Connect with us

South Dakota

South Dakota AG convicted on impeachment charges, removed from office

Published

on

South Dakota AG convicted on impeachment charges, removed from office


Placeholder whereas article actions load

On Tuesday, two months after the South Dakota Home of Representatives voted to question Legal professional Basic Jason Ravnsborg (R) for fatally working over a person and leaving the scene as a result of he thought he had hit a deer, the state Senate convicted him of two impeachment prices in reference to the 2020 incident.

The Senate voted to take away the legal professional normal from workplace and to ban Ravnsborg — the primary South Dakota official to ever be impeached — from working for workplace within the state.

The primary conviction was for inflicting the demise of 55-year-old Joseph Boever on Sept. 12, 2020. The Senate additionally discovered Ravnsborg responsible of deceptive investigators and utilizing his place because the state’s prime law-enforcement official in an try to favorably form the course of the investigation.

“This particular person ran down an harmless South Dakotan,” Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, the Senate’s highest-ranking Republican, mentioned throughout his remarks, the Related Press reported.

Advertisement

Schoenbeck additionally condemned Ravnsborg for declining to testify within the Senate trial and failing to reveal “what the hell he was doing” the evening of the collision.

Neither Ravnsborg’s workplace nor his non-public spokesman instantly responded to messages from The Washington Put up late Tuesday. Ravnsborg and his legal professional declined to talk to reporters as they exited the room following the vote, the Argus Chief reported.

Nick Nemec, Boever’s cousin, mentioned the decision adopted two years of ready.

“Right this moment felt like a heavy weight was lifted off me,” Nemec, 63, instructed The Put up in an interview. “When the lieutenant governor slammed the gavel on the desk and he introduced that the legal professional normal was faraway from workplace — that gave me a measure of reduction.”

Boever’s widow, Jennifer Mohr Boever, didn’t instantly reply to a message from The Put up.

Advertisement

South Dakota’s legal professional normal mentioned he thought he hit a deer. The following day, he discovered a lifeless man’s physique in a ditch.

Ravnsborg mentioned he was driving residence from a GOP fundraiser in Redfield, S.D., round 10:30 that September evening when his automotive hit a big determine at nighttime. Ravnsborg mentioned he believed he had hit a deer and mentioned he searched a ditch alongside Freeway 14 together with his cellphone’s flashlight.

“All I might see had been items of my car laying on and across the roadway,” he mentioned in an announcement on the time. The sheriff arrived and surveyed the injury, however Ravnsborg mentioned neither of them suspected that an individual had been injured within the crash. Ravnsborg denied consuming the evening of the incident.

The following morning, Ravnsborg and his chief of workers drove again to the scene.

“As I walked alongside the shoulder of the highway, I found the physique of Mr. Boever within the grass simply off the roadway,” Ravnsborg mentioned. “It was obvious that Mr. Boever was deceased.”

Advertisement

Quickly after discovering the person’s physique, he added, he drove to the sheriff’s residence and reported the brand new info.

Boever’s household has expressed doubts about Ravnsborg’s story and raised issues that it took authorities practically 24 hours to inform them of Boever’s demise. Final September, Ravnsborg settled a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Boever’s widow, the Argus Chief reported. The phrases of the settlement stay confidential.

In August, Ravnsborg pleaded no contest to 2 misdemeanor site visitors prices and prevented jail time.

Earlier this 12 months, a bunch of lawmakers led by state Rep. Will Mortenson (R) filed two articles looking for to question Ravnsborg after the South Dakota Division of Public Security launched two three-hour interviews between Ravnsborg and detectives that raised questions on Ravnsborg’s conduct. Many politicians, together with Gov. Kristi L. Noem (R), called for his resignation. However Ravnsborg declined to step down.

Ravnsborg, who remained suspended from workplace pending the end result of the Senate trial, instructed The Put up in an announcement earlier this 12 months that he was wanting ahead to the trial “the place I consider I will likely be vindicated.”

Advertisement

South Dakota AG pushed by critics to resign over new proof in deadly automotive incident: ‘He knew what he hit and he lied’

Twenty-four senators voted to convict Ravnsborg of the cost involving committing against the law that induced somebody’s demise, simply barely reaching the two-thirds majority wanted to take action. The malfeasance cost handed with 31 votes, whereas all lawmakers voted to bar Ravnsborg from holding future workplace.

Afterward Tuesday, Noem took to social media to reward the lawmakers’ determination.

“After practically 2 years the darkish cloud over the Legal professional Basic’s workplace has been lifted. It’s now time to maneuver on and start to revive confidence within the workplace,” she tweeted.

Nemec mentioned he and his brother shook fingers after the “emotional” day of justice for his or her cousin concluded.

