PIERRE, S.D.(Press Release) – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced that South Dakota closed the 2021 budget year on June 30 with a surplus of $85.9 million. Total general fund revenue for fiscal year 2021 finished $62.0 million higher than adopted estimates, and the state general fund budget ended with expenditures approximately $23.9 million lower than… Read more »

BRUCE, S.D.(KJJQ)- A woman is able to escape after being kidnapped at Oakwood Lakes State Park. Assistant Sheriff Scott Sebring says it was reported at about 4:20 Sunday morning. He says 22-year-old Jasmine Benning of Sioux Falls was sitting in a vehicle with two friends when a Blue Jeep pulled up behind them. A male… Read more »

DES MOINES, I.A.(WNAX)- South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was one of the speakers at the daylong Leadership Summit on Friday in Des Moines, Iowa sponsored by the Family Leader, a conservative political group. She said the country has changed under President Biden. Noem says there are growing divisions in the country. Noem says she wants… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The “Teacher Compensation Review Board” met for the first time since 2018 on Friday in Pierre. The board was mandated by the Blue-Ribbon Commission in 2015 that came up with the increased teacher pay recommendations that were later passed by the legislature. Board member, Aberdeen Schools Superintendent Becky Guffin says the board needs… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- As schools work through policies for the use of medical cannabis by students, there are concerns about the impact on activities. Dan Swartos, Executive Director of the South Dakota High School Activities Association, says they won’t have a separate policy for medical cannabis. Swartos says there would have to be an illegal use… Read more »

The Rules Review Committee of the South Dakota legislature will see the next round of proposed rules for the use of medical cannabis in schools at their meeting this week. Representative Ryan Cwach of Yankton says they sent the first set of rules back to the Department of Education. Cwach says the revised rules set… Read more »

KANSAS CITY, M.O.(WNAX)- The national Climate Prediction Center has issued a La Nina watch for later this year. Cooler than normal Pacific Ocean surface temperatures leads to the formation of a La Nina, which can cause cooler and wetter conditions in much of North America. Doug Kluck, with the Central Region of the National Weather… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(Press Release) – Governor Kristi Noem has signed Executive Order 2021-10 granting extended hours of service for the commercial delivery of petroleum products in South Dakota. The order declares a state of emergency and exempts delivery of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and ethyl alcohol from federal motor carrier regulations on drivers’ hours of service. Residents and… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release)- INTERSECTION CLOSED:   Beginning at 8am on Monday, July 19, 2021, the following intersection will be closed to thru traffic for road work: 10th Avenue SE & S Lloyd Street Work is expected to be completed by end of day. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes until the work is completed.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.(WNAX)- Anonymous complaints about sexual harassment and other issues from employees at the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls have led to the firing of the Warden and Deputy Warden and suspensions of other Department of Corrections officials. Eric Olilla, Executive Director of the South Dakota State Employees Organization, says the pressure has been… Read more »