Two police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, sued the Trump administration to block the creation of a nearly $1.8 billion fund to pay people said to be victims of judicial weaponization, saying the fund would aid and encourage the pro-Trump rioters.

A Florida-based company is seeking approval from South Dakota regulators to build a $174 million battery energy storage system that would capture excess energy from the electrical grid and release it at times of increased demand.

A multibillion-dollar package to fund #immigration enforcement for the rest of President Donald Trump’s term faced new delays as Senate Republicans showed a rare split with the president over his new “anti-weaponization” fund. Via @statesnewsroom.com

A new poll by Emerson College Polling commissioned by KELO-TV shows Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden overtaking U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson in the race for the Republican nomination for governor of South Dakota, but the gap between the two is within the poll’s margin of error.

A federal agency officially granted the #DakotaAccessPipeline a permit to cross under the Missouri River’s Lake Oahe reservoir, ending a six-year environmental review to determine whether the pipeline could continue operating. #DAPL Via @northdakotamonitor.com

A new campaign finance report says a Republican candidate for governor of South Dakota, Toby Doeden, has put $4 million of his own money into his campaign.

The status of a hearing on an exploratory #uranium drilling permit was left uncertain after a state board adjourned until further notice, following a private session to discuss legal matters. Meanwhile, a project opponent filed a federal lawsuit.

President Trump is again demanding Congress pass a sweeping set of voting restrictions and refuses to rule out sending troops to the polls, as Democrats and voting rights groups assemble a sprawling effort to guard against federal election interference. Via @statesnewsroom.com

South Dakota's Dusty Johnson was among the yes votes as the U.S. House passed a bill that would require parental consent before a public elementary or middle school can update a student’s pronouns, gender markers or preferred name on records in order to receive federal funding.

Iowa property owners asked the Iowa Utilities Commission to deny Summit Carbon Solution’s recent filing seeking to modify its pipeline project, while ag group members and some others called for approval of the plan. Via @iowacapitaldispatch.com

Advance voting for the June 2 primary election is outpacing or on track to match the 2024 primary election in South Dakota, several county auditors say, despite a weeklong delay at the start. #EarlyVoting

The board overseeing South Dakota’s public university system increased in-person tuition by 2.4% systemwide, while approving a higher increase of 5% for South Dakota Mines.

"I don't want a South Dakota where we have D.C.-style deals getting made between politicians and businesses ..." State House Speaker Jon Hansen in the third of the 🎧️ Searchlight Report 🎧️ podcast's interviews with the four GOP candidates for SD governor. buff.ly/R26qM0A

Frustrations boiled over as a state regulatory board weighed whether to allow underground #uranium exploration along the southern edge of the Black Hills. More details from the second day of the hearing:

The candidates themselves are not the only ones raising and spending money in South Dakota’s race for governor. Political action committees have spent over $1.3 million in recent months, and campaign finance reports show where some of the money came from.

After voting no seven times, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., flipped and cast the deciding vote to advance a War Powers Resolution to rein in President Trump’s war in Iran without authorization from Congress. South Dakota's John Thune and Mike Rounds voted against advancing the resolution.

State lawmakers across the country, including South Dakota, are grappling with the question of who should be required to report suspected child abuse or neglect, known as “mandated reporters.” Via @stateline.org

Persistent, drizzling rain didn’t keep dozens of people from rallying against a proposed #uranium drilling project in the southern Black Hills on the first day of a weeklong hearing to decide on a permit application.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced a new “anti-weaponization” settlement fund as a condition of President Donald Trump voluntarily dropping his multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against the #IRS for the leak of his tax returns several years ago. Via @statesnewsroom.com

SD’s National Guard has helped #ICE deport 664 people, the Department of Corrections has handed 24 inmates over to that agency, and state troopers have arrested 150 people who lack legal status. Gov. Rhoden released the numbers and announced plans to train more troopers to help ICE.

“It will always be grassroots moving the envelope": Lists of missing or murdered indigenous people have improved, an advocate says, but there are still inconsistencies. #MMIP

For the past two decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has advanced the idea that federal courts should not order major changes close to an election. But election law experts say the Supreme Court is wielding — or disregarding — the principle unevenly in ways that aid Republicans.

"We owe it to society, we owe it to humanity to provide these inmates an opportunity ..." Gov. Rhoden talks prisons, economic development, Medicaid and more in the second of the 🎧️ Searchlight Report 🎧️ podcast's interviews with candidates seeking the GOP nomination for governor of SD. buff.ly/RdhsK4Z

South Dakota’s environmental regulatory department has changed how it publicly presents its report on the quality of the state’s rivers, lakes and streams, leading to praise for the simplified presentation but concern about the reduced amount of information made available.

