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NY judge spars with Trump lawyers over gag order in criminal trial
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal case in New York appeared to strongly disagree Tuesday with the former president’s lawyers’ explanation for why he should be considered in compliance with a gag order in the case. In a Tuesday morning hearing to determine whether to fine Trump for violating the order, Judge Juan Merchan warned […] The post NY judge spars with Trump lawyers over gag order in criminal trial appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Eleven penitentiary inmates charged for March disturbances
Two correctional officers were injured, a metal cell block gate was damaged and a handful of fires were set during a two-day disturbance at the South Dakota State Penitentiary last month. But the situation was not a “riot,” Attorney General Marty Jackley said Tuesday morning. “Prison officials never lost control,” Jackley said. He held a […] The post Eleven penitentiary inmates charged for March disturbances appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. Senate sends foreign aid bill to Biden as McConnell chides GOP ‘isolationist movement’
WASHINGTON — An additional $95 billion in military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan cleared the U.S. Senate after a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voted Tuesday to send it to President Joe Biden. The 79-18 vote wrapped up months of debate within Congress about whether the United States should approve the aid or […] The post U.S. Senate sends foreign aid bill to Biden as McConnell chides GOP ‘isolationist movement’ appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Reveal planned of contents found in South Dakota monument
LINCOLN, Nebraska — We’ll soon know whether some documents buried inside a concrete monument erected by poet/author John Neihardt 100 years ago survived three floods and decades of harsh winters on the plains of northwest South Dakota. On April 27, the contents of a time capsule embedded inside the monument will be revealed as part […] The post Reveal planned of contents found in South Dakota monument appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Brookings facility using natural gas from cattle manure is first of several planned by utility
BROOKINGS — A new facility sending renewable natural gas made from dairy cattle manure to local energy customers could be the first of several such plants, a utility company said Monday while celebrating Earth Day. Natural gas is mostly methane. It’s typically extracted by fracking and drilling into shale formations, and used to heat homes […] The post Brookings facility using natural gas from cattle manure is first of several planned by utility appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Federal solar power grants include $260 million for South Dakota tribes, rural areas
Tribal and rural areas in and around South Dakota are set to benefit from about $260 million in federal grants for solar energy projects. A five-state, 14-tribe coalition was awarded $135.6 million for solar projects, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday. A Washington, D.C.-based “green bank,” meanwhile, pulled in another $125 million for tribal and […] The post Federal solar power grants include $260 million for South Dakota tribes, rural areas appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Noem dodges CNN questions on abortion exceptions and election certification
Gov. Kristi Noem appeared Sunday on CNN and declined to say whether she supports additional abortion-ban exceptions or whether she would have certified the results of the 2020 election. The only exception in South Dakota’s abortion ban is for the “life of the pregnant female.” CNN “State of the Union” co-host Dana Bash asked if […] The post Noem dodges CNN questions on abortion exceptions and election certification appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
NY prosecutor ties Trump hush money payments to campaign as criminal trial kicks off
WASHINGTON — Oral arguments in former President Donald Trump’s historic case in New York began Monday in a Manhattan courtroom where jurors will be tasked with deciding whether deceptive hush money payments to hide an affair amount to a criminal conviction. The first-ever criminal trial of an ex-U.S. president centers on Trump’s alleged falsified business […] The post NY prosecutor ties Trump hush money payments to campaign as criminal trial kicks off appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Public forum highlights potential property tax political storm
RAPID CITY — Some frustrated taxpayers attended a public forum Saturday to tell state officials they’re taking the wrong approach to taxation. Several of the roughly 100 attendees said legislators and Gov. Kristi Noem should raise the sales tax rate instead of reducing it, and use the money to replace some of the local government […] The post Public forum highlights potential property tax political storm appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Forest Service bans prairie dog hunting in part of SD’s Conata Basin to protect endangered ferrets
The U.S. Forest Service published a final, permanent order Friday that prohibits prairie dog hunting in part of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland in southwestern South Dakota. The order covers about 125 square miles of black-footed ferret reintroduction habitat in the Conata Basin, within the grassland’s Wall Ranger District in Jackson and Pennington counties. The […] The post Forest Service bans prairie dog hunting in part of SD’s Conata Basin to protect endangered ferrets appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Native American voices are finally factoring into energy projects
