Reporter and host Meghan O’Brien works with other South Dakota Searchlight journalists to take listeners inside politics and policy in The Mount Rushmore State, including the annual legislative session.

In this week’s episode of Searchlight Report, Meghan recaps criticisms of “woke” grant funding that derailed a pretrial program, a resolution asking South Dakotans to pray for the state, and a proposal to limit the liability utilities face for wildfires. Meanwhile, former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem continues to appear in national headlines, and her successor continues to back her actions. Searchlight Reporter Makenzie Huber explains a series of stories examining the impact, barriers and concerns regarding efforts to build data centers in the state.

In this week’s episode of Searchlight Report, Meghan recaps criticisms of “woke” grant funding that derailed a pretrial program, a resolution asking South Dakotans to pray for the state, and a proposal to limit the liability utilities face for wildfires. Meanwhile, former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem continues to appear in national headlines, and her successor continues to back her actions. Searchlight Reporter Makenzie Huber explains a series of stories examining the impact, barriers and concerns regarding efforts to build data centers in the state.

‘Woke’ money, wildfires and more from the Legislature’s third week; plus: ‘The Data Center Divide'

This week, reporter and Searchlight Report host Meghan O’Brien brings listeners the key moments — <a href="https://www.keloland.com/video/keloland-news-republican-gubernatorial-debate/11658092/">courtesy of KELO-TV </a>— from <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/03/31/republican-candidates-for-governor-clash-over-sales-tax-increases-in-first-debate/">the first debate</a> in the race for South Dakota’s Republican nomination for governor. She also has highlights from the <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/03/30/lawmakers-fail-to-override-vetoes-of-lab-grown-meat-ban-and-in-home-care-regulations/">Legislature’s Veto Day</a>, including the fate of legislation on lab-grown meat, in-home care and a <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/03/30/lawmakers-commit-more-money-to-prevent-catastrophic-failure-at-dam-near-aberdeen/">deteriorating dam</a>.

This week, reporter and Searchlight Report host Meghan O’Brien brings listeners the key moments — courtesy of KELO-TV — from the first debate in the race for South Dakota’s Republican nomination for governor. She also has highlights from the Legislature’s Veto Day, including the fate of legislation on lab-grown meat, in-home care and a deteriorating dam.

One candidate’s tax cut is another’s increase, Noem gets mixed reviews, and more governor debate highlights

In the 10th episode of Searchlight Report, reporter and host Meghan O’Brien has interviews from the streets of Pierre during a <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/enough-of-the-tyranny-no-kings-protesters-take-to-the-streets-in-south-dakota/">No Kings protest</a> against the Trump administration. She also explains <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/03/26/south-dakota-governor-signs-law-requiring-proof-of-citizenship-for-new-voter-registrations/">what new voters in South Dakota will need to know</a> about proving their citizenship for the upcoming election. Reporter Makenzie Huber spoke with a state lawmaker about <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/03/23/prison-rehabilitation-recidivism-quickly-forgotten-by-lawmakers-this-session-legislator-says/">what was neglected</a> in this year’s legislative session. Plus, “<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/plaque-unveiled-at-south-dakota-capitol-for-100-year-old-medal-of-honor-recipient/">a South Dakotan everyone can be proud of</a>.”

In the 10th episode of Searchlight Report, reporter and host Meghan O’Brien has interviews from the streets of Pierre during a No Kings protest against the Trump administration. She also explains what new voters in South Dakota will need to know about proving their citizenship for the upcoming election. Reporter Makenzie Huber spoke with a state lawmaker about what was neglected in this year’s legislative session. Plus, “a South Dakotan everyone can be proud of.”

A No Kings protest in SD’s capital, voting citizenship changes and the Legislature’s ‘quickly forgotten’ topic

A white-knuckle drive around a state training course highlights the end of the 101st South Dakota legislative session in this week’s episode of the Searchlight Report. Lawmakers also approve <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/03/12/lawmakers-adopt-7-5-billion-budget-with-1-4-increase-for-schools-state-workers-health-providers/">the state’s budget</a>, finding money to increase funding for education, Medicaid providers and state employees — the state’s “big three.” Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/03/12/governor-signs-bills-to-reduce-homeowner-property-taxes-with-higher-sales-taxes/">approves two major bills</a> in a property tax relief plan, trading lower property tax for higher sales tax. Reporter and Searchlight Report host Meghan O’Brien visits a different kind of legislative event at the Emergency Vehicle Operation Course, and catches sound from the ringing in of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with South Dakota’s own liberty bell.

