Government/Politics

“It’s kind of been a strong issue with me, that it may be legal but it’s not smart,” said Ron Kolbeck of Salem, who has taught state HuntSAFE programs for more than 20 years.

Noem’s administration is seeking the help of economic development groups and top businesses to pay for national ads touting her “Freedom Works Here” campaign. But some of these groups are still waiting for the names of thousands of prospective employees.

“Federal money often comes with strings attached, and more of it is often not a good thing."

For more than 40 years, South Dakota journalist Kevin Woster has produced material for the state’s two largest newspapers, its largest TV station and for South Dakota Public Broadcasting, where he remains a writer and commentator. Now semi-retired, Woster continues to report on a variety of statewide topics. And

Lee Schoenbeck, a power broker in the South Dakota Legislature as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, had a telling response when asked about the record pace of staff turnover in Gov. Kristi Noem’s administration, including a prolonged search for a sixth chief of staff less than five years

For the past 20 months, South Dakota’s U.S. District Court has had a judicial vacancy waiting to be filled by President Joe Biden’s administration, prompting political scrutiny of the process and a shuffling of workloads for other federal judges. Now the situation enters a new realm of

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of South Dakota News Watch stories providing analysis of potential South Dakota ballot initiatives for the 2024 election. It’s no coincidence that South Dakotans are well-versed in direct democracy. The state was the first in the nation to adopt