South Dakota

SYRUPGATE: Senator banned from House after gag gift for colleague

Published

2 years ago

March 5, 2024

SYRUPGATE: Senator banned from House after gag gift for colleague

PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Broadcasters Association) – A South Dakota Senator is receiving disciplinary action after gifting a bottle of syrup to a fellow lawmaker.

Sen. Tom Pischke of Dell Rapids has been barred from both the chambers of the state House of Representatives and the lobby behind the chamber by Speaker Hugh Bartels for allegedly violating Legislative Code of Conduct standards Monday.

”It has come to my attention that you placed a bottle of syrup on a Representative’s desk,” Bartels wrote in a letter to Pischke, citing ethics standards outlined in the Legislature’s joint rules book. ”Therefore, I am removing your privilege of coming on the floor of the House of Representatives.”

Bartels told South Dakota Broadcasters Association that a member in the state House “did not appreciate” the gesture, which comes after Rep. Kristin Conzet blocked a legislative commemoration co-authored by Pischke and Rep. Phil Jensen for Nancy Green, a former female slave who was one of the first black models hired to promote a corporate trademark, like the Aunt Jemima breakfast brand.

The company was rebranded in 2021 amid criticisms that continued use of ”Aunt Jemima” was racially insensitive, while conservatives have decried the decision by PepsiCo. to discontinue the brand as overly politically correct.

Conzet did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment Monday evening.

In a text message, Pischke admitted to leaving a bottle of syrup – Mrs. Butterworth’s brand – on Conzet’s desk inside of the state House, but did not anticipate the blowback. He’s since issued an apology to Conzet.

”I was expecting her (Conzet) to be filled with gratitude,” Pischke said. “I’m wondering if the Speaker is jealous that he didn’t receive a bottle too and that’s his justification for this.”

Commemorations are ceremonial measures that any lawmaker can introduce. They do not carry the weight of law, and opposition by a single member of the Legislature is enough to block a commemoration from being read on the floor of the House or Senate.

Subscribe to the Dakota News Now YouTube channel

Source link

Related Topics:Featured House legislator Legislature Pierre Pischke Senate South Dakota syrup

Click to comment

South Dakota

Garry’s 15 lead South Dakota State past Ball State 68-64

Published

5 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

Garry’s 15 lead South Dakota State past Ball State 68-64

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Kalen Garry’s 15 points helped South Dakota State defeat Ball State 68-64 on Tuesday.

Garry added eight rebounds and seven assists for the Jackrabbits (6-5). Damon Wilkinson scored 14 points (7 of 12 from the field) and added eight rebounds and three blocks. Matthew Mors went 4 of 4 shooting to finish with 10 points, while grabbing six rebounds.

Joey Hart led the way for the Cardinals (3-7) with 18 points. Ball State also got 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks from Kayden Fish. Davion Hill also had 10 points.

Garry scored 11 points in the first half and South Dakota State went into halftime trailing 40-39. South Dakota State used a 9-0 second-half run to break a 53-53 tie and take the lead at 62-53 with 8:49 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Jaden Jackson scored seven second-half points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Source link

South Dakota

Class sizes not changing in Sioux Falls despite budget cuts

Published

17 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

Class sizes not changing in Sioux Falls despite budget cuts

Sioux Falls schools won’t see larger class sizes as a result of looming budget cuts.

The Sioux Falls Board of Education on Monday committed to holding the line on student-teacher ratios despite more than $3 million in spending reductions South Dakota’s largest school district is facing amid ongoing funding constraints.

Dog feces ‘a foot deep’ in SDSU police chief’s animal cruelty investigation

Source link

South Dakota

South Dakota HS Basketball Media Preseason Polls

Published

1 day ago

December 8, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota HS Basketball Media Preseason Polls

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Preseason South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll has been released. Teams are ranked by points received and first-place votes are in parentheses.

Boys

Class AA
1. Lincoln (11) 78
2. Brandon Valley (6) 58
3. Huron 43
4. Mitchell 38
5. O’Gorman (1) 15
Receiving votes: Jefferson 13, Harrisburg 12, Washington 6, Roosevelt 3, Spearfish 2, Tea Area 2.

Class A
1. SF Christian (16) 176
2. Lennox 135
3. West Central (2) 127
4. Clark/Willow Lake 103
5. Hamlin 86
6. Pine Ridge 68
7. St. Thomas More 62
8. Groton Area 46
9. RC Christian 40
10. Dakota Valley 37
Receiving votes: Dell Rapids 29, Vermillion 21, Winner 17, Madison 16, Baltic 12, Flandreau 5, Hill City 4, Mobridge-Pollock 4, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 1, Mahpiya Luta 1.

Class B
1. Castlewood (10) 149
2. Wessington Springs (2) 124
3. St. Mary’s (4) 110
4. Wall (1) 109
5. Viborg-Hurley (1) 108
6. Freeman 98
7. Lyman 54
8. Aberdeen Christian 50
9. De Smet 37
10. Parkston 35
Receiving votes: Sully Buttes 31, Bridgewater-Emery 25, Howard 17, Leola/Frederick Area 14, Gregory 9, Wolsey-Wessington 7, Lemmon 6, Estelline/Hendricks 5, Deubrook Area 2.

Girls

Class AA
1. O’Gorman (16) 88
2. Brandon Valley (2) 72
3. Washington 45
4. Jefferson 26
5. Stevens 17
Receiving votes: Mitchell 16, Spearfish 3, Aberdeen Central 2, Rapid City Central 1.

Class A
1. SF Christian (11) 173
2. Mahpiya Luta (7) 160
3. Hamlin 120
4. Dakota Valley 119
5. Sioux Valley 94
6. Wagner 88
7. Vermillion 62
8. Mobridge-Pollock 52
9. Lennox 39
10. Flandreau 29
Receiving votes: West Central 19, Aberdeen Roncalli 11, Clark/Willow Lake 6, St. Thomas More 4, Groton Area 4, Mount Vernon/Plankinton 3, Miller 2, Canton 2, Lakota Tech 2, Pine Ridge 1.

Class B
1. Bennett County (15) 176
2. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 131
3. Centerville (3) 108
4. Lyman 106
5. Parkston 96
6. Harding County 75
7. Ethan 72
8. Deubrook Area 39
9. Colman-Egan 37
T-10. St. Mary’s 31
T-10. Freeman 31
Receiving votes: Corsica-Stickney 23, Arlington 21, Lemmon 11, De Smet 11, Kadoka Area 6, Waubay-Summit 6, Gayville-Volin 5, Warner 2, Northwestern 1, Chester 1, Avon 1.