Politics

New poll reveals economic pessimism and dissatisfaction with democratic institutions

New poll reveals economic pessimism and dissatisfaction with democratic institutions

As the state emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, some residents of South Dakota are uneasy about what life holds for future generations and have only limited confidence in the effectiveness of some democratic institutions. The findings are part of a large set of results from a recent poll of 500

Civics/history Part 2: How new civics and history program will be developed

If all goes as planned, South Dakota public school teachers and students should find it easier to teach and learn social studies topics in the coming years. The proposed South Dakota Civics and History Initiative is just getting started, but hopes are high that the effort will result in deeper,

Educators and historians want politics kept out of new history and civics initiative

Educators, historians and some elected officials are urging South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and the state Department of Education to keep politics and personal bias out of the process to develop a new and enhanced civics and history initiative for public K-12 schools across the state. In her State of

Medical marijuana in Oklahoma: ‘A mess’ or a potential model for South Dakota?

As South Dakota moves forward on creating a regulatory system for medical marijuana by the end of 2021, some people have looked to Oklahoma for guidance on how — or how not to — develop a functioning framework. Oklahoma voters approved the legal sale, possession and use of medical marijuana on a

How medical marijuana is playing out among South Dakota’s neighbors

If medical marijuana becomes legal starting July 1, 2021, in South Dakota, as proposed so far, the state will join 36 other U.S. states where medicinal pot is legal, including neighboring states North Dakota, Montana and Minnesota. Nebraska does not allow marijuana in any form, while Iowa has a

Lawmaker: South Dakota can implement medical marijuana program by November

Despite failed attempts by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to delay implementation of a medical marijuana program, a legislative leader on marijuana issues believes the state can be ready to roll out its first prescriptions for legal pot by Nov. 18, 2021, as scheduled. Noem said the state needed more

Legalization of marijuana could provide economic boost for SD Native American tribes

Legalization of marijuana in South Dakota could provide a new, lucrative economic-development opportunity for Native American tribes and tribal members who have historically struggled to find prosperity and stability in the state economy. Voter-approved measures to legalize marijuana in South Dakota may be on hold or stalled for the time