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Groton Daily Independent
Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 218 ~ 18 of 39
destroyed. DNA swabbed from the boxes’ contents could rule Larson out as a suspect.
“I know it’s going to prove I didn’t do it,” Larson said.
Julie Jonas, legal director of the Innocence Project of Minnesota, said the DNA sampling may not be
enough to make the case. Jonas said if DNA testing matches a new suspect, they hope is it would encour- age a prosecutor to reopen the case.
Attorney General Marty Jackley’s of ce is handling Larson’s case. Jackley said he “didn’t oppose” the In- nocence Project’s efforts to test the evidence, particularly since DNA testing has evolved since Larson’s trial.
“I’ve indicated that I’d take a look at (the results) and keep an open mind,” Jackley said. ___
Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com
Boozy cupcake-maker sparks rush to modify South Dakota laws
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Lawmakers are rushing to change South Dakota food laws to allow a Sioux Falls bakery to continue selling its alcohol-infused cupcakes.
After shutting down operations to comply with the state’s century-old ban on alcohol used in confec- tionery foods, online bakery Intoxibakes received an outpouring of support from the Sioux Falls business community and policymakers.
Several city councilors responded to news of Intoxibakes’ closing by investigating business regulations and ways to change the law.
City Councilor Christine Erickson told the Argus Leader she’s working with state Sen. Deb Peters to change state law through a proposal that would limit alcohol content in food at 0.5 percent. The measure mirrors laws in at least a dozen other states, including Iowa and Minnesota.
“This isn’t isolated to Intoxibakes,” Erickson said. “We’ve got lots of calls from people that had been doing this all over the state.”
Intoxibakes owners had met with regulators before opening in November to con rm that they didn’t need a liquor license to sell their boozy cupcakes. Co-owner Josie Layton said they felt they were misinformed. Under state law, any treats made with alcohol are illegal regardless of whether the owner has a liquor
license, according to a representative from the Department of Public Safety.
The new proposal faces a few hurdles, since legislative deadlines for introducing bills have already passed.
The measure will need to be pushed forward in a hoghouse amendment to a bill originally crafted for other purposes.
Republican Rep. Greg Jamison of Sioux Falls said he’d support the proposal if it ends up in the House of Representatives.
“It’s an old law, so if the proposal is reasonable, I’d say yeah, let’s make a change,” he said. “But it might be something that has to wait until next year.”
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Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com
Police: Wife’s fatal shooting of husband was self-defense
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Sioux Falls police say a woman’s fatal shooting of her husband in November was determined to be self-defense and she will not face charges.
Police were called early on Nov. 5 on a report of a gunshot and found the man and woman inside the home. The man died of a gunshot wound to his chest. The woman told police she shot her husband in self-defense and that no one else was home at the time. Authorities recovered a gun at the scene.
Sioux Falls police investigated and presented their evidence to the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s of ce, which determined the shooting was likely self-defense and therefore a justi able homicide under South Dakota law. No charges will be led.