Home | The Dakota Scout

VIEWPOINT | After 50 years of one-party rule, is South Dakota better off?

Guest column by Dan Ahlers, Democratic nominee for South Dakota governor

Nov 1, 2026

The Dakota Scout

COUNTERPOINT | South Dakota isn’t broken

Guest column by South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden

Nov 2, 2026

The Dakota Scout

State’s $2.6M share of GM settlement will go to Consumer Protection Fund

The company collected drivers’ behavior and location data and sold it to data brokers, according to officials

Nov 2, 2026

Meghan O'Brien

State’s $2.6M share of GM settlement will go to Consumer Protection Fund

Grant offers nearly $8M to convert marginal farmland into pheasant habitat

7,500 privately owned acres to be set aside for wildlife, then become perennial grasslands for haying, grazing

Nov 2, 2026

The Dakota Scout

Grant offers nearly $8M to convert marginal farmland into pheasant habitat

The Dakota Scout E-edition | Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2026

Volume 3 | Number 14

Nov 2, 2026

The Dakota Scout

SCOUTING REPORT | A new dinosaur, teaching trades, craving a cheesesteak

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

Nov 1, 2026

Jonathan Ellis

SCOUTING REPORT | A new dinosaur, teaching trades, craving a cheesesteak

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State Politics

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

Ex-Tea Party leader pitches South Dakota as proving ground for independents

Adam Brandon gets pledge disavowing two-party system, politically-motivated federal spending from Rounds challenger

Oct 28, 2026

Joe Sneve

South Dakota gets first payment in Meta child safety settlement

Facebook parent company sends first $9M after states alleged it exposed young users to mental harm

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

Dusty Johnson’s longtime aide joins Sioux Falls mayor’s office

Mayor Christine Erickson hires Courtney Heitkamp as South Dakota congressman transitions off Capitol Hill

Oct 26, 2026

Joe Sneve

Sioux falls

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

Dusty Johnson’s longtime aide joins Sioux Falls mayor’s office

Mayor Christine Erickson hires Courtney Heitkamp as South Dakota congressman transitions off Capitol Hill

Oct 26, 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

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.

VIEWPOINT | After 50 years of one-party rule, is South Dakota better off?

COUNTERPOINT | South Dakota isn’t broken

State’s $2.6M share of GM settlement will go to Consumer Protection Fund

Grant offers nearly $8M to convert marginal farmland into pheasant habitat

The Dakota Scout E-edition | Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2026

SCOUTING REPORT | A new dinosaur, teaching trades, craving a cheesesteak

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

Sign Up Today

State Politics

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

Data center concerns cloud Sioux Falls, Lincoln County meeting

Ex-Tea Party leader pitches South Dakota as proving ground for independents

South Dakota gets first payment in Meta child safety settlement

Department of Justice sending poll watchers to Minnehaha County

Dusty Johnson’s longtime aide joins Sioux Falls mayor’s office

Sioux falls

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

Dusty Johnson’s longtime aide joins Sioux Falls mayor’s office

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