News

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 up their own. Legislators are still debating the best way to implement a state-wide ban.

The South Dakota House defeated a bill to increase the amount of video lottery machines in a licensed establishment. Republican State Representative Dick Werner says this bill allows permitted buildings to increase the amount of video lottery machines from the current 10, to 15. Werner says video lottery does a lot for the South Dakota economy and this opens doors for more revenue.

The South Dakota House of Representatives passed a measure on Monday afternoon, requiring certain offenders having to forfeit personal property at the time of arrest. Republican State Representative Mike Stevens says the personal property being seized by authorities needs to be in connection to the crime committed. He says Senate Bill 25 deals with property involved in severe sex offense cases.

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 sex-selective abortion bans and it’s unlikely South Dakota’s would be challenged in court. Both sides of the issue agree it’s unlikely these abortions happen in the state, but proponents say it’s a way to be proactive. Senator Angie Buhl O’Donnell opposes the legislation.

The South Dakota House of Representatives granted final approval on legislation aimed at banning the use of red light cameras in the state. Democratic State Representative Peggy Gibson says red light cameras could still be enforced but they’d have to be purchased, set up and monitored by the city who wants them.

"It says basically that no state, county, municipal or township can contract with a private corporation such as “Red Flicks” for photo monitoring devices. [This] way South Dakota dollars don’t go out of the state," Gibson says.

Members of the Senate State Affairs Committee support a bill aiming to improve the financial practices of the state of South Dakota. Lieutenant Governor Matt Michels brought the legislation before the committee, saying it’s part of an effort to raise the state’s credit rating. The bill was hog housed to contain two sections. The first says the Bureau of Finance and Management and the Legislative Research Council must prepare and submit independent projections by the 38th day of the legislative session.

The piece of legislation that funds most of the operations in the state of South Dakota is on its way to the Senate floor. Members of the Appropriations committee Monday made a few changes before passing House Bill 1040. The approval, however, doesn't mean the end of amendments to the funding bill.  

House Bill 1040 is the general bill. It's pages and pages of long numbers, dolling out millions of dollars from South Dakota's general fund to ongoing operations across the state. From education to health, agriculture to public safety, the general bill is the fiscal lifeline for South Dakota.

Monday's half a dozen amendments in Senate Appropriations include some funds for the state's part in some courthouse upgrades, additional dollars for the Board of Regents' health insurance and funding to upgrade technology in the House and Senate chambers at the State Capitol. Balancing the budget is a complicated process, because every increase in one area requires an equal decrease in another part of the plan.

The Bayer CropScience 2nd Annual Bee Care Tour stops in Brookings on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center.  Honey bees and other pollinators play a vital role in the food supply with more than 25% of the nation's agricultural crops dependent upon pollination.  Bayer CropScience bee expert Sarah Meyers talked about this year's tour which engages attendees on the important role pollinators and seed treatment technology plays in creating a sustainable agriculture.

The Ten Tenors from Australia present a collection of Broadway's greatest hits Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Senate Minority Leader Jason Frerichs and House Majority Leader David Lust joined Dakota Midday to discuss the final bills and issues as the South Dakota Legislature enters the last week of the 2014 session.

Lawmakers on the Government Operations and Audit Committee appear divided over how far to take their inquiry into alleged fraud surrounding the EB-5 program.  

The EB-5 program allows foreigners a green card if they make a half-million dollar investment in rural development.  

The program is mired in a scandal that’s tied to Richard Benda the former head of the Governor’s Office Of Economic Development.  Benda’s death last year was ruled a suicide, it came as state and federal investigators probed alleged fraud in the office.

According to Josh Rieck, the sound of the Union Grove Pickers could've gone any number of different directions when the group formed.  Their new cd, "Great Plains Driftin'," which is scheduled for a March 22 release during a special show at the historic Orpheum Theater in Sioux Falls, demonstrates that the band still likes to dabble in several genres.

Researchers hoped a new compound treatment is a miracle drug to reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease. But that's not the case for more advanced patients. So now they're looking at using the treatment on early onset of the disease. Dr. Bill Fuller with Avera Behavioral Health discussed the research study of mild Alzheimer patients.

