Seth Tupper
@sethtupper.bsky.social
Journalist, author and editor-in-chief of @southdakotasearchlight.com for @statesnewsroom.com.
Reposted by Seth Tupper
The South Dakota Highway Patrol didn’t visit Brookings for a saturation patrol that had been announced in advance by the city’s leadership. Troopers went to Winner and Sturgis for the ninth set of patrols undertaken as part of Gov. Larry Rhoden’s #OperationPrairieThunder.
State saturation patrols go to Sturgis and Winner, but not Brookings after public notification • South Dakota Searchlight
The South Dakota Highway Patrol didn’t visit Brookings for a saturation patrol that had been announced in advance by the city’s leadership.
buff.ly
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The South Dakota Highway Patrol didn’t visit Brookings for a saturation patrol that had been announced in advance by the city’s leadership. Troopers went to Winner and Sturgis for the ninth set of patrols undertaken as part of Gov. Larry Rhoden’s #OperationPrairieThunder.
Reposted by Seth Tupper
The Iowa Utilities Commission will have to decide whether #SummitCarbonSolutions can change the ending destination for its carbon sequestration pipeline before a case against the company’s permit can proceed, an Iowa court ruled.
Via @iowacapitaldispatch.com
buff.ly/7JKA0yp
Via @iowacapitaldispatch.com
buff.ly/7JKA0yp
Iowa judge pauses Summit opponents' lawsuit while proposed permit changes proceed • South Dakota Searchlight
The IUC will have to decide on a permit amendment for Summit Carbon Solutions before a case against the permit can proceed.
southdakotasearchlight.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The Iowa Utilities Commission will have to decide whether #SummitCarbonSolutions can change the ending destination for its carbon sequestration pipeline before a case against the company’s permit can proceed, an Iowa court ruled.
Via @iowacapitaldispatch.com
buff.ly/7JKA0yp
Via @iowacapitaldispatch.com
buff.ly/7JKA0yp
Reposted by Seth Tupper
President Donald Trump’s administration will start garnishing the wages of student loan borrowers in default beginning early next year, the U.S. Education Department said.
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Trump administration to garnish wages for defaulted student loans • South Dakota Searchlight
President Donald Trump’s administration will start garnishing the wages of student loan borrowers in default beginning early next year.
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
President Donald Trump’s administration will start garnishing the wages of student loan borrowers in default beginning early next year, the U.S. Education Department said.
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Reposted by Seth Tupper
The U.S. Department of Justice released thousands more files related to the late sex offender #JeffreyEpstein, with several referencing President Donald Trump.
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Trump appears in several files of latest Epstein release • South Dakota Searchlight
The U.S. Department of Justice released thousands more files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with several referencing President Trump.
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The U.S. Department of Justice released thousands more files related to the late sex offender #JeffreyEpstein, with several referencing President Donald Trump.
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Reposted by Seth Tupper
South Dakota’s Republican attorney general asked a judge for a court order to stop an abortion-rights ad campaign by a New York-based nonprofit, Mayday Health. The ads direct people to information about #abortion pills.
State seeks court order to stop abortion-pill ad campaign • South Dakota Searchlight
The organization behind the advertisements did not comply with a cease-and-desist letter from the state's attorney general.
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM
South Dakota’s Republican attorney general asked a judge for a court order to stop an abortion-rights ad campaign by a New York-based nonprofit, Mayday Health. The ads direct people to information about #abortion pills.
Reposted by Seth Tupper
A South Dakota law that prevents drug companies from restricting federal drug discounts for hospitals and other providers will remain in effect while a lawsuit against it proceeds, a judge has decided.
South Dakota law protecting drug discounts for hospitals stays in effect as lawsuit proceeds • South Dakota Searchlight
Chicago-based AbbVie Inc. sued the state earlier this year in the U.S. District Court of South Dakota over a law passed in March.
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A South Dakota law that prevents drug companies from restricting federal drug discounts for hospitals and other providers will remain in effect while a lawsuit against it proceeds, a judge has decided.
Reposted by Seth Tupper
Inmates in Montana are suing a food service company based in South Dakota, alleging that blood dripped into a pasta dish and infected some inmates with hepatitis C.
