South Dakota News Watch
@sdnewswatch.bsky.social
A nonprofit of South Dakota journalists who tell in-depth and investigative stories, verify claims and engage with communities to identify solutions. https://www.sdnewswatch.org.
“Everything I’ve done has made a new me.” Details on a #SouthDakota court program to keep people from ending up back behind bars.
Treatment courts help reduce South Dakota's prison population
The state is exploring solutions to address recidivism and ease the burden on prisons. Treatment courts show impressive results.
buff.ly
December 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“Everything I’ve done has made a new me.” Details on a #SouthDakota court program to keep people from ending up back behind bars.
The number of home-schooled students in South Dakota increased from 4,333 to 10,536 in a span of less than 10 years. The latest Fact Brief:
Has SD seen the largest homeschool growth of any state?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
buff.ly
December 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The number of home-schooled students in South Dakota increased from 4,333 to 10,536 in a span of less than 10 years. The latest Fact Brief:
"We’re in great shape. We just can’t spend money we don’t have." Gov. Larry Rhoden outlines lean #SouthDakota budget in first address.
In lean year, governor offers no increase in 'Big 3' spending
With sales tax revenues down, Gov. Larry Rhoden proposes no spending increases for health care and education and no raises for state employees.
buff.ly
December 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM
"We’re in great shape. We just can’t spend money we don’t have." Gov. Larry Rhoden outlines lean #SouthDakota budget in first address.
This #GivingTuesday and through the end of the year, all donations are DOUBLED. We're well on our way to our goal. If you value fact-based reporting, please support independent nonprofit news.
December 2, 2025 at 6:00 PM
This #GivingTuesday and through the end of the year, all donations are DOUBLED. We're well on our way to our goal. If you value fact-based reporting, please support independent nonprofit news.
Nonprofit news is a vital public service. If you agree, will you show South Dakota News Watch some love today, on #GivingTuesday/#GivingNewsDay? Help us meet our goals by donating here:
Join | South Dakota News Watch
South Dakota News Watch is supported by people like you. Support South Dakota News Watch today.
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December 2, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Nonprofit news is a vital public service. If you agree, will you show South Dakota News Watch some love today, on #GivingTuesday/#GivingNewsDay? Help us meet our goals by donating here:
Eighty years ago, a South Dakota community set a pair of weather-related records that still stand today. The latest Fact Brief:
Did a SD city register the fastest temp change in recorded history?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
buff.ly
December 2, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Eighty years ago, a South Dakota community set a pair of weather-related records that still stand today. The latest Fact Brief:
"I can’t come into your yard and dump a load of garbage, but yet they can come in and tear up the land, and bring dust and noise and blasting?" #SouthDakota lawmakers explore permitting changes.
Legislators plan bills to help Piedmont residents in mine fight
The goal is to strengthen lax mining laws that allow some companies to mine anywhere in the state without public notification or input.
buff.ly
December 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
"I can’t come into your yard and dump a load of garbage, but yet they can come in and tear up the land, and bring dust and noise and blasting?" #SouthDakota lawmakers explore permitting changes.
City leaders waited until after the election to determine when Trump's statue would be installed if he won. The latest Fact Brief:
Is Trump the first president to have Rapid City statue installed while in office?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
buff.ly
November 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
City leaders waited until after the election to determine when Trump's statue would be installed if he won. The latest Fact Brief:
The Republican race for governor headlined the latest #SouthDakota poll, but other results show where registered voters stand. Read a summary of the results.
Showing our math: The numbers behind the latest poll
South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center at USD poll summaries, stories, demographics and methodology.
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The Republican race for governor headlined the latest #SouthDakota poll, but other results show where registered voters stand. Read a summary of the results.
A #factbrief on whether #SouthDakota police departments are using automatic license plate readers.
Are SD police departments using license plate readers?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
A #factbrief on whether #SouthDakota police departments are using automatic license plate readers.
Competition vs. status quo: Read why Monument Health could lose $40 million a year from cross-state competitor's plans. "It goes away and it isn't replaced."
Monument could lose millions due to Sanford Health expansion
"I don't think the population is growing fast enough for what they plan to build."
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Competition vs. status quo: Read why Monument Health could lose $40 million a year from cross-state competitor's plans. "It goes away and it isn't replaced."
“This is highly indicative of the internal rifts between the Trump administration and establishment Republicans.” What some #SouthDakota voters think about our institutions.
Poll: Confidence in government shows large partisan divides
South Dakota voters have low confidence in the U.S. presidency and Congress but high confidence in state government.
buff.ly
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“This is highly indicative of the internal rifts between the Trump administration and establishment Republicans.” What some #SouthDakota voters think about our institutions.
One website touts South Dakota residency as a way to “avoid state income and other taxes, save on vehicle insurance and more.”
Is South Dakota one of the easiest states to acquire residency?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
buff.ly
November 20, 2025 at 2:05 PM
One website touts South Dakota residency as a way to “avoid state income and other taxes, save on vehicle insurance and more.”
