Union County Sheriff’s department arrest data for December 2023

Total arrests coming through the Union County Jail in December: 75

Total number of individuals incarcerated in jail awaiting trial, sitting out sentences, or awaiting extradition: 28

Below are the charges for the month stated above. You may notice that there may be more charges than arrests. This is due to individuals facing multiple charges. Continue reading Union County Sheriff’s department arrest data for December 2023

School voucher program backed by many South Dakota voters: poll

According to a recent poll conducted by News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota, nearly half of registered South Dakota voters support the creation of a school voucher program in the state.South Dakota is not one of the 16 states that offer school vouchers. A legislative measure to enact a voucher system failed by a wide margin in its first committee stop in 2023.

As of Jan. 10, a voucher bill had not yet been filed for the 2024 legislative session, which just began, though some backers do expect some form of legislation will be filed this session.

The poll showed that 48.8 percent of respondents support the development of a voucher system, while 45.6 percent do not, with 5.6 percent undecided. Continue reading School voucher program backed by many South Dakota voters: poll

Snow emergencies declared in North Sioux City and Sioux City

The National Weather Service is placed our area under a winter storm warning effective at midnight tonight. In anticipation of the storm, some Siouxland communities are declaring snow emergencies.

We are listing those snow emergencies here as they come in.

Drive safely tonight and tomorrow as you drive to work and school. Continue reading Snow emergencies declared in North Sioux City and Sioux City

3 Iowa men arrested by Lincoln Co. sheriff’s deputies for S.D. church burglaries

According to a news release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s, three Sioux County men were arrested Thursday, Dec. 28 for attempted burglary of a church in rural Lincoln County.

Over the last month, Lincoln County deputies have been investigating several burglaries of rural churches in the county. They have been working with neighboring agencies in both South Dakota and Iowa in counties experiencing similar church burglaries. Continue reading 3 Iowa men arrested by Lincoln Co. sheriff’s deputies for S.D. church burglaries

‘Governor’s Cup’ rodeo among recipients of millions from public fund controlled by Noem

In September, Gov. Kristi Noem carried the American flag on horseback into a Sioux Falls arena full of fans. 

Several months earlier, Noem had decided to use tax dollars from South Dakota employers to help pay for the event. 

In June, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development awarded a three-year contract worth up to $2.5 million to rodeo announcer Rorey Lemmel’s Dean Entertainment Group, to promote and conduct the annual event. The contract said Sioux Falls would contribute additional matching funds.

It was the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup, advertised as “the richest rodeo in South Dakota history,” with $1 million in prize money. Noem handed out awards, posed for photos with the winners, and shared the images with thousands of followers on her social media accounts.

Continue reading ‘Governor’s Cup’ rodeo among recipients of millions from public fund controlled by Noem

Secretary of State releases election integrity brochure, urges voters to trust officials

A new brochure from Secretary of State Monae Johnson aims to address common election integrity questions in advance of the 2024 election, according to a Tuesday news release.

The brochure, titled “A Guide to Secure Elections in South Dakota,” is designed to explain “different security measures South Dakota has put in place to protect our elections,” according to the release. Continue reading Secretary of State releases election integrity brochure, urges voters to trust officials

WITCC wants to depose alleged human trafficking victims in Iowa

Western Iowa Tech Community College, a community college in Sioux City, Iowa that’s facing two multimillion-dollar lawsuits alleging it engaged in human trafficking is arguing the alleged victims must return to Iowa from Chile to sit for depositions in the case.

The former students say they can’t afford the expense of returning to Iowa and have sought the court’s permission to provide deposition testimony remotely through Zoom-type videoconferencing. Continue reading WITCC wants to depose alleged human trafficking victims in Iowa