South Dakota News Watch

1 week ago | sdnewswatch.org | Stu Whitney

In the spring of 2024, the Norwegian American Historical Association received some encouraging news. The Minnesota-based organization was approved for a federal grant of about $300,000 to preserve, digitize and share materials documenting relief efforts of Norwegian-Americans toward their homeland during the German occupation of Norway in World War II.

2 weeks ago | sdnewswatch.org | Stu Whitney

More than half of South Dakotans oppose building a new men’s state prison in rural Lincoln County, according to a poll co-sponsored by South Dakota News Watch, another blow to a project that failed to secure final funding during the 2025 legislative session. The statewide survey, also sponsored by the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota, showed that 52% of voters are against using the Lincoln County site, while 34% are for it and 14% are not sure.

2 weeks ago | sdnewswatch.org | Stu Whitney

Nearly three-quarters of Republican voters in South Dakota approve of President Donald Trump’s leadership in the first 100 days of his second White House stint, but there are pockets of discontent with some of his policies, according to a poll co-sponsored by South Dakota News Watch. The survey of 500 registered GOP voters showed that 73% approve of Trump’s presidential leadership so far in 2025, while 25% disapprove.

2 weeks ago | sdnewswatch.org | Stu Whitney

Just over half of South Dakotans approve of the way Kristi Noem is running the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to a poll of 500 registered voters co-sponsored by South Dakota News Watch. Asked about the former South Dakota governor’s job performance in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, 51% said they approve and 44% said they disapprove, with 5% not sure. In the same poll, 58% said they approve of how Gov. Larry Rhoden is doing since he took over the job from Noem in February.

2 weeks ago | sdnewswatch.org | Stu Whitney

Early voter support in the 2026 Republican primary race for South Dakota governor is focused on U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden, according to a poll of 500 registered GOP voters co-sponsored by South Dakota News Watch. But an expected crowded field could complicate the path to victory in the primary, with 35% of the vote needed to avoid a runoff election.