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South Dakota Searchlight
Teacher pay mandates pass committee without promise of new funding
A bill requiring public schools to raise teacher pay with no promise of new state funding passed a legislative committee Wednesday in Pierre. Nobody testified against the legislation, but several lobbyists representing the education community called it a work in progress. “It is not a perfect bill, but a compromise that will hopefully help us […] The post Teacher pay mandates pass committee without promise of new funding appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Budget committee looks to revenue post-COVID federal funds, adopts ‘conservative’ projection
The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Appropriations officially adopted the revenue projections for the remainder of fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025 on Wednesday morning at the Capitol. The committee adopted a revised ongoing revenue estimate of $2.4 billion for the current fiscal year, which is a 4.1% increase over last fiscal year’s revenue and […] The post Budget committee looks to revenue post-COVID federal funds, adopts ‘conservative’ projection appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
SD’s Johnson votes yes as U.S. House Republicans impeach Homeland Security chief
WASHINGTON — In their second attempt in as many weeks, U.S. House Republicans impeached Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday, marking an inflection point in the growing rift between the GOP and the White House over immigration policy decisions at the southern border. In a 214-213 vote, the House approved two articles […] The post SD’s Johnson votes yes as U.S. House Republicans impeach Homeland Security chief appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Deepfakes bill clears state Senate, loses impact on 2024 primary
A bill to bar the dissemination of unlabeled “deepfakes” within 90 days of an election cleared the state Senate on Tuesday, but not before lawmakers stripped it of an emergency clause that would have changed the law in time for the 2024 primary. Deepfakes is the blanket term attached to photos, audio and video manipulated […] The post Deepfakes bill clears state Senate, loses impact on 2024 primary appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
State revenue projections ‘cautiously conservative’ as COVID federal funding ends
Financial experts are cautious heading into the 2025 fiscal year, expecting South Dakota to have one of its lowest increases in revenue in the last 15 years. At the Joint Committee on Appropriations meeting Tuesday morning at the Capitol, the Legislative Research Council projected $2.43 billion in ongoing revenue for fiscal year 2025 – a […] The post State revenue projections ‘cautiously conservative’ as COVID federal funding ends appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Thune, Rounds vote yes as U.S. Senate approves $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly early Tuesday to approve a $95 billion emergency spending package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The measure now goes to the U.S. House, where Speaker Mike Johnson hasn’t committed to putting the bill on the floor for debate and votes amid opposition to the military and humanitarian assistance […] The post Thune, Rounds vote yes as U.S. Senate approves $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Trump asks U.S. Supreme Court to pause federal trial over presidential immunity question
WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to further delay his federal criminal trial on charges he attempted to subvert the 2020 election, contending his actions were protected by presidential immunity. In a 40-page application to the Supreme Court late Monday, Trump and his attorneys asked the justices to pause […] The post Trump asks U.S. Supreme Court to pause federal trial over presidential immunity question appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Lawmakers seek compromise in teacher pay accountability bill
A proposed compromise between bills to improve teacher pay in South Dakota is being considered by the House Education Committee this week in the Capitol. Two bills were introduced earlier this legislative session that approached teacher pay differently. One bill introduced by the state Department of Education was too heavy handed, according to education lobbyists, […] The post Lawmakers seek compromise in teacher pay accountability bill appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Another attempt to block carbon pipelines from using eminent domain fails
PIERRE — Another legislative attempt to stop a proposed carbon sequestration pipeline from using eminent domain failed Monday. “It is up to us to defend South Dakotans’ property rights,” said Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, the prime sponsor of the bill. The legislation was rejected by the House Commerce and Energy Committee in a 7-6 […] The post Another attempt to block carbon pipelines from using eminent domain fails appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Committee advances bill banning ‘obscene live conduct’ at universities
PIERRE — A bill that would ban “obscene live conduct” at state universities raised concerns Monday among opponents who view it as a veiled attempt to target drag shows. “Who decides what is considered obscene?” said Samantha Chapman, of the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, in an emailed statement. “It’s impossible to define […] The post Committee advances bill banning ‘obscene live conduct’ at universities appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Noem appoints business owner, former sheriff’s deputy to state Senate seat
Gov. Kristi Noem has filled the state’s last remaining legislative vacancy. Marine Corps veteran, longtime former law officer and current small business owner Mike Walsh will fill the District 35 state Senate seat left open by the departure of Jessica Castleberry. District 35 includes the far eastern side of Rapid City and most of Box […] The post Noem appoints business owner, former sheriff’s deputy to state Senate seat appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Are Americans really committed to democracy in the 2024 election?
