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SCOUTING REPORT | Teacher award, SDSU medallions, data center votes, Japan's foreigner fatigue

A weekly digest of interesting local, state, national and even international developments

Oct 4, 2026

Snubbed Custer State Park manager has history with South Dakota's new out-of-state pick

U.S. Hotel & Resort Management ran Black Hills lodges for two decades before losIng contract to Colorado-based Xanterra; Sioux Falls company previously stepped in for industry giant in Ohio

Oct 4, 2026

Joe Sneve

Snubbed Custer State Park manager has history with South Dakota's new out-of-state pick

CARTOON | It happens

As seen in the Oct. 2-8, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Oct 4, 2026

Ryan M Stoick

OBITUARY | Shonna Lynn Haugen, 56

Feb. 4, 1970 – Sept. 30, 2026

Oct 3, 2026

The Dakota Scout

OBITUARY | William Golden, 60

Oct. 2, 2026

Oct 3, 2026

Sheri Levisay, +1

Let’s eat: Choice South Dakota-raised beef awaits The Scout's subscribers

CONTEST — Rancher celebrates local journalism revival with meat giveaway through partnership with The Dakota Scout

Sep 3, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Let’s eat: Choice South Dakota-raised beef awaits The Scout's subscribers

Get the latest local news and exclusive content straight to your email inbox.

Sign Up Today

State Politics

Rounds presses Trump for relief as fuel prices drag pocketbooks, GOP poll numbers

South Dakota's junior senator calls for gas tax suspension and refinery changes as inflation and affordability remain top concerns for voters

Oct 2, 2026

Joe Sneve

South Dakota’s Democratic Congressional candidate not joining party’s socialist shift

Nikki Gronli and GOP's Marty Jackley agree in support for capitalism, Farm Bill, diverge on degree of government intervention, tariffs

Oct 2, 2026

Joe Sneve

ANALYSIS | Ahlers’ plane allegations hit turbulence

Newspaper sued over South Dakota gubernatorial credit card records, not state airplane records

Oct 2, 2026

Joe Sneve

South Dakota joins another nationwide call for drug company accountability

Attorney General's Office pushes courts to sign off on settlement with Sandoz Inc., Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Oct 1, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Court disbars lawyer over sexual misconduct with clients

Second lawyer loses license for one year after pleading to felony

Oct 1, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

Group supporting Amendment L accuses opponents of dishonesty

Save Our South Dakota Constitution asks media groups to stop airing commercials

Sep 30, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

Sioux falls

Blocked Smithfield permit brings appeal consideration in Sioux Falls

Judge's decision favoring landowner plaintiffs notes process lacked mitigation documentation

Oct 2, 2026

Joe Sneve, Jonathan Ellis

Midco executive slated for Sioux Falls City Council’s top administrative post

Councilors to consider Sara Combs' nomination next week

Oct 2, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Sioux Falls residents get crack at Quarry at the Falls preferences

Redevelopment at historic site made possible by $15 million Bezos grant

Oct 1, 2026

Jacob Brende

Meet the candidates running for Minnehaha County offices in November

Republicans, Democrats, independent eyeing spots on board of commissioners, in auditor's office

Sep 30, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Sioux Falls graduates enrolling in college at slower clip

School district: Percentage of students attending universities in the fall semester after graduation trails national average

Sep 29, 2026

Todd Epp

Sioux Falls to seek public input on $15M Bezos-backed Quarry project

Residents invited to offer ideas for the future of The Quarry at The Falls

Sep 29, 2026

The Dakota Scout

THE LATEST FROM…

Check out what veteran reporters Jonathan Ellis and Joe Sneve are covering as well as The Dakota Scout’s other trusted team members.

Joe Sneve

Jonathan Ellis

Dan Gehlsen

Dominik Dausch

VIEWPOINTS

Horse slaughter & smoking | 13 inches | 25 years since 9/11 | Commissioning public utility politics | Staying dry | Data center outrage & Chi-coms | Sept. 12, 2026 Frank Kloucek

Sep 12, 2026

English origins | Coming to America | Coaching success | Data center lobbying | Defending the Flock | Zoo ask | Turfing a field | Sept. 5, 2026 James Oppenheimer

Sep 5, 2026

Beating a dead pandemic | Banking on journalisms future with The Collegian | Marijuana markets | The Scout's next big step | Aug. 29, 2026 Ben Nesselhuf

Aug 29, 2026

Room for improvement | ‘Back to normal ... what we have here is good’ | A big job | The Democrats most winnable race? | Using AI to improve record keeping | Online & early voter registration

Aug 22, 2026

THE SCOUTING LOUNGE PODCAST

A weekly podcast where award-winning reporters Joe Sneve and Jonathan Ellis ditch the gotcha journalism to bring candid, behind-the-scenes conversations with South Dakota’s political leaders, celebrities and newsmakers.

SCOUTING REPORT | Teacher award, SDSU medallions, data center votes, Japan's foreigner fatigue

Snubbed Custer State Park manager has history with South Dakota's new out-of-state pick

CARTOON | It happens

OBITUARY | Shonna Lynn Haugen, 56

OBITUARY | William Golden, 60

Let’s eat: Choice South Dakota-raised beef awaits The Scout's subscribers

Get the latest local news and exclusive content straight to your email inbox.

Sign Up Today

State Politics

Rounds presses Trump for relief as fuel prices drag pocketbooks, GOP poll numbers

South Dakota’s Democratic Congressional candidate not joining party’s socialist shift

ANALYSIS | Ahlers’ plane allegations hit turbulence

South Dakota joins another nationwide call for drug company accountability

Court disbars lawyer over sexual misconduct with clients

Group supporting Amendment L accuses opponents of dishonesty

Sioux falls

Blocked Smithfield permit brings appeal consideration in Sioux Falls

Midco executive slated for Sioux Falls City Council’s top administrative post

Sioux Falls residents get crack at Quarry at the Falls preferences

Meet the candidates running for Minnehaha County offices in November

Sioux Falls graduates enrolling in college at slower clip

Sioux Falls to seek public input on $15M Bezos-backed Quarry project

THE LATEST FROM…

Check out what veteran reporters Jonathan Ellis and Joe Sneve are covering as well as The Dakota Scout’s other trusted team members.

Joe Sneve

Jonathan Ellis

Dan Gehlsen

Dominik Dausch

VIEWPOINTS

Horse slaughter & smoking | 13 inches | 25 years since 9/11 | Commissioning public utility politics | Staying dry | Data center outrage & Chi-coms | Sept. 12, 2026 Frank Kloucek

English origins | Coming to America | Coaching success | Data center lobbying | Defending the Flock | Zoo ask | Turfing a field | Sept. 5, 2026 James Oppenheimer

Beating a dead pandemic | Banking on journalisms future with The Collegian | Marijuana markets | The Scout's next big step | Aug. 29, 2026 Ben Nesselhuf

Room for improvement | ‘Back to normal ... what we have here is good’ | A big job | The Democrats most winnable race? | Using AI to improve record keeping | Online & early voter registration

THE SCOUTING LOUNGE PODCAST

A weekly podcast where award-winning reporters Joe Sneve and Jonathan Ellis ditch the gotcha journalism to bring candid, behind-the-scenes conversations with South Dakota’s political leaders, celebrities and newsmakers.

THE LOUNGE