Articles by Travis Kriens
Child care costs far outpace wages, but dependent care tax credit stuck at 2001 rate
The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Wednesday evening to assist low-income families through an expansion of the child tax credit and the bill now awaits approval in the Senate. But some organizations are also highlighting a [Read More…]
State apologizes, pays transgender advocacy group $300,000 for discrimination
John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight – The state of South Dakota has issued an apology letter and a $300,000 payment to a transgender advocacy group for the abrupt cancellation of a Department of Health contract [Read More…]
Moody County Chief Deputy Sheriff Identified As Victim in Line of Duty Death
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has confirmed that Moody County Chief Deputy Sheriff Ken Prorok (Pro-rock) was killed in the line of duty Friday afternoon in Moody County. Chief Deputy Sheriff Prorok, [Read More…]
One person died Friday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash in Charles Mix County
Charles Mix County, S.D.- One person died Friday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash in Charles Mix County. The names of the persons involved have not been released pending notification of family members. Preliminary crash information indicates the 97-year-old driver of [Read More…]
Calls for better teacher pay coalesce into legislation
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight – South Dakota lawmakers haven’t made major changes to education funding and teacher pay in eight years. But that could change this legislative session. The last time the Legislature made major [Read More…]
Clark moves into 2nd place on all-time scoring list in No. 3 Iowa’s win over Northwestern
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Iowa star Caitlin Clark moved into second on the NCAA women’s basketball career scoring list on Wednesday night, finishing with 35 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in the No. 3 [Read More…]
Man accused of beheading his father in suburban Philadelphia home and posting gruesome video online
LEVITTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A man accused of beheading his father in suburban Philadelphia posted a gruesome video on social media that shows him holding up the severed head and railing against the government, authorities [Read More…]
Senate committee begins hearing on removing sales tax from food
By Todd Epp, South Dakota Broadcasters Association. South Dakota legislators began taking testimony Wednesday (Jan. 31, 2024) on a bill that would remove the state sales tax on food. SB164 would remove the current 4.2% sales tax [Read More…]
South Dakota Soil Moisture Report and Winter Wheat Conditions
As of the week ending January 28, 2024, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reported South Dakota’s topsoil moisture supplies at 6% very short, 19% short, 73% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were [Read More…]
Kwik Star Expands Rapidly in Eastern South Dakota, Garnering Local Appreciation
Kwik Star, a well-known Midwest gas station chain, plans to open five new locations in eastern South Dakota in 2024, marking a total of 11 stores in the past year. The company, also known as [Read More…]
South Dakota Senate Revisits Capital Punishment Debate with Proposed Repeal Bill
Senate Bill 109, submitted by Democratic Sen. Reynold Nesiba, aims to provisionally repeal capital punishment in South Dakota. The bill argues that the death penalty is problematic, ineffective as a deterrent, and economically burdensome. Nesiba [Read More…]
Effort to study child care costs in SD receives unanimous committee support
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight – One of the first pieces in the long-term effort to address South Dakota’s child care needs cleared its first hurdle Wednesday at the Capitol in Pierre. A bill that would require [Read More…]
Brookings City Employee Arrested for Theft from Nonprofit Supporting Youth Hockey
Paul Laleman, a 40-year-old parks technician employed by the City of Brookings, was arrested and charged with grand theft for stealing over $7,000 from the Brookings Ice Skating Association (BISA), a nonprofit supporting youth hockey. [Read More…]
Texas hasn’t repaid South Dakota for help at the border
Joshua Haiar and Seth Tupper, South Dakota Searchlight – Texas has not repaid South Dakota for assistance at the Texas-Mexico border even though similar mutual-aid agreements between South Dakota and other states have typically involved [Read More…]
Committee passes ‘school safety 2.0’ bill onto the state Senate
Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight – A bill mandating minimum safety standards in public schools — without requiring armed guards — was unanimously approved Tuesday by the Senate Education Committee at the Capitol in Pierre. The [Read More…]
Free birth certificates, ID cards for homeless people endorsed by House committee
PIERRE, (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) — Homeless people would be in line for free South Dakota birth certificates and state ID cards under the terms of two bills that advanced out of a state House [Read More…]
Targeted ‘diet weed’ ban clears first hurdle in House committee
PIERRE, (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) — There are at least three shops that sell products made from the legal, hemp-derived cousins of marijuana within a half mile of the state Capitol. On Tuesday, lawmakers took [Read More…]
Bill would make it easier for Black Hills community to become a city
Black Hawk, South Dakota — a 137-year-old community with a population of over 3,000 — isn’t actually a city. The community has its own ZIP code, post office, water company, fire department, cemetery, businesses, churches [Read More…]
Klumb Proposes Bill to Align Hemp THC Testing with Federal Standards
South Dakota lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 117, introduced by Sen. Joshua Klumb, R-Mitchell, aimed at easing regulations for the state’s industrial hemp industry by aligning THC testing standards with federal guidelines. The proposed amendment [Read More…]
South Dakota House Passes Bill Streamlining Medical Requirements for Diabetic School Bus Drivers
The South Dakota House has approved Senate Bill 60, which modifies the requirements for school bus drivers, particularly those with diabetes. Previously, diabetic drivers had to undergo additional tests to obtain a medical card for [Read More…]
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