Columbus
South Dakota Searchlight
Homes and roads in McCook Lake area ravaged by flooding
Homes were ruined, roads were washed out, sinkholes opened up, a railroad bridge was destroyed, and rescuers worked through Sunday night into Monday morning to save people from rising floodwaters in the McCook Lake area of southeastern South Dakota. “It looks like the Grand Canyon here, and it’s just pouring in. What a disaster,” said […] The post Homes and roads in McCook Lake area ravaged by flooding appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Don’t give up on the FAFSA, advocates for student financial aid urge
WASHINGTON — Though the new version of the form to apply for federal financial student aid has had its fair share of highly publicized hiccups, U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal says the department has made a lot of progress in the past couple of months. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid — […] The post Don’t give up on the FAFSA, advocates for student financial aid urge appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Southeast SD flooding claims at least one life as focus shifts to Dakota Dunes
Federal, state and local officials are focusing their efforts on a voluntary evacuation of Dakota Dunes and a levee construction project across Interstate 29 near McCook Lake as they continue responding to historic rainfall and flooding in southeast South Dakota that has claimed at least one life. Gov. Kristi Noem led a press conference Sunday […] The post Southeast SD flooding claims at least one life as focus shifts to Dakota Dunes appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Majority of tribes say they’ll skip Noem’s public safety summit, though some will attend
Officials from five of South Dakota’s nine Native American tribes said they will not attend Gov. Kristi Noem’s Tribal Public Safety Crisis Summit on Monday in Pierre, but at least two tribes do plan to send representatives. The rest of the guest list and agenda were unclear as of Friday afternoon. The governor announced the […] The post Majority of tribes say they’ll skip Noem’s public safety summit, though some will attend appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Strained wastewater systems, swollen rivers remain threats in flooded southeast SD
Sioux Falls is asking area residents to limit their contributions to the wastewater system, while state officials are warning of river crests that will arrive Monday and Tuesday as southeast South Dakota recovers from several days of historic rainfall totaling more than 17 inches in some locations. Mayor Paul TenHaken said Sioux Falls is diverting […] The post Strained wastewater systems, swollen rivers remain threats in flooded southeast SD appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Despite GOP headwinds, citizen-led abortion measures could be on the ballot in 9 states
For abortion rights supporters in Florida, it was a tumultuous day of highs and lows. On April 1, the Florida Supreme Court paved the way for the state to ban nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. But it also OK’d a ballot measure that would allow Florida voters to overturn the ban this […] The post Despite GOP headwinds, citizen-led abortion measures could be on the ballot in 9 states appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Flooding causes no-travel advisory in southeast SD; portions of I-29 blocked
The Department of Transportation issued a no-travel advisory this afternoon for all state highway sections in southeastern South Dakota experiencing flooding, including a blocked portion of Interstate 29. Some locations in the area received more than 5 inches of rain in the past two days, with 2 to 4 additional inches of rain in the […] The post Flooding causes no-travel advisory in southeast SD; portions of I-29 blocked appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm. In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that “our Nation’s firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm […] The post U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
State says many flooded southeast SD highways are closed
Many highways in southeast South Dakota are closed because of flooding, the state Department of Transportation said this morning. Some routes impacted by flooding are open with the use of flaggers guiding motorists through sections of saturated roadway. The National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls forecasts periods of rain and thunderstorms continuing into Saturday, […] The post State says many flooded southeast SD highways are closed appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
The number of job openings has declined sharply in every state
The number of job openings has declined sharply in every state since 2022, better aligning the numbers of unfilled jobs and people seeking work. Nationally, for the first time since before the pandemic, the number of job openings and unemployed people is roughly in balance: a little more than one opening per person looking for […] The post The number of job openings has declined sharply in every state appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Company says it self-financed Noem documentary
A company that produced a new documentary about South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem did not receive any financial support from Noem or state government, according to the company and Noem’s office. “No taxpayer money was used,” said Ian Fury, Noem’s spokesman. “To my knowledge, it was funded entirely by the entity that produced the […] The post Company says it self-financed Noem documentary appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
‘Extremely low pay’ cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage
WASHINGTON — The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does. Arthur — the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year — testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the […] The post ‘Extremely low pay’ cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Forest Service gives green light to exploratory gold drilling west of Custer
The U.S. Forest Service has given the go-ahead for a Minnesota company to drill holes in search of gold near Custer. Minneapolis-based F3 Gold received approval for its Newark Exploration Drilling Project in the Black Hills National Forest. The 36 drilling sites are scattered across national forest land about 4 miles west of Custer. The […] The post Forest Service gives green light to exploratory gold drilling west of Custer appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
With marijuana on the ballot, it’s not just about good times. It’s also about money.
To the casual observer, it might look like South Dakotans are addicted to voting on recreational marijuana. Legalizing grass was on the ballot in 2020, 2022 and will be again in 2024. For the backers of legalized marijuana, the high point came in 2020 when voters here approved a constitutional amendment with 54% of the […] The post With marijuana on the ballot, it’s not just about good times. It’s also about money. appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Explaining the lawsuit against South Dakota’s abortion-rights ballot measure
A new court fight over South Dakota’s abortion-rights ballot measure could hinge on a complicated answer to a simple question: Does a set of six-year-old petition requirements still exist? The court fight started Thursday, when the Life Defense Fund filed a lawsuit in state court. The lawsuit challenges the legitimacy of a citizen-initiated Nov. 5 […] The post Explaining the lawsuit against South Dakota’s abortion-rights ballot measure appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
‘Firehose’ of information confronts legislators studying internet use by children and AI
Hundreds of bills about artificial intelligence and internet use by minors have been filed in statehouses in recent years. Even Heather Morton, who tracks state legislation as an analyst for the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures, has a hard time keeping up. “This probably feels a little bit like a firehose,” Morton told South […] The post ‘Firehose’ of information confronts legislators studying internet use by children and AI appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Minnehaha auditor plans recount of two elections; commissioner calls timing ‘irresponsible’
The top election official in South Dakota’s most-populated county continued to cast doubt Tuesday on past election results reported by the county, while explaining plans to recount the results of two elections by hand and saying 132 ballots rejected during the June 4 primary will remain omitted from the official count. Dozens of people crowded […] The post Minnehaha auditor plans recount of two elections; commissioner calls timing ‘irresponsible’ appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Biden to unveil protections for some undocumented spouses, easier DACA work visas
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration Tuesday will announce deportation protections for long-term undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens, along with quicker approval of work permits for those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. President Joe Biden will formally make the announcement during an afternoon White House event to celebrate the 12th anniversary of […] The post Biden to unveil protections for some undocumented spouses, easier DACA work visas appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
For child care workers, state aid for their own kids’ care is ‘life-changing’
SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Child care worker Marci Then, 32, looked over at two 4-year-olds in her care who were tussling over a toy plate in a model kitchen set. “Are we sharing?” she gently asked them. They both let go. Then works at Little Learners Academy child care center near Providence, Rhode Island. Her daughter, […] The post For child care workers, state aid for their own kids’ care is ‘life-changing’ appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
‘Somebody has to pay, ultimately’: Legislative committee begins study of rising property taxes
Total property tax payments during the last decade in South Dakota have increased by nearly 60% for homes, 47% for commercial property and 28% for agricultural property. Some legislators hope to address those trends during the next legislative session, and some legislative candidates are running on a pledge to curb rising taxes. Lawmakers created the […] The post ‘Somebody has to pay, ultimately’: Legislative committee begins study of rising property taxes 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.
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. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.