Latest news with #Harr
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Spurred by fear of drug-induced deaths, Davison County purchases vital sign monitoring units for jail
Jun. 13—MITCHELL — If it comes to life and death for an inmate in the Davison County Jail, county leaders have approved a high-tech purchase to potentially save lives. The Davison County Commission voted earlier this week to purchase five units of a contactless vital sign monitoring system that will be located in different parts of the jail. The commissioners voted 4-0 in favor of the purchase, which will cost the county $2,700 a year. Davison County Sheriff Steve Harr recommended the purchase, with a specific urgency in installing the equipment due to a recent law change that he sees as having unintended consequences. Harr said that as of July 1, South Dakota state law will be changed and ingesting drugs will be a misdemeanor instead of a felony. Because of that, if law enforcement catches someone with a baggie of meth or fentanyl, he said, the individual will likely swallow it to avoid having it in their possession, which remains a felony offense. "It's an unintended consequence but people are going to die from it," Harr said. Harr told the commissioners of a recent instance on Interstate 90 where this scenario played out and deputies had to use three doses of Narcan to save the person's life. Narcan (and its generic name naloxone) is the overdose medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Harr said the county is trying to avoid deaths of individuals who are taken into custody, because the county is responsible for their care when they are in jail or being held. Harr said the spending on the monitoring system gives the county a better chance of saving that person's life and also could protect the county from having to deal with a lawsuit. The units have radar-based technology that can detect heart rates, breathing rates, movement and general presence without cameras or microphones. The units, which can fit in a person's hand, can detect abnormal vital signs and alert staff if there's an emergency. Commissioner Chris Nebelsick said he felt that nearly $5,000 in maintenance costs for the units was high but Harr countered with his belief that it could be a preventative measure. "What kind of check are you going to write if someone dies in jail?" Harr asked. "I think it's important to commit to the technology for our staff. It's $900 per unit per year to maintain them. We can't afford not to," Commissioner Mike Blaalid said. The cost of the units is $25,000, although Davison County expects to be able to get the hardware and installation costs covered by settlement funding from South Dakota's share of the national opioid settlement. More than $50 billion in settlement funds was distributed nationally to state and local governments after drugmakers settled lawsuits related to how addictive and deadly opioid painkillers were. Specific funds have been set aside for law enforcement use, Harr said. Davison County would be responsible for paying for the annual costs related to maintenance and monitoring for the units, which would be $900 per unit per year, or $4,500 for the five units. Davison County received the sales pitch from Darin Young, of Combined Public Communications. Young is now a sales person for the company but formerly served as warden at the South Dakota State Penitentiary and spent more than 30 years in corrections. Young said as a former jail administrator, there's plenty of practical uses for how it could be used. "It's designed for your high-risk inmates. Putting my sales hat on, I could sell you one for every cell but as a warden, you want to be watching your high risk inmates, your people with mental issues, your intoxicated individuals, drug overdoses and people with medical issues. ... This will help monitor that." Davison County jail staff makes rounds in the facility to check on cells every 15 to 30 minutes. Harr said he expects to put the monitoring devices in four locations in the jail's general population pods, plus one in the holding area, commonly known as "the drunk tank." "We get people in (the jail) that have health issues. It's something we want to be on top of," Harr said.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Davison County Sheriff reverses course, opposes state prison proposal for Mitchell
Jun. 9—MITCHELL — As the consideration of a potential state prison in Mitchell intensifies, one Davison County leader has reversed course on his support. Davison County Sheriff Steve Harr issued a statement Monday saying he has decided not to support a possible $600 million prison plan that is being considered by the state's Project Prison Reset task force, becoming one of the most prominent Davison County leaders to oppose the plan. Harr said the change of heart came after the feedback he's gotten from residents in Davison County who are against the prison plan. "Since Davison County made the cut at the last meeting, it has become quite clear that there are a very large number of residents that are opposed to the prison coming to our county," Harr wrote in a statement. "I have heard very little from anyone that is in favor of it. That is why it was important to get a conversation going. It is unfortunate that it didn't happen earlier, but better now than after a decision has been made. In an interview with the Mitchell Republic on Monday afternoon, Harr said he made the decision by listening to the constituents of Davison County. "The majority of the public just doesn't seem to be in favor," Harr said. "They're pretty adamant that they don't want this." In his letter, Harr said he initially signed a letter of support for the prison because he hoped Mitchell's plan would advance and there would be conversations about the idea. "It was not done as a statement of "we need a prison in Mitchell." Well, as