STATE
Man called person of interest in case kills self in Huron
HURON — A Huron man who was a person of interest in an investigation died Thursday night from a self-inflicted shooting injury, Attorney General Marty Jackley said.By Staff reports , March 12, 2010
State scholarship rule change set for 2013
PIERRE — Legislators negotiated a compromise Thursday that would make the South Dakota Opportunity scholarship available to any student in the state who scores at least 28 on the ACT college-readiness exam.March 12, 2010
Second-generation owner of Al's Oasis dies at 90
OACOMA — Melissa Haskins remembers when she was young, entering the dining room at Al’s Oasis.
More often then not, Al Mueller was there, enjoying a meal.
“I remember always watching him eating in the restaurant,” said Haskins, 25, now the president of the Chamberlain-Oacoma Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors. “He would always greet you. In a sense, he was his own little celebrity.”
March 12, 2010
Refunds for construction taxes on big projects to change, end
PIERRE — The Legislature’s leaders reached an agreement Thursday to cut back and eventually shut down South Dakota’s program that has provided millions of dollars in construction-tax refunds for large business projects and agricultural processing plants.March 12, 2010
Extra money from Congress for Medicaid could solve state's budget problem
PIERRE — The South Dakota Legislature’s plans to cut state spending next year were thrown into question Thursday when lawmakers learned the state might get an extra $36 million in federal aid.By Chet Brokaw , March 12, 2010
Legislature ends inquiry into property assessments
PIERRE — South Dakota legislators decided Thursday that the state Department of Revenue and Regulation already has sufficient power to deal with county directors of equalization who don’t properly assess property values for taxation purposes.March 12, 2010
Herseth Sandlin, Thune push for stronger EPA blockade than Johnson
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin reiterated her support Thursday for a stiff-arm of the Environmental Protection Agency on its plan to regulate greenhouse gases, one day after Sen. Tim Johnson advocated a more measured approach. Sen. John Thune, meanwhile, has been advocating against EPA regulation of greenhouse gases for months.March 12, 2010
Construction tax refunds now in final negotiations
PIERRE — The Legislature’s struggle comes to a head today over reducing construction-tax refunds for large business projects and agricultural processing projects.Lawmakers are hoping to produce $11.5 million of savings by providing smaller refunds, and using the money instead to help cover a $40 million gap in state government’s 2011 budget.
March 11, 2010
Fireworks sales on Christmas New Year on way to governor
PIERRE — The Legislature lit the fuse Wednesday for more fireworks in South Dakota.The state House of Representatives gave the final OK to allow licensed dealers to sell fireworks from Dec. 23 through Jan. 2 and for people to use legally purchased fireworks during that same period.
March 11, 2010
Protection on injury payments approved by Senate
PIERRE — The state Senate gave final legislative approval Wednesday to a major change in South Dakota law regarding insurance payments to people who have suffered damages.They would be better protected financially under the change, which was opposed by insurance companies.
Senators voted 20-15 for the legislation, SB 169, whose prime sponsor is Sen. Nancy Turbak Berry, D-Watertown.
March 11, 2010
S.D. senators still in opposite corners of health-care debate
South Dakota’s U.S. senators remain entrenched in opposite corners of the health-care reform fight.Each conducted his own conference call Wednesday with reporters. Tim Johnson, a Democrat, said he supports the pending legislation and considers this to be one of the most important moments in his two-plus decades of congressional service. Defeat of the health-care bill, he said, would be tantamount to a defeat of Social Security in the 1930s or Medicare in the 1960s.
March 11, 2010
Legislators to debate tax breaks on projects
It will be a tale of two energy bills in Pierre today as legislators take sides on tax breaks for large business projects.House Bill 1060 and Senate Bill 195 both substantially rake back tax incentives for development projects like the proposed $350 million PrairieWinds wind farm north of White Lake being developed by Basin Electric Power Cooperative of Bismarck, N.D.
Both bills propose reducing tax incentives of up to 90 percent that were promised by 2005 legislation.
