Category: Uncategorized

Watching Governor Noem’s live confirmation hearing, and interestingly, while no one is surprised that she’s flanked by her husband Bryon,  on her other side is someone who had left South Dakota, former South Dakota Republican Party Executive Director Madison Sheahan in a front row seat.

Sheahan had left South Dakota a year ago to become the Louisiana Secretary of Wildlife and Fisheries, so it’s interesting that she’s attending Governor Noem confirmation hearing in a front row seat.

Rounds Calls on Biden Administration to Provide Immediate Public Safety Resources to the Oglala Sioux Tribe

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of the Department of Interior Deb Haaland asking them to address the public safety crisis on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) is responding to an increased number of calls for help related to disproportionately high levels of violent crime. The OST Department of Public Safety receives as many as 166,000 calls for assistance per year with just 33 officers on hand to respond. In addition, OST is running out of room to house offenders once they’re brought in. With all of this in mind, tribal leaders have declared an extended state of emergency on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Despite repeated calls to honor their trust obligations, federal government leaders have failed to effectively or substantially address the issue.

“While tribal officials have dealt with public safety issues for several years, a recent series of violent crimes has created a desperate situation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation,” wrote Rounds. “The OST Department of Public Safety is critically understaffed and under-resourced, and federal assistance is essential to safeguard lives and restore order.”

“Throughout the past two years, tribal leaders have asked federal law enforcement officials for assistance on numerous occasions,” continued Rounds. “Despite these efforts, there has been no substantial federal response to the public safety crisis. I encourage federal law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and decisively to address this crisis.”

Read the full letter HERE or below.

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Dear Attorney General Garland and Secretary Haaland,

The Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) is experiencing a serious breakdown in law and order. While tribal officials have dealt with public safety issues for several years, a recent series of violent crimes has created a desperate situation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The OST Department of Public Safety is critically understaffed and under-resourced, and federal assistance is essential to safeguard lives and restore order. Therefore, I urge federal officials to take any necessary steps to help reduce violent crime on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the OST Department of Public Safety has responded to an increasing number of calls for assistance. According to tribal leaders, the OST Department of Public Safety receives as many as 166,000 calls for police services annually. With only 33 patrol officers, OST law enforcement officials are unable to effectively address serious public safety issues.

The OST Department of Public Safety is also dealing with disproportionately high levels of violent crime. While almost all of the Great Plains Region is facing a public safety crisis, residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation are encountering the highest rates of violence. According to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) crime statistics, 131 death investigations occurred on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation from 2013 to 2023.

A series of violent events on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation have put tribal members in an extremely dangerous situation. In late December, tribal officers responded to several violent crimes, including the fatal shooting of a juvenile and a double homicide. The OST Department of Corrections, already operating at full capacity, lacks the ability to house additional offenders, further compounding the crisis. As tribal law enforcement officials struggle to address public safety issues, many reservation residents are living in fear. In response to these violent events, tribal leaders declared an extended state of emergency on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

As you know, the federal trust responsibility obligates the United States to provide adequate public safety services in Indian Country. Throughout the past two years, tribal leaders have asked federal law enforcement officials for assistance on numerous occasions. Despite these efforts, there has been no substantial federal response to the public safety crisis.

The OST Department of Public Safety is in dire need of additional personnel, equipment and jail capacity. It is past time for federal officials to give this situation the attention it deserves. I encourage federal law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and decisively to address this crisis.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

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From Morning Consult, South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds was just noted as the #10 most popular US Senator in the country, based on surveys conducted October through December 2024 among a representative sample of registered voters in each state:

During this period, South Dakota’s senior US Senator, Senator and Majority Leader John Thune, was only slightly behind Rounds with a 56% job approval, and 32% job disapproval.

You can read all the ratings here at Morning Consult.

I am pleased to announce Luke Lindberg will serve as the next United States Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs at the Department of Agriculture.

During my First Term, Luke served as Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at the Export-Import Bank,…

— Trump Posts on 𝕏 (@trump_repost) January 16, 2025

Gov. Noem Announces Plan to Keep Farmers Farming 

 
PIERRE, SD – This week in her State of the State Address, Governor Kristi Noem announced a plan to keep farmers farming in South Dakota. This plan features an agreement between the State of South Dakota, the South Dakota Ag Foundation, and First Dakota National Bank to transfer First Dakota’s Keep Farmers Farming program to the South Dakota Ag Foundation. The partnership provides additional resources to the program and makes critical estate and transition planning assistance available to South Dakota ag producers.  

“We need a robust, diverse food supply, and our family farms are one of the most crucial parts of that,” said Governor Kristi Noem in her State of the State Address. “Family farms and ranches have a special connection to the land that has been in their family for generations. The partnership works with farm and ranch families on estate and transition planning. It helps our producers pass along their land and legacy to their kids and grandkids. It’s about transferring not just assets – but experience, work ethic, morals, and history to the next generation.”

As part of the agreement, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) will provide the South Dakota Ag Foundation with a one-year $200,000 grant to administer, market, and grow the program. First Dakota’s Legacy Consultant Alan Hojer, along with his existing clientele, will transfer to the Ag Foundation. There will be no loss of service for existing program participants. 

