Thune: Agriculture is the Lifeblood of Our Country
“[W]e have a responsibility to the men and women who work hard every day to deliver food, fuel, and fiber for America and the world.”
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.
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a Brookings man has been charged with 11 counts of Possession of Child Pornography and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
Mohammad Ghosheh (Go-shin) was arrested Tuesday, March 25. He was released on a $10,000 cash bond. His initial court appearance is April 28 in Brookings County Circuit Court.
“The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a missing 15-year-old female from North Carolina. Our investigation discovered that she had been in contact with the defendant,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Our investigation continues, and further charges may be filed.”
Ghosheh is a South Dakota state government employee.
DCI is leading the investigation and has been assisted by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Child (ICAC) Task Force, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and the Brookings Police Department. The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case.
The defendant is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.
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Johnson Named Most Effective House Member on Native American Issues, 3rd Most Effective on Transportation
Washington, D.C. – The Center for Effective Lawmaking named U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) the most effective House member on Native American issues and third most effective on Transportation issues during the 118th Congress.
“South Dakota knows the importance of transportation and Native policies,” said Johnson. “I’m proud to receive these rankings and deliver real results for my constituents. The 119th Congress is off to a strong start, and I’m determined to keep up the good work.”
Johnson also received top ranks from the Center for Effective Lawmaking in the 117th Congress and the 116th Congress.
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The long arm of the law (albeit in diminished form) will catch up with former local newscaster Shad Olson tomorrow as he faces a change of plea/sentencing hearing at 8:30 AM.
According to court records, the Change of Plea/Sentencing hearing is set for 8:30 AM, I believe in the Meade County Courthouse. If you recall, this has been a long and twisted saga that began over a year ago, when Olson was arrested and on charges of domestic assault in February of 2024:
A political activist, podcaster and former television anchor from the Black Hills is in jail facing felony assault charges.
Shad Olson was arrested earlier this week by the Meade County Sheriff’s Office following allegations of domestic assault causing serious bodily injury for an incident that reportedly took place Friday at his home north of Rapid City, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Dakota Scout.
And as more details came out, the story got worse and worse..
The victim asked Olson “if he was drinking already and he became mad.” She then told Olson, who she described as unemployed and lacking a source of income, that she “works hard to support their family,” to which he simply retorted she was a “crazy [expletive],” documents state.
and..
From there, the victim said Olson chased after her as she ran away from her home. They had been living together from some time, but she told the officer “she pays for everything in the home while Olson worries about the country,” the documents read.
The officer asked the victim if Olson had assaulted her before, with her replying “yes.”
The victim said Olson, who runs his own far-right, eponymic podcast, is “stressed over politics,” which influences his drinking. She then told the officer Olson blames his political frustrations on her.
There was also this affidavit:
After the arrest, the twists and turns continued, as despite past boasting of Olson on social media of being of significant financial resources, his actual financial situation was not so rosy. And Olson found himself “indigent and financially unable to obtain counsel.”
And in a surprising interlude, he was stuck in the county jail for a couple of weeks, due to his indigence, until a not unfamiliar name in Rapid City conservative political circles bailed him out of jail:
His $5000 bail was paid by former District 34 Legislative hopeful Jodie Frye-Byington, the twin sister of controversial District 30 State Senator Julie Frye-Mueller.
Since then, in a surprising move last November the Meade County State’s Attorney dropped Olson’s charges for Domestic Abuse from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Olson has managed to lay low for most of the time since, although he recently returned to social media where he’s kept a somewhat low profile, with a few exceptions. State Representative Brandei Schaefbauer had apparently found Olson credible, despite the abuse charges he was facing, and recruited his overly verbose goofiness and testimony as justification for a legislative measure to sue China for COVID:
“expert testimony.” Uh, huh. I’m sure. Needless to say, it was far from unanimous in the House. And when it hit the Senate, even in the crazy environment of this years’ South Dakota Legislature, the measure narrowly lost. Since then, Olson has grown even quieter on Social Media.
Likely because he knew the day would arrive, where he faces tomorrow’s D-Day. Where in front of God and everyone, he will be adjudicated for his actions. As currently scheduled for tomorrow at 8:30 AM in Meade County.
Gov. Rhoden Signs 20 Election Bills into Law00
Also VETOES One Bill
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden signed 20 bills to promote free and fair elections. He also VETOED one bill.
“South Dakota continues to be an example of free and fair elections. Our election system has integrity, and these bills improve our already strong system,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “America is founded on the principle of freedom, and I am proud that we live in a nation and a state where we can choose our leaders.”
Governor Rhoden also VETOED HB 1169. He articulated the reasons for his VETO in a letter to the legislature, which you can find here. You can find a photo of him VETOING the bill here.
“This bill has a worthy goal: placing safeguards on the process to add constitutional amendments to the ballot in South Dakota,” wrote Governor Rhoden. “However, I am concerned that this bill will not withstand scrutiny in the courts. This bill attempts to change the South Dakota Constitution in statute, and I believe that approach to be misguided.”
