Stateline Headlines

Wyoming lawmakers take serious look at South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety Program

Road Funding a Big Issue in Contest for Governor of West Virginia

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Highways emerge as a crucial topic in West Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial primary … Atlanta area officials have a long wish list of transit projects … Kansas and Texas move forward with plans for higher speed limits, and other transportation news.

Health Care Wrangling Could Delay State Aid

TODAY'S TAKE: Federal health care reform has been a divisive issue for states, but for some governors seeking immediate budget relief from Capitol Hill, the wrangling over the legislation is causing uncertainty.

Utah Lawmakers Could Override Transportation Veto

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Utah's governor faces a rare veto override as lawmakers try to designate sales tax money for transportation … New Jersey won't use a private firm to collect tolls after all … A key U.S. senator suggests states will have to raise gas taxes-not depend on the feds-for new revenue, and other transportation news.

Dearth of star power hinders S.D. Democrats

Public Lands commissioner won't run in 2014

Daugaard taps Vern Larson for School & Public Lands

No hazardous material in letters to SD lawmakers

Dearth of star power hinders S.D. Democrats

Kristi Noem: House will pass farm bill

Quirk in health law will affect few in Dakotas

S.D. getting more than $1.1M from settlement with drug company

Former South Dakota state auditor Betty Casey dies

Budget cuts to reduce unemployment benefits

It's a S.D. Democratic campaign of one with Herseth Sandlin out

David Anderson appointed to SD House of Reps.

It's a S.D. Democratic campaign of one

After cuts, districts are propping up pay again

President issues disaster declaration for seven South Dakota counties

Former S.D. state Rep. Ralph Homan dies at 84

Old name resurfaces for Senate: Rick Weiland

SD governor urges recognition of military service

GOP lawmakers see paid time off as overtime alternative

Rick Weiland's Senate run draws support from Daschle, others

Meet South Dakota's new mall salesman: Dennis Daugaard

SD governor urges recognition of military service

Internet sales tax will meet resistance

Rounds draws support from in and out of state

States Tackle School Safety After Sandy Hook Shootings

At least 20 states are considering bills that would allow some teachers to be armed. Others are focusing on emergency plans and mental health checks.

South Dakota State of the State Address 2013

PIERRE, South Dakota Jan. 8 Following is the prepared text for Gov. Dennis Daugaard's (R) 2013 State of the State Address

Wind Subsidies Raise a Storm in Heartland States

Wind-energy has been a booming industry in many states the past few years. But the federal tax credits that have helped fuel that growth is likely to disappear in a few months.

South Dakota State of the State Address 2011

PIERRE, S.D. - Jan. 11 - Following is the text of Gov. Dennis Daugaard's (R) 2011 state of the state address: Click here to hear the address. Lieutenant Governor Michels, Mr. Speaker, members of the legislature, Chief Justice Gilbertson, Justices of the Supreme Court, constitutional officers and fellow South

South Dakota State of the State Address 2010

PIERRE, S.D. - Jan. 12 - Following is the text of Gov. Mike Rounds' (R) 2010 state of the state address: Thank you all, very, very much for the kind welcome. Lieutenant Governor Daugaard, Mr. Speaker, members of the State Senate and State House of Representatives, Mr. Chief Justice Gilbertson, Justices of the Supr

South Dakota State of the State Address 2008

PIERRE, S.D., Jan. 8, 2008 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. M. Michael Rounds' (R) 2008 state of the state address. Click here to access the governor's Web page and view the address. Thank you very much. Lieutenant Governor Daugaard, Mr. Speaker, members of the State Senate and the State House of Repres

South Dakota State of the State Address 2007

PIERRE , S.D. , Jan. 9 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. M. Michael Rounds' (R) 2007 state of the state address: Click here to access the governor's Web page and view the address. Thank you very much. Lieutenant Governor Daugaard, Mr. Speaker, members of the State Senate and State House of Representativ

South Dakota State of the State Address 2006

PIERRE, S.D., Jan. 10 - Following is the prepared text of South Dakota Gov. Mike Round's (R) 2005 state of the state address. Click here to access the governor's web page and view or hear the address. Thank you very much, Lieutenant Governor Daugaard. Mr. Speaker, members of the State Senate and the State Hou

