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From increases in minimum wage to recreational marijuana, these new laws take effect in 2023

From increases in minimum wage to recreational marijuana, these new laws take effect in 2023

As President Joe Biden scored several legislative wins last year, voters across the country headed to the polls in November to decide on local measures.

The passage of several of those measures will lead to new state laws this year. And Americans in 2023 will also feel the impact of several provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that was enacted over the summer.

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Attorney General releases Crime in South Dakota 2021 report

Attorney General releases Crime in South Dakota 2021 report

The Office of the Attorney General today released the Crime in South Dakota 2021 report. This report is compiled annually by the Attorney General’s Criminal Statistical Analysis Center (SAC). Despite technical and staffing issues that affected the 2021 reporting, this publication is designed to reflect the actual arrest and reporting information by South Dakota law enforcement.

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Child poverty rates highest in states that haven’t raised minimum wage

Child poverty rates highest in states that haven’t raised minimum wage

Of the 20 states that have failed to raise the minimum wage above the federal $7.25 an hour standard, 16 have more than 12% of their children living in poverty, according to a States Newsroom analysis of wage and poverty data. Anti-poverty advocates say that’s a sign that there’s an urgent need for lawmakers to increase the federal minimum wage and do more to help struggling families.

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Back the Blue laws gain popularity, expand qualified immunity and other rights for police

Back the Blue laws gain popularity, expand qualified immunity and other rights for police

ALTOONA, Iowa — Whitney Smith McIntosh adjusts her Blue Lives Matter hat and Blue Lives Matter shirt, places her Blue Lives Matter flag in the holder next to her door, and shoos her dog away from her “Kim Reynolds for Governor” yard sign.

The community activist and mother of three speaks of her family’s history. Her mother immigrated from Sicily at age 4. Her father’s side can be traced to people who were enslaved on a South Carolina plantation.

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Roads in the tri-state receive low marks in latest federal highway safety report

Roads in the tri-state receive low marks in latest federal highway safety report

Recently, the tri-state region scored low in the national highway safety report. The Report says South Dakota and Nebraska need much improvement in adopting more roadway safety laws on distracted driving and child passenger safety.

The 2023 Highway Safety Report says South Dakota and Nebraska have less than five out of the recommended 16 laws needed for safety. The report marked Nebraska and South Dakota in red.

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Did You Know Squatters Can Claim Rights To Your Property In Iowa?

Did You Know Squatters Can Claim Rights To Your Property In Iowa?

I was a little bit surprised when I first found out about this interesting “possession law” here in Iowa. After a certain amount of time, a squatter can put in a claim for ownership of a property you own. It could be land, a building, or a house. It does take a bit of time and there are things you can do if you run into a squatting problem but the fact that this is even possible is nuts.
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South Dakota governor bans TikTok for state agencies, warning of security threat

South Dakota governor bans TikTok for state agencies, warning of security threat

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem spoke out following her enactment of an executive order prohibiting state agencies or those who contract with them from accessing the China-owned social media app TikTok – warning the Chinese Communist Party is ripping information from users.

“It’s off our networks. It’s blocked off of our servers. Any state employee, anybody who contracts with the state of South Dakota, anybody who uses any of our systems no longer will be able to download or utilize this app because of the national security threat that it is,” Noem told Fox News on Wednesday.

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