“First Dakota is proud of the Keep Farmers Farming program and the success it has had helping South Dakota producers,” said Nate Franzén, President of First Dakota’s Ag Banking Division. “As we approach the largest transfer of wealth in American history, now is the time to position the Keep Farmers Farming program for long-term success.”  

The South Dakota Ag Foundation was formed in 2015 as an independent, industry-led nonprofit comprised of South Dakota leaders dedicated to enriching agriculture for generations to come.  

“The Ag Foundation is excited about the opportunity to manage the Keep Farmers Farming Program,” said Kyle Holt, South Dakota Ag Foundation CEO. “We appreciate the state’s support as we work build on First Dakota’s success.” 

The partnership is a result of the work of an informal emerging farmer workgroup led by Governor Noem to brainstorm ideas on how the state and the ag industry can more actively support the next generation of ag producers. The group, which included young producers, ag industry representatives, state and federal agencies, ag lenders, and ag educators, met twice of over the last year. During the meetings, one need continued to rise to the surface: access to estate and transition planning technical assistance.   

“Far too often, I see family farms sold due to lack of proper estate and transition planning,” said Tyrel Eisenbraun, emerging farmer workgroup member. “Those planning decisions are complicated, and our producers need help navigating them. I look forward to the additional support the State of South Dakota will be able to provide to the Keep Farmers Farming program as it will continue to help our producers for years to come.” 

For more information on the South Dakota Ag Foundation click here. 

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Emergency Preparedness
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
January 16, 2025

 BIG Update

Over the weekend, I joined President Trump for dinner to discuss legislative plans for the next year. In just a few days, I’ll be attending his inauguration to watch him take the oath of office. I’m ready to have a president in the White House who will secure the border, project strength abroad, and unleash American energy.

President Trump and Johnson

BIG Idea

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is off to a great start. We held a hearing this week to discuss the state of America’s transportation system.

During and after natural disasters, it’s critical to continue transporting and delivering goods in a timely manner. Unfortunately, federal restrictions can slow down delivery to affected areas. My bill, the MOVE Act, would make the weight restrictions on interstates more flexible during times of emergency to ensure disaster victims get the goods and services they need.

Click here or the image above for Johnson’s remarks

We also discussed permitting regulations that need to be reformed. The permitting process for a project in Europe takes two years, while the same project in America takes seven years. I look forward to working with this committee to reform our permitting system to let America build.

Click here or the image above for Johnson’s remarks

BIG News

The Los Angeles wildfires are truly tragic. Unfortunately, California’s policies make it difficult to keep their forests healthy and decrease the risk of wildfires. We need proper forest management across America to prevent wildfires from becoming as intense as the ones in LA.

Not only that, but California’s policies have made it take exponentially longer to complete water storage projects than in other states. Communities need access to water, especially in an event like this. Emergency and disaster preparedness is of the utmost importance in high-risk areas like LA. Our local and national leaders must do better.

House Republicans are leading the charge by voting next week on the Fix our Forests Act, that I cosponsor, to cut through red tape.

Click here or the image above for Johnson’s comments

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Machine Operator & DJ Dylan Jordan in his new role as a State Representative is attacking two topics so far in his first legislative session.

First, he wants fireworks to be sold year-round.  Second, and more to the topic, he has introduced a bill to repeal South Dakota’s 30 year old seat belt law:

I supposed I should say something nice about someone actually trying to repeal something for once.. But then I wonder what that’s going to cost us in federal highway/highway safety funds?

Moving on..

Um.. Just caught this, and am wondering, are we seeing our next pandemic on the horizon?  From SDSU Extension:

Beginning in 2022, an H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (abbreviated as HPAI) virus caused death losses in domestic turkeys and chickens in South Dakota and elsewhere in the United States, an outbreak that continues. The HPAI virus causes respiratory and multiple organ failure in affected birds, typically appearing as increased numbers of dead birds in large commercial operations, as well as smaller backyard flocks. Deaths in wild birds, typically migrating waterfowl but also other bird species, have been observed at the same time, as well as spillover of the virus into mammals, such as raccoons, foxes, skunks, and other species.

and..

Since that time, three cases of substantial death losses in groups of outdoor domestic cats in South Dakota have been described. In each of these cases, there has been no apparent link to dairy cows, other livestock, or domestic poultry.

and..

Human cases of HPAI have resulted from contact with infected dairy cows and poultry. While such infections have not yet been implicated from contact with HPAI-infected cats, people should take precautions when dealing with symptomatic or dead cats.

Read the entire article here.

Representative Rehfeldt to Attend President Trump’s Inauguration

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Today, Representative Taylor Rehfeldt, Republican from District 14, announced she will travel to Washington, D.C., to support President Trump at his Inauguration as he becomes the 47th President of the United States.

“It is an honor to attend President Trump’s Inauguration. With his leadership, and Republicans in control of Congress, South Dakota is back on offense.” said Representative Rehfeldt. “I look forward to working with President Trump, his administration and Congress to raise incomes, lower costs and secure our country for the people of South Dakota.”

President Trump’s Inauguration will occur on Monday, January 20, 2025, at noon ET, on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Representative Rehfeldt is a wife, mother, and healthcare professional representing the people of District 14 in the South Dakota Legislature.

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