6 Broadcaster Press December 29, 2015 www.broadcasteronline.com Insurers paid large penalties in South Dakota during 2015 By Bob Mercer State Capitol Bureau PIERRE – Insurance companies that violated South Dakota’s laws agreed to pay more than $1.3 million in penalties to state government during 2015. That’s according to records from the state Division of Insurance. Penalties paid by insurers have grown substantially since Gov. Dennis Daugaard took office five years ago. “I’m not sure I would consider this a trend,” state insurance director Larry Deiter said. “A large issue with a single company can lead to a significant penalty and can dominate a year’s results such as the $750,000 penalty did in 2015,” he said. Two groups of companies, Foremost Insurance and Farmers Insurance, agreed to a consent order June 3 to pay $750,000 to informally settle an enforcement investigation. Twelve enforcement actions this year resulted in penalties of $10,000 or more. (See list.) The total penalties paid in 2015 from 35 enforcement actions were $1,314,249.91, Deiter said. That is the largest amount since the Daugaard administration began. Totals varied during the four previous years: $177,500 from 41 actions in 2011; $650,309 from 37 in 2012; $606,000 from 52 in 2013; and $383,250 from 44 in 2014. Companies paid $13,500 from 25 enforcement actions in 2010, the last year of Gov. Mike Rounds’ administration. Dave Says Christmas Comes Early at the Pump for U.S. Drivers – Gas Hits $1.99 U.S. average gas price falls below $2 per gallon for the first time since 2009. Dec. 21, 2015 – AAA reports the average U.S. gas price dropped below $2 per gallon this morning for the first time since March 25, 2009. Today’s national average price is $1.998 per gallon. AAA estimates that cheaper gas prices have saved Americans more than $115 billion on gasoline so far this year, which works out to more than $550 per licensed driver. More than 91 million Americans plan to take advantage of cheaper gas prices to drive 50 miles or we’re in the middle of Baby Step 2 of your plan, and we still have some debt more during the upcoming to pay off. Do you think starting a busi- holiday period. Travel by all modes of transportation ness would be too risky at this point? should be a record, topping Jeremy 100 million. “It’s all pretty simple,” Dear Jeremy, It sounds to me like this is the kind of said Marilyn Buskohl, spokeswoman for AAA South idea that would require more in the way Dakota. “Gas prices have of brain sweat and time than money. I dropped because there is would just think of it as a part-time side job and go for it. However, make sure you more than enough oil and gasoline supplies around have a clear understanding of exactly how much — if any — financial support the world to meet current would be required. Set these financial demand. In addition, gas boundaries, and also be clear on when prices generally fall through you expect the business to make money. early winter because people One thing I would warn against is drive and use less fuel this ending up in a partnership if this thing time of year.” becomes a success. Partnerships are bad Gas prices already are news in the business world, so I’d advise much cheaper than $2 per you to figure out a way to structure things gallon in most parts of the where you each own different parts — something more along the lines of a joint country. The lowest one percent of U.S. stations is venture. But in terms of doing some side deals, selling gas for an average of When 100% of and retail creating some cool new apps, and making $1.59 per gallon, your more market receives money in the process? Absolutely, I would than 13,000 stations are gas for less than do that. Just figure out an intelligent way sellingThe Broadcaster. $1.75 to structure the business and finances so per gallon. The statesthe The Broadcaster is with the cheapest averages today you don’t getWhen 100% of your pinched! primary medium include: Missouri ($1.77), —Dave successful retail market Oklahoma ($1.78), South businesses receives The budg- Carolinaused to reach their have ($1.78), Tennessee EveryDollar is a simple, online customers Kansas ($1.79). Broadcaster. eting tool that helps users set a monthly ($1.79) andfor over 50 years. Your state and carries AverageBroadcaster metro budget and seamlessly track expenses. The Broadcaster is the more advertising than all can For more information, gomedium primary to www.every- prices otherbe found on AAA’s local media Fuel Gauge Report website, dollar.com. successful combined. And, like our updated daily: FuelGaugeRebusinesses Holidays and family BY DAVE RAMSEY Courtesy of EveryDollar.com Dear Dave, I haven’t spoken to my mom and sister in more than six months. Over time, I realized we have a real clash of moral values that has led to arguments and hard feelings. Lately, with it being Christmas season and a new year just around the corner, I’ve found myself wanting to navigate things a little better and stop avoiding them. It’s been mostly just between myself and them, so my wife and kids are pretty insulated from the ugliness. Do you have any advice for handling situations such as these? Dave Dear Dave, Well, the good news is it doesn’t sound like you’ve had to spend a lot of time with them. So their influence over you and your household has been minimal. Still, things like this are painful. These are people you love, even if they are hard to get along with or understand. I’m not a family counselor, but my initial advice would be don’t try to change them. And don’t take discussions too deep. If you get together, just keep things simple and on the surface. To the extent they try to invade your family, that’s where you have to put up a good solid boundary. You have to protect your family and try your best to keep bad influences at a distance. But I don’t think you’re going to fix them. Probably the best thing you can do is model sanity and reason in front of them. A friend of mine who has some crazy in-laws says he adopts the bobblehead deal. He just sits there like a bobblehead and smiles and nods, no matter what Dave craziness is swirling around. And that’s not a bad idea when you think about it. You don’t want things getting ugly if you can help it, plus the chances of you changing a lifetime of toxic behaviors in one brief interaction are very small. Pray for them, too, Dave. Then, if they ask for help, maybe you could insert some gentle wisdom. Don’t tell them what they’re