South Dakota State of the State Address 2005

PIERRE, South Dakota - Jan. 14 - Following is the text of Gov. Michael Rounds' 2005 state of the state address: Thank you. Thank you very much. Lieutenant Governor Daugaard, first of all thank you for the very kind introduction. Mr. Speaker, legislators, fellow public servants, and the people of South Dako

South Dakota State of the State Address 2004

PIERRE, South Dakota - Jan. 13 - Following is the full text of South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds 2004 state of the state address: Thank you. Thank you. As I said last year, you're in my time zone here right now. Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Speaker, legislators, fellow public servants, and the people of South Dakota, I wa

South Dakota State of the State Address 2002

PIERRE, South Dakota - Jan. 8 - Following is the partial text of Gov. Bill Janklow's 2002 State of the State Address: Thank you very much, Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you. Madam Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Legislature, and you Ladies and Gentlemen of the Sup

South Dakota State of the State Address 2001

PIERRE, South Dakota - Jan. 9 - Following is the partial text of Gov. Bill Janklow's 2001 State of the State address: Thank you very much for all of us, and thank you for those marvelous words, Pastor Hennies, and welcome, Representative Hennies and Representative Hennies. I saw some Hennies for House buttons out t

South Dakota State of the State Address 2000

PIERRE, South Dakota - Jan. 11 - Following is the partial text of Gov. William Janklow's 2000 State of the State Address: Thank you very, very much. Madam Lieutenant Governor Hillard, Mr. Chief Justice Miller, and members of the Supreme Court, you Ladies and Gentlemen who are Constitutional officers, and you

Rural States Plug Into Classroom Technology

South Dakota and Oklahoma lead the way in providing students with computer and Internet access, according to a new national survey. But the survey is bad news in one regard: It shows that the United States lags far behind other developed nations in using technology to enrich education.

States Use Data To Wrestle With Racial Profiling

Six states trying to stamp out the controversial, alleged police practice of racial profiling - selectively stopping, questioning and searching people based upon arbitrary minor offenses and the color of their skin - have enacted laws requiring officers to police themselves by recording racial data and other pertinent information on all traffic stops. They are North Carolina, Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Washington.

S.D. Voters May Decide Abortion Ban

South Dakota touched off a national tempest with its near-total ban on abortion, but the law also provoked a local grassroots movement and opened a schism in the state's dominant Republican Party. Opponents are gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to overturn the law, and abortion already is reshaping this year's state elections, in which the governor's office and all 35 state Senate seats and 70 House seats are on the ballot.

Gay Activists Hopeful in Colo., S.D., Wis.

After a series of stinging judicial defeats for same-sex marriage this summer, both sides of the issue are looking to November's elections as a test of how far public attitudes have changed toward gay couples.

South Dakota Abortion Ban Reverberates in Election

Conservative voters delivered a stinging rebuke to four Republican South Dakota legislators who refused to support passage of the nation's strictest ban on abortion. The four state senators were defeated in South Dakota's primary election on Tuesday (June 6), when eight other incumbents also lost their legislative seats: three in Alabama, three in Iowa and two in Montana. In all, 38 incumbent state legislators nationwide, including six-high ranking legislators, have lost re-election bids so far this year.

South Dakota Poised to Be Last in '08 Primary Schedule

South Dakota has no problems being dead-last in the 2008 presidential primary sweepstakes.

Tracking the Recession: How Layoffs Affect One Small Town

The story of the recession often is told in dry statistics, such as the rising unemployment rate. But the downturn has a human side, too, as a laid-off factory worker in Philip, S.D., will tell you.

Fight Over Gun Restrictions Heats Up

State and federal lawmakers continue to push for fewer gun restrictions in spite of the national conversation surrounding gun violence following recent school shootings in Ohio and California, and the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla.

