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Searchlight staff
How to vote early for the June 2024 primary election
By: Searchlight staff - April 19, 2024
Early voting begins today for South Dakota’s June 4 primary election. Before attempting to vote early, make sure you’re registered to vote. If you’re unsure about your status, check the state’s Voter Information Portal at https://vip.sdsos.gov/viplogin.aspx (where you can also view a sample ballot), or contact your county auditor’s office. To cast an early ballot in […]
Four SD grassland restoration projects awarded a total of $250,000 in federal funds
By: Searchlight staff - March 22, 2024
South Dakota is set to receive $250,000 in federal funding for the implementation of four grassland restoration projects across the eastern part of the state. On Friday, the Department of the Interior announced a nearly $11 million investment to help restore U.S. habitats across 18 states. The funds are in support of President Joe Biden’s […]
South Dakota no longer only state to saddle counties with all indigent defense costs
By: Searchlight staff - March 20, 2024
Gov. Kristi Noem signed legislation this week to create a state public defender office. The proposal arose from a task force involving legislative and criminal justice officials. When the group convened, South Dakota was one of two states to saddle counties with the entire financial burden of providing legal representation to criminal defendants who can’t […]
Noem signs bills including abortion video mandate, petition signature withdrawal process
By: Searchlight staff - March 19, 2024
Gov. Kristi Noem signed dozens of bills into law during the past several days, including two related to abortion. One bill requires the production of a video and other materials explaining the state’s abortion ban. Another one allows people to withdraw their signatures from ballot-question petitions, such as one currently circulating that would reinstate abortion […]
Trump calls Noem to podium at Ohio rally, comments on her appearance
By: Searchlight staff - March 18, 2024
Former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump appeared with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem — a potential running mate — and called her up to the mic Saturday during a rally in Ohio. “We have a very special woman who’s hot as a politician. She’s doing an incredible job in South Dakota. She’s […]
Higher credits for private school scholarships, campus obscenity ban: More bills signed into law
By: Searchlight staff - March 14, 2024
Gov. Kristi Noem has signed numerous bills into law this week, including one that will increase the yearly cap on private school scholarships funded by state tax credits. The credits are available to insurance companies. For every dollar they contribute to private school scholarships for low-income students, the companies get an equivalent amount of credits […]
State board approves $3.7 million in loans to businesses
By: Searchlight staff - March 13, 2024
A state board approved three loans Wednesday worth a total of $3.7 million, supporting $9.7 million in capital investments and a projected 35 full-time jobs. The Board of Economic Development approved the loans, which will be administered by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The office announced the loan approvals in a news release. Southern […]
Noem schedules town hall meetings in Mitchell, Winner, Spearfish
By: Searchlight staff - March 11, 2024
Gov. Kristi Noem will participate in town hall meetings this week in Mitchell, Winner and Spearfish, her office announced. The Mitchell town hall will be at 11:15 a.m. Central time on Wednesday at the Mitchell High School Library, which the public may enter through the Mitchell High School main entrance. The event will also be […]
Noem signs Indian Child Welfare Council and other bills into law
By: Searchlight staff - March 9, 2024
South Dakota will soon have a council devoted to the welfare of Native American children. Gov. Kristi Noem signed House Bill 1232 this week, which creates the Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council. It will bring together people from the Department of Social Services, South Dakota’s nine tribes, the Legislature, and the field of child welfare […]
Democrats back a former Republican for South Dakota’s US House seat
By: Searchlight staff - March 6, 2024
SIOUX FALLS — Democrats, who do not hold any statewide elected offices in South Dakota, say they’ve found a good candidate for the U.S. House: a former Republican. The state party announced during a press conference Wednesday that Sheryl Johnson, a Sioux Falls retiree, volunteer and mother of four, is running for the party’s nomination […]
Noem approves out-of-state vehicle title fee, signs other bills
By: Searchlight staff - March 5, 2024
South Dakota is about to become a less attractive place for out-of-staters to title a vehicle. Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill into law this week that will add a $100 fee to the process for anyone who does not have a South Dakota driver license or identification card, or an address in the state. […]
Rounds attempts to stop beef imports from Paraguay
By: Searchlight staff - February 27, 2024
U.S. Senators Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, and Jon Tester, D-Montana, said Tuesday that they have filed a Congressional Review Act resolution that would overturn the Biden administration’s recent decision to lift a ban on beef imports from Paraguay. Congress can use CRA resolutions to overturn final rules issued by federal agencies by a simple majority […]