Governor Rhoden signed the following 20 bills into law:
You can find photos of Governor Rhoden signing SB 73, HB 1062, and HB 1208 in signing ceremonies at the Capitol.
Governor Rhoden has signed 177 bills and VETOED two this legislative session.
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Rounds Reintroduces Legislation to Leverage Artificial Intelligence for Pandemic Preparedness and Response
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), co-chairs of the Senate Artificial Intelligence (AI) Caucus, today reintroduced the MedShield Act of 2025. This legislation would implement a recommendation of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence to create a program titled MedShield to leverage AI for national pandemic preparedness and response.
MedShield would be the United States’ “shield” to protect the nation against future pandemics. MedShield would foster collaboration between the public and private sectors as well as with global allies and partners. The program would leverage AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of U.S. pandemic prevention and response across five key areas:
“Artificial intelligence gives us the opportunity to completely revolutionize health care as we know it, including when it comes to rapid response to pandemics,” said Rounds. “The MedShield program would utilize artificial intelligence to help the U.S. identify pathogens that pose pandemic threats and work quickly to develop necessary protections. We can leverage artificial intelligence not only to improve the quality of life for Americans, but to literally save lives and taxpayer dollars. We need to take steps now to effectively respond to pandemic threats.”
“AI holds amazing potential to supercharge major scientific and medical advances – including our ability to anticipate and address the next public health crisis,” said Heinrich, Founder and Co-Chair of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus. “By leveraging AI’s potential, our Medshield Act will ensure we are more prepared for the emergence of new biological threats to mitigate the next pandemic.”
“I am excited to see the MedShield program move forward,” said Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, President of Dakota State University. “When we embrace the full potential of artificial intelligence to address complex problems such as chronic and rare diseases, epidemics, and pandemics, we can find new and innovative solutions for serious issues. These technologies allow us to open the door to possible approaches which will not only solve problems, but prevent them.”
“As we identify needs in our communities and develop solutions, a key focus for the University of South Dakota and our state is ‘AI for good,’” said Sheila K. Gestring, President of the University of South Dakota. “AI plays a powerful role in health care and community health, as it helps us access accurate and reliable information, make predictions based on data, and support informed decision-making. Through the smart and effective use of AI, we have the opportunity to improve human lives and develop the tools we need to face the challenges of the future. I applaud Senator Rounds for his continued focus on supporting efforts to leverage AI for good.”
“We applaud this initiative to leverage AI for creating an integrated system that will identify threats and speed response times during a pandemic,” said Dr. Brian Tande, President of the South Dakota School of Mines. “It is essential that we take advantage of advances in AI to more quickly process information from disparate sources, enable better decision-making, and facilitate the rapid development of treatments and other solutions.”
“The ‘MedShield Act of 2024’ presents an opportunity to leverage cutting-edge AI technologies that could support the efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness of our healthcare response infrastructure,” said Dr. Shanna O’Connor, Department Head of Pharmacy at South Dakota State University. “As someone who has firsthand experience in navigating the challenges of public health crises, I believe the integration of AI-supported tools in both therapeutic development and deployment may significantly strengthen our preparedness for future health emergencies.”
“I strongly support and applaud Senators Rounds’ and Heinrich’s leadership in introducing legislation to create the MedShield program. This critical program is a key recommendation from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, recognizing the transformative role AI can play in pandemic preparedness,” said Ylli Bajraktari, the former Executive Director of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for rapid innovation in detecting threats and accelerating vaccine and therapeutic development with AI. MedShield will bring together the power of AI and human ingenuity, significantly enhancing our ability to respond to future biological threats with speed and precision. This legislation is a crucial step toward creating an integrated AI-enabled system that will safeguard public health and our national security.”
The legislation includes:
Click HERE for full bill text.
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Back in November, we had previewed one of the biggest contests that will be up in 2026 that isn’t Senate, Congress or Governor; Sioux Falls Mayor. Literally, it’s an executive level job that’s second only to Governor in how many people it touches and the depth of the issues the person in office is forced to address.
How many elected officials have to deal with managing the safety and welfare of over 200,000 people, AND make sure the potholes on the street are filled? It certainly isn’t the state legislature, despite their attempts to do so based on the local control they tried to usurp this session.
As we move closer to that contest, it’s worth checking back in to see how the field is shaping up. A few names seem to have dropped (or just not continued to come up) and new names are popping into the discussion.
Here’s where things sit in the contest which will likely be in June 2026, due to changes in State law. Or November. But I would wager we’re more likely to see it in June. Here’s the field as of March 2025:
Of course, this list will continue to see some shift as time passes, and things develop. But given that it is a congressional level contest in terms of the logistics involved with organizing and running this sort of race, we should expect to see some solidification of the race by the end of the summer.
Stay tuned.
Thune: Promises Made, Promises Kept
“In just two months [President Trump’s] bold action to secure our border and enforce our immigration laws has led to a precipitous drop in illegal crossings at the southern border.”
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.
Governor Larry Rhoden Signs SB 131 Into Law, Modernizing South Dakota’s Vehicle Titling System.
