Sen. Thune: trillion dollar cost of Biden Administration regulations
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Senator John Thune is pushing back against a rush of new costly regulations issued by the Biden Administration. He says the costs go beyond the monetary expense. Thune says the new regulations are driving up costs for electricity, new vehicles, and new homes.
May 10, 2024
Rounds working to head off mandatory RFID tags for livestock
WASHINGTON, DC (KELO.com) -- It's another example of unnecessary, heavy-handed bureaucratic interference. That's how Senator Mike Rounds views new rules released by the Biden Administration today. Senator Rounds told KELO's Greg Belfrage the government is trying to force livestock producers to place electronic chips ...
May 09, 2024
Petition drives come to an end
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- Today marks the deadline for submitting petitions to place measures on the November ballot in South Dakota. The Open Primaries group filed over 46-thousand signatures yesterday. The proposed constitutional amendment calls for one primary listing all candidates for certain offices, with the to...
May 07, 2024
Grants for grads to help with housing down-payments
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- It's called "Grants for Grads", and it's designed to attract more workers to South Dakota. Brent Adney, director of homeownership programs with the State Housing Development Authority, says the agency is reviving the program, which was also offered several years ago. The state hopes ...
May 07, 2024
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Governor spends weekend defending new book
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- Governor Kristi Noem spent at least part of the weekend defending her new book. She appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation", where she was questioned about a reportedly false claim that she met with North Korean Dictator Kim Jung Un. The book - "No Going Back" - is set to relea...
May 06, 2024
Noem's "tall tale" about "short dictator" proven false
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Kristi Noem's new tome is a battleground between fact and fiction. The Governor's camp is attempting to clarify the circumstances around two alleged interactions with foreign leaders that she writes about in her forthcoming book, "No Going Back." The truth of those incidents - a can...
May 04, 2024
New home buying program aimed to keep college grads in South Dakota
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) -- It's an initiative to stem the tide of South Dakota's "brain drain." South Dakota Housing has introduced a new initiative to assist recent graduates in purchasing their first home in South Dakota. The program is open to those who have not owned a home in the past three years, purcha...
May 04, 2024
South Dakota gets funding to get the lead out
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KELO.com) -- Lead drinking water pipes are on their way out. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has committed millions of dollars to South Dakota and five other states to identify and replace lead service lines, thereby preventing exposure to lead in drinking water. This funding is part of Presi...
May 04, 2024
Firearms search warrant reveals possible bomb making operation
FLORENCE, SD (KELO.com) -- Three people have been arrested following the discovery of a possible bomb-making operation in Codington County. John Felice was arrested Friday. Christopher and Katelyn Gamble were arrested Thursday on drug, firearms, explosives and child abuse charges. The discovery of the bomb-making op...
May 03, 2024
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South Dakota economy leads the region
OMAHA, NE (KELO.com) -- Our regional economy is stuck in neutral,but South Dakota continues to shine. The April "Mid-America Business Conditions Index" from Creighton University bounced to its best reading since last September, but it's barely into positive territory. Higher interest rates are holding the e...
May 02, 2024
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Minnehaha County Republican delegates replaced by state party
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) -- Allegations of back-room deals by the state republican party. Minnehaha County's delegates to the Republican National Convention were elected at a recent meeting, but state party officials have rejected the candidates and replaced them. Initially, State GOP Chair John Wiik said the repla...
May 02, 2024
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Abortion petitions filed - legal challenge on the way
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- More than 55-thousand petition signatures have been turned in on a proposed Constitutional amendment to restore abortion rights in South Dakota, but a legal challenge is on the way. Jon Hansen, Co-Chair of the Life Defense Fund - a group opposed to the amendment - says one of the things they'v...
May 02, 2024
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Noem under fire for treatment of puppy
PIERRE, S. D. (KELO.com) -- Governor Kristi Noem is raising the ire of animal lovers. In her soon to be published book "No Going Back", Noem recounts her killing of a 14-month-old puppy named Cricket that killed neighbors chickens, ruined a hunting trip and tried to bite her. She then shot Cricket dead in a g...
