BROOKINGS, S.D.(WNAX)- The FCS National Championship won by the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits is having a wide impact. SDSU Foundation President Steve Erpanbach says they are hearing from a lot of new people. Erpanbach says they are getting positive feedback. Erpanbach says the “Pride of the Dakotas” is also in the conversations. The Foundation… Read more »

STURGIS, S.D.(KBHB & WNAX) – South Dakota lawmakers spent most of their four days in Pierre last week getting organized, listening to speeches and introducing bills. District 29 Representative Gary Cammack says they’re now gearing up for a busy time. Cammack talked about some of the big ticket items that lie ahead – including the… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has made her grocery sales tax cut a priority. District 18 Senator Jean Hunhoff of Yankton says the Governor will have to sell the plan. Hunhoff says the Appropriations Committee got an update last week on the states economic outlook. Hunhoff says the federal pandemic dollars will also… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(DakotaNewsNow) – The South Dakota Republican Party’s Central Committee picked lawmakers John Wiik (R-Big Stone City) and Mary Fitzgerald (R-St. Onge) to lead the state’s party for at least the next two years. Both won handily against opponents who did not enter the race until this past week. “It is time for me to… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- Members of the new republican majority in the US House have called for investigations and possible impeachments of Biden Administration officials. South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson says Congress has a responsibility to investigate where necessary. Johnson says not all of the committee assignments have been decided yet. Johnson says he would be happy… Read more »

OMAHA, N.E.(WNAX)- Economic indicators are still pointing toward a recession this year. Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss says the probability is rising. Goss says the good news is that inflation is slowing. Goss says he expects interest rates to continue to rise. Goss coordinates the monthly survey of business managers in the nine state… Read more »

MARION, S.D.(WNAX)- The Marion School District this week voted to offer their Superintendent position to Brian Brosnahan, currently the Superintendent in the Rutland School District. He says the upcoming consolidation of Rutland with Oldham and Ramona helped make his decision. Brosnahan says he likes what he sees in the Marion school and community. There has… Read more »

AMES, I.A.(WNAX)- While recent snow has helped with moisture concerns in the Missouri River basin, there is still a lot of dry ground to make up. Doug Kluck, Central Region Climate Services Director for the National Weather Service, took part in the monthly Corps of Engineers update on basin conditions. He says the area is… Read more »

SOUTH DAKOTA(WNAX)- Last fall it appeared that natural gas prices could be very high through the winter. Instead, milder temperatures have dropped demand and prices. Luke Hansen, Manager of Gas Supply for Northwestern Energy, says they are already getting gas contracts for next fall. Hansen says their gas usage was up to end last year.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- The South Dakota Senate has approved a bill that sets up use of 200-million dollars in funding to develop housing infrastructure.  Senator Jack Kolbeck was a member of a summer study in workforce housing two years ago that put the basis of the bill together. Senator Tom Pischke rose in opposition to the… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- With most of his time taken up by his new position on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Jim Bolin of Canton says he probably won’t introduce many separate bills. Bolin says inflation will be a real problem in setting the budget. Bolin says they may have to revisit some projects that were approved last… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- The first bill the new republican majority in the US House passed was one to cut spending for the Internal Revenue Service that would have added thousands of new agents over the next ten years. South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson says they have been hearing about it. Johnson says they do want to… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(Press Release) – This week, U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Abigial Spanberger (D-VA), and Chip Roy (R-TX) re-introduced the bipartisan TRUST in Congress Act to require Members of Congress and their families place their investments, like individual stocks, in a blind trust during their tenure in Congress. The legislation effectively bans Members of Congress… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA & KJJQ)- The House State Affairs Committee defeated a bill Friday morning that would have restored the power to issue subpoenas to the legislature’s investigative committee. Proponents said House Bill 1001 would have reinstated the ability of the Government Operations and Accountability to issue subpoenas without first getting approval from the legislature’s Executive… Read more »

WATERTOWN, S.D.(KXLG)- The South Dakota Housing Development Authority possesses $200 million in workforce housing infrastructure funds, has shelved $150 million of it, and is holding out to award an additional $50 million. The discussion revolves around who is responsible for the funds and correctly granting them. Some developers already sent in applications last year when… Read more »