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McCook Lake catastrophe shatters complacency around old flood plans
When a record-high surge of water flowed down the Big Sioux River toward the southeast corner of South Dakota last month, local and state authorities activated a flood mitigation plan from 1976. It saved North Sioux City and Dakota Dunes from disaster. But their neighbors in McCook Lake suffered a graphic reminder of how different […]
‘We have nothing’: Flood victims say government failures continue after botched flood warning
McCOOK LAKE — Neither Morgan Speichinger nor many of her neighbors came away worried on June 23 after listening to Gov. Kristi Noem talk about flooding in the southeastern corner of South Dakota. “Noem’s press conference made it sound like it wasn’t going to be bad for us,” Speichinger said. “There was no talk of […]
Former state employee accused of stealing $1.8 million from Child Protection Services
An Iowa woman who formerly worked for the South Dakota Department of Social Services is accused of stealing an estimated $1.8 million from the department’s Division of Child Protection Services over the course of 13 years. Lonna Carroll, 68, of Algona, Iowa, is charged with two felony counts of aggravated grand theft. She was arrested […]
Some legislators lukewarm on Noem’s plan to spend $81 million surplus on prisons
Some South Dakota legislators aren’t sure they’re ready to support Gov. Kristi Noem’s plan to devote an $81 million budget surplus to prison construction. The future women’s prison in Rapid City is estimated to cost $87 million, and already has funding from the Legislature. The state has also allocated $567 million from state and federal […]
Trump ‘honored the Constitution,’ Noem says in convention speech
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem used her Monday evening speech at the Republican National Convention to praise former President Donald Trump’s devotion to the Constitution, without mentioning that he’s criminally accused of subverting it. “I’ve been governor under both President Trump and Joe Biden, and people ask me all the time, ‘What’s the biggest difference?’” […]
Judge dismisses lawsuit against abortion-rights ballot measure
SIOUX FALLS — A judge on Monday dismissed the lawsuit challenging South Dakota’s abortion-rights ballot measure, saying the litigation should have targeted the Secretary of State’s Office rather than only the group that petitioned the measure onto the ballot. The losing party vowed to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court, leaving South Dakota […]
State conservation officers honored for flood rescues
State officials honored South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks conservation officers Friday for responding to over 30 rescue calls and saving about 60 people from flooding last month in the southeastern part of the state. “Many of the individuals who were rescued from rising floodwaters were quite literally pulled from dangerous situations,” said GF&P Secretary […]
Resident v. nonresident dispute yields plan limiting out-of-state hunting licenses
SIOUX FALLS — A state commission is refereeing a dispute over who should have access to a prime hunting opportunity in South Dakota’s picturesque Black Hills. In-state residents say they’re tired of competing with nonresidents for turkey hunting spots in the spring. A group representing them recently proposed limiting nonresident licenses to 661 through a […]
Counties hit with $74,000 in plaintiffs’ attorney fees for trying to restrict petition circulators
Two South Dakota counties whose policies violated petition circulators’ First Amendment rights to political speech had to fork over a combined $74,000 in attorney fees and costs for the lawyer representing the group that sued them. On Wednesday, a federal judge ordered Lawrence County to pay Dakotans for Health’s attorney, Jim Leach, $19,238.90 in fees […]
New group argues grocery tax repeal could lead to income tax; sponsor calls claim a ‘fool’s errand’
SIOUX FALLS — A new coalition opposed to eliminating the sales tax on groceries says if the ballot measure passes on Nov. 5, it could wipe out more than just the intended state sales tax, cause cuts to public services and even lead to a state income tax — all claims that the measure’s organizer […]
Sustainable jet fuel company contributes $167K in defense of carbon pipeline law
A company aiming to produce aviation fuel from ethanol in South Dakota has contributed $167,000 to defend a new carbon dioxide pipeline law that voters could be asked to reject in November. The company, Gevo, made the contribution to a ballot question committee called Protect South Dakota’s Ag Future. The contribution was not affected by […]
Regulators begin study of NorthWestern’s proposed 9% natural gas rate increase
State regulators will take six months to study NorthWestern Energy’s proposed 9% natural gas rate increase, which the company says would cost a typical residential customer an additional $8.38 per month, or $100.56 per year. The proposal would generate an additional $6 million in annual revenue for NorthWestern, which delivers natural gas to about 50,000 […]