Monthly Archives: May 2018

South Dakota’s infant mortality rate increased in 2017, according to new data released today by the Department of Health. There were 12,128 births in 2017 and 94 infant deaths for a rate of 7.8 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The state reported its lowest ever American Indian infant mortality rate of 8.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. The white infant mortality rate was 7 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2016, South Dakota reported a rate of 4.8 deaths per 1,000 live births. Although the state’s infant mortality rate increased in 2017, the average infant mortality rate for the five-year period from 2013 to 2017 is the lowest ever recorded at 6.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.

“Infant mortality is a complex and multi-faceted issue, and the latest data demonstrates that sustained effort is needed to ensure more South Dakota babies celebrate their first birthday,” said First Lady Linda Daugaard, who chaired the 2011 Governor’s Task Force on Infant Mortality. “We must continue to promote safe sleep guidelines for infants, help pregnant women stop smoking and encourage early prenatal care.”

South Dakota data shows babies are twice as likely to die before their first birthday if their mothers smoke during pregnancy. In 2017, 12.6 percent of pregnant women smoked while pregnant, down from 19.4 percent in 2007. The data also shows 72.2 percent of pregnant women in South Dakota received prenatal care in the first trimester.

“Infant mortality is considered a gold standard for measuring the health of a population,” said Kim Malsam-Rysdon, Secretary of Health. “The Department of Health, in cooperation with partners, is committed to offering statewide services and providing community support to improve the health of all South Dakotans.”

The First Lady noted the state’s Cribs for Kids program has distributed 9,759 safe sleep kits to families in need since its launch in 2012. The kits include a Pack ‘N Play crib, sheet, infant sleep sack, pacifier and safe sleep educational materials.

Learn more about healthy pregnancies and safe sleep guidelines at ForBabySakeSD.com.

All registered voters get to decide on June 5 whether South Dakota Constitution should be changed regarding victim rights.

The question is whether guarantees now reach too far, after voters adopted Marcy’s Law in the November 2016 general election.

The legislature decided voters should consider the matter again. State lawmakers in the senate voted 27-8 and 61-6 in the house to put another set of changes on the June ballot.

Among those asking the rights be reined back somewhat are county sheriffs and county prosecutors.

Costs for counties required to implement the new amendment saw prices balloon.

The state’s four largest counties spent $500,000 in the years after the amendment took effect aiming to comply with its requirements.

If approved, the amendment would narrow the definition of victim under the state’s constitution and require that those impacted by criminal offenses opt into special protections.

The amendment would also shrink the pool of family members that can receive victim protection status under law and allow law enforcement officers to share more information about unsolved crimes.

The proposal will need a majority vote to be approved. If that happens, the measure will take effect on July 1.

After a near-record cold April, May 2018 is off to a warmer than average start across much of South Dakota.

“It appears as if this trend will continue into June, as the dive into summer continues,” said Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist.

In fact, temperatures across the state were above average for the first 16 days of the month.

“Most locations were two to five degrees warmer than usual for this time of year. A handful of locations in the Black Hills, south central and northeast have been more than five degrees above average so far,” she said.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Outlook for June 2018, released May 17, leans towards warmer than average as well. “Current forecast projections show very good chances that the end of May and early June will be warmer than typical for this time of year in the Northern Plains,” Edwards said.

Precipitation

Rainfall across South Dakota, as of May 17 has been variable, with the southeast portion of the state experiencing especially wet conditions, which brought many rivers to flood stage in early May.

“The eastern rivers have receded now that all the snowmelt has runoff, but water is still high after some recent rain events,” Edwards said.

There have also been some local rain events in west central and northwestern counties, but the total for the last two weeks is only about an inch to 1.5 inches.

The southwest and northeast continue to be the driest areas of the state in the last one to two months.

“A look ahead into June’s climate outlook does not provide much information for precipitation. The latest map shows equal chances of drier, wetter and near average moisture for the month ahead,” she said, and explained that this is not unusual for the Northern Plains. “It is often difficult to predict spring and summer season storms. This is good news, and bad news, for those who are dry in the north, but also those that are too wet in the south and want to make some more progress in planting, fertilizer and early pesticide application.”

The U.S. Drought Monitor map, released May 17, shows that a new area of moderate drought was introduced in northeastern South Dakota, along the North Dakota border.

“This area has been much drier than average for the last 30 to 60 days. Soil moisture is also dry for this time of year,” Edwards said. “This has allowed spring wheat, corn and soybean planting to move ahead rapidly, but continued rainfall will be crucial for the rest of the spring season.”

In the west, despite some recent precipitation, Edwards explained that it has not yet been sufficient to bring the area completely out of drought. “Moderate drought remains over a large area of western South Dakota,” she said. “Stock ponds filled with early spring runoff, but grasses and pastures will need more time to recover from the last one to two years of drought. This area has overall been slightly drier than average since April 1, which is a critical moisture period for cool season grasses.”