I suppose it had to happen at some point, but it seems far too soon.   Former legislative candidate Joel Koskan, who was arrested for molesting his adopted daughter a week before his election and was sentenced in April of 2023 to 10 years in jail is already out on the streets after just 2 years.

If you need a reminder of what Koskan was convicted of doing:

South Dakota Assistant Attorney General Mandy Miller filed charges of rape, sexual contact with a child under sixteen, and aggravated incest—related child against Koskan on Thursday. 

According to court documents obtained by Native News Online on Thursday, the crimes began in 2014, when the adopted child was placed in the home at 12 years old. The victim was interviewed by law enforcement earlier this year and stated that she was adopted by Joel and Sally Koskan 10 years ago. When she realized what was inappropriate touching while attending a summer youth camp in the Black Hills, she told camp counselors that her adopted father, Joel, had a sexual interest in her and he wanted to be sexually intimate with her.

and..

She told investigators that when she returned home, her parents were upset with her and accused her of trying to break up the family. She said that her father’s touching stopped for a year or two and that her mother, Sally, began watching Joel’s interactions more closely. 

and..

In her statement to the police, she stated that her adoptive father rigorously monitored her actions and what she wore, including whether or not she could wear a bra. In addition, as a teenager, he made her straddle him wearing only a nightgown with no clothing underneath. 

It wasn’t until she was 17 did she indicate that Joel penetrated her vagina with his fingers, which eventually led to sexual intercourse numerous times in the family’s separate homes in Mellette County and Watertown, South Dakota. 

Read that here.

According to the South Dakota sex offender registry, Koskan is currently living in an apartment in Tea, and is currently registered with the Lincoln County Sheriff.

He’s out on the street after serving 1/5 of his sentence. Wow.

It’s little wonder Shad Olson received suspended imposition for what he did to his girlfriend the other day. Because Joel can get a sentence of 10 years for doing what he did to his daughter, and be on the streets 2 years later.

Gov. Rhoden Announces District 22 Senate Appointment

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the appointment of Brandon R. Wipf to represent District 22 in the South Dakota Senate, effective immediately.

“Brandon Wipf has a keen understanding of our property tax system and reflects South Dakota’s strong values,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “As a dedicated farmer and ag advocate, he is equipped with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our number one industry. I have no doubt that he will serve our state with excellence.”

Brandon Wipf is a proud fourth-generation farmer in southern Spink County, and he has spent the past decade advocating for the needs of farmers at both the state and national level. Wipf currently serves on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Ag Advisory Council and is a Director for the American Soybean Association. He graduated Valedictorian from James Valley Christian School in 2004 and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Dordt College.

“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the trust the Governor has placed in me. I will work hard to earn that same trust from the people of District 22,” said Brandon Wipf. “I look forward to partnering with Governor Rhoden, his entire team, and my new colleagues in the Legislature as we continue building a prosperous future for our state!”

Brandon Wipf resides at Lake Byron with his wife, Mandy, and his dog, Sarge. You can find a photo of Brandon Wipf here.

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Rounds Introduces Bill to Empower States and Communities to Reduce Homelessness

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) today introduced the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act, legislation to cut red tape and create local solutions for addressing homelessness.

“Despite record levels of federal funding, homelessness continues to rise. It’s clear that a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t working,” said Rounds. “The challenges we face in South Dakota are not the same as those in California or New York. This legislation takes a conservative approach by shifting power back to the states and communities closest to the problem. This commonsense bill cuts red tape and enables local leaders to deliver faster, more effective and more appropriate solutions for the people they serve.”

“Without a safe, affordable place to live nothing else in your life works – not your job, health, family, or education,” said Smith. “This bipartisan bill makes common sense reforms to federal homelessness programs: cutting red tape for homeless service providers, streamlining and improving federal housing vouchers, reducing administrative burden and modernizing out-of-date software systems. It will reduce homelessness while using taxpayer dollars more efficiently. We know that the best ideas come from those closest to the issues, and that’s why our legislation gives local leaders in Minnesota and across the country the tools and flexibility they need to address homelessness no matter the ZIP code.”

“With rising rates of homelessness sweeping across America, nonprofit organizations on the front lines deserve maximum support as they stretch limited donations and funding to provide shelter, food, skills training, addiction recovery and hope to our friends and neighbors who need it most,” said Crapo. “This bipartisan legislation is urgently needed to strengthen the Housing Choice Voucher Program, remove burdensome regulations and better coordinate between diverse agencies serving unhoused individuals.”

“At a time when more Americans are facing homelessness and there are fewer federal resources available, we must do everything we can to make programs more effective and assist people by connecting them to housing, local health systems, and behavioral health programs that can offer the ongoing, community-based support they need,” said Reed.

BACKGROUND:

As of January 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported approximately 771,480 people experiencing homelessness during the annual point-in-time count. The 2024 count represented an all-time high, which was an 18% increase from 2023. The 2025 point-in-time count results have not been released by HUD.

