EDITORIAL: Lawmakers don't need more time

Journal editorial board

South Dakota voters embraced the principle of term limits in a big way in 1992 when they passed a constitutional amendment that imposed term limits on U.S. congressional seats, constitutional officers and members of the state Legislature. The amendment passed with 63.5 percent of the vote.

Feb 08, 2012 | 7:30 am | (4) Comments

EDITORIAL: Pass House bill on outdoor signs

Journal editorial board

Rapid City voters in 2011 approved an initiated measure that prohibited new electronic billboards in the city with more than 66 percent of the vote.

Feb 07, 2012 | 7:30 am | (2) Comments

GOOD, BAD & UGLY: Good weather helps Stock Show

Journal editorial board

THE GOOD: Last week’s nice weather brought huge crowds to the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo. Official attendance will be released this week but stock show officials said last week that with the good weather combined with an improved agriculture economy they may break…

Feb 06, 2012 | 7:30 am | (1) Comments

EDITORIAL: Synthetic drugs should be illegal

Journal editorial board

Only a few years ago, synthetic drugs weren’t on anyone’s radar screen, but it has become one of the biggest health risks facing youth today.

Feb 05, 2012 | 8:30 am | (3) Comments

EDITORIAL: Soccer complex gets funding kick

Journal editorial board

Six years ago, a group of soccer enthusiasts told the Rapid City Council that building a 25-field soccer complex would help the city host large soccer tournaments that could mean millions of dollars in revenue to Rapid City businesses.

Feb 03, 2012 | 7:30 am | (0) Comments

EDITORIAL: Give crime victims a voice

Journal editorial board

Just before leaving office in December 2010, Gov. Mike Rounds issued a number of pardons and sentence commutations, among them reducing Joaquin Ramos’ life sentence to 150 years.

Feb 02, 2012 | 7:30 am | (0) Comments

EDITORIAL: Long may state flag wave

Journal editorial board

Thirty-three years after it was first designed, the South Dakota Legislature is running a proposed state flag designed by Dick Termes of Spearfish up the flag pole to see if anyone salutes it.

Feb 01, 2012 | 7:30 am | (3) Comments

EDITORIAL: Ease up on driver's license rules

Journal editorial board

A trip to the driver’s license station to obtain or renew a license is not a pleasant experience. After taking a number or waiting in line for a long time, a bad photo is often the result.

Jan 31, 2012 | 7:30 am | (15) Comments

GOOD, BAD & UGLY: Rapid City construction booming

Journal editorial board

THE GOOD: Rapid City enjoyed a record year in construction permits, with more than $259 million in projects begun in 2011. The tally was nearly twice the value of construction permits in 2010, with $132.7 million. The public sector led the way in construction with six of …

Jan 30, 2012 | 7:30 am | (0) Comments

EDITORIAL: Stop the endless appeals

Journal editorial board

As the 20-year anniversary of the murder of Donnivan Schaeffer in a robbery of a Rapid City doughnut shop nears, his killer, Charles Russell Rhines remains on death row, having delayed his execution by filing multiple appeals.

Jan 29, 2012 | 8:30 am | (5) Comments

EDITORIAL: Welcome, Black Hills Stock Show

Journal editorial board

It’s time to polish those cowboy boots and brush the dust off the hat. The Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo opens today.

Jan 27, 2012 | 7:30 am | (0) Comments

EDITORIAL: WINS aims to break labor cycle

Journal editorial board

Editor’s note: This is one in a series of editorials throughout the year that will focus on the most important issues facing the Black Hills, as determined by the Journal Media Company’s Editorial Advisory Board.

Jan 26, 2012 | 7:30 am | (2) Comments

EDITORIAL: Merit pay plan lacks justification

Journal editorial board

Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s State of the State address to start the 2012 legislative session included a proposal to reform education by changing how the state rewards its teachers.

Jan 25, 2012 | 7:30 am | (6) Comments

EDITORIAL: Politics plugs Keystone pipeline

Journal editorial board

President Barack Obama’s decision last week to deny Trans-Canada’s Keystone XL pipeline application shows why political brinkmanship is a dangerous way to govern. Neither side comes out clean on this one.

Jan 24, 2012 | 7:30 am | (9) Comments

GOOD, BAD & UGLY: State says goodbye to Bill Janklow

Journal editorial board

THE GOOD: South Dakota paid homage to former Gov. Bill Janklow last week with a memorial service at the state Capitol in Pierre on Tuesday. Janklow’s body lay in state prior to the service on Tuesday, Jan. 17, and friends, colleagues and ordinary citizens traveled hundred…

Jan 23, 2012 | 7:30 am | (0) Comments

EDITORIAL: Rapid City school district needs to cut

Journal editorial board

When Rapid City Area Schools superintendent Tim Mitchell began his new job in 2010, almost immediately he was presented with the difficult task of cutting the district’s budget. The 2011 Legislature cut education by $52 million and school districts across the state had to make do with les…

Jan 22, 2012 | 8:30 am | (5) Comments

• Related: Public meetings

EDITORIAL: Tell lawmakers what you think

Journal editorial board

South Dakota is somewhat unique in that its elected leaders are accessible to the people they represent. In fact, South Dakota politicians go out of their way to meet and greet their constituents. If you have a question to ask, more often than not, they’ll answer it.

Jan 20, 2012 | 7:30 am | (1) Comments

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EDITORIAL: SDHSAA football plan hurts Spearfish

Journal editorial board

South Dakota is not alone in its passion for high school football. But it may be alone in the small number of high schools with student populations that dwarf most of the schools in the rest of the state.

Jan 19, 2012 | 7:30 am | (2) Comments

EDITORIAL: Plan for economic development

Journal editorial board

Editor’s note: This is one in a series of editorials throughout the year which will focus on the most important issues facing the Black Hills, as determined by the Journal Media Company’s Editorial Advisory Board.

Jan 18, 2012 | 7:30 am | (2) Comments