Inmate Pleads Guilty to Ingestion of a Controlled Substance

PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that one of the nine female inmates who had been charged with distribution and ingesting of a controlled substance at the South Dakota Women’s Prison has pled guilty. Loretta Ann Flute, 21, pled guilty to ingestion of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, class 5 felony, maximum penalty of 5 years in the state penitentiary and/or $10,000 fine.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 29, 2016 at the Hughes County Courthouse.

This case was investigated by the Division of Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

I’m not sure how to put this, except “eww.”

In the same week that Gordon Howie demands women need to cover up “their girls” for his sake, the on-line pornography website “Pornhub”  released a list of the most searched terms on their website by state. (Safe for work – the link is to a news story on it)

I’m not sure what’s worse, South Dakota or Minnesota.

I suppose Nebraskans searching for “cartoons” is comparatively innocent. But “step mom?”

Seriously, South Dakota. “eww.”

My post below earlier today shook a couple of candidates out of the woodwork that we hadn’t heard about previously.

* In Huron, Roger Chase announced his candidacy for a House seat in District 22 as a Republican.   Apparently, it was the Huron Plainsman a week and a half ago. Roger is a former Beadle County commissioner. He is the owner of the local Coldwell Banker realty firm:

Former Beadle County commissioner and current Realtor/farmer Roger Chase has announced his candidacy for the state House of Representatives in District 22.

“Running for the state House is something that I have thought about and now is the right time,” he said in his announcement.

“I have been asked to run by some people in our community and after talking to close friends and my family, I have made the decision to move forward toward a run for one of the state House seats,” he said.

Read that here.

* In District 11, Republican David Landry is circulating a petition for the House of Representatives for the seat vacated by Jim Stalzer, who is running for the State Senate.  Landry works in the health care field in Sioux Falls.

* In District 12, I’ve heard that Scott Bartlett has petitions out to run for the House. Bartlett has been involved with the Constitution party, and I believe he has run before, unsuccessfully, as a Republican.

* District 13 has at least two people out with petitions looking to run for the Senate seat currently held by State Senator Phyllis Heineman. Republican David Bergen apparently made his announcement on the website of his buddy Cory Heidelberger – the most liberal man in South Dakota – a few days back.

I’ve also heard of another Republican with petitions out running for the seat, but we’ll see if that ends up amounting to anything.

And there’s still a lot of seats to go. If you’ve got petitions out, or you know of someone who does, drop me a note here!  I’m glad to preserve your anonymity.

**Update**

A reader did note to me that there’s a Democrat in District 14 who is circulating a petition to run for the House.

We’re less than 30 days out from when legislative petitions are required to be filed (March 29th) for party candidates, so things are going to get a lot more interesting in the coming weeks.

Running for office? You just signed a petition of someone running? Drop me a note here at the SDWC and give us a heads up.

I always appreciate news tips, and I am glad to maintain your anonymity if you request it.

Sources tell me that a Rapid City woman, Taffy Howard, may be jumping into the race for District 33 House against State Rep. Scott Craig and Dave Johnson, triggering a primary election for the two available seats for office.

The word is Howard will be addressing the Meade County Republican Women this week. But otherwise, this is the first we’re hearing of the potential new candidate for office.

At the same time Republicans are coming out of the woodwork to run for office, Cory Heidelberger (the most liberal man in South Dakota) became the 7th democrat to file for the State Legislature, with his candidacy posted on the Secretary of State’s website yesterday.

So, at this point, SDDP Chair Ann Tornberg has 7 down, and 98 to achieve her promise of filling all legislative seats.

Good luck with that, Dems.