you know, this was successful, as the conversation all over town is on this topic," he wrote. Harr, who initially began working for Davison County as a corrections officer in 2000 and was a longtime deputy, has been sheriff since 2021. "I did not make this decision lightly, as there are people in this county that are supportive of bringing it here. However, the clear majority do not. My job as sheriff is to look out for the citizens of Davison County and I feel that is what is being done by coming to this decision," Harr wrote. "I would like to thank everyone that has reached out or made your concerns known in other ways. Without an open conversation, nothing gets accomplished. To the people that are in favor, I hope you understand how I came to this decision." Harr was one of 10 individuals or entities in a June 4 press release from the Mitchell Area Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce listed as formally expressing support for Mitchell's inclusion as a prison site. In addition to MADC and the Chamber itself, the others included the Mitchell City Council, Davison County Commission, Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson, State Rep. Jeff Bathke, Mitchell Area Housing, Inc., Randall Community Water District, Central Electric Cooperative and Mitchell Technical College. "I can see the plusses and minuses that come with the prison. But when it comes to something of this magnitude, we need to listen to the public that lives here," Harr said in an interview. Asked about the third-party consultant report that described the Mitchell location as a sub-optimal location because of its site near a major interstate, a rail line and the James River, Harr downplayed the concern and said he's skeptical about how often true prison escapes occur. "I would like to know about the last escape from the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Movies kind of glamorize that. Inmates sometimes don't return when they're out on work release, but I can't remember the last escape from the prison." Following the June 3 meeting of the Project Prison Reset task force, Mitchell was named as one of the finalists for the prison location along with a site near Worthing and state land on the grounds of the Mike Durfee Prison in Springfield and at the penitentiary in Sioux Falls. The proposed Mitchell site is 160 acres located south of Interstate 90 near the city's sewer lagoons and landfill. The MADC said last week that the project would generate more than 440 full-time jobs with an annual payroll of more than $36 million. The task force is working on a short timeline. The state engineer and contractors are expected to present new prison designs that meet the new parameters before the state task force's July 8 meeting. Legislators will convene for a special session at the state Capitol on July 22 to consider approving a plan.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Davison County Sheriff opposing possible prison near Mitchell
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The sheriff for Davison County is officially opposing the idea of building a new men's prison near Mitchell. Last week, Gov. Larry Rhoden's Project Prison Rest task force included Mitchell among Worthing and other existing DOC sites as a possible site for a new men's prison facility to replace the current South Dakota State Penitentiary located in Sioux Falls. 35-year-old arrested in early morning crime spree including stolen bus In a post on social media, Davison County Sheriff Steve Harr said he 'will not be supporting bringing the state prison to Davison County.' 'I contacted Minnehaha County Sheriff Milstead, who sits on the task force, informing him of this. I have asked him to forward it on to the entire task force,' Harr wrote. Harr said prior to last week's task force meeting, he had signed a letter of support for the prison near Mitchell. 'This was done with hopes Davison County would make the final cut and some conversations would start,' Harr wrote. 'It was not done as a statement of 'we need a prison in Mitchell.' Well, as you know, this was successful, as the conversation all over town is on this topic.' Harr said he believes it has become clear there's a large number of residents opposed to a new men's prison being built near Mitchell. 'My job as Sheriff is to look out for the citizens of Davison County and I feel that is what is being done by coming to this decision,' Harr said. 'I would like to thank everyone that has reached out or made your concerns known in other ways.' Project Prison Reset plans to meet again in July to discuss further options for replacing the State Penitentiary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Davison County board, sheriff discuss long-term need for a new county jail
May 30—MITCHELL — While talk about a potential state prison outside of Mitchell has gotten more attention, Davison County leaders have said their own "worst in the state" corrections facility needs replacement soon. The topic was a discussion item on May 27 as the commissioners went through the county sheriff's 2026 budget. "It's not uncommon to see pieces of concrete coming off of walls," Davison County Sheriff Steve Harr said. "We're very well known in South Dakota amongst law enforcement and inmates that we have the worst jail in South Dakota. It's seen its day." The current facility is located at 1015 S. Miller Ave., one that the county has used for a jail for nearly 30 years. The county purchased the former Methodist hospital in the early 1990s and repurposed a portion of it move the jail from the Davison County Courthouse in 1996. Other elements of the building date back further and the county has had to regularly update the building's mechanical equipment in recent years to keep the building operational. The jail has a maximum capacity of 72 inmates but Harr said the realistic capacity is closer