Democrats and Republicans (including SD's #DustyJohnson ) on the U.S. House Ag Committee clashed late into the evening over funding for food and nutrition programs as part of Republicans’ sweeping proposal for the new five-year #FarmBill . southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/23/u-s…

Under a Supreme Court ruling still in effect, people with disabilities can be sterilized without their consent, three members of Congress said.

Meanwhile, a study says South Dakota has no specific law on #ForcedSterilization .
southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/23/for…

A state commission approved grants for more than $3 million worth of airport improvement projects Thursday.

See where they money is going:
southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/commiss…

SD Republicans John Thune and Mike Rounds both voted no and the U.S. Senate failed to advance a #BorderSecurity bill, as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the runup to November’s elections.
southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/23/bip…

One top Republican in South Dakota says another top Republican has done 'significant and irreversible damage to the pro-life movement.'

The inner-party strife began when signers of an #AbortionRights petition started getting phone calls ... southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/23/rep…

U.S. Rep. #DustyJohnson , R-South Dakota, is defending changes to anti-hunger and “climate-smart” programs in a new draft of the #FarmBill . He serves on the House Ag Committee, which will review the $1.5 trillion legislation today. southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/23/sds…

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack criticized future reductions to a food-assistance program in a new U.S. House Republican #FarmBill draft: “It is essentially a crack in the coalition that is absolutely necessary to the passage of the farm bill.'
southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/22/usd…

Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko said the state will not change the location of a future men’s prison south of Sioux Falls, despite pending litigation and local opposition. southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/22/opp…

As South Dakota lawmakers discussed the cost of new prisons, a state official told them SD incarcerates twice as many people as North Dakota.

“In the business world, if I had this information, I’d be making different decisions,” one lawmaker said.
southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/22/ami…

Thirteen tribal law enforcement recruits have signed up for the state’s first-ever tribal law enforcement-specific training session. The course is a response to calls for training options closer to home than the Indian Police Academy in New Mexico. southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/13-trai…

The EPA estimates that 6% to 10% of water systems nationwide will need to reduce #PFAS contamination, at a cost averaging $1.5 billion per year over an 80-year span.

Some state officials say the strict thresholds and timelines will be difficult to meet. southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/22/sta…

Bipartisan border bill likely doomed in approaching U.S. Senate vote: South Dakota Sen. #JohnThune said Democrats are only holding a vote to protect vulnerable incumbents.
southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/21/bip…

“We have to start talking about, ‘How do we prepare for this threat?’ Because the clock is ticking, the deadlines are out.'

Health care industry representatives voiced concerns to lawmakers regarding new federal staffing standards for #NursingHomes .
southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/21/hea…

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe said its president “informed the governor that a ban from our territories is imminent,” according to a news release. The tribe was the only one of nine in the state that hadn’t yet endorsed a ban of Gov. #KristiNoem . southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/21/fla…

A petition that would establish #OpenPrimaries in South Dakota has enough signatures from registered voters to be placed on the Nov. 5 ballot, pending any challenges in the next 30 days.

More about the measure and the status of other ballot questions:
southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/open-pr…

A big thank you to Eugene Field Elementary and Sioux Falls Schools for letting me come around to talk journalism and let the kids try it out.
Kids always have the best questions.

The end of the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president is in sight after Donald Trump’s defense team rested its case.

Trump did not take the stand after his team called just two witnesses. southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/21/tru…

The U.S. Department of #Agriculture announced $300 million in funding for more than 60 groups seeking to diversify American #AgriculturalExports .

See who got the money: southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/u-s-dep…

1 million claims, including nearly 4,000 in South Dakota, have been granted for benefits under the toxic exposure #PACTAct law that Congress approved less than two years ago, following the military’s use of open air #BurnPits in Afghanistan and Iraq.
southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/21/bid…

Prosecutors rested their case against #DonaldTrump after four days of testimony from Trump’s former fixer #MichaelCohen , who says the former president was aware of a hush money cover-up. The defense paints Cohen as a liar.

Details from the courthouse: southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/05/20/pro…