Dan Ahlers faces an uphill battle running against a sitting governor in a state where Republicans outnumber Democrats. He said that doesn’t bother him.

Farmers could reduce their reliance on groundwater and help mitigate downstream flooding by storing their drainage water.

Gov. Larry Rhoden’s office included the figure in a news release announcing his decision to extend his order for cooperation with ICE.

During a Thursday debate, the Republican candidate in the race for South Dakota’s seat in the U.S. House criticized Trump's beef import plan.

South Dakota's Democratic U.S. House candidate announced her top economic priorities, including a return to tariff policies predating President Donald Trump.

During their second and last debate of the 2026 election season, the two canddiates for governor clashed on education, health care, and more.

Regulators are considering permit applications for projects that would add 160 miles of electric transmission lines in eastern South Dakota.

After pledging to protect press freedoms, Gov. Rhoden found himself standing in front of reporters with President Trump as the president defended his ban of three news organizations.

Partisan squabbles are keeping Congress from effecting change, and President Donald Trump has made it worse when he has “lost focus,” said South Dakota Republican U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, who added…

A South Dakota Republican legislator who helped send the measure to voters disagrees with text written by the Republican attorney general.

Four years after refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of a Democratic president’s electoral victory, the Republican who serves as South Dakota’s top election official has endorsed a Democratic…

A judge in Minnehaha County set a December trial date for a South Dakota state senator facing election-related felony charges.

The Army Corps of Engineers and several local governments are partnering to study ways of better protecting the lower Big Sioux River area.

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson has instructed county auditors to send voters stripped of their right to vote in state and local elections more accurate letters explaining why.

The South Dakota Board of Economic Development approved a total of $1.4 million in state funding for four projects.

Thousands of drivers who have habitat conservation license plates have not actually made a financial contribution for habitat.

Lance Russell, a former legislator and longtime prosecutor from Hot Springs, is unopposed to serve as South Dakota's next attorney general.

South Dakota is set to receive at least $52.6 million from Meta, with the total potentially reaching $73.5 million. The money will be paid over the next decade because of the harm social media…

The state of South Dakota suspends an average of 249 driver’s licenses a month to collect debt owed to state agencies.

The candidates for governor both criticized President Trump during a debate at the South Dakota State Fair, but also had areas of disgreement.

Supporters of the measure say voters have been putting too much policy in the constitution. Opponents say Republican lawmakers want to prevent voters from passing amendments that the lawmakers don’t…

While officials say adult diversion programs are effective, they're difficult to expand since the state doesn't support it with funding like it does for youth diversion.

South Dakota U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds wants Congress to "get the facts" about medals awarded for the Wounded Knee Massacre. His challenger says the medals "should not stand."

South Dakota farmers are sending Washington a message with their acres. It deserves attention as Congress considers a new farm bill.

The unnamed whistleblower predicted the result could be “foreseeable catastrophic disruption to our coming nationwide elections."

A regulatory commission candidate is calling for a one-year ban on new artificial intelligence data centers in the state.

South Dakota submitted a request to the USDA to bar the purchase of soft drinks with government food assistance.

The South Dakota Food Landscape Assessment identifies gaps in food affordability, access, assistance, availability and quality statewide.

The South Dakota Department of Social Services made a change to its Child Care Assistance payment model that would have cut payments.

Independent U.S. Senate candidate Brian Bengs joins the Searchlight Report to talk about his priorities in the race and what it means to run without a party affiliation.

State lawmakers should decide how to spend the largest consumer protection settlement with a single company in South Dakota history..

Legislators endorsed a budget increase to cover the cost of an anticipated raise in pay for South Dakota lawmakers.

State Department of Health officials told lawmakers that emergency medical services sharing resources could strengthen emergency care.

Documents show that if two requests are approved at the proposed amounts, the average residential customer’s bill would rise from $98.96 to $143.70 — a 45% increase.

PIERRE — South Dakota’s Brand Board will raise its livestock ownership inspection fee for the first time since 2013.

A state Health Department official said home cultivation licenses for medical marijuana have grown by more than 1,000% in four years.

A decline in international students could cost the U.S. more than $3 billion, including $5.4 million for South Dakota.

The year-round sale of E15 does not have enough votes in the Senate unless it comes with compromises for small oil refineries, according to U.S. Sen. John Thune.

House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, spoke with reporter Joshua Haiar about what the primary results mean for the party.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s Republican Party faces midterm elections amid economic anxiety, high gas prices and a war with Iran.

Thousands of cattle died due to heat stress. Producers and experts say the losses are "devastating" but likely won't impact the state's overall industry.

Five utility planning reports landed at the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission on July 1. At first glance, they looked like ideal reading for anyone struggling with insomnia. Load forecasts.…

Some wildland fire veterans are fearful that aggressive fire suppression tactics ordered by the Trump administration could put firefighters in danger.

As South Dakota's emergency medical services workforce ages, leaders welcome those who want to continue working, but are still figuring out how to plan for the future.

The state of South Dakota did not submit official comments on a major change to the federal Endangered Species Act, but some South Dakotans criticized it.

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden and Attorney General Marty Jackley filed an appeal in defense of a law that criminalizes advertising abortion pills in the state.

Pandemic-era political disputes may be fading in South Dakota as bills fails and the lawmakers who support them leave office.

A notice published July 24 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is beginning to circle South Dakota’s wetlands,

The money comes from the Future Fund, which is built up through fees submitted by employers when they pay taxes to support unemployment benefits.

Turnout among Republicans in Tuesday’s runoff election fell by about 20,000 voters compared to the June primary.