Home | The Dakota Scout

SCOUTING REPORT | Lake weeds, Habitat homes, bad blood, strengthening women

A weekly digest of interesting local, state, national and even international developments

Sep 27, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

VIEWPOINT | We sued to protect South Dakotans’ right to vote; we’re not done

Guest column by Samantha Chapman, ACLU of South Dakota advocacy manager

Sep 27, 2026

The Dakota Scout

VIEWPOINT | We sued to protect South Dakotans’ right to vote; we’re not done

CARTOON | It's cam-pain season

As seen in the Sept. 25 – Oct. 1, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Sep 27, 2026

Sheri Levisay, +1

Federal red tape for projects pared back, but general public more adversarial

Recent local opposition to data centers, carbon pipeline, corrections facility shows trend of ‘populist angst’ about development

Sep 27, 2026

Joe Sneve

Federal red tape for projects pared back, but general public more adversarial

Let’s eat: Choice South Dakota-raised beef awaits The Scout's subscribers

CONTEST — Rancher celebrates local journalism revival with meat giveaway through partnership with The Dakota Scout

Sep 3, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Let’s eat: Choice South Dakota-raised beef awaits The Scout's subscribers

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

Sign Up Today

State Politics

South Dakota divvies out $39M for water projects

Clay Rural Water System's 23-mile connection to Elk Point paces grant awarded by Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sep 25, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Trump administration sending $13M for mental health care

South Dakota providers tasked with creating 24/7 care options

Sep 25, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Mayor Erickson selects familiar face to lead Sioux Falls planning department

Tom Greco has 30 years administrative experience in Army, local government

Sep 23, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Aberdeen providing bulk water to North Dakota data center

Aberdeen City Council working on policy regarding data center placement

Sep 23, 2026

Elisa Sand

Gov. Rhoden backing GOP ticket, stops short of secretary of state endorsement

Johnson's support for Democratic candidate marks unusual split in South Dakota Republican Party; Baxter gets blessing from Marty Jackley

Sep 22, 2026

Joe Sneve

Public safety drives Minnehaha County's 2027 budget

Jail expansion, staffing needed as inmate population increases

Sep 22, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

Sioux falls

Trump administration sending $13M for mental health care

South Dakota providers tasked with creating 24/7 care options

Sep 25, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Mayor Erickson selects familiar face to lead Sioux Falls planning department

Tom Greco has 30 years administrative experience in Army, local government

Sep 23, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Sioux Falls man who ran tax scheme headed to prison

African Communities United owner siphoned money from bogus federal tax returns

Sep 22, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Public safety drives Minnehaha County's 2027 budget

Jail expansion, staffing needed as inmate population increases

Sep 22, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

From senior meals to foster vans, $170K is headed into the community

Seven Sioux Falls-area nonprofits earn Community Fund grants to support health care, crisis services, technology, literature, arts

Sep 21, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Sioux Falls Hapkido and Judo Club punches above weight

'Small but mighty' martial arts community started as way to help kids play safely, now expanding in trophies, students

Sep 19, 2026

Virginia Olson

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

Horse slaughter & smoking | 13 inches | 25 years since 9/11 | Commissioning public utility politics | Staying dry | Data center outrage & Chi-coms | Sept. 12, 2026 Frank Kloucek

Sep 12, 2026

English origins | Coming to America | Coaching success | Data center lobbying | Defending the Flock | Zoo ask | Turfing a field | Sept. 5, 2026 James Oppenheimer

Sep 5, 2026

Beating a dead pandemic | Banking on journalisms future with The Collegian | Marijuana markets | The Scout's next big step | Aug. 29, 2026 Ben Nesselhuf

Aug 29, 2026

Room for improvement | ‘Back to normal ... what we have here is good’ | A big job | The Democrats most winnable race? | Using AI to improve record keeping | Online & early voter registration

Aug 22, 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.

SCOUTING REPORT | Lake weeds, Habitat homes, bad blood, strengthening women

VIEWPOINT | We sued to protect South Dakotans’ right to vote; we’re not done

CARTOON | It's cam-pain season

Federal red tape for projects pared back, but general public more adversarial

Let’s eat: Choice South Dakota-raised beef awaits The Scout's subscribers

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

Sign Up Today

State Politics

South Dakota divvies out $39M for water projects

Trump administration sending $13M for mental health care

Mayor Erickson selects familiar face to lead Sioux Falls planning department

Aberdeen providing bulk water to North Dakota data center

Gov. Rhoden backing GOP ticket, stops short of secretary of state endorsement

Public safety drives Minnehaha County's 2027 budget

Sioux falls

Trump administration sending $13M for mental health care

Mayor Erickson selects familiar face to lead Sioux Falls planning department

Sioux Falls man who ran tax scheme headed to prison

Public safety drives Minnehaha County's 2027 budget

From senior meals to foster vans, $170K is headed into the community

Sioux Falls Hapkido and Judo Club punches above weight

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

Horse slaughter & smoking | 13 inches | 25 years since 9/11 | Commissioning public utility politics | Staying dry | Data center outrage & Chi-coms | Sept. 12, 2026 Frank Kloucek

English origins | Coming to America | Coaching success | Data center lobbying | Defending the Flock | Zoo ask | Turfing a field | Sept. 5, 2026 James Oppenheimer

Beating a dead pandemic | Banking on journalisms future with The Collegian | Marijuana markets | The Scout's next big step | Aug. 29, 2026 Ben Nesselhuf

Room for improvement | ‘Back to normal ... what we have here is good’ | A big job | The Democrats most winnable race? | Using AI to improve record keeping | Online & early voter registration

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