Ernie Otten News Today

Republicans are poised for plenty of guaranteed state legislative victories in the 2024 general election. But most of the candidates in South Dakota’s dominant political party who want a seat

Senate Bill 49A sets aside $10 million in federal money, about $132 million in general fund money and another $93 million in state budget reserve money for a proposed new men's prison.

South Dakota House passes bill that would allow removal of signatures from initiated measure petitions

Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko told lawmakers Wednesday that the final cost of building the men's prison could be expected in November.

Lawmakers in Pierre have already begun discussing a series of prison-related and criminal defense bills. While some have made the first step toward becoming law, others haven’t seen progress at all.

Bills involving certain aspects of the criminal justice system are making their way through legislative committees as the first week of the 99th Legislative Session wraps up.

The state would pay the legal defense fees for inmates who commit crimes behind the prison walls under a measure endorsed by a group of legislators Friday morning at the

Lawmakers heard two bills on Friday that involve different aspects of the criminal justice system.

A Republican lawmaker from Tea has introduced a bill that would require the DOC to pay attorney fees for inmates who commit crimes while inside any DOC facility across the state.

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — A decades-old state law requires South Dakota’s governor “prepare and submit a budget report to the Legislature” no later than “the first Tuesday after the first Monday of December” and says she may do so in person. Republican Governor Kristi Noem plans to follow that tradition on Tuesday afternoon, when she […]