Via @dailymontanan.com
Via @dailymontanan.com
Montana inmates sue SD-based jail food service for Hepatitis C exposure • South Dakota Searchlight
A food service vendor working at the Cascade County Detention Center allegedly ordered contaminated food sent to inmates, even after learning about it.
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Inmates in Montana are suing a food service company based in South Dakota, alleging that blood dripped into a pasta dish and infected some inmates with hepatitis C.
Via @dailymontanan.com
Via @dailymontanan.com
Reposted by Seth Tupper
The number of preventable prison deaths in South Dakota should spark serious responses, candidates for the state’s top elected post say. buff.ly/wGgovE0
Governor candidates say prison overdoses need stronger response • South Dakota Searchlight
The number of preventable prison deaths in South Dakota should spark serious responses, candidates for the state’s top elected post say.
southdakotasearchlight.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The number of preventable prison deaths in South Dakota should spark serious responses, candidates for the state’s top elected post say. buff.ly/wGgovE0
Reposted by Seth Tupper
No state that borders South Dakota has publicly confirmed a lethal overdose in a state prison in 2025.
South Dakota has reported eight. buff.ly/HP0CA1I
South Dakota has reported eight. buff.ly/HP0CA1I
South Dakota outpaces neighbors in fatal prison overdoses • South Dakota Searchlight
No state that borders South Dakota has publicly confirmed a lethal overdose in a state prison in 2025. South Dakota has had eight.
southdakotasearchlight.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
No state that borders South Dakota has publicly confirmed a lethal overdose in a state prison in 2025.
South Dakota has reported eight. buff.ly/HP0CA1I
South Dakota has reported eight. buff.ly/HP0CA1I
Reposted by Seth Tupper
Since Inauguration Day, more than 1.5 million #immigrants have either lost or will lose their temporary legal status, including their work authorizations and deportation protections, due to President Donald Trump’s aggressive revocation of legal immigration.
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Trump canceled temporary legal status for more than 1.5 million immigrants in 2025 • South Dakota Searchlight
It’s the most rapid loss in legal status for immigrants in recent United States history, experts in immigration policy told States Newsroom.
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Since Inauguration Day, more than 1.5 million #immigrants have either lost or will lose their temporary legal status, including their work authorizations and deportation protections, due to President Donald Trump’s aggressive revocation of legal immigration.
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Reposted by Seth Tupper
A program that helps farmers pass their operations along to their children got a $200,000 boost from a South Dakota government fund under the exclusive control of the governor.
Governor-controlled fund gives $200,000 to program that helps farmers with estate planning • South Dakota Searchlight
A program that helps farmers pass their operations along to their children got a $200,000 boost from a South Dakota government fund.
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 1:30 AM
A program that helps farmers pass their operations along to their children got a $200,000 boost from a South Dakota government fund under the exclusive control of the governor.
Reposted by Seth Tupper
Jordan Ward isn’t one of the eight men killed by an overdose in a South Dakota prison in 2025, but a lawsuit filed this year over his 2022 death in custody offers insight into how drugs sometimes make their way into the hands of inmates. buff.ly/6eVFol1
Lawsuit in 2022 overdose death offers window into drug problem in state prisons • South Dakota Searchlight
A lawsuit filed this year over a 2022 death in custody offers insight into how drugs sometimes make their way into the hands of inmates.
southdakotasearchlight.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Jordan Ward isn’t one of the eight men killed by an overdose in a South Dakota prison in 2025, but a lawsuit filed this year over his 2022 death in custody offers insight into how drugs sometimes make their way into the hands of inmates. buff.ly/6eVFol1
Reposted by Seth Tupper
Willingness to meet inmates where they’re at and respond to their needs as individuals are pillars of what one former incarcerated South Dakotan calls "moral leadership." He said that's needed to stop a spate of overdose deaths in the state's prisons. buff.ly/JMnW82J
‘Moral leadership’ needed to stop South Dakota prison overdose deaths, inmates and activists say • South Dakota Searchlight
Activists for prison reform in South Dakota see rehabilitation and addiction treatment as key to solving prison drug problems.