MARCH 18, 2025 – SIOUX FALLS, SD – South Dakota has taken a major step forward in securing and streamlining its vehicle titling process with Governor Larry Rhoden signing Senate Bill 131 into law. This E-Title legislation will prevent fraud, speed up transactions, and improve efficiency for auto dealers, lenders, and consumers across the state.
“This is a historic win for South Dakota’s auto industry and the people of South Dakota,” said Christine Vinatieri-Erickson, President of the South Dakota Auto Dealers Association (SDADA). “With E-Titles, we are closing loopholes that have made fraud possible, while making the process of buying, selling, and financing vehicles faster and more secure than ever before.”
Enhancing Security & Preventing Fraud
This past summer we witnessed title fraud and how fraud has been a problem within this old system. SB 131 closes these gaps and allows vehicle titles to be digitally authenticated, reducing opportunities for forgery and manipulation. This legislation provides greater confidence for consumers, dealers, and financial institutions, ensuring every title issued in South Dakota is legitimate and protected from tampering.
Speeding Up Commerce & Reducing Delays
SB 131 will drastically reduce title processing times, cutting wait periods from weeks or months down to just days. Under the old system, delays in title issuance slowed down sales, and created unnecessary burdens for businesses and consumers. E-Titles will remove these barriers, allowing for faster transactions, and a more seamless experience for everyone involved.
“This is a game-changer for commerce in South Dakota,” said Travis Vessely, Chairman of SDADA. “For dealers and lenders, this means faster transactions, fewer delays, and greater confidence in every title transfer.”
A Stronger, More Efficient System
The passage of SB 131 aligns South Dakota with modern best practices in vehicle titling. By enhancing security, and eliminating unnecessary delays, this law ensures that our state remains a leader in business-friendly policies that protect consumers and promote economic growth.
The South Dakota Auto Dealers Association thanks Governor Rhoden and the Legislature for making this critical modernization effort a reality.
Not a lot of rosy reviews of the 2025 South Dakota Legislature’s performance, as aside from participants citing how South Dakota is closed for business, the Sioux Falls School District is noting today that the legislature spent their time trying to hurt schools, fight the culture wars at their expense, and failed to meet statutory obligations for funding:
School Board President Carly Reiter listed many of the school-related issues that the legislators spent “a majority of their time on” instead of discussing issues that she believed would actually help improve education in the state.
and..
“I really have to question who the legislators are showing up for at this point. I really don’t understand,” board Vice President Dawn Marie Johnson said.
and..
Business Manager Todd Vik, who had been tracking bills all session with his staff, added that state law requires a 3 percent increase in aid unless inflation was below that level. “It’s above that,” he said.
Read the entire story here at Sioux Falls Live (subscription may be required).
I was speaking with a more recently elected legislator last night who had reached out to his superintendents to try to dig down into what he hoped were solvable problems.. and just came back with more problems that the legislature ignores, not the least of which is that given our status as 49th in teacher pay in the nation, other states are coming in and recruiting our graduates away.
As was noted to me in one of a long list of problems, one was that South Dakota is experiencing a teacher/ counselor/administrator shortage. Sioux Falls had a teacher fair. Some of the people looking for teachers were from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Omaha, Minnesota. There were signing bonuses offered along with other incentives.
So, not only are we short-changing our investment into public education by idiotically trying to install slogans and 10 commandment posters on the wall, but we’re also usurping local control, failing to pay teachers, and accelerating their exodus from South Dakota. At the same time the same idiots who are trying to put up posters think they can solve the problem by taking more money from public education, and handing it off to those who are unaccountable in the education they are going to provide.
It’s not as if the legislature hasn’t tried at times. But over the last decade, we’re not just back where we started, but we’re worse off than ever:
Over the past decade, governors, legislators and local school boards have placed a high priority on raising teacher salaries in South Dakota, which have long been at or near the bottom in the nation.
And over the past few years, they have succeeded, as teacher pay has risen either moderately or significantly in every public school district in South Dakota since 2017, according to state data. The average salary increase across all districts was 13.5% and as high as 20% in some districts from 2017 to 2023.
But those gains have not translated into more spending power for educators, and in fact have in most cases left them further behind than they were before the pay-raise push.
When inflation is factored in, the vast majority of teachers have lost net spending power over that time, and some have seen their inflation-adjusted pay drop by more than 20% between 2017 and 2023, with rural school districts often taking the biggest hits, according to a new analysis by the Dakota Institute, a nonprofit economic research organization. The overall inflationary increase from 2017 to 2023 was 24.3%, according to the website USInflationcalculator.com.
Go read this story here at SD News Watch.
Next session, instead of worrying about stupid 10 commandment posters and trying to throw librarians in jail – and I mean that as derisively as you can imagine – we should demand action on education. And that doesn’t mean stripping funds from public schools.
And maybe the legislature can actually pay attention to a real issue for once, figure out how to improve funding for education and stop the bleeding of teachers from being prepared for careers here and shipping them out of state.