FHA Action Responds to House Bill 1008 Veto

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Amidst the Super Tuesday drama, another drama was almost quietly sputtering to a conclusion. As folks across the country waited to see if Governor Daugaard would sign the landmark HB1008 into law, emotions have run pretty hot in South Dakota. The aim of this bill was as well-meaning and void of malice as it was accommodating for people on both sides of the issue. It genuinely sought to address what likely is going to be a prolonged debate in the not-so-distant future in our state. The question at hand is this: should transgender elementary and secondary public school students be allowed to shower and use the restrooms with students of the opposite sex. The State House voted to mandate that instead, it would be incumbent on the schools to accommodate the transgender individual in a respectful and decent manner. The State Senate agreed. Unfortunately, Governor Daugaard did not concur, vetoing the bill late in the day on Tuesday, March 1. We sincerely believe that the Governor missed an opportunity to get out in front of this issue and help accommodate both sides in a peaceful and respectful manner. We appreciate the seventy-eight Legislators who stood on principle and voted in support of HB1008. We are thankful to all those who called or emailed their Legislators and the Governor asking for support, and for all those on both sides of the debate who opted for civil discourse in the discussion of this issue.

Sincerely Yours,

Dale A. Bartscher
Executive Director
Family Heritage Alliance Action

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Here's Rep. Deutsch's full statement after Gov. Daugaard vetoed H.B. 1008 @KDLTNews pic.twitter.com/gHlkw0F188

— Sydney Kern (@s_kernKDLT) March 1, 2016

Here’s the actual statement if you don’t want to squint at the picture:

The 2016 South Dakota legislature should be proud of the difficult but necessary decision to increase taxes to increase our teacher’s salaries. And that is what South Dakota should be known as: cautious to raise taxes but practical when confronted with a problem.

We will continue to have the lowest tax burden in the country, BUT we will no longer by 51st in teacher pay.

HB 1008 was intended to be a practical solution to our evolving social values on gender issues. Unfortunately emotions on both sides of this issue have dominated the news coverage and the recent debate. I still believe an objective reading of the proposed law is consistent with my intent to be non-discriminatory and fair to all students and parents.

However, because I think the national focus on South Dakota should be on our positive business environment, strong labor market and the excellent work our schools do, I am going to ask my legislative colleagues to concur with the Governor’s veto. Further focus on this issue will detract from the other significant accomplishments of the legislature this session.

Respectfully,
Rep. Fred Deutsch

Gov. Daugaard Vetoes HB 1008

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed the following bill:

HB 1008 – An Act to restrict access to certain restrooms and locker rooms in public schools.

For more information about this bill and other bills, visit legis.sd.gov.

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Note: A copy of the Governor’s veto message follows:

March 1, 2016

The Honorable Dean Wink
Speaker of the House of Representatives
500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501

Dear Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives,

I respectfully return to you House Bill 1008, with my VETO.

House Bill 1008 does not address any pressing issue concerning the school districts of South Dakota. As policymakers in South Dakota, we often recite that the best government is the government closest to the people. Local school districts can, and have, made necessary restroom and locker room accommodations that serve the best interests of all students, regardless of biological sex or gender identity.

This bill seeks to impose statewide standards on “every restroom, locker room, and shower room located in a public elementary or secondary school.” It removes the ability of local school districts to determine the most appropriate accommodations for their individual students and replaces that flexibility with a state mandate.

If and when these rare situations arise, I believe local school officials are best positioned to address them. Instead of encouraging local solutions, this bill broadly regulates in a manner that invites conflict and litigation, diverting energy and resources from the education of the children of this state.

Preserving local control is particularly important because this bill would place every school district in the difficult position of following state law while knowing it openly invites federal litigation. Although there have been promises by an outside entity to provide legal defense to a school district, this provision is not memorialized in the bill. Nor would such defense eliminate the need for school or state legal counsel, nor avoid expenses relating to expert witnesses, depositions and travel, or other defense costs. Nor does the commitment extend to coverage over settlement or damage expenses. This law will create a certain liability for school districts and the state in an area where no such liability exists today.

For these reasons, I oppose this bill and ask that you sustain my veto.

Respectfully submitted,

Dennis Daugaard

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South Dakota House Bill 1182 – the measure to raise the sales tax by a 1/2 cent to fund education and property tax relief, just passed the South Dakota State Senate on a vote of 25 to 10, giving the tax measure the 2/3 majority it needed to pass.

If I was listening correctly, The bill passed unamended, and now moves on to the Governor for signature.

Any thoughts or comments?

Representative Schoenbeck visits the Senate during the ed tax debate.