Home | The Dakota Scout

Representing conservatives progressively | Goosebumps, R.L. Stine & the ingenuity of the drama nerd | There's beef & then there's beef | A hand-me-down waterbed | Pain-point positives | Oct. 17, 2026 Nikki Gronli, Premier Playhouse's Emma Madeja & Oliver Mayes

SPONSORED BY BEAL DISTRIBUTING, FIRST BANK & TRUST, JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS

Oct 17, 2026

The Dakota Scout, +2

VIEWPOINT | Sioux Falls foundation creates bridge between generosity, need

Guest column by Andy Patterson, CEO, Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation

Oct 17, 2026

The Dakota Scout

VIEWPOINT | Sioux Falls foundation creates bridge between generosity, need

Rhoden's Social Services secretary resigns

DSS Deputy Secretary Brenda Tidball-Zeltinger elevated to post in interim

Oct 16, 2026

Joe Sneve

Rhoden's Social Services secretary resigns

Deputy Katherine Frank’s tragic death rips through South Dakota spirit

Thousands expected at memorial service Monday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center to mourn 26-year-old who died after being shot in line of duty

Oct 16, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Deputy Katherine Frank’s tragic death rips through South Dakota spirit

VIEWPOINT | ‘L-NO’ is about abortion, not about democracy

Guest column by state Rep. John Hughes, District 13

Oct 16, 2026

The Dakota Scout

VIEWPOINT | ‘L-NO’ is about abortion, not about democracy

Sioux Falls ending Business Improvement District tax breaks for downtown

Incentive previously targeted industrial, multifamily housing; DTSF leader says needs have shifted in city's center to more multi-use development

Oct 17, 2026

Joe Sneve

Sioux Falls ending Business Improvement District tax breaks for downtown

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State Politics

Rhoden's Social Services secretary resigns

DSS Deputy Secretary Brenda Tidball-Zeltinger elevated to post in interim

Oct 16, 2026

Joe Sneve

Smithfield to reapply for permit for $1.3B Sioux Falls pork plant

City unlikely to appeal judicial ruling that invalidated prior municipal approval for new slaughterhouse

Oct 13, 2026

Joe Sneve

Senate candidate Bengs vows to stay out of Democratic, Republican caucuses

Brian Bengs, Dan Osborn and Seth Bodnar say independents would have leverage against two-party system

Oct 13, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

Data center debate prompts Sioux Falls City Council to plan public outreach

City Council’s Regulatory Oversight Committee wants input on potential regulations for industry

Oct 12, 2026

Patrick Lalley

Syracuse University study spotlights Sioux Falls newspaper

The Dakota Scout, other news startups value independence, strive to balance journalism and business

Oct 11, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Passing the badge | Going home | Is the Bengs' ad fair? | Parking meter metrics | Legislator troubles

SPONSORED BY FIRST BANK & TRUST, BEAL DISTRIBUTING & JUNA SLEEP SYSTEMS

Oct 10, 2026

The Dakota Scout, Joe Sneve, Jonathan Ellis

Sioux falls

Sioux Falls ending Business Improvement District tax breaks for downtown

Incentive previously targeted industrial, multifamily housing; DTSF leader says needs have shifted in city's center to more multi-use development

Oct 17, 2026

Joe Sneve

Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation sets record with $73M in giving

Pierce McDowell and Matt Tobin recognized for their contributions to charity

Oct 16, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Deputy Katherine Frank’s tragic death rips through South Dakota spirit

Thousands expected at memorial service Monday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center to mourn 26-year-old who died after being shot in line of duty

Oct 16, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Death penalty possible for Sioux Falls man accused of killing Minnehaha County deputy

Charges against Brandon Oetken now include first-degree premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer following death of Deputy Katherine Frank

Oct 14, 2026

Joe Sneve

‘Katherine deserved so much more time’: Friends remember deputy shot on duty

From overstuffed charcuterie boards to plans for dress shopping, people who loved her point to the little things that made the 26-year-old special

Oct 14, 2026

Patrick Lalley, Jennifer Leither

Smithfield to reapply for permit for $1.3B Sioux Falls pork plant

City unlikely to appeal judicial ruling that invalidated prior municipal approval for new slaughterhouse

Oct 13, 2026

Joe Sneve

THE LATEST FROM…

Check out what veteran reporters Jonathan Ellis and Joe Sneve are covering as well as The Dakota Scout’s other trusted team members.

