Stu Whitney

Stu Whitney

Title: investigative reporter; expertise: politics, justice, education, health care, demographics, immigration, sports; language spoken: English; contact: 605-759-4576 / stu.whitney@sdnewswatch.org

Is proposed abortion amendment ‘far more extreme’ than Roe v. Wade?

Is proposed abortion amendment ‘far more extreme’ than Roe v. Wade?

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of South Dakota News Watch stories providing analysis of potential South Dakota ballot initiatives for the 2024 election. It’s no coincidence that South Dakotans are well-versed in direct democracy. The state was the first in the nation to adopt

Gov. Kristi Noem pulls support for grocery tax measure over jeopardized tobacco money

Gov. Kristi Noem pulls support for grocery tax measure over jeopardized tobacco money

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of South Dakota News Watch stories providing analysis of potential South Dakota ballot initiatives for the 2024 election. A citizen-led campaign to eliminate South Dakota’s state grocery tax through a measure on the 2024 ballot won’t have the

Ballot effort would allow more South Dakotans to choose candidates. But can it pass?

Ballot effort would allow more South Dakotans to choose candidates. But can it pass?

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of South Dakota News Watch stories providing analysis of potential South Dakota ballot initiatives for the 2024 election. It’s a well-worn adage that politics are about timing, and that’s especially true when it comes to citizen-led ballot measures

Delta David Gier lifts South Dakota Symphony Orchestra to national stage

Delta David Gier lifts South Dakota Symphony Orchestra to national stage

Maestro with New York City cred redefines the role: ‘When I first picked up the stick, it was like the heavens opened and said, ‘You will now do this.’

Sioux Falls starts homeless outreach effort that was used in Rapid City

Sioux Falls starts homeless outreach effort that was used in Rapid City

Sioux Falls could see its first “street outreach” teams working with the city’s homeless population as early as May, with a local organization following an intervention model being used in Rapid City and larger metro areas nationally. The street outreach strategy uses teams of trained individuals to identify and

Most South Dakota county auditors disagree with election drop box ban

Most South Dakota county auditors disagree with election drop box ban

When the question of using election drop boxes for South Dakota early voting was raised in a House State Affairs committee hearing in Pierre in early February, the discussion took on an ominous tone, mirroring national rhetoric over the integrity of American elections. “It’s simply too easy for bad

SVB’s closure rocked banking world. Can it happen in South Dakota?

SVB’s closure rocked banking world. Can it happen in South Dakota?

At first glance, the forced closure of California-based Silicon Valley Bank and New York’s Signature Bank on March 10 – and the government action to quell the ensuing financial crisis – seemed worlds away from South Dakota’s regional banks. Silicon Valley and Signature were coastal entities servicing mainly technology startups,