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Groton Daily Independent
Saturday, July 29, 2017 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 029 ~ 15 of 67
sures, most of which were brought by people using South Dakota as a testing ground for their ideas. His initiative would prohibit contributions to ballot question committees from nonresidents, out-of-state political committees and entities that haven’t led with the Secretary of State’s of ce for the preceding four years.
Experts have said such measures are unlikely to survive a legal challenge, and critics argue they would restrict free speech.
The tobacco tax plan aims to make state technical institutes more affordable and raise money to offer more programming, and Mickelson said lowering the cost of attendance would help keep young people in South Dakota.
Republican Sen. Stace Nelson, a well-known conservative, asked state residents to reject both initiatives, saying he opposes Mickelson’s “tax and spend ideas” and encouraging him to change his party registra- tion to Democrat.
Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s chief of staff, Tony Venhuizen, said that Mickelson is an “aggressive” guy who ran for of ce to get things done. During the 2017 session, the speaker hired his own private lobbyist, an unusual move for South Dakota’s part-time, citizen Legislature.
Senate President Pro Tempore Brock Green eld said Mickelson has seemed freer since deciding not to join the Republican gubernatorial primary because he doesn’t have to worry about the campaign. Though he criticized the tax hike plan, Green eld praised Mickelson’s strategic ability.
“He’s certainly determined,” Green eld said. “He’s a man of means and a man with a good network, and it appears that he’s going to utilize his resources in order to try to get something done at the ballot box. I’ve never even considered doing something like that.”
SD Lottery
By The Associated Press
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) _ These South Dakota lotteries were drawn Friday:
Mega Millions
04-06-31-49-52, Mega Ball: 11, Megaplier: 3
(four, six, thirty-one, forty-nine, fty-two; Mega Ball: eleven; Megaplier: three) Estimated jackpot: $282 million
Powerball
Estimated jackpot: $239 million
IHS: Sioux San emergency, inpatient departments to close
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The Indian Health Service says it will permanently close the emergency and inpatient departments at the Sioux San Hospital in Rapid City.
The agency said Friday that it has submitted a report informing Congress about the closures. IHS says the emergency department will be shuttered in July 2018.
IHS says it began focusing on outpatient and urgent care services in 2016. Jim Driving Hawk, acting director of the Great Plains Area, says Sioux San Hospital has a strong commitment to urgent care. He says of cials will continue to focus on improving patient care.
IHS says current plans include replacing the hospital with a 200,000 square-foot health center. The agency says it will continue to operate Sioux San Hospital until the replacement is nished.