Apr 27, 2024
South Dakota spared from emissions ruling
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) -- South Dakota and 20 other states will not have to abide by greenhouse gas emission standards set out by the Federal Highway Administration. South Dakota Department of Transportation legal council Karla Engle says rules specifically targeted state transportation agencies. The standards were ch...
Apr 27, 2024
4-H takes aim in Pierre area
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Some of the best young shooters in South Dakota are in Fort Pierre and Pierre this weekend for the 4-H State Shoot. John Keimig says there are contest categories for pistols, rifles, BB guns and archery. The public is invited to watch the events.
Apr 27, 2024
National Drug Take Back Day
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- Attorney General Marty Jackley is encouraging people to take advantage of National Drug Take Back Day Saturday. It's an opportunity to safely dispose of unused medications. Jackley warns, "Unneeded or unused medication can be deadly if it is used by the wrong person or was not prescribed...
Apr 26, 2024
Grocery tax repeal petitions filed - legislators looking at impact
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- The petitions are filed - now the review begins. Rick Weiland of "Take It Back" filed petitions for a ballot measure to repeal South Dakota's sales tax on groceries. He's confident they have enough signatures to make the ballot. Weiland expects the campaign to focus on how to replac...
Apr 25, 2024
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Legislative panel established to make preparations for arrival of new bombers, airmen and airwomen
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, SD (KELO.com) -- The B-21 Raiders and 14-thousand airmen and airwomen are on their way to South Dakota's Ellsworth Airforce Base. State Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree says the state has to be ready to receive them. The Legislature's Executive Board has appointed members to the Ellswor...
Apr 24, 2024
Transportation Secretary: Barriers to Amtrak service in South Dakota
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- If you're hoping to see Amtrak passenger service in South Dakota don't pack your bags too soon. State Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt says the cost would be monumental, and probably prohibitive. The other problem is ridership. South Dakota's low population probably wouldn't support the co...
Apr 24, 2024
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Gov. Noem: Pictures prove cartels operating on SD Reservations
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- She says her office has pictures to prove it. Governor Kristi Noem says drug cartels are doing big business on South Dakota Reservations, and tribal leaders are turning a blind eye to it. She says she wants to help, but tribal leaders have banned her from several reservations.
Apr 22, 2024
Dusty Johnson pushing back on efforts to oust House Speaker
WASHINGTON, DC (KELO.com) -- Congress is back to its threats to remove the House Speaker, and that has Congressman Dusty Johnson back on the warpath. Johnson says it's time for everyone to realize the government is deeply divided, which means no one gets everything they want. The latest issue of division is aid to Uk...
Apr 22, 2024
E15 gasoline extension approved by EPA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KELO.com) -- It's a victory for farmers and ethanol producers. On Friday The Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 gasoline - gasoline blended with 15% ethanol - to be sold during the summer driving season. Senator John Thune hopes this will lead to a permanent a...
Apr 20, 2024
Direct flights from Pierre to Minneapolis will end
PIERRE, S. D. (KELO.com) -- With the news that Denver Air Connection is ending flights to Minneapolis from Pierre on June 9th city leaders are expressing their disappointment that the route never lived up to the fanfare of city residents. Airport Commissioner Jamie Huizenga says the route from the beginning was designe...
Apr 20, 2024
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Legislature to look at ways to prepare for Ellsworth AFB expansion
BOX ELDER, SD (KELO.com) -- South Dakota legislators have caught their breath and are looking ahead to next year. As they do, committees will study Artificial Intelligence, protecting youth from harmful aspects of the internet, and property tax assessment procedures. Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree says another...
Apr 17, 2024
Tribes inquiring about tribal law officer training
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- Still no word on whether South Dakota Tribes will accept the state's offer to training tribal law officers - but the offer stands. Governor Noem's office has worked to provide the funding needed to train up to 48 officers. Attorney General Marty Jackley's office says at least a few of the sta...
Apr 15, 2024