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Full jury selected in Trump’s criminal trial on hush-money charges
The New York state court trying former President Donald Trump on criminal charges empaneled a full 12-person jury on the third day of the trial Thursday, according to reports. The trial approached the end of its first phase Thursday afternoon as one of six alternate jurors was also selected. Selection of more alternates will continue […] The post Full jury selected in Trump’s criminal trial on hush-money charges appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
BLM to finalize rule allowing federal leases targeted at protection of natural areas
The Bureau of Land Management will publish a final rule soon allowing the nation’s public lands to be leased for environmental protection, a Thursday news release from the Interior Department said. The rule, which both proponents and detractors say marks a shift in the agency’s focus toward conservation, directs land managers at the agency to […] The post BLM to finalize rule allowing federal leases targeted at protection of natural areas appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Company with $36 million SD 911 contract says outage caused by Missouri light pole installation
A 911 outage affecting hundreds of calls for emergency services throughout South Dakota on Wednesday night was caused by a company installing a light pole in Kansas City, Missouri, according to South Dakota’s 911 telecommunications provider Lumen, formerly known as CenturyLink. Lumen, which is headquartered in Louisiana, said the outage was caused by a third […] The post Company with $36 million SD 911 contract says outage caused by Missouri light pole installation appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Native Americans have shorter life spans. Better health care isn’t the only answer.
HISLE, S.D. — Katherine Goodlow is only 20, but she has experienced enough to know that people around her are dying too young. Goodlow, a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, said she’s lost six friends and acquaintances to suicide, two to car crashes, and one to appendicitis. Four of her relatives died in […] The post Native Americans have shorter life spans. Better health care isn’t the only answer. appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Two veterinarians, hundreds of miles apart, solved a cow sickness whodunit
It appeared to be a problem with the food. In February, dairy cattle in multiple herds in northern Texas were suddenly producing less milk, and what they gave was abnormal and thick. And the typically voracious eaters had seemingly lost their appetites. For weeks in March, veterinarian Dr. Barb Petersen sought an answer. She talked […] The post Two veterinarians, hundreds of miles apart, solved a cow sickness whodunit appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
State transportation head doubts passenger rail service is a real possibility for South Dakota
The head of the South Dakota Department of Transportation dismissed the possibility of passenger rail in the state during a meeting of the Railroad Authority Board on Wednesday. Secretary Joel Jundt addressed the topic during the board’s first meeting since the Federal Railroad Administration presented a map of possible passenger rail futures that, for the […] The post State transportation head doubts passenger rail service is a real possibility for South Dakota appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Medicaid expansion enrollment ‘slow & steady’ as state launches application portal
Over 21,500 South Dakotans have enrolled in Medicaid expansion since it became available in July 2023, representing about 16% of total Medicaid enrollment in the state. Medicaid is a joint federal-state health insurance program for low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. South Dakota voters approved a citizen-proposed constitutional amendment in […] The post Medicaid expansion enrollment ‘slow & steady’ as state launches application portal appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. Senate rejects two impeachment articles against DHS Secretary Mayorkas
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday dismissed two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The Democrat-controlled chamber voted, 51-49 along party lines, to adjourn the impeachment trial after finding that the impeachment articles accusing Mayorkas of not complying with federal immigration law and breaching the public trust did not rise to […] The post U.S. Senate rejects two impeachment articles against DHS Secretary Mayorkas appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. House GOP rolls out aid for Ukraine, Israel; votes planned on TikTok, border security
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans unveiled three bills Wednesday that would provide $95 billion overall in assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, instead of voting on a similar bipartisan Senate-approved package that’s been waiting around for months. The Ukraine bill would provide $60.84 billion, the Israel bill would appropriate $26.38 billion and the Indo-Pacific bill […] The post U.S. House GOP rolls out aid for Ukraine, Israel; votes planned on TikTok, border security appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Red states, including SD, fight growing efforts to give ‘basic income’ cash to residents
South Dakota state Sen. John Wiik likes to think of himself as a lookout of sorts — keeping an eye on new laws, programs and ideas brewing across the states. “I don’t bring a ton of legislation,” said Wiik, a Republican. “The main thing I like to do is try and stay ahead of trends […] The post Red states, including SD, fight growing efforts to give ‘basic income’ cash to residents appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Bureau of Indian Affairs will support South Dakota tribal police academy summer session
