State wildfire division celebrates $4 million investment in new facilities amid busy season • South Dakota Searchlight Firefighters who’ve been busy battling wildfires in South Dakota’s Black Hills celebrated the opening of two state-funded buildings.

Firefighters who’ve been busy battling #wildfires in South Dakota’s Black Hills celebrated the opening of two state-funded buildings to house their trucks, equipment and training.

Prison reform group will hear public comment and plans for seminary program, drug treatment • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota's prison task force will talk about rehabilitation, hear about behavioral health programming and take public comments.

Members of a Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force plan to talk through South Dakota’s options for a prison seminary program, learn more about behavioral health at a soon-to-open Rapid City women’s prison and take public comments at their next meeting. More details:

Show me the money: Businesses line up for $166B in refunds from Trump's illegal tariffs • South Dakota Searchlight The U.S. Customs and Border Protection tariff refund system went live, marking what small business advocates call a “complex” first step for entrepreneurs to recoup $166 billion in import taxes.

A tariff refund system went live, marking what small business advocates call a “complex” first step for entrepreneurs to recoup $166 billion in import taxes accrued under President Trump’s emergency #tariffs, which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down.

Johnson's lead grows in new poll on race for Republican governor nomination • South Dakota Searchlight U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, has opened up a bigger lead in the race for the Republican nomination for governor, according to a poll.

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, has opened up a bigger lead in the race for the Republican nomination for governor, according to new poll results released by @sdnewswatch.bsky.social and the Chiesman Center for Democracy.

Today marks 33 years since South Dakota Gov. George Mickelson, two state pilots and five other men died in a plane crash. Columnist Dana Hess reflects on the "honorable and decent man" the state lost that day.
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Milbank’s “herd immunity” approach to the tree-killing emerald ash borer might serve as an example for other cities across South Dakota. Ash trees typically comprise one-third of a public tree canopy in cities across the state.
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Democrats fail to field candidates for a majority of South Dakota legislative seats • South Dakota Searchlight Democrats are running for 46 of South Dakota’s 105 legislative seats — leaving 56% of seats without a Democratic candidate.

Joe Zweifel, deputy executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, said the organization worked “really, really hard” to convince Democrats to run for office.
“But you can’t force people to run for office,” said Zweifel.

With GOP defections, US House passes bill extending legal status for 350,000 Haitians • South Dakota Searchlight The bill, which succeeded 224-204, came as Trump’s administration has sought to revoke legal protections for immigrants with Temporary Protected Status.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, voted no, but the U.S. House passed a measure that would extend Temporary Protected Status for #Haiti for three years, in a rare rebuke by the GOP-led Congress to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

South Dakotan tells Congress of ‘growing water security risk’ if pipeline project is delayed • South Dakota Searchlight The leader of a proposed water pipeline project told a U.S. House panel that delaying the next federal step toward bringing Missouri River water to western South Dakota poses a “growing water…

The leader of a proposed water pipeline project told a U.S. House panel that delaying the next step toward bringing Missouri River water to western South Dakota poses a “growing water security risk” for the region, and a drought is making things worse.

‘Shirtless in a hot tub with Kid Rock’: Democrats in Congress question RFK Jr. priorities • South Dakota Searchlight Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. testified before Congress on Thursday that he’s not pleased with how spending cuts to programs that help lower-income Americans afford food…

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before Congress that he’s not pleased with how spending cuts to programs that help lower-income Americans afford food will affect his efforts to bolster healthy eating habits.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

US House narrowly defeats resolution limiting Trump war powers • South Dakota Searchlight The effort to force Trump to seek congressional authorization before further action in Iran failed 213-214, with one Republican voting present.

With Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, voting no, the effort to force President Donald Trump to seek congressional authorization before further action in #Iran failed 213-214.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

Trump proposal to streamline jobs program funding would cut funding to states • South Dakota Searchlight Tucked into President Donald Trump’s new budget request is a plan that could dramatically change — and, critics say, slash — how much money and help states provide to people needing jobs and training.

Tucked into President Donald Trump’s new budget request is a plan that could dramatically change — and, critics say, slash — how much money and help states provide to people needing jobs and training.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

Tax Day 2026: Democrats and Republicans battle over impact of new Trump tax cuts • South Dakota Searchlight WASHINGTON — The 2026 tax filing season closed Wednesday with the Trump administration and Republicans on Capitol Hill hailing success under last year’s massive tax cuts law, while Democrats said any…

The 2026 tax filing season closed with the Trump administration and Republicans on Capitol Hill hailing success under last year’s massive tax cuts law, while Democrats said any benefits have been wiped out by skyrocketing gas prices, inflation and more.

Ep. 12: Uranium drilling concerns, state money for defense and guns, and highlights from another governor debate • South Dakota Searchlight In this week’s Searchlight Report podcast episode, host Meghan O’Brien talks to both sides in a dispute over proposed drilling for uranium in South Dakota’s Black Hills.

New Searchlight Report 🎧️ podcast 🎧️ episode:
-a dispute over drilling for uranium
-State grants for defense contracting and gunsmithing
-a legislative board’s decision to raise the pay of the state investment officer
-highlights from the second debate in the race for the GOP nomination for governor.

US Senate again rejects attempt to limit Trump action in Iran • South Dakota Searchlight An effort to force President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for further war actions in Iran failed in the U.S. Senate.

