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From the Washington Examiner, South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds has apparently lent his endorsement to South Carolina Senator Tim Scott in his pursuit of the White House over other contenders, such as Ron DeSantis or Donald Trump:

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) has committed to backing his fellow Republican colleague Tim Scott (R-SC) as he prepares to launch a run for the White House in 2024.

Rounds has offered effusive praise for the South Carolina senator in recent days and on Wednesday revealed his endorsement in an interview with the Washington Examiner. He is the first senator to support the nascent campaign of Scott, who is expected to launch his candidacy in his hometown of North Charleston on Monday.

“I do,” the senator said when asked if he plans on endorsing Scott. “I’ve already told him I would.”

“I think he is the closest to Ronald Reagan that you’re going to see,” Rounds added.

and..

Rounds has pushed back on the former president’s rhetoric and his claims that the 2020 election was stolen. He signaled Scott’s message of optimism could resonate among a primary electorate that has in the past gravitated to the brawler persona of Trump.

Read the entire story here.

AG Jackley Joins Letter Urging Protection of Title IX

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined Attorneys Generals from 15 other states in urging the Biden Administration to uphold Title IX protections for women and girls.

In their letters to the U.S. Department of Education, the Attorneys General voiced their opposition to the federal agency’s proposal that would strip states of their power to prevent biological males from competing in female sports.

“This is both a states’ right and privacy issue for females who are forced to compete against males in the same sport,” said Attorney General Jackley. “This proposal, if approved, would threaten the progress that Title IX has made in protecting women and girls for the past 50 years.”

Attorney General Jackley joined Attorneys General from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia in voicing support for the Women’s Bill of Rights.

The Women’s Bill of Rights can found here: https://womensbillofrights.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgZPir-36_gIVuBWtBh1oRAqTEAAYASAAEgLPNPD_BwE

Gov. Noem and Colleagues Work to Secure Southern Border

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD) joined her fellow Republican governors in committing to continuing their efforts to secure our Southern border. The federal government’s recent decision to allow Title 42 to expire is expected to lead to record numbers of migrants being admitted into the U.S.

“While the federal government has abdicated its duties, Republican governors stand ready to protect the U.S.-Mexico border and keep families safe,” said Governor Noem and her colleagues. “Every state is a border state. All states have suffered from the effects of human trafficking and deadly illegal drugs coming across the border. Republican governors are leading the way to address the border crisis by enhancing penalties for fentanyl crimes and human trafficking while also increasing support for law enforcement.”

Governor Noem has long recognized the crisis at the border, and in 2021, she deployed South Dakota National Guard troops, helicopters, and equipment to the border in response to Governor Doug Ducey’s (R-AZ) and Governor Greg Abbott’s (R-TX) request for help. During their deployment, the South Dakota guard members personally encountered more than 6,000 individuals crossing the border illegally and witnessed firsthand the scope of the drug smuggling and human trafficking taking place. Later that year, in response to additional requests for aid, Governor Noem deployed an additional 125 members of the National Guard to the border.

In South Dakota, Governor Noem has responded to the impacts of the failure at the border by empowering law enforcement, supporting anti-trafficking organizations, and investing in new prisons and other public safety efforts.

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From Twitter:

The offices of our #ConstituentServices finalists have demonstrated excellence through specific practices that are thoroughly rooted in the office’s values and incorporated into the office’s work, re: specific, methodical, and consistent processes for achieving measurable results pic.twitter.com/6lXKdiTa8T

— CMF (@congressfdn) May 17, 2023

From the Sioux Falls School District, Dawn Marie Johnson took an early lead in the race for School Board, and never let up:

Location	Total Ballots Cast	Dawn Marie Johnson	Nick Zachariasen	Brian Mattson
Peace Lutheran Church (1-1)	578	368	0	210
Memorial Middle School (1-2)	670	432	3	235
Career & Tech Ed Academy (1-3)	135	87	0	48
Maricar Community Center (1-4)	104	53	1	50
Oyate Community Center (1-5)	194	128	3	63
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (1-6)	401	276	1	124
First Lutheran Church (1-7)	505	412	1	92
Wesley United Methodist Church (1-8)	131	90	0	41
Kenny Anderson Community Center (1-9)	319	223	0	96
Morningside Community Center (1-10)	807	556	1	250
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (1-11)	643	436	2	205
Faith Baptist Church (1-12)	726	429	4	293
Instructional Planning Center (1-13)	1,266	990	3	273
Absentee Center (1-14)	1,172	925	1	246
Totals	7,651	5,405	20	2,226

Johnson seemed to have broad based support across party lines, while Mattson focused much of his energy in running as the Republican in the race.  As one resident put to me, “this was the first candidate under the Tornow regime” (as leader of the Minnehaha Co GOP) and the Republican candidate was beaten badly, on a 2-1 basis.

