South Dakota State Treasurer Josh Haeder today gave his stamp of approval to Melissa Hull to be his successor in the election battle coming up next week at the Republican convention in Rapid City, via a message posted to Facebook by Hull:

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Hull faces Black Hills area real estate agent Heath Shields in the vote to be held on June 27th.

Similarly, in a postcard that went out to delegates recently from State Auditor candidate Catherine Barranco, State Auditor Rich Sattgast has also lent his support to the sole candidate running for that seat at the moment:

Lots more activity coming in the days leading up to the SD GOP Convention.

Keep it tuned here for updates on the races, and information on last minute entries.

Just seeing another video on Facebook where people from every walk of life are attesting to how as a City Councilwoman, Christine Erickson made things happen in that community.

In this one, John Snyder co-founder of 605 Creative relates how Christine helped his group get a Sioux Falls flag approved by the City Council.  (The same flags her opponent flies off his trailer as he campaigns for the office.)

Thune: Senate to Prioritize Passage of NDAA

“For 251 years, Americans have bravely gone to fight our nation’s battles. And for 251 years, it’s been Congress’ job to stand behind them and provide what they need to execute the mission.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Click here to watch the video.

 

From Facebook, that sure seems like an endorsement from KELO AM’s Greg Belfrage for Christine Erickson:

Secretary Kristi L. Noem Joins NovaRed Mining Advisory Board

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – June 16, 2026) – NovaRed Mining Inc. (CSE: NRED) (OTCQB: NREDF) (“NovaRed” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and current Special Envoy to the Shield of the Americas, Secretary Kristi L. Noem, has joined the Company in a strategic advisory role to support NovaRed’s mission of acquiring and advancing critical mineral exploration opportunities through its artificial intelligence-enhanced technology platform.

Ms. Noem is an American public policy leader, executive, and former senior government official with extensive experience spanning economic development, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, national security, and public-private collaboration. Over the course of her career, she has served as Governor of South Dakota, a member of the United States House of Representatives, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, providing her with broad experience in government affairs, strategic planning, regulatory matters, stakeholder engagement, and large-scale organizational leadership.

In 2025, Ms. Noem served as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, overseeing one of the federal government’s largest departments and directing initiatives involving critical infrastructure, transportation security, interagency coordination, and strategic operations. As Governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025, she led statewide economic development and infrastructure initiatives while working closely with industry, government agencies, and private-sector stakeholders. Prior to that, Ms. Noem represented South Dakota in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019, where she participated in legislative initiatives relating to taxation, economic policy, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and national defense.

Brian Goss, Chief Executive Officer of NovaRed Mining Inc., stated, “Kristi brings exceptional leadership experience and a deep understanding of the policy, regulatory, and economic factors that influence infrastructure investment, resource development, and long-term economic growth. Her perspective and experience working across government and industry will be valuable as NovaRed advances its corporate development strategy and evaluates new opportunities.”

Kristi Noem commented, “I look forward to supporting the Company’s strategic objectives. In an increasingly competitive global environment, secure and reliable access to critical minerals has become an important economic and national security priority. NovaRed is pursuing opportunities in sectors that will remain important to long-term growth and supply-chain resilience, and I am excited to contribute my experience in public policy, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning as the Company advances its initiatives.”

Ms. Noem’s appointment reflects NovaRed’s commitment to assembling an advisory team with expertise across government, industry, capital markets, infrastructure, and resource development. By combining machine learning-driven geospatial intelligence with traditional geological expertise, the Company seeks to identify and advance domestic exploration opportunities that support long-term economic and strategic objectives.

About Novared Mining Inc.

NovaRed Mining Inc. (CSE: NRED) (OTCQB: NREDF) is a mineral exploration company focused on the identification, acquisition, exploration and development of copper-gold porphyry projects in British Columbia, leveraging an artificial intelligence-enhanced geospatial technology platform that it developed to identify and evaluate prospective mineral properties. The Company’s optioned Wilmac copper-gold project comprises 16,078 hectares located within the Quesnel porphyry belt in the Similkameen Mining Division, southwest of Princeton and approximately 10 kilometres west of Hudbay Minerals Inc.’s producing Copper Mountain Mine. For more information, visit novaredmining.com.

