Jonathan Ellis

A founder and writer at The Dakota Scout. When I'm not chasing stories I'm coaching soccer.

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Podcast

A year of freedom, lawmakers warned & is Sioux Falls ready for a mayor’s mansion?

Jul 30, 2026

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3 min read

A year of freedom, lawmakers warned & is Sioux Falls ready for a mayor’s mansion?

SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING: Former legislator and high school tennis stud Richard Thomason joins Joe and Jon to discuss a busy news week in South Dakota.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

Stepping in taxidermy, the Trump tribe, AI's place in journalism & what do about South Dakota counties

Jul 30, 2026

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3 min read

Stepping in taxidermy, the Trump tribe, AI's place in journalism & what do about South Dakota counties

SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING: In this week's Sioux Falls-heavy episode of the SCOUTING REPORT, Megan Raposa of SIOUX FALLS SIMPLIFIED and Patrick Lalley of SIOUX FALLS LIVE visit the newsroom.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

Planning to pivot, restaurant resiliency, dual citizenship & what it takes to win a statewide office as a Democrat

Jul 30, 2026

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3 min read

Planning to pivot, restaurant resiliency, dual citizenship & what it takes to win a statewide office as a Democrat

SPONSORED BY JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS & BEAL DISTRIBUTING | Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Julian Beaudion joined the show to discuss his business, downtown parking and running for office.

Joe Sneve, +1

Podcast

Springfield's PTSD; crime, punishment, prison services & the joy of being AG; Trump lawfare; & making memories with Jamie Smith

Jul 30, 2026

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3 min read

Springfield's PTSD; crime, punishment, prison services & the joy of being AG; Trump lawfare; & making memories with Jamie Smith

SPONSORED BY JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS & BEAL DISTRIBUTING | Sen. Jamie Smith discusses the governor's prison task force and possible mayoral plans. Plus, AG Marty Jackley on his future and Trump lawsuits.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

The French Creek news drip, when deportation isn't justice, Doeden's lawnmower & Taffy Howard's place in the governor's race

Jul 30, 2026

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3 min read

The French Creek news drip, when deportation isn't justice, Doeden's lawnmower & Taffy Howard's place in the governor's race

SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING & JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS | Jon & Joe discuss the big political news of the week, and South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley makes a quick visit to the bunker.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

The pro-life dilemma, education in India, four generations of lawmaking, Medicaid work requirements & how the OSHA story came to be

Jul 30, 2026

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3 min read

The pro-life dilemma, education in India, four generations of lawmaking, Medicaid work requirements & how the OSHA story came to be

SPONSORED BY S.D. TREASURER'S UNCLAIMED PROPERTY DIVISION & BEAL DISTRIBUTING: District 25 Rep. Randy Gross sits down in THE DAKOTA SCOUT newsroom with Jon and Joe for a wide-ranging conversation

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

The homeschool swing, free speech, college drag & taxes

Jul 30, 2026

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3 min read

The homeschool swing, free speech, college drag & taxes

SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING & S.D. TREASURER'S UNCLAIMED PROPERTY DIVISION: Keith Moore of Americans for Prosperity visits THE DAKOTA SCOUT newsroom for a chat with Jon and Joe.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

The '24 election season is here, a legislative bromance, putting lipstick on a pig & a 30-year payback plan

Jul 30, 2026

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3 min read

The '24 election season is here, a legislative bromance, putting lipstick on a pig & a 30-year payback plan

SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING: Jon & Joe talk the news of the week , Sen. David Wheeler & District 25 candidate Jordan Youngberg visit The Dakota Scout newsroom & some unexpected Schoenbeck zingers

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

Navigating potential conflicts, selling beer to foreigners, radio silence & a Thune's hidden talent

Jul 30, 2026

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3 min read

Navigating potential conflicts, selling beer to foreigners, radio silence & a Thune's hidden talent

SPONSORED BY S.D. TREASURER'S UNCLAIMED PROPERTY DIVISION & BEAL DISTRIBUTING: South Dakota Trade's Luke Lindberg & Sen. Randy Deibert visit THE DAKOTA SCOUT newsroom

