Jordan Roemeling

3 weeks ago | siouxfallslive.com | Patrick Lalley |Jordan Roemeling

Her career is ending amid legislative attacks on her profession, but Jodi Fick still thinks “the sky’s the limit” for libraries. Fick has been working in libraries since 1983 and has led Siouxland Libraries’ 13 branch locations in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area since 2017. She’s retiring on June 20. South Dakota lawmakers nearly passed a bill earlier this year that would have subjected librarians to criminal prosecution for disseminating obscene books to children.

1 month ago | siouxfallslive.com | Nathan Swaffar |Jordan Roemeling

A group of South Dakota health care advocates launched a “Hands Off Medicaid” coalition Thursday, pleading with the state’s all-Republican congressional delegation to avoid proposed cuts. Medicaid is a federal-state health care program for low-income people. A U.S. House-approved budget reconciliation bill would reduce the program by $625 billion over 10 years under an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office.

1 month ago | newscenter1.tv | Trent Singer |Jordan Roemeling

Three years after lawmakers put $1 million toward advocacy efforts for children in the court system statewide, two revived nonprofits are starting to support children again. Volunteers with local Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs advocate for children who’ve been removed from their families and placed in state care due to suspected abuse and neglect. The volunteers meet with the children and other contacts, such as teachers, therapists and caseworkers.

1 month ago | siouxfallslive.com | Joe Sneve |Jordan Roemeling |Trent Singer

A Sioux Falls city official is setting his sights on statewide office and will forgo a bid for a second term in municipal government. City Councilor David Barranco on Friday announced his candidacy for South Dakota State Auditor, becoming the first to formally enter the race for the constitutional office. “I’m very fortunate and blessed that the people understand the importance of this position and that we need a high competency level in that office,” Barranco told The Dakota Scout.