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Willingness to meet inmates where they’re at and respond to their needs as individuals are pillars of what one former incarcerated South Dakotan calls "moral leadership." He said that's needed to stop a spate of overdose deaths in the state's prisons. buff.ly/JMnW82J
Reposted by Seth Tupper
The chairman of a South Dakota economic development board not only sits on the corporate board for a company benefiting from millions in state aid but also has connections to the company’s landlord.
buff.ly/Khzb85j
buff.ly/Khzb85j
SD economic development chair has multiple ties to food company receiving millions in state aid • South Dakota Searchlight
The chairman of a state economic development board not only sits on the corporate board for a company benefiting from millions in state aid but also has connections to the company’s landlord.
southdakotasearchlight.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:36 PM
The chairman of a South Dakota economic development board not only sits on the corporate board for a company benefiting from millions in state aid but also has connections to the company’s landlord.
buff.ly/Khzb85j
buff.ly/Khzb85j
Reposted by Seth Tupper
International student enrollment across South Dakota’s six public universities dropped this fall by 76 students. The drop, which comes amid a Trump administration immigration crackdown, follows a 10-year high last fall that capped four straight years of increases.
International student numbers decline in South Dakota amid immigration crackdown • South Dakota Searchlight
The overall enrollment of international students across South Dakota’s six public universities dropped by 76 students, from 2,233 to 2,157.
buff.ly
December 22, 2025 at 6:02 PM
International student enrollment across South Dakota’s six public universities dropped this fall by 76 students. The drop, which comes amid a Trump administration immigration crackdown, follows a 10-year high last fall that capped four straight years of increases.
Reposted by Seth Tupper
The U.S. Department of Justice has sent a confidential draft agreement to more than a dozen states, including South Dakota, that would require election officials to remove any alleged ineligible voters identified during a federal review of their voter rolls.
Via @stateline.org
buff.ly/jfKJZ3C
Via @stateline.org
buff.ly/jfKJZ3C
Trump’s DOJ offers states, including SD, confidential deal to remove voters flagged by feds • South Dakota Searchlight
The move is part of the Trump administration’s effort to obtain unredacted voter rolls, with one of its attorneys saying 11 states have shown a "willingness to comply."
southdakotasearchlight.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The U.S. Department of Justice has sent a confidential draft agreement to more than a dozen states, including South Dakota, that would require election officials to remove any alleged ineligible voters identified during a federal review of their voter rolls.
Via @stateline.org
buff.ly/jfKJZ3C
Via @stateline.org
buff.ly/jfKJZ3C
Reposted by Seth Tupper
Dana Hess considers pledges by South Dakota gubernatorial candidates to use Department of Government Efficiency-style tactics: "If we learned anything from watching the slash and burn techniques employed by #DOGE, it’s that chainsaws are best left to lumberjacks."
Commentary:
Commentary:
A scalpel, not a DOGE chainsaw, is the best approach for state budget cuts • South Dakota Searchlight
If we learned anything from watching the slash and burn techniques employed by DOGE, it’s that chainsaws are best left to lumberjacks.
buff.ly
December 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Dana Hess considers pledges by South Dakota gubernatorial candidates to use Department of Government Efficiency-style tactics: "If we learned anything from watching the slash and burn techniques employed by #DOGE, it’s that chainsaws are best left to lumberjacks."
Commentary:
Commentary:
Reposted by Seth Tupper
The Department of Justice began releasing thousands of records related to #JeffreyEpstein. The trove reviewed by @statesnewsroom.com contains images of Epstein with celebrities including Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, David Copperfield and former President Bill Clinton. buff.ly/93rp7Te
Department of Justice releases new documents, photos as part of Epstein files • South Dakota Searchlight
The Department of Justice began releasing thousands of records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
southdakotasearchlight.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:00 AM
The Department of Justice began releasing thousands of records related to #JeffreyEpstein. The trove reviewed by @statesnewsroom.com contains images of Epstein with celebrities including Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, David Copperfield and former President Bill Clinton. buff.ly/93rp7Te
Reposted by Seth Tupper
A company benefiting from $69 million in state grant and loan approvals has South Dakota's former economic development chief as an employee and the chairman of the state's economic development board as a corporate board member.
That's caused lawmakers to raise ethical questions.
That's caused lawmakers to raise ethical questions.
Company that hired state's former head of economic development benefits from $69 million in aid • South Dakota Searchlight
The state funding is helping CJ Schwan’s build a $550 million food production plant in Sioux Falls that will have 600 employees.
buff.ly
December 19, 2025 at 9:00 PM
A company benefiting from $69 million in state grant and loan approvals has South Dakota's former economic development chief as an employee and the chairman of the state's economic development board as a corporate board member.
