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South Dakota Searchlight
Tribal activist faults North Dakota for high DAPL protest costs
An Indigenous environmental activist who testified Tuesday in a trial over Dakota Access Pipeline protest costs criticized the court case and said the state of North Dakota should pay the expenses. “I think it’s ridiculous,” Winona LaDuke, former executive director of Honor the Earth, said in an interview after her testimony. “No one told them […] The post Tribal activist faults North Dakota for high DAPL protest costs appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
SD’s Johnson, U.S. House vote to ban TikTok unless it’s sold by China-controlled parent
WASHINGTON — Citing major national security concerns, the U.S. House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a bill that effectively bans TikTok unless the company splits from its Chinese owner ByteDance. The 352-65 vote occurred just a week after lawmakers introduced the bipartisan proposal and days after the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce unanimously advanced […] The post SD’s Johnson, U.S. House vote to ban TikTok unless it’s sold by China-controlled parent appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Noem commutes sentence of man who stabbed three, killed one 43 years ago
Gov. Kristi Noem has granted a commutation to a convicted murderer that will allow him a shot at parole, but not for another eight years. Roscoe Primeaux, 63, arrived in prison Dec. 28, 1981, on a life sentence for second-degree murder and two four-year sentences for aggravated assault. Primeaux was 19 years old in October […] The post Noem commutes sentence of man who stabbed three, killed one 43 years ago appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
AI disinformation, threats to poll workers top U.S. Senate panel list of election worries
WASHINGTON — Senators on the U.S. Senate Rules Committee expressed concerns Tuesday that poll workers may need protection and that artificial intelligence could interfere in the fall elections. Leading members of the committee said AI has already been used to promote disinformation that has interfered with elections, while elections workers have for years experienced intimidation. […] The post AI disinformation, threats to poll workers top U.S. Senate panel list of election worries appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
GOP U.S. Sen. Lankford of Oklahoma blocks bill expanding IVF for vets, service members
WASHINGTON — Washington state Democratic Sen. Patty Murray tried to pass a bill Tuesday that would expand access to in vitro fertilization for military service members and veterans, but Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford raised an objection and prevented the legislation from moving forward. “The recent chaos in Alabama caused by far-right ideology put a […] The post GOP U.S. Sen. Lankford of Oklahoma blocks bill expanding IVF for vets, service members appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
South Dakota ranchers, politicians applaud new ‘Product of USA’ labeling rule
South Dakota politicians and representatives of the cattle industry are applauding a new U.S. Department of Agriculture rule aimed at ensuring the voluntary “Product of USA” label means what it says. The rule mandates that only meat, poultry and egg products derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States can bear […] The post South Dakota ranchers, politicians applaud new ‘Product of USA’ labeling rule appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Regulators approve early start for largest solar farm in state
Utility regulators took actions Tuesday that will allow a solar energy project to start producing electricity ahead of schedule at the largest solar farm in the state. Wild Springs Solar’s $190 million project sprawls across areas totaling 1,499 acres — about 2 square miles — of ranchland in Pennington County, just south of New Underwood. The […] The post Regulators approve early start for largest solar farm in state appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Native activist says treaty rights forgotten in DAPL trial
An attorney and Indigenous rights advocate involved in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests said the American justice system simply isn’t equipped to uphold treaty law. That’s partially why the demonstrations were so important, he said. “We don’t like our chances in court,” said Chase Iron Eyes, director and lead counsel for the Lakota People’s Law […] The post Native activist says treaty rights forgotten in DAPL trial appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Facing public backlash, some health care companies are abandoning hospital deals
Worried about hospitals closing and higher costs for patients, state lawmakers are increasingly tangling with hospitals over potential health care mergers, in some cases derailing deals they think don’t serve the public interest. Financially strapped hospitals often look to merge with or be acquired by other systems. After a pandemic-era slowdown, health care mergers and […] The post Facing public backlash, some health care companies are abandoning hospital deals appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Long-term care committee’s work translates into legislative success
Out of the 12 recommendations made by an interim legislative committee studying the sustainability of long-term care in South Dakota, most passed the legislative process. That’s a clear success, said committee co-chair Sen. Jean Hunhoff, R-Yankton. Legislators were challenged last year to produce recommendations that would pass through the process, something that summer studies have […] The post Long-term care committee’s work translates into legislative success appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Biden calls for expanded child tax credit, taxes on wealthy in $7.3 trillion budget plan