A white-knuckle drive around a state training course highlights the end of the 101st South Dakota legislative session in this week’s episode of the Searchlight Report. 
Lawmakers also approve the state’s budget, finding money to increase funding for education, Medicaid providers and state employees — the state’s “big three.” Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden approves two major bills in a property tax relief plan, trading lower property tax for higher sales tax. 
Reporter and Searchlight Report host Meghan O’Brien visits a different kind of legislative event at the Emergency Vehicle Operation Course, and catches sound from the ringing in of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with South Dakota’s own liberty bell.

Landing the ‘budget plane,’ slamming the gas (literally) and other sights and sounds from the final legislative week

As the 2026 South Dakota legislative session winds down, the push for property tax relief is coalescing around plans to provide that relief with money from higher sales taxes, after lawmakers reduced sales taxes just three years ago. But how did we get here? Searchlight Report host Meghan O’Brien takes a look back at what pushed the state toward the need for property tax relief in recent years, the various ways lawmakers and leaders have tried to address the problem, and how the conversation about property taxes has consistently revolved around sales taxes.

As the 2026 South Dakota legislative session winds down, the push for property tax relief is coalescing around plans to provide that relief with money from higher sales taxes, after lawmakers reduced sales taxes just three years ago. But how did we get here? Searchlight Report host Meghan O’Brien takes a look back at what pushed the state toward the need for property tax relief in recent years, the various ways lawmakers and leaders have tried to address the problem, and how the conversation about property taxes has consistently revolved around sales taxes.

How a sales tax roller coaster could lead to property tax relief for South Dakotans

In this special episode of Searchlight Report, journalists Meghan O’Brien and Joshua Haiar recap an unusually chaotic and contentious week in the South Dakota Senate, including a failed search for state Sen. John Carley during a key day of the session, resulting in the defeat of a pair of data-center related bills.

In this special episode of Searchlight Report, journalists Meghan O’Brien and Joshua Haiar recap an unusually chaotic and contentious week in the South Dakota Senate, including a failed search for state Sen. John Carley during a key day of the session, resulting in the defeat of a pair of data-center related bills.

The search for a state senator: a Searchlight Report special edition

In the sixth episode of Searchlight Report, Meghan rounds up the fight to incentivize or restrict <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/18/data-center-restrictions-earn-lawmaker-endorsement-as-fight-continues-over-tax-incentives/">data centers</a>, and the flurry of <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/15/winners-losers-begin-to-emerge-from-south-dakotas-property-tax-scrum/">property tax relief bills</a> that are moving through the Legislature. An education committee advances a bill that would <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/17/bill-to-allow-publicly-funded-charter-schools-in-south-dakota-narrowly-advances/">allow charter schools</a> in the state, and a major Sioux Falls meatpacking plant is <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/16/deal-to-move-pork-plant-from-downtown-to-northern-sioux-falls-includes-50-million-sanford-gift/">finding a new home</a> in the city. Also, a bill that would have established data collection for “assisted reproductive technology” founders in the state House of Representatives, and the state Senate welcomes a “guest gaveler” with plenty of gusto.

In the sixth episode of Searchlight Report, Meghan rounds up the fight to incentivize or restrict data centers, and the flurry of property tax relief bills that are moving through the Legislature. An education committee advances a bill that would allow charter schools in the state, and a major Sioux Falls meatpacking plant is finding a new home in the city. Also, a bill that would have established data collection for “assisted reproductive technology” founders in the state House of Representatives, and the state Senate welcomes a “guest gaveler” with plenty of gusto.

Lawmakers torn over tax bills and data centers, all about that odor in Sioux Falls, and gaveling with gusto

