Gov. Rhoden Offers Black Hills Land to President Trump for “National Garden of American Heroes

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump proposing a location in the Black Hills in site of Mount Rushmore as a location for the “National Garden of American Heroes.” You can find the letter here.

“Five years ago, in an Independence Day speech at Mount Rushmore in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, you announced a ‘National Garden of American Heroes’ to honor the greatest men and women who helped make America exceptional,” wrote Governor Larry Rhoden. “I would like to offer those same Black Hills as the perfect location for this garden. In fact, we have a plot of land available in sight of Mount Rushmore that would be ideal for this fantastic effort.”

Chuck Lien and his family own a tract of land in site of Mount Rushmore, which they are willing to donate to the project. Former Governor Kristi Noem previously offered the Black Hills as a potential location for the garden back in 2020. You can find materials on the Lien family’s proposal, including Former Governor Noem’s letter, here. Additional resources, including mockups of the proposed Garden of Heroes at this location, are available upon request.

President Trump originally announced the Garden of American Heroes in his speech at the Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration on July 3, 2020. He subsequently signed an Executive Order in January 2021 establishing the Garden. He signed an Executive Order “Celebrating America’s 250^th Birthday” this past January, which included the revival of the Garden.

“The Black Hills mark the perfect location to achieve your vision for the National Garden of American Heroes,” continued Governor Larry Rhoden. “Together, we will make this project happen in a way that honors America’s heroes, takes advantage of South Dakota’s natural beauty, and incorporates the most iconic monument to our greatest leaders: Mount Rushmore National Memorial.”

George Washington, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Harriet Tubman, Babe Ruth, and other notable Americans from all walks of life will be among those honored in the National Garden of American Heroes.

###

From Twitter:

Good. Stop the insanity!!!!

EXCLUSIVE: GOP Rep Unveils Bill To Prevent Federal Dollars From Subsidizing Sex Change Surgerieshttps://t.co/DLWOwp1NkP

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 18, 2025

Johnson Bill Prohibits 340B Health Care Facilities Savings for Transgender Surgeries 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the No 340B Savings for Transgender Care Act to prohibit covered entities in the 340B drug program from using their savings to offer free or discounted procedures such as transgender surgeries or hormone replacement therapy.

“Transgender surgeries do not qualify as essential, life-saving health care,” said Johnson. “Low-income families and rural communities rely on programs like 340B for their health care. Ensuring these dollars are spent where they are needed the most will keep the program sustainable and as effective as possible to help those in need.”

“The 340B program was created to help safety net providers deliver vital healthcare services to America’s most vulnerable communities,” said Riley Gaines, an outspoken advocate on transgender males competing in women’s sports. “But this crucial program has been hijacked to fund and promote dangerous and elective procedures disguised as ‘gender-affirming care’ – including chemical and surgical castration. This blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars diverts resources away from the program’s true mission: addressing urgent health needs and fighting real public health crises. The No 340B Savings for Transgender Care Act is a necessary step to protect the integrity of this program and ensure federal funds go where they’re truly needed. I applaud Congressman Johnson for his courageous leadership in standing up for the most vulnerable and giving a voice to those who have none.”

The No 340B Savings for Transgender Care Act would:

• Prohibit 340B entities from using savings derived from participation in the 340B program for transgender services.
  • This includes sex reassignment surgeries and hormone treatments for the purpose of gender alteration of a transgender individual.

The No 340B Savings for Transgender Care Act is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Austin Scott (R-GA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Michael Rulli (R-OH), Mike Ezell (R-MS), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Barry Moore (R-AL), and John Rose (R-TN).

Read full bill text here.

Background on 340B:

Congress created the 340B program to help safety-net providers spread scarce federal resources. Drug manufacturers provide outpatient drugs at discounted prices. This in turn allows covered entities to utilize the savings from what they would have spent on full-priced medicines to provide more services for their communities. The 340B drug program is a crucial component to serving the needs of patients in rural America.

However, some entities are abusing this by using their participation in this federal program to push their gender ideology. For example, Howard Brown Health – a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Chicago, IL – publicized that they utilize their 340B status to fund services like, “hormone therapy, group therapy, and gender-affirming surgical navigation.”

Riley Gaines is a graduate from the University of Kentucky where she was a 12x NCAA All-American swimmer. In 2022, Riley competed against a trans-identifying male swimmer, Lia Thomas, at the NCAA championships. Since directly experiencing the injustice of allowing men in women’s sports and women’s locker rooms, Riley has been outspoken on why this issue is blatantly unfair and harmful to females.

###

Gov. Rhoden Signs Agriculture Bills on National Agriculture Day

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden signed six agriculture bills in honor of National Agriculture Day.

