Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Gov. Rhoden Appoints Dr. Tonia Warzecha and Greg Von Wald to the Board of Education Standards

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the appointment of Dr. Tonia Warzecha and Greg Von Wald to the South Dakota Board of Education Standards.

“Our students are the future of our state, and they deserve the very best education to get into the career of their dreams,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “Dr. Tonia Warzecha and Greg Von Wald will be tremendous additions to the Board of Education Standards, and they will continue to help set our students up for success.”

Dr. Tonia Warzecha is an experienced educational leader, spending more than 25 years of her career in education and over a decade in district and building-level leadership roles. She currently serves as Superintendent of the Dakota Valley School District. Prior to this role, Dr. Warzecha was the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the Tea Area School District, overseeing curriculum development, assessment systems, and federal programs. In 2021, she was recognized as South Dakota’s Curriculum Leader of the Year. Dr. Warzecha has also served in a leadership role for the Area II Superintendents’ Group and serves on several statewide education advisory boards.

“I am deeply honored by Governor Rhoden’s appointment to the South Dakota Board of Education Standards,” said Dr. Tonia Warzecha. “This is a responsibility that I will approach with a commitment to high-quality education, fairness, and careful stewardship of our students’ futures. I look forward to working collaboratively to uphold and strengthen South Dakota standards in a way that serves all learners and communities across our state.”

Dr. Warzecha holds a Doctor of Education and Specialist in Educational Administration from the University of South Dakota. You can find a picture of Dr. Tonia Warzecha here.

Greg Von Wald is the former President of Mitchell Technical Institute (MTI). He led the college through unprecedented growth, overseeing an enrollment increase of nearly 60%. Prior to his appointment at MTI, he served as CEO and General Manager of Golden West Technologies and Internet Solutions and CEO and owner of a telecommunications company in Aberdeen. Von Wald also has military leadership experience, having served as the head of the Operational Development Team and Faculty Member at the Marine Corps University. He was selected as part of the team that developed and implemented the Marine offensive plan during Operation Desert Storm.

“I would like to thank Governor Rhoden for his appointment to the Board of Education Standards,” said Greg Von Wald. “I believe in a well-rounded and challenging education for our children that encourages good character, solid principles, and a high ethical standard – keys to their and our country’s future success.  I look forward to contributing to this goal.”

Von Wald served as the Executive Director of the Skilled Workforce Advocacy Council, where he developed a campaign plan that elevated the importance of technical education in South Dakota. You can find a picture of Greg Von Wald here.

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President Trump promised more secure elections—now Congress must back it up with adequate funding
By Austin Hoffman

In recent years, election integrity has rightly taken center stage in national and local conversations. However, as more Americans call for stronger safeguards to protect the vote, many election administrators have struggled to fund these essential processes, and federal support has failed to keep pace with the growing threats facing our democracy. Robust elections are pillars of American democracy, and our states require adequate funding to keep this foundation on solid ground.

Local officials, like the ones I work with on the South Dakota Board of Elections, are responsible for a broad range of voting operations. From addressing vulnerabilities in our election software to verifying the accuracy of results in post-election audits, these steps are critical to ensuring that every vote remains secure. However, these processes are costly to carry out. Hiring and training staff and purchasing upgraded equipment require significant financial commitments, which can strain resource-strapped governments.

This is where federal investment becomes crucial to supplement state and local budgets, which often operate on razor-thin margins. Federal funding provides the support and flexibility we need to ensure every citizen can safely and securely cast their ballot. Every Election Day, there are small disruptions like malfunctioning voting equipment to broader upsets like bomb threats and cyber incidents. And officials cannot carry out their duties to protect American elections without the proper resources at hand.

Unfortunately, Congressional support has been woefully lacking in recent years as funding levels have steadily declined. This discouraging trend jeopardizes states’ and localities’ ability to swiftly and efficiently respond to these crises as they crop up, imposing self-inflicted harm to our democratic institutions.

