PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – Majority republicans in the South Dakota legislature agree on priorities for the final days of this year’s session. Senate Majority Leader Kris Langer of Dell Rapids says there are a couple of main issues. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/03/01144825/Kris-Langer-301a.mp3 House Majority Leader Lee Qualm of Platte says there will need to be some compromises. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/03/01144840/Lee-Qualm-301a.mp3… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – While an El Nino weather condition has been predicted for some time, it has been slow to arrive. Doug Kluck, Climate Service Director for the Central Region of the National Weather Service, says they are now seeing more evidence of its arrival. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/03/01142724/Doug-Kluck-301a.mp3 An El Nino occurs when southern Pacific Ocean… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNAX) – The Senate confirmed Andrew Wheeler as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. He follows Scott Pruitt who resigned last year following several ethics violations. At the same time, officials in the Ag Department said they didn’t think the EPA would finalize rules to allow year-round use of E-15 by June. South… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – SkyWest has announced it will begin air service from Pierre to Denver April 3. In preparation for that, Pierre Regional Airport manager Mike Isaacs says there’s a lot of action happening right now. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/03/01145944/030119-isaacs1.mp3 Isaacs says people will check in at the same area of the airport. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/03/01145955/030119-isaacs2.mp3 Although air… Read more »

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KXLG) – District 5 Representative Hugh Bartels (BAR-TULS) of Watertown is hopeful the state can come up with more dollars to help nursing homes. He looks for something bold to emerge from the legislature before they adjourn this year. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/03/01152117/Bartels-1.mp3 Bartels said changes are needed to update what assisted nursing homes can do.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – The South Dakota Department of Public Safety has scheduled 25 sobriety checkpoints in 19 counties statewide during the month of March.   The checkpoints are designed to discourage people from drinking and then driving. Monthly checkpoints are funded by the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety and conducted by the… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (HubCityRadio.com) – Today marks the end of an era at the Brown County Courthouse. Maxine Fischer is working her final day as Brown County Auditor. Fischer has been employed at the courthouse for 47 years. She said there has been many changes through the years. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/02/28150006/Fischer-Retiring-1.mp3 Fischer said it doesn’t seem real that… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – The South Dakota legislature changed the way ag land is valued for taxes about 10 years ago. Land is now taxed according to what it can produce, rather than land sales prices. An ongoing task force has been talking about moving more toward actual use. Yankton County Director of Equalization Lori… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KBHB) – Rapid City police have stepped back from calling Wednesday’s shooting death a homicide. In an afternoon release, police announced they are calling Wednesday’s incident an unattended death. Police were called to a residence at 314 E. Adams Street shortly before 3:00 p.m. Wednesday for a report of an unconscious male.… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — A jury has convicted the Roberts County sheriff of felony aggravated assault. Twenty-eight-year-old Korey Ware, of Sisseton, was accused of assaulting a 30-year-old man at an Aberdeen bar on Oct. 6, 2018. He was a deputy sheriff at the time and also sheriff-elect, since he had won a June primary race… Read more »