in South Dakota’s dominant political party who want a seat in Pierre will first need to face off in the June 4 primary. As of Friday evening, the Secretary of State’s website listed 44 contested […] The post Republicans to battle through dozens of contested primary elections in 2024 appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Thune pushes for free trade agreements as ag trade deficit rises
U.S. Sen. John Thune spent March criticizing the Biden Administration trade policies and touting the importance of free trade to South Dakota and the nation’s trade economy. In a recent letter, for example, Thune and other senators lambasted the administration for not committing to a new free trade agreement since Biden took office in 2021. […] The post Thune pushes for free trade agreements as ag trade deficit rises appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Most tribes were completing financial audits prior to Noem call for scrutiny
RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem issued a statement this week calling for the Biden administration to conduct single audits of all federal funds given to the nine Oceti Sakowin tribes in South Dakota. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. […] The post Most tribes were completing financial audits prior to Noem call for scrutiny appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Corrections has collected $1.25 million for calls, messages since 2021
The state prison system collected at least $1.25 million in fees from inmates and their families for phone and messaging services in the three years leading up to this month’s sudden shutdown of tablet-based communications. The South Dakota Department of Corrections (DOC) revenue is a mix of commission payments for phone calls and electronic messaging. The […] The post Corrections has collected $1.25 million for calls, messages since 2021 appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
States rush to combat AI threat to elections
This year’s presidential election will be the first since generative AI — a form of artificial intelligence that can create new content, including images, audio, and video — became widely available. That’s raising fears that millions of voters could be deceived by a barrage of political deepfakes. While Congress has done little to address the […] The post States rush to combat AI threat to elections appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Some areas worthy of legislative summer study; some are not
Don’t think for a moment that just because the final gavel has fallen on the 2024 legislative session that the work of lawmakers is over for the year. That work continues on through the summer. Soon after the final gavel fell, the Legislature’s Executive Board met to discuss topics for summer studies. The board decided […] The post Some areas worthy of legislative summer study; some are not appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
‘Order restored’ at penitentiary following ‘disturbance’
SIOUX FALLS — Order was restored late Wednesday after a “disturbance” at the East Hall of the South Dakota State Penitentiary, Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko said. The statement came more than four hours after initial reports of the incident, and did not address the extent of any staff injuries, though it acknowledged that a staff […] The post ‘Order restored’ at penitentiary following ‘disturbance’ appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Federal rebuild of Baltimore bridge ‘will not be quick or easy or cheap,’ Buttigieg says
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg outlined Wednesday the immediate and longer-term priorities the Biden administration is pursuing in the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore that left six presumed dead. While many questions remained roughly 36 hours after a massive cargo ship struck the bridge and caused the deadly collapse, Buttigieg at […] The post Federal rebuild of Baltimore bridge ‘will not be quick or easy or cheap,’ Buttigieg says appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Avera plans $245 million expansion in Sioux Falls for delivery care, digestive health
Avera Health plans to expand two of its Sioux Falls campuses at a cost about $245 million. It’ll be the largest expansion of hospital patient care space in Sioux Falls history at 350,000 square feet, according to the health care system. The planned six-story and three-story buildings are meant to expand capacity and access for […] The post Avera plans $245 million expansion in Sioux Falls for delivery care, digestive health appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Jackley among attorneys general to call on Congress to restrict ‘diet weed’ in next farm bill
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is among 21 top state prosecutors who’ve signed a letter urging Congress to close the loophole that created the diet weed industry as they craft the next farm bill. Hemp-derived cannabis equivalents became legal with the passage of the 2018 farm bill, which legalized the cultivation of hemp as […] The post Jackley among attorneys general to call on Congress to restrict ‘diet weed’ in next farm bill appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of limits on access to abortion medication
WASHINGTON — The future of medication abortion access in the United States went in front of the U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday, where several justices appeared somewhat skeptical as anti-abortion organizations argued use of the pharmaceutical should be moved back to what was in place before 2016. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, speaking on behalf […] The post U.S. Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of limits on access to abortion medication appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Minnehaha County collects $640,000 to help house ex-prisoners, families
SIOUX FALLS – South Dakota’s largest county by population will spend another $640,000 to address housing challenges for people who’ve spent time behind bars. The Minnehaha County Commission cast a unanimous vote Tuesday to allow its Human Services Department to accept and spend the grant funds from the MacArthur Foundation. The foundation supports a range […] The post Minnehaha County collects $640,000 to help house ex-prisoners, families appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Legislature will study property taxes, Ellsworth’s growth, regulating the web over summer
Lawmakers will study topics ranging from property taxes to the regulation of minors’ access to inappropriate web content this summer. The legislature’s Executive Board defined the summer studies state lawmakers will take on in Pierre on Tuesday, the last day of the 2024 legislative session. The last day is typically used to consider vetoes, but […] The post Legislature will study property taxes, Ellsworth’s growth, regulating the web over summer appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Civic engagement center moves forward for Black Hills State
Black Hills State University will begin work on a center for civic engagement this year, even after a bill to create the center failed twice in the Legislature. The Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee approved a letter Tuesday outlining how nearly $1 million it budgeted for Black Hills State earlier this month should be spent. The […] The post Civic engagement center moves forward for Black Hills State appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
More than 26,000 self-managed abortions may have occurred post-Dobbs, study shows
Self-managed abortions rose by more than 26,000 in the six months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade nearly two years ago, according to a peer-reviewed study published Monday in JAMA, the American Medical Association’s journal. Researchers determined that an increase of approximately 27,838 online orders of abortion pills between July and December 2022 corresponded […] The post More than 26,000 self-managed abortions may have occurred post-Dobbs, study shows appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
School boards have local control, until Legislature knows better
After the last legislative session, school board members across the state have to wonder whatever happened to local control. It seems that now the state aid their school districts receive will come with conditions. The 2024 Legislature stepped in to tell school districts two ways that they have to spend their funding: They approved a […] The post School boards have local control, until Legislature knows better appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Q&A: Thune adapts to the political ‘reality we live with’ as he seeks leadership post
It may seem illogical for John Thune to run for Senate Republican leader after he was booed by Republicans in his own state, but as Thune says, “these aren’t normal times.” The booing happened in September. Former President Donald Trump headlined a South Dakota Republican Party fundraiser in a Rapid City arena packed with 7,000 […] The post Q&A: Thune adapts to the political ‘reality we live with’ as he seeks leadership post appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
State accidentally told independent candidates they needed hundreds more signatures than necessary
For more than two months, state officials unintentionally led some potential legislative candidates to believe they needed hundreds more petition signatures than state law requires. The problem affected independents. Retired Rapid City attorney Jay Davis noticed it. “I was seeking information on behalf of a prospective candidate who was considering filing as an independent,” he […] The post State accidentally told independent candidates they needed hundreds more signatures than necessary appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
South Dakota Searchlight
2K+
Posts
11M+
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.