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Biden touts gun safety record to advocates as son found guilty on felony charges
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administration’s efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches. “Never give up on hope,” Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety. The speech came hours after the […] The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
South Dakota to receive $3.6 million in nationwide baby powder settlement with roots in the state
South Dakota will collect $3.6 million from Johnson & Johnson to settle allegations that the company marketed unsafe talc-based baby powder products to consumers. The settlement is part of a $700 million agreement with 43 attorneys general over claims that Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products increase the risk of ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. South Dakota […] The post South Dakota to receive $3.6 million in nationwide baby powder settlement with roots in the state appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Drug cartels: A link in every illegal fentanyl pill in South Dakota, not just on reservations
Years ago, domestic methamphetamine users would make their own drugs, sometimes shaking up cold medicine and camp fuel cocktails in plastic pop bottles. The days of domestic drug production by way of local meth labs are long gone, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2024 National Threat Assessment, as well as interviews with numerous law […] The post Drug cartels: A link in every illegal fentanyl pill in South Dakota, not just on reservations appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
3 more states could see marijuana legalization on November ballots
Nebraskan Crista Eggers is running up against a July 3 deadline. If she can get at least 87,000 names onto each of two petitions before then, she can put an initiative on the state’s November ballot that would legalize pot for medicinal purposes. The petition effort is personal. Her 9-year-old son, Colton, has epilepsy and severe […] The post 3 more states could see marijuana legalization on November ballots appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Becoming a lawyer shouldn’t depend on multiple-choice answers
Licensure for new attorneys in South Dakota depends on exam results from essays and timed multiple-choice questions. But the current exams place more emphasis on the wrong portion of the tests. An applicant’s ability to quickly select answers preferred by the author of the multiple-choice questions often determines licensure — even where the test-taker provided […] The post Becoming a lawyer shouldn’t depend on multiple-choice answers appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Abortion-rights activists sell bumper stickers to capitalize on Noem dog controversy
Abortion-rights activists are capitalizing on the backlash against South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s dog-killing revelation in her new book. In “No Going Back,” Noem disclosed that she shot and killed her 14-month-old dog Cricket in a gravel pit after the dog attacked chickens and performed poorly during a pheasant hunt. The admission has sparked widespread […] The post Abortion-rights activists sell bumper stickers to capitalize on Noem dog controversy appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Trump says he’ll work ‘side by side’ with group that wants abortion ‘eradicated’
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work “side by side” with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the “greatest atrocity facing” the United States and should be “eradicated entirely.” During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institute’s inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in […] The post Trump says he’ll work ‘side by side’ with group that wants abortion ‘eradicated’ appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Rep. Johnson joins Kansas Democrat to start sustainable aviation caucus
South Dakota’s lone U.S. representative has partnered with a Kansas Democrat to create a congressional caucus focused on sustainable aviation. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, announced the formation of the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus in a Monday press release, saying “Congress should advance legislative priorities that support innovation through biofuels, national security, and passenger safety.” […] The post Rep. Johnson joins Kansas Democrat to start sustainable aviation caucus appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Helicopter tour companies lose early battle in fight against Rushmore and Badlands restrictions
New restrictions on air tours at Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park will stay in effect while a lawsuit against them proceeds, a federal court has ruled. Three South Dakota helicopter operators want to overturn the restrictions: Badger Helicopters, Black Hills Aerial Adventures and Rushmore Helicopters. In court documents, they allege the new […] The post Helicopter tour companies lose early battle in fight against Rushmore and Badlands restrictions appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Easing federal marijuana rules: There’s still a long way to go
Nearly three weeks after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposed loosening a federal prohibition on marijuana, the next phases of policy fights over the drug’s status are starting to take shape. Public comments, which the DEA is accepting on the proposal until mid-July, will likely include an analysis of the economic impact of more lenient […] The post Easing federal marijuana rules: There’s still a long way to go appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Election workers worry that federal threats task force isn’t enough to keep them safe
Aiming to send a message, the Biden administration recently spotlighted its indictments and convictions in cases involving threats to election officials or workers. But with no letup in reports of attacks, some elections professionals say federal law enforcement still isn’t doing enough to deter bad actors and ensure that those on the front lines of […] The post Election workers worry that federal threats task force isn’t enough to keep them safe appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
State political leaders condemn Nazi marches in SD
South Dakota political leaders are condemning Nazi demonstrations that happened Saturday in Deadwood and on the Capitol grounds in Pierre. The state Department of Public Safety said in a news release that a group attempted an unscheduled protest on the Capitol grounds, without a permit. The Highway Patrol asked the group to leave and the […] The post State political leaders condemn Nazi marches in SD appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
White nationalist, anti-LGBTQ activity on the rise, annual hate report shows
WASHINGTON — Emboldened by the mainstreaming of hard-right politics ahead of a presidential election cycle, white nationalist and anti-LGBTQ+ groups increased to record levels in the United States last year, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s latest annual report on hate and extremism released Tuesday. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which has published the […] The post White nationalist, anti-LGBTQ activity on the rise, annual hate report shows appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Why South Dakota health care is the nation’s second most expensive
Several months ago, Forbes, a respected business and economics publication, released an analysis of the “The Most (And Least) Expensive States for Healthcare 2024.” A striking — and concerning — finding was that health care expenses in South Dakota were the second highest in the nation. The multiplicity of payers and the differing demographics of […] The post Why South Dakota health care is the nation’s second most expensive appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Fiegen wins Republican PUC nomination at state convention
Challenges mounted by a faction of the state Republican Party largely fizzled Saturday in Pierre as delegates to the state convention picked a nominee for the Public Utilities Commission and several party officers. Kristie Fiegen, an incumbent member of the PUC, won the party’s nomination for the office and will seek reelection in November. Republicans […] The post Fiegen wins Republican PUC nomination at state convention appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Fund to compensate radiation victims, including in SD, expires without U.S. House action
A federal program to compensate Americans sickened by radiation from government activities during the Cold War — including at uranium mining and milling sites in South Dakota — expired Friday as advocates vowed to continue pushing Congress for action. The United States conducted nearly 200 atmospheric nuclear weapons tests during the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s […] The post Fund to compensate radiation victims, including in SD, expires without U.S. House action appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Former lawmaker Turbak Berry will lead new group supporting abortion-rights amendment
Organizers of the campaign to enshrine abortion rights in the South Dakota state constitution announced Friday that Democratic former lawmaker, former magistrate judge and Watertown lawyer Nancy Turbak Berry will lead a new group supporting the effort. Turbak Berry will chair the Freedom Amendment Coalition to support the Nov. 5 ballot question that would reinstate […] The post Former lawmaker Turbak Berry will lead new group supporting abortion-rights amendment appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Republican primary shakeup continues to play out at state convention
The Republican Party divide that was evident in Tuesday’s primary election continued to play out Thursday and Friday as rival factions clashed during the state party convention, with more turmoil expected Saturday. Fourteen Republican legislators lost their primary races Tuesday to fellow Republicans. Two days later, party delegates from around South Dakota gathered in Pierre. […] The post Republican primary shakeup continues to play out at state convention appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
For some rural communities, a stripped-down hospital is better than none at all
On many days, some small hospitals in rural Mississippi admit just one patient — or none at all. The hospitals are drowning in debt. The small, tight-knit communities they’ve anchored for decades can do little but watch as the hospitals shed services and staff just to stay afloat. The federal government recently offered a lifeline: […] The post For some rural communities, a stripped-down hospital is better than none at all 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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