PIERRE, SD – A Yankton woman was sentenced for obtaining a controlled substance while working as a registered nurse at a Chamberlain hospital. Between June 19, 2021, and September 11, 2021, 55-year-old Lisa Merrigan, tampered with a vial of fentanyl citrate stored by the hospital. She removed the fentanyl for injection from the vial and replaced most of it with saline solution. Merrigan returned the tampered vial to storage knowing the diluted fentanyl could be dispensed to surgical patients to treat severe pain at the hospital. Merrigan was sentenced to two years of probation on September 11, 2023.
SIOUX FALLS, SD – We still don’t know what the fate of the decommissioned taxidermy at the now-closed Delbridge Museum of Natural History is. Detected levels of arsenic prompted the closure. A Chemist at SDSU has said that he believes it’s probably safe for the public to be around the display with these detected levels. The collection was acquired years ago by local businessman Henry Brockhouse and eventually bought by C.J. Delbridge. About two weeks ago, zoo and city leadership talked about the sudden closure of the museum. The Sioux Falls City Commission keeps delaying a vote on what to do with the animals.
SIOUX FALLS, SD – A panel of state lawmakers has wrapped up work on ideas that could help ease financial strain on South Dakota counties. The final list on Wednesday from the Legislature’s Study Committee on County Funding and Services included eight proposals and two resolutions.
The chairs, Republican Rep. Roger Chase and Republican Sen. Randy Deibert, will deliver a report of the work to the Legislature’s Executive Board. If the board approves it, the Legislative Research Council would then assemble drafts for the 2024 session that opens January 8.
Items the panel agreed on include:
Letting county governments charge administrative fees to other governments, such as school boards and municipalities, for collecting property taxes.
State funding of veteran service officers.
State funding of emergency management staff.
Capping court appointed attorney costs at $10,000 per case.
Change distribution of alcohol beverage tax.
State funding for mental-health holds.
State grant program to cover cyber-security costs.
Allow counties to use state government’s obligation recovery center to pursue debts owed to counties.
Resolution calling for a centralized state database for property values.
Resolution calling for a county incentives fund.
The committee also agreed to support legislation that would increase the amount that townships must pay counties for maintaining township roads to $2,000 or more. State law currently sets the amount at $200.
