Latest news with #SB61
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Contractor seeks legal guidance after HOA repeatedly denies neighborhood solar installations: 'Some HOAs think they are above the law'
One frustrated solar contractor in Ohio was stumped by a homeowners association president who refused to back down in the face of a new solar rights law. They posted about their baffling experience in the r/Solar community. "I am working with 6 customers in the same HOA in Ohio," they said. "They all stated that they want Solar, but the HOA is blocking them from going Solar." That story is sadly common. Solar panel installation (especially using EnergySage's money-saving tools to compare quotes) is one of the best methods available to reduce your energy bills. Solar panels turn sunlight into usable electricity, often enough of it to power your whole home for at least part of the year. It's great for your budget and also good for the planet, since this is clean energy. But HOAs often get in the way of this budget- and climate-friendly step, usually out of a concern for the appearance of the home. Much of the time, a homeowner's only recourse is to try to change the HOA's bylaws. But not so in Ohio, according to the original poster. "I looked up the laws and I see that SB 61 passed last year restricting the ability of the HOA to block Solar from being installed," they said. Even so, the HOA president would not budge. "I tried speaking with the property manager, and he said they can't block it due to SB61, but the HOA president said he wouldn't allow it when I spoke with him," said the original poster. "Has anyone in Ohio gone through the approval process for solar installs with a difficult HOA and found a solution?" Given that the law is on their side, some commenters thought the original poster should just forge ahead. "Some HOAs think they are above the law," said one user. "All you need is one homeowner to move forward with solar, and the rest will follow suit." "State law trumps any HOA bylaws or local ordinance," affirmed another commenter. "Sue, you will win if state law says that they can't interfere." The original poster could also help their clients by recommending EnergySage, which will help them with free services to make the solar installation process easier and cheaper. The average client receives almost $10,000 in incentives with this organization's help. What's the biggest factor stopping you from investing in solar panels? The cost The technology I'm a renter I'm already invested Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
With House split on whether to keep ban on flavored vape sales, status quo remains
A legal challenge has kept vape shops in Utah selling flavored vapes without restriction. (Getty Images) Remember that law the Utah Legislature passed in 2024 to ban the sale of flavored vapes? While both the Senate and the House voted in comfortable margins to approve it, a legal challenge has kept vape shops across the state selling cotton candy and fruity pens without restriction. Now, the Utah Legislature is split on the issue, but after holding hot debates on whether to eliminate the ban altogether, it appears nothing may change this session. Rep. Matt MacPherson, R-West Valley City, introduced HB432 in early February with a big provision repealing the prohibition on sweet vape flavors that critics say draw in underage users, and adding other stronger enforcement mechanisms to prevent minors from getting access to electronic cigarettes. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX After weeks delaying the bill's discussion on the House floor, his proposal was hijacked by a Republican colleague during the last week of the legislative session. Rep. Kristen Chevrier, R-Highland, updated MacPherson's bill to strike what are perhaps the most substantial parts of the legislation. 'We vape, we vote': Vape shops ask lawmakers not to ban sale of flavored vapes 'Repeals the ban on flavored electronic cigarette products,' was deleted from the bill, and so was 'repeals the nicotine content limit for electronic cigarette products.' The reason, Chevrier said on Tuesday, is because amid deadline extensions and lawsuits, SB61, the 2024 law sponsored by Sen. Jen Plumb, D-Salt Lake City, 'never had a chance to be tried.' While Chevrier flexed her version's supporters, which included Primary Children's Hospital and the Utah Medical Association, before a vote, MacPherson seemed dismayed by the possibility of making such changes, describing Chevrier's move as 'hostile.' 'SB61 and what this substitute bill does is simply says we would rather have a political statement than any real tools, any resources or any enforcement we will get to the actual meat of this argument,' MacPherson said. Ultimately, the House voted 40-34 to adopt Chevrier's version. However, a few hours later, MacPherson's version was brought back to the floor, where it failed 22-47. It's still unclear whether this is the end of the road on flavored vape legislation, but that last vote left the flavored vape ban as is, still in place, and still facing litigation. 'The beauty of the second sub is that it maintains all of the regulations and protections for ensuring that kids are protected from a predatory industry, but also maintains very firm legislation, like the sponsor of the substitute motion said, that was passed with very strong bipartisan support,' said House Minority Whip Jennifer Dailey Provost, D-Salt Lake City, 'in recognition of the fact that the most effective way to prevent kids from vaping is to get rid of flavors. Full stop.' Rep. Jason Thompson, R-River Heights, criticized Chevrier's update, arguing a lot of work was put into MacPherson's bill to bring many players together. 'By adopting this second substitute, we might as well stay with SB61 and not even worry about voting on today's bill,' he told the House. The Utah Vapor Business Association, which represents many vape shops in the state, has been pushing hard against Plumb's 2024 bill, first by loudly protesting it in the state Capitol last year, and then, in December, by suing the state over the constitutionality of unwarranted searches of all books, records, premises, desks, safes, vaults, and other fixtures and furniture in vape shops, which was included in the 2024 bill. According to the suit, about 180 Utah businesses licensed as retail tobacco specialty shops 'will lose a significant source, and in most instances the overwhelming majority, of business by being prohibited from selling flavored e-cigarette products and products with a higher nicotine content than allowed under SB61.' The businesses would also be subject to 'warrantless, unconstitutional searches of their entire premises,' the lawsuit reads. But, that's a factor that Plumb intended to resolve with this year's SB186, which eases what she called the 'more onerous than needed' vape shop search and seizure requirements. That bill hasn't left the House Rules Committee since the Senate approved it in early February, and at this point in the session, isn't likely to. In a court hearing on Feb. 11, the Vapor Business Association asked a federal judge for a 30-day extension of a temporary restraining order that paused the flavored vape sales ban while SB186 and HB432 played out in the Legislature. However, Chevrier's version of HB432 'removes the language that inspired the lawsuit that we are currently in,' she told the House, as it would do the same as Plumb's SB186 — remove the strict, warrantless inspections, and potentially defuse an argument vape shops are using in court to challenge the flavors ban. With HB432 failing and SB186 dormant, potential changes on the ban will have to be sustained in court. After the vote, Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, told reporters her caucus is passionate about keeping 'good policies' and fixing what needs to be tweaked. SB186 alone would solve the lawsuit issue, she said. 'To him it was hostile, which was an interesting word to use when he did the hostile (action) against the bill we passed last year,' Escamilla said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jackley's government-corruption package moves forward
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Four measures intended to discourage corruption in state government and provide protection for state employees who blow the whistle are advancing in the South Dakota Legislature. Three will be up for final legislative approval on Thursday from the state House of Representatives. Senate panel approves expanding hunting safety zones But the fourth piece of the package — Senate Bill 61, which would modify the authority of the Board of Internal Controls — was amended on Wednesday by the House State Affairs Committee. Because SB 61 was amended, the earliest that the House could consider it is Monday. Depending on what the House does, it could need to return to the Senate — and then could wind up in a House-Senate conference committee — and in the end could possibly die. State Attorney General Marty Jackley brought the package. Jackley says he's responding to recent cases of state government employees enriching themselves at taxpayers' expense, as well as past EB-5 and GEAR UP scandals. Here is what each proposes to do: Senate Bill 60 would expand the access and investigatory authority of the state auditor. The Senate approved it 35-0, and on Wednesday the House committee endorsed it 13-0. Jackley, State Auditor Rich Sattgast and citizen Rick Weible of Elkton spoke in support Wednesday. There were no opponents. , which calls for modifying the seven-member Board of Internal Controls, had passed the Senate 31-2. On Wednesday, it received an amendment from Republican Rep. Spencer Gosch. Currently the commissioner for the state Bureau of Finance and Management chairs the board, the governor appoints three other members, the Supreme Court chief justice appoints a member, the Board of Regents has a member. The state auditor is the seventh member. Jackley wants to stiffen the board's requirements, such as proposing that each agency go through an annual review of its internal controls. He also wants eliminate the state courts' seat on the board, because the courts are a separate branch of government, and then have the governor make four appointments. Gosch's amendment would designate the state auditor as the chair and give the state treasurer the courts' current seat. The board, established in 2016, hasn't yet worked through all of the executive branch. 'Seven years and only 50 percent of our agencies have gone through the process of internal control — I think we can do better,' Gosch said. Auditor Sattgast and state Finance Commissioner Jim Terwilliger said they didn't support the Gosch amendment. The auditor and treasurer are elected offices, but the candidates are nominated every four years at state political-party conventions, rather than chosen in party primary elections. 'I would like to remove the politics out of the checks and balances of it,' Sattgast said. Terwilliger said that, looking back, the board should have had more staff. He said putting the auditor in charge would probably be a violation of auditing standards. The committee nonetheless voted 7-6 to make Gosch's changes, and then voted 12-1 to send it forward. Because of a procedural hiccup, the committee later reconsidered the matter and ultimately voted 11-2 to move it ahead. Senate Bill 62 would establish mandatory reporting requirements for supervisors related to improper governmental conduct and crime. The Senate passed it 33-2. Jackley wants failure by a supervisor to forward a report of suspicious activity to the attorney general and the state Department of Legislative Audit to be a Class 6 felony, punishable by up to two years in prison and a $4,000 fine. Katie Hruska, the governor's general counsel, disagreed. She said it should remain a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Terra Larson, representing the South Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, agreed. 'This is a felony for remaining silent. That is concerning to us,' Larson told the committee. Jackley asked the committee to hold firm on the felony penalty. 'I really believe this nonsense will stop,' he said. But Republican Rep. Tim Reisch, who served a total of 17 years as cabinet secretary for the state Department of Corrections and the state Department of the Military, pointed out that many of the people convicted of Class 6 felonies serve little time, if any, behind bars. 'People don't know what the punishments are for crimes. They don't,' Reisch said. Hruska's proposed amendment was rejected. The committee then voted 13-0 to send SB 62 forward to the House. would establish protections for state employees who report improper governmental conduct and crime. The Senate had passed it 35-0. This time, Hruska fully agreed with Jackley. 'These are good additions,' she said. The House committee sent it out 13-0. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: Feb. 11-13, 2025
Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City (left) and Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, move a banner for schools marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 for the Alabama Senate to see on Feb. 12, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Here is a list of the bills that passed in the Alabama Legislature this week, the second of the 2025 Regular Session. House HB 160, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, allows the board of the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority to pay the chair $2,000 per month and members of the board $1,750 a mont for meetings attended. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 29, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, would require most Alabamians claiming unemployment to contact five potential job representatives per week, up from three, in order to claim or maintain benefits. The bill passed 76-25. It goes to the Senate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HB 93, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, would exempt the personal property of members of the Alabama State Port Authority from being audited. It passed 102-1. The bill goes to the Senate. HB 2, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, would require parental consent for vaccinations of children 14 years and older. The bill passed 92-5. It goes to the Senate. HB 54, sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, would allow district and circuit court judges to issue short term protection orders when making specific findings of evidence of abuse or neglect of a child. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 49, sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty for people convicted of rape and sodomy in the first degree where the victim is a child younger than 12. The bill passed 86-5. It goes to the Senate. HB 38, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, would give prosecuting attorneys immunity when they give legal advice to police. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 43, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, requires offenders sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison for a Class A, B or C felony to serve a minimum of 10 years in prison, 'jail-type institution or treatment institution' and the rest of their sentence through probation. The bill passed 55-44. It goes to the Senate. Senate SB 61, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, would allow the Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology to enter into the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact, allowing school psychologists to have equivalent licenses in member states. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House. SB 59, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, would allow dependents of active-duty military personnel to use military medical records as evidence of immunization in place of the Alabama Certificate of Immunization. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to the House. SB 86, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would establish portable benefits accounts for independent contractors and gig workers. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to the House. House SB 79, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, defines sex-based terms like mother, father, male and female into Alabama law. It passed 77-12. The bill was signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday. Senate SB 39, sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, would require board members of agencies subject to the Alabama Sunset Law to complete a governance course by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House. SB 36, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, would make volunteer fire departments and rescue squads subject to local competitive bid laws and decrease the deadline for filing a notice of protest of a competitive bid contract offering from 14 to five days. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to the House. SB 94, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would make some revisions to the state's adoption procedures and clarify the role of the Department of Human Resources. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to the House. House HB 76, sponsored by Rep. Bryan Brinyark, R-Northport, allows the Fayette County Sheriff to use a credit card for official use. It passed 48-0. The bill goes to the Senate. HB 78, sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, allows the circuit and district court judges of the 28th Judicial Circuit to conduct nonjury proceedings in Foley and Fairhope courthouses. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 87, sponsored by Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Linden, increases the expense allowance of the Marengo County coroner from $400 to $1,000 a month; authorizes the Marengo COunty Commission to approve future increases and authorizes the commission to hire a deputy coroner. The bill passed 25-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 98, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen, allows the Lauderdale County sheriff to have fundraising events and to use the profits to fund the operations of the department. The bill passed 19-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 99, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen, allows the Lauderdale County revenue commissioner to accept electronic filings for business personal property tax returns and authorizes the commissioner to create procedures for filing returns. The bill passed 23-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 100, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen, allows the Lauderdale County sheriff to create procedures to make purchases using a credit card or debit card. The bill passed 21-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 132, sponsored by Rep. Mike Kirkland, R-Scottsboro, extends the terms of offices for the Scottsboro mayor and certain members of the city council and school board members by one year. The bill extends the term of office for city council members and city board of education members whose terms set expire in 2026 to 2027; the mayor and council members with terms set to expire in 2028 to 2029, and board of education members whose terms are scheduled to expire in 2028 or 2030 to 2029 and 2031, respectively. The bill passed 19-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 135, sponsored by Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, allows the Dale County Commission to increase a local lodging tax from 2% to 4%. The bill passed 19-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 193, sponsored by Rep. Ben Robbins, R- Sylacauga, removes certain property from the corporate limits of the town of Bon Air and adds it to the city of Childersburg. The bill passed 15-0. It goes to the Senate. HB102, sponsored by Rep. Jeana Ross, R-Guntersville, requires local boards of education to allow students to participate in dual enrollment programs. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 230, sponsored by Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, requires that a realtor provide a disclosure form to a customer in writing and includes how much the realtor is compensated prior to showing a property. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 114, sponsored by Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, continues the Board of Dental Examiners through Oct. 1, 2027. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 110, sponsored by Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, continues the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Medical Licensure Commission through October 1, 2027, and makes employees and board members subject to the state ethics laws. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 115, sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, continues the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors through October 1, 2026. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 116, sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, continues the Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board through October 1, 2027. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 125, sponsored by Rep. Margie Wilcox, R-Mobile, continues the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners through October 1, 2027. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 89, sponsored by Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville, provides pregnant women with presumptive eligibility for Medicaid, making them eligible to receive health care benefits for up to 60 days prior to getting approved for the program. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 196, sponsored by Rep. Margie Wilcox, R-Mobile, allows a county commission to assume control of a county juvenile detention center after an order from a juvenile judge of the county. It passed 98-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 168, sponsored by Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, allows the governing body of a local emergency management organization to enter into a mutual agreement with other organizations to receive aid, removing the decision from the director of the local emergency management organization. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 52, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, allows contributions to the Alabama Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) savings account to remain tax deductible through December 31,2025. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 191, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, sets conditions for how local governments can enact local sales and use tax exemptions. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 45, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, requires the Alabama Medicaid Agency to cover any noninvasive colorectal cancer screening test assigned a grade A or B under the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB156, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, allows law enforcement to arrest people in Alabama on an out-of-state warrant for any felony crime if the arresting officer has actual knowledge that an out-of-state warrant has been issued. The bill passed 92-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 79, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, prevents the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Medical Licensure Commission from taking action against pharmacists for prescribing medications for off-label treatments. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 161, sponsored by Rep. Craig Lipscomb, R- Rainbow City, standardizes building codes in Alabama and gives the Division of Construction Management the authority to adopt building codes. The bill passed 97-2. It goes to the Senate. HB 190, sponsored by Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, states the role of the State Department of Human Resources and county departments of human resources throughout the Minor Adoption Code and the Adult Adoption Code. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 72, sponsored by Rep. Ritchie Whorton, R-Owens Cross Roads, increases the annual fee for the volunteer and professional firefighter license plate from $1 to $10 and changes the distribution formula of proceeds, putting 35% into a firefighters annuity and benefit program; 35% in a state emergency relief fund for firefighters; 15% for a peer support program and 15% for maintaining the Alabama Firefighter Memorial in bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 27, sponsored by Rep. Kerry 'Bubba' Underwood, R-Tuscumbia, prohibits people who are on the sex offender registry from getting employed or volunteering as a first responder. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 243, sponsored by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, removes part of the property and construction taxes from private use industrial property, tangible property and taxable services after June 1, 2026, and requires the local tax collecting official and Department of Revenue to collect the money and deposit it into the Alabama Development Fund. The bill passed 100-2. It goes to the Senate. Senate SB 63, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City, would require law enforcement agencies to collect fingerprints and DNA from any person living in the country without permission in custody. The bill passed 24-7. It goes to the House. SB 22, sponsored by Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, would allow the state to take back economic incentives awarded if the company receiving the incentive or a related company engaged in human trafficking violations or violated the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 53, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, would establish a process to determine immigration status detained by law enforcement and establish the crime of human smuggling if a person knowingly transports a person living in the country without authorization into Alabama. The bill passed 24-8. It goes to the House. SB 55, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, would invalidate out-of-state driver's licenses issued without legal presence verification. The bill passed 24-4. It goes to the House. SB 32, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, would require a person convicted of murder with the use of a machine gun be sentenced to life in prison and make an assault in the first and second degree using a machine gun a Class A felony, punishable by up to 99 years in prison. The bill passed 30-1. It goes to the House. SB 48, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, would provide for the qualifications of members of the boards of registrars, establish hours of operation and increase their salary to $115 per day. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-corruption bill clears Senate, but second fails
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Legislation intended to strengthen the South Dakota Board of Internal Control in heading off corruption by state government employees has passed its first major test. The state Senate voted 32-1 on Wednesday for Senate Bill 61. House now says no to US constitutional convention Senate Republican leader Jim Mehlhaff described it as a combination of proposals from state Attorney General Marty Jackley and the governor's budget office, officially known as the state Bureau of Finance and Management. The BFM commissioner chairs the board. The amended version of SB 61 now heads to the state House of Representatives for further action. The Senate however failed to approve a second anti-corruption bill that the attorney general brought. Senate Bill 60 was intended to give more investigative authority to the state auditor. Needing 18 to pass, and with two senators excused, SB 60 fell two ayes short. Republican Sen. Sue Peterson gave notice of her intent to have the bill reconsidered. That came after the 33 senators who were present had split 17-16 on an amendment offered by Republican Sen. Steve Kolbeck. Kolbeck and Mehlhaff said the attorney general had agreed to Kolbeck's amendment. But Republican Sen. Kevin Jensen and Republican Sen. Taffy Howard led the resistance, saying they wanted the already-amended version that came out of the Senate State Affairs Committee on a 9-0 vote. After Kolbeck's amendment failed, he and Mehlhaff called for the Senate to defeat SB 60. The vote to pass it was 16 yes and 17 no. State government already has the state Department of Legislative Audit that conducts annual audits. The state Division of Criminal Investigation looks into specific allegations of criminal activity. During the past year, at least four former or current state government employees were arrested. The state Department of Social Services reportedly had more than $1.7 million stolen from its office of child protection while Lonna Carroll worked at the main office in Pierre. She currently is in jail awaiting trial. Another DSS employee, Amalia Escalante Barrientos of Brookings, pleaded guilty to converting a grocery voucher to her own use. And two employees of the Motor Vehicles Division in the state Department of Revenue lost their jobs and were charged with crimes associated with falsifying vehicle titles. Lynne Hunsley of Pierre pleaded guilty, while Danielle Degenstein of Pierre was scheduled for a trial later this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
