Home | The Dakota Scout

Kenny Anderson Jr. tops Minnehaha County Commission field as 3 win seats

Anderson won 65 of 80 precincts, while Jen Bleyenberg secured a second term and Brent Hoffman claimed the third seat in a five-candidate race

Nov 4, 2026

Barry Amundson

South Dakota Republicans retain legislative supermajorities

Democrats double the number of seats they hold in state House with Sioux Falls pickups

Nov 4, 2026

The Dakota Scout

South Dakota Republicans retain legislative supermajorities

Voters don't want to cede power as two of four ballot measures pass

Democrats in position to pick up seats in the Legislature, potentially reversing years of decline

Nov 4, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Voters don't want to cede power as two of four ballot measures pass

S.D. Republicans keep congressional delegation firmly in GOP hands

Marty Jackley defeats Nikki Gronli to succeed Dusty Johnson while Mike Rounds turns back an independent challenge from Brian Bengs

Nov 4, 2026

Joe Sneve

S.D. Republicans keep congressional delegation firmly in GOP hands

Rhoden endures long path to victory in governor's race

Governor faced contentious primary, historic runoff to make general election

Nov 3, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Rhoden endures long path to victory in governor's race

GOP jumps to early lead in statewide races

Republicans running strong in South Dakota as they falter elsewhere

Nov 3, 2026

The Dakota Scout

GOP jumps to early lead in statewide races

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

Sign Up Today

State Politics

South Dakota Republicans retain legislative supermajorities

Democrats double the number of seats they hold in state House with Sioux Falls pickups

Nov 4, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Voters don't want to cede power as two of four ballot measures pass

Democrats in position to pick up seats in the Legislature, potentially reversing years of decline

Nov 4, 2026

The Dakota Scout

S.D. Republicans keep congressional delegation firmly in GOP hands

Marty Jackley defeats Nikki Gronli to succeed Dusty Johnson while Mike Rounds turns back an independent challenge from Brian Bengs

Nov 4, 2026

Joe Sneve

Rhoden endures long path to victory in governor's race

Governor faced contentious primary, historic runoff to make general election

Nov 3, 2026

The Dakota Scout

GOP jumps to early lead in statewide races

Republicans running strong in South Dakota as they falter elsewhere

Nov 3, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Behind the ballots: The Dakota Scout’s conversations with the candidates

Extended podcast interviews, exclusive reporting gave South Dakota voters inside look at the governor’s race, Senate showdown, congressional competitors, Secretary of State match, would-be regulators' campaigns

Nov 3, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Sioux falls

South Dakota Republicans retain legislative supermajorities

Democrats double the number of seats they hold in state House with Sioux Falls pickups

Nov 4, 2026

The Dakota Scout

FBI's Kash Patel, Hall of Fame Coach Tony Dungy honor South Dakota law officers

45th annual law enforcement dinner comes amid fallout from homicide of Minnehaha County Sheriff's Deputy Katherine Frank

Oct 29, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

Data center concerns cloud Sioux Falls, Lincoln County meeting

Nearly 200 people turn out as city and county consider future regulations

Oct 28, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

Fewer kindergarteners drives 1.3% drop in Sioux Falls public schools enrollment

Numbers reflect lower birth rate trends, will affect state funding for district

Oct 27, 2026

Todd Epp

Sanford gives Wellmark until July to reach new deal

Health system issues notice of contract termination amid negotiations with insurer

Oct 26, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Department of Justice sending poll watchers to Minnehaha County

Federal officials to join ACLU and other groups that monitor elections

Oct 26, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

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

Where a sheriff buys gas | Election preview | Working across the aisle | Four more years | Data center delirium | Sleeping in the office | Oct. 31, 2026, Dan Ahlers, Marty Jackley, Larry Rhoden, Tony Venhuizen

Oct 31, 2026

Flying Delta and United | Using polls | Iranian messaging on AI | Stuck in the Strait of Hormuz | Creating a digital 'sandbox' | Faking independence | Bringing home the B-21 | Oct. 24, 2026 Sen. Mike Rounds

Oct 24, 2026

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 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.

Kenny Anderson Jr. tops Minnehaha County Commission field as 3 win seats

South Dakota Republicans retain legislative supermajorities

Voters don't want to cede power as two of four ballot measures pass

S.D. Republicans keep congressional delegation firmly in GOP hands

Rhoden endures long path to victory in governor's race

GOP jumps to early lead in statewide races

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

Sign Up Today

State Politics

South Dakota Republicans retain legislative supermajorities

Voters don't want to cede power as two of four ballot measures pass

S.D. Republicans keep congressional delegation firmly in GOP hands

Rhoden endures long path to victory in governor's race

GOP jumps to early lead in statewide races

Behind the ballots: The Dakota Scout’s conversations with the candidates

Sioux falls

South Dakota Republicans retain legislative supermajorities

FBI's Kash Patel, Hall of Fame Coach Tony Dungy honor South Dakota law officers

Data center concerns cloud Sioux Falls, Lincoln County meeting

Fewer kindergarteners drives 1.3% drop in Sioux Falls public schools enrollment

Sanford gives Wellmark until July to reach new deal

Department of Justice sending poll watchers to Minnehaha County

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

Where a sheriff buys gas | Election preview | Working across the aisle | Four more years | Data center delirium | Sleeping in the office | Oct. 31, 2026, Dan Ahlers, Marty Jackley, Larry Rhoden, Tony Venhuizen

Flying Delta and United | Using polls | Iranian messaging on AI | Stuck in the Strait of Hormuz | Creating a digital 'sandbox' | Faking independence | Bringing home the B-21 | Oct. 24, 2026 Sen. Mike Rounds

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 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