Author: @SoDakCampaigns

A few housekeeping items for SDWC, mainly to do with translating words to sound.

• I’m attempting to find a TTS (Text to speech) solution I like, as I’ve had a couple of requests for people to be able to listen to posts versus trying to read them while on the run and for the visually impaired, so you might see a “listen to post” button appearing here and there as I test things.

  [responsivevoice_button voice=”US English Male” buttontext=”Listen to Post”]

  Let me know what you think in terms of whether it helps with your use of the website, or if it causes weirdness. Ideally, I’d like something that would read all the posts on the page at a time, but we’ll see what solutions I can find.

• The “listen on the run” discussion has also moved me closer to working out the details for a regular podcast or vodcast (Video podcast) and moving that forward. I’m mainly slogging through the format, since I’m the writer, producer, audio engineer, etc. I don’t want to do it, unless I can do it well, but I’m just about there.  More on this to come, and if there are potentially interested sponsors, get in touch, and we can talk.
• Speaking of sponsors, there are still lots of advertising space left as we move towards the 2025 session (and the 2026 elections) – drop me a note for details and prices.

Attorney General Jackley Reminds Shoppers About Holiday Scams

PIERRE, S.D. – With the Christmas shopping season starting in earnest this week,  South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley warns shoppers that scammers look to dampen the holiday spirit.

“Scammers enjoy the holidays for all the wrong reasons,” said Attorney General Jackley. “They are always looking for ways to steal a person’s personal and financial information whether people are shopping in a store or online.”

One common scam during the holidays is receiving an email or text from the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express or another delivery service telling the customer they have a package waiting and to click onto to the attached link for delivery instructions. Never click onto such a link but contact the delivery organization directly to confirm the information.

A scam that has increased during the holiday season involves gift cards. People who purchase gift cards should carefully check the card to make sure there has been no visible tampering with the package or the area to scratch off the code.

“Before you sign for an unexpected delivery, click onto a strange website or email, or agree to buy something over the telephone or Internet, always take a few minutes check out things first,” said Attorney General Jackley.

If you believe you have been a victim of a shopping scam or theft, you are encouraged to call the Consumer Protection Division at [email protected] or call 1-800-300-1986 or 605-773-4400.

Consumers can also sign up for Consumer Alerts via email from the Consumer Protection Division at www.consumer.sd.gov. Email addresses will not be shared or sold to a third party.

The Consumer Protection Division offers these tips on how to stay shopping safe:

IN-STORE PURCHASES

1. 1. Check the refund and return policies for restrictions and exceptions.
   2. Are there re-stocking fees for returned items?
   3. When buying gift cards, check for fees and expiration dates that apply.
   4. Compare Prices.
   5. Review warranties before purchasing.

Along with those traditional shopping methods consumers also need to proceed with caution when dealing with online retailers.

 ONLINE SHOPPING TIPS:

1. 1. Always place orders from a secure connection – If your computer isn’t protected from potential malicious software, your financial information and passwords are at risk from being stolen and anything else you store on your computer or do online.
   2. Avoid offers that seem “to good to be true” – Any e-store that promises too much at too low a price should cause you to pause before going forward. Look-a-like sites are out there waiting to take your information and money.
   3. Don’t use an e-store that requires more information than necessary to make the sale.  Expect to provide method of payment, shipping address, telephone number, and email address IF the merchant requests other information walk away from the sale.  Never give your bank account or social security information.
   4. Need to create a password for a site? – make it unique.  Most site will allow you to make the purchase as a guest but if you want to create account use a unique and strong password.
   5. Is the site secure?  Look for the “https” NOT “http” the ‘s’ tells you website is secure and encrypted to protect your information.
   6. Use a Credit Card to make your purchases – Credit cards have standard protections in place should your card information be stolen.
   7. ALWAYS check the company’s shipping and return policies. Know the time frames for eligible returns and do you need a RMA, Return of Merchandise Authorization number before returning merchandise.
   8. ow the time frames you may be up against if you need to return the product.
   9. If the Terms and Conditions are buried within the site or if they are vague – stop and think before completing the purchase.

