From facebook, State Senator Amber Hulse is on social media today joining the call from Congressman Dusty Johnson for the VA Secretary to come to Hot Springs to see the good work that the local facility does in serving veteran’s needs:
Seth Tupper at SD Searchlight has a new opinion piece roasting 2% Gubernatorial wannabe Jon Hansen’s sudden revelation of years-old information in his failed attempt to derail the prison project:
“I have confirmed,” the press release said, “that the South Dakota Department of Corrections has been using your tax dollars to provide transgender cross-sex hormones to convicted criminals in prison.”
The release went on to accuse the department of “hiding” a policy that includes a treatment committee and payments to an “East Coast college professor” for gender dysphoria services.
and..
The late onset of Hansen’s sudden interest in prison health care was peculiar, to say the least. He could’ve dug up his information and shared his claims at any time during the last several years while he was participating in prison debates.
and..
The shock is in the revelation that a legislative leader seeking the state’s top elected office tried, at the 11th hour, to derail an important public policy debate by drumming up fear about transgender people.
Read the entire roasting here.
Not a shocker that no one is buying what Hansen was trying to sell in his failed attempt to politicize his prison vote for campaign purposes.
At this point, he might want to peel the “Hansen for Governor” wrap off of the camper, and cancel the Pizza Ranch tour.
Because it’s clear to everyone at this point that his campaign isn’t going anywhere.
Rounds Introduces Legislation to Eliminate Statute of Limitations for Second Degree Murder on Federal Lands
Kamisha’s Law is named for a toddler murdered in Sisseton in 1992
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced “Kamisha’s Law,” legislation that would eliminate the statute of limitations (SOL) for certain murder charges on federal and tribal lands. The bill is named for Kamisha, a toddler who was murdered in Sisseton in 1992. Her case went unsolved for over 30 years until new evidence was entered into the record.
“Prosecution for murder should not have an expiration date,” said Rounds. “In the case of Jay Adams Jr., new evidence was not brought forward until over three decades after Kamisha was murdered. While he was prosecuted under a plea deal, this legislation rights a wrong by eliminating the statute of limitations for second degree murder on federal lands. I appreciate Kamisha’s mother Christine and her husband Roger for working with us on this legislation, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to honor Kamisha’s memory and get it across the finish line.”
“We sincerely appreciate Senator Mike Rounds, and his staff, for working diligently to affect change,” said Kamisha’s mother Christine and her husband Roger Irwin. “We would also like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of FBI Special Agent Daniel Orr and Assistant US Attorney Troy Morley. They are now truly a part of our extended family. Without their recommendations, guidance, and friendship, we would not be celebrating such a monumental change in federal law. We must never forget the ultimate sacrifice that Kamisha made to get us to where we are today. We believe Kamisha’s Law will positively impact unresolved cases of other families waiting for justice. It is also our hope that Kamisha’s Law will assist law enforcement and prosecutors with the time needed to properly investigate and prosecute similar crimes. Kamisha’s Law is an important step forward and our hope is for it to be a catalyst for positive change in other federal laws and regulations that are antiquated, insufficient, and/or deficient.”
Specifically, Kamisha’s Law will remove the statute of limitations for non-capital homicide offenses on federal or tribal land. This will include second-degree murder, as well as murder of federal officials. Congress has previously recognized the seriousness of such crimes, abolishing statutes of limitations for first-degree murder as well as child sexual abuse and abduction offenses in 2003 and 2006. Technological advancements in forensics make it increasingly possible to solve murder cases decades later.
BACKGROUND
In 1992, in Roberts County, South Dakota, a 23-month-old was found brutally murdered at home in her bed. For more than three decades, this crime remained unresolved until new witness testimony in 2023 led to a long-overdue prosecution of Jay Adams Jr.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota hoped to pursue charges under the Major Crimes Act, which mandates federal jurisdiction over violent felonies committed in Indian Country. However, the applicable SOL for second-degree murder on federal lands had expired.
Adams elected to waive the SOL as part of a plea deal and in turn pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter. In June 2024, Adams was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Read more about this case HERE.
Click HERE for full bill text.
