State/Local
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 […]
Federal stimulus bill: How will the American Rescue Plan impact South Dakota?
President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion stimulus and economic relief bill, into law March 11. The bill has a number of wide-ranging impacts, including short-term expansions of unemployment benefits, money for state and local governments, changes to health insurance exchanges, a modification of the Child Tax Credit […]
Trans Rights March held in response to House Bill 1217
In seven cities across South Dakota, people gathered Saturday morning to make a statement and to protest a bill against trans lives and their future in sports. All events had mandatory mask requirements and were held in Pierre, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Brookings, Watertown, Eagle Butte and Vermillion. The protests were led by The Transformation […]
Coyote Business Consulting Group Version 2.0 moves forward
USD’s Coyote Business Consulting Group kicked off its 2021 session Monday. The program, launched last year during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, connects USD students with South Dakota businesses, allowing students to gain real-world experience and businesses to take advantage of students’ knowledge, while for things like the accounting of a business, getting […]
SD Department of Agriculture will merge with Department of Environment and Natural Resources
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are merging into one department. “South Dakota will be the only state in the United States that doesn’t have its own designated environmental agency,” Ailee Johns, 2020 South Dakota state senate candidate for District 17, said. Gov. Kristi Noem and South […]
New public library program helps children develop reading skills before starting school
The Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library started a new program this year. “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” is a program designed to encourage exposing children to reading and books prior to kindergarten. The program has 21 kids enrolled, and they have collectively read 1388 books so far this year. Amanda Raiche is the Youth Services […]
Eats with Ashley brings African food to Vermillion
Beginning in January, a USD student used her personal cultural knowledge to bring diverse eating options to the Vermillion community once a week. Junior exercise science major Ashley Charlie started Eats with Ashley when she noticed that there was a lack of cultural foods in Vermillion. When Charlie came to USD, she made connections within […]