Like most Americans, I was shocked and angered by the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at an otherwise peaceful event in Pennsylvania. I am relieved that he was not seriously …
Americans received a sobering reminder of the threat that political violence poses to our democracy. It is a mercy that Donald Trump was not seriously injured by gunfire at an evening campaign rally …
It was just a year ago that this space was used to question Gannett’s business plan for its newspapers in South Dakota. A declining amount of local news in the Gannett papers — the Sioux …
The recent Trump vs U.S. ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court regarding presidential absolute immunity from criminal liability in the performance of core constitutional powers and a presumption of …
The Supreme Court’s 2024 term might have been defined, to the general public at least, by multiple decisions concerning Donald Trump. These cases matter. But the bigger picture is in how the …
It’s enough to make a grown man cry. And one of my friends did just that during a recent school board meeting here in Rapid City as he was trying to offer public comment about a pending …
In June, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will provide a commemorative urn or plaque for a deceased veteran. Families should note that if they select the new urn or plaque …
Like many South Dakotans, I was intrigued by Gov. Kristi Noem’s chances for being selected as Donald Trump’s running mate, and I paid attention to the release of her book, “No Going …
In approving a law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, Louisiana has rekindled a culture war over the role of religion in public schools that should have been settled long …
To the casual observer, it might look like South Dakotans are addicted to voting on recreational marijuana. Legalizing grass was on the ballot in 2020, 2022 and will be again in 2024. For the …
The 2024 Legislative session wrapped up. There were 550 bills, commemorations, and resolutions introduced this year. As an advocate for veterans, it is the responsibility of the South Dakota …
It has been known for some time that there are two Republican parties in the South Dakota Legislature. Now one of them is getting bigger. The Republican primary earlier this month saw 14 …
The Supreme Court did the right thing recently by unanimously ruling against a challenge to the safety of mifepristone, the first of two drugs used in medication abortions. Of course, this …
Rep. Scott Odenbach has to wonder why he went to so much trouble. The Spearfish Republican was the driving force behind two legislative attempts to create a center for civic engagement at Black Hills …
On June 6, we turned our attentions to Normandy in France as several world leaders honored the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of occupied Europe during World War II, a pivotal moment in that …
Tuesday’s primary election could be the last of its kind in South Dakota. In November, voters will consider Constitutional Amendment H which, if approved, would drastically change the way …
South Dakota Searchlight readers were recently treated to two very different views of bipartisanship and governance. First came the story about an analysis of bipartisanship in the U.S. …
Who holds Major League Baseball’s record for the highest batting average in a single season? It’s not Ted Williams, with his .406 average in 1941, the last time anyone topped .400. …
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has been on a roll of sorts lately, although it’s probably been the worst kind of roll possible for a politician. Details in her new book — such as …
Forty-five years ago, the Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov was killed in London with a poison-tipped umbrella as he made his way home from work. The horrifying case transfixed the British public. …