Pronoun changes for South Dakota constitution fail to win voter support • South Dakota Searchlight

A proposal to replace male-specific references in the South Dakota Constitution with neutral words and phrases was losing in unofficial election results Wednesday.
The tally was 57% against Amendment E and 43% in favor at 4 p.m. Central time Wednesday, with about 95% of statewide precincts fully reported.
The amendment would replace male pronouns in the constitution, such as “he,” “him” and “his,” with neutral words and phrases such as “the governor,” “the lieutenant governor,” “the officer,” “t...

South Dakotans reelect Republican Dusty Johnson to Congress • South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota voters reelected Republican U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson to a fourth term Tuesday.
The Associated Press called the race at 10:06 p.m. Central. Rep. Johnson was leading with 76% of the votes, with about 27% of statewide precincts reporting. The other candidate in the race, Democratic nominee Sheryl Johnson, had 24%.
Rep. Johnson, a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, is known for his focus on policy and his aversion to the antics of the more extreme voices in the U.S. House....

Voters reject open primaries for South Dakota • South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota voters on Tuesday rejected an attempt to establish open primary elections in the state.
The Associated Press called the results at 11:16 p.m. Central. The tally at that time was 68% against Amendment H and 32% in favor, with 37% of statewide votes counted.
Amendment H would have changed future primary elections for governor, state Legislature, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and elected county offices. The candidates in each race, regardless of party, would have appeared...

Abortion-rights measure loses in South Dakota • South Dakota Searchlight

An attempt to restore abortion rights in South Dakota went down to defeat Tuesday.
The Associated Press called the results at 1:49 a.m. Central time Wednesday. The tally at that time was 61% against Amendment G and 39% in favor, with 64% of statewide votes counted.
When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the national right to an abortion in 2022, a trigger ban adopted by the South Dakota Legislature in 2005 immediately took effect. The ban has one exception for abortions necessary to “preserve th...

Partial South Dakota results show big deficit for grocery sales tax repeal • South Dakota Searchlight

A proposal to remove South Dakota’s state sales taxes on groceries was losing in unofficial election results.
The tally was 71% against Initiated Measure 28 and 29% in favor at 3 a.m. Central time Wednesday, with 76% of statewide precincts fully reported.
The measure would apply to anything sold for human consumption. Supporters, who want tax relief for people with low incomes, said the measure’s wording limits its impact to state sales taxes on groceries. Opponents alleged the measure is poorly...

Carbon-pipeline law tossed out by South Dakota voters in unofficial results • South Dakota Searchlight

A proposed law regulating carbon dioxide pipelines was losing in unofficial South Dakota election results.
The tally was 60% against Referred Law 21 and 40% in favor as of 8 a.m. Central time Wednesday, with 90% of statewide precincts fully reported.
State lawmakers and Republican Gov. Kristi Noem adopted the law last winter. Opponents gathered more than 31,000 petition signatures to refer it to voters. A yes vote supported the law, while a no vote opposed it.
The law came in response to a cont...

South Dakotans approve consideration of Medicaid expansion work requirements • South Dakota Searchlight

A ballot measure authorizing South Dakota state officials to consider work requirements for Medicaid expansion recipients was winning in unofficial results.
The tally was 56% in favor of Amendment F and 44% opposed as of 9:45 a.m. Central time Wednesday, with about 90% of statewide votes counted.
Medicaid is a federal-state health insurance program for people with low incomes. In the past, Medicaid was not available to able-bodied adults younger than 65, unless they were below the poverty line a...

Marijuana legalization fails in unofficial South Dakota results • South Dakota Searchlight

A ballot measure to legalize adult recreational marijuana use in South Dakota was losing in unofficial results.
The tally was 56% against Initiated Measure 29 and 44% in favor at 4 p.m. Central time Wednesday, with 95% of statewide precincts fully reported.
The measure would not have legalized marijuana sales. That would have required later legislative action.
Initiated Measure 29 would have provided the groundwork by legalizing for adults 21 and older the possession, use and free distribution...

