South Dakota
South Dakota lawmakers kill effort to criminalize passive exposure of drugs to law enforcement
PIERRE — By one vote, a Senate committee killed a bill Thursday that would have made it a felony to unintentionally expose law enforcement to controlled substances such as fentanyl.
Senators in their discussion about HB 1025 agreed they weren’t scientists but disagreed whether basic exposure, such as touching or inhaling small particles of the substance, could trigger an overdose-like reaction.
“There’s a difference between exposure and use and dosage,” said Sen. David Wheeler, R-Huron, noting a 2017 medical report found it nearly impossible to overdose on fentanyl by simply touching it. “The medical experts indicated that these are more likely to be panic attacks.”
Rep. Ben Krohmer, R-Mitchell, who sponsored the bill, presented body camera footage of incidents where it was believed that law enforcement responding to a drug call had suffered an overdose-like reaction when exposed to fentanyl, similar to what he presented in the House of Representatives.
However, in those incidents, a follow-up toxicology report was not administered to confirm that the officer had overdosed.
More: Fact check: Experts say passive exposure to fentanyl impossible
The Argus Leader found in a fact-check that it’s almost impossible for a law enforcement officer to overdose after simple passive exposure to fentanyl.
“There has never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever been a confirmed case of an officer just encountering fentanyl in the field and overdosing,” Brandon Del Pozo, an assistant professor of medicine at Brown University, told the Argus Leader.
Del Pozo, a 23-year law enforcement veteran who studies addiction, has been combating the myth of passive exposure since 2021.
Krohmer, in his rebuttal, said if senators read further in the 2017 report they would have seen a recommendation that people in the research lab working with fentanyl should have access to an N-95 mask and Narcan.
“You have to ask yourself why would you need to wear an N-95 mask and have Narcan readily available for something that isn’t harmful,” Krohmer said.
Narcan, also known as naloxone, is a drug known to help stop a fentanyl overdose. It’s not harmful to a person who is not suffering from a fentanyl overdose.
Sen. Helene Duhamel, R-Rapid City, said she had spoken with several law enforcement officers who said they had not seen a single documented case in the state or the nation where an officer had overdosed from a passive exposure.
“Nobody could say with certainty that there was,” she said. “Because even if there was one case, I think legislators would certainly support this. But until we have documented that there’s a problem, we’d hate to shoot out in front and suggest that there is a problem. We have to wait and see.”
HB 1025 was killed with a 4-3 vote.
SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – As it gets closer to summer, more drivers will be on the road and the South Dakota Highway Patrol wants to remind drivers to stay vigilant behind the wheel.
With summer vacations, joy rides in the nice weather, and more drivers on the road, travel will be busier than usual.
On top of that, an increase in construction projects could cause delays and change traffic patterns.
All of this means drivers should stay alert when they are behind the wheel.
“With all of the traffic going on during the summer time during the road construction, we just want to remind people on the roadway to slow down, pay attention to the traffic signs, the construction workers, and the traffic ahead of them,” Trooper Tori Hurtig of the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Also, reminding motorcyclists and drivers to remain aware of their surroundings.
“Be a proactive and defensive driver, so watch where you are going, watch where the other drivers are going, and also try and avoid any unnecessary corrective actions as well,” said Hurtig.
Highway Patrol also wants to remind people to wear seatbelts and, if driving a motorcycle, to wear a helmet.
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HURON — Blake Ellwein of Huron has been named as the 2026 South Dakota Mr. Basketball award winner by Hansen Anderson Basketball.
The 6-foot-10 senior guard and South Dakota State University recruit led Huron to a 20-4 record and the state Class AA boys basketball championship. He made 25 of 27 free throws in the state tourney.
Ellwein is the all-time leading scorer at Huron High School with 1,535 career points. He averaged 21.5 points per game in his senior season. He is a three-time Class AA all-state selection and three-time All-Eastern South Dakota Conference player who earned all-tournament honors three times at state AA tourneys.