The South Dakota legislative session crosses the halfway mark in the fifth episode of Searchlight Report. Meghan covers the governor’s <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/09/governor-vetoes-bill-that-would-ban-lab-grown-meat-but-says-hed-support-a-moratorium/">veto</a> of a lab-grown meat ban, updates on <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/11/federal-judge-declines-to-intervene-in-south-dakota-attorney-generals-fight-against-abortion-ads/">dueling lawsuits</a> over an abortion-rights advertising campaign, and a new proposal that would require schools to show <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/legislation-passes-state-house-that-would-require-students-to-watch-prenatal-development-videos/">a prenatal development video</a>. One lawmaker wants <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/south-dakota-house-backs-e-verify-use-by-all-employers-to-check-citizenship-immigration-status/">employers to use E-Verify</a> to check all employees’ citizenship, while another wants to allow health care providers to <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/state-house-halts-health-care-provider-conscience-exemption-bill/">refuse to perform services</a> that violate their conscience. Also, the Democrats have a <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/10/democratic-candidate-for-governor-plans-to-lean-on-south-dakotas-core-values/">new candidate for governor</a>, and lawmakers have <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/12/higher-revenue-estimate-sparks-talk-of-increases-for-schools-state-workers-medicaid-providers/">more money for the state budget</a> than they thought.

The South Dakota legislative session crosses the halfway mark in the fifth episode of Searchlight Report. Meghan covers the governor’s veto of a lab-grown meat ban, updates on dueling lawsuits over an abortion-rights advertising campaign, and a new proposal that would require schools to show a prenatal development video. One lawmaker wants employers to use E-Verify to check all employees’ citizenship, while another wants to allow health care providers to refuse to perform services that violate their conscience. Also, the Democrats have a new candidate for governor, and lawmakers have more money for the state budget than they thought.

Lab-grown meat, prenatal videos, and other highlights of the Legislature’s halfway point

In the fourth episode of Searchlight Report, Meghan chronicles the fate of South Dakota legislative bills dealing with<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/05/state-house-rejects-liability-protections-for-unapproved-covid-therapies/"> alternative COVID-19 treatments</a>, a <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/04/data-center-tax-break-proposal-fails-in-south-dakota-legislative-committee/">50-year sales tax break</a> for data centers, <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/02/02/bills-to-loosen-gun-restrictions-fail-in-sd-committee-after-on-target-questions-from-lawmaker/">guns</a> at colleges and schools, and lab-grown meat. Also, Republicans <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/tag/phil-jensen/">suspend</a> one of their own for remarks about Democrats and God, and Gov. Larry Rhoden talks about that time he forgot his twin’s birthday.

In the fourth episode of Searchlight Report, Meghan chronicles the fate of South Dakota legislative bills dealing with alternative COVID-19 treatments, a 50-year sales tax break for data centers, guns at colleges and schools, and lab-grown meat. Also, Republicans suspend one of their own for remarks about Democrats and God, and Gov. Larry Rhoden talks about that time he forgot his twin’s birthday.

The lawmaker who takes ivermectin, a Republican rift over data centers, and more from legislative week 4

This week in the Legislature, lawmakers discussed hemp and kratom regulation, an ethics bill based on South Dakota Searchlight reporting and an eminent domain issue that could end up on the ballot in November. A committee meeting was interrupted by a disagreement about seating arrangements. Gov. Larry Rhoden announced a bill to increase the punishment for threats or acts of violence that disrupt religious services. And an old hydroelectric plant in Spearfish Canyon could become a new museum for visitors to the area.

This week in the Legislature, lawmakers discussed hemp and kratom regulation, an ethics bill based on South Dakota Searchlight reporting and an eminent domain issue that could end up on the ballot in November. A committee meeting was interrupted by a disagreement about seating arrangements. Gov. Larry Rhoden announced a bill to increase the punishment for threats or acts of violence that disrupt religious services. And an old hydroelectric plant in Spearfish Canyon could become a new museum for visitors to the area.

God, ice cream and tea: Legislature’s second week brings hemp debate, committee kerfuffle and more

In the first episode of Searchlight Report, <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/">South Dakota Searchlight</a> audio reporter Meghan O’Brien dives deeper on the first moves made in the 2026 legislative session, on issues including property rights, medication abortions, the state’s controversial Future Fund and an ethics bill inspired by Searchlight reporting. Meghan also shares archival audio from Don Barnett, who died recently at age 83. Barnett is the former mayor who guided Rapid City’s recovery from a 1972 flood that killed 238 people.

In the first episode of Searchlight Report, South Dakota Searchlight audio reporter Meghan O’Brien dives deeper on the first moves made in the 2026 legislative session, on issues including property rights, medication abortions, the state’s controversial Future Fund and an ethics bill inspired by Searchlight reporting. Meghan also shares archival audio from Don Barnett, who died recently at age 83. Barnett is the former mayor who guided Rapid City’s recovery from a 1972 flood that killed 238 people.