Category: South Dakota

Government, Politics, South DakotaLeave a comment

Who leads South Dakota if Noem runs for vice president? ‘I still get to be governor’ she says.

Gary Dickson

Standing next to a row of bookcases in the Mitchell High School library, South Dakota’s lieutenant governor was asked about taking the reins of state government.

It’s a sensitive subject for Larry Rhoden, who has embraced his supporting role as Gov. Kristi Noem’s second-in-command since entering office in 2019 following 16 years in the state Legislature.

“I try not to bring it up,” said the Union Center rancher when asked by News Watch about how his duties might change if Noem is chosen as Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee on the Republican ticket. “I don’t want to make it look like I’m thinking about it.”

Despite that political prudence, the subject is hard to avoid.

Continue reading Who leads South Dakota if Noem runs for vice president? ‘I still get to be governor’ she says.

Crime, South DakotaLeave a comment

Crush of complaints forces state to hire extra help for officer misconduct investigations

Gary Dickson

There are so many complaints about cops now flowing into the Division of Criminal Investigation that the agency has hired a second full-time investigator to handle them.

Former FBI agent Dave Keith was hired to handle allegations of officer misbehavior recently, DCI Director Dan Satterlee said Wednesday during the March meeting of the Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission in Pierre.

The primary investigator of officer misbehavior has been busy dealing with the spike in complaints since 2021, when the DCI streamlined the process and made an online complaint form available. Continue reading Crush of complaints forces state to hire extra help for officer misconduct investigations

Government, Politics, South Dakota2 Comments

Noem slings accusations about tribes while signing education bills

Gary Dickson

Gov. Kristi Noem leveled accusations against Native American parents and political leaders Wednesday while saying she wants to help Native American students succeed.

She made the comments during a town hall meeting in Mitchell, where she signed two education bills into law, and at a later town hall in Winner.

“We’ve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefitting from the cartels being here, and that’s why they attack me every day,” she said. Continue reading Noem slings accusations about tribes while signing education bills

Crime, South DakotaLeave a comment

Clay County Sheriff’s Incident Report

Gary Dickson

The following are summaries of incidents reported to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office between Feb. 14 and March 14, 2024. 

For instance: A caller reported a stray pig and dog on a rural road near Meckling. A deputy responded to a report of a dog at a rural residence biting a bicyclist. A deputy assisted Vermillion police officers with a response to a fight outside of a downtown bar in Vermillion.

Also, the School Resource Officer investigated a report of a high school student in Vermillion having possession of a vape device in school. A caller reported suspicious activity involving two people in a car on a dead-end rural road.

And more are inside the story.

Continue reading Clay County Sheriff’s Incident Report

Government, Health, South DakotaLeave a comment

Long-term care committee’s work translates into legislative success

Gary Dickson

Out of the 12 recommendations made by an interim legislative committee studying the sustainability of long-term care in South Dakota, most passed the legislative process.

That’s a clear success, said committee co-chair Sen. Jean Hunhoff, R-Yankton. Legislators were challenged last year to produce recommendations that would pass through the process, something that summer studies have struggled with in years past. This year’s legislative session ended last week, except for a day on March 25 to consider vetoes. Continue reading Long-term care committee’s work translates into legislative success

Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

Noem signs Indian Child Welfare Council and other bills into law

Gary Dickson

South Dakota will soon have a council devoted to the welfare of Native American children.

Gov. Kristi Noem signed House Bill 1232 this week, which creates the Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council. It will bring together people from the Department of Social Services, South Dakota’s nine tribes, the Legislature, and the field of child welfare for annual conversations.

Following are summaries of some other bills Noem signed into law recently as she continues to consider measures passed by the Legislature. The 2024 legislative session ended Thursday, except for one day on March 25 to consider vetoes. Noem had not vetoed any bills as of Friday afternoon. Continue reading Noem signs Indian Child Welfare Council and other bills into law

Government, Politics, South DakotaLeave a comment

Dakotans for Health threatens lawsuit over signature withdrawal bill

Gary Dickson

The group sponsoring a constitutional amendment to expand South Dakota abortion rights said it will likely file a lawsuit if legislators pass a bill allowing petitioners to withdraw signatures that already have been certified for the ballot.

“I can’t speculate about whether the bill will pass or not,” said Rapid City lawyer Jim Leach, who represents Dakotans for Health, a grassroots organization that pushes for progressive policy through petition efforts. “I can say that if it does pass, there’s certainly a substantial possibility of legal action.”

At issue is House Bill 1244, which would change South Dakota’s ballot initiative process by allowing an individual who signed a petition to withdraw their signature by sending a written notification to the Secretary of State’s office. This could occur after the petition effort has been validated but is still eligible to be challenged through the Secretary of State or court appeal. Continue reading Dakotans for Health threatens lawsuit over signature withdrawal bill

Commentary, Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

Regret signing that petition? Republicans are here to ‘help’

Gary Dickson

Ever since the South Dakota Legislature dismantled the voter-approved anti-corruption measure known as IM 22 in record time, lawmakers and the people who back-initiated measures have been locked in a battle of the ballot box. Lawmakers try to throw up as many roadblocks to ballot access as they can while ballot measure backers are intent on getting multiple issues in front of voters. 

Through the years, Republicans in the Legislature have tried many tactics to make success tougher for ballot measures. Continue reading Regret signing that petition? Republicans are here to ‘help’

South Dakota, TransportationLeave a comment

Fatal crash Saturday near Gayville

Gary Dickson

A 45-year-old man died Saturday evening in a two-vehicle crash in Yankton County.

The names of the people involved have not been released pending notification of family members.

According to a press release from the SD Department of Public Safety, preliminary crash information indicates a Ford van was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of SD Highway 50 near Gayville. At the same time, a Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling westbound in the westbound lanes of Highway 50. The vehicles crashed head-on. Continue reading Fatal crash Saturday near Gayville