State/Local
Waiters see promise in wage raise
For students living off tips earned waiting tables, there are good nights, bad nights and disastrous nights. The current minimum wage for waiters and waitresses is $2.13 an hour. If a White House initiative proposed in March were to come into effect, the minimum wage for tipped workers would be raised to $4.90 an hour, […]
USD prepares to host first local March of Dimes walk
Although members of the University of South Dakota’s Golden Key International Honour Society participated in a March of Dimes walk last year, the group is hosting its own local walk this year. Members of the student group walked in the Sioux City march last year, but because all of the funds raised went to the […]
Academic probation rates declining
The number of University of South Dakota students placed on academic probation is on the decline, said Stephen Ward, director of the Academic and Career Planning Center. BREAKOUT: According to USD’s website, “If a student’s cumulative grade point average falls below a 2.0, they will be placed on ‘Academic Probation.’ Student who are placed on […]
Producing sustainable agriculture, local farmer offers shares of fresh produce to community
With clear skies, the temperature hovering just above freezing and a light breeze signifies the beginning of busy season for Sam Heikes. Inside his greenhouse the temperature is set to 85 degrees. Leaves from the lettuce, spinach and other cold-tolerant plants are sprouting. Heikes operates a farm located less than a mile northeast of the […]
South Dakota Legislature passes texting and driving ban
Drivers in South Dakota will now be cited tickets for texting and driving after the State Legislature passed a bill making it a secondary offense. After weeks of negotiation, Senate Bill 142, banning texting while driving in the state, passed March 14 with a 52-18 vote in the House and a 28-7 vote in the […]
Vermillion works to retain USD students
The Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company (VCDC) is working on three ways to retain University of South Dakota students in Vermillion after graduation. With the addition of Eagle Creek Software Services, residential property Bliss Pointe and the Prentis Park master plan, the VCDC and Vermillion City Council are making improvements to make Vermillion an […]
Pressler: There is a poisonous paralysis between Republicans and Democrats in Washington
Sen. Larry Pressler served two terms in the U.S House of Representatives from 1975 to 1979, and in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1997 for South Dakota. He is coming back into the political spotlight of the state with his current run as an independent to fill the vacant senator position to be left […]
Tom Brokaw, 74, reveals multiple myeloma cancer
In 21 years of anchoring the NBC Nightly News, Tom Brokaw reported stories on a daily basis to millions of viewers. Now the news has shifted to him, after the University of South Dakota alumnus announced he has cancer. Brokaw, NBC News special correspondent and 1964 graduate of USD, released a statement Tuesday he was […]
Vermillion Middle School students study Asian Carp, win SD Samsung STEM contest
Students from Natasha Gault’s Vermillion Middle School eighth grade science class spoke to the Vermillion City Council about how the possible intrusion of Asian Carp in the Missouri River could be detrimental to the ecosystem that flows through the area. Because of their efforts, the class won $20,000 worth of technology from Samsung for their […]
Bill would nullify texting while driving ban in city
A bill examining local government control over banning texting while driving was introduced by South Dakota Speaker of the House Brian Gosch during the 86th S.D. Legislative session. If passed, House Bill 1177 would invalidate any city ordinance illegalizing any form of inattentive driving. Seven cities in South Dakota — including Vermillion — currently have […]