South Dakota
Senator's son to appear in court to change plea in North Dakota deputy's crash death
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The adult son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer is scheduled to change his plea on Friday in connection with a fatal crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy last year.
Ian Cramer, 43, was charged with homicide while fleeing a peace officer, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment, fleeing an officer and drug- and driving-related offenses in the wake of the Dec. 6, 2023, pursuit and crash that killed Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin, 53.
Cramer was initially charged with manslaughter, later upgraded to the homicide offense, which is punishable up to 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine. In April, Cramer pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A notice filed Wednesday indicated his change of plea, but court filings didn’t provide details.
Cramer is a son of Kevin Cramer, a Republican who is running for his second Senate term. He has said his son “suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.”
Before the crash last December, Bismarck police said Ian Cramer’s mother had taken him to a hospital because of mental health concerns. Court documents say he crawled into the driver’s seat of his parents’ vehicle after his mother got out and then drove the vehicle in reverse, smashing through a closed garage door to the hospital’s ambulance bay. He later fled from deputies when one confronted him in Hazen, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) from Bismarck, according to court documents.
Cramer hit speeds over 100 mph (160 kph) and kept going even after a spiked device flattened two tires, according to court documents. More spikes were set up, and Cramer swerved and then crashed head-on into Martin’s patrol vehicle and launched him about 100 feet (30 meters), authorities said. Martin was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
In March, Ian Cramer pleaded not guilty to separate felony charges of theft, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment in connection with the events at the hospital. A jury trial was scheduled for November.
Cramer is being held at the McLean County Jail in Washburn on $500,000 cash bail.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The issue of potential Medicaid cuts has been at the forefront of many protests and discussions across the country and in Sioux Falls. Now, a newly formed coalition is looking to carry on that fight.
The coalition is called “Hands Off Medicaid” and they are looking to rally support to encourage senators in South Dakota and around the country to oppose the cuts in the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
The group estimates that if the cuts from the Big Beautiful Bill are passed then almost 27,000 South Dakotans could lose out on coverage entirely.
“This is a sharp reversal of an eighty-year trend to try and get families the health care that they need,” Earl Pomeroy, a former North Dakota congressman said.
Dr. Thomas Dean, a doctor with over 30 years of practice in family medicine, said it will hurt many mothers in the state.
“Medicaid is a major payer for prenatal and delivery and post-partum care and that’s a major concern, especially in rural areas but across the country,” Dr. Dean said.
Without Medicaid, Dr. Dean said medical care for the pregnancy journey is tough to support.
“OB care typically is a money loser for hospitals, especially for small rural hospitals that are already financially stressed and if we lose Medicaid coverage it will make that problem worse,” Dr. Dean explained.
Nearly 150,000 South Dakotans are enrolled in Medicaid with 42% of enrollments being pregnant and postpartum women.
“Often those adults aren’t eligible for Medicaid until they have a dependent which makes their dependent eligible. When babies are born, that is often the first time people are able to receive Medicaid and we’re grateful that kids born into Medicaid have the access to the services that they need,” Dr. Dean said.
The Big Beautiful Bill narrowly passed the Congressional House and is now waiting on a vote in the Senate.
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South Dakota
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