President Trump has long demonstrated a commitment to enhancing election security so that Americans can feel confident in the integrity of their vote—and it was encouraging to see Congress advance $15 million for election security grants in the recent continuing resolution. While this was a productive step in the right direction, we are still digging out of the hole left by lack of investment during the Biden administration. Further, this figure still lags far behind the roughly $400 million appropriated in fiscal years 2018 and 2020 during President Trump’s first term.

Recently, President Trump signed an executive order reaffirming his administration’s focus on election integrity. Among its objectives are pledges to modernize voting equipment and upgrade cybersecurity safeguards, which are critical steps to increasing public trust in elections. With sufficient funding, these goals will create a more resilient electoral infrastructure that will benefit future generations of voters. But without the necessary investment, we may not see the President’s vision realized.

Several reforms outlined in the recent executive order are absolutely essential, and the President is right to elevate the issue of election integrity. But spotlighting the need for more security at the ballot box is only half the battle—election officials need sustained financial support to achieve real progress. In a moment where election security has been afforded renewed attention, Congress must use this momentum to ensure that our voting infrastructure receives robust and reliable funding in 2025 and beyond.

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Austin Hoffman is the State’s Attorney for McPherson County and serves on the South Dakota Board of Elections.

From SDEA, South Dakota can celebrate recently moving from last place in teacher pay among the states to almost last, a jump of 3 states which still apparently leaves us last in our region, but not in the nation:

South Dakota Moves to 46 in Average Teacher Pay

Highest Ranking in History of NEA’s Rankings and Estimates Report SDEA Cautions Lawmakers to Not Become Complacent

Pierre, SD – The South Dakota Education Association (SDEA) announces that South Dakota has moved up three positions to rank 46th in average teacher salary according to the latest NEA Rankings and Estimates report. For the 2023–2024 school year, South Dakota’s average teacher salary is $56,328, a significant increase from the previous year’s average of $53,153 when the state ranked 49th. This current rank of 46 is the highest South Dakota has achieved since the report’s inception.

SDEA President Loren Paul credits three years of substantial investments in South Dakota’s public school funding formula, including six percent increases for FY 2023, seven percent for FY 2024, and four percent for FY 2025. These investments were all above the statutory increase of three percent.

“The state’s investments in public schools are paying off for teachers. Most school districts saw some nice bumps in pay, which encouraged teachers to stay,” said Paul. “We believe that it was a smart investment on the part of those legislators, and coupled with the strong accountability measures we passed in 2024, we saw meaningful gains in pay.”

However, Paul cautions that a drop in investment may lead to the state average sliding back again. With the 2025 legislators only giving schools a 1.25 percent increase, South Dakota falls behind inflation, and schools will struggle to keep salaries competitive. Despite the increase in the average, teachers across the nation still have less buying power.

The report shows that while the national average teacher salary increased by 3.8% from 2022–23 ($69,381) to 2023–24 ($72,030), this was the second-largest annual increase since 2006–07, following the 4.0% growth from 2021–22 to 2022-23. Twenty-three states experienced growth of over 4%. However, adjusted for inflation, teachers still make less than they did a decade ago.

“While we see moving up in rank as good news, we are concerned that lawmakers will take their feet off the gas and salary increases will stall, forcing many teachers to leave the profession because they can’t pay their bills,” said Paul. “My message to state policymakers is that we were moving in the right direction, but the work is not done. To ensure we have qualified and caring teachers in the classroom, we need to continue making strong investments in our schools.”

The report also shows good news for starting salaries. South Dakota moved up in average starting salary to number 25, with an average starting salary of $45,530 for the 2023–2024 school year, up from 27th place the previous year.

Comparison with Neighboring States:

• • North Dakota: Average teacher salary is $58,581
  • Nebraska: Average teacher salary is $60,239
  • Minnesota: Average teacher salary is $72,430
  • Iowa: Average teacher salary is $62,399
  • Montana: Average teacher is $57,556
  • Wyoming: Average teacher salary is $63,669

Don’t worry, I’m sure we can be last again if the legislature is able to strip away tax dollars funding education to send to private schools this next session.

