Articles

Uranium mine permit process grinds forward

SD Department of Environment and Natural Resources recommends mining permit be granted.

Remembering George Mickelson

With 20th anniversary of crash, SDPB plans special TV, radio programs on legacy.

Accused firm connected to many politicians

State probing Avon lawyer’s actions in Native American Telecom matter.

• Read the Lederman letter
• Who Are Free Conferencing and Native American Telecom?
• Who received money from the South Dakota Telecommunications PAC?
• SD Senator defends money from telecom PAC

Who are Free Conferencing and Native American Telecom?

Free Conferencing isn’t registered as a business in South Dakota. But the Long Beach, Calif., company, started in 2001 as a privately held corporation, has been doing a lot of business in South Dakota through other companies.

• SD Senator defends money from telecom PAC
• Who received money from the South Dakota Telecommunications PAC?

Who received money from the South Dakota Telecommunications PAC?

In the spring campaign cycle, the PAC reported giving:

• SD Senator defends money from telecom PAC

SD senator defends money from telecom PAC

California company funnels contributions through Rushmore PAC; fund chairman pays for hunt with Congressman.

Otter Tail gets OK for its part of transmission project

PIERRE -- The state Public Utilities Commission gave its approval Tuesday for a revised permit and conditions for Otter Tail Power to participate in constructing a new high-capacity transmission line for electricity in eastern South Dakota.

Crow Creek at odds with Sprint

PUC closer to decision on ‘traffic pumping’ allegations.

Electricity rate going up 7 percent

Xcel Energy gets PUC approval to increase price.

Horse trail project faces uncertainty

GF&P wants to move ahead with Black Hills plan.

Columns

MERCER: If new casinos approved, gambling explosion awaits

PIERRE — We have entered a new phase of legal gambling in South Dakota. This summer, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe is pursuing a casino in Sioux Falls, by openly dangling the promise of millions of dollars for local and state governments.

• Bob Mercer

MERCER: Rep. Hunt notable for anti-abortion actions

PIERRE — At age 74, Rep. Roger Hunt is leaving the Legislature in the same quiet way that he generally operated as a legislator.

• Bob Mercer

MERCER: Will we heed lessons of catastrophic floods?

PIERRE — Last weekend marked the 40th anniversary of the 1972 flash flood that ripped apart Rapid City on the night of June 9 and early hours of June 10.

MERCER: Time to be brave about that name of the Braves

PIERRE — I started to re-think my thinking recently about whether calling a sports team the Braves is a racial wrong.

• Bob Mercer

MERCER: Abdnor a politican who toppled giants

Why hasn’t Jim Abdnor received the respect he would seem to have deserved? He was only the biggest political giant killer during the past half-century.

• Bob Mercer

MERCER: Federally sanctioned electricity extortion finds a roost in state

A government folly is playing out in our state’s Capitol over a wind electricity project that a group wants to build in Clark County.

• Bob Mercer

MERCER: In Capitol so wide open, who can tell real crook?

Would it be bribery of a legislator if a lobbyist or group of lobbyists operated what’s known as a drink room at a motel or hotel during session?

• Bob Mercer

MERCER: SD Legislature a stronghold for ALEC membership

South Dakota taxpayers funded legislators’ official trips to ALEC conventions and meetings for many years.

• Bob Mercer

MERCER: Newspaperman tried to run for Congress but didn't

The filing deadline came and went last month without Bill Cissell turning in his petitions. It seemed out of character for the retired newspaperman from the northern Black Hills.

• Bob Mercer

MERCER: Term limits aren't really term limits in our state

There are pluses and minuses to the term limits that South Dakota voters placed on the Legislature through the 1992 constitutional amendment.

• Bob Mercer