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

Dusty's got pipes | A long-shot's 'Hail Mary' | Data centers, electricity & taxes | Not shooting straight | A dedicated Yote | Lemmon to USD | The grocer | Bad candidates | Homeless draw

May 14, 2026

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3 min read

Dusty's got pipes | A long-shot's 'Hail Mary' | Data centers, electricity & taxes | Not shooting straight | A dedicated Yote | Lemmon to USD | The grocer | Bad candidates | Homeless draw

Sponsors: JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS & BEAL DISTRIBUTING | Rep. Dusty Johnson talks about not picking a running mate before the June primary, his upbringing & life in Mitchell

The Dakota Scout, +3

Podcast

DSU shines | Coalescing Sanford, Avera & Monument | Navigating new nurses | Skeletons & treasure | Blame Trump | Hunting elephants

May 7, 2026

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3 min read

DSU shines | Coalescing Sanford, Avera & Monument | Navigating new nurses | Skeletons & treasure | Blame Trump | Hunting elephants

SPONSORS: JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS & BEAL DISTRIBUTING | Tim Rave, president & CEO of SD Association of Healthcare Organizations & former SD House Speaker Tim Rave makes his debut visit to The Lounge

The Dakota Scout, +3

Podcast

The postmortem | Ellis & Lalley decompress | Handwritten notes & more debate rulebreakers | The best questions & answers | Sioux Falls mayoral hopefuls up next

Apr 30, 2026

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3 min read

The postmortem | Ellis & Lalley decompress | Handwritten notes & more debate rulebreakers | The best questions & answers | Sioux Falls mayoral hopefuls up next

SPONSORS: JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS & Beal Distributing | Jon, Joe & Sioux Falls Live's Patrick Lalley recap the GOP primary debate between gubernatorial candidates Rhoden, Hansen, Johnson & Doeden.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

(Steel) horses | Badlands dirt biking | Re-hooked on phonics | Classroom renegade | Why run? | War or Defense | A'bullsh*t' story | South Dakota's First Lady | SURFing with DSU

Apr 23, 2026

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3 min read

(Steel) horses | Badlands dirt biking | Re-hooked on phonics | Classroom renegade | Why run? | War or Defense | A'bullsh*t' story | South Dakota's First Lady | SURFing with DSU

SPONSORS: JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS & Beal Distributing | South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden and First Lady Sandy Rhoden visit The Dakota Scout Lounge as guests on the latest podcast episode

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

The mystery of the bogus candidates | 3 theories | 2020's sus count | What a county party does | Courting Dominion | Ballot drought | K-12 superintendent shoutouts

Apr 16, 2026

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3 min read

The mystery of the bogus candidates | 3 theories | 2020's sus count | What a county party does | Courting Dominion | Ballot drought | K-12 superintendent shoutouts

SPONSORS: JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS & Beal Distributing | Minnehaha GOP Chairman Korry Petterson joins the show to discuss the party's role in elections.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

Running while building | From S.D. Trade to the U.N. | Being Brittany Lindberg's husband | The Scout's Iranian subscribers

Apr 9, 2026

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3 min read

Running while building | From S.D. Trade to the U.N. | Being Brittany Lindberg's husband | The Scout's Iranian subscribers

SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING & JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS | USDA Undersecretary Luke Lindberg talks federal policy & what's ahead at the United Nations; S.D. Democratic Party's Dan Ahlers on his run for gov

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

Selling out & selling out | The politics of being A-political | Did $ioux Falls get $nubbed | Four Winds Arts & Music Fest | A wannabe musician's entitlement complex

Apr 2, 2026

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3 min read

Selling out & selling out | The politics of being A-political | Did $ioux Falls get $nubbed | Four Winds Arts & Music Fest | A wannabe musician's entitlement complex

SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING & JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS | Metro Concerts Live founder Corey Church talks about sustaining an annual music festival that now includes a bill of more than 100 bands.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

Busy busting bad guys | Happy trees | The 'No' vote | Westward pork & city growth | Cop turned killer

Mar 19, 2026

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3 min read

Busy busting bad guys | Happy trees | The 'No' vote | Westward pork & city growth | Cop turned killer

SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING & JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS | South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley & Sioux Falls Councilor David Barranco are this week’s Scouting Lounge guests.

