Politics Archives

South Dakota road hunting laws the most lax in the Great Plains

No neighboring state is as liberal as South Dakota when it comes to traveling with loaded guns and hunting on, along or over roads.
‘Freedom Works Here’ has spent millions to promote S.D. jobs. Now businesses are being asked to pitch in.

Gov. Kristi Noem’s administration is seeking the help of economic development groups and top businesses across South Dakota to pay for national ads touting her “Freedom Works Here” workforce recruitment campaign. But some of these groups are still waiting for one of the key elements of the agreement – the names of thousands of prospective employees.
South Dakota rejects federal food funding despite 25,000 children going hungry

South Dakota was one of seven states that decided against applying for a federal program that would have provided $7.5 million to feed low-income kids, a decision that drew the ire of some experts across the state.
Gov. Noem’s claims of transparency called into question

Media members and experts say that in contrast to previous governors, Kristi Noem and others in her administration have routinely denied interview requests, often refuse to answer simple questions about news topics or don’t return calls or emails. Some observers worry that a crucial check on government has been hampered and that in some ways, public safety could be threatened.
Noem’s ‘demanding’ style sparks staff turnover, turmoil: ‘It’s a tough gig’

"I’m not sure who’s advising her, but no matter what the issue is, it’s always somebody else’s fault.” Despite the governor’s strong approval ratings, legislators, lobbyists and former cabinet members interviewed by News Watch point to turbulence behind the scenes in the administration with more than three years left in her second and final term.
Update: Judge pauses Minnehaha petition collection site limits

A federal judge has placed an injunction on Minnehaha County rules that strictly limited where petition gatherers can conduct their work at the county administration building that is a top spot for those who want to collect signatures.
Two federal judge seats remain open in South Dakota despite busy caseload

South Dakota's federal judge openings have gone unfilled for the past 20 months, prompting political scrutiny of the process and a shuffling of workloads for other federal judges.
Is proposed abortion amendment ‘far more extreme’ than Roe v. Wade?

Dakotans for Health founder Rick Weiland thinks the time is right for an abortion amendment because of the unsettled nature of South Dakota’s ban.
Gov. Kristi Noem pulls support for grocery tax measure over jeopardized tobacco money

Gov. Kristi Noem was vocal in her support of eliminating the grocery tax during the 2023 legislative session, but now she's against it. That's because she's worried that wording in a ballot initiative could also inadvertently eliminate the tobacco tax.
Ballot effort would allow more South Dakotans to choose candidates. But can it pass?

An open primary constitutional amendment aims to circumvent party primaries with nonpartisan races, but it faces a huge hurdle to passage in a state long dominated by one political party.