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
Bird flu spreading, but no human cases in South Dakota
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- The spring migration is at its peak - and that means increased risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly called bird flu. South Dakota reported its first case involving a dairy herd late last week, becoming the eighth state with cases involving dairy cows. State Health Secretary Mel...
Apr 15, 2024
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Rules committee holds off on GFP plan to issue more non-resident waterfowl licenses
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- A South Dakota Legislative committee tapped the brakes today on plans to allow more non-resident waterfowl licenses to be issued next fall.The prairie pothole region in the northeastern part of the state is viewed as some of the best waterfowl hunting area in the nation, and that's where the co...
Apr 15, 2024
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Homicide in Custer ends with multi-state pursuit
CUSTER, S.D. (KELO.com) -- A Friday night homicide in Custer ends with the suspect's suicide in Colorado. The Custer County Sheriff's Office Friday night responded to a report of a homicide at a home west of Custer on U.S. Highway 16. Officers found a deceased adult male. An adult female, who also was assaulted, had dr...
Apr 13, 2024
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South Dakota on the lookout for elder abuse
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Elder abuse is in the spotlight in South Dakota. This week 82-year-old Richard Spry and 75-year-old Susan Spry, both of Texas, were found guilty of stealing more than 500-thousand dollars from folks in South Dakota. Attorney General Marty Jackley says the state is on the lookout for elder abu...
Apr 13, 2024
Elderly Texas couple guilty of abusing the elderly
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- An elderly Texas couple convicted of abusing the elderly. Attorney General Marty Jackley says 82-year old Richard Spry and his 75-year old wife Susan stole up to a half-million dollars from an adult who was elderly or had a disability. They both face maximum sentences of 27 and 26 years in pr...
Apr 11, 2024
Rounds: tribal police training a problem while he was Governor - State now offering police academy training for South Dakota tribes
WASHINGON, DC (KELO.com) -- Tribal leaders have declared states of emergency due to runaway crime on the reservations. Tribes are having a tough time recruiting officers for law enforcement. Senator Mike Rounds says it's a long-running problem. Tribal leaders are trying to get a handle on runaway crime rates on the r...
Apr 11, 2024
Attorney General's group claims victory on greenhouse gas rules
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) -- Attorney General Marty Jackley is celebrating a victory over the Biden Administration on greenhouse gas emissions. Jackley and 20 of his colleagues challenged mandates from the U-S Department of Transportation for states to establish overreaching targets for CO2 emissions. Jackley says one thi...
Apr 08, 2024
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