Gov. Rhoden Sheds Light on His Work with Sec. Rollins to Save the Maude Family

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden shed light on his work with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to aid in the dismissal of unjust criminal charges against the Maude family. Secretary Rollins hosted a press conference to celebrate this news, along with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and members of Congress.

“This situation hits close to home for me – the Maude’s ranch is just 70 miles down the road from my own,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “The Maude family has been put through hell by an overreaching federal government. I am honored to have played a part alongside Sec. Rollins and the Trump Administration to restore sanity, fairness, and justice.”

The Maude family had faced a political prosecution at the hands of the Biden Administration over a small piece of federal land, facing up to 10 years of prison time and a $250,000 fine. Governor Rhoden began working with Secretary Rollins less than a month after taking office, advocating on behalf of the family to bring them justice. After numerous conversations with Secretary Rollins and the Trump Administration, the U.S. Government dropped the unjust criminal charges.

“President Trump is directing his cabinet to ensure no citizen of this country is unfairly targeted on politically motivated witch hunts. That is what happened to the Maudes, and I am working to ensure no farmer, rancher or customer who works with USDA will ever endure baseless political persecution,” said United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “I am calling on any individuals who are currently enduring lawfare conducted by USDA to visit www.usda.gov/lawfare and submit a form. My team will promptly work to address the situation.”

Governor Rhoden and former Governor Noem previously attempted to liberate the Maude family by engaging with former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, but they were ignored by the Biden Administration.

“I’m so grateful to the Maude family for their strength. I’m so disgusted by the Biden administration that they would do this and persecute a family and threaten to take their children away from them just because they wanted to be political,” said United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. “South Dakota’s motto has always been ‘Under God, the people rule.’ The power was given in our Constitution to the people, and that we should always respect that and recognize that many of the wrongs that were done under the last administration can be fixed, and are being fixed every single day because of leaders like Secretary Rollins – and because President Trump is in the White House, and he’s bold, and he’s fearless, and he’s taking action.”

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson, and U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman were also in attendance and aided in the process.

You can find a picture from the press conference here. Additional photos will be made available at a later time.

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I believe it was Congressman Johnson who quipped that ‘success has many fathers’ at the USDA press conference this AM. So recognizing that, here’s a selection of the people running for office next year who were at the podium speaking this AM.. (you can watch it for yourself here). All were thanked for their work on resolving the criminal prosecution of the case.

Interestingly, it was also noticed that State Senator Amber Hulse was at the presser:

If you hadn’t heard, the rumors are that Amber is said to be in the hunt for the open seat for Congress, and already said to have a consultant lined up. So, when she shows up in DC, it’s noteworthy.

During the speech, Mrs. Maude noted that of those who weren’t there, it was Liz May who brought a group of 12 legislators around the first of April to survey the scene.. so, no direct shout out for those other people who want to run for something statewide next year despite what some are on Facebook claiming:

The Maudes were effusive in their praise for the people at the podium with them today, which included Congressman Dusty Johnson and Governor Larry Rhoden. (Sorry Vanessa Namken… Wrong again.).

Attorney General Jackley Praises S.D. U.S. Attorney Ramsdell and U.S. Attorney General Bondi For Dismissing Federal Charges Against Maude Family

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley praises South Dakota U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell and U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi for their decision to dismiss criminal charges against SD ranch family Charles and Heather Maude.

“I want to thank South Dakota U.S. Attorney Ramsdell and U.S. Attorney General Bondi for the dismissal of the federal criminal charges against the Maude family and for working towards neighborly solutions,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Property rights in South Dakota are sacred.”

The family had been federally charged with theft of government property centered on 50 acres of National Grasslands property.

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This afternoon, I received a media advisory from Congressman Dusty Johnson that Congressman Johnson will be part of a press conference supporting the Maude family tomorrow..

