The Dakota Scout | Substack

Rapid City Republican kicked off South Dakota House Education Committee in latest clash with GOP leaders

Rep. Phil Jensen connected to 'seating incident' involving insubordinate lawmakers

4 hrs ago • Todd Epp, Jonathan Ellis, and Joe Sneve

Lawmakers remember colleagues who died in 2025

Departed included veterans, farmers, clergy and others as families honored in memorial

4 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds launches 2026 re-election bid

Campaign launch follows President Donald Trump's endorsement of Republican senator for third term on Capitol Hill

9 hrs ago • Joe Sneve

Dell Rapids, Minnehaha County splitting voter precincts for city, rural citizens

Governments plan to alert voting public ahead of 2026 elections

6 hrs ago • Hunter Dunteman

Senate committee moves to eliminate firearm suppressors as controlled weapons

Sen. Casey Crabtree says move follows Trump administration efforts to deregulate the devices

10 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

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State Politics

Rapid City Republican kicked off South Dakota House Education Committee in latest clash with GOP leaders

Rep. Phil Jensen connected to 'seating incident' involving insubordinate lawmakers

4 hrs ago • Todd Epp, Jonathan Ellis, and Joe Sneve

South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds launches 2026 re-election bid

Campaign launch follows President Donald Trump's endorsement of Republican senator for third term on Capitol Hill

9 hrs ago • Joe Sneve

Senate committee moves to eliminate firearm suppressors as controlled weapons

Sen. Casey Crabtree says move follows Trump administration efforts to deregulate the devices

10 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

Health panel wants South Dakota Senate to settle debate over CBD regulations, kratom bans

Black Hills lawmaker's bill targeting hemp-derived products criticized as business killer

Jan 21 • Todd Epp

Rural ambulance strains spur deregulation push at South Dakota Capitol

Two measures aimed at ensuring nurses, firefighters can assist with emergency transports clear first legislative hurdles

Jan 20 • Todd Epp

Future Fund deadlock reflects deeper wedge over economic development in South Dakota

Measure to take authority from governor's office called a 'compromise' as calls to dismantle program gain traction

Jan 16 • Joe Sneve

The latest from

Jonathan Ellis

Lawmakers remember colleagues who died in 2025

Joe Sneve

Rapid City Republican kicked off South Dakota House Education Committee in latest clash with GOP leaders

The Dakota Scout

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

Dan Gehlsen

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | South Dakota’s Russian ‘grip’ foreshadowed 1918 lockdowns

Ryan M Stoick

CARTOON | Battlin' burgers

Sioux Falls

Dell Rapids, Minnehaha County splitting voter precincts for city, rural citizens

Governments plan to alert voting public ahead of 2026 elections

6 hrs ago • Hunter Dunteman

Sioux Falls unveils land growth numbers from 2025

Eight annexations add hundreds of acres to inventory of South Dakota's largest city

Jan 21 • Joe Sneve

Dispute over Washington Pavilion construction project moves to federal court

Sioux Falls, subcontractor at odds with Nebraska contractor and surety bonding firm

Jan 20 • Jonathan Ellis

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 | South Dakota decision makers put uranium prospects before Black Hills residents, tribes

Guest column by Rebecca Terk, Dakota Rural Action

Jan 21

STRAIGHT OUTTA PIERRE | South Dakota legislators disciplined before school discipline debate; Week One brings seating charts, déjà vu

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

Jan 20

VIEWPOINT | Aspersions cast on South Dakota’s good news are shameful

Guest column by Dana Dykhouse

Jan 19

Podcasts

The Scouting Lounge

A five-year itch? | Seat drama | Heading west | Future Fund feud | Winning by winging it | South Dakota's uniquely-shoddy postal system

FREE TO READ

Bill to ban sale of pot-like Delta-9 to minors is on path to easy passage

The Lounge

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

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

9 hrs ago • The Dakota Scout

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | South Dakota’s Russian ‘grip’ foreshadowed 1918 lockdowns

This week in South Dakota history: Jan. 16-22

Jan 22 • Dan Gehlsen

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Newspaper tribute marked legacy of ‘Aunt Lou,’ Black Hills trailblazer

This week in South Dakota history: Jan. 9-15

Jan 16 • Dan Gehlsen

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