SIOUX FALLS, S.D.(WNAX)- Backers of several ongoing petition drives have opened a “Democracy Center” in Sioux Falls. Rick Weiland with “Dakotans for Health” says they wanted a center to explain their goals. Weiland says they face a potential problem on the primary ballot next June. Weiland says they are continuing their statewide push for petition… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota House and Senate members of the Legislative Redistricting Committee will meet again Monday in an attempt to find agreement on a map to put before the special session next month. Senator Jim Bolin of Canton says there isn’t a consensus yet. Bolin says their goal should be agreeing on one map.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- Legislators on a South Dakota committee have approved a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana use for adults, while repealing much of the medical marijuana law passed last year by the voters. The bill sponsor is Representative Hugh Bartels of Watertown. Bartels says the second part of the bill would roll back the… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- Schools across South Dakota got their first official report card last week since the onset of the pandemic. The report, among other indicators, shows student absenteeism rose since the last report in 2019. State Education Department Secretary Tiffany Sanderson says they are focused on that. Sanderson says overall A.C.T. scores again were pretty… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- While many school districts have been trying to fill teaching openings, they are also dealing with other staff shortages. Wade Pogany, Executive Director of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota, says schools need other workers too. Pogany says schools need those people to operate effectively. Pogany says incentives and higher pay for… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D.(KOTA)- At Monday night’s Rapid City Council Meeting, $15 million in surplus, undesignated funds was made available for the Rapid City Fire Department to refurbish Station One in Downtown Rapid City. Tessa Jaeger, public information officer for the RCFD, said she is pleased the city council viewed the issue with the same urgency… Read more »

STURGIS, S.D.(KBHB) – Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie provided the Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Financial Report at last night’s council meeting. Ainslie says the net profit returned to the city this year was $1.1-million dollars. Ainslie says vendor fees were also higher this year than in year’s past, and every year, more and more of… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Aberdeen American News)- The Aberdeen City Council approved the formation of a Tax Increment Financing district that will help with restoration plans for the Citizens Building, but denied a second TIF request. The TIF request that was turned down would have been for the development of storage buildings north of The Village Bowl. The council considered both requests… Read more »