THE DAKOTA SCOUT

No messing around…

The Dakota Scout is South Dakota’s leading journal of politics and culture, locally owned and printed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Veteran reporters Jonathan Ellis and Joe Sneve cofounded the newspaper in 2022. Together, they have more than 40 years of combined experience in South Dakota journalism, earning them reputations as dogged reporters who’ve not lost touch with their neighbors’ sensibilities.

The Scout’s logo is modeled after famous surveyors Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, representing our relentless pursuit of truth in a vast, new era of South Dakota journalism.

Stay on top of what’s happening at Sioux Falls City Hall and the State Capitol in Pierre with breaking news, investigative reporting and a constant drumbeat of information about the world around you.

Subscribe to get full access to The Dakota Scout stories sent directly to your inbox, and the state’s top political podcast, The Scouting Lounge. And make sure to reach out to Jon (jonathan@thedakotascout.com) and Joe (joe@thedakotascout.com) if you know something you think they should, too.

Pick up the The Dakota Scout newspaper

The Dakota Scout prints and distributes a newspaper each Friday without charge at convenient stores, grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars and waiting rooms. Signing up today ensures you’ll receive the digital version of the weekly newspaper in your inbox each week.

Our weekly print newspaper hits newsstands every Friday in Alexandria, Aberdeen, Baltic, Brandon, Brookings, Canton, Chester, Colton, Colman, Dell Rapids, Flandreau, Emery, Harrisburg, Hartford, Madison, Mitchell, Pierre, Sioux Falls and Tea.

Pick up The Dakota Scout at a location near you, and using our interactive map if you need help figuring out where the weekly newspaper is distributed!

Dakota Scout locations

Got something to say?

To submit a letter to the editor or guest column, email editor@thedakotascout.com. Guest columns must be between 400-1,000 words, include a brief biographical note about the author and should be accompanied with a photograph of the author.

Letters to the editor are 400 words or less and must be submitted with information that identifies the author and where they reside in South Dakota. editor@thedakotascout.com

Advertising

For pricing on print ads, digital ads, or obituaries, check out our media kit on the advertising page. Contact Advertising Director Nick Levisay (nick@thedakotascout.com) to see your organization spotlighted by The Dakota Scout.

Contact Us

Mail: 114 S Main Ave STE B4, Sioux Falls, S.D. 57104
Phone: (605) 271-4586
General inquiries:
info@thedakotascout.com
Editor: editor@thedakotascout.com
Events: events@thedakotascout.com
Advertising: advertising@thedakotascout.com
Public notices: legals@thedakotascout.com
Obituaries: obits@thedakotascout.com


NOTE: The Dakota Scout is an independent organization with editorial decisions made without consideration to our paid advertisers.

User's avatar

Subscribe to 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.

People

Fifth-generation South Dakotan in his 15th year covering local news. When he's not hounding politicians and hunting for the next big story, he spends his time with his two daughters, riding motorcycles and chasing Pearl Jam around the globe.
Ryan Stoick is a local, self-taught cartoonist. Living and working within the Sioux Falls community. Disabled since birth, you may have seen him tooling around downtown in his beloved, motorized scooter "Iris".
A curator of South Dakota's events and entertainment for The Dakota Scout newspaper.
A founder and writer at The Dakota Scout. When I'm not chasing stories I'm coaching soccer.
With a background in sales and customer service, Nick has served as The Dakota Scout's Director of Advertising for the last year and a half. Contact: nick@thedakotascout.com
South Dakota’s leading alternative, independent and locally owned political newspaper focusing on state and local politics in state Capitol and Sioux Falls.
The Dakota Scout's Director of Legals & Public Notices, Dan is also The Scout's Scouting Yesterday historian. When he's not looking over the records of yesterday and today he enjoys spending time gardening and camping with his daughter.
Virginia is South Dakota journalist and storyteller who covers a variety of news topics for area publications. Her focus is community news and stories that have regional significance.
Bo’s hunted pheasants, landed walleyes, and spent 30 years in SD politics. He’s outlasted careers, been ignored, occasionally thanked, and still knows when someone’s bluffing—or just rehearsing for the next season.