Resolution to Lengthen Term Limits Defeated in Senate
State Senators have shot down a measure that lets voters decide if legislative term limits are expanded. House Joint Resolution 1002 proposes letting state Representatives and Senators serve for 12...
View ArticleNext Step in Medicaid Expansion Unclear
It’s unlikely South Dakota will expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, after legislative leaders received early word the state’s request to petition a waiver will be denied. A letter sent by...
View ArticleGovernor Reacts to Lawsuit Against Army Corps of Engineers
More than 200 people have filed a class action lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for mismanaging the Missouri River when it flooded in 2011. That includes some South Dakotans, plus...
View ArticleSex-Selective Abortion Ban Heads to Governor for Final Approval
South Dakota lawmakers are looking to close a hole in a law that allows women to have abortions based on the gender of the baby. Supporters of House Bill 1162 say other states have already passed...
View ArticleSenators Amend, Pass House Version of Texting While Driving Ban
For the first time in four years, the House of Representatives passed a state-wide texting while driving ban over to the Senate. In response to the lack of a state ban, many municipalities have taken...
View ArticleSenate Approves Appropriation for SDSU Swine Facilities
South Dakota State University’s swine research facilities will get an upgrade, pending the approval of Governor Dennis Daugaard. State Senators approved House Bill 1112 Tuesday, which gives the...
View ArticleBFM Commissioner Won't Be Added to Investment Council
South Dakota Senators think the state’s investment council is fine just the way it is. House Bill 1099 sought to add the Bureau of Finance and Management Commissioner as a member to the investment...
View ArticleSenators Approve Changes to FY14 General Appropriations Act
State Senators have approved changes to last year's general appropriation bill. House Bill 1040 considers newly acquired revenues, plus the unexpected needs of state agencies including health insurance...
View ArticleLawmakers Seek Changing Requirements for Petitioning Starting School Date
State lawmakers are looking to make changing the school start date easier for residents in large school districts. House Bill 1164 failed narrowly Tuesday morning, but was reconsidered in the...
View ArticleTexting While Driving Ban Fails to Reach Consensus
A state-wide texting while driving ban won't happen this legislative session. South Dakota lawmakers failed to agree on the extent of the ban in a conference committee. Each chamber had its own version...
View ArticleSenators Approve Hoghoused Changes Despite Concerns of Constitutionality
As the legislative session comes to an end Friday, members of both chambers are deciding whether to accept changes to their legislation. The Senate considered amendments the House made on Senate bills...
View ArticleAutism Services, Coverage to be Studied
State lawmakers want to know what services and insurance coverage is available to children with autism. Senate Bill 108 was amended in conference committee Thursday morning after Senators didn't agree...
View ArticleCommittee Puts Native American Task Force Under Legislature
A group of lawmakers wants to better understand economic development in South Dakota’s Indian Country. House Bill 1213 establishes a task force under the supervision of the legislature’s executive...
View ArticleChanges to Building South Dakota's Funding Raise Concerns
State legislators are changing the way Building South Dakota is funded. A conference committee on Senate Bill 158 approved an amendment that lays out a formula that is dependent on general fund, budget...
View ArticleRequests for PSA Increases Defeated
Lawmakers in control of drafting the state’s general budget Friday defeated two amendments to increase school funding through the per-student allocation. Governor Dennis Daugaard proposed a 3 percent...
View ArticleLawmakers Deny Additional Funding for JAG
A program that has the goal of graduating at-risk youth won’t receive additional funding this year. Jobs for America’s Graduates, or JAG, is a nationwide program found in communities with low high...
View ArticleUSD Names Nebraska Assistant as Men's Basketball Head Coach
The University of South Dakota has announced its new men’s basketball head coach. Long-time head coach Dave Boots retired suddenly before the start of the basketball season and assistant Joey James...
View ArticleUSD Faces Oregon First in 2014 Football Season
The University of South Dakota’s football team is starting the 2014 season with a challenge. The Coyotes’ first game is on the road at the University of Oregon August 30th. The schedule was released...
View ArticleNo Vetoes For State Lawmakers to Consider
There won’t be any bills to consider when the State Legislature returns for Veto Day on Monday. Governor Dennis Daugaard announced Thursday he’s signing the rest of bills passed this session. The...
View Article2014 Mountain Lion Hunting Season Ends
Mountain Lion hunting season ended Monday. This year’s quota was 25 fewer than last year’s of 100. But as of Friday, only 52 lions had been harvested. There’s a lot of data that goes into determining...
View ArticleResearch Examines Wrongful Convictions
No one wants to be accused of a crime they didn’t commit, let alone face jail or prison time for it. But it happens. One researcher is attempting to identify causes of wrongful convictions, and...
View ArticleTwo U.S. Senate Candidates Concerned About Campaign Contributions, Debates
Two candidates for South Dakota’s open U.S. Senate seat aren’t happy with big business contributions to political campaigns. Republican candidate Stace Nelson and Democrat Rick Weiland held a joint...
View ArticleState Sees Slight Decrease in Gas Prices
South Dakotans are seeing a slight drop in gas prices this week. The average price across the state for a gallon of regular gasoline is about $3.52. The national average stands about six cents higher....
View ArticleWeather, Small Jackpots Affecting SD Lottery Revenues
South Dakota Lottery is expecting decreased revenues this fiscal year. Officials say both traditional lottery games like scratch tickets and lotto ball games are down. But there are a few reasons...
View ArticleSD Special Olympics to Build New Training Facility
Special Olympic athletes in South Dakota don’t currently have a specific training center, but must compete for gym time with other organizations in Sioux Falls. That will change soon as the South...
View ArticleSDHSAA Considering Transgender Policy
The South Dakota High School Activities Association is considering a policy change that allows transgender students to participate on teams according to their identified gender, rather than the gender...
View Article7-Class HS Football System to Remain for Next Two Years
The seven high school football classes, from 9B up to 11AAA will remain through the 2016/2017 season. The South Dakota High School Activities Association made the decision at its meeting in Pierre...
View ArticlePrank Calls to Draw Large Law Enforcement Response Hit South Dakota
South Dakota has had its first incident of swatting. This weekend, almost two dozen officers responded to a prank call of a wounded person, hostages, and a bomb at a home in Ward. Swatting is used by...
View ArticleTips for Safe Driving During Summer Construction
South Dakota motorists will start seeing more road construction across the state as summer weather moves in. The state Department of Transportation has already started some projects, and will continue...
View Article8-Year-Old Sells Tomato Plants for Sustainability Awareness
You don’t have to wait until college to learn about sustainability. An 8-year-old Sioux Falls girl is starting the green movement early by selling tomato plants in milk cartons.
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