Proposed Cuts to South Dakota Public Broadcasting Could End the Service

PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) Funding cuts to the budget of South Dakota Public Broadcasting proposed by Governor Kristi Noem would be “devastating.” The Governor proposed a cut of about three point six million dollars to the 2026 budget for the state-owned broadcasters.

Speaking to the Educational Telecommunications Board, SDPB Executive Director Julie Overgaard says the state cuts would trigger more losses exceeding $1 million dollars.  That’s because local funding generates federal dollars as well as foundational matching funds.  When that local support disappears, then so does that other funding.  Critics of Public Broadcasting argue that the network can turn to advertising like other stations.  There is some question if advertising would “count” in order for private foundations to continue their matching funds.  It is an open question too whether or not PBS could get $4 million in advertising out of a small state like South Dakota, especially in light of competition from broadcast stations like KELO and KDLT.

Overgaard says the cuts could cause the ending of all state produced programming.  Educational Telecommunications  Board Chair Kay Jorgenson says they will take their case to legislators.  The SDPB budget is due to be heard in front of the Legislature’s Appropriation Committee on January 22nd.

Rapid City Man Convicted in Federal Jury Trial of Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in Death RAPID CITY -United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Curtis Cummings, age 39, of Rapid City, South Dakota, of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City. The verdict was returned on November 7, 2024.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 20 years up to life in custody and/or a $10,000,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

Cummings was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2023.

Cummings was part of a large-scale distribution of fentanyl in the Rapid City area from December of 2021 through June of 2023. Cummings and others traveled to Colorado on a weekly basis to obtain significant quantities of fentanyl pills. When they returned to Rapid City, Cummings distributed the fentanyl pills from his home. During the course of the conspiracy fentanyl pills distributed by Cummings, and others working for him, were consumed by an individual on April 26, 2022, resulting in the overdose death of that individual.

This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Agency. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan N. Dilges and Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for January 24, 2025. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.