Sarah Jennings, AARP State Director, joined Innovation to discuss a new AARP study that says South Dakota residents are at higher risk for online fraud based on behavior and life experiences. Online behaviors include opening email from unknown sources, clicking on pop-up ads and signing up for free trials.

The first annual Sanford Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Symposium was held at the research center Thursday, February 27. Dr. Gene Hoyme, Chief Academic Officer at Sanford Health and President and Senior Scientist with Sanford Research, and Kenneth Warren, PhD who is the acting director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), discussed the symposium.

Governor Dennis Daugaard is asking state residents along the Missouri River to be ready in case 2014 brings a repeat of the 2011 floods that devastated towns up and down the Mighty Mo.

Officials stress that flooding is not guaranteed this year, but that the potential remains.

Brad Lawrence is the Public Works Director Fort Pierre.  He watches the river and mountain snow pack closely.  Lawrence was among the first to raise red flags about flood possibility in the early spring of 2011.

The Dahl Arts Center is home to "Beyond Boundaries: Visions from the South Unit of Badlands National Park."  The collection of paintings, set in and around Badlands National Park, opens Friday and runs through May 3 in the Inez and Milton Shaver Gallery at the Dahl.  Created by artist Jessica L.

DakotaCon returns to the Dakota State University campus Friday through Sunday in Madison.  DSU is bringing cyber security individuals together for three full days of talks, competitions and training.  In conjunction with the DakotaCon presentations, the North Central Region Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) is being held Friday and Saturday on the DSU campus.  The nationally recognized competition focuses on the operational aspect of managing, securing and defending a "commercial" network infrastructure.  DSU network security instructor Kyle Cronin is the project leader for the si

A group of more than 200 farmers and business owners along the Missouri River have filed a lawsuit against the U.S.

A bill being considered in Pierre changes the way initiated measures and referendum petitions in South Dakota are verified.

Some critics say the change makes it easier for big moneyed interests to challenge a petition effort.  

Under current law–someone who wants to bring an issue before voters in a statewide election must gather the necessary signatures and then have the petitions checked and verified by the Secretary of States office.  Anyone wishing to challenge the petitions has 5 days to do so.

With only one week remaining in the 2014 legislative session, lawmakers are looking at the final bills and issues to be hashed out. Political Leaders in Pierre are also reflecting on some legislation they as positive this year.

Republican State Senator Tim Rave says some things could have gone better during this year’s session, but he says it’s also important to reflect on the improvements made.

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 residents from four other states. The lawsuit claims the federal government is taking private land without fair compensation. Governor Dennis Daugaard says he doesn’t blame residents for trying.

The state House of Representatives passed a measure to allow night vision hunting under certain conditions. SB 104 allows hunters on their own land to hunt at night with a shotgun or a fire arm using a rimfire cartridge. It also requires a hunter to use night vision technology. Democratic State Representative Dennis Feickert says South Dakota is behind what other states are already doing.

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 Governor Dennis Daugaard asks whether a waiver would be granted to South Dakota to expand up to 100 percent poverty level. But no official word has come yet from federal Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Republicans and Democrats have differing views on the next step.

A bill allowing victims of human trafficking to sue their traffickers is one step closer to becoming law. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 1161 Thursday. Representative Jenna Haggar is a prime sponsor of the bill. She says it offers the legal possibility of seeking civil damages in an attempt to regain some of what was taken.

South Dakota lawmakers are trying to change the definition of Domestic Abuse in the state. Two bills passed the State House of Representatives on Wednesday.

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 consecutive years, or six terms.

The State House passed a measure on Wednesday that helps cover medical bills for children with a hearing impairment. Democratic State Representative Julie Bartling says the medical procedures needed to improve a childs hearing can be expensive for family members. She says this bill helps cushion the financial burden.

Casinos in Deadwood may soon offer roulette, keno and craps. House Joint Resolution 1001 proposes an amendment to the state constitution to allow the authorization of the games through a ballot measure in November. Senator Mark Kirkeby speaks in favor of the resolution.