South Dakota Searchlight • 15th January 2025

Chief justice says SD would benefit from expanding its new criminal public defense office • South Dakota Searchlight

After creating a state office last year to handle criminal appeals by people who can’t afford an attorney, the next step is extending that help to the trial court level, South Dakota’s top judge told legislators Wednesday.
Steven Jensen, chief justice of the state Supreme Court, delivered his annual State of the Judiciary address to lawmakers at the Capitol in Pierre.
One of Jensen’s major topics was “indigent defense” — the use of court-appointed attorneys or public defenders for criminal defen...

South Dakota Searchlight • 9th January 2025

Run of prosecutions against SD state employees continues with alleged grocery voucher fraud • South Dakota Searchlight

A wave of criminal prosecutions against former South Dakota state employees continued Thursday with a new charge against a woman accused of using grocery vouchers intended for foster families.
The case is at least the fifth brought against a former state employee by Attorney General Marty Jackley since last summer, all for fraud-related allegations. 
“The Attorney General’s Office intends to continue to prosecute these cases to regain the public’s trust in state government,” Jackley said Thursda...

South Dakota Searchlight • 9th January 2025

SD congressman drafts bill to authorize Trump’s potential purchase of Panama Canal • South Dakota Searchlight

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, said Wednesday he will introduce legislation that would authorize President-elect Donald Trump to purchase the Panama Canal “if he can get a good deal.”
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea or not,” Johnson said, “but I do know I want to give President Trump the flexibility he needs to examine it.”
Those comments came during a Wednesday evening tele-town hall with constituents. Earlier in the day, Johnson spoke about the idea on Fox News. He will introduce t...

South Dakota Searchlight • 6th January 2025

John Thune has a chance to be an example of civility for the country • South Dakota Searchlight

National political journalists are beating a path to John Thune’s door since his recent elevation to U.S. Senate majority leader. He has responded with refreshingly boring interviews, including on Sunday’s episodes of “Face the Nation” and “Meet the Press.”
Political junkies aren’t bored. They’re parsing every word he says about the filibuster, Cabinet nominees, border security, taxes and the national debt.
But to the average person who’s grown accustomed to Trump-era politics, Thune’s civility...

South Dakota Searchlight • 2nd January 2025

Noem’s public broadcasting cut proves she's nothing like Mr. Rogers and a lot like Trump • South Dakota Searchlight

Gov. Kristi Noem seems surprised about the amount of state money flowing to public broadcasting.
“South Dakota has the third highest per capita funding of public broadcasting of any state in the nation,” she said during her Dec. 3 budget address.
If she found that shocking, imagine how stunned she’ll be when she finds out it’s her fault.
She approved the last six state budgets, each of which included an increase for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. The organization’s annual state funding went u...

South Dakota Searchlight • 26th December 2024

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

The federal government approved a 20-year ban Thursday on new mining-related activity in a portion of South Dakota’s Black Hills.
The ban covers 32 square miles of federally owned land located about 20 miles west of Rapid City. The boundaries encompass the Pactola Reservoir and areas upstream that drain into the reservoir via Rapid Creek.
Lilias Jarding, executive director of the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, hailed the action as “an expression of the will of the people.”
“It definitely show...

South Dakota Searchlight • 26th December 2024

Fate uncertain for Wounded Knee land bill and medals review as massacre commemoration approaches • South Dakota Searchlight

As the 134th commemoration of the Wounded Knee Massacre nears, efforts to protect the massacre site and review medals awarded to participating soldiers are in limbo.
After years of activism by Lakota people, the U.S. Department of Defense announced in July that the “approximately 20” Medals of Honor awarded to soldiers who participated in the massacre would be subjected to a review. But there hasn’t been an announcement of the review panel’s recommendations yet, and President Joe Biden’s term en...

South Dakota Searchlight • 19th December 2024

South Dakota doesn’t have to rob Peter to build a prison • South Dakota Searchlight

To understand South Dakota’s state budget situation, imagine you’re part of a family that’s been saving up to build a dream home.
Perhaps you recently experienced a sad event — the death of a relative — that turned into financial gain with a large inheritance. You’ve worked a lot of overtime the past few years while times were good in your industry. You’ve paid down or paid off your credit cards, student loans and car loans. Your credit score has risen.
Because of all those factors in and out of...

South Dakota Searchlight • 13th December 2024

Video lottery operators plan to ask lawmakers for higher limits on bets and machines • South Dakota Searchlight

Owners of South Dakota video lottery establishments hope a lean budget for state government might incentivize legislators to raise the bet limit and allow more machines per license.
The more money players bet, the more revenue the state makes. After players’ winnings are subtracted from sales, the state and video lottery operators evenly split what’s left.
Troy Erickson of M.G. Oil, a licensed video lottery operator in Rapid City, told the state Lottery Commission on Thursday in Pierre that the...

South Dakota Searchlight • 5th December 2024

Lawmakers propose sales tax increase to provide property tax relief for homeowners • South Dakota Searchlight

Several South Dakota legislators said Thursday they will introduce legislation that would provide property tax relief to homeowners by raising the state sales tax rate.
Rep. Tony Venhuizen, R-Sioux Falls, announced the effort.
“Property tax is the number one concern for my constituents and across South Dakota,” Venhuizen told South Dakota Searchlight. “This is the year for major property tax relief.”
Property tax reform has been a concern in the Legislature for years and was the subject of a...