The Dakota Scout | Substack

SCOUTING REPORT | Owning it outright, seatbelt importance, assaulting witnesses, appreciating South Dakota places

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

11 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

LETTER | What’s wrong with Pierre?

I’m the last person to be considered an expert here.

9 hrs ago

CARTOON | Eat me, please 🐮

As seen in the Feb. 6-12, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Feb 7 • Ryan M Stoick

Giving good vibes: Sioux Valley Optimist Club turns 50

Group focuses philanthropic efforts on helping children in need

Feb 7 • Dorene Weinstein

Lounge carpet laying | Pipelines + prisons + data centers = GOP leadership clash | SLAPPing back frivolous lawsuits | Betting on sports…

Listen now | Sponsored by Juna Sleep Systems & Beal Distributing | Independent U.S. Senate candidate Brian Bengs joins the Scouting Lounge amid a newsy…

Feb 7 • Jonathan Ellis, Joe Sneve, and The Dakota Scout

1:27:15

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State Politics

Voters could decide whether to offset property taxes with sports betting revenues

Thousands of South Dakotans going to other states to place wagers, analysis finds

Feb 6 • Jonathan Ellis

South Dakota Senate takes aim at frivolous lawsuits meant to suppress free speech

More than three dozen states already have anti-SLAPP laws on their books

Feb 6 • Jonathan Ellis

GOP leaders clash over data center policies during news conference

Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff accuses House Speaker Jon Hansen of being anti-economic development

Feb 5 • Todd Epp

Millions in extra revenue could salvage funding for education, Medicaid, state employees

December sales tax growth eclipsed projections, but state budget chief cautions about 'anomaly'

Feb 5 • Jonathan Ellis

School districts survive effort to increase voter scrutiny on property taxes

Lawmakers say they are open to extending the timeframe in which voters could collect signatures to refer opt outs

Feb 5 • Jonathan Ellis

Lawmakers kill bid to entice data centers to South Dakota with tax exemptions

Speaker of the House Jon Hansen criticizes lack of transparency, prioritizing tech companies over homegrown businesses

Feb 4 • Jonathan Ellis

The latest from

Jonathan Ellis

SCOUTING REPORT | Owning it outright, seatbelt importance, assaulting witnesses, appreciating South Dakota places

Ryan M Stoick

CARTOON | Eat me, please 🐮

The Dakota Scout

Crossword, Sudoku answers: Feb. 6-12

Joe Sneve

Lounge carpet laying | Pipelines + prisons + data centers = GOP leadership clash | SLAPPing back frivolous lawsuits | Betting on sports…

Dan Gehlsen

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | History buffs take first blow in fight to save Sioux Falls Coliseum

Sioux Falls

Giving good vibes: Sioux Valley Optimist Club turns 50

Group focuses philanthropic efforts on helping children in need

Feb 7 • Dorene Weinstein

Election chief: Tighter petition deadlines would raise hurdle for South Dakota candidates, time for auditors

Measure would expand timeline for election administrators to verify signatures collected by circulators

Feb 4 • Todd Epp

Sioux Falls safe streets champions want spots on City Council; DeBoer run comes after narrow 2018 runoff

Central District, southeast, at-large races take shape as Sara Pankonin, Rich Merkouris will also make bids in crowded 2026 city council bids

Feb 3 • 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

LETTER | What’s wrong with Pierre?

I’m the last person to be considered an expert here.

9 hrs ago

CARTOON | Eat me, please 🐮

As seen in the Feb. 6-12, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Feb 7 • Ryan M Stoick

VIEWPOINT | Don’t pull the plug on rural South Dakota’s internet connection

Guest column by Joel Brick & Chad Benson, Lake County broadband providers

Feb 6

Podcasts

The Scouting Lounge

Lounge carpet laying | Pipelines + prisons + data centers = GOP leadership clash | SLAPPing back frivolous lawsuits | Betting on sports…

FREE TO READ

The Dakota Scout E-edition | Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2026

The Lounge

Crossword, Sudoku answers: Feb. 6-12

Free, for your entertainment

Feb 7 • The Dakota Scout

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | History buffs take first blow in fight to save Sioux Falls Coliseum

This week in South Dakota history: Jan. 30 - Feb. 5

Feb 5 • 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

Feb 5 • The Dakota Scout

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