Helene Duhamel

Educational outcomes for Native American students have lagged behind others in South Dakota for decades. A bill to create schools based on regional tribes’ language and culture is before lawmakers for the third year in a row. Proponents say it’s time for the state to try something different. Opponents say the proposed process could harm public schools.

A bill banning divisive concepts from state colleges and tech schools is making its way through the legislature with the support of Governor Kristi Noem. The divisive concept of concern is critical race theory.

The South Dakota Education Association is a professional organization dedicated to the state's public education workforce.

Lawmakers across the state were flooded with phone calls and emails about a proposed expansion to campsites in Custer State Park. The vast majority of those messages told lawmakers to reject the bill.

In her state of the state address, Governor Kristi Noem announced plans to introduce a bill to ban abortions after fetal cardiac activity can be detected. But only legislators and their committees have the authority to introduce a bill. And in the final hours before the submission deadline, a motion to introduce the governor's draft failed in committee for lack of a second. Why?

Here to continue the conversation about South Dakota's public lands and campground expansion is John Cooper. He spent more than 40 years in wildlife work at both the federal and state level--including service as Secretary of Game Fish and Parks under Governors Janklow and Rounds.

SDPB's Politics and Public Policy reporter, Lee Strubinger, joins us from Pierre, where he's following a long list of medical marijuana-related bills.

SDPB's Business and Economic Development reporter joins us for a look at the future of sports betting in the state.

The news is full of references this winter to the potential impeachment of South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. Many reports call it an unprecedented situation – the first time the Legislature has formally considered impeaching a public official. As it turns out, this is at least the second time the South Dakota media has proclaimed a first-ever impeachment process.

A key infrastructure issue at play this session is access to quality drinking water. Governor Noem called the recent influx of federal money the chance for a "once in a generation" investment in water projects across the state in her Budget Address last month.