Q&A: Podcast retraces SD’s path from ’06 and ’08 abortion votes to new ballot measure • South Dakota Searchlight

Some South Dakota voters who rejected abortion bans in 2006 and 2008 probably didn’t know there was already a trigger law in place that would end up banning abortion in 2022.
Lee Strubinger puts that hindsight to use in a new podcast, “Unplanned Democracy.” It examines South Dakota’s journey from those elections to this year’s vote on Amendment G, which would restore abortion rights. The measure is on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Strubinger is a politics and public policy reporter for South Dakota Public...

‘Quiet giant’ of SD politics, Tim Johnson, dies at age 77  • South Dakota Searchlight

Tim Johnson, a former U.S. senator, U.S. representative and state legislator who never lost an election and served longer in state and federal office than any other South Dakotan, has died at age 77.
A former aide, Drey Samuelson, shared the news Wednesday morning on Facebook but did not specify a cause of death. Since 2006, Johnson had dealt with the lingering stroke-like effects of brain bleeding caused by a cerebral arteriovenous malformation.
“He died a few hours ago, surrounded by his famil...

Noem touts SD’s top income growth but doesn’t mention last year’s bottom rank • South Dakota Searchlight

Gov. Kristi Noem celebrated South Dakota’s nation-leading growth in a category of household income, but she didn’t mention a reason why the state was well positioned to improve: It ranked last during the prior year.
Noem’s office issued a news release Tuesday saying South Dakota “once again led the nation in income growth in 2023.”
“South Dakotans are thriving because we defend Freedom and advance their opportunities to pursue their dreams,” said a statement from the Republican governor, which c...

Amendment F: Sending the debate over Medicaid work requirements to voters • South Dakota Searchlight

Supporters of work requirements say they’re a reasonable modification to Medicaid expansion. Opponents say they’re an unnecessary bureaucratic burden on people who need health care.
Voters have a choice between those two perspectives as they consider Amendment F, one of seven statewide questions on South Dakota’s Nov. 5 general election ballot.
Medicaid is a federal-state health insurance program for people with low incomes. In the past, Medicaid was not available to able-bodied adults younger t...

Amendment E: Expanding the state constitution’s scope beyond men • South Dakota Searchlight

The South Dakota Constitution includes a 135-year-old assumption that everybody worth mentioning in the document is a man, but voters could choose to modernize that language.
Amendment E is one of seven statewide questions on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. It would replace male pronouns in the constitution such as “he,” “him” and “his” with neutral words and phrases such as “the governor,” “the lieutenant governor,” “the officer,” “the elector,” “the accused,” and so on.
Amendments to the...

$42,000 lawsuit settlement adds to costs of Noem-ordered border deployments • South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem’s troop deployments to the nation’s southern border now have another cost: $42,000 to settle a lawsuit over a watchdog group’s document request.
The federal government recently paid the money from funds earmarked for the South Dakota National Guard, according to a National Guard spokesman.
The money went to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, known by the acronym CREW, in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit’s work “targets government official...

Trial for abortion ballot measure in limbo as court staff 'not aware' of planned start date • South Dakota Searchlight

The trial date for a lawsuit against South Dakota’s abortion-rights ballot measure was not added to a court calendar, despite a signed order from a judge saying the trial would begin next week.
That leaves the date of the trial in limbo even as early and absentee voting will begin Friday.
Judge John Pekas signed a scheduling order on Aug. 9 saying the trial would take place during the week of Sept. 23 in Sioux Falls.
This week, Pekas emailed the parties in the case and said, without further expl...

Fears decrease but work remains to control wildfire near Rapid City • South Dakota Searchlight

RAPID CITY — A leader in the fight against a wildfire near South Dakota’s second largest city said Wednesday morning he’s less concerned, even as work to contain the fire continues.
“My comfort level is a lot higher now than it was yesterday,” said Brandon Sanchez, the U.S. Forest Service official who serves as incident commander.
The First Thunder Fire began Monday evening in a rocky and forested area cut by deep canyons in the Black Hills, several miles west of Rapid City. Since then, crews of...

