Pierre, SD, USA / DRGNews
May 3, 2021 | 4:27 PM
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) A panel of judges is hearing arguments over whether the U.S. Census Bureau can use a controversial statistical technique to keep people’s information private in the numbers used for drawing political districts. Monday’s hearing hinges on a balancing test: The method known as “differential privacy” must meet the federal legal requirement for maintaining the confidentiality of people who participated in the 2020 census. But it also has to allow the numbers to be sufficiently accurate for the highly-partisan process of redrawing congressional and legislative districts. Because a panel of three federal judges is deciding the matter, any appeal could go straight to the Supreme Court.
Special sessions by District 24 Senator Mary Duvall.
As Veto Day drew to a close, the Governor indicated she would be working with legislative leaders to schedule a Special Session to deal with three issues: fairness in women’s sports, medical marijuana, and the latest round of COVID relief money. The Legislature has already set aside November 8-9 as a time to meet in Special Session to vote on legislative redistricting.
The State Constitution allows the governor to convene a special session by issuing a proclamation. Only business encompassed in the proclamation can be addressed during the special session. Interestingly, the constitution allows the special session to include either the entire Legislature or either house alone.
Pierre, SD, USA / DRGNews
Mar 17, 2021 1:24 PM
During the 2021 Legislative Session, lawmakers passed approved 2.4% pay increases for “the big three”– state employees, community support providers and education– and a bill (
SB57) that makes big changes to state employee health benefits.
District 24 Rep. Will Mortenson of Pierre says it was nice to be able to give the pay increase.