South Dakota

South Dakota AG Won’t Seek Second Term After Killing Pedestrian

Published

3 years ago

June 11, 2022

Embattled South Dakota Legal professional Basic Jason Ravnsborg is conceding what is quickly obvious: He can’t win a second time period this yr.

The Republican state official, who ran down and killed a pedestrian in September 2020, confirmed Friday afternoon that he won’t run for re-election.

Ravnsborg, who has been impeached and suspended—with pay—from his duties because the state’s prime legislation enforcement official, contacted Dakota Information Now reporter Austin Goss on Friday to verify an earlier report that he wouldn’t ask the South Dakota Republican Celebration to appoint him for a second time period.

Ravnsborg didn’t reply to The Every day Beast’s makes an attempt to succeed in him, and Mike Deaver, the Salt Lake Metropolis public relations strategist who has served as his spokesman, didn’t reply to a cellphone name or a textual content.

Ravnsborg was charged with three misdemeanors following the Sept. 12, 2020, crash on a lonely freeway in central South Dakota that killed 55-year-old Joe Boever, who was strolling on the shoulder of the street.

Ravnsborg was allowed to go away the scene of the crash by the native sheriff, who assumed the legal professional basic had struck a deer. The following morning, whereas returning a automobile the sheriff loaned him, Ravnsborg mentioned he found Boever’s physique.

That story was met with widespread skepticism. Brokers who investigated the crash and interviewed Ravnsborg instructed a South Dakota legislative committee they felt he knew he had hit and killed an individual. They famous Boever’s shattered glasses had been discovered contained in the legal professional basic’s automobile, and that his face had smashed towards the windshield.

However Ravnsborg has insisted he was not sure what he hit on the north shoulder of U.S. Freeway 14. He lastly pleaded no contest to 2 of the three misdemeanor prices, paid a high quality and court docket prices, and agreed to make public statements towards distracted driving.

His slap-on-the-wrist penalty drew outrage throughout the state. Gov. Kristi Noem, a fellow Republican, repeatedly known as on Ravnsborg to resign or for the Legislature to question him. The South Dakota Police Chiefs and Sheriffs associations and Fraternal Order of Police additionally mentioned he ought to step down.

However he declined to take action, holding onto a job that pays virtually $10,000 a month, even after revelations of his lengthy historical past of site visitors citations, together with a dashing ticket he obtained days earlier than his trial was set to start. This repeated flaunting of the legislation made him a determine of public ridicule and anger, however he wouldn’t step down.

The Legislature launched impeachment hearings—the primary within the state’s historical past—in 2021 however then tabled them till the authorized case was settled. Ravnsborg resolved that in August 2021 with out ever showing in a courtroom, and reached an out-of-court settlement with Boever’s widow Jenny.

Lastly, this spring, the South Dakota Home of Representatives voted to question him on a 36-31-3 vote, the naked minimal of votes required. The Home, with a 62-8 Republican benefit, went towards the needs of Speaker Spencer Gosch, who led a particular investigative committee that seemed into the deadly crash. Gosch was defeated on Tuesday in a main as he tried to maneuver to the state Senate.

Earlier than the conference opens, the state Senate will maintain an impeachment trial on June 21-22. It’s going to take a two-thirds vote from the 35 senators to take away Ravnsborg from workplace. Republicans have a agency grip on the Senate, holding a 32-3 edge.

Marty Jackley, who served as legal professional basic from 2008-2019, introduced final yr that he needed his previous job again. He was endorsed by Noem, whom he engaged in a contentious gubernatorial main in 2018.

However the former foes grew to become allies in making an attempt to take away Ravnsborg from workplace. On Friday, Jackley instructed The Every day Beast he was targeted on the nomination.

“I’ve not spoken with Mr. Ravnsborg concerning the election since I introduced I used to be operating for Legal professional Basic,” he mentioned in an e-mail response. “I’ve been targeted on sharing my expertise and methods to higher defend communities and tackle violent crime and habit in SD with Republican conference delegates.”

