Politics

South Dakota governor hopefuls address river quality issues

As part of its ongoing Rivers at Risk project, South Dakota News Watch reached out to the two major party candidates for South Dakota governor to ask what each would do to reduce pollution and improve the quality of state waterways. Here are statements emailed to News Watch by U.

Bridge program pits S.D. counties against each other for limited money

South Dakota’s counties and cities are making progress in the overwhelming task of repairing and replacing hundreds of deteriorating bridges. But the competition for state grant money that helps with costs is increasingly aggressive, in some cases pitting counties with more money against those who have little in the

SD school districts increasingly rely on tax opt-outs to aid strained budgets

While South Dakota teachers have earned raises over the past two years courtesy of a new half-cent sales tax, school districts across the state continue to struggle with their budgets. Nominal increases in state aid to education have crippled local budgets and caused many districts to consider significant programming cuts

Russian woman and South Dakotan connected by mysterious business

For reasons known only to him, embattled political operative Paul Erickson started a new business in South Dakota in June. By spending just $150 and filling out some online paperwork, Erickson formed Medora Consulting LLC, a company with no stated purpose or partners. The LLC, or limited liability company, was

Expanded gambling in S.D. could pay off for Yankton

YANKTON, S.D. – Backers of Port Yankton, a proposed gambling and entertainment complex along the Missouri River at Yankton, are betting they can gather the necessary signatures from South Dakota voters to place the issue on the 2020 ballot. Representatives of the Yankton Area Progressive Growth group had hoped the

SD cattle industry pushes for stricter labeling of newest meatless burgers

Producers of meat substitute products have developed technologically advanced non-meat hamburgers – some that even mimic the bloody juices of real beef – and the new products have South Dakota beef industry groups concerned and fighting back. Some in the beef industry claim that plant-based producers are misleading consumers through inventive packaging

Wind farm surge drawing vocal opposition in South Dakota

HIGHMORE, S.D. – After years of lagging behind neighboring states, South Dakota is suddenly poised for dramatic growth in wind energy production. That means hundreds more wind towers are headed to South Dakota in a frantic pace that could triple the size of the wind industry in the state over