PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA) — The South Dakota Supreme Court has overturned longstanding precedent and previous decisions of its own, allowing lawmakers to more freely enter into state contracts. In a 29-page ruling, the court declared that legislators could now enter into most state contracts, departing from previous stricter interpretations of constitutional prohibitions. “The contract restriction stated… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- South Dakota Broadcasters Association & Dakota Scout’s Austin Goss appeared on the KSDN Midday Report Friday to address various topics. One bill in our region that Senator Al Novstrup is pushing is SB32 which deals with fairgrounds still has no hearing date set yet with Senate Taxation Committee.  Crossover Day is Wednesday, February… Read more »

OMAHA, N.E.(DRGNews)- The US Army Corps of Engineers updated 2024 calendar year runoff forecast for the upper Missouri River Basin– which is the part of the river above Sioux City, Iowa– is below average. National Weather Service Hydrologist Kevin Low (like cow) says the current mountain snowpack is well below normal. Low says ice freeze… Read more »

MADISON, S.D.(KELO)- A Moody County Grand Jury has indicted murder suspect Joseph Hoek on First Degree Murder and Eluding charges. Hoek was back in court to hear the charges Friday, which were announced by Attorney General Marty Jackley. Hoek will be back in court next month. In the meantime he’s being held without bond. Attorney… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA) – A legislative hearing convened with the intention of discussing cuts to the state’s “Future Fund” quickly evolved into a harsh critique of the current administration’s handling of the fund’s resources. Lawmakers voted by a single vote margin to defeat a proposal aimed at reducing the fund’s allocation by one-tenth of a percent.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA) – The South Dakota House’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed a bill that would ban select foreign countries from purchasing farm land in South Dakota. House Bill 1231, carried by Rep. JD Wangsness of Miller, would ban six countries deemed to be hostile from purchasing land in the Rushmore State. Those… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- This Saturday, the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the second of three cracker barrel sessions scheduled for this year.  Aberdeen lobbyist Julie Johnson will be the moderator. Legislators from Districts 1, 3, 23 are all invited.  They will discuss what’s happening in Pierre and some of the bills they are sponsoring.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — House committee members Thursday defeat another attempt to speed the filling of legislative vacancies. On 10 to 0 votes, the House State Affairs Committee dispatched two bills to the 41st legislative day that would have had the governor pick from a list of three names from the vacant legislator’s party’s central committee.… Read more »