South Dakota Searchlight • 5th September 2024

Fears decrease but work remains to control wildfire near Rapid City • South Dakota Searchlight

RAPID CITY — A leader in the fight against a wildfire near South Dakota’s second largest city said Wednesday morning he’s less concerned, even as work to contain the fire continues.
“My comfort level is a lot higher now than it was yesterday,” said Brandon Sanchez, the U.S. Forest Service official who serves as incident commander.
The First Thunder Fire began Monday evening in a rocky and forested area cut by deep canyons in the Black Hills, several miles west of Rapid City. Since then, crews of...

South Dakota Searchlight • 4th September 2024

Wildfire burns west of Rapid City; residents urged to stay alert • South Dakota Searchlight

RAPID CITY — Authorities are advising some residents on the western edge of Rapid City to be ready for a potential evacuation order as a wildfire burns nearby.
A pre-evacuation notice was in effect Tuesday morning.
“We’re not evacuating anybody right now,” said Lt. Jason Mitzel of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. “However, I would urge the public that lives in the vicinity to be prepared, and get documents, medications and animals ready to go, just in case the wind switches and the fire d...

South Dakota Searchlight • 22nd August 2024

Senator seeks updated formula for tribal law enforcement funding • South Dakota Searchlight

A week after attending a roundtable with the nation’s top law enforcement official and tribal leaders, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, is urging the head of a federal department to change the funding formula for tribal law enforcement.
The U.S. Interior Department includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which provides policing services for some tribes and funding for other tribes to run their own police departments. Federal support for tribal public safety on reservations in South Dakota i...

South Dakota Searchlight • 14th August 2024

Justice disparities on South Dakota reservations need attention, US attorney general says • South Dakota Searchlight

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday during a visit to South Dakota that national crime rates have declined, but challenges remain on tribal reservations in the state.
“We know that progress in some communities has not been the same,” Garland said. “Progress across the country is still uneven. Of course, there is no level of violent crime that’s acceptable.”
He said that since 2021, the Justice Department has allocated $19.1 million in grants to support tribal justice initiatives...

South Dakota Searchlight • 12th August 2024

At least 12 die in motorcycle accidents before, during and after 2024 Sturgis rally • South Dakota Searchlight

Three people died in motorcycle accidents during the recently concluded Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, according to the official tally of the state Department of Public Safety, but the actual number of motorcycle-involved traffic deaths in the state from the days before, during and after the event is 12.
The department, which includes the Highway Patrol, attributes traffic deaths to the rally only if they occur in a particular area of western South Dakota during the official rally dates, up to the mo...

South Dakota Searchlight • 12th August 2024

Black Hills groups announce $30 million in federal funding for affordable housing • South Dakota Searchlight

RAPID CITY — A $30 million funding award from the federal government will help Black Hills leaders create local trust funds to support affordable housing, officials announced Monday.
Chris Huber is the CEO of the Black Hills Area Community Foundation. He said Rapid City leaders had to scramble to manage growth during the post-World War II boom years, when the city’s population tripled between 1940 and 1960.
Now the area is experiencing growth as Ellsworth Air Force Base prepares for B-21 bomber...

South Dakota Searchlight • 10th August 2024

South Dakota drug conviction is among the baggage RFK Jr. brings to the ballot • South Dakota Searchlight

Bill Walsh picked up a ringing phone in Deadwood during the fall of 1983 and heard Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s voice.
“Bill, I’m off the wagon,” Kennedy said, according to Walsh. “I’ve got a flight coming in tomorrow.”
The two had become friends in 1980. Kennedy campaigned in South Dakota that year for his uncle, U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Walsh and RFK Jr. were fellow Irish-Catholic Democrats, and Walsh was a former priest with experien...

South Dakota Searchlight • 9th August 2024

Pesticide labeling becomes issue in South Dakota’s U.S. House race • South Dakota Searchlight

Legislation affecting the regulation of pesticide labels has become an issue in South Dakota’s U.S. House race after a Democratic challenger leveled criticism at incumbent Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson.
The Washington Post reported in June that Rep. Johnson worked with biotech giant Bayer to insert a provision into a draft of the federal farm bill. According to legal and environmental experts interviewed by the Post, the provision could help shield Bayer from lawsuits alleging that frequent use...

South Dakota Searchlight • 6th August 2024

Black Hills National Forest proposes higher fees for motorized trails • South Dakota Searchlight

Amid a surge in the popularity of off-highway vehicle use, the Black Hills National Forest is proposing increased fees for motorized trail permits.
Forest officials announced the proposal Monday. Prices per vehicle would rise from $20 to $30 for a weekly permit, and from $25 to $50 for an annual permit.
Businesses that rent vehicles to users currently buy commercial permits for $125 annually per vehicle; under the new proposal, the commercial permit would be eliminated and replaced with a $10 da...

South Dakota Searchlight • 2nd August 2024

State Supreme Court revives legal challenge to abortion-rights ballot measure • South Dakota Searchlight

An anti-abortion group won the latest round in a court battle over South Dakota’s abortion-rights ballot question.
The Life Defense Fund is attempting to disqualify the measure from the Nov. 5 ballot. A circuit court judge in Minnehaha County dismissed the group’s lawsuit last month. But on Friday, the state Supreme Court reversed that decision and sent the case back to the circuit court for further proceedings.
A sparsely worded order signed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Jensen said “th...