PIERRE, S.D. A judge-turned-lawmaker urged colleagues in the South Dakota Senate on Tuesday to abolish the state’s death penalty for almost all crimes, recalling that one of the most difficult actions he took during his career on the bench was sentencing a man to die.
Republican Arthur Rusch presented his case for a bill that would allow the death penalty only for people convicted of killing a law enforcement officer or firefighter.
The South Dakota Catholic Conference and some conservative lawmakers are supporting the bill, but their fellow Republicans, prosecutors and a murder victim’s family are actively opposing it.
In political reversal, longshot mask mandate in South Dakota heads to the full Senate
Senate Bill 125, a measure requiring masks indoors in South Dakota, overcame steep political odds by clearing a health committee and vaulting toward debate by the full Senate, albeit without recommendation from the committee. Lawmakers were pessimistic about the measure s final passage, but said a public conversation on the bill s merits could further encourage mask-use in a state rocked by the virus. Written By: Christopher Vondracek | ×
Sen. Reynold Nesiba, left, testifies in favor of Senate Bill 125, which would temporarily impose a statewide mask mandate for South Dakota to help interrupt the spread of the deadly coronavirus. The Health and Human Services Committee adopted his measure 5-2 without recommendation. (Christopher Vondracek / Forum News Service)
S.D. lawmakers off to slow start in regulating legal weed, but industry ramping up Nick Lowrey, South Dakota News Watch
Entrepreneurs across South Dakota are already taking steps to claim a share of the state’s soon-to-be-legal marijuana market, but legislators and regulators are off to a slow start in crafting laws and rules to govern the controversial new industry.
The sale, possession and use of recreational and medicinal marijuana are set to become legal in South Dakota for the first time on July 1. But when the 2021 South Dakota legislative session started on Jan. 12, only one bill regarding marijuana had been filed.