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden released his budget request for the upcoming fiscal year Monday, calling on Congress to stick to the spending agreement brokered last year and to revamp tax laws so that the “wealthy pay their fair share.” The $7.266 trillion budget request doesn’t actually spend any money since Congress controls the power […] The post Biden calls for expanded child tax credit, taxes on wealthy in $7.3 trillion budget plan appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
After sunny start, Noem turns mostly cloudy on open government
On a warm, mid-August afternoon in 2018, a group of newspaper publishers and editors gathered at the meeting room of the South Dakota Newspaper Association in Brookings. They were there to question U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, the Republican candidate for governor, about her thoughts on First Amendment and open government issues. The journalists in the […] The post After sunny start, Noem turns mostly cloudy on open government appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Child care bills fail but give rise to optimism about study and task force
All three bills addressing the child care crisis failed during this year’s legislative session, but the session was still a success, said Sen. Tim Reed, R-Brookings. Reed has been leading the legislative effort to study the problem and has formed an informal task force to find potential solutions. The 2024 legislative session ended Thursday, except […] The post Child care bills fail but give rise to optimism about study and task force appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Judge faults Corps for outcome of DAPL protests as trial wraps up third week
A federal judge admonished U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials for allowing Dakota Access Pipeline protesters to camp on Corps land without a permit, arguing that the agency could have prevented significant costs to North Dakota had it followed its own regulations properly. “Permits are required for a reason,” U.S. District Court Judge Dan Traynor […] The post Judge faults Corps for outcome of DAPL protests as trial wraps up third week appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Noem signs Indian Child Welfare Council and other bills into law
South Dakota will soon have a council devoted to the welfare of Native American children. Gov. Kristi Noem signed House Bill 1232 this week, which creates the Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council. It will bring together people from the Department of Social Services, South Dakota’s nine tribes, the Legislature, and the field of child welfare […] The post Noem signs Indian Child Welfare Council and other bills into law appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Thune, Rounds vote yes as U.S. Senate approves spending package hours before deadline
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators on Friday cleared a bipartisan spending package for President Joe Biden’s signature, completing work on half of the annual bills that were supposed to become law by Oct. 1. The $468 billion spending legislation rolls together the Agriculture-FDA, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD spending bills into a so-called “minibus.” […] The post Thune, Rounds vote yes as U.S. Senate approves spending package hours before deadline appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Gevo trumpets cash on hand, growth potential for sustainable jet fuel in earnings call
Converting ethanol to jet fuel is the cheapest and simplest way to help airlines across the U.S. hit their carbon reduction targets, according to the head of a Colorado-based firm that hopes to build a zero-emissions fuel production plant in Lake Preston. Gevo Chief Executive Officer Patrick Gruber delivered that message Thursday on an earnings […] The post Gevo trumpets cash on hand, growth potential for sustainable jet fuel in earnings call appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
We know what the timber industry needs, but what can the Black Hills provide?
The traditional way logging happens in the Black Hills National Forest is through timber sales. The U.S. Forest Service designates areas available for logging, and companies bid for the right to purchase and harvest the timber. On Saturday in Spearfish, there was a forestry roundtable discussion about the reduced levels of timber sales in recent […] The post We know what the timber industry needs, but what can the Black Hills provide? appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Know what an APR margin is? If you have credit card, it’s likely driving up your interest rate
You’ve probably heard of junk fees, as well as credit card late fees – the onerous banking fees you may incur as a credit card consumer. But there’s a lesser-known factor that could be driving up your credit card costs and placing your household at risk of further debt, as total U.S. credit card balances […] The post Know what an APR margin is? If you have credit card, it’s likely driving up your interest rate appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Alabama’s Britt blasts Biden on economy, immigration in GOP State of the Union reply
First-term U.S. Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivered the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday night, and laid blame on Biden for a host of national and international crises — what she said is chaos at the border, in cities, in the economy and among U.S. allies. Britt stuck […] The post Alabama’s Britt blasts Biden on economy, immigration in GOP State of the Union reply 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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