PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — A House committee tables one bill dealing with “drag shows” but passes another this Monday. The House State Affairs Committee passes HB 1116, which disallows the use of school district, state university, or state property to be used in hosting lewd or lascivious content. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Chris Karr… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)-The South Dakota House Education Committee debated a bill Monday that would have provided free lunches to all public-school students. Representative Kaydn Wittman of Sioux Falls was the sponsor. State Education Department Secretary Joe Graves said they would oppose the bill due to its cost. Graves said when he was superintendent in Mitchell, he… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- The US Treasury is warning that the federal government may hit the debt ceiling of just over thirty one trillion dollars by early this summer. That means the government could default on interest payments. South Dakota Senator John Thune says there are options available to Congress and the Biden Administration. Thune says the… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota legislators are back in Pierre this week with a full agenda for the week. Representative Mike Derby of Rapid City is Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Appropriations. He says it is quite different than when he served on the committee in the past. Derby says the committee has a… Read more »

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.(WNAX)- Despite heavy snow cover in much of the region, flood risk right now is low. Andrew Kalin at the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls says the first flood outlook of the season shows there is a lot of room for runoff. Kalin says the outlooks can change quickly at times. Kalin… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Mountain snowpack in the Missouri River basin continues to increase. Kevin Low in the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center says that should continue to grow over the next couple of months. Low says they are forecasting another year of below normal runoff. Low says flood risk is pretty minimal. The Corps of Engineers… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has released draft language for a proposed Constitutional amendment and initiative that would prohibit sales taxes on anything sold for human consumption. Jackley says the amendment would severely limit the abilities of future legislatures and Governors to make tax changes. Jackley says he is just trying to… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(HubCityRadio)- Senator Mike Rounds appeared on CNN “State of the Union” Sunday to discuss of social security. Senator Rounds compares social security to some of the federal programs. Rounds talks about how some people are using scare tactics in dealing with any potential cuts on social security. Rounds talks about how important it is… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- The third of four cracker barrels was held inside the Barnett Center on the campus of NSU on Saturday.  Members from Districts 3 & 23 were present for the event. District 23 Senator Bryan Breitling look ahead to what the Joint Committee on Appropriation will be working on this week. District 3 Senator… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- Several bills dealing with eminent domain were debated in the South Dakota legislature this week. House Minority Leader Oren Lesmeister of Parade says the House passed one bill that clarifies how eminent domain can be used. Lesmeister says negotiation are often dragged out too long. Lesmeister says the bill also allocates court costs.… Read more »