PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA)- High-achieving South Dakota students would receive an increase in the state-funded, merit-based Opportunity Scholarship. The House Education Committee passed House Bill 1055 to the Joint Appropriations Committee Wednesday morning . It would increase the scholarship from $6,500 over four years to $7,500 yearly. Bill sponsor Rep. Tony Venhuizen (vin-high-zin) from Sioux Falls. Brandy Miesnera… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- New Yankton County Sheriff Preston Crissey is getting the office organized since he was sworn in to start the year. He says there are some openings to fill. Crissey says he will be out to talk to the small towns in the county. Crissey says he wants to focus on training for all… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- After getting a couple more rounds of federal funding, it will be a busy construction season for the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System. Executive Director Troy Larson says they have some contracts in place. The project struggled last summer to keep up with water demand as a large collector well had technical… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The start of the South Dakota legislative session is a very busy time and especially so for first time members. District 17 Representative Chris Kassin of Vermillion, who won his first term in November says he made lots of connections. Kassin was appointed to the Appropriations Committee. Kassin says they are meeting as… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release)- Beginning at 8:00am on Wednesday, January 18th, water will be off in the following areas to repair a water main break: South Rock Street from 6th Ave SE to Goodrich Ave SE The Public Works Department suggests that residents in the affected area collect and store water for personal and restroom use.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A group of South Dakota Republican lawmakers are pushing a bill(HB1080) to outlaw gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. At least a dozen states are considering anti-transgender legislation this year. The South Dakota bill aims to keep children under 18 from accessing puberty-blocking drugs, hormone therapy or surgeries that enable them… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA)- One Democrat legislator joins 11 Republicans in introducing a bill Tuesday that would remove the state’s portion of the sales tax on food items. After opposing a similar measure last year, Gov. Kristi Noem campaigned in her 2022 election to pass a bill to remove the state sales tax on food items. South… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA)- A South Dakota legislative committee recommends Tuesday that the Joint Appropriations Committee consider a bill that would allocate an additional $13 million to the Sanford Underground Research facility in the Black Hills. Proponents told the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee that Senate Bill 35 is needed to expand room for underground physics experiments. The money… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release)– Presentation College announced today that it will not enroll students for the 2023-24 academic year and will cease educational operations at its Aberdeen campus after the Spring and Summer 2023 sessions. Three Teach-Out Agreements with other higher educational institutions are in place to provide complete credit acceptance and comparable net tuition costs… Read more »