From Facebook, former KELOland anchor and long-time Sioux Falls broadcaster Don Jorgensen has filmed his own endorsement for Sioux Falls Mayoral Candidate Christine Erickson:

Thune: Democrats Break All the Wrong Records

“The damage Democrats have caused has been immense.”

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor.

Rounds Secures National Defense Victories in Senate Armed Services Committee’s Fiscal Year 2027 NDAA

Legislation includes $43.7 million for South Dakota National Guard; $3.23 billion for B-21 Raider procurement

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, released the following statement on the committee’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

“The NDAA is the hallmark piece of legislation that the Armed Services Committee works on each year, and it’s always an honor to have a role in crafting it at the committee level,” said Rounds. “This is the 12th NDAA I’ve had the opportunity to work on as a member of the Armed Services committee. I was glad to have several wins for South Dakota in the committee version of this legislation, including $43.7 million for military construction projects for the South Dakota National Guard in Sioux Falls and Sturgis. Our committee version of the bill fully authorizes the B-21 Raider program to be housed at Ellsworth, with $3.23 billion for procurement and another $4.25 billion in ongoing research and development for the platform. As Chair of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee, I am also very pleased with the cyber provisions included to strengthen our nation’s offensive and defensive cyber capabilities, as well as ongoing efforts to accelerate AI adoption.

In an increasingly dangerous world, a consensus on defense spending is more important than ever. I firmly believe that this year’s NDAA takes great strides to secure our nation and put us in a position to fight away games rather than on our own soil. I look forward to working with the rest of my Senate colleagues and the House to get the NDAA passed and signed into law.”

Rounds was named as the 6th most effective member of the United States Senate on defense and national security issues for the 118th Congress. Read a full list of his provisions in this year’s NDAA below.

Rounds’ South Dakota Victories:

• Fully authorizes the B-21 Raider program, including over $3.23 billion for total procurement ($2.23 billion for procurement and $1 billion in advanced procurement), and an additional $4.25 billion in research and development.
• Authorizes $146.8 million for B-1B Lancer.
• Authorizes $40 million for an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar for the South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114^th Fighter Wing in Sioux Falls.
• Authorizes $3.7 million for a Vehicle Maintenance Shop for the South Dakota Army National Guard in Sturgis.
• Authorizes $10 million for Cold Regions Advanced Materials and Manufacturing research being done at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
• Authorizes $10 million for Large Area Additive Deposition work being done on large area additive manufacturing by VRC Metal Systems and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota.
• Authorizes $5 million for Innovate High Energy Density Sodium Battery research being done by South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
• Authorizes $30 million for the University Consortium for Cybersecurity including Dakota State University.
• Requires the Army and the Air Force to provide the congressional defense committees a briefing on the resources needed for environmental restoration activities on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and encourages the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Air Force, and Army Corps of engineers to conduct government-to-government consultation with the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
• Requires with the Under Secretary for Research & Engineering, Under Secretary for Acquisition & Sustainment, and the geographic combatant commands to develop a comprehensive strategy for cost-effective, attritable high-altitude systems, including cross-Department coordination of investments and what policy, budgetary, and industrial base changes are needed to accelerate adoption at speed and scale.
• Requires the Secretary of the Air Force and the commander of U.S. Strategic Command to reevaluation the B-21 Raider program of record and provide an assessment of the number of B-21 aircraft necessary to meet the nuclear and conventional mission requirements in the FY26 National Defense Strategy.  They must also provide a plan for producing the necessary number of aircraft.  (It is likely that many of the aircraft purchased beyond the initially planned 100 B-21s will make their way to Ellsworth.)
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide the full report and unredacted materials used in the review of the Medals of Honor provided to soldiers for their conduct at Wounded Knee Creek in December 1890.
• Authorizes $50 million for small businesses and non-traditional contractors to cover their Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification costs (to meet the Department’s cybersecurity standards).

