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 »

PIERRE, S.D.(Press Release) – In November 2021, the South Dakota State Archives were awarded a South Dakota Humanities Council and National Endowment for the Humanities grant to digitize select audio recordings and make them available on the South Dakota Digital Archives. South Dakota State Archivist Chelle Somsen these recordings are fascinating. The digitized content is… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The Joint Committee on Appropriations of the South Dakota legislature got an update on projected state revenues this week. Jim Terwilliger, Commissioner of the Bureau of Finance and Management, told the panel they see an increase in revenue for the current fiscal year. Terwilliger says they predict a modest increase in sales tax… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- There is literally a new sheriff in town. Preston Crissey was sworn in as Yankton County Sheriff on January third, taking the spot that was held for over twenty-five years by Jim Vlahakis, who retired. Crissey, who was a Yankton Police Officer, says its been a good transition. Crissey says most of the… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(Press Release)- Folks, Our state’s Native American heritage and culture is such an important part of what makes South Dakota a special place. Governor Noem recognizes that. She acknowledges it every time we deploy resources to help the tribes, sign law enforcement MOUs to keep our tribal people safe, and incorporate Native American heritage… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA)- There are points of contention, but also opportunities for the State of South Dakota and the nine tribal nations inside its border to work more closely together. That was one of the takeaways from Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Chairman Peter Lengkeek (lin-key). He gave the annual State of the Tribes address this afternoon… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- On Thursday, members of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce & the Aberdeen Development Corporation discussed items they’re looking at for the 2023 South Dakota legislative session. Mike Bockorny with ADC talks about HB1011 that deals with unemployment benefits. One bill that has cleared a conference committee is SB41 that deals with housing infrastructure. … Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem laid out her legislative priorities in her “State of the State” speech this week. District 18 Senator Jean Hunhoff of Yankton says she heard the tone. Hunhoff says the Governor again made a point of cutting the sales tax on groceries. Hunhoff says she will be interested in… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(KJJQ)- The Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Corrections says the state needs new facilities. Governor Noem has proposed some $400 million in expenditures for new prisons in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Kellie Wasko spoke to the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday morning. She says new facilities are needed to deal with both… Read more »