Author

Searchlight staff

Searchlight staff

A portion of the Pactola Reservoir in the Black Hills. (Seth Tupper/SD Searchlight)

Federal agencies seek to protect Pactola Reservoir and Rapid Creek from mining

By: - March 17, 2023

Two federal agencies have announced a proposal to protect 32 square miles of the Black Hills National Forest from mining. The Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service made the announcement in a Friday news release. The proposal covers the Pactola Reservoir and Rapid Creek Watershed, which are popular recreation destinations that also serve […]

Law enforcement work a crash with no injuries on the northbound side of Interstate 29 north of the New Effington exit on Feb. 21, 2023. (Courtesy of SD Department of Public Safety)

Winter storm updates

By: - February 21, 2023

Information updates on the February 2023 winter storm and severe weather across the state of South Dakota.

(Getty Images)

Black Hills foundation awarded $3 million for housing work

By: - February 7, 2023

The Bush Foundation, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, is awarding more than $3 million to the Black Hills Area Community Foundation to address affordable housing problems in Rapid City, according to a news release. The award includes a $1 million grant to support a Strategic Housing Initiative, a $2 million investment in the Rapid City […]

The state Capitol in Pierre. (Getty Images)

Senate leaders appoint committee for Frye-Mueller complaint, release more details

By: - January 27, 2023

South Dakota Senate leaders have appointed a committee to hear a complaint against Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller, R-Rapid City, and have released further details of allegations that led to her suspension. The new committee could ultimately make a recommendation leading to a Senate vote to expel, censure, discipline or exonerate Frye-Mueller. A news release Friday afternoon […]

Gov. Kristi Noem delivers her second inaugural address Jan. 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Pierre. (South Dakota Inaugural Committee)

Noem’s inaugural address: Read, watch the speech

By: - January 9, 2023

Gov. Kristi Noem was sworn in Saturday for her second term. Below is the prepared text of her speech as provided by the Governor’s Office, and video coverage of the ceremony and speech from South Dakota Public Broadcasting.   Jan. 7, 2023 Remarks as prepared and provided by the Governor’s Office: Four years ago, I […]

(Image courtesy of S.D. DOT)

Interstates fully reopen

By: - January 4, 2023

Interstate 90 has reopened westbound from Sioux Falls to Mitchell as of 4:45 p.m. today, according to the state Department of Transportation. Other closed portions of I-90 and I-29 reopened earlier, which means South Dakota’s interstates are now fully open. I-90 travel conditions, as reported by the DOT: Although I-90 is now reopened eastbound and […]

(Image courtesy of S.D. DOT)

Interstate 90 reopens from Chamberlain to Mitchell

By: - January 4, 2023

Interstate 90 has reopened eastbound and westbound from Chamberlain to Mitchell as of 8 a.m. today, according to the state Department of Transportation. I-90 remains closed from Mitchell to Sioux Falls (Marion Road/exit 395). The DOT anticipates reopening I-90 from Mitchell to Sioux Falls by midday today. Meanwhile, I-29 reopened between Sioux Falls and Brookings […]

(Image courtesy of SD DOT)

I-29 reopens from Sioux Falls to Brookings

By: - January 3, 2023

Interstate 29 northbound and southbound has reopened from the I-29/I-90 interchange in Sioux Falls to Brookings as of 6 p.m. today, the state Department of Transportation said in a news release. Interstate 90 eastbound and westbound will remain closed overnight from Chamberlain (exit 265) to Sioux Falls (Marion Road/exit 395) due to significant snow accumulation […]

Joseph Graves. (Courtesy of Milken Family Foundation)

Noem hires Mitchell superintendent as secretary of education

By: - January 3, 2023

Gov. Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that she has appointed Joe Graves as secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education. His appointment will be effective Jan. 10. He succeeds Secretary Tiffany Sanderson, who has accepted a job as president of Lake Area Technical College. “Joe is a wonderful fit to lead our Department of Education […]

(Image courtesy of SD DOT)

Interstates close from Sioux Falls to Chamberlain and Brookings

By: - January 3, 2023

Due to accumulating heavy snow and sustained high winds causing blizzard-like conditions and extensive drifting, Interstate 90 has closed eastbound and westbound from Chamberlain (exit 265) to Sioux Falls (Marion Road/exit 395), while Interstate 29 northbound and southbound has closed from the I-29/I-90 interchange in Sioux Falls to Brookings (exit 132) as of 8:45 a.m. […]

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Sept. 28, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Patrick Semansky-Pool/Getty Images)

President signs Rounds bill repealing discriminatory Native American laws

By: - December 28, 2022

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds’ bipartisan legislation to repeal discriminatory federal laws targeting Native Americans was signed into law by the president on Tuesday, Rounds’ office announced in a news release. The RESPECT Act (Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes) repeals 11 outdated federal laws, including laws that stripped Native American children from their […]

(South Dakota Searchlight illustration)

State expects to resume printing paper titles in February

By: - December 27, 2022

The state Department of Revenue said Tuesday in a news release that it expects to receive a shipment of title paper in late January and resume printing all paper titles in mid-February. South Dakota, like other states, uses paper that includes security features to protect vehicle owners against title fraud. A shortage of the paper […]