In August, Brookings Register managing editor Josh Linehan lamented the sudden closure of his hometown newspaper and said out-of-state corporate ownership kills local news. Linehan quickly started “taking meetings” on reviving a real local paper, but a North Carolina corporation quickly bought the Brookings Register and three other shuttered South Dakota newspapers. Champion Media resumed publication but cut publication of the Register print edition from five days a week to two.
Linehan has apparently left the Register to launch his own news service, the Brookings Beacon. Since August 29, Linehan has posted a couple stories a week to Substack. By this winter, Linehan says on the Beacon website that he and his wife and co-publisher Nichole plan to launch a weekly print edition and provide daily updates online this winter.
Josh and Nichole Linehan last ran a newspaper together in 1996 and 1997 when they edited the Brookings High School BroBoca together.
A veteran journalist with nearly 30 years experience, Josh Linehan has been a reporter, photographer, designer and editor for papers such as The Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Fort Myers News Press. He was an editor for the Portland Press Herald for six years before returning home to run The Brookings Register.
Nichole Linehan graduated with a degree in print journalism, but then moved onto the business side of things, working initially for the Everett Herald in Washington before returning to Brookings in 2009. While keeping her day job, Nichole’s years of business and finance experience will support the back end of the Beacon [“Who Lights the Beacon,” Brookings Beacon, retrieved 2025.11.04].
Linehan wrote at a bit more length about his commitment to writing in Brookings and on Brookings in this August 22 announcement:
I have climbed every step to the top of the Campanile.
I have, in the midst of my misspent youth, spray painted my name — and some Neil Young lyrics — under the viaduct and then run from the police immediately after. Counting on the statute of limitations, here.
I have played ball at Bob Shelden Field and worn a Rangers sweater at both Larson Ice Centers. I have spoken at my Brookings High School graduation and taught composition at South Dakota State University.
And I have run the local paper.
This past couple weeks have been such a storm of meetings and calls and locals reaching out. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for all the kind words and the genuine offers of support. In addition, I married the love of my life on Saturday, and that will forever be a day I mark as the one where I felt the most love — not only from my wife, Nikky, but from the overwhelming number of family and friends who traveled from near and far to share it with us.
I am glad to see that the Register is putting something into print. I smiled seeing John Kubal’s mugshot again. The town needs a record. And while I certainly wish them well, I do need to make clear: I am not part of the Register going forward.
I still believe this town deserves a locally owned, locally operated, locally edited and locally controlled news outlet. I want to see a truly quality product worthy of this city. Well-written, cleanly and sharply designed and focused rigidly on what’s happening right here in Brookings.
If you agree — or even if you’re just curious — I need you to like and share this post. Click the link and subscribe to receive future updates. And reach out to me directly. My email is joshlinehan@gmail.com; phone is 612.220.8319. If you’re lucky you can catch me on the back patio at Jim’s.
And, above all, I am asking you to dream a little bit with me. What would you like to see going forward? What do you want to say? How do you want to get your news? I’m open to just about anything — except spraying it under the viaduct. I can’t run that fast anymore.
Onward [Josh Linehan, “Shining a Light Right Here in Brookings,” Brookings Beacon, 2025.08.22].
I look forward to regular posts from Linehan’s local newspaper.
Plain Talk, just like Vermillion.