South Dakota State of the State Address 2012

PIERRE, S.D. - Jan. 11 - Following is the text of Gov. Dennis Daugaard's (R) 2012 state of the state address: Lieutenant Governor Michels, Mr. Speaker, members of the State Senate and State House of Representatives, Chief Justice Gilbertson, Justices of the Supreme Court, other constitutional officers

South Carolina Dials Up Pressure Over Boeing Plant

TODAY'S TAKE: South Carolina officials are complaining about an effort by the National Labor Relations Board to derail a $1 billion Boeing plant in their state, saying the NLRB would be undermining free enterprise.

Credit Card Companies Fuel South Dakota Surplus

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: Many credit card firms make their home in South Dakota, which does not limit the interest rates they can charge their customers. While the sector has been hit hard recently amid tougher federal regulations, new state tax collection figures suggest it may be coming back, helping South Dakota in the process.

South Dakota Weighs Ban on Public Sector Collective Bargaining

MANAGEMENT BEAT: As the debate on a new labor law heats up, the bill's sponsor unexpectedly switches sides.

In South Dakota, Plenty of Jobs, Not Enough Workers

South Dakota has so many open private-sector jobs that its governor recently signed a contract with Manpower, the international staffing firm, to recruit 1,000 workers from other states to fill them.

South Dakota Governor Pitches Balanced Budget Amendment

TAX AND BUDGET BEAT: South Dakota already balances its budget each year, but Governor Dennis Daugaard thinks his state would be better off with the requirement explicitly in the state constitution.

Summary of the South Dakota State of the State Address

In his final state of the state address, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds (R) called for lawmakers to help carry on the state's progress in education and the economy, saying South Dakota's low 5 percent unemployment rate shows the state is heading in the right direction.

Gubernatorial Candidates, Ohio - Wyoming

For a comprehensive list of gubernatorial candidates in Ohio through Wyoming.

Two States Drop Out of New Dropout Plan

Last summer, all 50 governors pledged to adopt the same formula for tallying high school graduation rates to get a realistic state-by-state picture of how many students are dropping out. But two states already have opted out of the plan, and three more are still deciding whether they'll fall in line.

Govs Start to Back 2008 Candidates

Eleven governors have made endorsements in the 2008 presidential race so far, and the leading beneficiaries of early skirmishing for support from state leaders are Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton and Republican hopeful John McCain.

New 'Human Transporter' Getting Green Light

With a national lobbying effort clearing its path, a much-ballyhooed new "human transporter" called Segway is scooting through state legislatures, winning regulatory changes that allow it to be used on sidewalks and other pathways frequented by pedestrians.

East Coast Governors Split on Drilling

TODAY'S TAKE: President Obama's announcement Wednesday (March 31) that the federal government would allow new offshore oil and gas drilling, primarily off the East Coast, received a mixed reaction from governors of the affected states. Some saw it as long-overdue while others raised economic and environmental concerns. But the reactions did not break down along party lines.

Four States Consider Income Tax; Four States Reject It

Facing education funding woes and a variety of budget shortfalls, lawmakers in New Hampshire and three other states that do not collect income taxes considered reversing course this year--and in each case defeated or abandoned those plans for fear of retribution from the voters. To read about this politically perilous policy issue, click on

Five More Governor's Races Set for Fall

TODAY'S TAKE: Voters in five states chose their major-party candidates for governor on Tuesday (June 8), while the Republican contenders in a sixth - South Carolina - are headed for a runoff. Among the prominent headlines: Nevada's Jim Gibbons became the first sitting governor in state history to be rejected in a primary, and former Iowa governor Terry Branstad is one step closer to a return.

Obama Decision Denies Keystone XL Permit

TODAY'S TAKE: A controversial oil pipeline project is put on hold as its route through Nebraska remains a subject of fierce debate.

Interior issues new public land fracking rule

U.S. Indian Schools Fear Funding Cuts

Of the 185 Indian schools in the United States managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the majority -- especially those in Montana, New Mexico, and South Dakota -- face financial problems despite small improvements in funding.

States Test Whether Public Pension Benefits Given Can Be Taken Away

Most changes made to shore up state pension funds have been aimed at new employees. Now, three states are targeting current retirees - a group that has been considered off limits.

