South Dakota
South Dakota Senator introduces new option for student loans
![South Dakota Senator introduces new option for student loans South Dakota Senator introduces new option for student loans](https://gray-ksfy-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J245DPUXNBD7ZIJTX3QVVOACD4.bmp?auth=a4149f1d3b92d58144d7473747b876d05619c03d32cc487add76e658811d5407&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – A South Dakota Senator introduced legislation on Thursday that would provide a new affordable student loan option.
Senator Mike Rounds’ bill is not only an attempt to bring in the private sector into student loans but it’s also a return to old policy.
While at an undergraduate institution, the federal government will be picking up the majority of your loan bill when you get a loan through eligible lenders.
“The federal government will guarantee 98% of that loan to the banks, there’s no risk, the banks are going to buy into this, it used to work really well before it was abandoned in favor of the current plans,” Rounds said.
In a letter sent to Senator Rounds on Tuesday, the America’s Credit Unions and Dakota Credit Union Association endorsed the bill, saying it will allow the industry to effectively meet the needs of their over 140 million credit union members nationwide.
“We have capacity, we have humans here, we have people who would love to sit down with you and process it, we would be very happy to facilitate a member’s questions about that program at any time,” Jeff Jorgensen, President of Bluestone Federal Credit Union said.
Jorgensen says his company still gets phone calls daily asking if they can get a student loan and that they have to send them to the federal government.
The bill allows for up to $19,000 per year in loans adjusted with inflation, the average cost to attend a public university. The interest would not accrue when students are in school.
Additionally, there would be two different repayment options including one that is income-driven. You could either do a 15-year installment plan with no penalties for paying early or do an income-driven repayment plan. It’s available for undergraduates or trade school students.
The hope is to help middle-class students who often have to bypass college to some extent.
According to Rounds, the bill would not take away opportunities for governmental-based student loan programs, although his bill doesn’t require you to fill out the FAFSA form.
Copyright 2024 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
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South Dakota
Two drown after being 'overcome' by waves in South Dakota lake
![Two drown after being 'overcome' by waves in South Dakota lake Two drown after being 'overcome' by waves in South Dakota lake](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f22cd8c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/659x346+0+25/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Feb%2F10%2F7b0f58d247cfa17bdb91e96a6c69%2Flake-water-ocean-sea.jpg)
Authorities say two women drowned while swimming in an eastern South Dakota lake.
It happened Wednesday evening on Lake Henry, a couple miles southeast of De Smet.
The Kingsbury County Sheriff’s Office said the two female victims were in the lake on personal flotation devices when the wind picked up and they were overcome by waves. First responders performed CPR and transported the victims to a hospital, but they did not survive.
Authorities did not identify victims, only saying they were both female and from out-of-state.
A strong weather storm system moved through the Lake Henry area Wednesday evening. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning around 9 p.m.
South Dakota
First Alert: Heat Returns to KOTA Territory for the Next Three Days
![First Alert: Heat Returns to KOTA Territory for the Next Three Days First Alert: Heat Returns to KOTA Territory for the Next Three Days](https://gray-kota-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6XLOHPJHZ5EVNCDMQFDEOJVGBU.jpg?auth=043e023371e9c211c879dfdf6d0c5e9313bc14cc227f11fa1014b112ad45052f&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) –
Tonight, temperatures manage to keep dropping and Rapid City hits the 64 degree mark by sunrise tomorrow. Clear skies overnight are expected with the absence of that dense smoke! Tomorrow, we are going to see temperatures make it back into the 90s by the afternoon, so if you are out walking your furry friends, make sure to keep those paws off of the hot concrete. Temperatures make it into the mid 90s in Rapid City in the afternoon with completely sunny skies lasting throughout the entire day. Looking ahead to the month of August, temperatures decrease throughout the month and the sunset time keeps getting earlier and earlier. We are also entering one of our driest months of the year with less than 2 inches of rainfall on average. Currently we are expecting above average temperatures in KOTA Territory and below average precipitation. These conditions don’t look too promising for the current drought situation that has made itself known over Western South Dakota. Overnight tonight, temperatures make it into the 50s and 60s throughout KOTA Territory with clear skies expected throughout the entire night. We will not be as hazy as we have been the past few nights. Tomorrow, clear skies translate to sunny skies. This lasts the entire day across almost every single location. Make sure to pack those sunglasses as you are walking out of the door tomorrow morning. The next three days over in NE Wyoming and the Northern Hills displays the warm up we are going to experience. Everyone seeing 90s to triple digits by the end of the week and into the start of the weekend. Rapid City getting in on the century mark with temperatures surpassing 100 degrees on Saturday. Rain and thunderstorms work their way into the forecast by Sunday, and that looks like it will continue next week. Temperatures also reflect that with 80s for much of next week.
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Copyright 2024 KOTA. All rights reserved.
South Dakota
RCAS comments on SD schools cracking down on cell phones
![RCAS comments on SD schools cracking down on cell phones RCAS comments on SD schools cracking down on cell phones](https://gray-kota-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y2PCOMRIKVDW3OM7QK3LOW2LUM.jpg?auth=b2dd5ab4f4f7a2e694a3391867a5c19344da52251cffc9606eb3b3917040d2df&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – As the 2024-2025 school year inches closer, many school districts are tightening the reigns on their cell phone use policies.
In South Dakota, at least two school districts, Gettysburg and Edgemont, are implementing lockable pouches for students to place their cell phones during the school day.
Assistant Superintendent for Rapid City Area Schools Cory Strasser agrees with the decision these districts have made and says when cell phones are more of a disruption than a tool, changes need to be made.
“Every school addresses certain issues differently, and I think you’re seeing some of that in South Dakota. Some of the pressure is back against prevalent student use of cell phones, and it really comes down to what the learning environment looks like,” Strasser said.
Rapid City Area Schools decided to not make any changes to their current approach to student cell phone use, which consists of having phones kept in a backpack or locker throughout the school day.
“I don’t see us moving in that direction, but again we need to gauge where the potential disruption is and are we able to effectively address it through our current policy and consequences so that we can preserve the learning environment,” Strasser continued.
While schools in Rapid City are not tightening up their policy at the moment, Strasser says they are continuously keeping an eye out for any needed changes.
“We continually evaluate and look at our policies, so if there is a distinct need coming forth that we need to take a hard look at this policy, then we’re going to do that,” Strasser said.
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Copyright 2024 KOTA. All rights reserved.
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