Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Gov. Noem Announces Fairness in Girls’ Sports Legislation

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem released the text of draft legislation to defend fairness in girls’ sports at both the K-12 and collegiate level. This legislation will codify Governor Noem’s executive orders and extend further protections to women and girls.

“This is about fairness. Every young woman deserves an equal playing field where she can achieve success, but common sense tells us that males have an unfair physical advantage over females in athletic competition. It is for those reasons that only girls should be competing in girls’ sports,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “Women have fought long and hard for equal athletic opportunities, and South Dakota will defend them, but we have to do it in a smart way.”

“Only female athletes, based on their biological sex, shall participate in any team, sport, or athletic event designated as being for females, women, or girls,” the legislation reads. The legislation describes “biological sex” as “the sex listed on the student’s official birth certificate issued at or near the time of the athlete’s birth.”

“This legislation does not have the problematic provisions that were included in last year’s House Bill 1217,” continued Governor Noem. “Those flawed provisions would have led to litigation for our state, as well as for the families of young South Dakota athletes – male and female alike.”

Governor Noem previously protected fairness in girls’ sports earlier this year when she signed two executive orders to defend it, both at the K-12 and collegiate levels. Now she is asking the Legislature to put it into law.

Following widespread misconceptions about Governor Noem’s position on this issue, she published an op-ed in National Review to correct the record.

You can read the draft legislation here.

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I was thinking this day wasn’t starting out so well.

I was out running errands when I decided to quickly run through Arby’s to grab an order of their buffalo chicken nuggets and a diet coke for lunch.  And as I was in the drive through, I discovered I did not have my wallet with me.  Oops. So, I went home, to get back to work and ended up combing through the dregs of my freezer for something to eat.  So, yeah. Basically I had pizza rolls and shame for lunch.

But, this afternoon’s mail turned my day around 100%. It’s a great day, because I received a recent purchase that’s one of the top items for my South Dakota political ribbon collection. A ribbon for the South Dakota Delegation for the first National Republican Convention where South Dakota was represented as a state in 1892.

In the prior presidential election in 1888, we were still Dakota Territory, but after statehood in 1889, 1892 represents the first time Republicans were able to go to convention as “South Dakotans.”

It would be worth a lot more to outside collectors if it had President Harrison on it.. But the early version of the state seal is ok.

The owner was still fairly proud of the item, but I managed to get them down to territory where I was ok with writing a check.

And despite the awful pizza rolls and the embarrassment, it ended up being a pretty good day.

JAKE SCHOENBECK FOR DISTRICT 2 HOUSE

Brandon, SD – Today, I am excited to announce my candidacy for South Dakota’s House of Representatives in District 2.

South Dakota is an incredible place for families and businesses to thrive and prosper. From a young age, I was raised with a strong appreciation that South Dakota’s success and the preservation of our freedoms requires strong leaders in Pierre and in our communities. As the newest member of South Dakota’s Legislature, I will be a trusted, conservative voice for Southeast Minnehaha County.

After growing up in rural South Dakota, I earned a business degree from the University of Minnesota. While living in the Twin Cities, I quickly realized that the community around me was not where I felt at home. I knew South Dakota was where I wanted to build a career and start a family and was fortunate to make my way home. Today I live in the rapidly growing area of Eastern Sioux Falls and work as an internal auditor for Plains Commerce Bank.

I’ve been blessed to grow up in a state that values the life and pursuits of every individual. For our state to continue to be a place that fosters the next generation of Americans, we will need strong leadership in our communities and continued investment in our future. This starts with the education of our children and in the infrastructure that enables us to create community growth. If elected, I plan to do everything I can to provide a bright future for our state.

It would be an honor to serve the people of Brandon, East Sioux Falls, and Valley Springs. I humbly ask for your help in the coming months, both physically and financially, to support my candidacy. You are going to see me in the community, at your events, and at your door. I want to hear your ideas and feedback on what our community needs. You can reach me at SchoenbeckForHouse@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing your voice and earning your vote in 2022.

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David Barranco, Candidate for Sioux Falls City Council is hosting a free get together on December 30 at Thunder Road in Sioux Falls.  Join Dave and his family from 5:30 – 7:30 at this event.

Just a reminder that SDWC has limited advertising opportunities available for reaching South Dakota’s opinion leaders as we move towards the 2022 campaign season and the 2022 legislative session, including our top two advertising positions.