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Attorney General Jackley Joins AG Letter Urging U.S Senate to Pass Funding Extension
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined a coalition of 26 Attorneys Generals in urging the U.S. Senate to pass the clean, short-term funding extension that has already been approved by the U.S. House.
In their letter to the Senate leadership, the Attorneys General said the continuing resolution keeps the government functioning at current levels and give the parties time to negotiate a more permanent agreement.
“We need to make sure that those who keep us safe are paid and that there are still funds available for grants used by state and local law enforcement and first responders,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Congress, especially the Senate Democrats who have pledged to oppose this resolution, needs to do its job and keep our government open. We can’t play games with our security.”
Other Attorneys General who have signed the letter are from: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.
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Gov. Rhoden and Colleagues Urge Congress to Prevent Government Shutdown
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden and 24 fellow governors wrote Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, urging them to prevent a government shutdown by passing a clean short-term funding extension. You can find the letter here.
“A shutdown is neither sustainable nor a responsible way to govern, and the American people understand that. That is why we are calling on Senate Democrats to fulfill their duties, put their politicking behind, and do what’s best for the country: keep the government open,” wrote Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. “The proposed budget extension is a straightforward, bipartisan solution. There are no gimmicks or partisan poison pills; it’s a clean, short-term funding measure that both parties have historically supported.”
This clean short-term funding extension, which would extend the current funding deadline of September 30th, passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support and awaits Senate approval.
“Holding the federal government funding hostage is not just a Washington D.C. debate for political points, it has real and immediate consequences in every state across America that cannot be overlooked,” continued Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. “From impacting pay for our troops, first responders, and firefighters, to affecting critical services for seniors and veterans and disrupting food assistance for families in need, a government shutdown would inflict severe consequences on the American people that are completely avoidable. We urge the Senate to do the right thing and act swiftly to pass a clean funding extension.”
Governor Rhoden was joined in signing the letter by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Indiana Governor Mike Braun, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.
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A Win for District 19 — and for South Dakota’s Future
The South Dakota Legislature convened on Tuesday for a Special Session to address one of the persistent challenges facing the state the past couple of years: overcrowding and unsafe conditions in the Sioux Falls penitentiary building. After months of studying, hearings, and debate, and a task force, lawmakers approved the construction of a new state prison that will replace the century-old State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. For your District 19 Legislators, this decision is more than a policy vote; it is a victory for public safety, correctional officers, inmates, and South Dakota taxpayers. It is a generational investment in public safety.
Why a New Prison Is Needed
The State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls was built 144 years ago, during a time when the region was still known as Dakota Territory. Today, it holds nearly double the number of inmates it was designed for, pushing the system beyond its breaking point. Overcrowding has made it challenging to manage violent offenders safely, strained correctional staff, and sidelined the rehabilitation programs that give inmates a chance to turn their lives around. This affects District 19 because offenders who should not be placed in a facility like Mike Durfee get sent there due to overcrowding, putting the correction officers and other inmates at risk. Every day of delay risked further violence, understaffing, and deteriorating conditions.
What This Means for Springfield and District 19
While the new prison will be built to replace the State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, its impact will be felt directly in Springfield. The Mike Durfee State Prison has faced its own overcrowding pressures as inmates have been shifted around the system. By building a larger, safer, more modern facility to house high-risk offenders, the state will relieve the burden on Springfield and ensure that Mike Durfee can operate more effectively. It will also allow for renovations to our facility that were not possible due to overcrowding.
For correctional officers in Springfield, this means safer conditions and less strain from overcrowding. For inmates, it means a better chance at rehabilitation programs, vocational training, and re-entry services. For the community, it ensures that Springfield continues to play a vital role in South Dakota corrections while also safeguarding the well-being of local families.
A Responsible, Balanced Investment
This project represents the most significant investment in public safety in South Dakota’s history — with a guaranteed maximum price of $650 million. And yes, it will cost money. But it is a wise investment for the safety of our people, communities, and state. The total cost is capped at $650 million, and unlike many large-scale projects, South Dakota will pay the entire amount in cash. For the past four years, the legislature has deliberately set aside funds for this moment, even creating the Incarceration Construction Fund to accrue interest and strengthen the state’s financial position, reducing the state’s overall cost. That foresight means there will be no borrowing, no debt, and no long-term burden on taxpayers.
