From facebook:
AFP-SD Deputy Director Jennifer Beving is on facebook apparently demanding local control of schools in all decision making. Does that mean they going to hand a legislator a bill to introduce to walk that walk?
Just asking.
Nonprofit Leader James Oppenheimer Launches Campaign for Sioux Falls City Council At Large
Sioux Falls, SD – September 3, 2025 – Community leader James Oppenheimer today announced his candidacy for Sioux Falls City Council At Large in the June 2, 2026 election.
“I am excited to share that I am running for Sioux Falls City Council At Large. With experience leading major nonprofits in our city, I am ready to bring positive, people-focused leadership to City Hall,” Oppenheimer said.
Oppenheimer currently serves as CEO of the Sioux Falls Family YMCA and previously led the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society and Dakota Alliance Soccer Club. Across these roles, he has managed multimillion-dollar budgets, led teams of more than 200 employees, and served thousands of children, families, and animals each year.
Oppenheimer’s campaign is focused on building a city where families can thrive, with three key priorities:
“I believe in collaboration, transparency, and building a city that is welcoming for all. As someone who became a citizen by choice, this community means everything to me, and I want to serve it well,” Oppenheimer added.
Current At-Large City Councilwoman Sarah Cole, who is not seeking re-election, will serve as chair of Oppenheimer’s campaign. “It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Sioux Falls, and I am deeply grateful for the trust they have placed in me. James is exactly the kind of steady, service-minded leader Sioux Falls needs on the City Council. I have watched him lead organizations that touch thousands of lives, and I know he will bring that same integrity, collaboration, and results-driven focus to City Hall.” said Cole.
For more information, visit www.JamesForSiouxFalls.com
Gov. Rhoden Seeks Public Input on District 16 Vacancy
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden requested public input on filling the District 16 House of Representatives vacancy, which includes the counties of Lincoln, Turner, and Union.
This seat was formerly held by Representative Richard Vasgaard, whose leadership will be deeply missed. He served in the South Dakota State House of Representatives from 2021 to 2022, and again in 2025. Governor Rhoden previously lowered flags statewide to honor Representative Vasgaard’s life.
Those wishing to be considered for the vacancy in the House of Representatives, or to offer nominations, should email ryan.brunner@state.sd.us. Nominations should include the candidate’s name, current physical address, resume, cover letter, and letters of recommendation. All nomination materials must be submitted by Sunday, September 7, 2025.
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State Representative, Majority Whip, and complete idiot Brandi Schaefbauer apparently doesn’t have the common sense to quit digging when she already finds herself in a hole over a video podcast she did where she came off appearing to be a fringe conspiracist.
And in a featured article at the Aberdeen Insider, Schaefbauer gets the shovel and keeps on digging as she Brandei-splains how her comments were ‘taken out of context.’
“We have all been promised that something is going to happen, and we get this little … nugget and then it’s a pacifier for us. Well, no, I think the way things are going people are so upset and they have nothing else to lose and so why not let’s just start a civil war again,” she said during that segment.
Schaefbauer said she did not call for another civil war, rather that’s something others have mentioned to her.
and..
“Why isn’t he in jail?” she said of Fauci’s handling of COVID-19 on the podcast. “He should be in jail. He should be on death row for killing millions and millions of people.”
and..
She said she wasn’t literally calling for Fauci’s execution. Most people on death row die before they are executed, she said.
“Saying he should be on death row is not outright calling for his execution because we all know how the system works,” Schaefbauer told the Insider.
and..
Schaefbauer posted Hess’s column on her Facebook page, calling it “total and utter rubbish” and noted that she is considering legal action.
She told the Insider that’s still a possibility. To her, the headline itself is defamatory and claims she called for a civil war when she didn’t. That kind of information comes up when artificial intelligence gathers online biographical information, she said.
Read the entire story here at Aberdeen insider.
I would encourage everyone to go to the Aberdeen Insider to read the story. And then to send it to everyone they know in Aberdeen with a note asking them “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING ELECTING THIS GOOFBALL?!? DON’T SEND HER BACK TO PIERRE!”
Make sure you use all capital letters too.
But otherwise, when a person – a public official, no less – says “I think the way things are going people are so upset and they have nothing else to lose and so why not let’s just start a civil war again” and then tries to claim she did not call for another civil war, and thinks the newspaper who pointed it out is being defamatory.. That’s probably going to be a bit of a stretch.
And when the same legislator declares – on video – that a public health official “should be in jail. He should be on death row,” and that they weren’t actually calling for his execution.. because “Most people on death row die before they are executed..”
Well, most people with a lick of sense would put down the shovel, because the hole Brandei has made for herself in is deep enough. But somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen.
