Author: Pat Powers

Apparently former State Senator Lynne/Lyndi Hix DiSanto Meyer has a new job, selling loans through a website.

…because we want our loan officers to be able to hold a MacBook and an iPhone?

Do you do your deposits in brown paper bags?

Flags at Half-Staff in Honor of Victims of Kabul Terrorist Attacks

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff statewide, effective immediately, until sundown on Monday, August 30, 2021, in honor of the American servicemembers and other victims killed in the terrorist attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, August 26, 2021.

“My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Afghanistan – Americans and Afghans alike. My heart breaks for the families who lost loved ones and friends today and those who were injured in these attacks,” said Governor Kristi Noem.

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It’s a bit anti-climactic by now, but as I’d heard from Dakotafest and as noted on-line today, apparently State Rep. Taffy Howard is making little secret that she has already scheduled her announcement for Congress:

With that as a clearly confirmed fact by Taffy herself, the claim of “considering” and “exploring” the race as noted in her speeches and media interviews seems a bit silly.

Americans for Prosperity Taps Long-Time South Dakota Grassroots and Policy Leader as Regional Director

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Americans for Prosperity today announced its promotion of long-time South Dakota legislative leader, Don Haggar. Previously leading the charge as state director of Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota (AFP-SD), Haggar brings extensive knowledge and a rolodex of legislative accomplishments to his new position where he will oversee the operations of several states across the country for AFP. Prior to serving as state director for AFP-SD, Haggar spent 5 years in the South Dakota House of Representatives and ultimately served in a leadership role as President Pro Temp.

New AFP Regional Director Don Haggar released the following statement accompanying the announcement:

“After such a successful legislative session in South Dakota, I’m excited for what the future holds for our Americans for Prosperity across the state. We have taken such great strides for South Dakotans, and will continue with the same fervor under our next state director. AFP-SD is strongly positioned to continue this great work, and I cannot wait to see how we continue advocating for South Dakotans for years to come.”

Don’s years of service have produced major wins for South Dakotans in removing barriers to opportunity, improving education, health care and criminal justice reforms. His promotion leaves the role of State Director open for applications. Please contact infosd@afphq.org if you are interested in applying for this opportunity.

For further information or an interview, reach Nicole Tardif at ntardif@afphq.org. 

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) exists to recruit, educate, and mobilize citizens in support of the policies and goals of a free society at the local, state, and federal level, helping every American live their dream – especially the least fortunate. AFP has more than 3.2 million activists across the nation, a local infrastructure that includes 36 state chapters, and has received financial support from more than 100,000 Americans in all 50 states. For more information, visitwww.AmericansForProsperity.org

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Congratulations to State Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt for being named as a recipient of a 4 under 40 Award from the Young Professionals Network with the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. According to the Argus Leader:

The award is given to young professionals younger than 40 who are leaders in their business, industry and community

• Taylor Rehfeldt, Sanford Health: Taylor Rehfeldt is a Nurse Anesthetist at Sanford Health and was one of the first people to graduate with a doctorate of anesthesia in South Dakota. She is also a public servant who is serving her first term as representative in the South Dakota State Legislature. She was instrumental in passing Senate Bill 50, which granted certified nurse anesthetists full practice authority in the state of South Dakota.

Read the entire story here.

Sidney Powell is somewhere in the Black Hills working on her book. Mike Lindell is in Sioux Falls running a cyber symposium.

And they both received some news tonight which probably ruined their week.

Three major defamation lawsuits from Dominion Voting Systems against MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and the right-wing lawyers Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani will move forward toward a trial, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday. https://t.co/EtyGDtNEo4

— ABC 17 News (@ABC17News) August 12, 2021

Coming from the “Primary Dusty Johnson” facebook group…

Looks like the anti-incumbent forces may have talked someone into running against Dusty Johnson, and they should soon be schooled how a good campaign is run, as Dusty is one of the toughest campaigners in the state.

