Christopher Vondracek, jamestownsun

Christopher Vondracek

jamestownsun

Rochford, SD, United States

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Recent:
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Past:
  • jamestownsun

Past articles by Christopher:

With pipeline canceled, Keystone XL owners released from remaining obligations with South Dakota

The state's Public Utilities Commission voted 3-0 to release the Canadian energy company from a road bond and a public liaison officer position after company attorneys lamented the cancellation of the pipeline that would've crossed western South Dakota. PUC Chair Chris Nelson said the meeting marked the "end of a very, very long saga" in South Dakota. → Read More

In the South Dakota Legislature, the 'smoke out' can bring bills back from the dead

As lawmakers in Pierre rush to finish the 2022 session, they're cobbling together a budget by increasingly using a relatively rare tool in the legislative toolbox: Joint Rule 7-7, the smoke out. → Read More

Jason Ravnsborg impeachment committee will make its recommendation by month's end

The select committee contemplating an impeachment article against Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg for his role in a fatal crash 18 months ago met in secret again on Thursday. But this time members emerged with a timeline, saying they'd have a report prepared by month's end, with the full House meeting again in April to consider the report. → Read More

$200M housing bill squeaks by in South Dakota House

After multiple failed attempts, a bill drew enough support in the lower chamber that would add $150 million of state funding to an addition $50 million of federal funds to a housing development fund. Half the dollars will be available as grants, and 70% will go to towns with fewer than 50,000 people. → Read More

South Dakota's trust industry front-and-center at pro-Ukrainian rally in Sioux Falls

An American citizen born in Ukraine told a gathering at a park in downtown Sioux Falls on Friday that her heart has been "ripped open" for her homeland. But she also feels angry that "the Russian elite" profit off of her state's opaque trust laws. → Read More

South Dakota lawmaker under fire for 'whore' comment on House floor

Rep. Steve Haugaard, formerly a Speaker of the House and a primary challenger to Gov. Kristi Noem, invoked a derogatory phrase about women during House debate of a bill. Many female lawmakers, Noem have challenged for him to be reprimanded. → Read More

Candidate drops out of South Dakota's US House race in wake of social media posts

Ryan Ryder, a Democrat from the Black Hills, had announced his challenge of U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson earlier this week. → Read More

Senate committee kills 'divisive concepts' bill for K-12 in South Dakota

The Senate Education committee amended a bill to remove two so-called "divisive topics" related to slavery and "anguish" from the bill. Moments later, a majority on the committee voted down the measure, anyway, amid opposition from schools. → Read More

Bill to move school board votes narrowly defeated in South Dakota Senate

Chief sponsors urged moving lower-attended school board elections to either the November general or June primary election days to boost turnout. Opponents fought measure, suggesting the bill would create complexities for auditors and voters. → Read More

Bill legalizing recreational pot clears South Dakota Senate, but faces uphill battle in House

Nearly 15 months after 54% of state's voters approved adult-use marijuana, a thin majority in the Legislature's upper chamber voted to largely do the same, with no "home-grow" and opt-out provisions of municipalities. → Read More

South Dakota House approves $15M business incubator in Sioux Falls, reducing sales tax

On so-called "crossover day," the lower chamber tackled a number of noteworthy pieces of legislation, including voting to ban telemedical delivery of Mifepristone or Misoprostol to end a pregnancy → Read More

South Dakota Senate approves $600 million in clean water infrastructure

The annual "crossover" day at the Capitol marks final day for bills to pass out of at least one chamber. The Senate -- spending federal funds -- OK'd historic investment in clean water, as well as a new science laboratory, and workforce housing. → Read More

Bill to raise penalty for 'crooked' grain buyers clears SD Senate committee

Supporters say by increasing grain violations to the state's catalog of theft statutes, the perpetrators in the $5 million H&I Grain fiasco would have faced stiffer penalties. → Read More

Bill to dramatically upend surrogacy in South Dakota fails in the House of Representatives

The measure would have required that expectant parents formally adopt their infant from the gestational carrier following what the prime sponsor called a "six-month bonding" period. The bill, called an "anti-surrogacy" measure by proponents, was downed in a close vote. → Read More

2nd Sioux Falls police officer arrested on child porn charges

"The offenses alleged to have been committed by these two individuals are an unforgivable betrayal to the oath we all took," the Sioux Falls Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council said in a Thursday, Feb. 17, statement. → Read More

Bill to rename Custer State Park defeated in Senate committee

The bill, brought by Sen. Troy Heinert, D-Mission, would've opened up a process for South Dakotans to contribute new names to a state board to replace an individual he called "detestable." → Read More

Bill to spend $15M on biomedical facility in Sioux Falls earns OK from House committee

A new biomedical facility at USD Discovery District, which has already secured $10 million in other funds, would develop new cancer diagnostics, therapies, and build on gains in artificial intelligence. → Read More

Bill to penalize banks over gun policies fails in SD Senate committee

The measure, supported by the gun industry, faced opposition from bankers. Some lawmakers, many ardent Second Amendment supporters, said they felt torn by competing interest of free markets. → Read More

South Dakota House OKs bill saying parasite-killing drug can be prescribed to humans

While state law already allows ivermectin to be prescribed by doctors to be used off-label, legislators say such a bill is necessary to redouble this right. The medical community has mostly opposed taking ivermectin as a COVID therapeutic. → Read More

Is school consolidation the answer to South Dakota's low teacher pay? Ed experts say not so fast

While South Dakota ranks next-to-last in the U.S. in teacher pay, defenders of the system say they rank higher in per-pupil expenditure and could pay educators more through combining rural schools. But a closer look at the math -- and the history -- of school consolidation shows a more complicated picture. → Read More