David Natvig, who attended the College of South Dakota legislation faculty with Ravnsborg and was named director of the Division of Prison Investigation by his longtime buddy, introduced in Might that he would search the Republican nomination for legal professional basic. That was seen as a sign that Ravnsborg was giving up the concept of a second time period.

Noem’s spokesman, Ian Fury, mentioned the governor wouldn’t touch upon Ravnsborg’s choice, saying “any questions on the impeachment trial itself ought to be directed to the State Senate.”

State Sen. Lee Schoenbeck of Watertown, a longtime Republican energy and the chief of Senate Republicans, didn’t reply to a number of requests for a remark.

South Dakota Democrats additionally took a cross, with Celebration Chairman Randy Seiler, a former U.S. legal professional who ran towards Ravnsborg in 2018, declining to remark.

Seiler, who thought-about a run for governor, mentioned earlier this yr he had no plans to run once more however can be prepared to simply accept the nomination if Ravnsborg was the Republican candidate. However he mentioned Jackley was a longtime buddy and colleague and he wouldn’t run towards him.

It’s unsure if the Democrats will nominate a candidate for legal professional basic. SDDP Govt Director Berk Ehrmantraut didn’t reply to a number of requests for remark.

“He ought to be in jail. We’d if that was us!”

— Tammy Nugent

Some South Dakota residents wish to see Ravnsborg held accountable for his actions.

“I wish to see him impeached in order that it’s on file,” mentioned Ray Oines of Brookings. “Even when he isn’t operating it ought to have some impact on his service profession. I don’t suppose he actually deserves to be embellished by the army for his poor driving habits that price a life.”

“He ought to be in jail,” mentioned Tammy Nugent of Sioux Falls. “We’d if that was us!”

Nick Nemec, a rural Holabird farmer who lives close to the scene of the deadly crash, is a former Democratic legislator and Boever’s cousin. He has investigated the crash, attended court docket and legislative hearings, and served as a household spokesman. He mentioned he thinks Ravnsborg had ulterior motives for this announcement.

“I feel it’s type of a ploy to try to keep away from a Senate conviction,” Nemec mentioned. “That could be sufficient for some senators to not vote to convict him. Until he resigns or is convicted, he’ll nonetheless be the legal professional basic the day after the trial.”

Ravnsborg’s political profession seems to be at an finish. He additionally serves as a lieutenant colonel within the Military Reserves and introduced in April 2021 that like “different nice People,” he was being promoted to colonel.

However Military Reserve management put that on maintain.

Nemec mentioned he hopes Ravnsborg is impeached and his promotion denied, partially as a result of that might imply lesser retirement pay.

“Possibly I’m vindictive, however I’d wish to see him retire as a lieutenant colonel relatively than a colonel,” he mentioned.

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South Dakota

Sioux Falls man arrested for deadly shooting, claims incident was accidental

Published

6 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

Sioux Falls man arrested for deadly shooting, claims incident was accidental

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – A 67-year-old man has been taken into custody in connection to a deadly shooting in Sioux Falls the day after Christmas.

Sidney Robert Rollings has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

On December 26, police responded to the area of 11th Street and Sneve Avenue around 8:45 a.m. for a report of a victim with a gunshot wound to his leg.

The victim, who has been identified as 38-year-old Michael Christopher McDaniel of Sioux Falls, was lying in the roadway when officers arrived. He died on the scene.

According to court documents, a trail of blood from the victim led investigators to Rollings’ apartment.

As investigators reached Rollings’ door, Metro Communication received a call from Rollings, who said that he had “pulled out a gun and it went off and hit him.”

When investigators knocked, Rollings answered and allowed police to search his apartment where the weapon was located.

Rollings told investigators the shooting was accidental and that he thought the safety was on when he was waving it back and forth and it went off, striking McDaniel.

Rollings was taken in for an interview where he told investigators he met McDaniel on a dating app a few days prior.

Rollings said the victim had come to his residence on December 22nd with the intention of having intercourse and injecting Methamphetamine. He claimed that McDaniel had been kicked out of his residence and began moving his items into Rollings’ residence the next day. McDaniel also continuously took Rollings’ pickup.

