PIERRE, S.D. (KJJQ) – A South Dakota House committee has advanced a bill that would criminalize agents who facilitate commercial surrogate pregnancies in the state. The House Judiciary Committee passed the bill 11-1. The proposed law would make acting as a surrogacy agent a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. The bill… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNAX) – President Trump signed the USMCA trade deal at the White House Wednesday. It ended several years of debate and stalling to replace NAFTA, which dated back to the 1990s. South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson was at the ceremony. Johnson says the trade deals with Canada and Mexico needed to be updated.… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – More changes ahead for Mount Marty College in Yankton. At a news conference this morning, President Marc Long referred to a speech given by Mount Marty Founder, Mother Jerome Schmitt on the mission of the school. Long says they have seen a lot of positive momentum in the past few years.… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (KJJQ) – The South Dakota House State House of Representatives passed a bill that would prosecute doctors who administer certain transgender treatments to minors under the age of 16. The measure would make it a Class One Misdemeanor for South Dakota doctors to administer puberty-blocking drugs, gender-changing surgery and other gender-change treatment. The… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has proposed a loan program to help local governments make repairs from last year’s flooding before funding arrives from the federal government. Department of Public Safety Deputy Secretary Dan Lusk detailed the program for the House Transportation Committee. Lusk says there are some basic requirements to… Read more »

BROOKINGS, S.D. (KJJQ) – The Brookings City Council authorized City Manager Jackie Lanning to sign a memorandum of understanding with the South Dakota Department of Transportation for the 20th Street South Interstate 29 interchange. The City has received an $18.7 million federal grant for this third Brookings interchange. Lanning says there is a specific federal… Read more »

ABERDEEN, S.D. (HubCityRadio.com) – The inaugural Vietnam Veterans Hope & Healing Retreat is set for Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 8-9 at The Abbey of the Hills near Marvin. Registration begins at 8 a.m. on Feb. 8 and the retreat runs from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. that day, and concludes at noon on Feb. 9.… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – Most legislators agree on finding money for the so called “big three”: state aid to education, raises for state employees and funding for Medicaid providers. Representative Jean Hunhoff of Yankton says any raises will be a function of the revenue numbers. Hunhoff, Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, says they… Read more »

YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – Farmers have some options to consider with farm bill enrollment approaching. Yankton Crop Insurance Agent Dave Hubbs advises producers to talk to their crop insurance agents about which program to sign up for. He says there are three options, PLC, ARC County and ARC Individual that producers can choose from at… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KBHB) – The opening statements in the impeachment trial against the President have concluded and now Senators will have a couple days to ask written questions to both the House managers – who are serving as prosecutors – and the White House legal team. South Dakota Senator John Thune talked to reporters today… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) – There are no Coronavius cases in South Dakota yet, but the flu season has taken a high jump. The numbers are really up says State Epidemiologist Josh Clayton.   Clayton says the start of flu season here seemed to be delayed by several weeks, but lately there has been increasing activity.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Travis Walter, arrested last Friday on child pornography charges, hung himself Sunday morning at 11:50 a.m. He died Tuesday Jan. 28, after being taken to the hospital and paramedics tried to revive him. Minnehaha County Jail Warden Mike Mattson said Walter went through the proper intake and, after… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) announced that his office is seeking internship applicants for Summer 2020 in his Washington, D.C., Rapid City, Aberdeen, and Sioux Falls offices. Duties will include researching legislation, attending committee hearings and briefings, leading tours of the U.S. Capitol, handling constituent phone calls, sorting mail and… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (KJJQ) – The House Health and Human Services Committee passed a bill that would raise the age for the sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21. It includes vaping products that contain nicotine. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Carl Perry of Aberdeen, says this will bring state law in line with new federal… Read more »

PIERRE, S.D. (KJJQ) – A bill to prevent South Dakota cities from banning plastic bags, straws and beverage containers is advancing at the state Legislature. The Senate Commerce and Energy Committee approved the bill on a 4-2 vote Tuesday. The bill’s sponsor, Republican John Wiik of Big Stone City, says prohibiting cities from banning plastic… Read more »