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SCOUTING REPORT | Dam releases, USD sculpture, Eiffel outrage, SD 250 stories

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

Sep 13, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

VIEWPOINT | How I plan to improve the Minnehaha County Auditor's Office

Guest column by Curt Deedrich, auditor candidate

Sep 13, 2026

The Dakota Scout

VIEWPOINT | How I plan to improve the Minnehaha County Auditor's Office

CARTOON | O Canada

As seen in the Sept. 11-17, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Sep 13, 2026

Ryan M Stoick

BIA's Missing and Murdered Unit years behind in pursuing cases

Audit finds primary causes include understaffing, lack of personnel dedicated to handling referrals

Sep 13, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

BIA's Missing and Murdered Unit years behind in pursuing cases

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

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State Politics

AG argues plaintiffs lack standing in proof of citizenship voting lawsuit

League of Women Voters, Sioux Falls resident sued state over voter registration law passed by South Dakota Legislature

Sep 8, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

Rhoden, Ahlers spar over ag, education and health care

Governor criticizes Trump decision to import beef

Sep 5, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

English origins | Coming to America | Coaching success | Data center lobbying | Defending the Flock | Zoo ask | Turfing a field

SPONSORED BY FIRST BANK & TRUST, BEAL DISTRIBUTING & JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS | Sept. 5, 2026 James Oppenheimer

Sep 5, 2026

The Dakota Scout, Joe Sneve, Jonathan Ellis

Bengs wants data center, AI 'dark money' out of South Dakota politics

Independent U.S. Senate candidate uses anti-Big Tech appeal to level criticism at his Republican opponent, incumbent Sen. Mike Rounds

Sep 4, 2026

Dominik Dausch

Data center developer, Noem son-in-law settle lawsuit

Watertown City Councilor Kyle Peters was public face of Gemini Sioux Falls project

Sep 3, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

Trump admin sending more than $5M to storm-battered South Dakota

Federal aid follows storms that brought 131 mph winds, widespread damage to Highmore, Beadle counties

Sep 1, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Sioux falls

Erickson selects seasoned employee to lead city's HR office

Interim Director Kim Stulken to lead city of Sioux Falls’ human resources department after 17 years of service

Sep 11, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Police union calls for accountability as Sioux Falls budgets for Flock cameras

Labor organization representing law enforcement officers says state needs statutes with ‘real consequences’ for abusing use of ALPRs

Sep 11, 2026

Dominik Dausch

The Link eyes new clinic operator, but funding deficit concerns loom

City councilor says next months will be vital for community triage center’s long-term plans in Sioux Falls

Sep 10, 2026

Dominik Dausch

Sioux Falls preparing to add 1,200 new trees this fall

Reforesting effort comes amid emerald ash borer blight and thousands of dead ash trees

Sep 9, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

USF denies negligence in $3.35M fall lawsuit

Soccer player fell from University of Sioux Falls loft bed

Sep 9, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

Sioux Falls finds Wi-Fi workaround for costly emergency radio mandate

Fire marshal wants to allow schools, hospitals to use cellular technology instead of six-figure hardwired radio systems

Sep 6, 2026

Joe Sneve

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 | Dam releases, USD sculpture, Eiffel outrage, SD 250 stories

VIEWPOINT | How I plan to improve the Minnehaha County Auditor's Office

CARTOON | O Canada

BIA's Missing and Murdered Unit years behind in pursuing cases

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

AG argues plaintiffs lack standing in proof of citizenship voting lawsuit

Rhoden, Ahlers spar over ag, education and health care

English origins | Coming to America | Coaching success | Data center lobbying | Defending the Flock | Zoo ask | Turfing a field

Bengs wants data center, AI 'dark money' out of South Dakota politics

Data center developer, Noem son-in-law settle lawsuit

Trump admin sending more than $5M to storm-battered South Dakota

Sioux falls

Erickson selects seasoned employee to lead city's HR office

Police union calls for accountability as Sioux Falls budgets for Flock cameras

The Link eyes new clinic operator, but funding deficit concerns loom

Sioux Falls preparing to add 1,200 new trees this fall

USF denies negligence in $3.35M fall lawsuit

Sioux Falls finds Wi-Fi workaround for costly emergency radio mandate

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