South Dakota State University (SDSU) has once again been recognized as the safest college campus in South Dakota, according to a recent report by SafeHome.org. This prestigious recognition is based on the university’s low violent crime rate, which is an impressive 0.24 incidents per 1,000 students. SDSU also holds the title of the safest campus in the region, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Nebraska.

University Police Department Chief Tim Heaton emphasized the institution’s commitment to safety, stating, “We are fully committed to providing the highest level of professional police and public safety services to the university community. The protection and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors has always been our top priority.” Heaton also highlighted the importance of accreditation, training, consultation, teamwork, and open discussion with campus constituencies on law enforcement and related safety matters.

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South Dakota now has a single set of laws for how professional and occupational license applications are to be handled.

South Dakota licensing boards previously had broad discretion and could deny applicants for any felony conviction. That’s no longer the case.

Continue reading “Felony convictions no longer mean automatic license denials” →

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters had a new video released in an attempt to clarify the rules under which First Step Act credits are earned and applied toward a term of incarceration. It represents a leap in transparency by explaining both the rewards prisoners can earn to get home sooner and the complexities of the First Step Act, which was signed into law under President Donald Trump in December 2018. A full transcript of the video is available here.

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The computer screen showed hundreds of dots on a map, each one indicating a sports betting app in use. One cluster of dots caught the investigator’s eye. He zoomed in and saw it was the athletic facilities at the University of Iowa.

The cluster was “one of those where once you see it, you can’t unsee it,” a source with knowledge of the map told ESPN.

Continue reading “Inside the historic Iowa athlete sports betting prosecution” →

As of today, several varieties of intoxicating hemp products are illegal to sell or produce in the state of South Dakota.

That doesn’t necessarily put them out of reach for South Dakotans.

It also doesn’t mean death for the market in alternative intoxicants that’s emerged across South Dakota and the nation in part thanks to a loophole in the 2018 federal farm bill, which legalized hemp.

Continue reading “Law banning sale of some near-pot products takes effect, but won’t prevent every legal high” →

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley hopes a new basic law enforcement training course that prioritizes tribal recruits will prove the state could host regional training for Native American officers from the Upper Midwest.

Jackley and U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell spoke Monday at the George S. Mickelson Law Enforcement Center in Pierre, in advance of a media tour of the facility and presentations on the ongoing course.

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The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that it is not a federal crime for government officials to accept gratuities of appreciation in the aftermath of an official act.

“The answer is no,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in the majority opinion regarding whether an anti-corruption law, known as Section 666, prohibited gratuities for government officials, such as gift cards, lunches, plaques, books, framed photos “or the like,” following an official act. Rather, according to the ruling, the law in question solely addresses bribes solicited or promised before an official government act has taken place. Bribes, not gratuities, are punishable by up to 10 years in prison, the court found.

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Hoping you have a safe and wonderful Independence Day holiday!

“I am an American, free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit.” – Theodore Roosevelt

South Dakota lawmakers passed 234 bills during this year’s legislative session and on Monday, July 1, 208 of those new laws will go into effect.

Some of the laws going into effect allow for $10 million to the Aeronautics Commission for improvement grants for public airports. In June, the commission heard applications from nine public airports, including the Sioux Falls Regional Airport which applied for $15 million to help pay for construction of a new concourse that will provide a minimum of four additional new gates and adjoining terminal apron.

Another law changes the designation of what qualifies for a legal newspaper. In Sioux Falls, the city council designated The Dakota Scout as the city’s legal newspaper starting July 1. One law taking effect stops a person that lives outside the state of South Dakota for at least 180 aggregate days in a calendar year from being eligible for resident hunting and fishing licenses.

Twenty-six bills were declared an emergency and went into effect immediately after Gov. Kristi Noem signed them. Read about those bills here.

One law that was scheduled to go into effect July 1 but won’t be is Senate Bill 201, known as the so-called Landowner Bill of Rights. Opponents believe they have gathered enough signatures to force SB201 onto the November election ballot.

House bills going into effect July 1

HB 1003 updates a reference to the Internal Revenue Code for purposes of higher education savings plans.

HB 1004 updates the official code of laws

HB 1005 revises the manner of citing the Administrative Rules of South Dakota.

HB 1006 increases the amount of time permitted the Interim Rules Review Committee to review final permanent rulemaking materials.

HB 1007 amends the requirement to employ a county veterans’ service officer.

HB 1008 modifies the eligibility for admission to the state veterans’ home and repeal the residency requirement.

HB 1011 revises the membership of the South Dakota Capitol Complex Restoration and Beautification Commission.

HB 1012 adopts the interstate counseling licensure compact and revises educational requirements to comply with the compact.

HB 1013 adopts the advanced practice registered nurse compact.

You can read the full article at KELO-TV.

In the wake of recent flooding in southeast South Dakota, Attorney General Marty Jackley has issued a warning to residents about potential scams. These scams, often related to fraudulent home repairs and charity appeals, tend to surface during natural disasters.

Continue reading “Beware of Scams in Wake of South Dakota Flooding, Warns Attorney General” →