PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota legislature this year added extra money to the Board of Regents budget to allow them to give their employees a six percent raise without raising tuition. Regents Executive Director Brian Maher says the increase came with other extra funding. The Regents got over two hundred eighty million dollars in one… Read more »

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers have unanimously approved a report finding that Gov. Kristi Noem’s daughter got preferential treatment while she was applying for a real estate appraiser license in 2020. The findings of last year’s legislative probe repudiate Noem’s insistence that her daughter, Kassidy Peters, didn’t receive special treatment during her… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Aberdeen American News)- Those who haven’t yet registered to vote and want to vote in the June 7 primary have until Monday to get paperwork filed. That’s is the deadline to register to vote, according to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office. Paperwork must be received by the appropriate county auditor by 5… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- The Yankton County Commission has approved an emergency declaration. It came at the request of County Emergency Manager Paul Scherschligt following last week’s wind storm. Scherschligt says utility companies have had damage in the county. Scherschligt says they have also had individuals report damage to the two one one help line. Governor Kristi… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The Executive Board of the South Dakota legislature signed off on a letter of intent to give guidance to the Housing Authority over new spending. Legislators approved spending two hundred million dollars mostly for infrastructure needed for housing development across the state. Representative Roger Chase of Huron outlined what the resolution would do.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- Despite record high gas prices, it appears many people will still be traveling this summer. Early this year, South Dakota Tourism Secretary Jim Hagen had been concerned about gas prices getting much over four dollars a gallon. Hagen says over two years of pandemic restrictions has people restless. Hagen says they are tracking… Read more »

ABERDEEN, SD   The South Dakota Democratic Party has field a writ of prohibition against Logan Manhart, a Republican seeking a seat in the state legislature representing District 1. District 1 consists of rural Brown County along with parts of Roberts, Marshall and Day counties as well. The party alleges Manhart has not been a resident… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(KOTA)- A leaked draft opinion from the US Supreme Court has thrown the immediate future of abortion access in America into question – sparking celebrations on one end of the field, and protests on the other. South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds says he believes abortions should be minimized. Rounds advocated for state control of… Read more »

DES MOINES, I.A.(WNAX)- While we are at the end of the heating season, natural gas prices continue to rise. Geoff Greenwood with Mid American Energy says while usage is going down, they are also ending a surcharge that people had been paying. Natural gas is now over twelve dollars a therm, up four dollars from… Read more »

FORT PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- The Fort Pierre City Council has approved a lease with the U-S Army Corps of Engineers for Corps lots in Fort Pierre near the 5th Avenue boat ramp.  The lots will be used for a year-round fish cleaning station and off-street parking for boat trailers and vehicles pulling them.  The Council held… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Grants from the state will help expand broadband internet service into more rural areas of South Dakota. Andrew Curley, Director of Government Services for Midco, says they are working on projects in Yankton County. Curley says their new system using fiber optics directly to homes far exceeds broadband minimums. Curley says the state… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- The Joint Committee on Appropriations of the South Dakota legislature holds their first meeting of the interim on Thursday. Co-chair, Senator Jean Hunhoff of Yankton says the Corrections Department and Secretary Kellie Wasko will be in the spotlight. Hunhoff says they want to hear Wasko’s assessment of the department. Hunhoff says they hope… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- As the consumer price index, or rate of inflation approaches eight and a half percent, there could be a trickle up impact on businesses. Dave Owen, President of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says his members are feeling the impact. Owen says there will be shared pain. Owen says the… Read more »

NORMAN, O.K.(WNAX)- Despite an increase in mountain snowpack last month, runoff into the Missouri River basin will be well below normal again this year. Kevin Low, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service Missouri River basin office, says the runoff potential is still very low. Low says other rivers in the basin show mixed runoff… Read more »