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South Dakota Searchlight
No prosecution of Biden in classified documents case, DOJ special counsel says in report
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department released a lengthy report Thursday concluding that while President Joe Biden “willfully retained” classified materials following his time as vice president, he won’t be charged with a crime. Special Counsel Robert K. Hur wrote in the 388-page report that prosecutors considered “that, at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present […] The post No prosecution of Biden in classified documents case, DOJ special counsel says in report appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Lawmakers slam uses of fund controlled by governor, but panel rejects reduction in revenue
Lawmakers grilled a representative of the Governor’s Office about a fund controlled by the governor, but a legislative committee rejected a bill Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre that would have reduced the money flowing to the fund. The topic was the Future Fund, which draws revenue from a tax on employers. Sen. Brent Hoffman, […] The post Lawmakers slam uses of fund controlled by governor, but panel rejects reduction in revenue appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Chinese spies came to South Dakota, state official tells legislators
During testimony Thursday on a bill to ban ownership of agricultural land by foreigners from six countries, a state official told lawmakers that Chinese spies visited South Dakota two years ago. Hunter Roberts is the head of the state’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He testified to the state House Agriculture and Natural Resources […] The post Chinese spies came to South Dakota, state official tells legislators appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
US Supreme Court appears skeptical of Colorado ruling in Trump disqualification case
U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments Thursday in a landmark case over whether former President Donald Trump should be barred from the 2024 presidential ballot. A majority of the justices, including liberal members of the court, expressed skepticism about a ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court that said Trump, the GOP presidential frontrunner, is […] The post US Supreme Court appears skeptical of Colorado ruling in Trump disqualification case appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Thune, Rounds vote yes as U.S. Senate advances emergency funding for Ukraine, Israel
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate moved past a procedural hurdle Thursday to begin work on a $95 billion emergency spending bill that would provide military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The strong 67-32 vote, which could predict eventual approval, came after a tense week on Capitol Hill that began Sunday evening when […] The post Thune, Rounds vote yes as U.S. Senate advances emergency funding for Ukraine, Israel appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Scramble is on for state’s remaining federal pandemic aid
South Dakota has $130 million of federal pandemic aid left and an abundance of ideas about how to spend it. The requests from legislators are more than double the available funding. “A lot of hands are already in that bucket, and that bucket is only so deep,” said Paul Lepisto, a lobbyist for the Izaak […] The post Scramble is on for state’s remaining federal pandemic aid appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. Senate kills immigration overhaul, hits stalemate on Israel, Ukraine aid
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate was stuck over whether to begin debate on an emergency spending bill Wednesday night that would provide $95.3 billion in assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan — after senators blocked a sweeping larger package that would have overhauled immigration law for the first time in decades. Republicans said last year […] The post U.S. Senate kills immigration overhaul, hits stalemate on Israel, Ukraine aid appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Statement of opposition to abortion-rights ballot measure passes legislative committee
PIERRE — Republican lawmakers declared their opposition Wednesday to a potential November ballot question that would reinstate abortion rights. Rep. Gary Cammack, R-Union Center, introduced a resolution raising concerns about the ballot measure, hoping to “elevate the conversation,” he told lawmakers during a House State Affairs Committee hearing. Eighty-three of the Legislature’s 92 Republicans are […] The post Statement of opposition to abortion-rights ballot measure passes legislative committee appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Expansion of reduced price school meals heads to budget committee
A bill that would expand the number of students eligible for reduced price meals is headed to a legislative budget committee for further consideration. The South Dakota House Education Committee endorsed the bill 8-6 on Wednesday. Currently, students from families making 130% to 185% of the federal poverty level qualify for federally funded reduced price […] The post Expansion of reduced price school meals heads to budget committee appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Full Senate to take up pre-election regulation of ‘deepfake’ misinformation
Opposition from media organizations wasn’t enough to stop a bill that would require the labeling of “deepfakes” within 90 days of an election. On a 5-3 vote Wednesday, lawmakers on the Senate State Affairs Committee chose to send Senate Bill 96 on to a full debate on the Senate floor. “I doubt it’s going to […] The post Full Senate to take up pre-election regulation of ‘deepfake’ misinformation appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Bill to open puberty blockers to trans kids with parental approval fails in committee
