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South Dakota Searchlight
‘Fake weed’ ban will take effect Monday as lawsuit against it proceeds
A new law barring the production or sale of high-inducing, hemp-derived cannabis products will take effect Monday after a judge declined to block it. Hemp Quarters 605, a Pierre-based shop that sells those products, filed a lawsuit earlier this month in U.S. District Court in South Dakota. The business claims the new law’s provisions are […] The post ‘Fake weed’ ban will take effect Monday as lawsuit against it proceeds appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
SD water has lots of lithium, study says, as research into health effects continues
Much of South Dakota’s drinking water has more naturally occurring lithium in it than the federal government preliminarily advises as a healthy level, according to numbers in a recent study released by the U.S. Geological Survey. Lead study author Melissa Lombard hopes the data contributes to further research. “Lithium is becoming recognized as potentially having impacts […] The post SD water has lots of lithium, study says, as research into health effects continues appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Idaho abortion ruling doesn’t affect South Dakota law, attorney general says
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling that shields emergency room doctors from prosecution under Idaho’s near-total abortion ban won’t have any immediate impact on South Dakota, according to Republican Attorney General Marty Jackley. The court did not rule on the underlying arguments in the case, but rather remanded it back to the Ninth Circuit Court of […] The post Idaho abortion ruling doesn’t affect South Dakota law, attorney general says appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Democrats reel from ‘terrible’ Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a “terrible” showing and a “bad night.” Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, […] The post Democrats reel from ‘terrible’ Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
White House seeks emergency funds for Midwest disaster relief, Key Bridge in Maryland
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve billions in emergency funding for domestic priorities it says are essential, including border security, emergency preparedness and child care. The $4 billion in new emergency spending requested Friday calls on lawmakers to approve more funding than was included in the dozen annual government funding bills […] The post White House seeks emergency funds for Midwest disaster relief, Key Bridge in Maryland appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
13 states, including SD, opt out of summer food program for kids
A new, permanent summer grocery program will help nearly 21 million kids across 37 states get enough to eat this year while school’s out. But 13 states with Republican governors have opted out of the federal program, citing their opposition to what they deride as “welfare” and their unwillingness to cover administrative costs. Under the […] The post 13 states, including SD, opt out of summer food program for kids appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Iowa city, SD company face suit alleging contaminated water, $4 million in tainted cheese
A cheese manufacturer is suing the Iowa city of Sanborn for water contamination that allegedly infiltrated the plant and caused $4 million in damages. The Minnesota dairy cooperative Associated Milk Producers Inc., or AMPI, is suing not only the City of Sanborn in federal court, but also the company hired by the city to clean […] The post Iowa city, SD company face suit alleging contaminated water, $4 million in tainted cheese appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Flood washes away Noem’s false veneer of leadership
Severe weather brought a deluge to southeast South Dakota recently and exposed Gov. Kristi Noem’s faults. While the rain fell, she abandoned the state for a political conference and television interview. When catastrophic floodwaters surged toward McCook Lake, her cursory appearance there — along with her lackluster crisis communications and departure for an out-of-state political […] The post Flood washes away Noem’s false veneer of leadership appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Noem, who sent Guard troops to Texas, resists using them for her own state’s flooding
After ordering National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border three times, Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is defending her decision to avoid sending troops to flood-ravaged areas in South Dakota, saying it would be “extremely expensive” and that the Guard should only be used for “a very crisis situation.” Meanwhile, her spokesman left open the possibility […] The post Noem, who sent Guard troops to Texas, resists using them for her own state’s flooding appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Presidential election seen as climate turning point as CO2 hits record
WASHINGTON – Despite policies the Biden administration has championed to target climate change, recent findings show carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at an all-time high, raising the stakes for November’s presidential election among advocates for aggressive climate action. Recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicate that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere […] The post Presidential election seen as climate turning point as CO2 hits record appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Name released in single known fatality from record flooding
Authorities have released the name of the person killed in the only known fatality from the flooding that’s ravaged southeastern South Dakota over the past week. Merlyn D. Rennich, 87, was killed Saturday afternoon after driving a 2013 Kawasaki Mule all-terrain vehicle north onto a closed section of 480th Avenue from 273rd Street, about 5 […] The post Name released in single known fatality from record flooding appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Delayed Supreme Court ruling makes Trump trial on 2020 charges unlikely before election
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether presidents enjoy total criminal immunity, delaying one of the most consequential legal decisions in U.S. history and likely closing the door on former President Donald Trump facing his federal election interference trial before November. Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee who is entangled […] The post Delayed Supreme Court ruling makes Trump trial on 2020 charges unlikely before election appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
McCook Lake residents say their homes were sacrificed, and they want a new flood plan
State and local authorities knew they were placing McCook Lake in the path of record high floodwaters but failed to adequately warn residents of the danger, according to some people who live in the flood-ravaged community. Authorities rejected the criticism and said they executed a long-established flood mitigation plan that was simply overwhelmed by record […] The post McCook Lake residents say their homes were sacrificed, and they want a new flood plan appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Four states to begin voluntary testing for bird flu in dairy farm milk tanks
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that four states will launch voluntary pilot programs in the days ahead to test bulk milk tanks on dairy farms for bird flu — a move that’s aimed at making it easier for farmers to ship herds across state lines and for public health officials to […] The post Four states to begin voluntary testing for bird flu in dairy farm milk tanks appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Petitions filed to refer carbon pipeline law to ballot; Summit plans to reapply for SD permit
South Dakota voters might decide on Nov. 5 whether to reject a new state law regulating carbon dioxide pipelines. The ballot measure committee known as the South Dakota Property Rights and Local Control Alliance submitted an estimated 28,000 petition signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office on Monday, said Jim Eschenbaum, chairman of the organization. […] The post Petitions filed to refer carbon pipeline law to ballot; Summit plans to reapply for SD permit appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Iowa Utilities Board approves permit for controversial Summit pipeline
The Iowa Utilities Board gave its approval Tuesday for the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline and for the company to use eminent domain to acquire landowners’ property. The company hopes to begin construction next year with the goal of making the pipeline operational in 2026. The pipeline, which would be the largest of its kind […] The post Iowa Utilities Board approves permit for controversial Summit pipeline appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Primary upsets could cause a hard right turn in the Legislature
It has been known for some time that there are two Republican parties in the South Dakota Legislature. Now one of them is getting bigger. The Republican primary earlier this month saw 14 legislators defeated. Add to that 21 Republican legislators who chose not to seek reelection or were term-limited in their chamber and did […] The post Primary upsets could cause a hard right turn in the Legislature appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
For both sides, abortion policy two years after Dobbs decision hinges on November
WASHINGTON — Exactly two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, the battles rage among both advocates and lawmakers over the future of reproductive rights at the state and federal levels. Anti-abortion groups that have achieved considerable success in deep-red parts of the country are working to sway voters […] The post For both sides, abortion policy two years after Dobbs decision hinges on November appeared first on 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.
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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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