With former President Donald Trump having all but wrapped up the GOP presidential nomination, one issue looks set to be at the center of the general election campaign: the threat to democracy. In a major campaign speech in Pennsylvania in January, President Joe Biden detailed Trump’s lies about the 2020 election, his efforts to use violence […] The post Are Americans really committed to democracy in the 2024 election? appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Legislative Roundup: zombie bills, teacher pay, lithium tax, pipelines and more
One of the effects of a faster start to this year’s legislative session in Pierre has been the prevalence of “zombie bills,” given new life after an initial defeat. Rather than allowing the first week of session to pass with little action, as was often the case in years past, lawmakers jumped right into bill […] The post Legislative Roundup: zombie bills, teacher pay, lithium tax, pipelines and more appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Native American lawmaker finds little support in quest to reconcile the races
In 1990, Gov. George Mickelson proclaimed a century of racial reconciliation in South Dakota. Given recent events, it just might take that long. Gov. Kristi Noem managed to anger Native American legislators when she asserted that the state’s reservations were strongholds for Mexican drug cartels. She smoothed over some of those hurt feelings in a […] The post Native American lawmaker finds little support in quest to reconcile the races appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
State Supreme Court clarifies conflicts of interest; Noem pledges to fill legislative seats
Legislators can have contracts with state government if the money comes from the annual budget bill, but not if the money comes from any other bill. That’s the gist of a state Supreme Court opinion issued Friday. Immediately after the opinion’s release, Gov. Kristi Noem said it will free her up to make appointments for […] The post State Supreme Court clarifies conflicts of interest; Noem pledges to fill legislative seats appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Five big takeaways from the special counsel’s report on Biden and classified documents
WASHINGTON — Special Counsel Robert Hur’s nearly 400-page report on the classified documents that President Joe Biden kept after leaving office includes new details on why it’s become commonplace for politicians to end up with sensitive information after they leave their posts. The report also sheds light on why Biden, then a former vice president, […] The post Five big takeaways from the special counsel’s report on Biden and classified documents appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Native American child welfare bills return after federal law upheld
Three bills were introduced last year at the South Dakota Legislature to address Native American child welfare reform. All of them were defeated, with opponents citing concerns about the U.S. Supreme Court’s impending case addressing the Indian Child Welfare Act, known by the acronym ICWA. The court has since upheld the constitutionality of the federal […] The post Native American child welfare bills return after federal law upheld appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Congress is looking at expanding the child tax credit again. Who would benefit?
WASHINGTON — The bipartisan tax package passed by the U.S. House last month is not a done deal, but the proposal’s supporters say it could restore some poverty-reducing benefits that reached millions under the pandemic-era child tax credit expansion. A majority of low-income families who do not currently qualify for the full credit would see […] The post Congress is looking at expanding the child tax credit again. Who would benefit? appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Sales tax revenue is still available as a fix for nationally bottom-dwelling teacher pay
My heart sank as Mrs. Konechne expressed her disappointment with the class. She’d assigned us to write a humorous personal essay, and she’d given us plenty of instruction. She expected better, and she was going to get it by making us all do a rewrite. My pulse jumped at the sight of red ink all […] The post Sales tax revenue is still available as a fix for nationally bottom-dwelling teacher pay appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
House panel rejects change for filling legislative vacancies
The citizens of the Rapid City area have gone without full representation now for more than half of the 2024 legislative session – and may well go without until the session ends. That reality wasn’t enough to convince members of the House State Affairs Committee to change state law on filling legislative vacancies. On Thursday, […] The post House panel rejects change for filling legislative vacancies appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
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We use our journalistic searchlight to illuminate critical issues facing South Dakota, dissect the decisions made by state leaders, and explain the consequences of their policies and the role of politics on South Dakotans. We publish news and commentary that prioritizes accuracy, fairness, insight and civility. There is no charge to access our content, or to subscribe to our email newsletter. We invite and publish guest commentary that contributes to productive public discourse and adheres to our editorial policies. South Dakota Searchlight launched in 2022. We’re an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The staff of the Searchlight retains full editorial independence.
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