Home • South Dakota Searchlight

Top, left to right: flood damage at McCook Lake in June (Courtesy of Dirk Lohry); Gov. Kristi Noem with Donald Trump in March in Ohio (Scott Olson/Getty Images); Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a Phoenix campaign event (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images). Middle, left to right: Noem at a 2023 Trump rally in Rapid City (Scott Olson/Getty Images); Charles Merrival in 2019 in Rapid City, prior to being singled out as an alleged cartel member by Noem in 2024 (Courtesy of Charles Merrival family). Bottom, left to right: Bikers at the Sturgis motorcycle rally, where there were mystery overdoses in 2024 (Scott Olson/Getty Images); State Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, at the Capitol (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight); A B-1B Lancer from Ellsworth Air Force Base takes off in February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Leon Redfern)

South Dakota Searchlight’s most-read news and commentary of 2024

By South Dakota Searchlight staff - December 31, 2024

The Hughes County Courthouse in Pierre, pictured in November 2022. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

One of former state employees charged in string of criminal cases takes a plea deal

By South Dakota Searchlight staff - December 30, 2024

Jason Ravnsborg, former attorney general of South Dakota, speaks during a hearing about the future of his law license on Feb. 14, 2024, at the Capitol in Pierre while his legal team looks on. (David Bordewyk/SD NewsMedia Association)

Former South Dakota attorney general fights suspension of Iowa law license

By Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch - December 30, 2024

Latest From The Newsroom

Regulator stays on new carbon pipeline case after prior recusal, with no explanation this time

BY Joshua Haiar - December 30, 2024

Johnson wins Trump’s endorsement to continue as U.S. House speaker

BY Shauneen Miranda - December 30, 2024

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter dies at 100

BY Ross Williams - December 29, 2024

Businesses could face changes in unemployment assistance tax

BY Makenzie Huber - December 29, 2024

Medical dispensaries are closing after SD’s rejection of recreational marijuana

BY John Hult - December 27, 2024

Fate uncertain for Wounded Knee land bill and medals review as massacre commemoration approaches

BY Makenzie Huber and Seth Tupper - December 26, 2024

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

Commentary

‘School choice’ would force bad budget choices on the state and school districts

BY South Dakota Public Schools Coalition - December 28, 2024

Santa, maybe? Why we have different names for who ‘hurries down the chimney’ on Christmas

BY Valerie M. Fridland - December 25, 2024

Mercury research raises more questions about lax approach to zebra mussels

BY Brad Johnson - December 23, 2024

Well, it’s official. Kristi Noem is breaking up with South Dakota.

BY Dana Hess - December 21, 2024

READ MORE

Quick Reads

Rounds bill meant to boost veteran homeownership on tribal lands heads to president’s desk

BY John Hult - December 19, 2024

Second filing fee for carbon pipeline project raises total potential fees to $1.47 million

BY Joshua Haiar - December 17, 2024

Regulators approve natural gas rate hike for NorthWestern Energy

BY Joshua Haiar - December 17, 2024

Landowners, two counties appealing Summit’s ND pipeline permit

BY Jeff Beach - December 13, 2024

READ MORE

YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.

More News

A 2015 view of the Pactola Reservoir in the Black Hills. (Courtesy of Black Hills National Forest)

Federal government approves 20-year mining ban in part of SD’s Black Hills

BY Seth Tupper - December 26, 2024

People line up for free food, groceries and clothing at the weekly Saturday River City Street Ministry food distribution on June 10, 2023, in Huntington, West Virginia. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Junk food and drug use cut into life expectancy gains for states

BY Tim Henderson, Stateline - December 26, 2024

Linda Montgomery, of Fairview, speaks to Lincoln County Commissioners on Dec. 24, 2024, in Canton. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Lincoln County commissioners push back decision on carbon pipeline rules

BY John Hult - December 24, 2024

An activist fights the wind while walking along Flag Road in Oceti Sakowin Camp as blizzard conditions grip the area around the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on Dec. 6, 2016, outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country had been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Pipeline owner joins lawsuit over Dakota Access Pipeline

BY Mary Steurer - December 24, 2024

President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House Rose Garden Nov. 7. Biden on Monday commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Biden commutes nearly all federal death sentences

BY Ashley Murray - December 23, 2024

READ MORE