Joe Sneve

Jonathan Ellis

Dan Gehlsen

Dominik Dausch

VIEWPOINTS

Representing conservatives progressively | Goosebumps, R.L. Stine & the ingenuity of the drama nerd | There's beef & then there's beef | A hand-me-down waterbed | Pain-point positives | Oct. 17, 2026 Nikki Gronli, Premier Playhouse's Emma Madeja & Oliver Mayes

Oct 17, 2026

Passing the badge | Going home | Is the Bengs' ad fair? | Parking meter metrics | Legislator troubles | Oct. 10, 2026- Mike Milstead, Josh Phillips

Oct 9, 2026

The Trump drag | Democracy, populism & ruling South Dakota | A viral confrontation | Is he a liberal? | 50%+1's two edges | Caring for neighbors | Oct. 3, 2026 - Brian Bengs, Ned Horstad, Elizabeth Schenkel

Oct 4, 2026

Election integrity | About Monea's endorsement | The auditors' admiral? | The political spark | Sept. 26, 2026 Heather Baxter

Sep 27, 2026

THE SCOUTING LOUNGE PODCAST

A weekly podcast where award-winning reporters Joe Sneve and Jonathan Ellis ditch the gotcha journalism to bring candid, behind-the-scenes conversations with South Dakota’s political leaders, celebrities and newsmakers.

Representing conservatives progressively | Goosebumps, R.L. Stine & the ingenuity of the drama nerd | There's beef & then there's beef | A hand-me-down waterbed | Pain-point positives | Oct. 17, 2026 Nikki Gronli, Premier Playhouse's Emma Madeja & Oliver Mayes

VIEWPOINT | Sioux Falls foundation creates bridge between generosity, need

Rhoden's Social Services secretary resigns

Deputy Katherine Frank’s tragic death rips through South Dakota spirit

VIEWPOINT | ‘L-NO’ is about abortion, not about democracy

Sioux Falls ending Business Improvement District tax breaks for downtown

Get the latest local news and exclusive content straight to your email inbox.

Sign Up Today

State Politics

Rhoden's Social Services secretary resigns

Smithfield to reapply for permit for $1.3B Sioux Falls pork plant

Senate candidate Bengs vows to stay out of Democratic, Republican caucuses

Data center debate prompts Sioux Falls City Council to plan public outreach

Syracuse University study spotlights Sioux Falls newspaper

Passing the badge | Going home | Is the Bengs' ad fair? | Parking meter metrics | Legislator troubles

Sioux falls

Sioux Falls ending Business Improvement District tax breaks for downtown

Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation sets record with $73M in giving

Deputy Katherine Frank’s tragic death rips through South Dakota spirit

Death penalty possible for Sioux Falls man accused of killing Minnehaha County deputy

‘Katherine deserved so much more time’: Friends remember deputy shot on duty

Smithfield to reapply for permit for $1.3B Sioux Falls pork plant

THE LATEST FROM…

Check out what veteran reporters Jonathan Ellis and Joe Sneve are covering as well as The Dakota Scout’s other trusted team members.

Joe Sneve

Jonathan Ellis

Dan Gehlsen

Dominik Dausch

VIEWPOINTS

Representing conservatives progressively | Goosebumps, R.L. Stine & the ingenuity of the drama nerd | There's beef & then there's beef | A hand-me-down waterbed | Pain-point positives | Oct. 17, 2026 Nikki Gronli, Premier Playhouse's Emma Madeja & Oliver Mayes

Passing the badge | Going home | Is the Bengs' ad fair? | Parking meter metrics | Legislator troubles | Oct. 10, 2026- Mike Milstead, Josh Phillips

The Trump drag | Democracy, populism & ruling South Dakota | A viral confrontation | Is he a liberal? | 50%+1's two edges | Caring for neighbors | Oct. 3, 2026 - Brian Bengs, Ned Horstad, Elizabeth Schenkel

Election integrity | About Monea's endorsement | The auditors' admiral? | The political spark | Sept. 26, 2026 Heather Baxter

THE SCOUTING LOUNGE PODCAST

A weekly podcast where award-winning reporters Joe Sneve and Jonathan Ellis ditch the gotcha journalism to bring candid, behind-the-scenes conversations with South Dakota’s political leaders, celebrities and newsmakers.

THE LOUNGE