Since the award was first presented in 1978, Ellwein is the third Huron player selected for the honor. He joins Rod Merriam in 1980 and Eric Hall in 2004 as previous honorees for the Tigers.
Other finalists included: Jackson Wadsworth of Hamlin, Samuel DeGroot of Sioux Falls Lincoln, Marvin Richard III of Pine Ridge and Will Kuhl of West Central.
The award is voted on yearly by all boys basketball coaches in the state and was presented at a ceremony held Thursday, May 14, in the Huron Arena.
Wagner standout and University of Nebraska recruit Ashlyn Koupal of Wagner recently was named South Dakota’s Miss Basketball for 2026.
Hansen Anderson basketball was founded in 1977 by Richard Hansen and Dave Anderson. The annual publication highlighsteams and players from across the state.
South Dakota’s Mr. Basketball Winners
2026: Blake Ellwein, Huron.
2025: Griffen Goodbary, Sioux Falls Christian.
2024: Jacob Mehrman, Harrisburg.
2023: Joe Sayler, White River.
2022: Kalen Garry, De Smet.
2021: Matthew Mors, Yankton.
2020: Ryder Kirsch of St. Thomas More.
2019: Noah Freidel of Tea Area.
2018: A.J. Piltzuweit of Vermillion.
2017: Matt Cartwright of Sioux Falls O’Gorman.
2016: Ty Hoglund of Dell Rapids.
2015: Bo Fries of Langford Area
2014: Steven Schaefer of Rapid City Stevens
2013: Zach Hanson of Pierre.
2012: Skye Warwick of St. Thomas More.
2011: Zach Horstman of Winner and Liam Duffy of St. Thomas More.
2010: Jared Hannigan of Aberdeen Central.
2009: Tony Fiegen of Madison.
2008: Louie Krogman of White River.
2007: Matt Malloy of Parkston.
2006: Zach Finley of St. Thomas More.
2005: Eric Krogman of Elkton.
2004: Eric Hall of Huron.
2003: Paige Paulsen of Custer.
2002: Matt Hammer of Elkton.
2001: Josh Mueller of West Central.
2000: Steve Anderson of Rapid City Central.
1999: Denver TenBroek of McIntosh.
1998: Austin Hansen of Brandon Valley and Mike Miller of Mitchell.
1997: Austin Ledeboer of Armour.
1996: Todd Schlekeway of Mobridge and John Sivesind of Sioux Falls Roosevelt.
1995: Chris Janssen of Emery.
1994: Chuck Welke of Warner.
1993: Jason Sutherland of Watertown.
1992: Lance Luitjens of Custer and Eric Lappe of Harrold.
1991: Eric Kline of Aberdeen Central.
1990: Brent Lindskov of Isabel.
1989: Eric Piatkwoski of Rapid City Stevens.
1988: George Bettelyoun of Pine Ridge.
1987: Kyle Jordre of Platte.
1986: Sam Goodhope of Winner.
1985: Bart Fredrick of Mitchell and Randy Leslie of Sioux Falls Washington.
1984: Todd Smith of Wakonda.
1983: Luther Hippe of Sioux Falls Washington and Troy Schaefer of Pierre.
1982: Lonni Stover of Webster.
1981: Alan Miller of Stickney.
1980: Rod Merriam of Huron.
1979: Mark Smidt of Sioux Falls Washington.
1978: Barry Glanzer of Armour.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A free worship concert is coming to Rapid City this Friday night as part of the annual Homeschool South Dakota Conference.
The concert will take place May 15th at The Monument and will officially kick off the two-day conference event. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the concert beginning at 7:30.
The evening will feature praise and worship music from Mike Weaver, the lead singer of the Christian band Big Daddy Weave. Organizers say the concert is completely free and open to the public, no tickets or conference registration required.
The Homeschool South Dakota Conference brings together homeschooling families from across the state for educational sessions, guest speakers and community activities throughout the weekend.
Organizers say the concert is designed to be a community-wide event welcoming anyone interested in attending. Additional information about the conference and concert is available through Homeschool South Dakota.
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Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
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