A South Dakota House committee on Wednesday killed legislation that would have eliminated the death penalty in the state, voting 10-to-1 to send the bill to the “41st day” — the Legislature’s term for defeating a measure.

House Bill 1268, introduced by Rep. Tim Reisch, R-Howard, would have repealed capital punishment by removing the death penalty as an authorized sentence for Class A felonies — the state’s most serious crimes. The bill’s defeat keeps the death penalty on the books in South Dakota, where one inmate currently sits on death row.

Continue reading “SD House Committee Kills Bill to Repeal Death Penalty” →

As the search for Nancy Guthrie stretches into a second week, her alleged captors are reportedly seeking a $6 million Bitcoin ransom, illustrating how cryptocurrency has reshaped the business of extortion.

Guthrie, 84, the mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie, was abducted from her home in Arizona, with investigators later confirming only limited details about a ransom demand.

Continue reading “Nancy Guthrie case: Why criminals are turning to cryptocurrency for ransoms” →

A bill on fertility fraud inspired by a Netflix documentary is on its way to the South Dakota House of Representatives after clearing its first screening committee Friday morning.

House Bill 1164 would make the knowing use by a licensed medical provider of their own reproductive material or the reproductive material of another person to inseminate a patient without their written consent both a crime and a civil cause of action.

A doctor who uses their own sperm to inseminate someone would not be able to use consent for the use of an anonymous donor as a defense against prosecution or a civil lawsuit.

Continue reading “Bill criminalizing fraudulent insemination moves to full South Dakota House of Representatives” →

Two pieces of legislation are going to South Dakota’s House and Senate floors with different levels of increased penalties for disturbing worshippers.

One bill, introduced by Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer, R-Aberdeen, would create a new felony crime of entering or remaining in a place of worship with the intent to “menace or harass congregants or employees,” or for “the purpose of political intimidation of or the incitement of fear of violence in those attending.”

Continue reading “Disrupting worship services could become a felony as dueling bills advance to chamber floors” →

The Trump administration and the Republican Party are currently scrambling to deal with the fallout after the unjustifiable killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino have been sidelined after spending the weekend lying about Pretti and blaming him for his own death. The border czar Tom Homan, who was under investigation for public corruption before returning to office, will now oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota. Republicans in Congress are fretting about the public backlash.

Continue reading “The Legal Fallout in Minnesota Has Only Just Begun” →

State and local law enforcement in Minnesota have said they are investigating federal agents’ killing of Alex Pretti and have gone to court to block federal officials from destroying or altering evidence. Videos show Pretti was disarmed and restrained on the ground when he was shot multiple times last weekend, part of a pattern across the country of escalating violence by federal officers.

It’s not easy for states to prosecute federal law enforcement officers, particularly if federal officials impede an investigation. At the same time, states have more power than people may realize.

Continue reading “When Can States Prosecute Federal Agents?” →

The South Dakota Highway Patrol announced on Monday that sobriety checkpoints will be conducted in 15 counties throughout February.

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Imagine criminals using Bitcoin or Ethereum to hide money from scams, hacks, or worse. Law enforcement wants tools to fight back. On January 6, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced new bills to update state laws. One big change? A proposal to let police seize digital currency during criminal probes.

This move comes as crypto plays a bigger role in bad activities. Its fast transfers, no bank checks, and border-free moves make it perfect for crooks. But South Dakota’s laws don’t clearly say crypto counts as “property” that cops can grab. This bill fixes that gap. Continue reading “South Dakota’s Crypto Crackdown: AG Pushes Legislation to Seize Digital Currency in Crime Fights” →

South Dakota will expand a specialty program for people facing drug charges, a move spurred by a decision last year to lessen the penalties for drug use.

The state will also pilot a program meant to keep a closer eye on people serving probation sentences, South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Jensen said Wednesday during his State of the Judiciary message to lawmakers.

Continue reading “Chief justice outlines roadmap to more services for drug offenders, young people and probationers” →

South Dakota’s top law enforcement official wants lawmakers to stiffen penalties for selling drugs in prison and making deepfake pornography, to create consumer protections for DNA data, and to give internet crime investigators swifter access to suspects’ user data.

Those bills are among the 10 proposed by Attorney General Marty Jackley for the 2026 legislative session that begins Tuesday at the Capitol in Pierre.

Continue reading “Prison drugs, deepfakes, DNA data-sharing among topics for attorney general’s legislative package” →