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Local COVID-19 Headlines: March 29

South Dakota COVID-19 Cases Climb to 90

The number of COVID-19 cases in South Dakota is approaching triple digits. Ninety people have now tested positive for the disease. That’s twenty-two new cases in one day.

Minnehaha and Beadle counties now report half the state’s cases.

Twenty seven of South Dakota’s 66 counties now have at least one case of COVID-19. There is now community spread in ten counties.

State lawmakers convene tomorrow to consider a dozen bills introduced by Governor Kristi Noem to address the pandemic.

Two of those bills redefine the Governor’s and Department of Health’s authority to restrict public gatherings and employ emergency management to declare disaster areas.

Veto Day to Cover COVID-19 Response

Lawmakers will have a busy veto day today on Monday.

They will consider a dozen new bills from Governor Kristi Noem that relate to the state’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 AND four gubernatorial videos. To top it off, legislators will convene electronically.

It’ll be the busiest Veto Day in recent memory, but lawmakers are preparing for the full schedule.

On Saturday, Legislators held a mock electronic session, as practice for the veto day session.

Lawmakers will vote on several new bills that redefine the Governor’s and Department of Health’s ability to restrict public gatherings and employ emergency management to declared disaster areas.

Those provisions are designed to help slow or prevent the spread of communicable disease during this public health emergency.

Two bills also allow the Secretary of Education to waive the minimum number of instructional hours required for a school term. It also exempts schools from holding annual academic achievement tests.

All of these bills have a sunset provision, and will expire on July first, of 2021.

Noem’s COVID-19 legislative package also includes a bill that allows local governments to postpone elections scheduled for April and May to any Tuesday in June—including the primary election day of June 2nd.

The legislature will also vote on increases in federal funds that allow various state departments to deal with the pandemic.

Lawmakers will gavel in at 11 am Central.

Kitchen as a Classroom

Many parents are overseeing lessons for their kids while schools remain closed. Online learning looks very different from one school district to another depending on technology access. But even routine household tasks can become part of a child’s education. Kimberly Cripps is a family and community health specialist with the state extension service. She says the kitchen can become a great classroom.

"When you think of the variety of tests that are involved and food preparation, you can incorporate so many skills and knowledge. Math skills, science, even history.

SDSU Extension offers resources through its ‘Pick it Try it Like it’ program. It includes nutrition and academic information.

There is a fact sheet, within that we actually have lesson plans geared for fourth grade and higher. And on most of them we also have a Lakota translation for the word. So you're able to bring in some language skills with that.

The program also offers food preparation and measuring skills and tips on how to read recipes. Kitchen learning aids can be found online at Extension.sdstate.edu

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