Rounds’ Major National Defense Victories:

• Creates an Under Secretary of Defense for Cyber, Information, and Networks, merging the Department’s Chief Information Officer and the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of Defense into a single dual-hat individual.
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a joint program with Germany for co-development and co-production of air defense and air-to-air munitions to increase the defense industrial base capacity of both countries.
• Directs the Department to develop a strategy and resource plan to enhance U.S. cyber cooperation with Indo-Pacific allies and partners
• Requires AI models being used by the Department of Defense to provide source attribution, helping prevent dissemination of foreign adversary propaganda.
• Provides resources to the National Guard and Reserve cyber components who are participating in ongoing cyber military operations.
• Requires the Department to mandate effective software acquisition pathway for all software purchases to support more flexible appropriations options for software activities to speed up software acquisition and development activities.
• Requires the Department to provide an update on the development of Dynamic Spectrum Sharing capabilities to facilitate better use of the spectrum by both the military and commercial interests.
• Authorizes $1 million to strengthen cooperation between U.S. Cyber Command and the Kingdom of Jordan.
• Directs Department of Defense Cyber Defense Command to submit annual reports to Congress on their Cyber Operational Readiness Assessment program, which is critical to securing the Department’s networks.
• Directs the Chief Information Officer of the Department to reduce administrative burden of the Department’s risk management framework, making it easier for cyber, AI, and software companies to work with the military.
• Establishes artificial intelligence governance rules for the Department and our miliary to make sure autonomous weapon systems and AI tools require human judgment when appropriate, without slowing down our warfighters and industry partners from developing and utilizing cutting edge technologies.
• Directs an independent study on the roles, responsibilities, authorities, and resourcing of the Principal Cyber Advisors of the military departments.
• Directs a plan to remove unnecessary bureaucratic procedures and regulations related to the AUKUS partnerships between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom so our defense industrial bases are better able to work together.
• Requires the Department to develop a plan for a public-private partnership to train individuals at the scale required for modern drone warfare.
• Requires an Army report on potential Army National Guard drone units.
• Requires an Army report on a potential Army National Guard Drone Center of Excellence.

 

Rounds-Supported Victories:

• Authorizes funding to support a 3.6 percent pay raise for military members.
• Encourages the Department to establish a Robotic and Autonomous Systems Combatant Command.
• Requires acceleration of the adoption and purchase of low-cost munitions.
• Authorizes the establishment and continued operation of Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel to coordinate and bolster the counter-cartel mission and defending the southwest border.
• Establishes the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative to expand and accelerate bilateral defense technology research, development, testing, evaluation, coordination, and industrial cooperation between the U.S. and Israel.
• Codifies the Department review process for autonomous weapon systems and AI capabilities, specifying standards for human judgment, validation and testing requirements, prohibited uses, and a centralized incident reporting repository.
• Establishes comprehensive prohibitions against betting on military operations in prediction markets.
• Requires the Department to accept the Classic Learning Test at military service academies.

Click HERE to read an executive summary from the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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I just can’t get this image out of my head after seeing this picture in the SD Searchlight article, where the hand-counting zealots and Heather Baxter are clinging to the insane notion that they want to get rid of machine counting of ballots after a primary election with a ridiculous permutation of different ballots between the precincts, cities, schools, counties, legislative district and statewide elections. (Wasn’t it over 100 different ballots in Minnehaha County alone?)

Hopefully the SD Canvassing group has been driven to extinction after this last primary election.

 

From SD Searchlight:

State Republican Party Chairman Jim Eschenbaum expects 600 to 800 voting delegates at the convention, “possibly more.” Eschenbaum said the convention is far more representative of the average Republican voter “than it was before.” He became chairman in early 2025.

“The establishment can’t manipulate the elections anymore. That’s what their problem is,” he said, responding to criticism about the convention.  

Read that here.

Um…. I hate to bring it up, but isn’t the guy who is in charge of the party (even a former 32-year Democrat as Eschenbaum is) actually “the establishment” now?

And if not, who is he leveling his criticism against?  The Governor? Our federal delegation?  Exactly who is “this establishment” supposed to be that he’s railing against?