South Dakota Searchlight

We shine a light on important matters affecting South Dakota, analyze the choices made by state officials, and clarify how their policies impact the lives of South Dakotans and the political landscape. Our focus is on delivering news and opinions that value truth, fairness, understanding, and respect. Accessing our articles and signing up for our email newsletter is completely free. Additionally, other media organizations that adhere to our standards are welcome to share our content.

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Big Sioux seeing payoff for investment in keeping manure out of Skunk Creek

6 days ago | southdakotasearchlight.com | Joshua Haiar

by Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight April 17, 2025 SIOUX FALLS – Keeping cattle waste out of the river that runs through the state’s largest city will cost about $11 million over the next five years, and the city will pay more than half the price. One of the designers of the water quality program that money pays for, however, told an audience in Sioux Falls that past investments have paid off.
Rhoden alters expectations for 2026 governor’s race while Johnson builds a strong financial position

1 week ago | southdakotasearchlight.com | Joshua Haiar

Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden hasn’t said whether he’s running to keep his office next year, but his actions during the first few months of his administration suggest he could reshuffle expectations for the race if he decides to join it. “Whether we can win is certainly a consideration, and truth be told, I’ve been receiving encouragement from people all across South Dakota to run,” Rhoden told South Dakota Searchlight.
Lawsuit filed after Trump’s budget office shuts down public information about spending

1 week ago | southdakotasearchlight.com | Jennifer Shutt
Some South Dakota lawmakers want to subject ballot questions to a tyranny of the minority

1 week ago | southdakotasearchlight.com | Dana Hess

Getting an initiated constitutional amendment on the ballot in South Dakota is plenty tough for citizens. House Bill 1169 would have made it almost impossible. HB 1169 required that signatures representing 5% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent election be collected from each of the state’s 35 Senate districts to get an initiated constitutional amendment on the ballot. Current law calls for collecting signatures totaling 10% of the votes cast for governor in the last election.
South Dakota's new Republican Party chairman wants to weed out fake Republicans • South Dakota Searchlight

1 week ago | southdakotasearchlight.com | Joshua Haiar

by Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight April 13, 2025 South Dakota’s new Republican Party chairman is a former Democrat, but he’s been a Republican for nine years. Now he’s concerned about “Republicans In Name Only,” or RINOs, and wants to weed them out. “RINOs are a real thing,” Jim Eschenbaum said.
While criticizing absent Republicans, Democrats should look for their own candidates

1 week ago | southdakotasearchlight.com | Dana Hess

by Dana Hess, South Dakota Searchlight April 12, 2025 As the editor of the daily newspaper in Pierre, I operated under the rule that editors should edit and reporters should write. This was back in the day when newspapers still had staffs. I had three reporters and they kept me busy at my desk, so it was rare that I would write a news story.
Drugmaker sues SD over law preserving broad access to discounts for hospitals, pharmacies

1 week ago | southdakotasearchlight.com | John Hult

A drugmaker is suing South Dakota over a law that bars the company from limiting drug discounts used to prop up providers who serve Medicaid patients. The lawsuit is from Chicago-based AbbVie Inc., which sells the wrinkle-remover Botox and the arthritis drug Humira, among other products. The litigation challenges the legality of a bill signed into law by South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden on March 11.
Regulators say carbon pipeline company must show a path forward to keep permit application active

1 week ago | southdakotasearchlight.com | Joshua Haiar

by Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight April 10, 2025 South Dakota regulators voted 3-0 on Thursday in Pierre to decline, for now, a request from Summit Carbon Solutions to indefinitely pause proceedings on the company’s proposed carbon dioxide pipeline permit.
Lawsuit: 110,000 pigs in ‘imminent danger’ due to billion-dollar check-kiting scheme

2 weeks ago | southdakotasearchlight.com | Clark Kauffman

An Iowa ag company accused of operating a billion-dollar check-kiting scheme is being sued by a lender that says 110,000 piglets in South Dakota are at risk of starvation. Compeer Financial of Minnesota is suing Sunterra Farms Iowa Inc., Sunwold Farms Inc., and Lariagra Farms South Inc. in U.S. District Court. Compeer alleges that the three defendants operate extensive swine operations in Iowa and South Dakota, and have granted Compeer, their lender, exclusive security over their collective assets.
Keystone Pipeline shut down after leak in North Dakota

2 weeks ago | southdakotasearchlight.com | Jeff Beach

by Jeff Beach, South Dakota Searchlight April 8, 2025 The operator of the Keystone Pipeline that carries oil from Canada into the U.S. has shut the pipeline down after a leak in North Dakota. South Bow shut down the pipeline at 7:42 a.m. Tuesday after a drop in pressure. The spill was about three miles north of Fort Ransom State Park or six miles south of Kathryn in Barnes County.