The Dakota Scout | Substack

Budget pressures push South Dakota toward reserve funds

State finance officials warn of flat revenues, rising Medicaid costs as lawmakers open 2026 session

4 hrs ago • Todd Epp

Sioux Falls changing approach to teaching English learners amid study success

Board also confronted by grandmother who says grandson suspended over handling of toy gun

10 hrs ago • Todd Epp

Tax relief, public safety, national security push drive Rhoden's 2026 vision

South Dakota governor frames State of the State address around 'Strong, safe and free' theme; speech marks start of 2026 Legislative Session

11 hrs ago • Joe Sneve

TRANSCRIPT: Gov. Larry Rhoden delivers first State of the State

Read the full transcript of 2026 address to the South Dakota Legislature

12 hrs ago • The Dakota Scout

Judge rules against Huron health care staffing firm in trademark dispute

Wisconsin-based PRN Health Services has held federal trademark for decades

18 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

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

State Politics

Budget pressures push South Dakota toward reserve funds

State finance officials warn of flat revenues, rising Medicaid costs as lawmakers open 2026 session

4 hrs ago • Todd Epp

Tax relief, public safety, national security push drive Rhoden's 2026 vision

South Dakota governor frames State of the State address around 'Strong, safe and free' theme; speech marks start of 2026 Legislative Session

11 hrs ago • Joe Sneve

DNC threatens South Dakota over voter data sharing with Trump administration

Democrats say cooperation with DOJ by Secretary of State violates National Voter Registration Act

Jan 9 • Joe Sneve

Majority Leader John Thune shares his list of 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' Democrats

South Dakota's senior senator opens up about losing temper during government shutdown

Jan 4 • Jonathan Ellis

Jackley to take aim at prison smugglers, AI generated porn in drafted legislation

Attorney general drops first batch of bills; vows more are coming

Dec 29, 2025 • The Dakota Scout

South Dakota lawmakers to debate guns, government power, term limits

The Dakota Scout reviews 17 early bills that signal familiar fights await 101st Legislative Session

Dec 24, 2025 • The Dakota Scout

The latest from

Joe Sneve

Tax relief, public safety, national security push drive Rhoden's 2026 vision

The Dakota Scout

TRANSCRIPT: Gov. Larry Rhoden delivers first State of the State

Jonathan Ellis

Judge rules against Huron health care staffing firm in trademark dispute

Ryan M Stoick

CARTOON | Battlin' burgers

Dan Gehlsen

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Clogs, water scarcity bust South Dakota’s artesian well boom

Chad Garnes

Republican hopefuls in South Dakota's 2026 governor's race agree to April debates

Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls changing approach to teaching English learners amid study success

Board also confronted by grandmother who says grandson suspended over handling of toy gun

10 hrs ago • Todd Epp

Sioux Falls voters could get final say over this week's data center rezone vote

Let Sioux Falls Vote launches petition drive to refer the City Council's approval of Gemini Capital land use application for hyperscale data center

Jan 9 • Patrick Lalley

Greg Jamison emphasizes public safety, deep community ties as he lights fuse on mayoral bid

Longtime Sioux Falls business owner, political player says the city must prepare for era of less federal funding

Jan 8 • 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 | The Dust Bowl is still teaching property tax reform lessons

Guest column by Jordan Deffenbaugh

Jan 12

VIEWPOINT | Choosing facts over fear ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session

Guest Column by Rodger Horr

Jan 11

CARTOON | Battlin' burgers

As seen in the Jan. 9-15, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Jan 11 • Ryan M Stoick

Podcasts

The Scouting Lounge

County clash | Data center discourse, flipping birds & Jamie to the rescue | Journalism's AI traps | Rallying for those in harm's way | Make…

FREE TO READ

TRANSCRIPT: Gov. Larry Rhoden delivers first State of the State

The Lounge

REVIEW | ‘Stuffy the Bear: Had a Hole in His Heart ’ offers gentle lesson in healing

South Dakota author Kris Jerke’s new children’s book blends whimsy, emotional insight in a story of love, loss and what makes us whole

Jan 11 • Rebecca Garnes

Crossword, Sudoku answers: Jan. 9-15

Free, for your entertainment

Jan 9 • 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

Jan 8 • The Dakota Scout

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