SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Kathleen Shannon / Greater Dakota News Service) – A new South Dakota law will give poll watchers in the state more power on Election Day. Some say that could interfere with voting.

A bill passed in March requires that polling places be arranged so that poll watchers – who are sometimes nominated by political parties – may ‘plainly see and hear what is done in the polling place.’

A violation by a poll worker – a nonpartisan local trained for the role – is now a class two misdemeanor.

Andrew Garber – counsel for the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the Brennan Center for Justice – said while poll watchers are important, giving them disproportionate power could lead to voter intimidation, poll worker harassment, and misinformation.

“When poll workers can be subject to criminal penalties, it means that poll watchers are going to feel empowered to push the boundaries,” said Garber. “And in some cases, people are no longer going to want to serve as poll workers if they’re more likely to face harassments or fear criminal prosecution.”

Garber said it can also slow down voting and vote counting. The Republican National Committee says increased monitoring ensures transparency.

Other voting laws passed this year – according to the Brennan Center – include seven restrictive laws in six states, and 14 expansive laws across 11 states.

Two out of three Americans are concerned about political violence following Election Day, according to a recent survey.

Garber said it’s important for voters to know that interference is possible, but it’s unlikely.

“The reality is most voters will have a really positive voting experience,” said Garber. “They shouldn’t be worried that someone is going to come out and intimidate them or make things very difficult.”

In the small chance of a disruption, Garber said voters should report it to election officials.

 

HARRISBURG, S.D. – The South Dakota Board of Regents announced its new Gateway to Teacher Education Certificate.

The certificate is for high school students who want to get a head start in the field of education. The Board of Regents wanted to build this program as a way to combat the current teacher shortage.

The 12-credit certificate can be earned online through South Dakota’s High School Dual Credit Program.

Executive Director of the Board of Regents Nathan Lukkes said he hopes this program will specifically help rural communities.

”The hope is, if we can, pique the curiosity of these students while they’re in high school that ultimately, you know four years down the road many of them will come back and be close to home, teaching in rural South Dakota,” Lukkes said.

The certificate is stackable with special, primary, and secondary education and will give students a four-class head start in any of these programs at South Dakota public Universities.

 

RAPID CITY, S.D. – A major meth conspiracy involving multiple states was shut down when Anthony Tibbitts, age 40, was sentenced on August 2 to five years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release following his conviction of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Tibbits was indicted by a federal grand jury in the summer of 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 19, 2024.

Tibbitts was involved in a large-scale methamphetamine distribution operation in Rapid City and the Pine Ridge Reservation.  During this conspiracy, Richard Glover and his significant other, Teresa Goodroad, were the source of supply for Mark Bond and Todd Pape in South Dakota.

Bond and Pape would make trips to Colorado to pick up pounds of methamphetamine from Goodroad and Glover. Other times Goodroad and Glover would deliver the drugs to Bond and Pape in South Dakota. Once the drugs were in South Dakota they would be brought to various homes on the Pine Ridge Reservation, including Tibbitts’, where they would be further distributed by multiple individuals, including Tibbitts, Marlena Pond, Chris Janis, Tessie LaForge, Tyler LaForge, and others.

By the time the meth ring was busted, between 15 and 45 kilograms, or 33 to 100 pounds, of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of this criminal enterprise.

Glover, Goodroad, Bond, Pape, Pond, Janis, and Tessie LaForge were sentenced earlier this summer. Glover received a sentence of 17 years and six months in prison; Goodroad received a sentence of 17 years and six months in prison; Bond received a sentence of 26 years and eight months in prison; Pape received a sentence of 25 years in prison; Pond received a sentence of six years in prison; Janis received a sentence of six years in prison; and Tessie LaForge received a sentence of two years and six months in prison. Tyler LaForge is set for sentencing later this summer.

 

ST. PAUL, MN (Mike Moen / Minnesota News Connection – Public hearings are scheduled this month as Minnesota regulators consider a permit for a proposed pipeline to transport carbon emissions from ethanol plants.

Skeptics say an environmental assessment tied to the application has shortcomings.

The maze of underground pipes crossing several Midwestern states would be what’s described as the largest carbon capture project in the world.

The company behind it wants permit approval for a 28-mile stretch in northwestern Minnesota. The state just released a Final Environmental Impact Statement before the decision is made.

Peg Furshong, and organizer with the environmental group CURE, said they’re not satisfied with language like “impacts will be minimal,” and need more details.

“We should not be rushing out the gate, because this is the first-of-its-kind project,” said Furshong, “and we want to get it right.”

Opponents worry about a pipeline rupture and the project draining water sources.

When asked for comment, the Commerce Department referred to the assessment, which says the project could result in a net benefit in reducing emissions, depending on certain variables.

But it acknowledges public safety risks if there’s a rupture. The hearings are scheduled for August 20 and 21.

The Public Utilities Commission will lead those meetings and will decide on Minnesota’s permit. Despite predictions of emission reductions, Furshong said she’s still skeptical.

“When you figure out how much energy it takes to actually capture carbon,” said Furshong, “it takes more energy to convert the gas to a liquid and put it in a pipeline than it does to actually make ethanol.”

The applicant, Summit Carbon Solutions, won permit approval in Iowa, but has seen regulatory hurdles in other states. It says the emissions would be stored underground in North Dakota.

Summit has long touted environmental improvements and economic opportunities it feels the project would create.

The company still has to apply for a permit for another stretch of proposed pipeline in Minnesota.