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‘Workforce behind the workforce’: Businesses, organizations tackle child care in new program
The child care crisis is, above all else, a workforce crisis in South Dakota. Gov. Kristi Noem addressed it as such on the campaign trail, and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul Tenhaken says its one of the most common issues presented to him in recent years. But it hasn’t been treated as a “crisis” by businesses […]
Western SD needs more water. Could a $2B Missouri River pipeline be a solution?
The western side of Pennington County doesn’t have enough water to last through an extended drought, according to a 2019 study by the South Dakota School of Mines. The region, which includes Rapid City, relies on ground and surface water to supply its city populations, commercial districts and agricultural needs. But given the increase in […]
South Dakota DMV to delay vehicle title printing due to paper shortage
The South Dakota Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division will not print paper titles, effective immediately, due to paper supply issues, according to a news release. The department will not print paper titles until mid-February 2023, unless a person makes a request online that is approved by the department. Reasons for requesting a printed paper […]
Tripp County will need court order to investigate mismatch between hand count and audit
Barb Desersa was awake 40 hours straight between Election Day and Wednesday. Nearly a quarter of that time was spent supervising volunteers hand-counting ballots for Tripp County. “We left at 5:30 a.m.,” said Desersa, who serves as auditor for Tripp and Todd counties. “We went home, showered and then went back to work.” Several races […]
State prepares to implement Medicaid expansion next summer, expects ‘significant’ hiring
A solid majority of South Dakotans voted to expand eligibility for the state’s Medicaid programs Tuesday. Constitutional Amendment D passed with 56% of the vote, or 191,781 votes, according to unofficial reporting from the Secretary of State’s Office. “It’s long overdue,” said Rick Weiland, committee chair and treasurer for Dakotans for Health, which campaigned in […]
Cheyenne River nonprofit receives federal funding to monitor air quality on reservation
Just over $400,000 in federal funds for air quality monitoring will soon land on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Funds were awarded to the Keya Foundation, an Eagle Butte-based nonprofit that aims to “empower underserved communities in South Dakota through education, social health and cultural renewal,” according to its website. The funding will help the organization […]
Voters back Medicaid expansion, lean against recreational cannabis
South Dakotans voted to expand eligibility for the state’s Medicaid programs Tuesday. Constitutional Amendment D was winning with 56% of the vote as of 1 a.m. Nov. 9, or roughly 166,879 votes. While the state is one of 12 that hadn’t expanded eligibility for its Medicaid programs, it was the only state to feature the […]
Election 2022 sees ballots hand counted, drop boxes removed, security increased
It’s a never-ending game of Whac-A-Mole, said South Dakota Sec. of State Steve Barnett. Citizen groups have spent the last year questioning, challenging and pressuring officials at the state and local level to change South Dakota’s voter registration, absentee voting or ballot counting processes — typically based on incorrect information found on far right websites […]
SD Secretary of State expects increase in midterm voter turnout
Between 65-70% of South Dakota registered voters are expected to cast a ballot in the 2022 election, said Sec. of State Steve Barnett. That’s a notable increase compared to the last two midterm elections in South Dakota, where 2014 saw a 54% voter turnout and 2018 saw 65%. The 2020 election was an outlier, considering […]
Tripp County first SD county in two decades to hand count election ballots
An election law on the books since 1994 allows county commissions to overrule the county auditor by “experimenting with” a combined hand-counting and tabulated ballot counting system. That statute allowed the Tripp County Commission in south-central South Dakota to order a hand count for Tuesday’s general election. It also allows the Fall River County Commission […]
Analysis: Over one-third of state legislative races already decided
Election day is a week away, but more than a third of South Dakota’s state legislative races are already decided. Of 105 seats up for grabs in the South Dakota Senate or House of Representatives, 38% are unopposed races. A clear majority of Senate seats — exactly 60% — are unopposed. Every unopposed candidate is […]