August 30, 2016

Tax, fee increases boost funding for state, local roads and bridges

PIERRE — State and local highway programs saw a $99 million boost in their revenues during the first full year of tax and fee increases that the Legislature approved in 2015.

That’s according to a report from the South Dakota Department of Revenue to the Legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee.

The numbers reflect state government’s 2016 fiscal year that ended June 30. State government collects motor-fuel taxes and excise taxes on motor vehicle sales.

County governments, who collect the vehicle registration fees, operate on a calendar year.

Read more: http://www.thepublicopinion.com/news/local_news/tax-fee-increases-boost-funding-for-state-local-roads-and/article_699bc238-6be8-11e6-bc56-7bb2ce2263bd.html

August 30, 2016

Ethanol producer Poet top SD contributor in 2016 election

WASHINGTON — Poet, one of the nation’s largest ethanol producers, has contributed the most money of any entity in South Dakota so far this political cycle as the company works to maintain its voice in the country’s renewable fuels debate.

With more than two months to go until the presidential and congressional elections, the Sioux Falls-based company has donated more than $564,150 through its political action committee and employees who work for Poet as of July 31, topping its total of $501,583 for the entire election cycle in 2012, according to Opensecrets.org.

The figures only include donations of $200 or more that are itemized and include the donor's employment.

The donations went to a wide swatch of House and Senate candidates, both Republican and Democrats, as well as PACs, party committees and other groups. Among the recipients are Republicans Sen. John Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the National Republican Committee and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Read more: http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2016/08/26/poet-top-south-dakota-contributor-2016-election/89116216/

August 30, 2016

Koch brothers-backed group says ballot measure could invite lawsuits

A Koch Brothers-backed nonprofit says South Dakota could be dragged into expensive freedom of speech lawsuits if voters approve a proposed campaign finance overhaul in November.

The argument is the latest in a campaign against Initiated Measure 22, which would require Koch-affiliated groups and other donors to disclose their identities and lower the amount they could contribute to candidates, parties and political action committees.

The Center for Competitive Politics, a Virginia-based group funded in part by the David and Charles Koch, conservative industrialists, released a report Thursday critical of the South Dakota ballot measure. In the assessment, an analyst said the so-called "South Dakota Government Accountability and Anti-Corruption Act" would require reporting of political speech and donations and it would impose a "straightjacket" on fundraising.

"We're just putting the issues out there and alerting people to the legal issues that could arise," Eric Wang, Center for Competitive Politics analyst, said. The group didn't endorse or oppose the measure.

Read more: http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2016/08/27/koch-brothers-backed-group-says-ballot-measure-could-invite-lawsuits/89337302/

August 30, 2016

Health care giants promise another push for Medicaid expansion in 2017

The fight to expand Medicaid in South Dakota isn't over, stakeholders said Thursday.

Despite delays from the Legislature in addressing the proposal to expand the federal health insurance program for needy people, health care industry officials said they would push for expansion in 2017.

At a meeting in Sioux Falls, representatives from the governor's office, health care organizations from across the state including Avera, Sanford and Rapid City Regional as well as a handful of legislative candidates met to discuss how they'd again make the argument for expansion in the Legislature.

Banking on more concrete information and a new group of legislators, supporters from the health community said they'd lobby lawmakers with a new focus on the money local governments could save by ensuring more South Dakotans had insurance to pay for early cancer screening and preventative care.

Read more: http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2016/08/25/health-care-giants-promise-another-push-medicaid-expansion-2017/89335860/

August 30, 2016

North Dakota gubernatorial candidates building on political foundations

BISMARCK—Some have likely seen them waving from parade floats, spoken to them at public events or gatherings or had a conversation at their doorsteps: Candidates have fanned out across the state to engage in summer retail politics.

Gubernatorial candidates and state party officials say the summer has been a good time to build a foundation as well as momentum. Soon the post-Labor Day fall election blitz will begin.

"There's one last little pocket — one last weekend at the lake or get the kids ready for school," North Dakota Republican Party Chairman Kelly Armstrong said. "I like being us right now. Complacency is my biggest concern. I think we're in a pretty good spot."

New legislative and statewide candidates have run highly energetic campaigns, a good sign of the party's overall health and strong bench of candidates from which to draw, according to Armstrong.

