SD school districts increasingly rely on tax opt-outs to aid strained budgets
While South Dakota teachers have earned raises over the past two years courtesy of a new half-cent sales tax, school districts across the state continue to struggle with their budgets.
Nominal increases in state aid to education have crippled local budgets and caused many districts to consider significant programming cuts
Russian woman and South Dakotan connected by mysterious business
For reasons known only to him, embattled political operative Paul Erickson started a new business in South Dakota in June.
By spending just $150 and filling out some online paperwork, Erickson formed Medora Consulting LLC, a company with no stated purpose or partners.
The LLC, or limited liability company, was
Education officials: State must act to keep momentum in teacher salaries
South Dakota no longer has the lowest-paid teachers in the nation, but education officials caution that lawmakers must maintain an aggressive approach to funding if that status is to continue.
According to 2018 rankings and estimates by the National Education Association, South Dakota had the highest percentage increase in average
Cyanide devices remain part of predator control efforts in SD
Despite growing national pressure to end their use, small devices that issue a deadly dose of cyanide into the mouths of animals such as coyotes and foxes remain in use in South Dakota.
The devices, known officially as M-44s but referred to as “cyanide bombs” by opponents, are part of
New public-private plan could aid polluted Black Hills gold mine
LEAD, S.D. – A Canadian gold mining company has agreed to help clean up South Dakota’s most contaminated industrial site. The agreement is part of a trend of public-private partnerships that could expedite remediation of America’s polluted lands and waterways.
Agnico Eagle Mines of Toronto has entered into
Gap between low wages and high rents growing in South Dakota
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Like thousands of South Dakotans, Jade War Bonnett of Rapid City lives in constant fear of not having stable housing for her and her two children.
In a state where rents are rising far faster than incomes, the only way War Bonnett and many other low-wage
Opioid fentanyl causing spike in overdoses in South Dakota
SPEARFISH, S.D. – Drug dealer Eric Reeder of Spearfish got word in January 2017 that one of his customers was in trouble after smoking the fentanyl that Reeder had sold him.
“I told you only to take one hit every 20 minutes,” Reeder texted to the 31-year-old man.
But the