One of South Dakota’s worst legislators, State Representative “DJ Jazzy” Jordan, the legislator who either lives in his mom’s or his nana’s basement depending on who you ask, is out on facebook today whining about overbearing government control in our schools:
Because you know, COVID and stuff..
Yet interestingly, Rep. Jordan makes no mention of his own efforts to dictate what should happen in schools, which include sponsoring a bill which tried to mandate big ten commandment posters be put up in all classrooms, with teachers required to include instruction including the commandments handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai in their curriculum, such as when they teach welding or swim class.
I’m not sure what smacks more of “government control,” telling kids they can’t bring cell phones into classrooms because they’re distracting, or that “Thou shalt not commit adultery” when trying to join 2 pieces of metal at a 45 degree angle?
That’s kind of a head scratcher.
Republican donors… (or at least former ones) around South Dakota are receiving a fundraising letter from the SDGOP which.. well, it’s really not that good. At all. I’m not sure if it was written by monkeys banging randomly on typewriter keys, but there’s that possibility.
In case you didn’t get one of these.. Just a few things I caught.
First off, the letter isn’t coming from South Dakota. Despite numerous options, please take note of the postal permit, as they spent the party’s coin from South Dakota donors with a mail vendor out of Arizona:
That takes us to the letter itself, which they didn’t bother to mail merge. Instead, coldly addressing it to something about as heart warming as ‘dear occupant,’ except going to ‘dear fellow patriot.’ Which apparently former 32-year Democrat and Obama supporter Jim Eschenbaum now must consider himself.
From here we get into a letter which is just rife with grammatical errors and a misspelling or two. Not to mention that it is jammed in there & very poorly laid out.
Interesting how they claim to need funding for their ‘most critical programs.’ Strategic Newsletters and Public Relations? Well, we all know that they certainly haven’t done a newsletter for quite some time. And I can’t wait to see how they handle ‘candidate recruitment,’ or ‘voter education and community outreach.’
Or what about their “voter education mail program?” As in “what voter education mail program?” They haven’t had any money to do any educational mailings since the funding dried up 2 years ago.
I do knowing that my member code is “PB25111” in the lower right corner of page 2. Because I had someone else send me the copy of the letter that they received.
HEY! Their member code is also PB25111! That’s MY code! Someone should check on that. I think there may be an error, and I wouldn’t want my donation to get mixed up with theirs.
One of the weirdest things about the letter is that it says nothing about the current leaders of the state. Nothing about Senators Thune or Rounds. Nothing about Congressman Dusty Johnson. Nothing even about Governor Rhoden. Supporting candidates is WHY people donate (correction used to donate) to the Republican Party. Yet, they don’t seem to know their names, eschewing any mention of them in favor of their own self-importance.
Speaking of a false sense of self-importance, please note that former 32-year Democrat Jim Eschenbaum’s name is on every piece of paper in the fundraising packet. Even the return envelope! …because someone thinks people care about that, or in case someone missed it the other three times?
By any stretch of the imagination, this fundraising letter just plain sucks. It claims activities that just aren’t happening, as well as things that they haven’t done so far, so we shouldn’t expect them to start doing them anytime soon.
We’ll know at some point whether it was effective enough to make the money back that it cost them to send it out. I tend to doubt that’s going to happen with their Arizona letter.
Gov. Rhoden to Visit Chamberlain and Oacoma on Open for Opportunity Tour
PIERRE, S.D. – Tomorrow, Governor Larry Rhoden will bring his Open for Opportunity tour to Chamberlain and Oacoma.
Governor Rhoden will stop by Dignity: Of Earth & Sky, an iconic tourism monument designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor South Dakota’s tribal history.
Governor Rhoden will also support the development of our students by touring St. Joseph’s Indian School, meeting with Chamberlain Superintendent Justin Zajic, and participating in Chamberlain Elementary’s backpack program, which packs backpacks for low-income students in the district.
In Oacoma, Governor Rhoden will highlight our thriving tourism industry by visiting the historic Al’s Oasis.
WHAT: Governor Larry Rhoden to visit Chamberlain and Oacoma on Open for Opportunity tour
WHEN: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
WHERE: Chamberlain, SD; Oacoma, SD
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Johnson Recognized for Outstanding Hospitality Shown to South Dakota Visitors to Our Nation’s Capital
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) received the Congressional Management Foundation’s (CMF) Best of Constituent Experience in D.C. award. This award recognizes offices that go above and beyond to make their constituents feel welcomed and cared for during their trip to Washington, D.C. Only one Republican and one Democrat office are selected in each award category.
