Category: Uncategorized

Yesterday, as quickly as GOP Gubernatorial Jon Hansen could tap it out, the SDGOP was re-posting his attack on the Summit Carbon Pipeline and carbon sequestration in general.

While it might play to a very narrow group of individuals, neither seem to care that their cheerleading is a direct attack on President Trump’s energy innovation agenda:

Under President Donald J. Trump, America is back — leveraging environmental policies rooted in reality to promote economic growth while maintaining the standards that have afforded Americans the cleanest air and water in the world for generations.

Unlike the previous administration, which wasted billions of taxpayer dollars on virtue signaling and ineffective grifts, the Trump Administration’s policies are rooted in the belief that Americans are the best stewards of our vast natural resources — no “Green New Scam” required.

Here are key actions President Trump is taking on the environment:

President Trump is promoting energy innovation for a healthier future.

By supporting cutting-edge technologies like carbon capture and storage, nuclear energy, and next-generation geothermal, the Trump Administration is ensuring America leads in both energy production and environmental innovation — producing the cleanest energy in the world. Moreover, by ending the Biden-era pause on liquefied natural gas export approvals, the U.S. is sharing cleaner energy with allies, reducing global emissions, and creating American jobs — building on President Trump’s first-term successes, where the U.S. led the world in greenhouse gas emission reductions.

SDGOP Chair Jim Eschenbaum – an Obama voter & 32 year Democrat – and Jon Hansen should read President Trump’s Energy Innovation Agenda here.

Big questions that Republicans should ask about party leadership and those who think they can sit in the big chair on the second floor – are they following President Trump’s agenda? Or are they anti-Trumpers who are going to be attacking the president and trying to stop his energy innovation agenda in South Dakota?

Another reminder that Republican faithful in the state really need to take a look at the people they’re putting in charge of the Republican Party.

KELOland has an extensive interview posted with United States Sen. Mike Rounds, who appears to be on course for another term in Washington.

Rounds is focused on resolving some of the issues with how DOGE is operating, it is very clear that he is not planning on returning to the governors chair in Pierre:

“I gotta tell you, a lot of the messages that’s come out of DOGE or out of the different agencies has been pretty raw and really not very nice in terms of saying ‘you’re done’ or ‘we don’t need you anymore,’” Rounds said during a one-on-one interview with KELOLAND News. “Very inappropriate, in terms of the way that they’ve shown some disrespect for a lot of our, either people that are operating through grants or people that are operating, have been good employees for years. So, we try to respond and go back and say, let’s make sure, number one, that there hasn’t been a mistake made.”

and..

Santella: Are you considering a run for the governor’s office?

“I am not,” Rounds said. “I looked at it. I seriously looked at that because honestly, look, it’s the greatest job in the world.”

Read (and watch) the entire interview here:

From the University of Nebraska, NSU President Neal Schnoor who arrived in 2021 is already looking for greener pastures:

The University of Nebraska System has named Dr. Neal H. Schnoor – president of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota – as the priority candidate for chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

A Nebraska native – born in Norfolk and raised in Pierce – first-generation college student and former long-time UNK faculty member and administrator, Schnoor brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education leadership, instruction and strategic planning.

and..

Dr. Schnoor has served as President of Northern State University since 2021, where he led the development of a five-year strategic plan, implemented academic restructuring to drive innovation and growth, and secured major legislative funding for academic facilities and program expansion—including a new Business and Health Innovation Center and a collaborative nursing program. Under his leadership, NSU also increased private fundraising, launched new academic and co-curricular initiatives, and strengthened student support services and community partnerships.

Read the entire story here.

Flags at Half-Staff in Honor of His Holiness Pope Francis

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden ordered that flags be flown at half-staff statewide effective immediately as a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025.

Flags will remain at half-staff until the day of Pope Francis’ interment, which will be announced at a later date.

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Dakota Scout is reporting that US Senator and Majority Leader John Thune’s chief of staff is leaving to join Sanford Health’s team:

The longtime chief of staff for Sen. John Thune is leaving the office to join Sanford Health, Sanford’s President and CEO Bill Gassen announced Tuesday.

Ryan Nelson will join the health system as senior executive advisor to the CEO. He joins Sanford after a 28-year career with Thune that started when Thune represented the state in the U.S. House of Representatives. Nelson was with Thune during his long march from the House to the Senate leadership. That culminated last November when the GOP caucus in the Senate voted to make Thune its party leader.

Read the entire story here.

Congratulations to Ryan in his new role with Sanford. He spent a lot of years with Senator Thune, and they’ve been good years with steady leadership at the wheel.

Retiring Lobbyist David Owen is profiled in South Dakota Searchlight, and in his twilight years of promoting the interests of industry and commerce in Pierre is noting that the Capitol is a much more hostile place than it used to be:

Owen said Pierre’s deeply divided political environment, particularly among Republicans, is one where policy debates turn personal. He describes it as “a cancer in the system.”

“We used to have battles, take the vote, then go on and see each other at dinner. Those days are gone,” Owen said.

and..

This year, I was talking to some of the freshmen legislators who had never served before….

…I heard more about concerns about “society” and how they thought they could help straighten out “the culture” by being in the Legislature. That’s a big task. That brings you to introducing things like school vouchers. That brings you to thinking the Ten Commandments in every classroom will help structure a moral code that will solve some of these social problems.

Read the entire story here.

District 32 State Senator Helene Duhamel is one of the nicest people in state politics. Unfortunately, 32 years after beating cancer a first time, she is facing a battle against cancer again.

Please keep Helene in your prayers as she and her family face this once again, as well hope for the best.

You know, this doesn’t sounds like anything the nuns taught us at St. Joe’s in Pierre, as some of the fringe hard right celebrates the death of the pope claiming it will signal “the end of the corruption of the Catholic church over the 20th century.”  

Who in their right mind thinks like this?

CNN is reporting that former Governor Kristi Noem was a victim to a thief in a DC restaurant this weekend, as her purse was stolen:

The Secret Service, which provides security for Noem, reviewed security camera footage at the restaurant and saw an unknown white male wearing a medical mask steal her bag and leave the restaurant.

The thief got away with Noem’s driver’s license, medication, apartment keys, passport, DHS access badge, makeup bag, blank checks, and about $3,000 in cash, the law enforcement source said.

Read the entire story here.

I would not want to be that guy when they catch up to him.  And a good reminder to be on your guard in that town, as Washington DC is a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Thune Statement on Pope Francis

 “He dedicated himself to spreading the Good News with joy, and he will be remembered as a humble servant of God and a man of great compassion for those in need.”

 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement:

 “Pope Francis led a life of faithful witness to the Gospel,” said Thune. “He dedicated himself to spreading the Good News with joy, and he will be remembered as a humble servant of God and a man of great compassion for those in need. May he rest in peace and receive his reward.”

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