Lee Strubinger

2 weeks ago | sdpb.org | Lee Strubinger

South Dakota US Senator Mike Rounds said the Republican effort to make federal tax cuts from 2017 permanent will help the average South Dakota family. Rounds said the effort will save the average South Dakota family $2,400 annually. “We’re not making additional tax cuts. We’re just simply continuing existing tax rates that are already in effect. That’s the part that people seem to forget about," Rounds said. "If we don’t pass this bill, then those tax rates will go up.

2 weeks ago | sdpb.org | Lee Strubinger

The United States Congress is considering a rescission request from the Trump administration to pull funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The maneuver would negatively affect SDPB—as well as the four public tribal radio stations in South Dakota. The station KOYA stands to lose about $200,000 if Congress ultimately approves the rescission. John Miller is manager for the station in Rosebud. He said the funding reduction would be very detrimental to the people of his community.

2 weeks ago | sdpb.org | Lee Strubinger

Gov. Larry Rhoden is accepting a request to delay a special session next month to consider the recommendation of a task force on where to build a new men’s prison. Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, who is chair of the task force, asked for the extension earlier this week. “I will accept the task force’s request and will consult with legislative leadership on a rescheduled date for the special session," Rhoden said in a statement.

2 weeks ago | sdpb.org | Lee Strubinger

A task force looking at building a new men’s prison is abandoning a contentious location in Lincoln County the state already owns. It’s unclear what will become of the state-owned site. The state has spent about $50 million purchasing and developing the prospective prison site just south of Harrisburg. That cost also includes design for a campus-style prison on the plot of land.

3 weeks ago | sdpb.org | Lee Strubinger

A prison task force is hoping crews can build a fifteen hundred bed men’s prison for over $200 million less than a proposal abandoned earlier this year. Prospective contractors say it can be done, but the facility won’t last as long. Last November, state lawmakers got a maximum bid price of $825 million to construct a 1,500 bed men’s prison in Lincoln County. Officials want to replace the 144-year-old prison in Sioux Falls and build a new one to last the state 100 years into the future.