Specifically, the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act:

• Eases the bureaucratic burdens for Continuum of Care organizations by moving the time intensive annual application process for funding to every other year.
• Empowers local communities by cutting federal red tape and allowing homeless service providers to respond more quickly and effectively to local needs.
• Removes unnecessary federal barriers that prevent individuals from accessing housing and support services in a timely manner.
• Makes commonsense reforms to the Housing Choice Voucher Program by streamlining unit inspections, income verification, and allowable uses of funds—reducing waste and inefficiency.
• Study the hiring, retention, and compensation of staff at all levels of homeless service organizations.
• Authorizes specific and targeted funding to upgrade the outdated software used for applications and grant management of the CoC Program.
• Improves coordination between local healthcare systems, law enforcement, veterans’ programs, and job training services to deliver integrated support and reduce repeat homelessness or justice system involvement.
• Supports better use of data—including advanced tools like artificial intelligence—to making sure resources are going where they are needed most.
• Establish more feedback mechanisms for service providers and people with lived experience of homelessness to advise HUD on the effectiveness of federal homelessness policies and programs.
• Continues the work of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and increases Congressional oversight of the council.

This legislation is endorsed by Eric Kunzweiler, CEO Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership located in Sioux Falls, the Bipartisan Policy Center, National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Council of State Community Development Agencies whose members include the South Dakota Housing Development Authority and South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Catholic Charities USA and the Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment.

“As a long-standing service provider for HUD homelessness assistance prevention programs, Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership fully supports this bill that eases administrative burdens which would allow us to respond more quickly to the needs of our communities and get families housed quickly in South Dakota,” said Eric Kunzweiler, CEO of Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership located in Sioux Falls.

“BPC Action is proud to endorse the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act and applauds Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Jack Reed (D-RI) for their bipartisan leadership. The bill’s focus on cutting red tape, streamlining the Housing Choice Voucher program, and improving data coordination aligns closely with the proposals put forth by BPC in its American Housing Act. These practical reforms will help communities more effectively address homelessness and connect people with housing and services,” says Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.

“Streamlining systems isn’t just good governance—it’s what’s needed to meet the urgent housing needs of people across the country,” said NLIHC President and CEO Renee Willis. “The bipartisan Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act enacts common-sense reforms to improve coordination between government agencies and the private sector, ensuring programs more effectively serve people with the most urgent housing needs.”

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

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It looks like it’s “Game On!”

Crabtree 4 Congress FEC Form 1 by Pat Powers on Scribd

State Senator Casey Crabtree filed paperwork late this afternoon to launch his campaign for the congressional seat being vacated by Dusty Johnson as he runs for Governor.  From the Form 1 filing, it appears Delon Mork will be the treasurer for this campaign.

A website placeholder is up at crabtreeforsouthdakota.com, where you can donate to the campaign:

Watch for an official announcement soon!

Gov. Rhoden and Colleagues Support Trump Administration’s National Farm Security Action Plan

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden and fellow America First Governors voiced their support of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and the Trump Administration’s National Farm Security Action Plan. They voiced their support in a letter, which you can find here.

“Across the country, Chinese investors now control hundreds of thousands of acres of U.S. agricultural land, posing risks not just to local economies but to our food supply, water access, and national security,” wrote Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. “As America First Governors, we firmly stand together in our unwavering support of President Donald J. Trump and his Administration’s National Farm Security Action Plan. This plan is a critical and decisive response to the invasion of our land, food system, and sovereignty by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).”

During the Noem-Rhoden Administration, then-Lt. Governor Rhoden played an instrumental role in protecting South Dakota ag land from ownership by Evil Foreign Governments in his role as Governor Noem’s Ag Ambassador. Among those solutions was HB 1231, which stopped six evil foreign governments and foreign entities from those governments from buying up South Dakota’s precious ag land.

The National Farm Security Action Plan is a joint effort between USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi. This effort protects U.S. agriculture in the following ways:

• Strengthens enforcement of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA);
• Ensures that inputs to U.S. agriculture currently sourced from other countries are adequately protected and listed as critical;
• Provides enhanced protections for our critical agricultural infrastructure against foreign animal diseases, pathogens, and invasive species;
• Requires the reevaluation of every USDA program through an American First lens; and
• Strengthens coordination between the USDA, intelligence community, and state leaders.

“This is an all-hands-on-deck mission from Washington, D.C., to the farm towns and country roads of our states. Together, we will continue to map vulnerabilities, identify threats, and take aggressive, proactive steps to secure American land, agriculture, and national resilience for future generations,” continued Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. “This is the golden era of American renewal, an era in which we reclaim control over our resources, restore dignity to our agricultural sector, protect future generations, and ensure that American soil remains in American hands.”