“Ag is King in South Dakota, and as a lifelong West River Rancher, I am deeply committed to ensuring that it thrives,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “These bills are an important show of support for the farmers, rancher, and producers who work hard to feed our communities. As long as I am Governor, I will keep South Dakota ag Open for Opportunity!”

Governor Rhoden signed the following six bills into law:

• SB 14 revises and repeals provisions related to agricultural production facilities and provides a penalty therefor;
• SB 120 updates the membership of the Animal Industry Board to include a poultry producer;
• HB 1021 modifies the annual fee for concentrated animal feeding operations and establishes an application fee;
• HB 1083 modifies the requirements for obtaining an agricultural processor’s lien;
• HB 1116 repeals a reporting requirement regarding industrial hemp; and
• HB 1143 requires that the director of equalization adjust certain agricultural land values.

Governor Rhoden has signed 142 bills and VETOED one this legislative session.

###

Gov. Rhoden Launches the Rhoden RhoundUp

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden launched the Rhoden RhoundUp, a short video series recapping each day of his Open for Opportunity tour. You can find the first video here.

“The Rhoden RhoundUp gives South Dakotans a chance to see firsthand all the important things I am doing to keep South Dakota Open for Opportunity,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “I look forward to sharing all the exciting stops I have planned as I work with communities across the state to chase down opportunities.”

Follow Governor Rhoden on the following platforms to watch each episode of the Rhoden RhoundUp:

• Instagram: @GovLarryRhoden
• Facebook: facebook.com/GovLarryRhoden
• X: @GovLarryRhoden
• Truth: @GovLarryRhoden
• YouTube: @GovLarryRhoden

The Rhoden RhoundUp will be posted on Governor Rhoden’s social media pages at the conclusion of each day. It will highlight all the stops he makes on the Open for Opportunity tour, including site visits, meals in local communities, bill signing ceremonies, media interviews, and more.

###

Gov. Rhoden Signs Economic Opportunity Bills into Law

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden signed 10 bills to promote economic opportunity.

“South Dakota is the freest state in the nation, and our economy is unmatched,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “By signing these bills, I am ensuring that South Dakota remains Open for Opportunity and that our economy continues to grow and thrive!”

Governor Rhoden signed the following 10 economic opportunity bills into law:

• SB 24 revises provisions relating to the promulgation of rules to set licensing and inspection fees for plumbers and related professions;
• SB 27 revises provisions relating to licensing fees for cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology;
• SB 31 revises amounts for inspection fees for electrical installations;
• SB 32 revises amounts for licensing fees for the practice of accountancy;
• SB 69 revises provisions related to trusts;
• SB 88 increases the amount of exempt proceeds when a homestead is sold or divided by court order;
• SB 131 establishes an electronic system for vehicle titles;
• SB 143 modifies the composition and staffing requirements of the South Dakota-Ireland Trade Commission;
• HB 1232 modifies requirements relating to the operation of salons and booths and to declare an emergency; and
• HB 1245 exempts from the state sales and use tax gross receipts for certain services to a partnership.

Governor Rhoden signed SB 131 and HB 1232 at a signing ceremony at the Alliance Center in Sioux Falls, SD, during his Open for Opportunity tour.

Governor Rhoden has signed 136 bills and VETOED one this legislative session.

###

If anyone thinks South Dakotans can afford to lose ag jobs, they haven’t heard the latest news from Yankton:

The Cimpl cattle harvest facility has stopped their operations in Yankton, a news release from American Foods Group says.

and..

AFG says they plan to provide continued pay and benefits to employees during the transition and say team members are on-site discussing relocation options. According to the company, the decision to “idle harvest operations” impacts more than 250 employees.

Read the entire story here at KELOland.

That’s a lot of jobs for Yankton to lose.

This last week, 11 legislators voted against the General Appropriations bill. There were some of the usual doltish morons who vote no, such as Phil Jensen, Aaron Aylward, Tina Mulally and Tony Randolph.  But they were joined by a disturbing number of new legislators – Baxter, Garcia, Hunt, Ismay, Jordan, Manhart and Reder all voted against the appropriations for the operation of State Government.  So did “California” Carley in the State Senate.

In fact, I notice that Representative “wedding DJ who lives in his mom’s basement” Dylan Jordan weighed in and explained why he voted against everything state government spends money on:

Obviously mom is buying his eggs, because he seems to have a disconnect from reality if the primary reason he voted against the budget was because things cost more than they did five years ago. Of course the budget is larger – Everything is more expensive than five years ago!

