The Dakota Scout | Substack

SCOUTING REPORT | School cellphones, ringing the Liberty Bell, China's collective punishment, Gassen Fieldhouse

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

11 hrs ago • Jonathan Ellis

Straight Outta Pierre | Honey, pal and the Big Three test Capitol diplomacy

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

9 hrs ago • Bo Hutchins

Property tax relief for disabled veterans in South Dakota divides GOP lawmakers

Some lawmakers warn targeted relief could undercut push for statewide property tax changes

14 hrs ago • Todd Epp

Data centers uniting some on the political extremes

Both left and right find reasons to oppose hyperscale data centers that enable artificial intelligence, crypto mining

Feb 21 • Jonathan Ellis

VIEWPOINT | State bank needed in South Dakota's affordability fight

Guest column by Robert Arnold, 2026 gubernatorial candidate

Feb 21

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State Politics

Property tax relief for disabled veterans in South Dakota divides GOP lawmakers

Some lawmakers warn targeted relief could undercut push for statewide property tax changes

14 hrs ago • Todd Epp

Data centers uniting some on the political extremes

Both left and right find reasons to oppose hyperscale data centers that enable artificial intelligence, crypto mining

Feb 21 • Jonathan Ellis

Rhoden's Sioux Falls, Rapid City airport funding bill takes flight

But turbulence could await amid pressure to ease property taxes

Feb 19 • Jonathan Ellis

Lawmakers open door for data center incentives while passing protections for water, electricity users

South Dakota senators reject calls for moratorium, mandatory setbacks on hyperscale data centers

Feb 19 • Jonathan Ellis

Capital punishment withstands repeal push by South Dakota's former prisons chief

Lawmakers side with prosecutors, victims’ families over calls from faith leaders, reform advocates to end death sentences

Feb 18 • Todd Epp

South Dakota Supreme Court rules that lieutenant governors can break Senate ties

Gov. Larry Rhoden asked for opinion after Senate blocked Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen from breaking ties

Feb 18 • Jonathan Ellis

The latest from

The Dakota Scout

Crossword, Sudoku answers: Feb. 20-26

Jonathan Ellis

SCOUTING REPORT | School cellphones, ringing the Liberty Bell, China's collective punishment, Gassen Fieldhouse

Ryan M Stoick

CARTOON | Commercial confusion

Joe Sneve

'The Dicks' | TIFs, China & the American pork producer | The prison-Smithfield conspiracy theory | A GOP dark horse | Noem '26? | Concourse…

Dan Gehlsen

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Exotic animals auctioned off by Sioux Falls fraudsters

Sioux Falls

Analysis: Longer calendar, early mayoral contributions fueling Sioux Falls election history

Erickson, Batcheller set fundraising pace in early months of 2026 municipal campaign cycle

Feb 20 • Joe Sneve

New sewer lines to unlock thousands of acres in southeast Sioux Falls

City set to begin multi-year infrastructure buildout

Feb 19 • The Dakota Scout

Smithfield wants $90M TIF for new Sioux Falls pork plant

City councilors get first look at 20-year financing plan tied to $1.3B relocation to Foundation Park

Feb 18 • 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

Straight Outta Pierre | Honey, pal and the Big Three test Capitol diplomacy

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

9 hrs ago • Bo Hutchins

VIEWPOINT | State bank needed in South Dakota's affordability fight

Guest column by Robert Arnold, 2026 gubernatorial candidate

Feb 21

CARTOON | Commercial confusion

As seen in the Feb. 20-26, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Feb 21 • Ryan M Stoick

Podcasts

The Scouting Lounge

'The Dicks' | TIFs, China & the American pork producer | The prison-Smithfield conspiracy theory | A GOP dark horse | Noem '26? | Concourse…

FREE TO READ

From classroom to ballot box, South Dakota kids put stamp on Election 2026

The Lounge

Crossword, Sudoku answers: Feb. 20-26

Free, for your entertainment

10 hrs ago • 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

Feb 19 • The Dakota Scout

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Exotic animals auctioned off by Sioux Falls fraudsters

This week in South Dakota history: Feb. 13-19

Feb 19 • Dan Gehlsen

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