
Musk departs White House but says DOGE will carry on; won’t comment on report of drug use
Tesla CEO Elon Musk listens as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House
Tesla CEO Elon Musk listens as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House
South Dakota Department of Social Services Secretary Matt Althoff speaks at a press conference in Sioux Falls on April 25,
The U.S. Supreme Court, on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday
President Donald Trump holds up a chart while speaking during a “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event in the
Protestor Pat Braun carries a sign April 23, 2025, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to protest the cancellation of student
Shelly Ten Napel, CEO of the Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas, participates in a debate on Sept. 19, 2024,
Toby Doeden announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor of South Dakota during an event on May 28,
Following last fall’s presidential election, some Americans might not want to discuss politics for a while. But people who are
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday, May 20,
Billionaire and SpaceX owner Elon Musk said in an interview with CBS News that he was “disappointed” in the U.S.
Rep. Roger Chase, R-Huron, listens to Gov. Kristi Noem during her 2023 budget address on the House floor of the
A January 2025 view of the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Members of the Governor’s
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies during his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing at the Dirksen
South Dakota Department of Education Secretary Joseph Graves speaks to the state House Education Committee on Jan. 17, 2024. (Makenzie
From the Black Hills to the Big Sioux, the Dakota Town Hall Podcast. Hosted by Murdoc in the West and Jake in the
The National Public Radio headquarters in Washington, D.C., is pictured on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
An equal justice statue stands outside the doors of the Minnehaha County Courthouse in Sioux Falls. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
Barbara Collura, CEO and president of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, spoke outside the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery on Feb.
U.S. House Republicans are debating cutbacks to Medicaid, the health care program for lower-income Americans and some people with disabilities.
Sailors carry a casket with the remains of John Connolly at Arlington National Cemetery in March 2025. (Tracey Attlee/Special to
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem delivers her 2025 State of the State address to lawmakers at the Capitol in Pierre
RAPID CITY, SD — Hot off the heels of yesterday’s coverage of the Board of Education’s June 3rd election, we
At a farm market in St. Petersburg, Florida, SNAP recipients were able to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer cards for
Attorney General Marty Jackley listens to testimony at a Project Prison Reset meeting on April 29, 2025, in Springfield. (John
Feeding South Dakota is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization and a member of the Feeding America Network. (Courtesy of Feeding
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden sent a letter of intent requesting a Memorandum of Agreement to allow the South
Highway 170 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Trevor Srednick/Getty Images) The U.S. Senate voted early Thursday to prevent California
President Donald Trump points during a White House event for the release of Make America Healthy Again commission report on
A January 2025 view of the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) An employee in the
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building pictured on Nov. 25, 2024. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom) WASHINGTON —
A sign opposing carbon dioxide pipelines stands alongside an eastern South Dakota farm field in July 2024. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota
U.S. Reps. Erin Houchin, R-Indiana, left, and Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, speak to the media during negotiations on a budget
U.S. House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, R-Md., center, speaks to reporters on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at the U.S.
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) WASHINGTON — As House
A section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall near El Paso, Texas, on June 6, 2024. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)
Attorney Jim Leach speaks to the media on April 18, 2025, outside the federal courthouse in Rapid City. (Matt Weiner/Rapid
RAPID CITY, SD — City officials remind the public absentee voting for the upcoming municipal and school board election has
President Donald Trump arrives with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., for a House Republican meeting at the U.S.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday, May 20,
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor. Thune’s remarks below
The exterior of the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center near Sioux Falls. (Courtesy of USGS EROS Center) A preliminary
RAPID CITY, SD — Mayor Jason Salamun made a proclamation during the biweekly meeting of the City Council on Monday,
A sign held by a teacher at a rally at the Arizona Capitol on June 5, 2024, to advocate for
Representatives with Summit Carbon Solutions hand out information and answer questions ahead of a Public Utilities Commission hearing in Sioux
The South Dakota State Penitentiary, pictured on March 27, 2024. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) The South Dakota Division of Criminal
The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court said
From the Black Hills to the Big Sioux, the Dakota Town Hall Podcast. Hosted by Murdoc in the West and Jake in the
With President Trump back in the White House, there’s been a lot of talk about making sure that more products
Former USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Basil Gooden, center, visits a grocery store that’s supported by federal dollars on
The U.S. Capitol is pictured on Feb. 25, 2025. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on
President Joe Biden delivers his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House on Jan.