Just as importantly, the project includes strong safeguards: the construction manager at risk assumes responsibility for any cost overruns, and every subcontract will be competitively rebid to ensure fair pricing. In short, this investment will not exceed $650 million, and it will deliver a safer, more effective correctional system that respects taxpayer dollars.
District 19 Leadership
As your District 19 legislators, we know that this vote is not just about bricks, mortar, and concrete. It’s about protecting families, respecting taxpayers, and ensuring that law enforcement, correctional officers, and inmates alike have the tools and environment needed for safety and rehabilitation.
For Springfield and District 19, the new prison means relief, safety, and stability. It is a generational investment into public safety and backing our local law enforcement agencies who said it’s time to move forward with a new prison system.
We BACK THE BLUE, and WE VOTED GREEN.
Respectfully Submitted,
Representative Jessica Bahmuller
Representative Drew Peterson
Senator Kyle Schoenfish
Had this sent to me the other day after it was received from the Assistant Majority Leader, Senator Carl Perry.
Someone should explain to Carl that most e-mail systems have this handy function called BCC; which stands for Blind Carbon Copy. If we’re going to go with the quick and dirty definition from Google AI:
BCC stands for Blind Carbon Copy, an email field that lets you send a copy of a message to recipients without their email addresses being visible to other recipients or the sender in the “To” or “CC” fields. It is used to maintain privacy and prevent the recipients from seeing who else received a copy of the email.
Such a handy tool. The Senate caucus might had asked him if he know what BCC was before they had him send this out to a large group. (Not to mention that they should have proofed it, because it reads like it was written by a 8 year-old.)
Question, however; since Carl is inviting education leaders to the fundraiser, such as people from School Administrators and SDEA, does that mean that they’re going to quit picking on schools next session, where they were trying to post the ten commandments and make it part of curriculum in swim class? And that whole voucher thing ?
Gubernatorial candidate Toby Doeden was at the Right to Life convention this weekend, and when he posted the moment to Facebook, Toby seems to be having a Joe Biden moment on what his slogan exactly is:
“Thank you, South Dakota Right to Life, for allowing me to spread my message of faith, family, and freedom!”
I think that readers are more than familiar that the dime store slogan he just claimed as his own is used by someone not him.
Kind of young for a Biden-moment..
Spotted in Dell Rapids, Toby Doeden’s former PAC lackey & lobbyist Brian Lewis joins Senator Carl Perry in bailing from Toby Doeden, and trying to prop up the trailing 2% Jon Hansen for Governor effort:
Here’s Lewis spotted following Hansen with a phone in the air (filming I might guess?) at the parade as if it’s going to make any difference whatsoever in moving Hansen out of last place.
South Dakota US Senator John Thune appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, and spoke about the shutdown that government faces because Democrats are unwilling to come together with Republicans on funding the budget, and are instead engaging in brinkmanship by holding the American government hostage.
KRISTEN WELKER: All right. Let’s talk about the big battle over government funding. We’re just two days away, Leader, as you know, from a potential government shutdown. The president did cancel a planned meeting with Democratic leaders. The House doesn’t plan to be in session until after the shutdown deadline. Is the government going to shut down this week, Leader Thune?
SEN. JOHN THUNE: Totally up to the Democrats. The ball is in their court. There is a bill sitting at the desk in the Senate right now, we could pick it up today and pass it, that has been passed by the House that will be signed into law by the president to keep the government open. So this decision, in my judgment, at this point in time is up to a handful of Democrats. We need eight Democrats to pass it through the Senate, something that 13 times when the Democrats had the majority over the last four years and President Biden was in the White House Republicans helped Democrats do. Thirteen different times, we did continuing resolutions in the Democrat majority. And in every case, they passed. And what the Democrats have done here is take the federal government as a hostage, and for that matter, by extension, the American people, to try and get a whole laundry list of things that they want, the special interest groups on the far left are pushing them to accomplish. And using a seven-week funding resolution, which is designed to give us time to do the normal appropriations process. They are using this hostage trying to get all these other things done. It’s a very straightforward argument in my mind. It’s simple.
Watch the entire segment here at NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.