The latest news about South Dakota News Watch for our community of subscribers, donors and media partners
New politics and statehouse reporter
Alexander Rifaat, a native Texan, has joined South Dakota News Watch as the new politics and statehouse reporter based year-round in Pierre. He'll cover all three branches of state government as well as statewide campaigns and elections.
Rifaat previously covered the White House and Treasury for Tax Notes in Washington and the legal industry for Euromoney in New York. He holds a M.Sc. in political economy from King’s College London and a B.A. in political science from the American University in Cairo. His hobbies include tennis, soccer and baseball.
Contact him with story tips, feedback or ideas: 605-736-4396 (call/text), alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org, alexander-rifaat on LinkedIn and @alexrifaat on X/Twitter.
Rifaat joins content director Bart Pfankuch in Rapid City and reporter / Report for America corps member Molly Wetsch in Sioux Falls.
SDNW to host INN/Scripps intern
South Dakota News Watch will again host a student journalist this year in a paid, 10-week internship through the Institute for Nonprofit News and Scripps Howard Fund, one of just 25 newsrooms chosen for the program.
It is aimed at expanding access to high-quality, hands-on experience for students in rural areas. The internships are open to undergraduate and graduate college students as well as students graduating college in the 2025-26 school year.
If you know of a young journalist who qualifies and is interested, please forward this email to them and encourage them to apply by the Jan. 31 deadline.
$100,000 will support housing solutions stories
South Dakota News Watch received a $100,000 grant from the South Dakota Community Foundation for its ongoing series of solutions-focused stories on the state's housing crunch. It was part of the SDCF's 2025 Big Idea Grants awards for community-based problem-solving.
SDNW was one of just eight newsrooms nationally to be accepted into the first cohort of the Solutions Journalism Revenue Accelerator program that provided training and guidance on the storytelling approach. Here's some of the feedback on the stories:
- Paula Jensen, senior vice president of Dakota Resources: "I just want to say thanks to you and SD NewsWatch for telling the solutions-focused stories about our rural communities in South Dakota."
- Cammie Mengwasser, executive director of the Watertown Community Foundation: "I know it’s gotten us a lot of good exposure.”
- Terry Sabers, president of Mitchell Area Housing Inc. (MAHI): “I think it’s created momentum in the state.”
Read all the solutions stories we've done so far, including one that's regularly updated with new housing ideas from around the state.
Most popular stories last month
Here are the most-read stories from the past month with links to each:
- Hispanic population thrives in one South Dakota town
- Fact brief: Does South Dakota have the highest Hutterite population in the U.S.?
- Fact brief: Does South Dakota require front license plates?
- Fact brief: Did a South Dakota city register the fastest temperature change in recorded history?
- Fact brief: Does South Dakota have the highest percentage of Native American residents?
1. Subscribe for weekday emails with story summaries.
2. Share that email with friends and family and encourage them to sign up.
3. Support us with a one-time or recurring donation and become a partner in reporting important stories.
Thank you for trusting us as a source for stories of statewide interest, your partnerships and financial support! Please reach out any time with feedback, questions or ideas.
This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit. Read more stories and donate at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email to get story summaries on weekdays. Contact CEO Carson Walker at 605-610-9366 (call/text) or carson.walker@sdnewswatch.org.
