• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota House Speaker Brian Gosch on Wednesday proposed a statewide ban on texting while driving, but critics said his surprise move would replace much stronger bans already imposed by some cities.
• Gosch initially introduced a bill that sought to prevent local governments from passing their own distracted driving ordinances, including texting bans. But at the measure's first hearing Wednesday, in a room filled with local officials upset with the prospect of losing control of their streets, Gosch changed the bill's language to ban texting while driving statewide.
• Local governments still would be barred from passing their own distracted driving ordinances under the new version, though -- something Gosch said existing law already prevents them from doing.
• Gosch, who has voted against texting bans in previous years, said studies have failed to show that texting bans have reduced traffic accidents and deaths in the 41 states that have such bans. He said a texting ban could work in improving highway safety only if coupled with an aggressive state advertising campaign that urges drivers not to text or engage in other actions that would distract them behind the wheel.
• "We want a bill that can reduce accidents in South Dakota, and we think this bill can do that," the Rapid City Republican said.
• The Judiciary Committee delayed a vote on the measure until Monday to give people a chance to study the new version.
• Rapid City Police Chief Steve Allender said he opposes Gosch's proposal be

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