PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem says she is ready to work with the Biden Administration but wants to clear up doubts about the election process. She says she has been clear about the election and the results. Noem says there are still doubts about the election in many states. Noem campaigned… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNAX) – South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson is wading into the debate over making the District of Columbia a state. Congressional Democrats plan to introduce a statehood bill. Johnson says there are people in the District that don’t have representation in Congress. Johnson says he is proposing moving parts of the District into… Read more »

PIERRE, SD(WNAX)- A task force is working through the details of a bill passed by the South Dakota legislature last year. SB-55 mandated that the Board of Regents study their business and financial practices and come up with a report by November of this year. Regents Executive Director Brian Maher says he clearly heard the question. Maher says the task force meets again this spring. Maher appeared before the legislatures Joint Committee on Appropriations.  

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – The rate of positive Covid-19 infections has trailed off across the region and state over the past few weeks. In mid-November, Yankton County was seeing over 100 new infections a day with total active cases over 600 at the peak. The Yankton City Commission passed a face mask mandate in early… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (KJJQ) – The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee gave its approval to a bill that would provide $5 million for a small meat processors grant program. Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden testified in favor of the bill, brought by the Department of Agriculture. He says they were working on this before the pandemic.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has refused to acknowledge that Democrat Joe Biden defeated her close Republican ally Donald Trump in a free and fair election. In her first public comments specifically addressing the election results since Congress certified Biden’s victory hours after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S.… Read more »

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The search for a 9-year-old girl missing for nearly two years has finally come to an end in western South Dakota. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday the search for Serenity Dennard who ran away from a children’s home in Rockerville involved more than 1,500 people from 66 different… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in South Dakota will push for a statewide mask mandate, like the one imposed by some cities and most of the state’s reservations to rein in the coronavirus outbreak. Sen. Reynold Nesiba, of Sioux Falls, plans to introduce legislation on the mandate Thursday. South Dakota Democratic Vice Chairwoman Nikki… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (HubCityRadio.com) – An exhibit called “Taking Root” is currently on display at the Johnson Fine Arts Center Art Gallery. The exhibit’s creator Becky Grismer, a Northern State alumna, will hold a virtual artist talk at 8 pm. on Thursday, Feb. 4. Grismer talked about the origins and background for her exhibit. She also… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The Biden Administration is stepping up the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines to the states. South Dakota Health Department Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon says those increases will start next week. Malsam-Rysdon says they will stay focused on people in the “Phase 1-D” group. Malsam-Rysdon says the timing for getting vaccinated will change over… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The South Dakota House debated and passed a bill that requires a birth certificate record of a person’s sex at birth. The bill had been defeated in a House committee but was smoked out for debate on the floor. Bill sponsor, Representative Fred Deutsch (doy-tch) of Florence says vital data needs… Read more »

(Photo courtesy of Aberdeen American News) ABERDEEN, S.D.(Elia Sand, esand@aberdeennews.com)-Aberdeen city officials approved the placement of a new mural in downtown Aberdeen. The mural will be painted off site with the finished product installed on the north side of 605 S. Main St. That building, formerly occupied by Anchors of Faith, is now home to… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)-The House Local Government Committee of the South Dakota Legislature effectively killed a bill that would have revised the rights of landlords and tenants when tenants abandon a rented property.  Prime sponsor, Representative Tina Mulally of Rapid City has rental properties and some issues when a tenet leaves personal belongings behind. Representative Will Mortentson of… Read more »

VERMILLION, S.D. (WNAX) – The Joint Committee on Appropriations of the South Dakota legislature has been hearing from the Board of Regents and all their institutions this week. University of South Dakota President Sheila Gestring explained their ongoing strategic plan. Gestring says they had over one thousand people give them input on the plan. Gestring… Read more »