Report: Six States Changing the Way Health Care is Governed

HEALTH BEAT: Fiscally strapped states are using more managed care, cutting doctors' fees and limiting drugs and medical services to contain rising Medicaid costs. A few are taking a broader approach to health care spending.

WORTH NOTING: Lawmaker Loses to a Cockroach

A Kansas lawmaker settles a lawsuit for accosting a cockroach-costumed protester. An Oklahoma official tries to stop Christmas gifts for juveniles in state custody. And the South Dakota Legislature schedules a more work-friendly session. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Tourism Incentives Get Tri-State Tryout

Maryland hopes to reel in visitors with a million-dollar fish. Iowa and South Dakota hope free gas vouchers will attract more tourists. It's all part of the annual summer scramble to pump travel dollars into state economies.

Abortion Laws Blocked in Indiana, Kansas and South Dakota

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: States enacted a record number of restrictions on abortion this year, but some of the most-closely watched new laws are on hold until the courts determine if they are legal.

Craig Scandal: All Eyes on a Governor, Again

For the third time in less than a year, the sudden departure from office of a U.S. senator - or the threat of a departure - has thrust a governor into the national spotlight, calling attention to the sometimes murky and often politicized process of how states choose congressional replacements.

State Budget Gaps Balloon to $97 Billion

Still reeling from high gas prices this summer and plummeting retirement savings this fall, Americans will soon be feeling the pinch in other ways - from increased tuition to potentially higher taxes, as states try to close some $97 billion in budget gaps over the next two years.

Report: 9 states May Lose Under Bush Plan

Nine states would receive less money from Washington, D.C., if Congress adopts President Bush's 2007 budget proposal, while most others would see modest increases, suggests a new analysis by Federal Funds Information for States, a subscription service for state officials.

Seven States Win Federal Tax-Break Extension

Taxpayers in seven states without income taxes are poised to keep a federal tax break while four Gulf Coast states stand to gain millions of dollars in new oil royalties, thanks to the outgoing Republican-controlled Congress.

Latest News From State Delegations

If vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin looked at the Florida delegation Wednesday night, she would've seen nothing but women. The male members of the delegation decided to give up their seats to the female delegates, alternates, staffers and guests, reports Bob Dart of The Palm Beach Press .

Congressional Wrangling Leaves Sales Tax Deduction in Question

TODAY'S TAKE: Residents of seven states without an individual income tax are watching the budget debate on Capitol Hill to see whether they will be able to keep writing off state sales taxes on goods they purchase.

Governors Promote Employment for People With Disabilities

A yearlong initiative at the National Governors Association examines the roles that states and businesses can play in finding jobs for people with disabilities.

Colorado Theater Shooting Revives Gun Rights Debate

The nation’s latest mass shooting has revived debate over its patchwork of gun laws. But advocates on both sides of the issue expect that public shock and outrage over the killing of 12 people at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater will do little to shift momentum in statehouses and on Capitol Hill toward harsher restri

Cooling Economy Slows Growth Of State Tourist Income

It's official. The sagging U.S. economy has become a drag on tourism and business travel in most parts of the country. At least that's what the Federal Reserve Board says in its latest "Beige Book" report, which monitors the burps and sputters of the nation's economic engine. However, travel industry officials predict overall business and leisure travel this year will finish the summer slightly above last year's rate, one of the best in history.

Tribes Follow States In Pursuit of Tobacco Money

Emboldened by the $206 billion tobacco lawsuit settlement that has enriched the coffers of 46 states, Native American tribes across the nation are following suit and bringing legal action themselves. In the most recent case, a coalition of 22 tribes from five states filed a federal lawsuit in California on June 3 claiming that the tribes should have gotten a share of the money. For more information, click on

Inmates Gladly Take on Odd Jobs for Low or No Pay

Gone are the days of the chain gang. Today, states are finding more creative uses for felons, from saving retired thoroughbreds in Kentucky to growing poinsettias for state buildings in Iowa to fighting mudslides in California. The work saves millions for states and gives inmates something worthwhile to do.

Tuesday's Primaries: What to Watch

TODAY'S TAKE: In the busiest primary election day of the year, voters in 10 states will go to the polls Tuesday (June 8) to decide a wide range of questions from whether Maine will reform its tax code to which Republican will face off against Jerry Brown in the California governor's race. Stateline outlines key themes to watch in the state-level contests.

