PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota Republican Party Chairman Dan Lederman says the party has hired Terin Lucero as their Executive Director. He says he wants to help continue building the party. Lucero says he wants to follow up on one of Lederman’s goals. Republicans already hold 94 of the 105 seats in the legislature. Lucero says… Read more »

VERMILLION, S.D.(WNAX)- Two weeks ago the Vermillion School District required face masks for most of their students as Covid-19 infection numbers rose. Now, Superintendent Damon Alvey says they are extending and expanding the mandate. Alvey says their infection numbers had been pretty stable. Alvey says both staff and students have been infected. The state Department… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota House Select Committee on Investigation doesn’t have any more meetings scheduled to discuss the possible impeachment of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. Committee member, Representative Ryan Cwach of Yankton, says it will be difficult to get done before the end of the legislative session. Cwach says after two days of hearings… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D.(KOTA)- Despite a class of 18 new firefighters, a number which Rapid City Fire Department public information officer Tessa Jaeger said could be a local record, the RCFD is still not fully staffed. Making an appearance on the Rapid City Morning News, Jaeger said the department, despite a lean staff, is more than… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA)- The Senate passed a slate of bills about the medical cannabis program created by Initiated Measure 26. The bills passed the Senate with little debate. One bill defines the necessary relationship between patient and medical practitioner. This is meant to prevent “doctor shopping.” Another removes the provision stating a medical practitioner must certify… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(Press Release)- U.S. Senator John Thune will be in Aberdeen tomorrow to speak at an all-school student assembly at Aberdeen Christian School.  Thune will then join community leaders from Britton, Langford, Eden, Lake City, and Veblen at the Glacial Lakes Area Development luncheon in Britton, followed by a tour of Rapid Precision Manufacturing Inc.… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- The Voting Rights Act ran into a roadblock last week in the US Senate over resistance to changing filibuster rules. Democrats didn’t have the votes to change the rules to a simple majority to get to debate on the bill. Those filibuster rules don’t apply to confirmation votes on Supreme Court Justices or… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA)- The South Dakota House of Representatives passed HB1004 Monday.  The bill removes the provision from Initiated Measure 26 that allows for medical cannabis patients to grow their own plants.  Republican Representative Fred Deutsch of District Four was the bill’s prime sponsor. He says allowing home grow is a slippery slope to increased crime… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- One of the first bills to authorize spending hundreds of millions of federal dollars on state infrastructure projects started moving through the legislature. Department of Ag & Natural Resources Secretary Hunter Roberts explained the plan to the Senate State Affairs Committee. Roberts says they have been talking to local governments about the funding… Read more »