If this was a race that area Republicans were supporting, they didn’t show up.  But, I think it was less the focus on Republican identity than it was simply name identification.  Johnson raised and spent 3-4 times the amount Mattson was able to muster, which gave Dawn Marie Johnson the ability to get her name in front of far more people.

Big stats to keep in mind…

In a race where turnout was 6%, the race was less about ideology, and more about bringing your voters to the polls, which Dawn Marie Johnson managed to do.

I haven’t met Johnson, but Brian Mattson is certainly a nice person, and I’d encourage him to give it another go in the future.

Johnson Introduces Bill to Protect Land of Wounded Knee Massacre

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act to preserve a section of the land where hundreds of Lakota Indians were massacred by the U.S. Army.

“The Wounded Knee Massacre is a stain on our nation’s history,” said Johnson. “The Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act provides greater tribal sovereignty to this sacred tribal land. Memorializing the Lakota lives lost will ensure this site remains sacred for generations to come.”

Specifically, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act places the purchased land into restricted fee status to be held by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Restricted fee status allows the tribes to own the land outright, while also keeping protections in place, such as a restriction on alienation and taxation from any state or local government. In September 2022, both tribes purchased the field where an old trading post was located. On October 21st, 2022, the tribes signed a covenant, stating that this property shall be held and maintained as a memorial and sacred site without any development.

This bill states that the land will continue to be owned by both tribes, subject to civil and criminal jurisdiction of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, may not be sold without the consent of Congress and both tribes, and is not subject to taxation by any state or local government. This land currently resides within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation’s boundaries.

“We the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe view the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre as one of the most atrocious acts of genocide against the innocent 350 Lakota children, women, and men who were brutally attacked and murdered after being disarmed by the United States Seventh Calvary. It is with great respect to those that came before us and those that will come after us that fuels our work to continue to create a stronger Lakota Nation. We are proud descendants of our Lakota ancestors, and we will never forget their sacrifices for us to be here today. We extend a heartfelt thank you to Congressional Representative Johnson and Staff for diligently working to bring the truth to light in honor of the original stewards of the sacred lands. We stand in strong solidarity in memorializing this sacred site, that will be honored as such forever more,” said the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Ryman LeBeau, Manny & Renee Iron Hawk (Hawk 1890) Wounded Knee Survivor Descendants.

“We must remember the sacrifices our ancestors have suffered for us. What happened at Wounded Knee is a reminder that we as a Oyate (people) have succumbed incredible odds to survive, so we must honor our ancestors by preserving the land for future generations to come,” said Ogalala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out.

Read full bill text here. Find the Covenant between both tribes here. Find the map here.

Wounded Knee Massacre Background:

In the late 1880s, a movement called the Ghost Dance swept across the nation. Indians believed that this dance would give stolen land back to the Indians, bringing about a renewal of Native society. Indians would join together, wearing shirts they believed would protect them from bullets, to dance for this renewal, all at the protest of the federal government.

On December 29th, 1890, a group of Lakota Indians led by Chief Spotted Elk had made camp near Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. There, U.S. Army 7th Calvary troops were sent to disarm the Lakota. A struggle occurred between the U.S. Army and some of Chief Spotted Elk’s band – a majority of which consisted of women and children. A shot rang out, and the U.S. Army opened fire on the largely unarmed group, massacring an estimated up to 350-375 Lakota Indians. Twenty-five U.S. soldiers also died.

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Gov. Noem Leads Letter Opposing the Chinese Communist Party

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem led a letter with three of her fellow Republican governors to Mortimer Buckley, Chief Executive Officer of Vanguard. The letter encourages Vanguard to create an index fund that excludes China. You can read the letter here.

“As governors, we are responsible for protecting our people and recognizing financial security plays a significant role in their lives and livelihoods,” wrote Governor Noem and her colleagues. “We are deeply committed to ensuring that our state investments deliver the highest possible returns while insulating our states from financial risk. Such financial risk can often come from external factors and threats to our nation’s financial security – including the risk posed by the Chinese Communist Party.”

