The Dakota Scout | Substack

Trump ousts Noem as Homeland Security secretary following disastrous hearing

Former South Dakota governor to remain on White House team

17 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

First big test of Rhoden property tax plan on its way to becoming law

Counties would be allowed to impose a sales tax in order to reduce property taxes under plan approved by House

13 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

Supreme Court rules transgender people can't get birth certificates reflecting gender identity

Department of Health rules say statistical data can only be changed if error made at time of creation

16 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Sioux Falls defends story-telling sculptor behind Fawick Park Statue of David

This week in South Dakota history: Feb. 27-Mar. 5

15 hrs ago • Dan Gehlsen

STRAIGHT OUTTA PIERRE | Tipping on a swivel, the tie vote and South Dakota's missing senator

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

16 hrs ago

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State Politics

First big test of Rhoden property tax plan on its way to becoming law

Counties would be allowed to impose a sales tax in order to reduce property taxes under plan approved by House

13 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

'We do not have the option to delay services'

South Dakota educators push lawmakers to boost funding for costly special-education cases as critics warn it'd raise taxes statewide

Mar 4 • Todd Epp

Gov. Rhoden, House Speaker Hansen team up on property tax relief package

Both Larry Rhoden and Jon Hansen look to sales tax revenue to offset escalating bills for homeowners

Mar 4 • Jonathan Ellis

Lawmakers take pass on $87 million in federal broadband funding, citing national debt

Fiscal hawks in the South Dakota Senate band together to reject high-speed Internet dollars

Mar 4 • Jonathan Ellis

Schools would be required to show prenatal video as lawmakers change abortion definition

Two measures deal with reproduction making their way to the governor following Senate votes

Mar 3 • Jonathan Ellis

Inmate recidivism funding falls short amid push for new prisons

Five-year contract would have provided training to give prisoners leadership skills

Mar 3 • Jonathan Ellis

The latest from

The Dakota Scout

Crossword, Sudoku answers: March 6-12

Jonathan Ellis

First big test of Rhoden property tax plan on its way to becoming law

Dan Gehlsen

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Sioux Falls defends story-telling sculptor behind Fawick Park Statue of David

Joe Sneve

Sioux Falls mayor, police slam recidivism vote, say it undercuts $650M prison promises

Ryan M Stoick

CARTOON | Foundation pork

Sioux Falls

Law enforcement ties Sioux Falls’ drug bust drop to border security

Fentanyl seizures dropped 87 percent from 2024 to 2025, while meth, coke and heroin confiscations also decreased

Mar 5 • Hunter Dunteman

Staffing shortages, funding shortfalls, reluctant lawmakers linger for South Dakota EMS

Lincoln County Commission frustrated with lack of action to address ambulance service constraints as another community moves to limit service for rural…

Mar 4 • Todd Epp

Sioux Falls’ crime rate continues trending down as population steadily grows

Public safety leaders say latest police data shows South Dakota's largest city still safe place to live

Mar 4 • Hunter Dunteman

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

STRAIGHT OUTTA PIERRE | Tipping on a swivel, the tie vote and South Dakota's missing senator

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

16 hrs ago

VIEWPOINT | Don’t let THC fears, poison pills sink the Farm Bill

Guest column by Mike Jaspers, former South Dakota Ag Secretary & state USDA Rural Development director

Mar 3

VIEWPOINT | Protecting life requires prudence, not punishment

Guest column by Fred Deutsch, former South Dakota lawmaker

Mar 1

Podcasts

The Scouting Lounge

Senate lockdowns | Tonnes the Tie Breaker | Fighting for public education | Reading a room & to a room | Getting it wrong | High growth…

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Trump ousts Noem as Homeland Security secretary following disastrous hearing

The Lounge

Crossword, Sudoku answers: March 6-12

Free, for your entertainment

10 hrs ago • The Dakota Scout

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Sioux Falls defends story-telling sculptor behind Fawick Park Statue of David

This week in South Dakota history: Feb. 27-Mar. 5

15 hrs ago • Dan Gehlsen

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

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

16 hrs ago • The Dakota Scout

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