This marks Johnson’s third Democracy Award. Johnson’s office previously won the 2021 award for Constituent Accountability and Accessibility. In 2023, Johnson’s office received the Outstanding Constituent Service award.
“Serving the people of South Dakota does not stop at our state’s borders,” said Johnson. “My D.C. office is full of South Dakotans who are sure to provide exceptional service to our visitors in our nation’s capital.”
“This award recognizes the importance of making every constituent visit to Capitol Hill meaningful and welcoming,” said Jen Daulby, CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation. “Rep. Dusty Johnson’s dedication to hospitality, responsiveness, and engagement sets a high standard for providing an exceptional constituent experience.”
Johnson’s office has welcomed nearly 5,000 visitors to Capitol Hill and given nearly 950 tours since January 2022, when the Capitol reopened to tours after COVID-19. Johnson has personally given 53 private evening tours of the Capitol to South Dakota visitors.
Johnson leads a private evening tour of the U.S. Capitol
Constituent testimonials:
“Dusty, just wanted to send a note to thank you and your staff for the time and effort in setting up such a cool D.C. experience for my family! Really appreciate everything you do at the national level for our small (but awesome) state.”
“Just wanted to say it was a pleasure to meet you and I do appreciate all your hospitality! Thank you for making this once in a lifetime trip special!”
“Alas, a big thank you for the amazing Capitol tour. We were so honored to be a part of the group to tour the Capitol at night. Representative Johnson gives a great tour – and the special opportunity to go onto the House Floor and Speaker’s Balcony made the night one to remember. Thank you and all the staff for making that a possibility. Thank you for all you do on behalf of South Dakota. We are very fortunate to have you!”
The Best of Constituent Experience in D.C. Award:
This award recognizes congressional offices that provide exceptional service to constituents who visit Capitol Hill. It celebrates the offices that go above and beyond to make constituents feel welcome, informed, and engaged during their visits. Whether it’s through effective tours, meeting coordination, or creating memorable experiences, this award honors those who take a service-oriented mindset to constituent visitation. The winner will have demonstrated outstanding hospitality, responsiveness, and dedication to creating a positive and meaningful experience for constituents on Capitol Hill.
The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 1977 dedicated to strengthening Congress and building trust in its work with and for the American people. CMF works to revitalize Congress as an institution; promoting best practices in congressional offices; and helps Congress and the people they represent engage in a constructive and inclusive dialogue toward a thriving American democracy.
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Johnson Pledges to Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom
Sioux Falls, S.D. – Today, gubernatorial candidate and Congressman Dusty Johnson committed to banning cell phones during K-12 instructional time. South Dakota is one of 17 states that has failed to take statewide action to address cell phone use in schools.
“We must be laser focused on student achievement. Getting cell phones out of classrooms will move us in the right direction,” said Johnson. “We are falling behind other countries, including China. Removing the constant temptation, distraction, and hidden dangers of cell phones will better prepare our students to compete and win.”
As governor, Johnson will work with public school districts to implement policies that prohibit cell phone access by students during instructional time. Decisions regarding exemptions and enforcement will be made at the local level.
“The next 20 years could be the best years South Dakota has ever had, and making sure our kids are ready for the challenges ahead is a key part of ensuring our state’s success,” Johnson continued. “Numerous school districts in South Dakota have led by example, and it’s time for us to implement their best practices statewide.”
According to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, 72% of U.S. high school teachers say cell phone distraction is a major problem in the classroom. A more recent survey states 74% of U.S. adults support banning middle and high school students from using cell phones during class. Numerous studies have shown more than a 5% increase in student test scores when cell phone bans are implemented.
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It appears that State Representative Jon Hansen is having a bad weekend as the measure he led this last session, House Bill 1184, was ruled unconstitutional by the US District Court in a decision that was handed down this last Friday:
50829.Order.granting.permanent.injunction by Pat Powers
This action is a permanent injunction blocking its enforcement, unless the state appeals further.
There’s a particular passage in the decision from Judge Camela Theeler (a Republican, before you start throwing stones) that got my attention:
The Court is not persuaded that the State has tied HB 1184’s nine month deadline to the State’s regulatory interest in protecting the integrity and reliability of the initiative process. While the Legislature ultimately agreed to change the filing deadline to nine months, the impetus of HB 1184 was Speaker Hansen’s inability to have a trial on the challenge to Amendment G prior to the election. But Speaker Hansen was acting as an interested person on behalf of Life Defense Fund in that litigation, not as a government actor.
Read that on Page 14.
I know somewhere I’ve read about those concerns questioning exactly who Hansen is representing in Pierre …
Stay tuned.