SPEARFISH, S.D. — October 2025 — Dylan S. Clarkson, President and CEO of Pioneer Bank & Trust, has received and accepted two prestigious appointments to key state and national banking organizations, effective this month. Clarkson has been appointed by the Governor of South Dakota to serve as a member of the South Dakota Banking Commission […]
The Supreme Court has indicated a willingness to limit race-based districts under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. During 2 1/2 hours of arguments on Wednesday, the court’s six conservative justices seemed inclined to effectively strike down a Black majority congressional district in Louisiana because it relied too heavily on race. The landmark civil rights law has created majority-Black and Latino districts that vote reliably Democratic in some of the nation’s most conservative states. If the high court limits or strikes down Section 2, it would likely benefit Republicans and could open up more than a dozen Democratic-controlled seats for Republicans to target. However, it wouldn’t fully start until the 2028 elections and yield may few GOP gains.
President Donald Trump has confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela. The president on Wednesday also said he’s considering land operations following recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats from Venezuela. Trump told reporters at an Oval Office event that he had authorized the move because Venezuela is allowing criminals and drugs to flow into the U.S. Since early September, U.S. forces have conducted at least five strikes in the Caribbean, resulting in 27 deaths. The New York Times was first to report that Trump had authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations.
A former Los Angeles Angels official has testified that an employee convicted of providing drugs leading to the death of one of the team’s star pitchers had been taking prescription medication to deal with depression and bipolar disorder. Tim Mead, who oversaw communications at the Angels, said he was aware of the mental health struggles employee Eric Kay had faced. The testimony came in a civil trial to determine whether the Angels should be held responsible for the 2019 overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Kay was convicted of providing the drugs that led to Skaggs’ death on a team trip to Texas. The trial is expected to take weeks and could include players’ testimony.
President Donald Trump speaks as Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, left, and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi look
The South Dakota Department of Social Services in Pierre. (Photo by John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) A longtime South Dakota state
Prosecutors say DNA obtained from a discarded straw has led to the indictment of a man accused of sexually assaulting and killing a New York teenager more than 40 years ago. Sixty-three-year-old Richard Bilodeau pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two counts of murder in the death of 16-year-old Theresa Fusco. She disappeared after leaving her part-time job at a Long Island roller-skating rink in November 1984. Three men convicted of the killing served several years in prison before being exonerated by DNA evidence. Investigators now say that DNA taken from Fusco’s body in 1984 matches a sample extracted from a straw that Bilodeau used and discarded last year.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa apologized for comments he made following Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in which he revealed some teammates were showing up late to player-led meetings. Tagovailoa opened his news conference Wednesday with an apology to his teammates for the comments, which have drawn widespread criticism over the past few days. After the Dolphins fell 29-27 to the Chargers, Tagovailoa was asked how to keep up team morale. He questioned the leadership and said players were showing up late to meetings.
A sheriff says his deputies continue their methodical investigation into a shooting at a South Carolina bar that killed four people and injured 16 others. Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner says authorities are testing DNA, analyzing weapons, and enhancing video footage. He says testing physical evidence is important because none of the 700 people at the party has identified any shooter likely because they fear retribution if they talk. No arrests have been made. The sheriff says investigators believe the shooting at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island began as a dispute between two or three people.
RAPID CITY, SD — Following a suspected homicide, police have located and arrested 47-year-old Brian LeBeau for believed connections to
A sign on the entrance to the U.S. National Arboretum is seen as it is closed due to the federal
Brown University is rejecting a Trump administration proposal that would provide favorable access to funding in exchange for a wide range of commitments. In a letter to White House officials, Brown President Christina Paxson said the deal would restrict academic freedom and undermine the university’s independence. Brown is the latest university to turn down the proposal. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology backed away from the proposal last week after its president raised similar concerns. Brown’s president said the university is aligned with some of the provisions in the offer, including commitments to affordability and equal opportunity in admissions, but can’t agree to others.
