Bob Mercer

South Dakota

Capitol Bureau Reporter at KELO-TV (Sioux Falls, SD)

KELOLAND Capitol Bureau. https://t.co/JGUnbxRoD2. bmercer@https://t.co/7YCQ7mgnAQ OR [email protected] OR 605-280-7580. https://t.co/7YCQ7mgnAQ Facebook: KELO Bob Merc

Articles

A look at the week ahead in our SD state government

5 days ago | keloland.com | Bob Mercer

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Here’s a first look at meetings of South Dakota state government’s boards and commissions, as well as several committees of the Legislature, that are open to the public during the new week starting Monday, June 23, 2025. Click on the name (highlighted in blue) for meeting details. Please note that any could be postponed because of adverse weather or other reasons. Monday, June 23Developmental Disabilities Council, 9 a.m. CT, 800 Governors Drive, Pierre.
Supreme Court orders new trial for convicted man

1 week ago | keloland.com | Bob Mercer

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — A man who was found guilty of threatening correctional officers while in the Hughes County jail must get a new trial, according to the South Dakota Supreme Court. In a decision publicly released on Friday, the state’s high court found that Isaiah Vaughn Rouse didn’t receive a fair trial. A Hughes County jury last year found Rouse guilty on three counts of aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer and one count of threatening a law enforcement officer.
At the Capitol: Huizenga boomerangs back

1 week ago | keloland.com | Bob Mercer

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Jamie Huizenga of Pierre is once again a member of the South Dakota Lottery Commission. Then-Gov. Dennis Daugaard appointed Huizenga to his first term on the commission effective January 22, 2018, replacing Brent Dykstra. In 2021, then-Gov. Kristi Noem reappointed Huizenga to a second three-year term that expired on January 1, 2024. After taking a year-plus break, Huizenga recently received an appointment to a third term from Gov. Larry Rhoden.
Some SD lawmakers want CO2 tax credits repealed

1 week ago | keloland.com | Bob Mercer

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — A grassroots effort of sorts to convince Congress to repeal the federal 45Q tax-credit program that pays companies to sequester CO2 rather than let the gas enter the atmosphere is drawing support from more than one-third of the South Dakota Legislature. Sixteen members of the 35-seat Senate and 26 members of the 70-seat House of Representatives have reportedly agreed to the letter, along with more than 40 other locally elected and political-party officials from South Dakota.
Lottery is testing nightly shutoffs of video bets

1 week ago | keloland.com | Bob Mercer

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — State law has prohibited play on video lottery terminals between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time ever since the South Dakota Legislature legalized that type of gambling in 1989. That’s because video lottery can be played only in bars and restaurants licensed to sell alcohol, and alcohol can’t be sold during those hours.
Deadwood casino fined for letting a person make bets

1 week ago | keloland.com | Bob Mercer

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Gaming Commission has punished a Deadwood casino and one of its staff for accepting bets from a person who had asked to be put on the casino’s no-betting list. The commission on Tuesday approved a $5,000 penalty on Aces Full Inc., doing business as Mr. Wu’s. The casino also reimbursed the person $3,450 that had been lost on bets. A commission rule adopted in 2022 says that players can voluntarily put themselves on a casino’s exclusion list.
South Dakota teachers gained a bit in 2023-24

1 week ago | keloland.com | Bob Mercer

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The average pay for a teacher in South Dakota’s public K-12 schools hit a new high of $56,328 in 2023-24. That was more than the average in five other states, and a $3,175 increase from the 2022-23 average of $53,153, according to information presented on Monday to the state Teacher Compensation Review Board. South Dakota ranked 46th in the nation, ahead of Louisiana (47), West Virginia (48), Missouri (49) Florida (50) and Mississippi (51).
US government pays landowners for 'rails to trails' decision

1 week ago | keloland.com | Bob Mercer

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — A financial settlement has been reached with some of the landowners along a stretch of rail line in southeastern South Dakota that is no longer used for railroad purposes and has been proposed to be turned into a public hiking and biking trail. The U.S. government agreed to pay $127,852 in compensation to seven landowners in Bon Homme and Charles Mix counties. Easements had been granted for the railroad to use their properties along the route between Tyndall and Ravinia.
A look at the week ahead in our SD state government

1 week ago | keloland.com | Bob Mercer

Currently precip 20% humidity 64% visibility 10 mi wind W at 6mph dewpoint 64° pressure 29.87 in Class A Doubles Linehaul Driver CrossCountry Freight Solutions, Fargo Heavy Equipment Operator TJN Enterprises, Inc., Sioux Falls Journeyman Plumber Warne Plumbing & Heating LLC, Watertown The webpage at https://sync.rtk.io/cs might be temporarily down or it may have moved permanently to a new web address.
Essential Air Service's funding might be cut

2 weeks ago | keloland.com | Bob Mercer

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The Trump administration wants to slash the budget for the federal Essential Air Service program and that could affect three of South Dakota’s airports. State Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt briefed the South Dakota Aeronautics Commission about the situation. The program currently is budgeted at $588 million, Jundt told the commission members on Thursday, and Trump wants to reduce the amount by $380 million.