March 11, 2010
Budget decisions delayed
PIERRE — South Dakota lawmakers are waiting to put the finishing touches on the state budget until they know the fate of some other bills that will determine state spending and tax collections.The Joint Appropriations Committee met briefly early Wednesday, then recessed indefinitely. Senate Appropriations Chair Jean Hunhoff of Yankton says the committee cannot consider amendments to the spending bill until the Legislature completes work on some other measures.
By Chet Brokaw , March 11, 2010
Mitchell's unemployment rate rises
The state Department of Labor just came out with its unemployment numbers for January, and the news is bad. Mitchell's unemployment rate shot back up to 5.8 percent, from 5 percent in December.By Staff reports , March 10, 2010
Official: Ag land valuation measure could cost county
Director of Equalization Kathy Goetsch appeared Tuesday before the Davison County Commission and expressed concern about HB 1202 and its potential costs for the county.The bill, before the state Legislature, addresses the state’s new method of assessing agricultural land based on production rather than market value. The original HB 1202 was “hoghoused,” or extensively rewritten and sent on to the Senate for further consideration.
March 10, 2010
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OUR VOICES Curd hits the airwaves
Blake Curd, who is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, announced today that he's started running a radio ad. Here's the script: ANNOUNCER VOICE OVER: The headlines are scary....bailouts, runaway spending, a government takeover of health
Posted by: Seth Tupper on Mar 11, 2010 at 2:52 PM | Republic InsiderOUR VOICES Bad economic news for Mitchell
The state Department of Labor just came out with its unemployment numbers for January, and the news is bad. Mitchell's unemployment rate shot back up to 5.8 percent, from 5 percent in December. That's a non-seasonally adjusted rate, meaning that the statistical impact from seasonal employment trend
Posted by: Seth Tupper on Mar 10, 2010 at 1:21 PM | Republic InsiderOUR VOICES Reaction to Herseth Sandlin's Pelosi comments
Last week, I wrote a story about comments that Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin made in response to a question about her relationship with Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Specifically, I was intrigued by one extended comment, which I quoted in the story: “I would describe our relationship as, uh &
Posted by: Seth Tupper on Mar 8, 2010 at 4:15 PM | Republic InsiderOUR VOICES Across-the-board budget cuts: Smart or irresponsible?
An interesting debate has developed between Republican Gov. Mike Rounds and the Republican leadership in the Legislature. The debate centers on the $50 million package of budget cuts proposed last week by Republican legislators, and more specifically, the part of the package described as "a 2
Posted by: Seth Tupper on Mar 8, 2010 at 9:49 AM | Republic InsiderOUR VOICES Brokers: Stock pushers or financial advisers?
There was an interesting story Wednesday in The New York Times about brokerage firms. The story posed a question that's always troubled me: Are brokers really interested in their clients' financial futures, or are they just interested in selling stocks and mutual funds that bring them lucrative comm
Posted by: Seth Tupper on Mar 4, 2010 at 5:22 PM | Republic InsiderOUR VOICES Interested in running for office? Try a campaign academy
We received the following news release this morning from the South Dakota Rural Electric Association. It might be of interest to those of you who've considered running for office. Electric Cooperatives, State Retailers to Hold Campaign Academies PIERRE – Candidates looking to sharpen their
Posted by: Seth Tupper on Mar 4, 2010 at 10:23 AM | Republic InsiderOUR VOICES How They Voted: Mitchell legislators, Feb. 25-March 3
Sen. Mike Vehle Rep. Lance Carson Rep. Noel Hamiel BIG STONE AID (SB 172): The Senate voted 23-10 to change state law so that environmental upgrades required at the coal-fired Big Stone power
Posted by: Seth Tupper on Mar 4, 2010 at 8:00 AM | Republic InsiderOUR VOICES Should Herseth Sandlin give away political contributions from Rangel?
The National Republican Congressional Committee thinks you should care about the political contributions that U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., has received from her embattled colleague, U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y. Here's the latest from the NRCC: Embroiled in an ethics scandal,
Posted by: Seth Tupper on Mar 3, 2010 at 1:00 PM | Republic Insider
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