First guess is Taffy Howard, especially since she was speaking at an event recently, but we’ll see.

Stay tuned.

So yesterday, State Rep. People Pourier was out on Facebook doing some hiring. And made a statement that’s catching some by surprise:

– Outgoing & comfortable speaking to strangers
– Native preference
– Located in Pine Ridge Reservation or Rapid City

In most cases, talking about race in hiring is going to end you up in a civil rights lawsuit, or being pursued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

But in this case, the answer is a little more complicated, and the Federal Government actually provides for a carve out to allow a racially based preference in some instances. According to the EEOC:

Section 703(i) of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(i)(1982), provides an exception to Title VII’s general nondiscrimination principles allowing certain employers under certain circumstances to exercise an employment preference in favor of American Indians.(1) That section provides as follows:

Nothing contained in this title shall apply to any business or enterprise on or near an Indian reservation with respect to any publicly announced employment practice of such business or enterprise under which a preferential treatment is given to any individual because he is an Indian living on or near a reservation.

The statutory language makes it clear that an employer seeking to avail itself of the Indian preference exception must meet three conditions: (1) the employer must be located on or near an Indian reservation, (2) the employer’s preference for Indians must be publicly announced, and (3) the individual to whom preferential treatment is accorded must be an Indian living on or near a reservation. Neither Section 703(i) nor any other section of the Act, however, defines the terms “Indian reservation” or “near.”

Read that here.

So.. The civil rights act allows “preferential treatment” if an is “an Indian living on or near a reservation.” That’s pretty clear. Ok.. but is Rapid City near for employment purposes under the act?

If you dig into it, in their Q&A, the US Department of Labor also talks about the topic, noting..

My company has facilities across the United States in areas with a large American Indian or Alaska Native population, but these facilities are not near an Indian reservation. Can the company still extend an Indian preference in employment?

No, contractors may extend a publicly announced Indian preference only for employment opportunities on or near an Indian reservation

Read that here.

Pine Ridge would clearly meet what’s allowed in Federal regulations as near.. But.. is Rapid City considered “near?” Well, that’s a good question. Here’s where it gets murky.

The EEOC gives some guidance but stops short of drawing a hard and fast line on what “near” means.  And if you read it, it also discusses what a reasonable commute is for these purposes. Seems like these are the things that generate at least a moderate amount of debate.

At the very least, with a sitting state legislator offering racially based preferential hiring for a statewide ballot measure, there’s a good chance that others with far more knowledge on the topic may take a deeper look at the nuances of what is and what is not allowed.

Last week after purposely avoiding as much contact as I could with the outside world over the last several months, my household got an unexpected visitor when COVID showed up on my doorstep, banishing my youngest son and I to the basement, separating us from my wife and youngest daughter on the upper side of the stairwell. My oldest son abandoned the house entirely and pushed across the town avoiding all of us.

I think I have a comparatively mild case, strictly body aches and low grade fever. I did pick up some chest issues yesterday where I went in, so I could be checked out. I think it was mainly the cheap oxygen monitor that I had gotten, but better safe than sorry. They said I look good on paper and sent me home with some preventative medicine.

Although as a result, I do find myself back in the ER again today.. but not for a bad thing. My doctor called this morning and said that she thought I was a good candidate for the experimental infusion treatment.

Apparently you cannot have received oxygen or been hospitalized or vaccinated yet. It’s meant to try to prevent hospitalization. Supposedly it pumps you full of antibodies.

They did mention that there’s no charge for the medicine itself because it’s experimental.  Free experimental medicine? Sure…I’m go for a little medical experimentation.. why is my foot tingling?

Seriously, I did talk to one person who had a family member who received infusion who was miserably ill, and less than two days later this 90-year-old person was up baking cookies and feeling better than they had in years. So I’m hopeful this has me on the mend and maybe un-banished to “the home hot zone” a little sooner.

Can’t post without mentioning that I’ve received great care & service from the medical community at Avera Clinic & Brookings Health System. They have truly been outstanding.