The Dakota Scout, +1

Podcast

Gravy days of newspapering | Field guide for data centers | Building trust | Understanding rural concerns | 50 miles down the road | Pipeline poisoning

Mar 12, 2026

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3 min read

Gravy days of newspapering | Field guide for data centers | Building trust | Understanding rural concerns | 50 miles down the road | Pipeline poisoning

Sponsored by Juna Sleep Systems & Beal Distributing | Matt Merritt of Paulsen Agency joins the Lounge to talk about the dos and don'ts of communicating economic development in rural areas

The Dakota Scout, +1

Podcast

Making a mayor mad | Crafting contracts | SNAP success | Stressing war | Balancing a budget | Policing in Sioux Falls | Creating a new tax

Mar 5, 2026

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3 min read

Making a mayor mad | Crafting contracts | SNAP success | Stressing war | Balancing a budget | Policing in Sioux Falls | Creating a new tax

Sponsored by Juna Sleep Systems & Beal Distributing | The Scouting Lounge hosts Jason Holbeck and Logan Eilers with the Sioux Falls Police Labor Council to discuss policing in Sioux Falls

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

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

Feb 26, 2026

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3 min read

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

Sponsored by Juna Sleep Systems & Beal Distributing | Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen opens up about his role in this week's Capitol drama, & SDEA's Ryan Rolfs defends public schools' place in South Dakota.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

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

Feb 19, 2026

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3 min read

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

Sponsored by Juna Sleep Systems & Beal Distributing | This week's Scouting Lounge guests: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Justin McNeal & Sioux Falls Councilors Richard Merkouris & Richard Thomason

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

Lounge carpet laying | Pipelines + prisons + data centers = GOP leadership clash | SLAPPing back frivolous lawsuits | Betting on sports betting | An overdue Medal of Honor | Striking independence

Feb 5, 2026

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3 min read

Lounge carpet laying | Pipelines + prisons + data centers = GOP leadership clash | SLAPPing back frivolous lawsuits | Betting on sports betting | An overdue Medal of Honor | Striking independence

Sponsored by Juna Sleep Systems & Beal Distributing | Independent U.S. Senate candidate Brian Bengs joins the Scouting Lounge amid a newsy week of legislative happenings at the South Dakota Capitol.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

A very bad day | Nosey neighbors | Rescued by a former legislator | Data center defeat | The GOP's consigliere | Nibbling on property taxes | Mayoral run lessons

Jan 29, 2026

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3 min read

A very bad day | Nosey neighbors | Rescued by a former legislator | Data center defeat | The GOP's consigliere | Nibbling on property taxes | Mayoral run lessons

Sponsored by Juna Sleep Systems & Beal Distributing | Mayoral candidate & state Rep. Greg Jamison stops by the Scouting Lounge to talk about the Legislature and his Sioux Falls campaign.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

Guess who's back? | Recharged with a second chance | Civic engagement: ER edition | Foreigners, 'canucks' & headline wars | In the shadow of 'the seating incident'

Jan 22, 2026

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3 min read

Guess who's back? | Recharged with a second chance | Civic engagement: ER edition | Foreigners, 'canucks' & headline wars | In the shadow of 'the seating incident'

Sponsored by Juna Sleep Systems & Beal Distributing | Sioux Falls City Councilor David Barranco opens up about the near-death health scare that sidelined him from public life for months.

The Dakota Scout, +2

Podcast

A five-year itch? | Seat drama | Heading west | Future Fund feud | Winning by winging it | South Dakota's uniquely-shoddy postal system

Jan 15, 2026

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3 min read

A five-year itch? | Seat drama | Heading west | Future Fund feud | Winning by winging it | South Dakota's uniquely-shoddy postal system

Sponsored by Juna Sleep Systems & Beal Distributing | Jon & Joe reunite in The Dakota Scout's Scouting Lounge after the first week of the 101st Legislative Session.

The Dakota Scout, +2