The Dakota Scout | Substack

'I have cancer': South Dakota auditor hopeful opens up on diagnosis

More medical tests underway for David Barranco as Sioux Falls city councilor's treatment plan develops

10 hrs ago • The Dakota Scout

St. Joseph’s Indian School to give away thousands more books across South Dakota

Native American authors, reading promoted with statewide bookmobile that logged 3,000 miles, 22,610 donated books in 2025

13 hrs ago • The Dakota Scout

Highway Patrol will increase number of troopers assisting ICE with immigration enforcement

GOP candidates for governor want more local law enforcement agencies to work with ICE

15 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

The Dakota Scout E-edition | May 15-21, 2026

Volume 2 | Number 90

18 hrs ago

SCOUTING REPORT | Finishing perfect, concert art, small biz awardees, Peggy Laurenz, RIP

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

May 17 • Jonathan Ellis

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

State Politics

'I have cancer': South Dakota auditor hopeful opens up on diagnosis

More medical tests underway for David Barranco as Sioux Falls city councilor's treatment plan develops

10 hrs ago • The Dakota Scout

South Dakota Democrats book Joe Biden to headline party banquet

Former president set to give keynote at June 5 McGovern Day Dinner in Sioux Falls

May 16 • The Dakota Scout

Johnson won’t announce running mate before South Dakota Republicans cast first votes

Lieutenant governor choices still unclear for two of four candidates in GOP primary

May 16 • The Dakota Scout

Rhoden campaign tells broadcasters to pull attack ads targeting his legislative record

Incumbent governor's campaign promises ‘further action’ if ads not removed

May 8 • Dominik Dausch

Bankruptcies, criminal past follow Custer man to South Dakota treasurer's race

Court, financial records detail legal troubles for Republican campaigning for office that oversees billions; Heath Shields cites faith for life…

May 8 • Jonathan Ellis

Rhoden revives Noem-era tourism grant fund

South Dakota governor also announces plan to award $200,000 to 40 projects statewide

May 4 • Dominik Dausch

The latest from

The Dakota Scout

'I have cancer': South Dakota auditor hopeful opens up on diagnosis

Jonathan Ellis

Highway Patrol will increase number of troopers assisting ICE with immigration enforcement

Ryan M Stoick

CARTOON | Rate Xceleration

Joe Sneve

Dusty's got pipes | A long-shot's 'Hail Mary' | Data centers, electricity & taxes | Not shooting straight | A dedicated Yote | Lemmon to USD…

Dominik Dausch

Sioux Falls building $5.1M fire station as city's northwest joins boom

Dan Gehlsen

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Decades of reforestation follow South Dakota's most devastating Black Hills fire

Sioux Falls

Homeless hub: Sioux Falls attracts homeless as other cities close services, data show

City officials wary of regional communities busing in their homeless as shelters close

May 17 • Jonathan Ellis

Lincoln County faces tough questions about courthouse roof repairs

Cost to replace damaged beams, trusses and other parts 'substantial' according to engineering report

May 15 • Todd Epp

America250 sparks grassroots-led Independence Day Parade revival in Sioux Falls

July 4 parade returns after three-year hiatus; event anchors months of activities commemorating country's birth

May 15 • Joe Sneve

The Dakota Scout

The Dakota Scout

South Dakota’s leading alternative, independent and locally owned newspaper focusing on culture and politics in the Mount Rushmore State. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Viewpoints

VIEWPOINT | Flock safety quietly moves its guardrails while South Dakotans lose

Guest column by Andrew Konechne, Brookings

May 17

CARTOON | Rate Xceleration

As seen in the May 15-21, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

May 16 • Ryan M Stoick

STRAIGHT OUTTA PIERRE | Full tanks, empty wallets hurt more than political attacks

Sharp, snappy and South Dakotan — an anonymous shot of insight with a twist of sarcasm

May 14 • Bo Hutchins

Podcasts

The Scouting Lounge

Dusty's got pipes | A long-shot's 'Hail Mary' | Data centers, electricity & taxes | Not shooting straight | A dedicated Yote | Lemmon to USD…

FREE TO READ

St. Joseph’s Indian School to give away thousands more books across South Dakota

The Lounge

Crossword, Sudoku answers: May 15-21

Free, for your entertainment

May 16 • The Dakota Scout

What's going on, South Dakota? | Upcoming events & entertainment

Submit your events for The Dakota Scout's Lounge section by emailing events@thedakotascout.com

May 14 • The Dakota Scout

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Decades of reforestation follow South Dakota's most devastating Black Hills fire

This week in South Dakota history: May 8-14

May 13 • Dan Gehlsen

Social

Facebook - The Dakota Scout

X - The Dakota Scout

Instagram - The Dakota Scout

LinkedIn - The Dakota Scout

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts