Criminal charges in multiple investigations involving inmates at South Dakota state prison facilities are pending.

Lawmakers had put back more than $600 million for prison construction before the 2025 legislative session, and the fund had swelled larger than that with interest by winter.

By curtailing state grants and low-interest loans, that market will be free to invest in states that are more financially ...

Programs that train inmates outside prison walls have had success, though. Twelve minimum custody inmates graduated with ...

LOS ANGELES (South Dakota Searchlight) – Federal law enforcement officials forcibly removed and handcuffed U.S. Sen. Alex ...

Jamie Smith, D-Sioux Falls, speaks on the Senate floor on March 6, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Rep. Drew Peterson, R-Salem, said he ran for a caucus leadership position ahead o ...

Seth Tupper is editor-in-chief of South Dakota Searchlight. South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Now, the 24-year-old former state health employee is facing criminal charges, the South Dakota State’s Attorney’s Office said ...

S.D. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) “What’s the plan here? And that’s the question that’s rolling around in my mind,” said Commissioner Chris Nelson. The proposed $9 billion ...