PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- After the legislature was unable to agree on a delay, medical marijuana will become legal on July first. Voters approved “IM26” last November, setting up the process. The legislature did pass a bill allowing banks to handle money from medical marijuana businesses. South Dakota Bankers Association President Karl Adam says they were heavily… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(Press Release) – Today, Governor Noem returned HB 1217 to the South Dakota Legislature with Style and Form suggestions.  Specifically, the Governor suggests four Style and Form changes to address the potential unintended consequences of HB 1217 as originally enrolled. Governor Noem’s Full Letter: Dear Legislators, I respectfully return to you House Bill 1217… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.(Press Release)— U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, was recently chosen to serve on several key agriculture subcommittees: the Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management; the Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources; and the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems,… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The Chairman of the South Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee is not happy that a couple of bills they killed were smoked out on the Senate floor and passed this session. Senator Art Rusch of Vermillion says the bills were killed for a reason. One bill was the trans gender restrictions in women’s sports… Read more »

OMAHA, N.E.(WNAX)- While the economy in the nine state Mid America region is still growing, there are continued signs to watch. Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss says he watches US Treasury bills. Goss says the Federal Reserve continues to prime the economic pump. Goss says the economy should continue strong growth into next year.… Read more »

BROOKINGS, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota state lawmakers this session approved $7 and a half million dollars for construction and renovation of the Dairy Research Barn at SDSU. South Dakota Dairy Producers President Marv Post. He says matching private contributions need to be raised to help pay for the facility. Post says the benefits from this Dairy… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission approved the economic assistance program offered each year by Xcel Energy. The energy company sets aside one hundred thousand dollars for development projects in the towns they serve. Xcel spokesman Eric Pauli says he talks officials in their service area every year. Pauli says they try to… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Hundreds of millions of federal economic stimulus payments dropped into bank accounts in the state this week. Nathan Sanderson, Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, says if patterns hold, that should be good news for their members too. Sanderson says customers can help some hard hit businesses. Sanderson says vaccinations and… Read more »

WATERTOWN, S.D.(KXLG)- A Codington County Jury convicted a Watertown man of nine alternative counts of 3rd degree rape on Thursday. Lee Todd Malcolm, 44, was convicted following a four-day jury trial at the Codington County Courthouse.  The charges stem from an incident that occurred at a Watertown residence on October 28th, 2019. According to court documents,… Read more »

WASHINGTON(Press Release) — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) will be in Aberdeen tomorrow to tour the new Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Based Outpatient Clinic, tour the vaccine site at the Sanford Medical Center, and attend a health care meeting at the Avera Human Performance Center. Friday, March 19: WHAT: Clinic Tour WHEN: 1:00 p.m. WHERE:… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D.(Press Release)– Today, Governor Kristi Noem ordered that flags be flown at half-staff, effectively immediately, until sundown on Monday, March 22, 2021, in remembrance of the victims of the shooting in the Atlanta metropolitan area. This is in response to a proclamation by President Joseph R. Biden, which can be found below. Greetings, Please… Read more »