Seth Tupper

Abortion-rights group agrees to stop ads at South Dakota gas stations and settle litigation • South Dakota Searchlight A New York nonprofit agreed to remove its ads and end its campaign in South Dakota, ending a monthslong dispute.

A monthslong dispute over #AbortionRights advertising is settled, after a New York nonprofit agreed to remove its ads and end its campaign at gas stations in South Dakota.

Gas prices spike across US amid Iran war • South Dakota Searchlight Global prices for Brent crude oil, the international standard, climbed over $100 a barrel. Prices were just above $70 a barrel in the days before the U.S. and Israel launched a surprise Feb. 28…

Americans are paying more for gas as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran chokes off a significant route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum products. Prices have spiked 45 cents per gallon higher in South Dakota since a month ago.

Kalshi and Polymarket are skirting laws on sports betting, states say • South Dakota Searchlight A growing number of states are rejecting justifications for online prediction markets, arguing the platforms are offering a backdoor to skirt state gambling regulations, particularly on sports.

A growing number of states are rejecting justifications for online prediction markets, arguing the platforms are offering a backdoor to skirt state gambling regulations, particularly on sports.

Via @stateline.org

New South Dakota law allows voters to challenge other voters' citizenship • South Dakota Searchlight Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signed legislation into law last week that authorizes challenges by individuals and election officials.

Voters in South Dakota will soon be able to challenge other voters’ citizenship, due to a bill passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden.

The impact of federal funding on civil legal aid in South Dakota • South Dakota Searchlight Funding from the Legal Services Corporation is essential to South Dakota's legal aid organizations' staying operational and serving the state's most vulnerable residents.

"Funding from the Legal Services Corporation is essential to South Dakota’s legal aid organizations’ staying operational and serving the state’s most vulnerable residents."

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Temporarily banning data centers draws more interest from state, local officials • South Dakota Searchlight As communities’ concerns grow over rising electricity prices and the environmental effects of data centers, some local and state officials want to halt development of the facilities.

Lawmakers in at least 12 states have introduced legislation this session that would temporarily ban #DataCenters, according to Good Jobs First, a watchdog group that focuses on economic development incentives.

Via @stateline.org

South Dakota Freedom Caucus is long on theatrics, short on results • South Dakota Searchlight According to its website, the members of the South Dakota Freedom Caucus keep busy by “fighting for the people’s rights.” If their legislative results this year are any indication, the people’s…

"According to its website, the members of the South Dakota Freedom Caucus keep busy by 'fighting for the people’s rights.' If their legislative results this year are any indication, the people’s rights are taking a beating."

Commentary from Dana Hess:

Ep. 8: How a sales tax roller coaster could lead to property tax relief for South Dakotans • South Dakota Searchlight Searchlight Report host Meghan O’Brien takes a look back at what pushed the state toward the need for property tax relief in recent years.

As the annual South Dakota legislative session winds down, the push for property tax relief is coalescing around plans to provide that relief with money from higher sales #taxes.

The latest episode of the 🎧️ Searchlight Report 🎧️ podcast explains how we got here: buff.ly/jzKwrE0

After positive January, latest job report shows losses again • South Dakota Searchlight The United States lost 92,000 jobs in February, edging unemployment up slightly according to the latest employment figures.

The United States lost 92,000 #jobs in February, edging unemployment up slightly according to the latest employment figures released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

Noem could forgo her new federal role for a SD political race, but observers say it’s unlikely • South Dakota Searchlight Several political insiders think Kristi Noem will stick with her new role in the Trump administration rather than go back into politics.

Several South Dakota political insiders think #KristiNoem will stick with her new role in the Trump administration following her dismissal as U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary, rather than jump into a political race in her home state.

New license plate imaging helps solve theft cases, say police in two South Dakota cities • South Dakota Searchlight Police in South Dakota logged fewer theft reports in 2025 than the previous year, but made more arrests for theft.

Police in South Dakota logged fewer theft reports in 2025 than the previous year, but made more arrests for theft. The figures suggest license plate readers adopted in Madison and expanded last year to Sioux Falls can make it easier to find suspects, the technology's supporters say.

New sales tax options for counties and cities headed to governor’s desk • South Dakota Searchlight Two bills that would allow local governments to impose new sales taxes for specific purposes are headed to the governor’s desk.

Two bills that would allow local governments in South Dakota to impose new #SalesTaxes for specific purposes cleared their last legislative hurdles and are headed to the governor for his consideration.

Data center regulation bill passes South Dakota House • South Dakota Searchlight One of the last remaining data center bills pending in the South Dakota Legislature — a measure that would impose new regulations — passed the state House.

One of the last remaining bills dealing with #DataCenters in the South Dakota Legislature — a measure that would impose new regulations — passed the state House and now heads back to the Senate for consideration of a House committee’s amendment.

US House also rejects restraint on Trump’s war power in Iran • South Dakota Searchlight House Republicans and a handful of Democrats followed the Senate in blocking a measure to stop President Donald Trump from furthering the war in Iran without authorization from Congress.

U.S. House Republicans including Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, and a handful of Democrats followed the Senate in blocking a measure to stop President Donald Trump from furthering the war in Iran without authorization from Congress.

BREAKING: Kristi Noem out as DHS secretary; Trump to tap Oklahoma Sen. Mullin • South Dakota Searchlight President Donald Trump said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will be leaving the post for a job as a special envoy.

