WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- President Biden has asked Congress to get involved and help head off a threatened nationwide rail strike next week. South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds says there has been a commission working on agreements with rail unions. Rounds says they haven’t seen any details yet. Rounds says a rail strike would have a noticeable… Read more »
News Year: 2022
Southeastern Electric added new service connections
MARION, S.D.(WNAX)- With about a month to go, Southeastern Electric, based in Marion, has added a record number of new service connections. Manager Brad Schardin says the growth has been across their service area. Schardin says more users are adding more equipment that needs electricity. Schardin says they are working on some long range growth… Read more »
Summer study on regional jails to bring recommendations to legislature in 2023
VERMILLION, S.D.(WNAX)- Members of an interim South Dakota legislative committee that studied county jails will bring recommendations to the 2023 session. Committee member, Senator Art Rusch of Vermillion says there should be funding available for the construction of regional jails. Rusch says some counties are in dire need of jail space. The committee talked about… Read more »
SD Secretary of Education update on education standards of K-12 students
PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota K – Twelve students lost academic ground during the pandemic but not as bad as other states. Education Department Secretary Tiffany Sanderson told the Educational Standards Board last week that they are now getting new information on student success. The statewide report card showed fifty one percent of tested students met… Read more »
Rick Weiland of Dakotans for Health comment on the grocery tax repeal
YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Differences of opinion between the South Dakota Attorney General and the Legislative Research Council is delaying a ballot initiative petition drive that would eliminate the state sales tax on groceries. “Dakotans for Health” Co-founder Rick Weiland says they can’t get a clear explanation. Weiland says starting with new language makes their petition drive… Read more »
Governor Noem Signs Executive Order Banning TikTok
PIERRE, S.D.(Press Release) – On Tuesday, Governor Kristi Noem signed Executive Order 2022-10, which bans the Chinese social media platform TikTok for state government agencies, employees, and contractors using state devices. This order is in response to the growing national security threat posed by TikTok due to its data gathering operations on behalf of the… Read more »
New Senate Majority Leader address topics for 2023 legislative session
MADISON, S.D.(WNAX)- Issues for the 2023 South Dakota legislature are starting to line up. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree of Madison says they will have to work with counties on their jail issues. Crabtree says inflation will be a big factor in spending for schools, health care providers and state employees. Crabtree says abortion… Read more »
SD Transportation Committee approve bid for work to be done at the I-90 bridge near Chamberlain
PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota Transportation Commission last week reluctantly approved a bid for work on and around the I-90 bridge at Chamberlain. D.O.T. engineer Sam Weisgram said they only had one company bid on the project. Weisgram says they already rejected an earlier bid. Weisgram says federal rules on bridges is pushing them to… Read more »
South Dakota lobbyist address upcoming Governor Noem’s Budget Address
YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Governor Kristi Noem will deliver her budget address to the legislature next Monday and possibly add details to her proposal to cut the sales tax on groceries. Lobbyist Steve Willard says overall sales tax growth has been strong but questions whether the food tax could be easily replaced. Willard says the Governor will… Read more »
SD Board of Education Standards extend deadling to implement new Social Studies standards
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota Board of Educational Standards is in the middle of their public hearing process for new social studies standards. Shannon Malone with the state Department of Education asked the board at their meeting last week in Sioux Falls to extend the timeline for implementing the new standards. Malone said that… Read more »