Wildfire burns west of Rapid City; residents urged to stay alert • South Dakota Searchlight

RAPID CITY — Authorities are advising some residents on the western edge of Rapid City to be ready for a potential evacuation order as a wildfire burns nearby.
A pre-evacuation notice was in effect Tuesday morning.
“We’re not evacuating anybody right now,” said Lt. Jason Mitzel of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. “However, I would urge the public that lives in the vicinity to be prepared, and get documents, medications and animals ready to go, just in case the wind switches and the fire d...

Senator seeks updated formula for tribal law enforcement funding • South Dakota Searchlight

A week after attending a roundtable with the nation’s top law enforcement official and tribal leaders, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, is urging the head of a federal department to change the funding formula for tribal law enforcement.
The U.S. Interior Department includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which provides policing services for some tribes and funding for other tribes to run their own police departments. Federal support for tribal public safety on reservations in South Dakota i...

Justice disparities on South Dakota reservations need attention, US attorney general says • South Dakota Searchlight

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday during a visit to South Dakota that national crime rates have declined, but challenges remain on tribal reservations in the state.
“We know that progress in some communities has not been the same,” Garland said. “Progress across the country is still uneven. Of course, there is no level of violent crime that’s acceptable.”
He said that since 2021, the Justice Department has allocated $19.1 million in grants to support tribal justice initiatives...

At least 12 die in motorcycle accidents before, during and after 2024 Sturgis rally • South Dakota Searchlight

Three people died in motorcycle accidents during the recently concluded Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, according to the official tally of the state Department of Public Safety, but the actual number of motorcycle-involved traffic deaths in the state from the days before, during and after the event is 12.
The department, which includes the Highway Patrol, attributes traffic deaths to the rally only if they occur in a particular area of western South Dakota during the official rally dates, up to the mo...

Black Hills groups announce $30 million in federal funding for affordable housing • South Dakota Searchlight

RAPID CITY — A $30 million funding award from the federal government will help Black Hills leaders create local trust funds to support affordable housing, officials announced Monday.
Chris Huber is the CEO of the Black Hills Area Community Foundation. He said Rapid City leaders had to scramble to manage growth during the post-World War II boom years, when the city’s population tripled between 1940 and 1960.
Now the area is experiencing growth as Ellsworth Air Force Base prepares for B-21 bomber...

South Dakota drug conviction is among the baggage RFK Jr. brings to the ballot • South Dakota Searchlight

Bill Walsh picked up a ringing phone in Deadwood during the fall of 1983 and heard Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s voice.
“Bill, I’m off the wagon,” Kennedy said, according to Walsh. “I’ve got a flight coming in tomorrow.”
The two had become friends in 1980. Kennedy campaigned in South Dakota that year for his uncle, U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Walsh and RFK Jr. were fellow Irish-Catholic Democrats, and Walsh was a former priest with experien...

Pesticide labeling becomes issue in South Dakota’s U.S. House race • South Dakota Searchlight

Legislation affecting the regulation of pesticide labels has become an issue in South Dakota’s U.S. House race after a Democratic challenger leveled criticism at incumbent Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson.
The Washington Post reported in June that Rep. Johnson worked with biotech giant Bayer to insert a provision into a draft of the federal farm bill. According to legal and environmental experts interviewed by the Post, the provision could help shield Bayer from lawsuits alleging that frequent use...

Black Hills National Forest proposes higher fees for motorized trails • South Dakota Searchlight

Amid a surge in the popularity of off-highway vehicle use, the Black Hills National Forest is proposing increased fees for motorized trail permits.
Forest officials announced the proposal Monday. Prices per vehicle would rise from $20 to $30 for a weekly permit, and from $25 to $50 for an annual permit.
Businesses that rent vehicles to users currently buy commercial permits for $125 annually per vehicle; under the new proposal, the commercial permit would be eliminated and replaced with a $10 da...
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