State/Local
Medicaid expansion campaign kicks off in South Dakota
The recent federal stimulus bill included provisions incentivizing states to expand Medicaid coverage. While states including Wyoming have moved Medicaid expansion forward legislatively, Dakotans for Health, a political advocacy group, is working to put the policy forward as a ballot initiative in South Dakota’s 2022 elections. The South Dakota ballot initiative process requires petitioners to […]
Brief: Cultural Wellness Coalition hosting film screening at Coyote Twin
USD’s Cultural Wellness Coalition will be hosting a free screening of “Judas and the Black Messiah” at the Coyote Twin Theater in downtown Vermillion on April 8 at 7 p.m. as part of their Diverse Film Series for the Students & Community. The film, released this year in a simultaneous theatrical and streaming release on […]
Packard Exhibition held as drive-in event
To work around the difficulties of hosting an art show during the pandemic, local artists Klaire Lockheart and Aaron Packard hosted the 2021 Packard Group National Exhibition as a drive-in event. The event was the second of its kind. Lockheart conceived the idea of the exhibition last year when she decided the area didn’t have […]
AWOL and Lost and Found team up to volunteer
USD’s Alternative Weekend of off-campus Learning (AWOL) and Lost and Found organizations collaborated to volunteer at Sioux Falls’ Foster Closet. Michaela Ahrenholtz, the president of the Lost and Found organization at USD, said the Lost and Found organization aims to bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention among college students. “Foster Closet is the […]
Vermillion Public Library hosts federal tax assistance program
The Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax preparation service to lower-income individuals, disabled persons, the elderly and limited English speakers across the country. In southeastern South Dakota, the service is offered in Sioux Falls and at the Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library in downtown Vermillion. Rachelle Langdon, programming […]
Legalization of medicinal marijuana in South Dakota moves forward despite lawmakers’ objections
Recently, the South Dakota state legislature failed to pass House Bill 1100, which would delay medicinal marijuana. Because of this, Initiated Measure 26 will go into effect on July 1, 2021, which will allow medicinal marijuana to be legal in South Dakota. People can visit site if they need options of medical marijuana. Associate professor of political science and […]
New Freedom Scholarship is state’s first need-based scholarship
During South Dakota’s 2021 legislative session, the South Dakota legislature passed and Gov. Noem signed Senate Bill 171, which appropriated $50 million to contribute to the Freedom Scholarship fund. With the state’s funds in addition to other donors, the Freedom Scholarship endowment currently has $175 million of its $200 million goal. The Freedom Scholarship is […]
South Dakota House and Senate bills set to impact surrounding rural area
South Dakota has several House and Senate bills from the 2021 session projected to impact the environment and rural community influencing tax breaks for land-owners, broadband networks and meat processing and packing. These bills include House Bill 1042, House Bill 1077 and Senate Bill 34. Information on these bills is sourced from the South Dakota […]
Vermillion church finds new status as National Historical Site nominee
The United Church of Christ, a building that has sat on Main Street since 1929, has begun the process of being included in the National Register of Historical Places. Sandy Dickenson, a local architect and member of the church for 30 years, has been a part of the church’s nomination process along with parishioners Mary […]
South Dakota legislators weigh impeachment for attorney general
South Dakota’s Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg has received calls for his resignation from both law enforcement groups and Gov. Kristi Noem since he struck and killed a man with his car in September. While Ravnsborg has refused so far to resign, some in the state legislature have made moves towards impeaching him. Impeachment at the […]