Oklahoma’s new public schools superintendent is rescinding a mandate from his predecessor that forced schools to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for students. Superintendent Lindel Fields said in a statement Wednesday he has “no plans to distribute Bibles or a Biblical character education curriculum in classrooms.” The directive last year from former Superintendent Ryan Walters drew immediate condemnation from civil rights groups and prompted a lawsuit from a group of parents, teachers and religious leaders. It would have applied to students in grades 5 to 12. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Fields to the post after Walters resigned to take a job in the private sector.
The National Transportation Safety Board says faulty engineering led to the implosion of an experimental submersible that killed five people on the way to the wreck of the Titanic. The NTSB made the statement Wednesday in its final report on the hull failure and implosion of the Titan submersible in June 2023. Everyone on board the submersible died instantly in the North Atlantic when Titan suffered a catastrophic implosion as it descended to the wreck. The NTSB report says the faulty engineering of the Titan did not meet necessary strength and durability requirements.
Journalists at the Pentagon turned in access badges and cleaned out their workspaces on Wednesday, the price for refusing to agree to new restrictions on their jobs being removal from being at the seat of U.S. military power. The refusal was near-unanimous, from trade publications, wire services, television networks and newspapers, and included outlets that appeal largely to conservatives like Fox News Channel and Newsmax. Many of the reporters chose to turn in their badges together at the 4 p.m. deadline set by the Defense Department to vacate the building. Reporters said their work will continue despite the loss of access.
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and 60-year prison sentence of a Fort Pierre
BROOKINGS, S.D. – Oct. 15, 2025 – The South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and South Dakota State Foundation Seed Stocks
Rapid City, SD – Fresh Produce, LLC, a marketing agency with offices in downtown Sioux Falls and Rapid City, has
Absentee voting is available on the third floor of the Minnehaha County building in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota, ahead
The campaign of U.S. Sen. Edward Markey says he is focused on the government shutdown in response to the announcement that Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton would run for his seat next year. Moulton tells The Associated Press that Democrats across Massachusetts believe a lot of people aren’t fighting hard enough. Moulton released a video Wednesday saying it’s time for a new generation of leadership. Markey would be 80 before his third six-year term would begin if he’s reelected and says he feels “energized.” Moulton’s announcement puts the Massachusetts race among the most anticipated primary contests in the country, pitting two of the heavily Democratic state’s top politicians against each other. Rep. Ayanna Pressley has not ruled out launching a Democratic bid as well.
RAPID CITY, SD – Artificial Intelligence is everywhere—helping doctors detect diseases, guiding self-driving cars through traffic, powering the apps on
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a Spearfish woman has been indicted on four felony
A firefighter has rescued a stranded pup from rising floodwaters in Southern California. Video captured the Ventura County firefighter climbing down a ladder to reach the dog during Tuesday’s rare October storm. The pup was stuck on reeds on the edge of a flood channel northwest of Los Angeles. Officials said the 19-pound female pug or French bulldog mix was cold but otherwise unharmed. She did not have a tag or microchip. According to the Ventura County Animal Services’ website, the dog is staying at the Camarillo Animal Shelter. She could be adopted as soon as Saturday if her owners are not identified.
The Pentagon says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plane made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom because a windshield cracked on a flight back to the U.S. from a NATO meeting and all aboard are safe. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a post on X that the plane landed “based on standard procedures.” After Hegseth left Brussels, open source flight trackers spotted his plane lose altitude and begin broadcasting an emergency signal. In February, an Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman was similarly forced to return to Washington after an issue with the cockpit windshield.
The Trump administration is looking to provide an additional $20 billion in financing for Argentina. This would be on top of a $20 billion credit swap line pledged earlier this month to support Argentina’s currency. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday the additional help involves private banks and sovereign funds. But President Donald Trump has said the American assistance could be pulled if Argentine President Javier Milei’s party doesn’t win upcoming elections. Trump’s comments caused the Argentine peso to weaken slightly. Meanwhile, opposition figures in Argentina criticized Trump’s move as political interference.
Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer says captain Brady Tkachuk is seeking a second opinion to see if surgery is needed for his injury. Tkachuk appeared to injure his right arm/wrist Monday night after being cross-checked into the boards by Nashville’s Roman Josi. Coach Travis Green had said Tkachuk will be out for a significant amount of time with what the team is calling an upper-body injury. Andlauer says more information will be available Thursday after further evaluation.
A federal judge says she’s inclined to block President Donald Trump’s administration for now from firing workers during the government shutdown. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said at a hearing in San Francisco on Wednesday she believes the evidence would ultimately show the firings were illegal and in excess of authority. The hearing is continuing. The judge hasn’t issued a ruling. The White House budget office said Friday mass firings of federal workers had started. That announcement prompted labor unions for federal employees to ask the judge for a temporary restraining order blocking the Republican administration from issuing new layoff notices and implementing those already sent out.
Closing arguments are underway in upstate New York in the murder trial of three former corrections officers accused in the fatal beating of an inmate. Defense lawyers argued Wednesday that the men didn’t intend to cause injuries and shouldn’t be judged for the actions of other guards. Closing arguments began in Utica for Mathew Galliher, Nicholas Kieffer, and David Kingsley. They face charges in the death of Robert Brooks, who was beaten by multiple guards at Marcy Correctional Facility on Dec. 9. Five officers have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Defense attorneys claim their clients weren’t among those who struck Brooks and acted in a chaotic situation.
Can one documentary encapsulate the life of Martin Scorsese? In the case of “Mr. Scorsese,” Rebecca Miller’s portrait of the filmmaker, no. What began as a two-hour film grew into a five-hour series for Apple TV+. Over the course of five years, Miller spent 20 hours interviewing Scorsese, while also speaking to his collaborators, friends and family to make the definitive documentary about one of the greatest living filmmakers. “Mr. Scorsese” debuts Friday on Apple TV+. It features Scorsese collaborators like editor Thelma Schoonmaker, Paul Schrader, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis. It also includes Scorsese’s children, his ex-wives and his old Little Italy pals.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a Nashville press conference on July 18, 2025, to discuss arrests of
New York health officials have confirmed the state’s first locally acquired case of chikungunya virus and the first such case in the country in six years. The state Department of Health said Tuesday that the mosquito-borne virus, which has been spreading in China and elsewhere, was identified in a person living in Nassau County on Long Island. The county’s health department said the unnamed individual began experiencing symptoms in August after traveling outside of the region but not out of the country. Health officials say it’s not clear how the individual contracted the virus, but that they were likely bit by an infected mosquito.
PIERRE, S.D. – Student athletes from 47 South Dakota high schools and eight universities will benefit from the Build Your
A U.S. Marine says his parents were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials after they visited a California military base and one of them was later deported. Steve Rios, of Oceanside, California, told NBC that his parents were detained late last month while picking up his pregnant sister and her husband, who is also a Marine at Camp Pendleton. Rios says his parents came to the U.S. from Mexico three decades ago and had pending green card applications. He says they were initially released with ankle monitors. But after another visit to the base, ICE agents stopped them at the gate and detained his parents. Rios says his father has since been deported.
RAPID CITY, SD–The City of Rapid City will hold a public meeting open house Tuesday, October 28 regarding the Chapel
Plaintiffs argued packers manipulated supply and pricing data that reduced competition in the market, harming both cattle producers and consumers
The government shutdown is entering a third week, and Democrats say they’re not intimidated by President Donald Trump’s efforts to fire thousands of federal workers or by his threats of more firings to come. In fact, Democrats appear emboldened. And they’re showing no signs of caving as they return to Washington from their home states. On Tuesday evening, Senate Democrats once again rejected a Republican bill to open the government. At the same time, Republicans are confident in their strategy not to negotiate on Democratic demands on health care until Democrats provide the votes to reopen the government,
Donnie Wahlberg is finally filming a TV series in his hometown of Boston, but he’s playing a New Yorker. His character, Danny Reagan from “Blue Bloods,” moves to Boston in the new CBS spinoff, “Boston Blue.” Wahlberg, a die-hard Red Sox fan, finds himself in the middle of the New York-Boston rivalry. The show features Danny as a NYPD detective who heads to Boston after a family tragedy. Wahlberg says the series continues the “Blue Bloods” legacy, focusing on family, faith, and law enforcement. He hopes to portray Boston accurately and honor the show’s traditions.
