SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The Dakota Scout will remain the official legal newspaper for the City of Sioux Falls after a judge denied the motion for a preliminary injunction earlier this week.
The injunction would have reversed the city’s decision to appoint The Dakota Scout as the legal paper over the Argus Leader, which has long been the city’s official newspaper.
As the official newspaper of the city, the publication is the venue for all printed legal notices required by state law to be published by the city, including such things as meeting minutes and schedules, bid and election notices, zoning ordinances and more. The Sioux Falls School District has also made The Dakota Scout its official newspaper.
Sioux Falls attorney Tyler Haigh, who is representing the Argus Leader, could not comment on the impact of the denial, but confirmed the court’s move to dismiss the preliminary injunction. Haigh added that the parties are now waiting on an official order from the judge.
Haigh directed KELOLAND News to Gannett public relations for official comment. A Gannett spokesman provided the following statement attributed to an Argus Leader spokesman:
For decades, readers have trusted The Argus Leader for news and important information including public notices. Citizens expect this information to be where it can be seen by a broad, informed audience. This decision by The Sioux Falls City Council will cause confusion and result in notices being missed by citizens, and should be reconsidered.
Statement from Argus Leader/Gannett.
The Dakota Scout was also reached for comment, with co-founder Joe Sneve emailing to say: “We’re satisfied and unsurprised with the outcome of Thursdays hearing, and we look forward to continuing to serve this community as its official newspaper of record.”
The suit brought by the Argus Leader argued that the Dakota Scout did not qualify as a legal newspaper due its failure to submit a statement of ownership and circulation by the January 1 deadline required by the Secretary of State.
This matter was complicated by the fact that the Dakota Scout did not meet the requirements to be a legal paper until the signing of a new law later in 2024, months after the initial deadline.
The Dakota Scout did file the statement with the SOS in June, after the law was changed, revealing their ownership group for the first time.
Dakota Scout co-owner gives money to city government officials
The Dakota Scout ownership group includes Sioux Falls businessman Matt Paulson, who has donated more than $25,000 either personally or through his Political Action Committee — Falls Community Growth PAC — to the campaigns of 7 of the 8 city councilors who voted to appoint the Dakota Scout as the official paper.
Paulson was listed among seven names for the ownership group for the Dakota Scout according to a filing with the secretary of state. Sneve told KELOLAND News that he and co-founder Jonathan Ellis, together, are majority owners.
You can find contributions to city government officials on the Sioux Falls elections website.
You can find the money raised and contributed by the Falls Community Growth PAC on the secretary of state’s website.
Matt Paulson’s contributions to city government officials include:
- $1,000 to Jennifer Sigette
- $1,000 to Miranda Basye
- $1,000 to Ryan Spellerberg
- $2,500 to Curt Soehl
- $5,000 to Rich Merkouris
- $6,000 to David Barranco
- $10,000 to Richard Thomason
City councilor Sarah Cole did not receive any money from Paulson directly or from the Falls Community Growth PAC, according to the 12 Campaign Finance Disclosure documents filed with the city clerk’s office.
Paulson has also given money to Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken.
