Articles

OUR VIEW: Good to see city headed toward new texting while driving ban

It’s just unfortunate that cities are having to make this rule on their own, while the state Legislature just can’t seem to get a handle on this growing problem.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Vehicle chases are trend that needs to slow down

What is it with high-speed chases lately? In the past 18 months, local and area law-enforcement agencies have been involved in numerous high-speed pursuits.

• OUR VIEW
• Chase in Mitchell reaches 100 mph Monday morning

OUR VIEW: Falls Park tragedy reveals need for city action

Sioux Falls really deserves credit for the work it has done to resurrect the area. Now would be a good time, however, to investigate what can be done to avoid the next accidental drowning at Falls Park.

• OUR VIEW

BLOOMBERG: Let’s swap Frankenfood hysterics for accuracy in food labeling

Is a truce in the long war over genetically modified food in the works? Not entirely. But news reports that U.S. food producers and retailers may finally be willing to label such foods suggest the industry is preparing to take an important step forward.

OUR VIEW: SD records open, but not easily accessible

To continue toward true public access, the public documents at the Davison County Courthouse should be able to be viewed by anyone with a computer — and not just at terminals provided at the courthouse.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Governor should sign bill to aid rural lawyers

This proposal helps to assure that lawyers — whose services are so vital — are available to small-town South Dakota residents.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Corn Palace big enough for state tournaments

This is maddening. We firmly believe Mitchell can host a state girls’ basketball tournament, and we feel it’s time for Mitchell officials to go back to the SDHSAA board and ask, once again, why we aren’t.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Might be time for statewide vote on texting while driving

In the 1980s, a portion of the state’s federal highway funding was threatened before South Dakota’s legal drinking age was changed from 19 to 21.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Open minds, creativity needed on area state park idea

With one of the largest and best outdoors-themed retail stores in the state (Cabela’s), a location along Interstate 90, and a major tourist attraction (the Corn Palace), Mitchell seems the ideal place for a nearby state park.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Week in review: the best, worst

From St. Patrick's Day in Presho to more dairy cows to poaching.

• OUR VIEW

Columns

Editorial: Week in review: the best, worst

CHEERS to the Hanson School District, which recently presented $1,572 to Army veteran Corey Briest, who was injured by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq in 2005. The money was raised through a school-wide “Pennies for Patriotism” program, which was accomplished by filling buckets with pennies. The buckets were placed in classrooms throughout February and obviously struck a chord with students of the district.

Editorial: Adopting budget brought about critical discussion

Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s push to fix the state’s structural budget deficit in one year has forced at least one critical change in how South Dakota approaches education funding.
Through a newly forming coalition, the state finally has begun rethinking funding for K-12 education in ways that hadn’t occurred before this year’s legislative session.

Editorial: Sun starting to shine on government in S. Dakota

South Dakota is seeing great strides made in the name of government openness. It seems members of both major political parties are finally getting together on this issue, and everyday residents will be the ones who benefit from this mutual effort.

Editorial: Government right to take its time in considering oil pipeline

The Keystone XL pipeline, slated to carry oil from Canada to the southern United States with a stretch through central and western South Dakota, appears to be confronted by another delay.
Since it was first announced three years ago, the proposed pipeline — under the auspices of the TransCanada oil company — has seen its share of ups and downs, much like the rolling prairie under which it is expected to be placed.

Editorial: Make own decisions on sports cuts

The South Dakota High School Activities Association has been fielding calls in recent days from school officials who want fewer athletic events scheduled in the coming seasons. The calls, according to the SDHSAA, have been prompted by the recent decision by the state Legislature to cut education funding by 6.6 percent in the next state budget. Originally set for a 10 percent cut, state lawmakers adjusted the cuts in the waning days of the current session.

Editorial: Daugaard’s effectiveness shows; now we’ll see if he was right

Dennis Dauagaard is due some praise for his handling of the state budget.
As a first-year governor, he waltzed into the Capitol back in January and told legislators exactly what he wanted them to do. The state had a $127 million structural deficit, he said, and he wanted legislators to rip the Band-Aid off and eliminate the deficit in one year.

Editorial: Week in review

CHEERS to Samantha Kenaston, a Mitchell Middle School student who recently won a statewide flag design competition. The seventhgrader’s flag design included a pheasant to represent South Dakota, a teepee to honor American Indians of the region and corn to represent the Corn Palace. Her flag will be printed locally and was to be flown to Washington, D.C., and then to Seattle to be shown at the National Art Education Conference.

Editorial: Shock and awe not right method for assessments

The Davison County Equalization Office is running a shock and awe campaign.
New commercial property assessment notifications mailed recently by the office inspired both emotions in recipients, some of whom saw the valuations of their properties jump an astounding 500 percent or more.
The explanation? County assessors didn’t get around to re-assessing commercial properties for the last two or three decades.

Editorial: Worries rise along with springtime flooding risk

Meteorologists are warning South Dakotans that flooding is on the way, sure as the warm sun will eventually — at least we assume — break through the gray sky and melt the mounds of snow that highlight this region’s landscape.
After years of drought, it’s been plenty wet in eastern and central South Dakota the past two years. Last winter was one of the worst in recent times, with heavy snow dominating the weather pattern until spring. Heavy rains then followed.

Editorial: 72-hour wait on abortion seems to be reasonable

Gov. Dennis Daugaard has before him a decision that could be one of the first major challenges, beyond the budget deficit, in his short time in office.
The governor, who opposes abortion rights, is considering giving final approval of a bill that would create a longer waiting period for women who wish to get an abortion in South Dakota. The new waiting time would require women to wait 72 hours before they could undergo the procedure, which would be the longest required wait in the country.