Budget Cuts to Programs for Elderly May Cost Money Later

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: Programs for the elderly are cut back in California and Illinois ... legislators quarrel with the governor over reductions to senior citizen care in New Jersey ... state monitoring of some elder facilities is eliminated in New Hampshire, and other social policy news.

States Help Smokers Quit By Telephone

What do South Dakota and 32 other states have in common? The answer is surprisingly successful telephone hotlines that help smokers kick the habit.

Term Limits Hit Lawmakers In 11 States

Legislatures in 11 states face fallout from term limits in this year's elections with 330 lawmakers being forced to step down after 12 or fewer years in office. The Michigan state Senate, which will lose 27 of its 38 members, will be hardest hit. The Missouri Legislature will suffer heavily as well -- it bids farewell to 75 of its 163 House members and 12 of its 34 Senators

Ultrasound at Center of State Abortion Wars

A new Oklahoma law slated to take effect Aug. 1 requires doctors to show a woman considering abortion an ultrasound image of her fetus and recite details of its development. Experts expect a slew of similar statutes next year as abortion foes push states to require the procedure for all abortions.

Western Governors University Improves Its Grade

Western Governors University, an online academic institution established by 19 states in 1997, has more than doubled its enrollment in the past year to 3,000 students. The surge in enrollment came as e-learning at colleges and universities across the country recorded a dramatic rise. While the number of students taking courses on the Internet is increasing, academics and entrepreneurs disagree over whether the trend is good or bad.

Slumping Economy Hits Prosperous States

With the fall in energy and farm prices, many well-off states are finding they can't escape the national recession.

Democratic mid-term gains affecting policy

So complete was the Democratic rout in the 2006 midterm elections that the party even gained legislative influence in Alaska, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming - states long dominated by the Republicans. And those gains, though small, are translating into policy achievements.

Report: 11 States Emerging From Recession

It's going to be a long, hard climb out of the current economic downturn for many recession-ridden states hit hard by the housing crash, unemployment and shrinking revenues. But as the national economy starts its slow recovery, 11 states and the District of Columbia are showing signs of emerging from the recession, according to a new report.

Census Bureau Reports on States Tax Burden

If you live in one of these five states -- Connecticut, Hawaii, Delaware, Minnesota and Massachusetts you can boast, or complain, that you shoulder the heaviest tax burden in the nation.

Results of June 6 State Primaries

Four Republican state senators who voted against South Dakota's strict new abortion ban were ousted in Tuesday's primary; several incumbent state legislators in Alabama, Iowa and Montana also got the boot. In governor races, California state treasurer Phil Angelides won the Democratic nomination and will face Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). In Alabama, Gov. Bob Riley beat back a GOP primary challenge from former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, known for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the state courthouse. Here is a sampling of local news coverage of the results in races for state offices in the June 6 primaries.

Pat Quinn Rehires His Old Chief of Staff as an Adviser

TRANSITION WATCH: Jerry Stermer returns three months after he resigned in Illinois, charges of nepotism in South Dakota and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

The 5 States Most Vulnerable to Sequestration’s Education Cuts

Automatic federal budget cuts will slash more than $1 billion in K-12 education dollars this year, paring everything from Title I money for low-income students to school improvement initiatives.

States with Heavy Military Presence Hurt Hardest

The White House published a 50-state list of potential impacts from the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration. States that rely heavily on military spending would be hurt worst.

Report: Death Penalty Becoming “Irrelevant”

This year marked more decline in the usage of the death penalty, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Abortion foes split on state bans

In defiance of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, lawmakers in at least five states are proposing bills to immediately ban all abortions, except when the woman's life is in danger. The bills' sponsors say the time is right to test the new alignment of the U.S. Supreme Court. But some pro-choice activists fear the strategy could backfire.

More states sanction deadly force

A year-old Florida law sanctioning the use of deadly force against muggers, carjackers or other assailants outside the home is rapidly being adopted by other states and already is being raised as a defense in at least three shootings in Florida.