But getting into it, what exactly did these legislators actually vote NO on?  Here’s a tremendously small and fractional sampling of the things they voted against:

• They voted against our military & veterans – Ellsworth Air Force Base, funding the South Dakota National Guard, the Veteran’s hospital, and County Veteran Service officers
• They voted against supporting South Dakota housing.
• They voted against workforce education, including resources for (again) veterans, new and expecting moms, and disabled people who want to work
• They voted against healthcare facilities, repairing state buildings, paying for claims against the state, or covering employees through the state insurance pool
• They voted against having their own state e-mail account. Or their own laptops. Or their own iPads.
• The voted against libraries, public broadcasting, and having a state radio network that emergency and law enforcement can communicate on.
• They voted against auditing state government.
• They voted against collecting and distributing sales tax to cities.
• They voted against having video lottery, or managing gaming in Deadwood.
• They voted against resource conservation & forestry.
• They voted against the Animal Industry Board, the Dairy Association, the Wheat Commission, the Oilseeds council, the Board of Veterinary examiners, the Corn Utilization Council, and the South Dakota State Fair in Huron.
• They voted against tourism, the arts, wildlife development, all the state parks, and snowmobile trails.
• They voted against every penny that went from the state to tribal relations.
• They voted against mothers and babies in need of public assistance. They voted against anyone in behavioral health settings, those with addictions, they cast a NO vote to supporting the disabled and more.
• They voted against licensing any and all professions.
• They voted against all vo-tech schools and universities, as well as job service offices and services.
• They voted against schools, teachers and students. And libraries.
• These legislators voted against processing rape kits for crime victims, funding 911 calls, putting cops on the street, paying judges to keep order, and the opposed keeping bad guys in jail.
• They voted against regulating utilities.
• They voted against people to keep an eye on how the state spends money.
• They voted against paying state employees.. and well anything for government.

Literally, Rep’s Jensen, Aylward, Mulally, Randolph, Baxter, Garcia, Hunt, Ismay, Jordan, Manhart and Reder, and Senator John “By God I’m from California” Carley voted against every single thing that state government touches.   They can try to claim that it’s some sort of goofy protest vote. But it’s no different than the fools who drive to a protest and then proceed to block traffic. They’re accomplishing nothing, except possibly adding to people’s annoyance factor.

These guys allegedly ran for office to make the state better.. and then they vote against literally every person in South Dakota and every thing that state government touches.

Just don’t forget that next time we have an election.

I notice that the SDGOP has – weeks after state law said they were supposed to – finally updated their information with the Secretary of State.

SDGOP_2025Statement of Organization by Pat Powers on Scribd

Still nothing with the Federal Elections Commission. Which will be the expensive one if they decide to spank the party for not knowing what they’re doing.

Gov. Rhoden Signs Future Use Permit Legislation for West River Water Supply

(March 13, 2025) The Western Dakota Regional Water System (WDRWS) is thankful for the legislative approval of SJR 501, the Future Use Permit to access water from the Missouri River. Gov. Larry Rhoden. The next step in the process is final approval from South Dakota’s Water Management Board, the entity that issues Future Use Permits.

“Thank you to Governor Rhoden, the South Dakota Legislature, the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Water Management Board for prioritizing water for South Dakotans and planning for the future,” says Jake Fitzgerald, WDRWS President and Manager of the West River/Lyman Jones Rural Water System.

A Future Use Permit is a critical tool for ensuring that water resources are available for long-term water development in South Dakota. The permit allows entities such as WDRWS to secure water rights for future needs. The WDRWS Future Use Permit would allow up to 20,7765-acre-feet of water from the Missouri River to be utilized per year.

“This is an important first step toward ensuring West River has adequate drinking water for the future,” says Kristin Conzet, WDRWS Executive Director. “The Missouri River is an abundant resource that flows through South Dakota. It is important that we claim what is available to us, before we find ourselves without enough water.”

Future Use Permits greater than 10,000-acre-feet per year require legislative approval. The issuance of permits is carefully aligned with the state’s water management policies to balance future demands with current water supply. Prior to being considered by the legislature, the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources conducted a technical review of the WDRWS Future Use Permit application.

ABOUT WDRWS

Western Dakota Regional Water System (WDRWS) is a non-profit corporation, formed to address the need for water in western South Dakota. A 2019 study South Dakota Mines and a 2025 U.S. Geological Survey study show a current shortage of water under drought conditions. Projected population growth and the ongoing threat of drought illustrate the need for the WDRWS to bring water to West River. The WDRWS is an alliance of forward-thinking community, governmental and water system leaders who believe that the future of western South Dakota will be fueled by access to abundant and quality water. Large and small public water systems, associate members, and individuals make up the membership of the WDRWS. Learn more by visiting WDRWS.org.