PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA)- One Democrat legislator joins 11 Republicans in introducing a bill Tuesday that would remove the state’s portion of the sales tax on food items. After opposing a similar measure last year, Gov. Kristi Noem campaigned in her 2022 election to pass a bill to remove the state sales tax on food items. South… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA)- A South Dakota legislative committee recommends Tuesday that the Joint Appropriations Committee consider a bill that would allocate an additional $13 million to the Sanford Underground Research facility in the Black Hills. Proponents told the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee that Senate Bill 35 is needed to expand room for underground physics experiments. The money… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release)– Presentation College announced today that it will not enroll students for the 2023-24 academic year and will cease educational operations at its Aberdeen campus after the Spring and Summer 2023 sessions. Three Teach-Out Agreements with other higher educational institutions are in place to provide complete credit acceptance and comparable net tuition costs… Read more »

PLEASANT HILL, M.O.(WNAX)- While snow continues to add up across the Missouri River Basin, it will take more to make up for years of dry conditions. Kevin Low with the Missouri River Basin Forecast Center says mountain snowpack is slowly increasing. Low says they still expect a below normal year in snowpack runoff. Low says… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The National Federation of Independent Business has named Jason Glodt of Pierre as their state director. He says small business comes naturally to him. Glodt says NFIB will stand with small businesses across the state. Glodt says they reach legislative stands by consensus. Glodt was a member of the Board of Regents in… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Connecting Cultures of Yankton sponsored an observance of Martin Luther King Junior Day Monday at the Mead Cultural Education Center. Joe Ruttan, Director of the Benedictine Leadership Institute at Mount Marty University, made the presentation. He says King’s legacy is dealing with injustice. Ruttan says King wanted all people to connect. Ruttan says… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- During last week’s State of the Judiciary address, Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Jensen proposed a summer study to address increasing court appointed attorney costs on counties.  District 24 Representative Mike Weisgram was happy to see the issue addressed. District 24 Representative Will Mortenson says a summer study is the right approach. District… Read more »

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 »