SMARTPHONE SHOPPING TIPS:

1. 1. Be sure your computer and mobile devices are current with all software updates.
   2. Be cautious of social media scams. Stick to the sites that you are familiar with and do not click on unfamiliar links.
   3. Research price comparison apps. There are many malicious mobile apps just ready to be downloaded.
   4. Do not download apps from unknown sources.

SCAM MESSAGE TIPS:

1. 1. Never click or access the link that is provided.
   2. Always go directly to source and contact them.
   3. Scammers may tell you there is a fraud investigation, and you must “verify” your account or claim there is an unauthorized or fraudulent activity on your Amazon account
   4. Common ways to detect a fake message:

1. Misspelling and poor grammar;
2. Abnormally long numbers;
3. Suspicious link – nothing relevant to the company they say they are from;
4. Message is urgent; and,
5. Message offers a refund.

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[responsivevoice_button voice=”US English Male” buttontext=”Listen to Post”]

[responsivevoice_button voice=”US English Male” buttontext=”Listen to Post”]

From KELOland News, State Auditor Rich Sattgast and his staff have put state agencies on notice to get pre-approval on promotional items and training events, as opposed to submitting the expenses after the fact:

Finance officers throughout South Dakota state government have received notice that they will need prior approval from the office of State Auditor Rich Sattgast before spending any public dollars for employees’ or non-employees’ meals or refreshments that exceed state per diem rates, or for hosting conferences or training events, or for recruiting and promotional items.

and..

“We want to work with state employees. We don’t want to hang them out to dry. But we are the watchdog of state tax dollars,” she added.

Read the entire story here.

And before some of you start, this has been going on for decades. So, it’s a useful reminder for agencies to ask before they make plans to buy those water bottles.. or plan on serving jumbo shrimp cocktail for an event as one department did when I was in state government 30 some years ago.

Gov. Noem Announces Cornerstones of Government Accountability

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced four cornerstones to enhance government accountability in the State of South Dakota. As the first step, Governor Noem signed Executive Order 2024-07, which establishes required state employee trainings centered around public trust, duty to act, internal controls, conflict of interest, and a service mindset for the citizens of South Dakota. 

“Every dollar that we spend or invest as a state belongs to the people of South Dakota, and they trust us to be wise and responsible with those dollars,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “We are taking enhanced measures to strengthen the fortitude of our financial infrastructure and make sure that we are taking care of taxpayer dollars. And we will guarantee that state employees are responsible stewards for the people that they serve.”

The four cornerstones of Governor Noem’s approach to fiscal fortitude include:

• Additional annual state employee trainings as outlined in Executive Order 2024-07;
• Enhancements to policies, procedures, systems, and technology to strengthen internal controls of taxpayer dollars;
• Increasing resources to assist with the mission of the State Board of Internal Control – Governor Noem has already taken action and hired one additional Internal Control Officer; and
• A legislative package for the 2025 legislative session, including clearer and stronger accountability measures.

Several actions have already been made as state agencies are onboarded through the Board of Internal Control process. We have more to do. The upcoming implementation of the new BISON state accounting system and the 605 Drive motor vehicle system will provide more safeguards to protect taxpayer dollars that simply were not possible with the state’s aging technology systems.

The State Board of Internal Control was created in 2016 with the goal of establishing and maintaining guidelines for an effective system of accountability to be implemented by state agencies, a code of conduct for use by state agencies, and a conflict of interest policy for use by state agencies. SDCL 1-56-1(3) defines an internal control as “a process that integrates the… procedures, systems, resources, and efforts of an organization and that is designed to… detect and prevent financial malfeasance.”