The U.S. has a long record of extracting resources on Native lands and ignoring tribal opposition, but a decision by federal energy regulators to deny permits for seven proposed hydropower projects suggests that tide may be turning. As the U.S. shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy, developers are looking for sites to generate electricity […] The post Native American voices are finally factoring into energy projects appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Aid to Ukraine, Israel approved by U.S. House with support from Johnson of SD
WASHINGTON — Military and humanitarian aid could be on its way to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan within weeks after the U.S. House took a series of overwhelmingly bipartisan votes Saturday to approve $95 billion in emergency assistance — and the Senate appeared poised to agree. The approval in a rare weekend session ended months of […] The post Aid to Ukraine, Israel approved by U.S. House with support from Johnson of SD appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Johnson of SD votes yes but U.S. House fails to pass border bill
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Saturday failed to pass a border security bill that Republican leadership intended as an incentive for conservatives to support a foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The border bill, turned down on a 215-199 vote, was brought to the floor under a fast-track procedure known as suspension of […] The post Johnson of SD votes yes but U.S. House fails to pass border bill appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Cannabis advocates hope 420 ‘holiday’ pushes petition drive to success
Cannabis advocates in South Dakota hope today’s unofficial pot holiday and its associated concerts and dispensary discounts will improve the odds of getting recreational marijuana on the general election ballot in November. April 20 is widely celebrated in the cannabis community as “420,” and dispensaries in South Dakota are taking advantage of the date to […] The post Cannabis advocates hope 420 ‘holiday’ pushes petition drive to success appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Pipe supplier sues Summit Carbon Solutions for $15 million
An Arkansas pipe manufacturer is seeking more than $15 million from a company that wants to build a carbon dioxide pipeline system in states including South Dakota amid delays of their agreement, according to a lawsuit filed this week. The lawsuit filed by Welspun Tubular says Summit Carbon Solutions commissioned the company to produce about […] The post Pipe supplier sues Summit Carbon Solutions for $15 million appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Staff to parole board: Prison discipline policy too slow to be useful
An updated discipline policy at the Department of Corrections has so frustrated staff that they sometimes avoid writing up inmates who harass officers. The South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles heard that message on Wednesday morning as they prepared to conduct a parole hearing for an inmate named Xavier Gainsforth. Gainsforth, the board learned, […] The post Staff to parole board: Prison discipline policy too slow to be useful appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
EPA decides to allow E15 ethanol sales this summer
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency fuel waiver Friday that will allow E15 — gasoline blended with 15% ethanol — to be sold during the upcoming summer driving season. The EPA regulates gasoline sold during the summer to reduce evaporative emissions that contribute to ground-level ozone. That regulation currently prohibits the summer sale […] The post EPA decides to allow E15 ethanol sales this summer appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Support from Johnson of SD helps set up vote on $95B in aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Friday moved one step closer to approving billions in military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, with Democrats providing crucial support to Republican leaders after defections by their hard-right members. Lawmakers in the broadly bipartisan 316-94 vote approved a rule that sets up the procedure for debating […] The post Support from Johnson of SD helps set up vote on $95B in aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
How to vote early for the June 2024 primary election
Early voting begins today for South Dakota’s June 4 primary election. Before attempting to vote early, make sure you’re registered to vote. If you’re unsure about your status, check the state’s Voter Information Portal at https://vip.sdsos.gov/viplogin.aspx (where you can also view a sample ballot), or contact your county auditor’s office. To cast an early ballot in […] The post How to vote early for the June 2024 primary election appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Biden administration to roll back the Betsy DeVos Title IX rules
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education on Friday announced a final rule that will update Title IX regulations governing how schools respond to sexual misconduct, undoing changes made under the Trump administration and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. “For more than 50 years, Title IX has promised an equal opportunity to learn and thrive […] The post Biden administration to roll back the Betsy DeVos Title IX rules 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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