The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to review House Bill 1239 this week, a controversial piece of legislation aimed at limiting librarians’ rights. The bill, which has already passed the House, seeks to make it illegal for librarians to allow minors to check out books deemed inappropriate.
A House committee rejected a bill today (Monday) that would have expanded the list of crimes ineligible for presumptive probation and barred probationers or parolees from receiving it for new offenses.
Senate Bill 57, brought at the request of Attorney General Marty Jackley, failed on a 9-3 vote to send it to the 41st legislative day, effectively killing the measure.
The women’s tournament kicks off with top-seeded SDSU, who finished their conference season undefeated, facing the winner of the Omaha vs. Denver play-in game at 2:30 p.m. The #7 USD women will challenge #2 Oral Roberts at noon. On the men’s side, the action heats up with a “Battle of the Dakotas” quarterfinal between #3 SDSU and #6 North Dakota at 8:30 p.m., following the #5 USD vs. #4 NDSU matchup at 6:00 p.m.
South Dakota farmers are facing uncertainty as they head into planting season due to the state’s dry winter. With below-average snowfall, concerns are growing about the potential impact on crops in the coming months. Brent Greenway, treasurer of the South Dakota Soybean Association, highlighted the challenges of starting spring with such dry conditions, noting that having a good moisture reserve is ideal for giving crops a strong start.
Governor Larry Rhoden has assured South Dakotans that his use of state-issued credit cards will not reflect the spending habits of former Governor Kristi Noem. This statement comes in the wake of Noem’s credit card records, which were made public following her resignation to join President Trump’s cabinet. The records revealed over $600,000 in charges for luxury hotels, car rentals, and high-end meals.
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has approved the South Deuel Wind project, granting a construction permit for the wind energy facility. The project, which was approved on Friday, will include approximately 70 wind turbines spread across 30,000 acres.
Spring weight restrictions are returning to South Dakota’s roadways to protect infrastructure during the thawing season. The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SD-DOT) and local agencies will implement these restrictions this week to prevent road damage caused by saturated ground from melting snow and thawing temperatures.
A high-speed chase ended in a crash on the night of February 27th, 2025, when a driver, Steven Rath of Mitchell, led authorities on a pursuit after speeding at 115 mph on Highway 37 north of Mitchell. The chase, which started around 10:45 PM, quickly escalated as Rath ignored law enforcement’s attempts to stop him.
If Governor Rhoden approves, local law enforcement will gain stronger tools to combat the growing problem of street racing in South Dakota. The South Dakota House has passed a bill aimed at increasing penalties for street racing, a measure introduced by law enforcement officials in Sioux Falls in response to the rising issue.
A high-risk offender, Dillon Harrington, who was released from prison last week, is already back in custody. Just hours after his release early Thursday morning, Harrington was booked into the Minnehaha County Jail as a “Fugitive of Justice.” He is wanted in Lyon County, Iowa, for Obstructing Prosecution or Defense. Harrington, a 30-year-old convicted sex offender, had just completed a drug sentence in Beadle County and was reportedly planning to live in Wolsey upon release. Secretary of Corrections Kellie Wasko had previously warned of Harrington’s high risk to reoffend, based on his criminal history and institutional assessments, making his release a matter of significant concern.
