South Dakota CapitolPIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota lawmakers are recommending that the state bar universities from requiring students and employees to attend trainings that teach “divisive” concepts about race, religion and national origin. Gov. Kristi Noem has says the proposal would “protect” students from critical race theory. But Republican lawmakers on the House Education committee made significant revisions Wednesday to…
MILLER, S.D. – Fire officials say they have pinpointed the cause of an explosion and fire at the school campus in Miller, S.D. Fire Chief Steve Resel says some equipment being used in the high school’s agriculture shop ignited a barrel of waste oil on Feb. 2. Students and staff have not been allowed to return to the school building,…
FARGO (KVRR) – Dozens of supporters of Leonard Peltier gathered in front of the federal courthouse in downtown Fargo, asking that Peltier be released from prison. About 50 people attended the “Rise Up For Leonard Peltier” rally. The demonstrators prayed, carried signs and listened to speakers from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and the Spirit Lake Nation. Several similar…
WASHINGTON – New cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. are falling in 49 states. The average number of COVID-19 related deaths is around 2,400 a day, comparable to last winter, when the vaccine drive was still getting started. New cases per day have tanked by almost a half-million nationwide since mid-January. The number is trending downward in every state but…
Jason RavnsborgPIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg insists he did nothing wrong in using his position overseeing the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation to make inquiries about what out-of-state criminal investigators could find on his phone during the investigation of his 2020 fatal car crash. The Republican attorney general is facing a House impeachment probe as lawmakers…
South Dakota CapitolPIERRE, S.D. – A Republican-controlled South Dakota House committee has declined to consider a bill from Republican Gov. Kristi Noem that would ban nearly all abortions. It deals a major blow to a top item on the governor’s agenda. Noem’s proposal would have mimicked the private enforcement of a Texas law and prohibited abortions once medical professionals can…
MILLER, S.D. – Officials say students have been evacuated from a high school in Miller following an explosion and fire in the shop area. School board chairwoman Natalie Bertsch says no injuries have been reported. The Hand County Sheriff’s Office confirmed an explosion had occurred in the agriculture workshop at the school and that a fire was still active. People…
FARGO (KVRR) – Native American tribes have reached opioid settlements worth over a half-billion dollars with Johnson & Johnson and three distributors. A federal court filing describes $590 million in settlements with the New Jersey-based company along with distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson. Some tribes were hit particularly hard by an overdose and addiction crisis that was linked to…
Leonard PeltierFARGO (KVRR) – Advocates say Leonard Peltier, the man convicted of killing two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, has COVID-19 and should be transferred to a hospital. “On Friday, January 28, Leonard Peltier tested positive for COVID-19 at Coleman I U.S. Federal Penitentiary” according to the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee. “Supporters and family urgently ask…
Rep. Dusty JohnsonPIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson is seeking reelection to a third term. The 45-year-old Republican on Monday announced his run for the state’s lone House seat in a statement that promoted his record and effectiveness on agriculture policy. Johnson is facing a primary challenge from state Rep. Taffy Howard. Democrats have not announced a candidate for…