An effort to open up certain kinds of medical care for transgender youth whose parents consent to the treatment failed in a state Senate committee on Wednesday morning. Parents of trans kids told lawmakers that the passage of House Bill 1080 in 2023 robbed them of their parental rights and hurt their kids. That bill, […] The post Bill to open puberty blockers to trans kids with parental approval fails in committee appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Lawmaker tries again to create civics center, less ideological this time
A bill proposing the creation of a civic engagement center at Black Hills State University in Spearfish cleared its first hurdle on Wednesday after a similar bill was defeated last year. The South Dakota House Education Committee unanimously voted to forward the bill to a legislative budget committee for further review. The center would be […] The post Lawmaker tries again to create civics center, less ideological this time appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Oil pipeline experience proves need for caution with carbon pipelines
My husband and I take our corn to Poet near our home, and we purchase ethanol-blended gasoline. I don’t have millions of dollars to purchase large advertisements for my thoughts, but I would like to share just a small part of my experience with the Dakota Access Pipeline for crude oil that crosses my Minnehaha […] The post Oil pipeline experience proves need for caution with carbon pipelines appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
SD’s Johnson votes yes, but impeachment of Homeland Security secretary fails
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday night, a stunning defeat for the Republican-led push to impeach a Biden administration Cabinet secretary. All Democrats present and four Republicans voted against the two articles of impeachment. The vote was 214-216. The GOP lawmakers to vote against impeachment were […] The post SD’s Johnson votes yes, but impeachment of Homeland Security secretary fails appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Bleak future for immigration action after U.S. Senate GOP abandons border security deal
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans on Tuesday walked away from the bipartisan border security and immigration deal clinched after months of painstaking negotiations, siding with their House colleagues and presidential front-runner Donald Trump. The decision to block the bill released just two days ago not only leaves laws in place that GOP lawmakers say have […] The post Bleak future for immigration action after U.S. Senate GOP abandons border security deal appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Trump ‘did not engage in insurrection’ on Jan. 6, new U.S. House resolution claims
WASHINGTON — In a meandering press conference Tuesday that repeated false 2020 election fraud claims, downplayed well-documented violence and name-called journalists, far-right U.S. House members defended former President Donald Trump against any role he may have played in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and several co-sponsors […] The post Trump ‘did not engage in insurrection’ on Jan. 6, new U.S. House resolution claims appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Bill to align school bond votes with primary and general elections passes committee
PIERRE – In an effort to increase voter turnout and engagement, lawmakers on the House Local Government Committee passed a bill that would require bond votes for school districts be held the same day as primary or general elections in South Dakota. The bill passed with a 9-3 vote and now goes to the House […] The post Bill to align school bond votes with primary and general elections passes committee appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Prior sexual assault allegations could become part of rape trials
It would be easier for prosecutors to tell jurors about previous sexual assault allegations in rape trials under the provisions of two bills endorsed by a state Senate panel Tuesday morning. The bills heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee would amend South Dakota’s rules of evidence to allow evidence of prior sexual assaults — including […] The post Prior sexual assault allegations could become part of rape trials appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Trump claim of presidential immunity turned down by federal appeals court in D.C.
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted for charges he schemed to overturn the 2020 election, a three-judge panel of a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday, rejecting Trump’s argument he was immune from criminal prosecution for any alleged conduct during his presidential term. In a unanimous opinion, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals […] The post Trump claim of presidential immunity turned down by federal appeals court in D.C. appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Noem’s border aid comes with personal costs for South Dakotans
During a rare joint session of the Legislature, Gov. Kristi Noem gave lawmakers an accounting of her recent trip to the “warzone” at the Texas-Mexico border. She was soon caught up in a different kind of accounting amid revelations that South Dakota taxpayers are going to be on the hook for the cost of sending […] The post Noem’s border aid comes with personal costs for South Dakotans 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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