WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- The Senate Ag Committee will be holding a hearing on Thursday to look at the issue of cattle market manipulation and anti-competitive practices by the meat packers.  South Dakota Senator and Committee Member John Thune says this isn’t a new issue, but they are turning up the heat on the subject and hope… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota legislature set aside money this year to repair a number of high risk dams across the state. School and Public Lands Commissioner Ryan Brunner says his office is responsible for those dams. Brunner says the priority dam is in northwest Brown County. Brunner says another critical dam is upstream of… Read more »

Tech colleges in South Dakota are rapidly filling their available class slots for this fall. Paula Hawks, Career Services Coordinator at Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls says their registration sessions have been very popular. Hawks says classes are filling up fast. Hawks says students are seeing that tech degrees pay off. Other tech colleges… Read more »

BROOKINGS, S.D.(KJJQ)- Educators across the country are concerned with the impact of the pandemic on students. The biggest impact will likely be on the K-12 system but it will also affect college students. South Dakota State University President Barry Dunn says they’ll be looking closely at the results of professional tests. He says they’re preparing… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Educators are pushing back against charges from some politicians that teachers and schools are “indoctrinating” students in everything from negative American history to critical race theory. Yankton School Superintendent Wayne Kindle says the districts education policy has been consistent over the years. Kindle says they include American history and civics in most grade… Read more »

VERMILLION, S.D.(WNAX)- The Joint Committee on Appropriations spent several hours on the USD campus in Vermillion this week, talking about and questioning diversity efforts. Committee Co-Chair, Representative Chris Karr of Sioux Falls, says the issue first came up during the legislative session. Karr says they wanted to know how and where state dollars are being… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- A new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease has gathered a lot of interest and criticism. The FDA approved the use of Aduhelm over the objections of some doctors on their advisory panel. Leslie Morrow, Executive Director of the South Dakota Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association says the drug offers new hope. Morrow says… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(Press Release) – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced a holiday for state workers on Friday, June 18, 2021, in honor of Juneteenth. This is in response to the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act”, which was signed today by President Joseph R. Biden.   “‘All men are created equal.’ That is America’s foundational ideal,” said… Read more »

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.(WNAX)- Pipestone Systems, which began their Wholestone Farms project and built a pork processing facility in Fremont, Nebraska is now planning on building a $500 million pork processing plant in Sioux Falls. Luke Minion with Pipestone Systems says they hope to open their new processing plant sometime in 2025. He says their Wholestone… Read more »

BASSETT, N.E.(WNAX)- A national republican operative says South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is becoming an important national figure in the GOP. Corey Lewandowski says Noem has an important race next year. Lewandowski says Noem has become known nationally for what she did in South Dakota during the pandemic. Lewandowski was appearing with Nebraska republican candidate… Read more »