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In case you were wondering how the legislature is going to look next year, the Legislative Research Council announced the House Committee makeup a few moments ago:

Legislative Committees (** denotes Chair, * denotes Vice Chair):

Agriculture and Natural Resources: Marty Overweg**, Spencer Gosch *, Julie Auch, Tim Goodwin, Jana Hunt, Travis Ismay, Trish Ladner, Kaley Nolz, Drew Peterson, Kathy Rice, Richard Vasgaard, Kevin Van Diepen, Kadyn Wittman

Appropriations: Mike Derby**, Tony Venhuizen*, Terri Jorgenson, Chris Kassin, Liz May, Scott Moore, Erik Muckey, Al Novstrup, John Sjaarda

Commerce and Energy: Karla Lems**, Jessica Bahmuller*, Aaron Aylward, Steve Duffy, Lana Greenfield, Tony Kayser, Tina Mulally, Kaley Nolz, Drew Peterson, Tesa Schwans, William Shorma, Nicole Uhre-Balk, Mike Weisgram

Education: Lana Greenfield**, Phil Jensen*, Amber Arlint, Heather Baxter, Roger DeGroot, Josephine Garcia, Jim Halverson, Mellissa Heermann, Travis Ismay, Dylan Jordan, Logan Manhart, Kathy Rice, Tesa Schwans, Mike Stevens, Nicole Uhre-Balk

Government Operations and Audit: Marty Overweg**, Scott Moore*, Julie Auch, Eric Emery, Karla Lems

Health and Human Services: Brian Mulder**, Les Heinemann*, Bobbi Andera, Heather Baxter, Eric Emery, Josephine Garcia, Jim Halverson, Dylan Jordan, Tony Kayser, Logan Manhart, Rebecca Reimer, Taylor Rehfeldt, Brandei Schaefbauer

Judiciary: Mike Stevens**, Bethany Soye*, Mary Fitzgerald, John Hughes, Jana Hunt, David Kull, Curt Massie, Will Mortenson, Peri Pourier, Rebecca Reimer, Tim Reisch, Matt Roby, Tim Walburg

Legislative Procedure: Jon Hansen**, Karla Lems*, Erin Healy, Tina Mulally, Scott Odenbach, Marty Overweg, Tony Venhuizen

Local Government: Greg Jamison**, Julie Auch*, Bobbi Andera, Jeff Bathke, Roger DeGroot, Mary Fitzgerald, Mellissa Heermann, David Kull, Trish Ladner, Tina Mulally, Matt Roby, Kevin Van Diepen, Kadyn Wittman

Military and Veterans Affairs: Tim Goodwin**, Tim Reisch*, Aaron Aylward, Jessica Bahmuller, Heather Baxter, Terri Jorgenson, Tony Kayser, Scott Moore, Peri Pourier, Christopher Reder, Tony Randolph, William Shorma, Keri Weems

Retirement Laws: Mike Weisgram**, Les Heinemann*, Amber Arlint, David Kull, Erik Muckey

State Affairs: Scott Odenbach**, Marty Overweg*, Jessica Bahmuller, Eric Emery, Spencer Gosch, Jon Hansen, Erin Healy, Les Heinemann, Greg Jamison, Karla Lems, Tim Reisch, Brandei Schaefbauer, Bethany Soye

Taxation: Aaron Aylward**, John Hughes*, Jeff Bathke, Curt Massie, Will Mortenson, Herman Otten, Peri Pourier, Christopher Reder, Kent Roe, Tony Randolph, Tim Walburg, Keri Weems, Mike Weisgram

Transportation: Tony Randolph**, Herman Otten*, Amber Arlint, Steve Duffy, Tim Goodwin, Phil Jensen, Brian Mulder, Christopher Reder, Taylor Rehfeldt, Kent Roe, William Shorma, Richard Vasgaard, Keri Weems

Interim Committees (** denotes Chair or co-Chair):

Joint Appropriations: Mike Derby**(co-Chair), Terri Jorgenson, Chris Kassin, Liz May, Scott Moore, Erik Muckey, Al Novstrup, John Sjaarda, Tony Venhuizen

Rules Review: Roger DeGroot, Jon Hansen, Erik Muckey

State-Tribal Relations: Will Mortenson**(co-Chair), Heather Baxter, Eric Emery, Scott Odenbach, Peri Pourier

Thoughts?