Read more: http://www.jamestownsun.com/news/state/4103650-nd-gubernatorial-candidates-building-political-foundations

August 30, 2016

California lawmakers pass rape bill inspired by Stanford case

LOS ANGELES - California lawmakers, acting in response to nationwide outrage over the six-month jail term given to a former Stanford University swimmer following his conviction for sexual assault on an unconscious woman, on Monday passed legislation closing a loophole that allowed the sentence.

The law, AB-2888, now goes to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature.

The measure was introduced in the legislature in response to the sentence given to 20-year-old Brock Turner by Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky in June, which was widely condemned as too lenient. Prosecutors had asked that Turner be given six years in state prison.

Turner was convicted of assault with intent to commit rape, penetration of an intoxicated person and penetration of an unconscious person in the January 2015 attack. Under California law, those charges are not considered rape because they did not involve penile penetration.

According to the legislators, current California law calls for a mandatory prison term in cases of rape or sexual assault where force is used, but not when the victim is unconscious or severely intoxicated and thus unable to resist.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-rape-bill-idUSKCN1142G9

August 30, 2016

FBI offers $50,000 reward for capture of escaped polygamous sect leader

The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of a Utah-based polygamous faith leader who escaped from home confinement ahead of his trial over food stamp fraud.

Lyle Jeffs, 56, fled confinement in Salt Lake City sometime over the weekend of June 18 - 19 and an arrest warrant was issued by a federal judge that Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

Prosecutors allege Jeffs and other leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) in Arizona and South Dakota diverted money from the federal government food assistance program for the poor.

Jeffs pleaded not guilty to the two-count indictment in February and was released from jail on June 9 ahead of his October trial. Jeffs is the de facto leader of the (FLDS), an unacknowledged offshoot of the Mormon Church.

Read more: http://www.jamestownsun.com/news/nation-and-world/4104175-fbi-offers-50000-reward-capture-escaped-polygamous-sect-leader

August 30, 2016

Judge in pipeline case stresses importance of law

The judge who will decide the immediate future of the Dakota Access Pipeline expressed his belief during his confirmation proceedings that the U.S. Constitution and judicial precedent should lead to a judge's decisions.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in 2010 responded to questions from Sens. Jeff Sessions and Tom Coburn about his judicial philosophies. Boasberg’s answers tended to stress the importance of following the law. Neither empathy nor sympathy should play a role, he wrote.

“Judges should not work from a desired outcome in assessing the law and facts. Instead, they should follow the law and facts to whatever outcome they dictate,” he wrote.

Boasberg will decide whether to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline while the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe pursues a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The tribe alleges the corps violated the National Historic Preservation Act while permitting the pipeline, which would take Bakken oil to Illinois. Boasberg plans to rule on the injunction by Sept. 9.

Read more: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/judge-in-pipeline-case-stresses-importance-of-law/article_460f9f8a-fa17-5c34-8a21-d97b3b41722a.html

August 30, 2016

Lt. Gov. Wrigley answers questions on 'unlawful' pipeline protest

Q. Tell us why you're here.

The evolving situation with Standing Rock is obviously very serious, and I don't know that publicly it's been discussed as broadly as it's going to be. The governor went on the radio, and we'll be talking much more about what is actually transpiring there.

We're dealing with a very significant and challenging law enforcement issue.

It's an important story, it's an evolving story, and there's frankly a lot of misinformation going out.

It's also a complicated situation. It started off as a peaceful protest, although it was being conducted in part on land on which they did not have any permits to go. They were on the Army Corps of Engineers land, and that's where the main encampment is.

Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/4103805-lt-gov-wrigley-answers-questions-unlawful-pipeline-protest

August 30, 2016

Owner of seized payloader files suit against North Dakota crime bureau agent

FARGO — The owner of a payloader seized by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation in 2014 is now suing the agent accused of unjustly giving it away.

Darrell Schrum, who runs a trucking and gravel business in Forbes, has filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that Supervisory Special Agent Arnie Rummel violated his constitutional rights when the BCI destroyed the door to Schrum's shop, disabled a security camera, seized the payloader and transported it out of state.

Schrum is seeking unspecified damages, including the cost of the payloader, repairs he made to it and attorney fees, according to the suit, which was filed Aug. 22.

The long-running payloader flap started in May 2014 when Rummel secured a warrant to seize the loader. Suspecting the machine was stolen, Rummel gave it to who he believed was the true owner, according to court records. Meanwhile, Schrum maintained that he was an innocent buyer.

Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/4104170-owner-seized-payloader-files-suit-against-north-dakota-crime-bureau-agent