Another effort to force President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for further war actions in #Iran failed in the U.S. Senate, with South Dakota's John Thune and Mike Rounds each voting against it.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

Early voting for the June 2 election will be delayed across South Dakota, election officials say • South Dakota Searchlight Early and absentee voting for the June 2 primary election will be delayed in South Dakota, election officials confirmed.

Absentee and #EarlyVoting for the June 2 primary election will be delayed in South Dakota, election officials confirmed. County auditors are blaming a quirk of the calendar and the lack of an immediate legislative fix.

More details:

How Republicans in Congress could fully fund ICE for years to come — and maybe do more • South Dakota Searchlight Republicans in Congress are once again looking toward the complex budget reconciliation process as a way to achieve some of their policy goals.

Republicans in Congress are once again looking toward the complex #BudgetReconciliation process as a way to achieve some of their policy goals without Democratic votes.

@statesnewsroom.com explains how that could work:

Forest Service shake-up that includes SD lab will boost states’ role, but even supporters have concerns • South Dakota Searchlight A sweeping reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service signals that the agency is planning to lean heavily on states to help manage millions of acres of federal land, foresters across the West say.

A sweeping reorganization of the U.S. #ForestService, including the closure of a lab in Rapid City, signals that the agency is planning to lean heavily on states to help manage millions of acres of federal land, foresters across the West say.

$4 million for gunsmithing program is latest economic development grant from governor amid campaign • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota’s governor, who’s in the midst of an election campaign, awarded another grant from an economic development fund he controls.

South Dakota’s governor, who’s in the midst of an election campaign, awarded another grant from an economic development fund he controls. This time it's $4 million to help move a Colorado gunsmithing school to Western Dakota Technical College in Rapid City.

Lawmakers approve pay and bonus package for investment manager, despite concerns about returns • South Dakota Searchlight The state investment officer will receive a salary raise and a chance at an incentive bonus, despite underperformance concerns from some lawmakers.

South Dakota’s state investment officer will receive a salary raise and an opportunity for an incentive bonus that could push his total pay beyond $1 million for the next fiscal year, despite concerns from some lawmakers about underperformance.

Immigration enforcement to be funded for 3 years under US Senate GOP plan • South Dakota Searchlight U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday he plans to use the complex reconciliation process to fund immigration enforcement.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune proposed a road map Tuesday for ending the two-month partial government shutdown that's held back funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The plan would bypass Democrats, but require buy-in from House Republicans.

Anti-abortion lawmakers seek to redefine 'abortion' to exclude medical treatment • South Dakota Searchlight Some anti-abortion state lawmakers are pushing to revise the definition of “abortion” so abortion bans don’t apply to cases in which the death of an “unborn child” is the result of medical care…

Some anti-abortion lawmakers are pushing to revise the definition of “abortion” so bans don’t apply to cases when the death of an “unborn child” is the result of medical care provided to the pregnant woman. South Dakota is the first state to enact such a law.

Via @stateline.org

Three candidates pledge changes on Medicaid, ag, taxes and education while governor touts results • South Dakota Searchlight The four candidates for the Republican nomination met in their second televised debate ahead of the primary election.

Three men who want to be governor of South Dakota vowed to do things differently than the current administration on topics including Medicaid, agriculture, taxes and education, while the governor said his results justify keeping him in the job.

Highlights from the second TV debate:

Black Hills uranium exploration permit hearing postponed to May • South Dakota Searchlight The hearing will take place in Hot Springs at the Mueller Civic Center from May 18 through May 22. It was previously scheduled this week.

New dates have been announced for a postponed public hearing about an application to conduct exploratory drilling for #uranium in South Dakota's southern Black Hills.

The highest concentrations of “forever chemicals” in the Big Sioux River are in Sioux Falls and just south of Watertown, according to a report from South Dakota Mines.
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Environmental, tribal concerns persist as fireworks bring ‘rock concert in phone booth’ to Rushmore • South Dakota Searchlight Officials mostly relied on a six-year-old assessment, updated with some new information, to justify this year's display.

When Cheryl Schreier learned of plans for fireworks at #MountRushmore, she thought about the planning it takes to host thousands of people at the national memorial she formerly oversaw. “It’s like having a rock concert in a phone booth,” she said.

More concerns about the event:

Calendar quirk and law change have South Dakota election officials worried about deadlines • South Dakota Searchlight Election officials in South Dakota are worried about a possible delayed start for early and absentee voting as they rush to prepare ballots.

Election officials in South Dakota are worried about a possible delayed start for early and absentee #voting as they rush to prepare ballots for the primary election, and they’re also navigating changes to registration requirements signed into law last month.

Trump administration targets bison on federal grazing lands • South Dakota Searchlight Acceding to anti-bison grumbling from cattle ranchers and Republican politicians in Montana, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum proposed canceling leases for buffalo grazing.

The American #buffalo — those ornery, hairy prairie beasts that reign as the official mammal of the United States — have joined wind turbines, electric cars and climate researchers in the cross hairs of the Trump administration, reports @insideclimatenews.org.

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2.5 million Americans lost food aid in months after passage of GOP megabill, study finds • South Dakota Searchlight At least 2.5 million low-income people quickly lost help affording groceries under a Republican-passed law that added new requirements.

At least 2.5 million low-income people quickly lost help affording groceries under a Republican-passed law that added new requirements for the nation’s largest nutrition program, according to a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Via @statesnewsroom.com