Advertisement

“[Ravnsborg] gained’t have the ability to reside his life as legal professional normal, however he nonetheless has his life,” Nemec instructed The Put up. “He can reside another life. Joe is lifeless, and Joe will likely be lifeless for ever. That’s the chilly, exhausting reality.”

Katie Shepherd and Julian Mark contributed to this report.





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

South Dakota

Landowners appeal Summit carbon storage decision • South Dakota Searchlight

Published

on

Landowners appeal Summit carbon storage decision • South Dakota Searchlight


A group of North Dakota landowners is appealing the state’s approval of an underground carbon storage area for Summit Carbon Solutions, the company attempting to build the world’s largest carbon capture and storage project.

The group represented by Bismarck attorney Derrick Braaten on Thursday filed the appeal in Burleigh County District Court, asserting that the North Dakota Industrial Commission withheld information and violated state law in approving the storage permit plan on Dec. 12.

The permanent underground carbon storage sites in western North Dakota are a key piece of Summit’s planned five-state pipeline network (including South Dakota) capturing greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol plants. Approving the storage wells was one of the last decisions of Gov. Doug Burgum as chair of the Industrial Commission, which also included Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring.

State schedules public input meetings on Summit carbon pipeline application

Advertisement

The unanimous vote by the commission means that landowners who had not signed an agreement with Summit will be forced to allow the carbon storage on their property.

The landowners assert that the Industrial Commission, which includes the state Department of Mineral Resources, illegally refused to disclose information to landowners under North Dakota open records laws. Braaten and his clients were seeking computer-generated models that predict where the carbon dioxide will go when it is pumped underground for permanent storage.

The appeal says former Department of Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms refused to provide the models before, during and after public hearings on the case in June, shortly before Helms retired.

The order passed by the Industrial Commission said that if any open records requests were not fulfilled, it is because the Braaten Law Firm did not inform the agency that it had not received the records.

“That’s a lie,” Braaten told the North Dakota Monitor.

Advertisement

The appeal said Braaten’s firm was able to obtain the records in November. Braaten contends the computer models aren’t accurate but landowners were not given a chance to dispute that. He said multiple requests for a rehearing were ignored.

Another issue raised in the appeal are the state’s rules on underground storage. Under a process called amalgamation, if 60% of the landowners in a proposed storage area agree to the plan, the state can force the other 40% to comply.

Summit has obtained more than 92% of the pore space lease agreements across all three areas, according to the order approved in December.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

Advertisement

After the commission’s Dec. 12 decision, Summit Executive Vice President Wade Boeshans said the permits resulted from “years of rigorous scientific study, engineering design, and input from regulators, landowners, and local leaders.”

Braaten also is representing the Northwest Landowners Association that has a separate lawsuit before the North Dakota Supreme Court on the amalgamation issue that he contends is unconstitutional.

Advertisement

He said a ruling on either that lawsuit or the storage decision appeal should clarify the constitutionality of the rules.

Braaten’s law firm also is representing Emmons County in a separate legal challenge to the state Public Service Commission’s approval of the pipeline route through North Dakota. Emmons County and Burleigh County are challenging the PSC’s interpretation of state law that concluded state zoning rules preempt local ordinances on where pipelines are allowed.

Another group of landowners also is appealing the PSC permit decision.

Braaten said those appeals may be combined into one case.

This story was originally published by the North Dakota Monitor. Like South Dakota Searchlight, it’s part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. North Dakota Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Amy Dalrymple for questions: [email protected].
Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

South Dakota

Former South Dakota DSS employee indicted for allegedly stealing voucher to buy groceries

Published

on

Former South Dakota DSS employee indicted for allegedly stealing voucher to buy groceries


A former South Dakota Department of Social Services employee was indicted on one count of social services fraud Thursday, according to a press release from the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

Amalia Escalante Barrientos, 28, allegedly used a stolen DSS voucher to purchase groceries for personal use, according to the press release. The incident occurred at a Brookings business Oct. 11.

The Brookings woman has not yet appeared for an initial hearing, according to Minnehaha County court documents.

According to Open SD, Barrientos’ wage is listed at $26.58 hourly.

Advertisement

If convicted, Barrientos could serve up to one year in the county jail, a $2,000 fine, or both, according to the press release.



Source link

Continue Reading

South Dakota

South Dakota Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Jan. 8, 2025

Published

on

South Dakota Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Jan. 8, 2025


The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 8, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

01-20-36-38-43, Powerball: 24, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

13-14-24-37-38, Lucky Ball: 13

Advertisement

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

04-15-33-39-41, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

05-15-25-26-33

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Advertisement

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

  • Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
  • Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
  • Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending