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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

SD’s Amendment E about 'celebrating women'

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Monday, October 28, 2024   

South Dakota voters will soon decide on Amendment E, which would adjust language in the state Constitution for certain officeholders.

Amendment E would change the text of South Dakota's Constitution to remove generic male pronouns and replace them with the office names they refer to. A recent poll showed the initiative is unpopular among voters, despite wide support from state lawmakers.

Sen. Erin Tobin, R-Winner, sponsored the bill to put the question on the ballot. She said it is appropriate when South Dakota has its first woman governor and its highest number of women legislators to date.

"When the governor spoke at her State of the Union, she's using the word 'he' for her own position," Tobin pointed out. "It just makes more sense for her to be able to use 'the governor.'"

In a recent poll by South Dakota News Watch, only 30% of respondents said they would vote to pass the measure. The resolution passed unanimously in the South Dakota Senate and handily in the House. Gov. Kristi Noem signed a similar measure in 2023, which changed the language in codified laws, while surrounded by women and girls at the Capitol.

Opponents said it will cost taxpayers money but Tobin countered the Constitution undergoes "style and form changes," and reprints happen after a certain number of changes anyway.

"To say that it's going to cost any money, I think, is very misleading," Tobin argued. "If it does cost anything, it's going to be negligible."

Tobin added the amendment is primarily about celebrating women.


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