Latest South Dakota state government News

South Dakota legislator calls for inquiry into Gov. Noem's Texas dental trip and promo video

Mar. 13, 2024 18:27 PM EDT

A Democratic legislator on Wednesday called for an inquiry into South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem's trip to Texas for dental work and a promotional video in which she praises the doctors for giving her "a smile I can be proud of and confident in.” State Sen. Reynold Nesiba...

South Dakota Legislature ends session but draws division over upcoming abortion rights initiative

Mar. 07, 2024 18:02 PM EST

South Dakota's Republican-led Legislature wrapped up on Thursday after about two months of work in a session that largely aligned with Gov. Kristi Noem's vision and drew division over an abortion rights ballot initiative voters could decide in November. Lawmakers sent a $7.3 billion...

A former South Dakota attorney general urges the state Supreme Court to let him keep his law license

Feb. 14, 2024 12:24 PM EST

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg on Wednesday urged the state Supreme Court to dismiss an effort to suspend his law license, arguing that he took responsibility and acted professionally following a deadly accident with a pedestrian that precipitated his...

Noem fills 2 legislative seats after South Dakota Supreme Court opinion on legislator conflicts

Feb. 12, 2024 17:19 PM EST

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has filled two legislative seats, one of them empty for months as she sought and awaited a state Supreme Court opinion on legislator conflicts of interest. Last fall, Noem had asked the high court to weigh in on legislator conflicts of interests related...

South Dakota bill advances, proposing more legal representation for people who can't pay

Jan. 19, 2024 19:05 PM EST

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota bill advanced Friday that proposes a statewide commission focused on indigent defense, or legal representation for those without the ability to pay. Only three of the state's counties – Minnehaha, Pennington and Meade – have a dedicated public...

South Dakota House passes bill that would make the animal sedative xylazine a controlled substance

Jan. 17, 2024 18:33 PM EST

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota House passed a bill Wednesday that would make xylazine, an animal sedative that is being mixed with fentanyl and then used by some people, a controlled substance. The measure, which passed unanimously in the Republican-held House and now goes to...

Tribal flags celebrated at South Dakota Capitol, but one leader sees more still to do

Jan. 10, 2024 17:03 PM EST

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem and tribal leaders celebrated the new display of two tribal nations' flags on Wednesday at the South Dakota Capitol as a symbol of unity. But at least one tribe sees more to be done before it gives its flag. Representatives of the Standing Rock...