to 60 inmates at once. The current Davison County facility has one big positive that the county doesn't want to lose. It has the sheriff's office, jail and courtroom facilities all in one building, which makes transportation of inmates much easier and the overall administration of courts and corrections move smoothly. "It's going to be an expensive project when we get to it," Harr said. "Expensive probably isn't the right word for it." Harr said he's received a standing offer from Minnehaha County to tour their corrections facility, which was expanded in 2020 to add 320 inmate beds to bring the total to more than 700. Harr would like the commissioners to see the Lawrence County facility near Deadwood, which was completed earlier this year and took more than two years to complete. The commissioners discussed taking a potential field trip to the current Davison County Jail and to Sioux Falls around upcoming meetings to learn more about its needs. Harr said one potential plan to help fund the new facility would be to accept federal inmates. That's something the county can't currently do because it doesn't have the space. A site south of Mitchell is among the possible sites being discussed by a state panel that is looking at building a new state prison, with Mitchell offering the land last month. The commissioners, in a previous meeting, were supportive of that idea , although their own jail needs would almost certainly require a separate project. "I'm still pro getting a prison and putting a little lean-to (building) on it for the county," Commissioner Chris Nebelsick joked about the two potential projects. Commissioner John Claggett said he hopes the county project would be less than the Mitchell High School project, which is nearly $70 million and will be completed later this year. "It won't be," Commissioner Denny Kiner said of Claggett's price hopes being low. "The problem is we're doing a new school, we're spending $15 million on the lake and everyone is just spent right now," Nebelsick said. "And people are going to be asking about a jail but I'm out in the public telling everyone I see that we need a new jail. Anybody that knows me knows me, knows we need a jail and knows why." Harr said a potential collaboration with the city of Mitchell on a new public safety building should also be considered, he said, with a city-county partnership that has become increasingly more frequent in communities in South Dakota and around the Midwest. "It's probably a conversation to have with the city, as well, to have one modern facility rather than two rundown buildings," Harr said.
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
FINAL DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of Sana Biotechnology
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Sana Biotechnology, Inc. ('Sana' or the 'Company') (NASDAQ: SANA) and reminds investors of the May 20, 2025, deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Sana was at significant risk of having insufficient funds to maintain its current operations and advance one or more of its product candidates; (2) SC291 in oncology, SC379, and SG299 were less promising than Defendants had led investors to believe; (3) in order to preserve cash and advance its more promising product candidates, Sana was likely to decrease funding for and/or discontinue SC291 in oncology, SC379, and SG299, as well as significantly reduce its headcount; (4) accordingly, Defendants overstated Sana's financial capacity to maintain its current operations and advance its existing product candidates; and (5) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. On October 10, 2023, during after-market hours, Sana issued a press release announcing that it "will reduce near-term spend on its fusogen platform for in vivo gene delivery" and instead "[i]ncreas[e its] focus on [its] ex vivo cell therapy platform[,]" thereby "postpon[ing] the planned SG299 IND" while "decreas[ing] its expected forward operating burn." Sana further disclosed a "29% headcount reduction" that, in tandem with the "decreased expenses related to the fusogen platform[,]" would keep its "2024 operating cash burn . . . below $200 million[,]" thereby "allowing [its] current cash position to extend further into 2025." The same press release also quoted Defendant Steven D. Harr ("Harr"), Sana's President and Chief Executive Officer, as stating that "[w]e need to ensure that we have a financeable cost structure with . . . emerging opportunities factored in," and that "this strategic re-positioning enables us to deliver significant clinical data across multiple drug candidates with the current balance sheet." On this news, Sana's stock price fell $0.34 per share, or 8.95%, to close at $3.46 per share on October 11, 2023. Then, on November 4, 2024, during after-market hours, Sana issued a press release announcing that it "will suspend development of both SC291 in oncology and of SC379 . . . as it seeks partnerships for these programs" and instead "increase its investment in its type 1 diabetes program with the cash savings from these changes[,]" thereby "extend[ing] its expected cash runway into 2026." The same press release also quoted Defendant Harr as stating that "we need to ensure that we are directing our investments into the areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact for patients" and that "[t]his modified strategy will also help us reduce our cash burn but comes with the necessity of parting with some talented and valued colleagues." On this news, Sana's stock price fell $0.37 per share, or 9.84%, to close at $3.39 per share on November 5, 2024. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Sana's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Sana Biotechnology class action, go to or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP ( Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