If someone is making laws, keeping up on the issues or what’s happening in campaigns, or promoting legislation, they’re stopping here to check the temperature on South Dakota’s political climate. South Dakota War College provides candidates, companies, and organizations a unique opportunity to direct a targeted message at South Dakota’s politically active elected officials, and community opinion leaders.

Advertising on the Dakotwarcollege.com website is based on a first come, first serve basis for available positions.  Advertising slots on the right are 300 px wide up to 400 px tall, and may be either static image, animated .gif, or other, as long as the file size is within acceptable file parameters, does not impede the loading of the website, or interfere with existing code.  All ads run through-site, and are not rotated in their positions.

Information on ad prices, ad positions, and required ad commitments may be directed to the webmaster by clicking here.

And if you’re just an avid reader, as always, please don’t forget to visit our advertisers who make it possible to bring you the best in South Dakota politics such as the SDGOP,  Marty Jackley for Attorney General, Vote Yes on Amendment C,  Kristi Noem for Governor, John Thune for US Senate, and Dusty Johnson for Congress.

Drop a note today to find out more!

Gov. Noem Announces Bill to Restore Protections for Prayer in Schools

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem released the text of legislation to restore protections for prayer in schools. This bill will guarantee an opportunity to pray in schools at the start of every school day.

“Every student deserves the opportunity to begin their day with a calm, silent moment,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “I hope students will take this opportunity to say a quick prayer or reflect on their upcoming day. However they choose to take advantage of this time, it will be beneficial to students and teachers alike.”

Governor Noem previewed this legislation earlier this year when she promised to put prayer back in South Dakota schools. You can read the legislation here.

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Shorma to run for South Dakota House of Representatives in 2022

William Shorma (R) of Dakota Dunes, SD is announcing a run for the South Dakota House of Representatives in the new District 17 during the 2022 Election Cycle

The area’s included in District 17 include, Vermillion, Meckling, Burbank, Elk Point, Jefferson, Mc Cook Lake/Wynstone, North Sioux City, and Dakota Dunes and Rural Area’s.

Mr. Shorma served in the 2016 Senate when selected and appointed by Governor Daugaard to fill an open seat for the session, and worked with all members of the legislature to protect all SD citizens.

He will begin his campaign in earnest in Mid February 2022.

Mr Shorma states that “I will continue to use common sense to support and protect all the rights of the citizens of District 17 and South Dakota.  I look forward to meeting and hearing from as many of the voters as possible to understand their concerns.”

His 40 years in leadership of Family owned Manufacturing, Farming, and Small Businesses, as well as Non-Profits have given him the experience and wisdom to challenge the logic of may bills that come through the legislature.

Shorma states that we must keep laws from complicating business and stay out of the way of business in South Dakota. “We must also understand the concerns of individuals and our aging population.  We must spend your state tax dollars carefully to have the greatest impact on quality education, healthcare, agriculture, business growth, Amendment rights and human rights.”

William and Marcie Shorma have been married for 46 years and have lived in South Dakota since 1992. They have 3 married daughters and 10 grandchildren.

I personally believed that Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon would be going to either Avera or Sanford, and that assumption has proved correct, as the announcement came out this morning:

Kim Malsam-Rysdon is stepping down as state government’s secretary of health on January 7. She is joining Avera, where she will be vice president for public policy.

Read it here at KELOland.

Again, good for Kim, and congratulations on her new role with the organization.

It didn’t take long for the local branch of Gannett corporate to announce they’re selling off their local news offices after they closed down their printing operation for the Argus Leader in the state:

Following the closing of the printing facility earlier this month, the Argus Leader building in downtown Sioux Falls will be put up for sale on Monday.

and..

“The Argus Leader as an institution isn’t going anywhere.”

Read that here.

They aren’t going anywhere?

Well, a good chunk of the operation just moved to Iowa. Let’s see how long “not going anywhere” lasts.

The Sioux Falls Stampede offered teachers a chance to “Dash for Cash” for their classrooms… when they could have… I don’t know… just written them a check. https://t.co/xWELOqTFvJ

— Steve Staeger (@SteveStaeger) December 12, 2021

So this weekend, as half-time entertainment, in a state where teacher pay is among the lowest in the nation, the Sioux Falls Stampede Hockey team put 5k in the center of a rink, and had teachers demean themselves scramble to stuff as much cash into their coats for school supplies as they can, like the birthday booth at the Flandreau Casino. Wow.

Next time, maybe they could just write a 5k check to an elementary school instead of using them as monkeys to entertain the crowd? (What’s next? Bums fighting for money?)

Update.. And we made the Drudge Report (h/t to Michael Wyland)