In response to earlier correspondence from Governor Noem, Vanguard indicated that it was exploring the option of creating a new emerging markets fund that excludes any investments in China.

In addition, Governor Noem sent a letter to the South Dakota Investment Council asking them to take advantage of such a product if it becomes available. The letter encourages the Investment Council to consider other asset managers in the meantime.

The Chinese Communist Party is increasing its efforts to infiltrate the Unites State by:

• Purchasing significantly more American land, particularly farmland, in order to control our food supply and collect critically important intelligence information in the process;
• Invading the homes of 150 million monthly active TikTok users in the United States and using the app to collect data off of our people’s devices;
• Brazenly sending a spy balloon across the American homeland with the intent of gathering intelligence on American military installations; and,
• Gaining entry, under the guise of diplomatic missions and exchange programs, into our universities, governments, and private sector institutions in an orchestrated attempt to manipulate our day-to-day lives.

“Because of these and other security threats, our states are looking for options to invest our taxpayer dollars in a way that does not financially benefit the Chinese Communist Party.” continued Governor Noem and the other governors. “We appreciate Vanguard’s attention to this matter and look forward to seeing how you are able to once again lead the industry through your attention to this critically important issue.”

Governor Noem was joined by the following Republican governors in issuing the statement:

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

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According to reports, former South Dakota Secretary of State Shantel Krebs, who lost the 2018 Republican Congressional Primary to Dusty Johnson, has recently been named the interim leader of Avera St. Mary’s in Pierre.

Former state lawmaker and Secretary of State Shantel Krebs has been named the interim leader of Avera St. Mary’s hospital in Pierre.

and..

Krebs served in both the House and Senate of the South Dakota legislature from 2005 to 2015.  She served as Secretary of State from 2015 to 2019.

Feller did not say if Krebs, who previous lived outside Fort Pierre, would be moving to the area or working in the interim role remotely.

Read the story here.

Clarifying language as it relates to South Dakota’s abortion law for the life/health of the mother will be coming back in 2024, according to sponsors of a measure that was withdrawn in 2023, after opposition from representatives of South Dakota Right to Life – the same group which is campaigning to prevent a ballot measure enshrining abortion rights in the constitution from being placed on the ballot.

In an article in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader today…

House Assistant Majority Leader Taylor Rehfeldt introduced a bill during the 2023 legislative session that would have redefined when physicians can intervene to end a pregnancy, hoping to clarify the issue for physicians. But she requested a committee table it because she didn’t believe there was enough support to pass the bill — mostly due to opposition from the anti-abortion group South Dakota Right to Life.

A second, last-minute attempt to clarify the definition by Sen. Erin Tobin, R-Winner, was also halted later in the session. She asked the group’s executive director, Dale Bartscher, during a committee hearing about clarifying the health of the mother exception in the future.

“Right to Life definitely will continue to collaborate with anyone on issues of protection of the mother and the baby in the mother’s womb,” Bartscher said.

“Wonderful,” Tobin responded. “It seems like it’s a very high priority in this statement. I’ll be expecting further work on that.”

Rehfeldt has vowed to bring the bill back to the Legislature in 2024 — which will likely be months before South Dakotans vote on whether to amend the state constitution to allow abortions in the first trimester.

Read the entire story here.

 

Whoof! During the public input tonight at the City Council meeting in Aberdeen, the first person on the agenda was Bob Braun, Superintendent of the Aberdeen Water Treatment plant since 2017.. and an employee there for the last 13 years.

And in a show of fireworks, he absolutely unloaded on the Aberdeen City Council, and as far as I could tell, especially the city Manager, expressing that the water treatment “plant is ready to fail,” among other problems.

From Hub City Radio, go to 3:10 in the video, and get ready to watch the show.

During the video, about at 5:30, he explains how in November of 2020 he caught an employee faking lab work. And after reporting it, he was not allowed to take any action. And as he claims, water tests have been faked to this day.

He also went through a litany of employee issues that he was not allowed to take any action on, as well as delays that increased costs for taxpayers, because they were held for no discernible reason.  He also explained how he was denied the ability to get surgery by his employer.

It culminated in his giving his notice to the city as a man fed up with his work situation.

It will be interesting to see what kind of ripples this sets off with the city residents, and whether anyone digs into it further.

Water tests have been faked since 2017? I wonder if Aberdeen will see a run on bottled water.