• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A South Dakota legislative committee is considering Gov. Dennis Daugaard's proposed changes in the state bank franchise tax.
• Daugaard has said the tax must be revised to account for changes in how banks have spread their operations among many states. He says changes in the banking industry have made it difficult to identify what share of a bank's income should be apportioned to South Dakota.
• The governor says the changes are needed to stabilize the tax and make annual receipts more predictable.
• Daugaard says the changes will apply to nine large interstate banks, but will not increase total state tax receipts.
• The House State Affairs Committee will hold a hearing Friday on the proposed changes in the bank tax.
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• HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (AP) -- SDSU Extension, Empower Coalition and South Dakota Department of Agriculture are putting on an educational seminar to help ranchers affected by the October 2013 blizzard.
• The meeting and sponsored meal is planned for Feb. 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mueller Center in Hot Springs.
• Sessions will explore such topics as financial tools and cow leases, cattle health and nutrition, emotional well-being and community development and business assistance. Sponsors include Novartis and Verns Manufacturing.
• Those wanting to attend are asked to RSVP to Dave Koupal at (605) 995-7193 by Feb. 18.
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