Gov. Kristi Noem appoints business owner, former sheriff’s deputy to state Senate seat

Mike Walsh will fill the District 35 state Senate seat left open by the departure of Jessica Castleberry .

Castleberry resigned last year in light of news she’d accepted federal COVID relief funding for her child care business after voting on legislation that set up the program and gave the state the authority to spend the money.

The state Supreme Court ruled Friday that lawmakers can have contracts with the state if those contracts flow through the general appropriations bill.