Rollings claimed that during his stay, McDaniel would make comments about previous prison fights he had been in and showed Rollings a shiv he made. According to court documents, this made Rollings concerned and he described the victim as “unpredictable and volatile.”

On December 26, Rollings said that McDaniel was gathering clothing from a dryer in his bedroom when Rollings grabbed the firearm and began waving it and telling McDaniel to leave. When the gun suddenly went off, Rollings didn’t initially believe the victim when he said he had been shot.

McDaniel gathered his belongings and ran from the apartment. Rollings said he called 911 when he saw the victim lying on the road. During this call, Rolling said “I don’t know what’s wrong… Looks like he’s bleeding, came out of this apartment building.”

Rollings admitted to investigators he did not initially plan to notify dispatch of his involvement, but when realized the blood trail led to his apartment, he realized admitted what he did was the right thing to do.

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South Dakota

South Dakota snow now devastating the southern Midwest

Published

14 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota snow now devastating the southern Midwest

RAPID CITY, S.D. – All eyes are on the southern Midwest, as the system that brought several inches of snow to the Black Hills area continues to move southward, strengthening along the way. A mix of heavy snow, ice, and blizzard conditions has caused widespread disruptions to utilities and infrastructure, leaving nearly 100,000 people without power.

Blizzard warnings were issued for eastern Kansas and are still in effect for northwest Missouri. Winter storm warnings still extended from Missouri all the way to Washington D.C. and areas of southeast Missouri through western Kentucky are currently in an ice storm warning until Monday morning. Ice accumulations are expected to range between ¼” and ¾”. Official reports of snowfall in the region are as high as 13 inches with more expected.

1/2: Weather warnings for the southern Midwest as of 9pm Sunday

2/2: Weather warnings for the southern Midwest as of 9pm Sunday

NewsCenter1 spoke with Jared Maples, a forecaster from the National Weather Service office in St. Louis, MO, to get a first-hand look into the conditions there.

“What we are dealing with is a system that tracked generally west to east from the Central Plains as it crossed the Rockies,” said Maples, “Sleet has been compacted to the roadway. Just that really chunky, crusty stuff that is freezing there. When you get above 2 inches of sleet, it almost becomes undrivable at that point.”

Jared Maples, forecaster for the National Weather Service office in St. Louis, MO

The heavy snow and ice caused treacherous driving conditions, leading to numerous accidents and road closures. Interstate 435 in Kansas City was particularly affected,

with a tractor-trailer captured on video sliding off the icy roadway

. Missouri Department of Transportation snowplows were also impacted, with at least one overturned due to the slick conditions. Kansas City International Airport temporarily shut down airfield operations Saturday afternoon due to rapid ice accumulation.

Ice has been accumulating to trees with official reports showing fallen limbs 8 inches in diameter, giving South Dakotans a stark reminder of the ice storm that hit Sioux Falls in 2013. Nicknamed “Icepololypse,” that storm resulted in an estimated 900 fallen trees and 25,000 fallen branches.

“When they’re in those wooded areas, you do start to hear that cracking sound,” Maples continued, “That is the sound of tree limbs coming down. If your house is near a tree that is susceptible to that, be wary that that could be one of those risks that are posed with this ice or amount of weight that is on trees.”

This storm will continue to move east, bringing snow to areas of Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, mixed precipitation and freezing rain to Kentucky, Virginia, and Washington D.C., and severe thunderstorms with tornado potential from Mississippi to Georgia.

For updates on local weather, be sure to download the

NC1 weather app

Per grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from South Dakota Mines. He found his passion for weather reporting by the impact it has on the community, both in how people work and how it brings people together through severe weather preparation. He also has a passion for preventing health issues with Air Quality Index awareness. Per can be found enjoying outdoor activities in the Black Hills when the weather allows.

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South Dakota

South Dakota Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Jan. 4, 2025

Published

21 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Jan. 4, 2025

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 4, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

26-32-43-54-56, Powerball: 24, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

03-09-27-29-33, Lucky Ball: 06

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

01-03-17-21-34, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

20-26-29-31-35

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

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.

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