Seth Tupper

Rapid City policing agencies target ‘diet weed’ with compliance checks • South Dakota Searchlight Rapid City has conducted what could be one of the first compliance checks for hemp-based intoxicants in South Dakota.

Rapid City has conducted what sources in law enforcement and government say could be one of the first compliance checks for hemp-based intoxicants since a South Dakota law banning their sale took effect a little over a year ago.

Secretary of state apologizes for sharing list labeling thousands as public assistance applicants • South Dakota Searchlight The secretary of state is taking responsibility for the release of a spreadsheet labling thousands as applying for government assistance.

South Dakota’s secretary of state is taking responsibility for the release of sensitive voter registration data, after her office published a spreadsheet that labeled thousands of residents as having registered to vote at government assistance agencies. buff.ly/KWGc8zE

State obligations for future retiree costs continue to grow, study finds • South Dakota Searchlight While more than a dozen states have shrunk their pension debt obligations in recent years, a majority continue to see growth in the gap between the amount of money retirees have been promised and the…

While a majority of states continue to see growth in the gap between the amount of money retirees have been promised and the amount of cash states have set aside, South Dakota is one of four states where plan assets exceed what's owed. buff.ly/nQ8t43P

Via @stateline.org

Sisseton-Wahpeton leader calls now-deleted lawmaker’s social media post ‘inflammatory’ • South Dakota Searchlight The chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate said an earlier social media post from one of his district’s state representatives was “inflammatory and racially charged.”

The chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate said during a meeting of South Dakota's State-Tribal Relations Committee that an earlier social media post from one of his district’s state representatives was “inflammatory" and "racially charged.”

SD election office publishes voter list labeling thousands as public assistance applicants • South Dakota Searchlight Thousands of South Dakotans have been publicly labeled as applicants for government assistance due to a new state law and its implementation.

Thousands of South Dakotans have been publicly labeled as applicants for government assistance and thousands more have had their email address and phone number exposed, due to a new state law and the way the state’s election office is implementing it. buff.ly/FDBjkbt

Para-to-teacher program produces 41 educators across 31 districts • South Dakota Searchlight Of the 59 graduates so far from a two-year-old teacher apprenticeship program, 41 have signed teaching contracts.

A program helping paraprofessionals become #teachers has produced 41 teaching contracts across 31 public school districts and three private schools, according to South Dakota officials who've labeled the program an "incredible success." buff.ly/Pc9dmvK

Advocates worry Medicaid work requirements will block care for people with substance use disorders • South Dakota Searchlight Professionals say new Medicaid work requirements could disrupt care for people struggling with substance use disorders.

South Dakota health professionals and advocates are warning that new #Medicaid work requirements could disrupt care for people struggling with substance use disorders: "If you can’t get a job, you lose coverage. But without coverage, you can’t get treatment."

SD providers hope over $500 million for rural health care offsets expected Medicaid coverage losses • South Dakota Searchlight Changes to Medicaid could leave thousands of South Dakotans uninsured and impair an already fragile rural health care system, advocates worry. But a concurrent $50 billion in federal funding for…

Federal Medicaid spending in rural SD over the next decade could decrease by $487 million as changes including work requirements cause lost coverage. A $500 million infusion of federal aid could help, but providers worry it won't "address the broader challenges rural providers face." buff.ly/lMRYSKi

South Dakota would jump eight places in teacher pay rankings by meeting its own target • South Dakota Searchlight If South Dakota’s average teacher salary matched the state’s target teacher salary, the state would have ranked 38th in the nation this year for average teacher pay.

If South Dakota’s average teacher salary matched the state’s target teacher salary, the state would have ranked 38th in the nation this year for average #TeacherPay. Instead, it ranked 46th. buff.ly/Y7ZLc6L

Open Meetings Commission finds two local boards violated South Dakota law • South Dakota Searchlight A commission found two local government bodies violated open meetings law by improperly notifying the public about their meetings.

South Dakota's Open Meetings Commission found that two local government bodies violated the notification provisions of the state’s open meetings law. buff.ly/T0cVhKO

‘Operation Prairie Thunder’ will assist with deportations and boost Sioux Falls law enforcement • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota will spend more time and money to police Sioux Falls and help deport immigrants who lack legal status in the coming months

The state of South Dakota will spend more time and money in the coming months to police the streets of Sioux Falls, and to help federal agents deport immigrants who lack legal status. The governor is calling the effort "Operation Prairie Thunder." buff.ly/nQznvvO

From property to purchases: Task force considering fundamental tax shift to reduce homeowner burden • South Dakota Searchlight Members of a task force aiming to reduce the property tax burden for South Dakota homeowners are considering proposals to reduce or replace property taxes by relying on sales or transaction taxes.

Members of a task force aiming to reduce the property tax burden for South Dakota homeowners are considering proposals to reduce or replace #PropertyTaxes by relying on sales or transaction taxes, among other proposals.

Read more about what the group has discussed so far: buff.ly/uCH41Yc

Feeding South Dakota requests $3 million from Legislature to fill federal loss • South Dakota Searchlight Feeding South Dakota is the first of what could be multiple nonprofits asking the Legislature for help to recover from federal funding cuts.

Feeding South Dakota is the first of what could be multiple nonprofits asking the Legislature for help to recover from federal funding cuts. The organization is seeking $3 million to help buy 1.5 million pounds of food that the federal government is no longer providing.

Law journal article proves that citizen ballot questions are under attack • South Dakota Searchlight This years-long attempt to curtail the initiative process is nothing more than a means for the Republican super-majority to solidify its power.

"This years-long attempt to curtail the initiative process is nothing more than a means for the Republican super-majority to solidify its power by cutting off people they don’t agree with from access to the ballot."

Commentary from Dana Hess:

Local public broadcasting cuts will happen Oct. 31 without new funding, director says • South Dakota Searchlight SIOUX FALLS – South Dakotans should know what might stay and what might go at South Dakota Public Broadcasting within the next two weeks.

In response to the congressional cancellation of funds for #PublicMedia, South Dakota Public Broadcasting will announce its plan for layoffs and programming cuts within two weeks and enact the plan by Oct. 31, absent a philanthropic or state budget lifeline. buff.ly/JW24cQE

Don't let politics freeze children's futures • South Dakota Searchlight Children aren’t resources to be groomed. They’re not workers-in-waiting. They’re not numbers in a cost-benefit analysis.

For Ngoc Thach, who didn't speak English in kindergarten, success "started with a public school teacher who saw us." As school funds are frozen and attempts continue to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, she writes, "I worry deeply for the kids who won’t get what I got." buff.ly/XemU9GK

South Dakota’s next budget could face a $24.5 million revenue shortfall, legislators learn • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota lawmakers should expect an even tighter state budget next legislative session, the Legislature’s budget committee learned.

A shortfall in projected state revenue paired with federal funding cuts impacting state programs and nonprofits means “every agency and group will have their hands out this year," one South Dakota lawmaker said. buff.ly/4iFeW6I

Jury orders former prison warden to pay inmate $105,000 for poor nutrition • South Dakota Searchlight A Sioux Falls jury awarded $105,000 in damages to an inmate after a federal civil rights trial, but it’s unclear who will pay.

A jury in South Dakota ordered a former warden to pay $105,000 in damages to an inmate after a federal civil rights trial over prison food, but it’s unclear if the warden or state will pay the award.

Tumult over Epstein files dogs Trump in both DC and Florida • South Dakota Searchlight The fallout over President Donald Trump’s handling of financier and Florida sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s case files permeated business on Capitol Hill.

The fallout over President Trump’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s case files permeated business on Capitol Hill, as Senate Democrats urged release of the information. Meanwhile, a top Department of Justice official interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend. buff.ly/cQBHjme

USDA in sweeping reorganization to ship some DC workers to 5 regional centers • South Dakota Searchlight The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to slash its presence in the Washington, D.C., area by sending employees to five regional hubs.

The U.S. Department of #Agriculture plans to slash its presence in the Washington, D.C., area by sending employees to five regional hubs, Secretary Brooke Rollins said. #USDA buff.ly/31asjbt

Via @statesnewsroom.com

Federal funding uncertainty risks destroying adult education programs in SD, directors say • South Dakota Searchlight The federal government has not released millions in funding for adult education programs. Advocates worry future funding will be cut, too.

