News

Counterfeit (fake) pills containing deadly amounts of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, are being seized in unprecedented quantities by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in every U.S. state, including South Dakota. In 2021, the South Dakota Department of Health reported 29 fentanyl-related deaths, which is 28% of all drugrelated deaths for the year.

(Courtesy photo) In an effort to help South Dakotans struggling with increased grocery costs, South Dakota Farmers Union partnered with Farmers Union Enterprises to donate 35,000 pounds of pork to Feeding South Dakota.

Greetings and welcome to Winter Wonderland 2023. I apologize for saying “let it snow,” but the west needs moisture and runoff. There is an increase in the base electrical charge we pay now because river levels are low, and South Dakota is now generating over 50 percent of its electricity from wind. Is there anyone who watched the weather chaos and its side effects on seasonal travel, and both the weather here and around the country, who will still say there is no climate change (unpredictable extreme weather weirding)? In mid-December, Barrow, Alaska, recorded unusually high temperature 40 degrees F. January 14, Siberia recorded -81 F, lowest temp ever recorded. Sadly, so much of the California rain went back into the ocean, so maybe some infrastructure changes could be made to save it for next summer’s irrigation of food crops.

South Dakota lawmakers have dismissed a proposal that the state constitution ban ballot measures from being reconsidered if they failed in the previous election. The House State Affairs Committee rejected the proposed constitutional amendment after lawmakers said it relied on vague language and unwieldy implementation.

Two South Dakota Attorney General bills designed to strengthen the integrity of South Dakota elections were approved by the state Senate Judiciary Committee last week. The committee approved Senate Bill 46 which would establish the crime of perjury when circulating a petition and making material misrepresentations under oath.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has introduced five bills in the 2023 legislative session and all five were scheduled for their first committee hearing this week. “Our legislative package aims to enhance public safety, strengthen the integrity of our elections, and protect the privacy of South Dakotans,” said Attorney General Jackley.

Longtime South Dakota State coach John Stiegelmeier announced his retirement January 19, less than two weeks after the school won its first Football Championship Subdivision title. Defensive coordinator Jimmy Rogers was named Stiegelmeier’s successor and was introduced at a news conference on Friday.

The 2022 Annual Cereal Drive sponsored by Rosebud Electric and Frontier Motors in Winner collected more than 270 boxes of cereal this last December. Rosebud Electric received 172 boxes and $80 in cash.

On Monday, January 23, Governor Kristi Noem announced $10 million in funding for modern equipment at South Dakota’s four technical colleges. The funding will come from Future Funds and thus will not require a legislative appropriation. Governor Noem is providing a 2-to-1 match for funding that is being put up by the technical colleges themselves for a total investment of $15 million.

South Dakota lawmakers are considering a number of tax cuts this year, including Gov. Kristi Noem’s campaign promise to repeal the grocery tax.