Governor Rhoden was joined in signing the letter by Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Indiana Governor Mike Braun, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, Nebraska Governor James Pillen, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, and former Texas Governor Rick Perry.

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GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND AUDIT COMMITTEE TO MEET

PIERRE – The Government Operations and Audit Committee will hold its second meeting of the 2025 Interim on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. (CT). The meeting is being conducted via electronic conference and in Room 412 of the State Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota, to allow for both remote and in-person participation.

The Government Operations and Audit Committee, chaired by Senator Taffy Howard (R-Rapid City) with vice chair Representative Marty Overweg (R-New Holland), will meet to discuss performance management reviews for the Department of Game, Fish and Parks and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development; receive the annual report of the South Dakota High School Activities Association; look over annual reports on Building South Dakota programs; and review Workers’ Compensation Pooling Arrangement information. The full agenda is available online.

In addition to Senator Howard and Representative Overweg, members include Senators Red Dawn Foster (D-Pine Ridge), Chris Karr (R-Sioux Falls), Ernie Otten (R-Tea), and David Wheeler (R-Huron); and Representatives Julie Auch (R-Yankton), Eric Emery (D-Rosebud), Karla Lems (R-Canton), and Scott Moore (R-Ipswich).

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If you’ve noticed, the site has been up and down for the last day or so. Sorry about that. The server has been straining under the weight of A LOT people coming here. We’re clocking in excess of 500 visitors every hour.. and also getting blasted by servers in other countries trying to scan the entire site from the server level.

At least as a temporary solution, I think I’m going to trim the decade of posts currently hosted on-line back to the last 5 years or so, to see if that takes some of the pressure off.   It’s not just the 15k posts that we’re hosting, but over 160,000 comments, all the associated images, links, etc.  It’s still out there – big plug for the Internet Wayback Machine – but I need to keep the modest server space to something that is workable and affordable.

In the meantime, thank YOU for your readership, and for caring enough to follow South Dakota politics.

The instagram post from State Representative Logan Manhart in which he declared it “White Boy Summer” is literally at the top of everyone’s social media discussions, and continues to bring in reactions from across the internet both in and out of South Dakota.  Here’s some of the reaction from names in politics that you might recognize:

Former State Senator Erin Tobin questions Manahrt’s manhood, and points out that “Any man who claims white boy summer is a major wimpo of a man..”  (Ouch)

A statement attributed to SDGOP Chairman (and former 32-year Democrat) Jim Eschenbaum underlines that if you don’t stand for anything, you’ll fall for everything in his avoidance of actually saying something substantive, noting “that seems really racist” but “the right to free speech is protected.”:

Former Republican State Representative Charlie Hoffman notes that the far-right has a playbook, and it involves race-baiting:

(Hat tip to Austin Hoffman for his facebook post , where you’ll find this excellent discussion)

On a facebook post responding to the story from Manhart, DJ Jazzy Jordan, a.k.a., Manhart’s fellow Freedom Caucus member, State Rep. Dylan Jordan claims that the accusations against Logan Manhart are just not true, ignoring that he keeps kind of saying these things:

Sioux Falls Democrat State Representative Kadyn Wittman weighs in, noting that she believe Manhart is not there for everyone:

Another free dumb caucuser, Rep. Aaaron Aylward throws out something random about abortion, because his toolkit is lacking both pliers and an ability to reason:

And we’ll pause there for the moment to regroup as South Dakotans mostly continue their condemnation.

We need some good young people to become active in politics. (Because some of the ones we have really stink right now).

So I would encourage you to help give your child an education in civic leadership and political activism by sending them to Teenage Republican Camp – a long-standing program run by the Teenage Republican auxiliary.

You can find out more by clicking on the ad on the left side of the page, or by clicking on this link.

John Thune is firmly at the top of US Senate Republicans, and it shows as the Senate Republican Super PAC is reporting nearly DOUBLE their fundraising records for the first half of an off-year, helping their maintenance and expansion of the GOP Senate Majority:

The group is planning to spend more money far ahead of the traditional blast after Labor Day of an election year.

• They have already started spending in Georgia, North Carolina, Maine, Alaska and Nebraska.
• They are planning an imminent Texas ad buy. SLF has backed Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who has been trailing his primary challenger Attorney General Ken Paxton in polls.

and..

By the numbers: SLF and its affiliated group One Nation have raised over $85 million since the start of the year — far more than the $38 million raised over the same period in 2023, the group told Axios.

• Together they have $83 million cash on hand.
• SLF alone has $29 million on hand. That is three times as much as SLF had in 2023 and five times as much as in 2021, at the same point in the cycle.

Between the lines: Latcham gave credit to Thune’s activity in fundraising for SLF and GOP candidates — both in D.C. and on the road.

Read the entire story here.

Senator John Thune has always been a fundraising powerhouse in his own race – and he’s proving that in his leadership for Republicans in the US Senate.