South Dakota

'Nature Is Nonpartisan' launches in South Dakota, seeking environmental narrative change

Published

10 months ago

March 25, 2025

Press Room

'Nature Is Nonpartisan' launches in South Dakota, seeking environmental narrative change

A new national nonprofit wants to redefine the environmental movement.

‘Nature is Nonpartisan’ launched its efforts in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, the geographical center of America.

According to a press release by the group, ‘Nature is Nonpartisan’ wants to become the nation’s most influential environmental organization by creating a large-scale, cross-partisan movement dedicated to practical, long-lasting solutions. It’s kicking off its first effort called ‘Make America Beautiful Again.’

SDPB’s Lee Strubinger spoke to the group’s founder, Benji Backer, on Thursday. The interview has been shortened for clarity. Backer said the group wants broad investments in conservation.

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How will that work in this like particular political moment?

I think the polarizing moment that you’re alluding to is exactly why we exist and exactly the problem, right? Americans want efficiency and effectiveness from all energy sources. They’re not against solar and wind, they’re not against hydropower, they’re not against nuclear, they’re not against natural gas. They don’t want to have, you know, winners and losers chosen. The response to this administration is because of the pro solar wind only idea that has been pushed for a while and that wasn’t right either. So I think the answer truly lies between those two, similar on the timber issue.

But the problem is there hasn’t been the balance in the discourse. It’s either cut everything down or don’t touch it. It’s just solar and wind or just oil and gas and neither of those are productive conversations.

How do you plan to manage this coalition and what does that coalition look like?

We’re going to build coalitions around whatever push we’re doing at that time. So right now we’re pushing, you know, this administration to buy into a package that we’re calling make America beautiful again. And so we’re leveraging left and right leaning voices to push the administration to do that. That will be different than what we do in two or three years.

What we’re being really intentional about is that for every liberal person or every liberal group or every liberal board member we have on board, we also have a conservative and that’s the whole point. It’s for us to bring uncomfortable conversations there. I’ve hired an evenly split political team, our board is that way, it’ll never change. That’s how our coalitions will work and we’re going to make sure that we’re resembling the bulk of America and everything that we do.

Sounds like a tightrope.

Somebody’s got to do it and we’re going to be the ones to do it is because there’s proof in the past that this was possible.

Look at cultural transformation on issues like criminal justice reform or gay marriage or some of these other topics. Those are way harder topics to build consensus around. A love of nature, there’s a reason why almost 80% of Americans self-identify as environmentalist in 1990. We can get to that again and we have to rebuild that or the group to do it.

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South Dakota

Iowa football lands explosive running back L.J. Phillips Jr.

Published

3 minutes ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Iowa football lands explosive running back L.J. Phillips Jr.

IOWA CITY — South Dakota transfer running back L.J. Phillips Jr. has committed to Iowa football, he announced on Jan. 11.

Phillips had a breakout 2025 season, rushing for more than 1,900 yards, along with 19 touchdowns. He also added 28 catches for 195 yards receiving and one touchdown. Phillips was named a second-team FCS All-American by Phil Steele.

Phillips, listed at 5-foot-9 and 225 pounds, will come to Iowa with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

After rushing for more than 4,100 yards in his high school career, Phillips spent three seasons at South Dakota. During his time with the Coyotes, Phillips rushed for nearly 2,220 yards, along with 23 touchdowns. A majority of that production came in 2025. Phillips rushed for 96 yards while maintaining his redshirt in 2023 and then 176 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2024.

But his numbers exploded last season with some ridiculous performances. Phillips rushed 35 times for 301 yards and two touchdowns against Northern Colorado. He had four rushing touchdowns in two separate games. That includes a 244-yard, four-touchdown outing against Murray State. Phillips finished the season averaging 6.5 yards per rush.

Iowa has seen a pair of departures via the transfer portal in its running back room — Jaziun Patterson and Terrell Washington Jr. Patterson ranked third on the Hawkeyes in rushing yards during the 2025 season with 296.

Iowa still projects to have a talented running back room for the 2026 season. Kamari Moulton, who led Iowa with 878 rushing yards last season, still has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Nathan McNeil showed potential in his true freshman season. Xavier Williams tallied 285 yards on the ground as a redshirt freshman.

And now, Iowa adds another weapon to that room in Phillips. The Hawkeyes’ running back unit looks to be stacked entering the 2026 season.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

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South Dakota

Pictures of semi-truck, name of woman released in Minnehaha County fatal crash

Published

12 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Pictures of semi-truck, name of woman released in Minnehaha County fatal crash

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota Department of Public Safety has released the name of the woman who was killed in a fatal crash in Minnehaha County last week.

64-year-old Patricia Archambeau of Mitchell died on January 5 due to her injuries in a crash that took place in the early hours of Saturday, January 3.

Archambeau’s 2012 Chevrolet Traverse was traveling eastbound on I-90 near mile marker 379, about four miles west of Humboldt, when she attempted to pull off on the side of the road.

At the same time, the Traverse was struck by a semi-truck, also traveling eastbound, and pulling a trailer. The truck continued driving east after the crash and has yet to be located.

On Sunday, the South Dakota Highway Patrol released two images of the semi-truck suspected of hitting Archambeau’s Traverse. The two photos were taken on I-29 near 41st Street in Sioux Falls at 2:25 a.m., about 12 minutes after the crash west of Humboldt.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol has released two images of a semi-truck believed to be involved in a fatal crash that took place last Saturday in Minnehaha County.(South Dakota Highway Patrol)

Highway Patrol is seeking more information about a red Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck, missing its passenger-side headlight. If anyone has information, they’re asked to contact Highway Patrol at 605-367-5700.

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South Dakota

South Dakota knocks off Denver 82-72

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Cameron Fens scored 23 points as South Dakota beat Denver 82-72 on Saturday.

Fens also contributed 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Coyotes (9-9, 1-2 Summit League). Isaac Bruns scored 20 points while going 8 of 12 and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line and added six rebounds. Jordan Crawford went 5 of 11 from the field (3 for 7 from 3-point range) to finish with 13 points.

Gabe Oldham led the Pioneers (8-11, 1-3) in scoring, finishing with 24 points, 13 rebounds and two steals. Denver also got 19 points from Zane Nelson. Carson Johnson also put up 11 points and six assists.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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