South Dakota
Health and farmworker advocates urge ban of herbicide linked to Parkinson’s • South Dakota Searchlight
WASHINGTON — Public health advocates and farmworkers called for a federal ban on a toxic herbicide they say led to their Parkinson’s disease during a Tuesday briefing for congressional staffers.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will determine next year if the herbicide, paraquat dichloride, should have its license renewed for another 15 years. The herbicide is used for controlling weeds in agriculture settings. It’s currently banned in more than 70 countries and has several serious health conditions it’s linked to, such as cancer and increases the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Nora Jackson, a former farmworker of Indiana, said that her cousin, whose job it was to spray paraquat on farms, developed Parkinson’s at 55 years old. Signs of Parkinson’s usually appear around 60 years old.
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“Farmworkers often have to do extremely risky jobs … but it doesn’t have to be that way,” Jackson said. “It is possible to have an agriculture system that does not depend so heavily on paraquat and it does not have to be a pesticide that puts so many people’s lives at risk.”
The disease has drastically affected his life, Jackson added.
“He now relies heavily on medication and uses a walking stick to be able to walk every day,” she said.
The briefing on the health risks of paraquat was hosted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, which is an alliance for farmworker women, and the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that produces research and advocates for public health.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research was established by the actor who starred in blockbusters Back to the Future, Doc Hollywood and Teen Wolf. Fox was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s at the age of 29.
Ban necessary
The EPA has until Jan. 17 to make a decision on paraquat’s future availability.
Advocates at Tuesday’s event called for the agency to deny paraquat’s license renewal, saying other regulations to reduce exposure to the herbicide have come up short.
“Keep in mind that people have been using this chemical as directed, and are still developing Parkinson’s disease,” Scott Faber, Environmental Working Group’s senior vice president of government affairs, said. “So putting more restrictions on how it’s used, when it’s used, what equipment you use, and so on, is not the answer.”
EPA slow to suspend toxic herbicide tied to lifelong health issues
Parkinson’s disease affects the nervous system and causes unintended shakiness, trouble with balance and stiffness. There is no cure.
The California Legislature is moving to ban the herbicide.
David Jilbert, of Valley City, Ohio, a former farmworker with a background in engineering, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2021.
“As a longtime environmental engineer, I understood the importance of personal protection equipment, and I particularly followed all safety protocols,” he said.
He sold his vineyard in 2019 because he wasn’t feeling well and his hands were beginning to move slowly.
“My diagnosis changed everything, affecting every aspect of my life, from physical capabilities to emotional wellbeing, financial stability,” he said. “There is no cure for Parkinson’s. It is degenerative and it will only get worse, not better.”
Charlene Tenbrink of Winters, California, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020. She worked on her family farm from 1993 to 2000 where she would mix, load and spray paraquat.
Tenbrink said she felt let down by the federal government because she was unaware of the health risks that paraquat could pose.
“We’ve been trying to change this for a long time,” she said.
South Dakota
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South Dakota
South Dakota earns rivalry win over South Dakota State football for first time since 2021
The South Dakota football team took down South Dakota State, 24-17, behind a huge day from running back L.J. Phillips Jr.
The Coyote rusher posted a big day of 168 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to power South Dakota to its first win over its in-state rival since 2021. One of his scores was a 32-yard scamper, which was the only score of the second half.
The win improved USD to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play, while it dropped the Jackrabbits to 7-3 and 3-3 in league play.
The Jackrabbits provided the opening score 11 seconds into the game as wide receiver Jack Smith took a pitch through a seam on the right side and outraced the USD secondary for a 75-yard touchdown run.
USD also found the end zone on its first possession, stringing together a 15-play, 70-yard drive in which the Coyotes extended the march by converting on fourth-and-3. Phillips closed out the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.
SDSU regained the lead on a 40-yard field goal by Eli Stader later in the first quarter, which was answered by a 34-yard field goal by the Coyotes’ Will Leyland at the 4:14 mark of the second quarter.
The Coyotes came up with a quick strike of their own as they grabbed the lead for the first time late in the first half. After a personal foul against SDSU on the first play of the drive, Aidan Bouman found Larenzo Fenner down the left side for a 37-yard gain before the duo hooked up a play later in the right corner of the end zone for a 19-yard score with 1:03 to play in the first half.
Henry, who became the third SDSU starter at quarterback this season, ran the two-minute drill to knot the game for a third time. The redshirt freshman completed 5-of-6 passes over 52 seconds, three of which were completed to Alex Bullock. Henry’s final pass of the drive covered 27 yards on a post route to Bullock with five seconds remaining in the half to make the score 17-17.
USD put together what would prove to be the game-winning drive on the first possession of the second half. Facing third-and-6 at the SDSU 32, Phillips took a handoff and knifed his way through the middle of the Jackrabbit defense for his second touchdown of the afternoon.
The Jackrabbits were unable to move the ball into USD territory on their two possessions of the third quarter, but were in position to tie the game early in the fourth quarter behind an 18-yard pass from Henry to Smith and a pair of first-down runs by Julius Loughride that advanced the ball to the Coyote 23. The drive would end, however, when Henry’s pass to the end zone was intercepted by Dejuan Lewis.
The SDSU defense came up with a much-needed stop to get the ball back at its own 41 with under five minutes to play. Once again, the offense couldn’t convert as the Jackrabbits turned the ball over on downs and USD was able to run out the clock.
USD finished with a 333-330 advantage in total offense. Bouman completed 14-of-21 passes for 158 yards, with Fenner catching four balls for 68 yards.
For the Jackrabbits, Smith ended the day with 197 all-purpose yards, including 82 on the ground after his opening touchdown. He also led the SDSU receiving corps with a career-high six catches for 61 yards.
Loughridge added 44 yards on 10 carries, with Henry ending the day 13-of-24 passing for 139 yards.
A Groton, South Dakota man died Sunday following a crash Wednesday morning, Oct. 29, five miles west of Webster.Preliminary crash information indicates the driver, 73, of a 2017 Toyota RAV 4 was traveling on U.S. Highway 12 when his vehicle entered the south ditch and struck a power line pole at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 29, the South Dakota Department of Public Safety announced in a release.The driver, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to an Aberdeen hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. The driver died at the hospital on Sunday, November 2, the release states.The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.The Highway Patrol is an agency of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
The name of the person involved has not been released pending notification of family members.
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