Then, 15 minutes later this media advisory came out..

with a mention at the very end 3 paragraphs later of this state government press advisory on the federal matter noting that oh yeah, these guys will be there too..

So, looking like everyone will be there, as they are given credit for getting the federal government to go back to the table in this high-profile case.

And speaking of credit, if you didn’t catch it as the only place I saw it was in the Dakota Scout story, is that some credit is also due to the law firm representing Heather Maude – May, Adam Gerdes & Thompson of Pierre and their attorney Justin Bell. 

Justin Bell, a lawyer with May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson in Pierre who represented Heather Maude, said the family did not currently have a statement on the matter.

Read that here.

If you’ve forgotten (which I know some of the goofball election conspiracists haven’t), Justin is an attorney and lobbyist who has also represented the SDGOP in party matters. And along with Brett Koenecke of May Adam had served as GOP party treasurers for at least the last decade.

I’m sure this won’t be lost on some of the election goofballs, who just in the last day were throwing some shade at Mrs. Maude’s law firm:
Well yes, Katie. They do a fine job. And now is your opportunity to sing the praises of May Adam for their quality legal work.

Thune, Smith Reintroduce Legislation to Expand and Strengthen Local Meat Processing Capabilities 

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today reintroduced the Strengthening Local Processing Act, legislation that would provide support to America’s small meat and poultry processors to help strengthen and upgrade their operations. The bill would give small meat processors more access to information that is critical to food safety planning, allow for more inspector-approved meat products to be sold across state lines, and direct resources toward training, education, and technical assistance grants.

“South Dakota’s producers work hard to raise high-quality livestock and play a critical role in our nation’s food supply,” said Thune. “It’s important that we invest in expanding local processing capabilities to help them meet consumer demand. My legislation would help our small meat and poultry processors bolster their operations and provide them with more local marketing opportunities.”

“Minnesota is proud to be the largest turkey producer in the country, and we know that a strong meat and poultry processing industry is critical to maintaining a stable economy, especially for Minnesota’s farmers,” said Smith. “Right now, just a handful of large companies have come to dominate the industry, which means higher prices for consumers and shrinking earnings for farmers. I’m glad to introduce this bill with Senator Thune to help even the playing field for local Minnesota meat and poultry processers, expand business markets for small producers, and keep food local for Minnesotans at the grocery store.”

“The Strengthening Local Processing Act would assist and encourage small local processors in rural areas to expand processing capacity,” said Scott VanderWal, president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau. “In recent years, we have seen increased consumer demand for locally sourced and processed meat products, and livestock producers are just as anxious to have access to additional local markets.”

“Consumers and producers alike benefit from buying and selling locally raised beef, but challenges remain due to the supply of market-ready cattle and limited processing capacity,” said Warren Symens, president of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association. “The Strengthening Local Processing Act addresses these issues by providing resources that support expanded processing opportunities. We appreciate Senator Thune’s engagement with industry leaders and taking the steps to address the shortage of processing facilities in South Dakota.”

“The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds Senators Thune and Smith for leading the way on this bill, which will address real and continuing needs for small processing plants and the producers they serve, and foster a stronger sustainable livestock sector overall,” said NSAC Policy Specialist Connor Kippe. “NSAC and small processors across the country are pleased to see the introduction of this bill, which reflects key priorities identified by our coalition members and partners engaged in the regional processing sector.”

“The National Deer Association (NDA) is proud to support the Strengthening Local Processing Act, as this bill would provide necessary resources for bolstering our nation’s small and very small meat processors,” said Nick Pinizzotto, chief executive officer of the NDA. “These businesses are responsible for the bulk of our country’s custom-exempt wild game processing, which is fundamental to our ability to both manage deer populations and process that lean, natural protein. We appreciate Sen. Thune’s leadership on this issue and look forward to working with him to get this bill to the president’s desk.”

Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).

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Rounds Pushes UFO and Alien Tech Disclosure Bill; Timeline for Senate Action Remains Unclear

Proposed law would mandate registration of alleged extraterrestrial technology and materials, as lawmakers acknowledge public skepticism
By Todd Epp, Northern Plains News

PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., is leading a bipartisan effort to strengthen disclosure requirements related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), including possible extraterrestrial technology and biological material.

The Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Registration Act, or UAP Registration Act, has not yet been introduced. If enacted, it would build on prior legislation by requiring government agencies, defense contractors, and private companies to register any technology or biological material believed to be of non-human origin, according to the draft bill and legislative analyses.

Lawmakers supporting the UAP Registration Act have acknowledged the extraordinary nature of the issue. In public comments and press statements, Rounds and others have said that public skepticism is understandable but argue that a credible, regulated process is necessary, given allegations from military and intelligence whistleblowers. According to DefenseScoop, Rounds emphasized this point during a November 2024 forum hosted by the UAP Disclosure Fund.

Why the UAP Bill Matters for South Dakota

South Dakota is home to Ellsworth Air Force Base, defense contractors, and university researchers who handle sensitive technologies. If the act becomes law, any group or individual in the state possessing material linked to UAPs would be subject to new federal reporting requirements.

Compliance would mean registering material with the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, or AARO. Non-compliance could lead to penalties, loss of federal contracts, or criminal charges.

How the UAP Registration Act Would Work

The bill would mandate that any technology, device, or biological material suspected of being of non-human intelligence origin be reported to AARO. A public list would include the entity’s name, a basic description, and the acquisition date unless national security considerations prevent disclosure.

AARO and designated congressional committees would have inspection authority. Under the draft, the federal government could seize unregistered items. This framework mirrors the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act provisions that authorized eminent domain claims over recovered UAP materials.

A Similar but Different “Alien” Bill is Pending in the House

Representative Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., introduced the UAP Transparency Act (H.R. 1187) in February 2025. This bill mandates the declassification and public release of all documents related to UAPs within 270 days of enactment.

The House measure focuses on declassifying and publicly releasing all federal documents related to UAPs within 270 days of enactment. It also requires quarterly progress reports to Congress on the declassification process. The bill primarily aims to ensure public access to historical and ongoing UAP-related records.

In summary, the Burchett measure is not as extensive as the Rounds measure in reporting, coordinating, and overseeing technology of “non-human” origin.

Rounds’ Public Statements and Legislative History

Rounds has publicly supported improving UAP transparency. At a July 2023 press conference, Rounds said, “Our goal is to assure credibility with regard to any investigation or record keeping of materials associated with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). Relevant documents related to this issue should be preserved,” according to a Senate news release.

At the November 2024 forum, Rounds said, “The U.S. government has not been transparent enough about what it knows. UAP transparency is a marathon.” He emphasized bipartisan collaboration and the need for independent oversight of UAP-related records.

How the Bill Differs from Previous Efforts

The UAP Registration Act differs from earlier efforts, such as the UAP Disclosure Act, which emphasized government record declassification but did not fully regulate private-sector holdings. Critics, including attorney and former Marine Corps intelligence analyst Sean Munger, argue that private possession loopholes could delay disclosure.

In an April 2025 editorial in The Debrief, Munger wrote, “The time for speculation is over. If there is already an unregulated UAP industry, as whistleblowers and insiders claim, Congress must act. The UAP Registration Act provides the tools to do so responsibly.”

Timeline for Senate Consideration Remains Unclear

The UAP Registration Act is pending formal introduction. As of April 27, 2025, the Senate’s tentative legislative calendar does not list it for floor action. Lawmakers expect the bill to undergo committee review first, but no hearings have been scheduled.

What’s Next for South Dakota and the Nation

If the UAP Registration Act passes, South Dakota’s defense, research, and technology sectors may face new reporting and compliance obligations.

Rounds and other lawmakers argue that the public has a right to know whether the government or private entities possess evidence of non-human intelligence, and that regulation must be clear and enforceable.

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Thune Touts Successful First 100 Days of Trump Administration

 “If this is what President Trump has accomplished in his first three months, I can’t wait to see what’s to come.”

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