YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – The Yankton School Board has voted to hold a special election on Feb. 11 to let voters decide on a property tax opt out. The board voted to approve the issue at a special meeting Thursday. Board President Kathy Greeneway says they have learned from the failed opt outs seven years ago.… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – Federal health officials will begin cracking down on most flavored e-cigarettes and products that are popular with underage vapers. The Food and Drug Administration will ban the sale of fruit, candy, mint and dessert flavors from small cartridge based vaping products. Yankton School Superintendent Wayne Kindle says they appreciate the help.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – New safety measures at the South Dakota State Capitol Building in Pierre will begin Jan. 13– the day before the start of this year’s Legislative Session. Department of Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Craig Price says the new safety measures– including a security screening process– are proactive steps to protecting the… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The 2020 South Dakota legislative session starts Jan. 14. South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Kim Vanneman says beyond the discussion about legalizing hemp production, she doesn’t see any other big legislative hot buttons for agriculture this year. She says the biggest challenge will just be funding programs. Farm groups fought hard… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) – Authorities say a man arrested in another man’s fatal shooting near Aberdeen last week is due in court. The suspect is expected in court Monday to face a charge of first-degree murder. The suspect was arrested Friday night. Authorities have not released the name of the suspect or the victim. The… Read more »

WATERTOWN, S.D. (AP) – A tow truck driver was killed when he was struck by a car as he was trying to remove a vehicle from the ditch. Watertown police say the crash happened around 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Forty-seven-year-old Dale Jones of Watertown was killed when police say a Chevrolet Impala driven by a 76-year-old… Read more »

BROOKINGS, S.D. (Press Release) – One person died in a fatal crash Saturday morning on Interstate 29 west of Flandreau. Names of those involved are not yet being released pending notification of family. A 2005 Toyota Tundra Double Cab SR5 pickup, pulling a trailer with a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) on it, was northbound on… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – Governor Kristi Noem today announced that the state Board of Water and Natural Resources has approved more than $21.9 million for water, wastewater, watershed, recycling, and solid waste projects. The board met today over the Digital Dakota Network. “These grant and loan awards are incredibly beneficial to communities across the… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – The Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department is requesting all city residents operating recreational vehicles (snowmobiles, ATV’s, 4-wheel drive vehicles) to please refrain from operating those vehicles in any parks, recreation and forestry areas.  Those areas off-limits to all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles are all city-maintained parks, athletic complexes, recreational trails,… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – Governor Kristi Noem has ordered flags at the South Dakota State Capitol to be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. until sunset on Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, to honor the life of George Blair, a former legislator. Blair served in the South Dakota Legislature from 1979 until 1986. A memorial… Read more »

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Press Release) – A 30-year-old Sioux Falls man has been identified as the person who died in a two-vehicle crash early Tuesday morning north of Sioux Falls. A 2007 GMC Envoy was northbound on Interstate 29 when it ran off the road to the left, into the median and into the southbound… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – The first Lucky For Life drawing of the new year was highlighted by continued success for South Dakota Lottery players. A ticket matching 5 of 5 winning numbers was sold at Coyle’s Super Valu in Philip prior to Thursday’s drawing, earning the game’s second prize of $25,000 a year for… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota’s minimum wage is increasing slightly with the the start of the new year. The state’s minimum wage will now be $9.30 per hour. That’s an increase of 20 cents from 2019. Workers who receive tips will see their minimum wage rise to $4.65 per hour. The increases are part… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) – Authorities are investigating a federal agent’s shooting of a suspect near Rapid City that began with a car chase on the Pine Ridge Reservation last month. The Rapid City Journal reported Thursday that the FBI is investigating what prompted the car pursuit and the reason for the shooting. Federal prosecutors… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – Leaders from several Sioux tribes in South Dakota are making a statement that they don’t support this year’s pick for the State of the Tribes address. They say they will be holding their own event rather than participate in the annual speech that is scheduled to be delivered by Gov. Kristi… Read more »