From left, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, Gov. Larry Rhoden, Attorney General Marty Jackley, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and state House
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday, May 16, 2025, that the Trump administration’s attempt to deport a group of Venezuelans
The U.S. House Budget Committee votes on Friday, May 16, 2025 on a massive reconciliation package. The vote failed, 16-21.
The Minnehaha County Jail in Sioux Falls on May 15, 2025. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) It’s unknown how many immigrants
South Dakota state Rep. Karla Lems, R-Canton, speaks to hundreds of rally attendees at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre
Matthew Schweich, president of the Voter Defense Association, speaks at a “Vote No on L” campaign event in Sioux Falls
Brad ‘Murdoc’ Jurgensen, The Rapid City Post and Dakota Town Hall On Wednesday, May 14, RaPo sat down for a
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below
Every day, men and women in communities across America put on their uniform and badge and go to work protecting
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Brian Kilmeade, Ainsley Earhardt, and Lawrence Jones on Fox News’
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin on CNBC’s
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor. Thune’s remarks below
RAPID CITY, SD—City officials remind the public the deadline to register to vote in next month’s municipal election is Monday,
Norwegian American Historical Association lost $300,000 history grant but will try to forge ahead with project.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) yesterday joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business. On tax permanency: “[W]e want
News Watch and USD’s Chiesman Center for Democracy polled South Dakotans on the gubernatorial election, Kristi Noem, Donald Trump and more. Read all the results.
“We want to give small businesses certainty by making these pro-growth tax policies permanent.” WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John
Survey also found mixed results on the performance of state legislators during the 2025 session.
A survey of 500 Republican voters in South Dakota showed that nearly three-quarters approve of Trump’s presidential leadership so far in 2025.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Sean Hannity on Fox News.
The Trump administration wants to change how the Endangered Species Act protects wildlife in South Dakota and across the country.
PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., is leading a bipartisan effort to strengthen disclosure requirements related to unidentified
South Dakota’s business leaders say the state’s economy depends on immigrants. Many warn that tougher immigration enforcement could worsen the
South Dakota farmers face new uncertainty as changes to federal wetlands rules threaten the status—and value—of thousands of acres of
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today reintroduced the Strengthening Local Processing Act, legislation that would provide support
From the Black Hills to the Big Sioux, the Dakota Town Hall Podcast. Hosted by Murdoc in the West and
Gov. Larry Rhoden and U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune received higher marks for their job performance than the former governor.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below
Survey of 500 Republicans shows Jackley in third place as contenders begin to emerge for 2026 primary showdown.
As the new Senate Majority Leader, John Thune will continue to drive South Dakota’s legacy of strong leadership on Capitol
In the fourth episode of It’s More Than a House, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson joined Black Hills Habitat Executive Director Scott
From the Black Hills to the Big Sioux, the Dakota Town Hall Podcast. Hosted by Murdoc in the West and
Rounds Co-sponsors Bill Renewing Cyber Security Sens. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Gary Peters, D-Mich. introduced a bill Wednesday to extend
Jon Hansen, Rep. Karla Lems to make campaign announcement next week Story by Joe Sneve and Jonathan Ellis. Reposted with
The Aberdeen businessman boosted Republican populist candidates in last year’s legislative primaries and is exploring his own statewide run in 2026.
BOX ELDER, SD — Senator John Thune arrived at Amazon Delivery Facility WSD2 today to participate in a ribbon cutting
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) will be in Box Elder tomorrow at 10am to cut the ribbon for the
From the Black Hills to the Big Sioux, the Dakota Town Hall Podcast. Hosted by Murdoc in the West and
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification
Planned cuts to federal agencies could disproportionately impact Black workers in South Dakota and neighboring Plains states, according to data
From the office on Senator John Thune, “We did get the president’s Cabinet in place, the fastest rate in 20
From the Black Hills to the Big Sioux, the Dakota Town Hall Podcast. Hosted by Murdoc in the West and
From the office of Senator John Thune. “[T]he American people called for a new direction this past November, and the
USDA spokesperson says cutting roughly $1 billion in federal funding for locally grown food for schools and charities signals “a return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives.”
More than three years ago, Congress created the $42.5 billion BEAD program to bring broadband service to unserved parts of
Which faction are you: New Internet Populist or Traditional GOP? I noticed a new effort on Facebook that took off the other day
The Pennington County Planning & Zoning Department has proposed a temporary moratorium on the development of data centers within the
Rollback of climate regulations in Trump administration highlights policy differences between South Dakota and Minnesota.