Cincinnati has emerged as a strong contender in the Big 12 during its third season. The Bearcats are on a five-game winning streak and have entered the AP Top 25 for the first time in nearly three years. Coach Scott Satterfield credits the team’s success to retaining key players and adding new talent. Cincinnati joined the Big 12 in 2023 and struggled initially, but now they are tied with Texas Tech and BYU at the top of the conference. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby leads the team with impressive passing and rushing stats, supported by a strong defense.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2026-27 school year has officially opened. Jill Desjean from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators advises students to fill it out as soon as possible. Despite the government shutdown, the Education Department will continue processing applications. The form known as the FAFSA determines eligibility for federal financial aid, including work-study and loans. It also helps with state and school aid, and some private scholarships. Students should gather necessary documents and create an account on studentaid.gov to begin.
President Donald Trump is threatening to relocate World Cup matches set to be played next year in suburban Boston. He suggested Tuesday that parts of the city had been “taken over” by unrest. The city is set to stage seven matches as the U.S. cohosts the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada. It wasn’t immediately clear what unrest Trump was referring to, but earlier this month there were multiple arrests in connection with a pro-Palestinian protest that turned violent on Boston Common. World Cup host sites aren’t up to Trump but are contracted with FIFA, which would face significant logistical and legal issues if it made changes now.
Broadway is tense as two major labor unions have authorized strike action amid ongoing contract negotiations with producers. Actors’ Equity Association and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 have voted in favor of a strike authorization. Members of both unions are working under expired contracts. They want pay increases and higher contributions toward health care costs. Broadway’s financial health is strong, with the 2024-2025 season hitting a record $1.9 billion in box office revenue. Producers argue that increasing pay could lead to higher ticket prices. More than 30 members of Congress have urged all sides to bargain in good faith.
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City Central won both grand champion cheer and grand champion dance of the Cobbler Invite
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Top-seeded Rapid City Stevens girls soccer fell two goals short of a state championship berth, falling
UNDATED – The Tuesday, October 14, South Dakota Prep Volleyball Scoreboard: Aberdeen Christian def. Gettysburg, 25-16, 25-11, 25-11 Aberdeen Roncalli
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley commended Meta’s announcement Tuesday that the company will restrict the Instagram
Pierer, SD.- Student athletes from 47 South Dakota high schools and eight universities, including schools in the Rapid City and
Reese Witherspoon has co-authored her first adult novel, “Gone Before Goodbye,” with Harlan Coben. The story revolves around Maggie McCabe, an Army combat surgeon who takes on a suspicious plastic surgery job. This leads her into a world of murder and mystery. Witherspoon and Coben discussed their collaboration this week in Manhattan. Witherspoon, known for her acting and producing, has long admired Coben’s work. They met years ago and decided to collaborate on this project. Both authors emphasize that the book is meant to be enjoyed as a novel, with no immediate plans for a film adaptation.
Amid a rocky tourism year, pheasant season is giving hunters and small towns confidence for the fall and winter: “Pheasant ties everything together.”
STURGIS, S.D. – The Meade 46-1 School Board, as expected, heard pushback from some residents Tuesday night on their proposed plan to close two rural schools, Atall and Hereford, and […]
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is the primary way plaintiffs can challenge racially discriminatory election practices. The Supreme Court on Wednesday is hearing arguments in a Section 2 case out of Louisiana. It’s a rehearing of a lawsuit over Louisiana’s redrawn congressional map. At the heart of this case is whether the remedy for racially discriminatory voting and election practices violates the U.S. Constitution. A ruling against Section 2 would leave the 60-year-old law largely neutered, after the court overturned another of its core provisions 12 years ago. A ruling is due next year.
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