That's caused lawmakers to raise ethical questions.
That's caused lawmakers to raise ethical questions.
Reposted by Seth Tupper
The November overdose death of a state prison inmate in Sioux Falls has drawn charges from the attorney general against a former Department of Corrections medical staffer and a man who’s already serving a 65-year sentence.
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/12/19/i...
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/12/19/i...
Attorney general charges inmate, former penitentiary employee in one of eight fatal prison overdoses • South Dakota Searchlight
The November overdose death of a state prison inmate in Sioux Falls has drawn charges for a former employee and prisoner.
southdakotasearchlight.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The November overdose death of a state prison inmate in Sioux Falls has drawn charges from the attorney general against a former Department of Corrections medical staffer and a man who’s already serving a 65-year sentence.
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/12/19/i...
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/12/19/i...
Reposted by Seth Tupper
Homeland Security Secretary #KristiNoem said she was suspending applications for a diversity visa program because the man suspected of killing two Brown University students and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor obtained a green card through the program in 2017.
Trump administration moves to pause diversity visa program after Brown, MIT shootings • South Dakota Searchlight
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she was suspending applications for a diversity visa program because the man suspected of killing two Brown University students and a Massachusetts…
buff.ly
December 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Homeland Security Secretary #KristiNoem said she was suspending applications for a diversity visa program because the man suspected of killing two Brown University students and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor obtained a green card through the program in 2017.
Reposted by Seth Tupper
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says the Highway Patrol has logged $43,000 of overtime for troopers during a saturation patrol initiative known as Operation Prairie Thunder.
State tallies $43,000 in trooper overtime costs during Operation Prairie Thunder • South Dakota Searchlight
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says a saturation patrol initiative has had a minimal impact on the Highway Patrol’s budget.
buff.ly
December 19, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says the Highway Patrol has logged $43,000 of overtime for troopers during a saturation patrol initiative known as Operation Prairie Thunder.
Reposted by Seth Tupper
A panel of appellate judges seemed skeptical during Thursday oral arguments that the Trump administration erred in relying on a decades-old statute to require millions of noncitizens to register with the federal government and carry documentation.
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Judges hear case on requiring immigrants without legal status to register and carry documents • South Dakota Searchlight
A panel of appellate judges seemed skeptical during oral arguments that the Trump administration erred in relying on a decades-old statute to require millions of noncitizens to register with the…
buff.ly
December 18, 2025 at 9:01 PM
A panel of appellate judges seemed skeptical during Thursday oral arguments that the Trump administration erred in relying on a decades-old statute to require millions of noncitizens to register with the federal government and carry documentation.
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Via @statesnewsroom.com
Reposted by Seth Tupper
South Dakota’s State Economist Derek Johnson told the state Banking Commission that a sluggish farm economy, driven by lower soybean, corn and wheat prices, has been a major factor holding down recent state sales tax collections. buff.ly/PEbDMRC
South Dakota state economist says sluggish farm economy has held back sales tax revenues • South Dakota Searchlight
The state economist told the Banking Commission that a sluggish farm economy has been holding down recent sales tax collections.
southdakotasearchlight.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:25 PM
South Dakota’s State Economist Derek Johnson told the state Banking Commission that a sluggish farm economy, driven by lower soybean, corn and wheat prices, has been a major factor holding down recent state sales tax collections. buff.ly/PEbDMRC
Reposted by Seth Tupper
September #unemployment rates rose in 25 states and fell in 21 compared with last year, the government reported recently in a shutdown-delayed analysis. South Dakota had the nation's lowest rate.
Via @stateline.org southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/12/18/r...
Via @stateline.org southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/12/18/r...
Shutdown-delayed analysis shows rising unemployment in half the states; South Dakota has lowest rate • South Dakota Searchlight
September unemployment rates rose in 25 states and fell in 21 compared with last year, the government reported Dec. 11 in a shutdown-delayed analysis.
southdakotasearchlight.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
September #unemployment rates rose in 25 states and fell in 21 compared with last year, the government reported recently in a shutdown-delayed analysis. South Dakota had the nation's lowest rate.
Via @stateline.org southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/12/18/r...
Via @stateline.org southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/12/18/r...