doing is wrong or that they’re bad people. Just describe things you and your family have done and how you’ve handled similar situations. But until they bring it up, I wouldn’t go there. —Dave RAMSEY Structure things intelligently Dear Dave, I work as a software developer, and recently a co-worker approached me about starting a side business together. We would create apps for the legal community with advice from my wife, who is a lawyer. The only problem is that Why Why settle settle for for just a just a slice … slice …Our Design Team Come Join When 100% of Excellent incentive pay and bonuses. Full-time, When 100% evenings andyour retail Sales benefits, some of weekends. experience preferred, but willingmarket to train. your retail receives The Apply in person, 920 Broadway, Yankton market Broadcaster. receives The The Broadcaster is the primary medium Broadcaster. successful businesses The Broadcaster is have used to reach their the primary medium successful customers for over 50 businesses years. Your Broadcaster have used to reach carries more advertising their customers for than all other local media over 50 years. combined. And, like our Your Broadcaster customers, carries more we continue to grow. advertising than all $3,200 Hiring Incentive other local media The SD Human And, combined. Services Center, a 304-bed inpatient psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment facility, is seeking like our full and part-time RN’s. Positions will participate with interdiscustomers, ciplinary continue we team to provide medical and psychiatric treatment for acute, grow. to psychiatric rehabilitation, geriatricCherry St. 201 W. and adolescent SOUTH DAKOTA HUMAN SERVICES CENTER NURSES Broadcaster Press patients. HSC offers an excellent benefits package (for full and part-time positions) that includes 3624-4429 weeks paid vacation, 10 paid holidays per year, employer-paid health insurance for employee, fully-matched retirement plan and more! Salary is $22.50 - $25.95 per hour, DOQ,1x10 plus $1.00 per hour shift pay for evening shift and $1.50 per hour for night shift and $1.00 per hour for Geriatrics. To apply go to http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus. Broadcaster Press Job ID #5733 or #5734. For more information contact the HR office at 605-668-3118. GENERAL ASSIGNMENT •REPORTER 624-4429 201 W. Cherry St. The Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan is The Yankton Daily Press & the position seeking applicants for Dakotan 1x12 is seeking applicants for the position of of general assignment reporter. Some assignment reporter. also be general page designing willThis position involved. the education beat. also coversApplicants must have strong writing and reporting skills. Some page designing (InDesign) is Page design skills, photography skills also involved. Applicants must have strong and video/social skills. experience writing and reportingmediaPage design are helpful. skills, photography skills and video/social media experience are helpful. Send resumes and writing samples to: Mr. Kelly Hertz,and writing samples to: Send resumes Editor, Yankton Press & Dakotan Kelly Hertz, Editor, 319 Walnut Yankton Press & Dakotan, Yankton, SD 57078 SD 57078, 319 Walnut, Yankton, or or email: kelly.hertz@yankton.net email kelly.hertz@yankton.net PRESS&DAKOTAN Y A N K T O N D A I LY 319 Walnut, Yankton, SD • www.yankton.net 605-665-7811 • 1-800-743-2968 Equal Opportunity Employer Why settle for just a slice … Why settle for just a slice … When 100% of your retail market receives The Want to earn Broadcaster. have used to reach their customers for over 50 years. Your Broadcaster carries more advertising than all other local media combined. And, like our customers, we continue to grow. over $11/hour? Broadcaster The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Gavins The Broadcaster Point Project will be201 W. Cherry St. is the having an employment open primary medium at the Lewis and624-4429 house Clark Visitor Center on successfulTuesday, December 29 and Wednesday, Decembusinessesber 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. Personnel will be on hand to answer questions have used to reach their about applying for student and non-student sea1x6 customers for over 50 jobs and tips on filling out resumes on sonal www.usajobs.gov. Positions may include: Campyears. Your Broadcaster ground carries more advertisingRanger, Visitor Center Ranger, Biological Aide or Biological Technician, Powerplant Laborthan all other local media er, and Office Automation Assistant. combined. And, like our customers, Announcements will follow we continue to grow. at a later time on Broadcaster 201 W. Cherry St. 624-4429 1x8 port.AAA.com. AAA predicts gas prices likely will remain low through January, and could drop even further if the cost of crude oil remains weak. By late winter, gas prices may rise 50 cents per gallon or more as refineries conduct maintenance in advance of the busy summer driving season. Americans are on track this year to drive a record number of miles, largely due to lower gas prices and a stronger economy, based on early estimates by the Federal Highway Administration. Through October, which is the most recent data available, Americans have driven more than 2.63 trillion miles for the year, which is a 3.4 percent increase over the same period in 2014. Why settle for just a slice customers, we continue to grow. Broadcaster Why settle for just a slice When 100% of your retail market receives The Broadcaster. The Broadcaster is the primary medium successful businesses have used to reach their customers for over 50 years. Broadcaster 201 W. Cherry St. 624-4429 1x4 201 W. Cherry St. 624-4429 1x5 www.usajobs.gov For more information call (402) 667-2546 Now Hiring! PROOFREADER WANTED Counter Sales Graham Tire Co. of Yankton Seeking a highly motivated professional counter sales person. Prior knowledge of Auto/Light Truck/Ag and Commercial Tires a plus! Competitive Hourly wage plus commission. Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance, 401k, Paid Holidays and Vacation! Submit Resume Online at GrahamTire.com or Stop in and ask for Jim! The Yankton Press & Dakotan is looking for a part-time proofreader/typist. Hours are approximately 7-10:15 p.m. for 2-3 nights a week. Strong English and grammar skills are a must. (The work needs to be done on-site, not from home.) Typing skills are needed. 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