New graduates of Sitting Bull College said proposed funding cuts to #TribalColleges could mean losing schools where tribal citizens are best able to thrive. Via @northdakotamonitor.com

"During the legislative session, we’re often witness to lawmakers taking a stand on principle. This can take many forms ... Some want to solve the national debt by returning $87 million to the federal government. “Wait, what?" COMMENTARY from Dana Hess:

Former President #JoeBiden will be the keynote speaker June 5 at the South Dakota Democratic Party’s McGovern Day Dinner, the party announced. buff.ly/xKeaMyX

The South Dakota Department of Social Services is taking a second look at proposed changes to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits and Medicaid provider reimbursements after public backlash.

The South Dakota Department of Corrections’ #parole division notched a series of wins in 2025, its leaders said, even as public scrutiny of people on parole reached a crescendo last month that was loud enough to spark immediate changes from Gov. Larry Rhoden.

Twelve of the 19 people granted early release from prison by former South Dakota Gov. #KristiNoem without a customary review by a state board have since been charged with new crimes.

Why he thinks an economic office "should be eliminated," what he plans to do about data centers, and his plan for property taxes: A Searchlight Report podcast interview with #TobyDoeden, one of four Republicans running for governor. Future episodes will feature the other candidates. buff.ly/1J0ohbR

The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated a natural disaster area in four South Dakota counties due to #drought, making farmers and ranchers eligible to apply for emergency loans.

The U.S. Supreme Court decided to preserve telehealth access to the #abortion drug mifepristone until after the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled on the merits of the high-stakes federal lawsuit Louisiana v. Food and Drug Administration. Via @statesnewsroom.com

With South Dakota's Dusty Johnson voting no, the U.S. House rejected a proposal to rein in President Donald Trump’s months-long military actions in #Iran. Via @statesnewsroom.com

The U.S. Senate approved a resolution that will prevent lawmakers in that chamber from receiving their paychecks during any government shutdowns that begin after this year’s midterm elections. Via @statesnewsroom.com

A claim in a political ad that South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden “increased the gas tax” is wrong, although he did vote for a failed increase, while a claim that he then “targeted your guns, increasing fees on concealed carry permits” is false.

Trina Lone Hill wasn’t surprised that mining companies found #lithium in the #BlackHills. Gold and uranium had drawn drillers before. With this new mineral powering the green-energy transition, she had one thought: “Here we go again.” Via @insideclimatenews.org

Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the risk of a member of the general public contracting #hantavirus remains low despite several passengers on a cruise ship becoming infected with the disease. Via @statesnewsroom.com

The seventh effort to stop President Donald Trump’s military campaign in #Iran until he obtains congressional approval failed in the U.S. Senate. South Dakota's #JohnThune and #MikeRounds each voted against the resolution. Via @statesnewsroom.com

Kevin Warsh will officially take the lead at the #FederalReserve after U.S. senators including South Dakota's #JohnThune and #MikeRounds voted to confirm the economist and former central bank governor to replace Chair Jerome Powell. Via @statesnewsroom.com

Speaker Mike Johnson pressed for increased funding for the Secret Service, arguing most of the money Senate Republicans included for the agency in their immigration enforcement bill is for security needs, not building a new ballroom at the White House.

The Iowa company attempting to build a multi-billion-dollar pipeline to capture and bury carbon dioxide from ethanol plants issued a press release describing a new route that does not include South Dakota.

A state circuit court judge, John Fitzgerald, is stepping down to join the race for the Republican nomination for South Dakota attorney general.

Most oil passing through the #StraitOfHormuz goes to Asian markets, and the U.S. is importing less crude #oil from the Persian Gulf than it has in 40 years. So why are U.S. consumers paying so much more for gasoline? An explainer from @statesnewsroom.com:

The Bureau of Land Management issued a final decision canceling a series of permits that allowed #bison grazing on federal land by the nonprofit conservation organization American Prairie. Via @dailymontanan.com

Several Republican U.S. senators left a closed-door lunch with #SecretService Director Sean Curran saying they still have questions about how the agency would spend an additional $1 billion. Via @statesnewsroom.com

The cost of the #Iran war has increased to $29 billion to date, Pentagon officials told lawmakers in both chambers. Via @statesnewsroom.com

Republican South Dakota governor candidate Jon Hansen wants to pause the state’s #GasTax this summer and use an economic development fund to cover the cost, but none of his opponents endorsed the idea, and one called it a gimmick that could imperil the state’s federal highway funds.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management formally canceled the so-called “Public Land Rule,” which required the agency to consider conservation and development equally in land-use decisions for millions of acres across the West, including South Dakota. Via @sourcenm.com

Chris Lee plans to drive hundreds of miles to cast his South Dakota ballot in-person. But he’s not allowed to vote in state and local races this year. To his surprise, Lee is designated as a federal-only voter, due to new laws that have affected at least 1,500 voters.