BREAKING NEWS: President Donald Trump said Homeland Security Secretary #KristiNoem will be leaving the post for a job as a special envoy. buff.ly/Pu5Due6

Medical marijuana oversight committee survives as attempt to shut it down fails • South Dakota Searchlight The committee that oversees South Dakota’s medical marijuana program will continue its work for at least another year.

The committee that oversees South Dakota’s #MedicalMarijuana program will continue its work for at least another year, a panel of state senators has decided after the House had voted to end it.

Day after grilling by GOP senators, Noem has easier time with US House panel • South Dakota Searchlight Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced a slightly less hostile crowd in a House committee hearing than in the Senate the previous day.

U.S. House Republicans spent a Wednesday oversight hearing with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blasting local governments for policies that limit immigration cooperation, while Democrats slammed her leadership of the department.

South Dakota governor, legislative leaders roll out property tax plan with one week left of session • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden has thrown his support behind property tax plans he opposed earlier in the legislative session.

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden has thrown his support behind a plan to use revenues from an upcoming increase in the statewide sales tax rate to offset homeowner property taxes — something his administration opposed earlier this legislative session.

Closed-door Republican caucus meetings are an insult to government transparency • South Dakota Searchlight Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate hold caucuses right after lunch to discuss their strategy for the afternoon’s floor agenda.

South Dakota Republicans kicked one of their own out of caucus meetings for two weeks. Meanwhile, writes Dana Hess, "Taxpayers have been shut out for years, with the future of the state being decided in secret."

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Lawmakers seek a share of $31 million in unallocated funds • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota lawmakers have whittled down ideas of how to use $31 million in one-time state funding from nearly 30 to under a dozen.

South Dakota lawmakers have whittled down ideas of how to use $31 million in one-time funding, including money for roads near Ellsworth Air Force Base, grants to help victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, protective gear for firefighters and more.

Judge finalizes order for Greenpeace to pay $345 million in oil pipeline case • South Dakota Searchlight A North Dakota judge officially ordered Greenpeace to pay $345 million to the developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline following a nearly yearlong tug-of-war over a Morton County jury’s verdict.

A North Dakota judge officially ordered #Greenpeace to pay $345 million to the developer of the #DakotaAccessPipeline following a nearly yearlong tug-of-war over a Morton County jury’s verdict.

Via @northdakotamonitor.com buff.ly/tSC4iZO

Whatever lawmakers do about property taxes, it’s too late to save us from the price of ‘Freedom’ • South Dakota Searchlight A state senator recently offered an insightful explanation of South Dakota’s property tax conundrum and its connection to remote work.

A lawmaker's comments shed light on an aspect of South Dakota's property tax conundrum: people who work from home, with "no large commercial building paying property tax." That's partly a byproduct of Kristi Noem's "Freedom," writes @sethtupper.bsky.social.

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US Senate Democrats demand Trump administration refund tariff payments to businesses • South Dakota Searchlight Senate Democrats sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent demanding the administration refund businesses that paid tariffs.

Senate Democrats sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent demanding the administration refund businesses that paid #tariffs to import goods into the United States under authority the Supreme Court has ruled the president never held.

Via @statesnewsroom.com

Madison state senator drops out of Republican primary for U.S. House • South Dakota Searchlight Republican Casey Crabtree had been seeking the nomination of his party to appear on the general election ballot.

A state senator from Madison has suspended his campaign for U.S. House of Representatives.

Ep. 7: The search for a state senator: a Searchlight Report special edition • South Dakota Searchlight Recapping an unusually chaotic and contentious week in the South Dakota Senate, including a failed search for state Sen. John Carley.

It was a crazy week in the South Dakota Senate: arguments about the lieutenant governor's authority, absent senators, motions and search parties to compel their presence, and more.

A special episode of 🎧️ Searchlight Report 🎧️ podcast brings the experience to listeners:
buff.ly/PFaRMdN

Some ethics documents meant to reveal state board members’ conflicts are missing • South Dakota Searchlight When South Dakota’s governor makes a board or commission appointment that requires state Senate confirmation, the appointee is legally required to file a financial disclosure document that can be…

When South Dakota’s governor makes an appointment that requires state Senate approval, the appointee is obligated to file a financial disclosure document.

But a review of last year’s appointees found nearly half of the disclosures were not posted online. ⬇️

Education Department data shows foreign contracts, gifts to US colleges topped $5B in 2025 • South Dakota Searchlight American colleges and universities received gifts and contracts worth more than $5.2 billion from foreign entities in 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

American colleges and universities received gifts and contracts worth more than $5.2 billion from foreign entities in 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Education, which also recently published summaries of foreign investment in U.S. higher education dating back to 1986.

E-Verify requirements draw business pushback in some Republican states • South Dakota Searchlight Pressured by businesses on the importance of immigrant labor, some Republican states are backing off plans to require all employers to check for legal employment status before hiring workers. State…

Pressured by businesses on the importance of immigrant labor, some Republican states are backing off plans to require all employers to check for legal employment status before hiring workers. #eVerify

Via @stateline.org

State House declines to make it easier to force an election on excess school taxes • South Dakota Searchlight State representatives defeated a bill that would have made it easier to force an election if a school board decides to exceed property tax limitations.

South Dakota state representatives rejected a proposal that would make it easier to force an election after a school board decides to exceed state-imposed property tax limitations.

South Dakota needs a farm bill that protects producers, wetlands and pheasants • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota’s farms, ranches, rural communities and wildlife advocates are living with uncertainty, and delay on a farm bill is inexcusable.

"South Dakota’s farms, ranches, rural communities and wildlife advocates are living with uncertainty, and congressional delay on a full #FarmBill is inexcusable."

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