South Dakota

South Dakota Advances Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

Published

1 year ago

February 3, 2023

South Dakota Advances Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

A invoice to ban gender-affirming look after minors in South Dakota got here nearer to turning into legislation Thursday, with the Home of Representatives passing it and sending it to the Senate.

The laws, Home Invoice 1080, would ban not solely genital surgical procedure, which is rarely carried out on minors, however different varieties of surgical procedure in addition to hormone remedy and puberty blockers. If the invoice turns into legislation, well being care professionals who violate it might lose their licenses and likewise be sued.

It handed the Home by a vote of 60-10. Democratic Rep. Kameron Nelson, the primary out homosexual man within the legislature, and 6 different Democrats voted in opposition to it, as did three Republicans, the Sioux Falls Argus Chief experiences.

Nelson spoke out strongly in opposition to the laws after its sponsor, Republican Rep. Bethany Soye, mentioned it’s supposed to assist kids. “These kids and youth are working with their counselors, mother and father, and associates to seek out out who they’re,” he mentioned, in response to the ArgusChief. “How dare you sit and stand on this ground at the moment and inform these kids that they don’t know who they’re and that you realize higher than them?”

Rep. Jessica Olson, one of many Republicans who opposed the invoice, mentioned mother and father can resolve if their kids ought to endure the procedures, and he or she questioned if many minors in South Dakota search or obtain such care. Republican Rep. Fred Deutsch, a supporter of the measure, estimated 20 per 12 months.

Democratic Rep. Kadyn Wittman warned that the state will probably be sued if the invoice turns into legislation, and the protection shall be pricey. Republican Rep. Jon Hansen replied that he’s able to spend “each final cent that it takes” to “defend kids.”

Nelson had another pointed remarks concerning the laws. He objected when a Republican supporter of the invoice, Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer, quoted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Nelson mentioned it was “reprehensible” to make use of the phrases of King, who labored for justice and equality, to advocate for discrimination.

Nelson closed his remarks by saying, “I’m right here, I’m queer, and I’m not leaving Pierre.”

Laws to ban or limit gender-affirming look after minors has been launched in not less than 21 states this 12 months, and considered one of them, Utah, has enacted it into legislation, with Gov. Spencer Cox signing a invoice to this impact final weekend. Alabama and Arkansas had handed bans earlier, and each are blocked by courts whereas lawsuits proceed. Florida medical boards have prohibited this care generally, and a college hospital in Oklahoma has ceased offering the remedy to minors after the state handed a legislation to withhold funds.

The Human Rights Marketing campaign denounced the South Dakota Home’s motion. “That is yet one more instance of legislators intentionally ignoring the actual points going through South Dakotans, and as an alternative shamelessly focusing on a small group of susceptible youth merely attempting to navigate life as their genuine selves,” Cathryn Oakley, HRC state legislative director and senior counsel, mentioned in a press launch. “This laws has nothing to do with the truth for transgender youth who obtain gender-affirming care, on the recommendation of their medical doctors and with the consent of their mother and father, that’s age-appropriate, medically vital finest observe care. As an alternative, it’s about currying favor with extremist voices on the far proper who don’t have any disgrace about harming younger people for his or her perceived political acquire. These legislators don’t know extra about this well being care than each main medical affiliation, representing greater than 1.3 million medical doctors, and observe that this laws will proceed to permit nontransgender youth to proceed to obtain this identical care. They’re admitting discrimination, not science, is their motive. We name on the South Dakota Senate to reject this discriminatory laws, and to start out specializing in methods to really enhance the well-being and public well being of kids within the state.”

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South Dakota

From drought to floods: Soggy summer takes South Dakota to new extreme

Published

5 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Press Room

From drought to floods: Soggy summer takes South Dakota to new extreme

Emergency management officials have shifted their focus from flooding in South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska to further south on the Missouri River, where more rain this week brought predictions of second crests.

Flood concerns were being felt as far south as St. Louis as the Missouri River continues to carry runoff from record-setting storms in South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska, combined with more recent rains over Missouri. In response, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cut back water releases from the dam system it manages in the Dakotas.

“In response to the rainfall, the releases from Fort Randall and Gavins Point dams were reduced,” said John Remus, chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. “The lower releases were able to reduce downstream river stages, but they could not completely offset all of the flooding in the Sioux City area.”

This year’s waves of precipitation, while damaging to many in southeastern South Dakota, have had some positives. All of eastern South Dakota has escaped drought conditions that had gripped parts of the state for years, according to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Patience waning as property tax probe dampens expectations of relief, cuts

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South Dakota

Sioux Falls Canaries drop game to Lincoln despite big night from Henry

Published

12 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Press Room

Sioux Falls Canaries drop game to Lincoln despite big night from Henry

LINCOLN, Neb. (Dakota News Now) – Jabari Henry smacked a two-run homerun and became the franchise all-time leader in doubles as the Canaries fell to Lincoln 4-2 at Haymarket Park.

Henry’s 94th career double came in the third inning and broke a tie with Trevor Lawhorn for the most in a Canaries uniform. The Saltdogs opened the scoring with a two-run double in the fourth inning before adding a solo shot in the fifth.

The 3-0 lead held until the top of the eighth when Henry’s round-tripper brought the Canaries within a run. But Lincoln added a solo homerun in the home half and turned the Birds away scoreless in the ninth.

Henry led the offense with two hits as Sioux Falls dips to 30-19 overall. The two teams resume their series Saturday at 6:05pm.

Recap courtesy of Sioux Falls Canaries.

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South Dakota

AAA says South Dakota seeing record travel on 4th of July week

Published

19 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Press Room

AAA says South Dakota seeing record travel on 4th of July week

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Even after the holiday, the Fourth of July weekend is a busy time for travel, but going into this weekend, South Dakota may be seeing more traffic than usual.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has followed trends to provide travel tips as the roads get even busier. Going into the week, they expected nearly 71 million Americans would be traveling and they’re on pace for close to their projections.

Travel is always forecasted very high in the middle of the summer with the Independence Day holiday and the peak of vacation and road trip season.

AAA said that this year has seen higher travel volume than ever before, with 214,201 residents, over 20% of all South Dakotans, traveling more than fifty miles to a Fourth of July destination, most of them driving.

“South Dakota saw around 180,000 people hitting the road. With fourth of July being on a Thursday, people did fourth of July celebrations last weekend. They’re continuing them into this weekend, so that’s a really long travel period,” said Public & Government Affairs Manager with AAA, Rylie Fletcher.

One factor that has an impact on the number of travelers is the prices at the pump. While the cost of a gallon of gas is steadily going up again, it’s still lower than it has been around the holiday in recent years.

The average cost of a gallon of gas in South Dakota is slightly above $3.20, more than 25 cents cheaper than a year ago.

Fletcher said that the recent jump was expected due to rising demand.

“We did see gas prices increase, but not too significantly. They might increase a little bit more just as summer demand for travel continues to increase, but it’s not likely that we’ll see the surge like we did two summers ago in 2022,” Fletcher explained.

With the influx of drivers, AAA wants drivers to be aware of their surroundings and be safe on the roads. They suggest giving yourself extra time and being patient with other drivers.

You should inspect your vehicle before a road trip and like always, never drive impaired or distracted.

“All of those things we know we should be doing every single day, make sure you practice them with extra diligence on a weekend like this upcoming weekend because there are so many other drivers on the roads. It’s important that you’re doing your part,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher also said that the busiest times to be on the road are between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and if you want to see less traffic, try leaving earlier in the day. She also recommended avoiding nighttime driving because even though there’s less traffic, there may be more impaired drivers.

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