The Bureau of Indian Affairs will send trainers to South Dakota to help finalize the certifications for any tribal trainees who take part in a special summer basic training course in Pierre. That means they won’t have to finish their training at a BIA facility in New Mexico. Division of Criminal Investigation Director Dan Satterlee […] The post Bureau of Indian Affairs will support South Dakota tribal police academy summer session appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Mellette County sheriff stripped of police powers by law enforcement commission
The South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission voted to revoke the certification of a West River sheriff on Tuesday during a meeting in Deadwood. Mellette County Sheriff Mike Blom took his then-girlfriend out drinking last fall, even though she was on probation and was thus forbidden from consuming alcohol. Blom also witnessed […] The post Mellette County sheriff stripped of police powers by law enforcement commission appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Changed forest and market factors share blame for sawmill troubles, forest supervisor says
Changed forest conditions and market forces likely contributed to layoffs at a Spearfish sawmill, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s top official in the Black Hills. Last week, the owner of the sawmill blamed logging reductions in the Black Hills National Forest for the layoffs. The forest’s supervisor is Shawn Cochran. He said this week […] The post Changed forest and market factors share blame for sawmill troubles, forest supervisor says appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. House Republicans deliver impeachment articles against DHS Chief Mayorkas
WASHINGTON — Eleven U.S. House Republicans serving as impeachment managers delivered two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. The ceremonial delivery of the articles of impeachment, which charge Mayorkas with a “willful and systemic refusal to comply” with federal immigration law and breaking the public trust, […] The post U.S. House Republicans deliver impeachment articles against DHS Chief Mayorkas appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
People without lawyers are an early focus of new state court access group
Three out of every five people who go to civil court in the U.S. do so without a lawyer. That figure comes from the Self-Reported Litigation Network. While the South Dakota Unified Judicial System hasn’t studied how often that happens in the state, South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Jensen said there are plenty […] The post People without lawyers are an early focus of new state court access group appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. Rep. Massie joins move to oust Speaker Johnson, who vows: ‘I am not resigning’
WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky called on U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to resign during a closed-door meeting of GOP lawmakers on Tuesday, throwing more uncertainty into that chamber just months before the November elections. Massie told reporters after the meeting and just before a Johnson press conference he believed the votes […] The post U.S. Rep. Massie joins move to oust Speaker Johnson, who vows: ‘I am not resigning’ appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe purchases foster village
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe purchased the Simply Smiles Children’s Village last month, allowing the tribe to reopen one of the few foster care villages in the state meant to serve Indigenous children. Some Cheyenne River tribally enrolled children are placed in foster homes outside of the reservation, which can make it more difficult for […] The post Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe purchases foster village appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Trump makes one last presidential immunity argument to the U.S. Supreme Court
Hours after Donald Trump sat in a New York courtroom and became the first former president in U.S. history to be a defendant in a criminal trial Monday, his attorneys filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court renewing his claim of absolute presidential immunity in another criminal case against him. In a reply brief […] The post Trump makes one last presidential immunity argument to the U.S. Supreme Court appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
2024 South Dakota State Fair will start a day earlier, increasing admission costs
The South Dakota State Fair will start a day earlier this year, increasing weeklong admission prices because of the additional day. The fair, held in Huron at the end of August each year, will start on the Wednesday before Labor Day and end on Labor Day. The “necessary and beneficial” extra day will allow for […] The post 2024 South Dakota State Fair will start a day earlier, increasing admission costs appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Trump on trial: Former president faces criminal charges of falsifying business records
NEW YORK — The trial of former President Donald Trump kicked off Monday in a lower Manhattan courtroom, marking the first time in U.S. history that an ex-president has been tried on criminal charges. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, appeared in the state of New York courtroom, where he is charged with falsifying […] The post Trump on trial: Former president faces criminal charges of falsifying business records 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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