The federal government has not released millions in funding for #AdultEducation programs nationwide. Advocates worry future funding for GED and English language classes will be cut, too.

For students, that could destroy their path toward stability, higher pay and a career. buff.ly/lidrnX4

‘Big, beautiful’ law draws mostly skeptical reaction in new nonpartisan poll • South Dakota Searchlight A majority of Americans believe Republicans’ “big, beautiful” law will either hurt them or not make much of a difference.

Big, but maybe not beautiful: A majority of Americans believe Republicans’ budget reconciliation package will either hurt them or not make much of a difference, according to a poll released by the nonpartisan health research organization @kff.org. buff.ly/evWZbAq

The potential power of ‘nones’ still looms as the flight from Christianity slows • South Dakota Searchlight The increasing flight from Christianity in the U.S. did appear to slow slightly in the last couple of years.

A report on American religiosity indicates that South Dakotans — in tandem with Americans nationwide — have been losing faith for years, particularly among Christian denominations, although the flight from Christianity did appear to slow slightly.

Commentary from Rick Snedeker: buff.ly/BKvP4O0

US House grapples with college athletes’ rights as two panels approve bill on player pay • South Dakota Searchlight A measure that would set a national framework for college athletes’ compensation got one step closer to becoming law.

A measure that would set a national framework for college athletes’ compensation got one step closer to becoming law after advancing in two separate U.S. House panels. #NIL buff.ly/8BAKOxG

Via @statesnewsroom.com

Trump’s AI Action Plan removes ‘red tape’ for AI developers and data centers, punishes states that act alone • South Dakota Searchlight The Trump administration wants to greatly expand the development and use of advanced artificial intelligence.

The Trump administration wants to expand the development and use of advanced #ArtificialIntelligence, including rolling back environmental rules to spur building of power-thirsty #DataCenters and punishing states that attempt to regulate #AI on their own. buff.ly/laZLmYu

Via @statesnewsroom.com

Coke’s cane sugar announcement bugs some farmers, but is unlikely to impact South Dakota corn prices • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota corn advocates worry that a move toward cane sugar gives a black eye to a crop grown across the eastern part of the state.

Very little of South Dakota’s #corn is used to produce sweetened beverages, but the crop’s boosters in the state say a nationwide shift away from high-fructose corn syrup and toward cane sugar is an unwelcome sign for corn farmers. buff.ly/HrrBsSv

Passage of federal Medicaid work requirements leads SD to withdraw its own proposal • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota will withdraw its Medicaid expansion work requirements proposal now that President Donald Trump has signed federal requirements into law

South Dakota will withdraw its #Medicaid expansion work requirements proposal now that President Donald Trump has signed federal requirements into law. South Dakota's proposal would have had fewer paperwork and tracking requirements, officials said. buff.ly/HHaUECQ

Federal changes to food assistance will cost South Dakota $5 million annually • South Dakota Searchlight Federal changes to a food assistance program will cost South Dakota $5 million starting next fiscal year, according to the state.

Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the Big Beautiful Bill will cost South Dakota $5 million starting next fiscal year. Meanwhile, an executive at Feeding South Dakota worries that expanded work requirements could lead to greater food insecurity. buff.ly/jsR9HrJ

Fiscal responsibility or neglect of state priorities: Surplus sparks debate about budget cuts • South Dakota Searchlight Some Democrats and people affected by state budget cuts are criticizing Republican leaders for cutting spending too aggressively.

After the state finished the fiscal year with a $63 million surplus, some Democrats and people affected by budget cuts are criticizing South Dakota's Republican administration and legislative majority for cutting spending too aggressively. buff.ly/nVT0q0W

Sioux Falls prison plan should come with more state support for released inmates, speakers say • South Dakota Searchlight Mayor Paul TenHaken isn’t “kicking and screaming” against the proposed construction of a larger men’s prison in northeastern Sioux Falls. But he’s not thrilled about it.

Law enforcement, legislators and Sioux Falls officials said during a forum that if the state's largest city will host a new prison, then the state should support housing, rehabilitation and parole improvements. buff.ly/QaBNe53