MILBANK, S.D. (KXLG) – Burlington Northern Sante Fe spokesperson Amy McBeth says that cleanup crews are in place at Milbank removing spilled grain and clearing damaged cars following an early Monday Morning derailment. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/02/26134757/Derailment-Update-1.mp3 McBeth says that most of the 24 damaged rail cars will have to be scrapped. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/02/26134813/Derailment-Update-2.mp3 And, although the weather has… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – A long delayed and often debated bill dealing with electric service territories has now been amended and sent to the House floor. SB66 originally would have allowed municipal electric companies to take over service from rural electric cooperatives when a city expanded and annexed new residents. Representative Tom Brunner (brew-ner) of… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNAX) – Tensions seem to be easing between India and Pakistan following a round of military confrontations including air strikes and planes being shot down. Senator Mike Rounds says it is a major concern for the U.S. Rounds says both are nuclear powers. There has been some criticism that the U.S. has pulled… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (KJJQ) – The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved a bill to conduct a study on the possible impact from changes to the way soils are rated for property tax purposes. It’s yet another ripple from the change to production-based ag land assessments. Representative Kirk Chaffee (Chay-fee) of Whitewood testified in… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – Governor Kristi Noem is seeking nominations for the 2019 South Dakota Governor’s Ag Ambassador Award. Nominees should be individuals or organizations who have continually worked to promote agriculture in South Dakota while demonstrating servant leadership, hard work, honesty, humility, and respect for others. Key achievements of the Ag Ambassador: Provides… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – The national gas price average has increased nearly 20-cents since the beginning of the year– the largest jump during the January-February time frame since 2015. According to AAA South Dakota, the national average is $2.42 per gallon, which is three cents more expensive than last week, 17-cents more expensive than… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – Beginning at 8 a.m., Wednesday, March 6, the City Street Department will continue the process of widening of Roadways. The process will require temporarily prohibiting parking in the following areas: South Washington Street from 6th Avenue to 12th Avenue South Kline Street from 6th Avenue to 12th Avenue South State… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. – Homeowners have until March 15 to apply for property tax relief through South Dakota’s owner-occupied program. Any South Dakotan who owned and occupied a home on Nov. 1, 2018 is eligible for this classification and its property tax reduction. Taxpayers who have previously received this reduction and still own and occupy the… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is proposing a couple of bills aimed at heading off any violent protests connected to construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Noem says she will not tolerate protests that get out of hand. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/03/05110457/Kristi-Noem-305a.mp3 Noem says one bill sets up a fund for extra costs… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – Brown County will start outdoor warning siren weekly testing starting Wednesday, March 6 at 6 p.m. Outdoor warning siren test will continue now thru October. Residents are reminded that these are outdoor warning sirens and are not meant to be heard indoors. We suggest you get a NOAA all-hazard radio for… Read more »

COLUMBIA, S.D. (Press Release) – Crews were called to a structure fire in Columbia Monday night. The call came in at 11:12 last night at 111 South Lake Blvd. in Columbia. This was an automotive repair shop that was fully involved when crews arrived. Crews were able to successfully protect a nearby house and garage.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers have resuscitated a measure seeking to promote “intellectual diversity” on college campuses.The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 7-2 Monday to revive the bill, which the panel had voted down last week. Republican Sen. Al Novstrup, who pushed to reconsider the measure, says the sponsor and the Board of… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — A political blogger from Aberdeen is suing in federal court to overturn South Dakota’s ban on out-of-state fundraising for citizens’ initiatives. Cory Heidelberger and his ballot-question committee, SD Voice, filed the lawsuit on Friday. The lawsuit calls the ban “a blatantly unconstitutional law that criminalizes lawful political speech and trashes the… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNAX) – Following the government shutdown last month, Congress and the President agreed on a budget deal to keep the government open through the end of September. South Dakota Senator John Thune says despite that deal, they are still working on spending bills from last year. https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/238/2019/03/05073021/John-Thune-304a.mp3 Thune says a two-year budget would… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (KJJQ) – The House Education Committee passed a bill 9-4 that would establish a needs-based scholarship in the state — the Dakota Promise Scholarship. The bill was amended so it does not yet include any state funding. The idea had been to use up to one-million unobligated dollars at the end of the… Read more »