Books

"Surviving the '72 Flood"

Portraits and firsthand accounts from 27 survivors of the 1972 Black Hills Flood, published for the 50th commemoration.

SOLD OUT

"Calvin Coolidge in the Black Hills"

The adventures, misadventures and legacy of a sitting president's three-month sojourn in the Black Hills.

"The Black Hills of South Dakota"

A guidebook packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process.

Documentary

Podcast

Journalism

Lawmakers advance bill requiring SD schools to teach Native American history, culture • South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota public schools would be required to teach a specific set of Native American historical and cultural lessons if a bill unanimously endorsed by a legislative committee Tuesday in Pierre becomes law.
The bill would mandate the teaching of the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings. The phrase “Oceti Sakowin” refers to the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people. The understandings are a set of standards and lessons adopted seven years ago by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards with...

Property tax credits rise from the ‘ashes’ of failed SD school choice legislation • South Dakota Searchlight

A bill described as an “opportunity for a phoenix to rise out of the ashes” of South Dakota’s school choice debate advanced out of a legislative committee Tuesday at the Capitol in Pierre.
The legislation from state Sen. John Carley, R-Piedmont, would provide property tax credits to help families pay for private school, homeschooling or other forms of alternative instruction.
Rapid City resident Tonchi Weaver, representing the conservative political action group Citizens for Liberty, made the “p...

SD lawmakers consider higher license fees for drivers and tradespeople • South Dakota Searchlight

Fees for drivers, plumbers, cosmetologists, electricians and accountants would increase if lawmakers adopt a package of bills pending in the South Dakota Legislature.
A state Senate budget committee advanced several of the bills Monday at the Capitol in Pierre and delayed action on one.
The trade-specific bills are recommended by state boards and commissions consisting of industry representatives. Those bodies oversee licensing and inspections that are funded by fees, with caps set in state law....

Attempted cap on SD school administrator pay fails, but highlights disparity with teachers • South Dakota Searchlight

PIERRE — A state senator brought attention to a disparity in educator compensation in South Dakota but lost her attempt Friday to cap administrator salaries at three times the average pay of teachers.
The Senate vote against the bill from Sen. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, was 22-13.
Peterson said South Dakota’s teachers rank 49th nationally in average pay, while administrators rank 16th.
“Our teachers are last and our administrators are near the top. That’s wrong,” Peterson said.
In opposition c...

Busloads of public broadcasting supporters make case to avoid $3.6 million state budget cut • South Dakota Searchlight

PIERRE — Supporters of South Dakota Public Broadcasting made their pitch Friday at the Capitol to avoid a $3.6 million budget cut that they said would undermine public safety, government transparency, education, high school activities and local storytelling.
The state agency receives state and federal funding, along with money raised by its affiliated nonprofit, the Friends of SDPB. Friends CEO Ryan Howlett told members of the Legislature’s budget committee that the state funding cut would imper...

SD governor predicts solution for rising homeowner property taxes • South Dakota Searchlight

PIERRE — Lawmakers will find a way this winter to “tamp down the increase” in property taxes for South Dakota homeowners, Gov. Larry Rhoden predicted Thursday at the Capitol.
Rhoden said during a press conference that he formed a property tax working group with legislators and began meeting with them Monday. Lawmakers are in Pierre for their annual legislative session.
“I’m pretty confident based on our first meeting — that went very well — that we’ll be able to find a solution this session,” Rh...

SD university leader argues against maintenance and repair budget cuts • South Dakota Searchlight

PIERRE — The leader of South Dakota’s public universities argued against proposed maintenance and repair cuts when he appeared Wednesday before legislators on a budget committee.
Nathan Lukkes, executive director of the state Board of Regents, discussed the cuts at the Capitol with the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee. He said the proposed $9 million reduction in the university system’s repair and maintenance budget is “very concerning.”
“We would hope as you’re wrestling with some o...

Lawmaker loses vice chairmanship after trying to defund Huron schools over bathroom issue • South Dakota Searchlight

PIERRE — A firestorm of criticism Wednesday forced a South Dakota lawmaker to lose a committee vice chairmanship and withdraw his bill to defund the Huron School District, which he filed in reaction to a tip about the district’s bathroom policy.
Meanwhile, a separate bill was filed to make school bathrooms “exclusively” male or female, as determined by a student’s “biological” sex at birth. That bill would also criminalize violations.
The demoted legislator is Rep. Phil Jensen, a Republican from...

Lab-grown meat ban arises to challenge labeling bill in SD Legislature • South Dakota Searchlight

PIERRE — Competing views about lab-grown meat are pitting some farmers and ranchers against each other at the South Dakota Capitol, where a legislative committee advanced a ban of the product after previously endorsing legislation that would only require it to be clearly labeled.
The labeling bill already passed both chambers and went to the governor for his decision to sign or veto it. The ban took its first legislative step Tuesday by earning the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committ...

Federal politicians could face a limit on money transfers to their state committees • South Dakota Searchlight

PIERRE — Federal officeholders who seek a state office — such as a member of Congress who decides to run for governor — would face a limit on the money they could transfer from their federal campaign account to their state account if a legislative idea becomes law.
Rep. Spencer Gosch, R-Glenham, proposed the measure Monday at the state Capitol. It would put a $10,000 annual cap on federal-to-state transfers.
Gosch convinced a legislative committee to amend the new language into an existing campa...