Support South Dakota’s Small Businesses
By Sen. John Thune

Soon after the snow starts in South Dakota, Thanksgiving ushers in the holiday season. I love this time of year: gathering around the Thanksgiving feast with my family, throwing the football around outside, and giving thanks to God for our many blessings.

Of course, the holiday season also means a long to-do list: picking up groceries, finding the perfect gift, and getting gas for the trip to see family. Whatever it is you need and wherever the holidays take you, South Dakota’s small businesses will have you covered.

For a number of years now, the Saturday after Thanksgiving has marked Small Business Saturday. It’s a special opportunity to support the roughly 95,000 small businesses that are the backbone of our state’s and many communities’ economies. Shopping small has a big impact. Small businesses are often a lot more than a storefront on Main Street, they are a big a part of our communities. Dollars spent at a small business stay local, and small businesses often turn around and support their communities through booster clubs, Chambers of Commerce, or even offering a young person his or her first job.

I also have a great appreciation for the important role small businesses play in helping people achieve the American Dream. After immigrating from Norway and helping build the railroad across South Dakota, my grandfather and his brother opened a hardware store in Mitchell. My grandfather opened another location in Murdo, and my parents worked there after World War II. I also got my start working at a small business: the Star Family Restaurant. I worked my way up from busboy to cook, and it taught me invaluable lessons about hard work and what it takes to run a small business.

As I’m traveling around South Dakota, it’s always a pleasure to drop in to small businesses wherever I am. It’s great to have a chance to hear directly from business owners and see what their operation is all about. Just recently I stopped into the Daily Grind in Lemmon for a cup of coffee, and got some treats for my grandkids at Grandma’s Chocolates. I was at the Meathouse in Andover, and popped into Mike’s Food Center down the road in Webster. And I grabbed lunch at Toby’s Lounge in Meckling on my way to tour Masaba’s manufacturing facility in Vermillion.

These visits give me valuable insight when I return to Washington. Small business owners need pro-growth policies that help them reinvest in their businesses, hire more workers, and grow. Next year, Congress will have an important debate about tax policy as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires at the end of 2025. President Trump and Republican majorities in Congress are committed to preserving lower tax rates and policies that ushered in a strong economy and grew paychecks during the first Trump administration. As always, I’ll rely on the input from South Dakota small businesses for this important debate.

Small businesses are at the heart of the American spirit. Whether they’re working out of a storefront on Main Street or working late nights at their kitchen table to get a business off the ground, small business owners are preserving the American Dream. I hope you’ll join me in supporting South Dakota’s small businesses this Small Business Saturday, throughout the holiday season, and all year round.

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Making Washington Work for You
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
November 21, 2024

 BIG Update

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director testified in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week to address concerns about the Agency’s response to disasters. It was recently reported that employees were directed to skip homes that displayed Trump signs or flags.

I joined Fox Business to discuss the hearing. You can watch my conversation by clicking here or the image below.

BIG Idea

Our veterans served to keep America the way the Founders intended—free. In return for their service, they deserve the best support and care we can provide. I’ve heard from veterans and veterans’ groups in the past that the current system isn’t doing enough to meet their needs. To address these concerns and remedy deficiencies in the VA, I voted to pass the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act which covers a broad range of veterans’ health care and benefits policies.

To name a few, the bill would streamline the Veterans Community Care Program, including the patient scheduling system, dental treatment availability, and outreach to veterans. It also provides much-needed support for caregivers, increases assistance for nursing home alternatives and establishes a program to provide in-home care services. The bill also provides resources and support to Native American veterans and homeless veterans.

The Elizabeth Dole Act is a huge win for veterans to provide overdue updates to make sure our veterans don’t get the short end of the stick during and after their service.

BIG News

Earlier this year, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced it would be restructuring post offices across the country, including two in South Dakota. Following opposition to these changes from Congress and citizens, the USPS put the plan on pause to reevaluate their decision. This week, the USPS announced it will not be changing the services at the Sioux Falls post office. This is great news for those in Sioux Falls who won’t experience drastically higher processing times for local mail. I’m glad the USPS is changing its course.