"The whole thing is pushing those goals to where we don't have to rely on the government, where we can get out there and be the working class." Teaching money management to kids and parents on Pine Ridge reservation. #rural #NativeAmerica #education
Financial literacy aims to boost sovereignty on Pine Ridge
With the 3rd-highest poverty rate in the U.S., an Oglala Lakota County group hopes to improve tribal sovereignty by teaching kids about finances.
buff.ly
November 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
"The whole thing is pushing those goals to where we don't have to rely on the government, where we can get out there and be the working class." Teaching money management to kids and parents on Pine Ridge reservation. #rural #NativeAmerica #education
Some South Dakota residents don't have easy access to SNAP-eligible retailers. More in our latest Fact Brief:
Fact brief: Does South Dakota have a county that doesn’t have a SNAP-eligible retailer?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
buff.ly
November 18, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Some South Dakota residents don't have easy access to SNAP-eligible retailers. More in our latest Fact Brief:
"One of the things I'd really love to see in #RapidCity is that we become a health care hub for the region." Sanford Health announces plans for $500M hospital campus.
Sanford Health to build $500M hospital in Rapid City
The Sioux Falls-based health system continues its recent expansion into the Black Hills market with its biggest plans yet for a 168-bed hospital and specialty care facility.
buff.ly
November 18, 2025 at 12:52 AM
"One of the things I'd really love to see in #RapidCity is that we become a health care hub for the region." Sanford Health announces plans for $500M hospital campus.
“The more quickly we can move away from the uncertainty, the better.” Poll of #SouthDakota voters finds split support for #tariffs.
Poll: Support for Trump tariffs uneven in South Dakota
While opinion of Trump's aggressive policies is mixed among voters, some businesses and agricultural producers are put off by volatility.
buff.ly
November 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“The more quickly we can move away from the uncertainty, the better.” Poll of #SouthDakota voters finds split support for #tariffs.
"We just want to know, where are we at?" #SouthDakota farmers worry the bill to end the shutdown could hurt the state's #hemp industry, which is No. 1 in the nation.
Hemp industry grows amid federal legality battle
South Dakota is No. 1 in hemp fiber production. But as its farmers and processors grow the industry, federal legislation threatens some sectors of it.
buff.ly
November 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
"We just want to know, where are we at?" #SouthDakota farmers worry the bill to end the shutdown could hurt the state's #hemp industry, which is No. 1 in the nation.
Do data centers lead to higher energy prices in the region? The latest fact brief:
Fact brief: Can data centers lead to higher energy prices?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
buff.ly
November 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Do data centers lead to higher energy prices in the region? The latest fact brief:
#SouthDakota poll shows strong support among voters for new #SiouxFalls prison as the focus shifts to rehabilitation programs. Read the survey results.
Poll: Majority of voters support new South Dakota prison
With the new prison authorized, new disagreements over prison programs come to the forefront.
buff.ly
November 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
#SouthDakota poll shows strong support among voters for new #SiouxFalls prison as the focus shifts to rehabilitation programs. Read the survey results.
South Dakota has more high school football classes than Texas, but do they have the most in the country?
Does South Dakota have the most high school football classes?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 2:05 PM
South Dakota has more high school football classes than Texas, but do they have the most in the country?
“It was amazing to see people wanting to invest in their community because they’re not getting any return on their money up front.” One #SouthDakota town's solution to the #housing crunch.
Salem residents invest own money in new subdivision
After 2 damaging derechos, 50 individuals and business owners donated $250K toward new housing with no promise of a return on their investment.
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
“It was amazing to see people wanting to invest in their community because they’re not getting any return on their money up front.” One #SouthDakota town's solution to the #housing crunch.
"So I think rural Americans, #rural #SouthDakota, will appreciate this effort to understand their place better." Conference focuses on the #Midwest.
Effort to highlight Midwestern history and academia comes to SD
Can studying a region's past help to understand it in the present? The Lost Region Recovery Project attempts to answer that question.
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November 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
"So I think rural Americans, #rural #SouthDakota, will appreciate this effort to understand their place better." Conference focuses on the #Midwest.
As the shutdown reaches a record duration, not all government employees are feeling the pinch equally.
Fact brief: Are members of Congress getting paid during shutdown?
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
buff.ly
November 6, 2025 at 2:05 PM
As the shutdown reaches a record duration, not all government employees are feeling the pinch equally.
“Congress tends to be more visible and polarizing than the governor." How #SouthDakota voters perceive their elected leaders and the why behind the numbers.
Poll: What South Dakotans think of their political leaders
Most enjoy high approval ratings, though national positions are weighing on a couple. Challengers struggle with name recognition.
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 2:02 PM
“Congress tends to be more visible and polarizing than the governor." How #SouthDakota voters perceive their elected leaders and the why behind the numbers.