Title: Reporter / Report for America Corps Member
Contact: 605-531-7382 / molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org
Languages spoken: English, some Spanish
Topic expertise: Indigenous people, rural communities, business, education
Biography: Molly Wetsch was born and raised in South Dakota. Wetsch previously served as an editorial intern for Forbes in New York City, working on the contributor network and specializing in consumer technology. At Forbes, she also wrote breaking news and contributed to the Forbes "50 Over 50 list." Wetsch began her career in journalism at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, where she wrote a monthly column and covered local business news as an intern and contributing writer for SiouxFalls.Business. She is a graduate of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, where she received a degree in global business. There, she served as deputy editor of the University Times, the university’s newspaper, and deputy editor of the Trinity Business Review. Report for America is a national service program that responds to challenges faced by local news by placing journalists in newsrooms across the country. As a Report for America corps member, Wetsch travels the state covering rural and indigenous communities. Her family comes from rural South Dakota and the Cheyenne River Reservation, so she understands the issues that are unique to both communities.
Archive of work: South Dakota News Watch; Muck Rack; SiouxFalls.Business; Forbes
Molly Wetsch
Total 28 Posts
What $189M in rural health care funding may mean for SD
The Rural Health Transformation Program focuses heavily on technology improvements and workforce recruitment across the state, and aims to improve maternal and behavioral health care.
Health care in South Dakota, explained
The key players and where they operate.
State-tribal relations shifts tone 1 year after Noem exit
"It was almost like a light switch went on and it just felt like that immediate, 'OK, we're doing a new thing now and this is the olive branch that we are willing to offer.'"
A guide to South Dakota's 9 Native tribes
The governance, geography, people and economy of South Dakota's nine Native American reservations and tribes.
Fewer job vacancies in DOC as new women's prison prepares to open
New Corrections report shows reduced openings since pay increase took effect as state agency hires 133 for new Rapid City facility.
Student interest in SD energy programs on the rise
"The only thing I could envision myself doing in the future:" Three students in Lake Area Technical College's energy programs speak to News Watch about why they chose to join the rapidly growing sector.
Tribal nations in SD are betting on tourism on reservations
The South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance hopes to bring visitors to tribal lands to build sovereignty, despite ongoing challenges: "How do we make sure that we build demand and supply at the same time?”