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Apprenticeships in Action: Celebrating Opportunity
By: Sec. Marcia Hultman  
November 22, 2024  

This year, 2024, marks 10 years of raising awareness and celebrating “National Apprenticeship Week.” Apprenticeships are an effective approach for South Dakotans to gain on-the-job training plus classroom instruction to earn a nationally recognized credential while continuing to earn a living for their family. In the last two years, we have taken apprenticeships to a whole new level in our state.

A year and a half ago, Governor Kristi Noem invested just under $8 million to increase the number of apprenticeship opportunities available in South Dakota. Since this investment, South Dakota has significantly increased the number of programs available, growing from 102 programs to 145. Nearly 300 South Dakota businesses have inquired about starting a registered apprenticeship program. And 50 new programs are in development. I’m so proud of my team who has put in the hard work to make this happen.

I want to give an example of one profession that has especially benefited from apprenticeships and is near and dear to my heart: teaching. Just like my grandmother and mother before me, I was trained to be a teacher. However, the options to get there look quite different today. 

In many recent years, teachers have been hard-to-fill positions with some of the highest number of job openings in South Dakota. To address this need, the Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) worked with the Department of Education and our post-secondary education partners to launch a Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway.

The Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway keeps costs low for current paraeducators as they continue to gain work-based learning experience combined with technical instruction to become licensed teachers. The program allows individuals to earn and learn while staying in their home community. All coursework is offered virtually at convenient times, so participants can continue to work while enrolled. School districts provide a local mentor to support the apprentices throughout the process. Northern State University and Dakota State University offer the necessary coursework over a two-year period to earn a bachelor’s degree in education, as well as a teaching certificate. 

This pathway has already achieved great results. 88 participants joined the program in the first year. More than 90% of these teacher apprentices are sticking with the program, and 100% say they are very likely or somewhat likely to stay in South Dakota throughout their education career. That will make a real difference in our teacher workforce well into the future. And thanks to support from the legislature, this effort is expanding as a second cohort of teacher apprentices began this fall. 

Our first graduate of the Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway, Kandy Flowers, is now teaching in Wessington Springs. When she graduated, Kandy thanked everyone involved in the program and shared how she is now able to continue working with the students she has been assisting – but with the addition of her teaching certification. Kandy shared her hopes for the continued success of the Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway because “it works.”

This is but one example of the ways apprenticeships are launching careers and changing lives in South Dakota. It’s simple; apprenticeships work. And DLR is here to continue advancing apprenticeship opportunities in South Dakota for years to come. We thank Governor Noem for her support of these efforts. I can’t wait to see how opportunities continue to grow and evolve for the people of South Dakota.

Marcia Hultman is Cabinet Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation.

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South Dakota’s branch of the US Term Limits organization is joining us on advertiser’s row as chaired in the state by the always awesome State Senator Erin Tobin.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with her group, US Term Limits encourages people to contact their legislator and encourage they pass a resolution applying for an Article V convention for the sole purpose of enacting term limits on Congress.

Please click and support Erin and her group, as well as our other advertisers including Summit Carbon Solutions as they seek to keep our ethanol markets competitive worldwide, Governor Kristi Noem, US Senator John Thune, Dusty Johnson for US Congress, and Senator Mike Rounds.

And don’t forget if you have questions on ad prices, ad positions, and ad commitments, you can direct those to me by clicking here.  (Advertising is available on a first-come first-served basis, and discounts are provided for extended commitments.)

Attorney General Jackley Praises Selection of Pam Bondi as AG Nominee

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley praises President-elect Trump’s selection of Pam Bondi as his Nominee for Attorney General.

“I served with, and was impressed, with Pam as Florida’s Attorney General,” said Attorney General Jackley. “She is an experienced prosecutor who will strengthen the relationship between federal, state, and local prosecutors and bring respect to the Department of Justice.”

In 2017, then-Attorney General Bondi served as the keynote speaker at the South Dakota Law Enforcement Charitable Game Feed held in Sioux Falls.

Attorney General Jackley, who is also a former U.S. Attorney, is one of several Attorneys General advising the Trump transition team on legal issues.

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