From the University of Nebraska, NSU President Neal Schnoor who arrived in 2021 is already looking for greener pastures:

The University of Nebraska System has named Dr. Neal H. Schnoor – president of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota – as the priority candidate for chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

A Nebraska native – born in Norfolk and raised in Pierce – first-generation college student and former long-time UNK faculty member and administrator, Schnoor brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education leadership, instruction and strategic planning.

and..

Dr. Schnoor has served as President of Northern State University since 2021, where he led the development of a five-year strategic plan, implemented academic restructuring to drive innovation and growth, and secured major legislative funding for academic facilities and program expansion—including a new Business and Health Innovation Center and a collaborative nursing program. Under his leadership, NSU also increased private fundraising, launched new academic and co-curricular initiatives, and strengthened student support services and community partnerships.

Read the entire story here.

Flags at Half-Staff in Honor of His Holiness Pope Francis

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden ordered that flags be flown at half-staff statewide effective immediately as a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025.

Flags will remain at half-staff until the day of Pope Francis’ interment, which will be announced at a later date.

###

Dakota Scout is reporting that US Senator and Majority Leader John Thune’s chief of staff is leaving to join Sanford Health’s team:

The longtime chief of staff for Sen. John Thune is leaving the office to join Sanford Health, Sanford’s President and CEO Bill Gassen announced Tuesday.

Ryan Nelson will join the health system as senior executive advisor to the CEO. He joins Sanford after a 28-year career with Thune that started when Thune represented the state in the U.S. House of Representatives. Nelson was with Thune during his long march from the House to the Senate leadership. That culminated last November when the GOP caucus in the Senate voted to make Thune its party leader.

Read the entire story here.

Congratulations to Ryan in his new role with Sanford. He spent a lot of years with Senator Thune, and they’ve been good years with steady leadership at the wheel.

Retiring Lobbyist David Owen is profiled in South Dakota Searchlight, and in his twilight years of promoting the interests of industry and commerce in Pierre is noting that the Capitol is a much more hostile place than it used to be:

Owen said Pierre’s deeply divided political environment, particularly among Republicans, is one where policy debates turn personal. He describes it as “a cancer in the system.”

“We used to have battles, take the vote, then go on and see each other at dinner. Those days are gone,” Owen said.

and..

This year, I was talking to some of the freshmen legislators who had never served before….

…I heard more about concerns about “society” and how they thought they could help straighten out “the culture” by being in the Legislature. That’s a big task. That brings you to introducing things like school vouchers. That brings you to thinking the Ten Commandments in every classroom will help structure a moral code that will solve some of these social problems.

Read the entire story here.

District 32 State Senator Helene Duhamel is one of the nicest people in state politics. Unfortunately, 32 years after beating cancer a first time, she is facing a battle against cancer again.

Please keep Helene in your prayers as she and her family face this once again, as well hope for the best.

You know, this doesn’t sounds like anything the nuns taught us at St. Joe’s in Pierre, as some of the fringe hard right celebrates the death of the pope claiming it will signal “the end of the corruption of the Catholic church over the 20th century.”  

Who in their right mind thinks like this?

CNN is reporting that former Governor Kristi Noem was a victim to a thief in a DC restaurant this weekend, as her purse was stolen:

The Secret Service, which provides security for Noem, reviewed security camera footage at the restaurant and saw an unknown white male wearing a medical mask steal her bag and leave the restaurant.

The thief got away with Noem’s driver’s license, medication, apartment keys, passport, DHS access badge, makeup bag, blank checks, and about $3,000 in cash, the law enforcement source said.

Read the entire story here.

I would not want to be that guy when they catch up to him.  And a good reminder to be on your guard in that town, as Washington DC is a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Thune Statement on Pope Francis

 “He dedicated himself to spreading the Good News with joy, and he will be remembered as a humble servant of God and a man of great compassion for those in need.”

 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement:

 “Pope Francis led a life of faithful witness to the Gospel,” said Thune. “He dedicated himself to spreading the Good News with joy, and he will be remembered as a humble servant of God and a man of great compassion for those in need. May he rest in peace and receive his reward.”

###

The worst kept secret of the 2026 campaign is coming up for announcement this week on 4/24, as Jon Hansen and Karla Lems have vaguely promised a political announcement (parroting Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign slogan of “stronger together”), at exactly the same time that they put up a link to an adedot campaign website that says that they’re running for Governor & Lt Governor:

Digging down a bit further, if you launch into the website, we notice some.. weirdness:

Check amount $25, $50, etc is pretty normal. But then we get into $5000 and $10,000 “maximum per election cycle? “That’s not the campaign finance limit for statewide candidates. No, not at all. Where on earth are they getting that?

If you go to the Secretary of State’s website, they even have a little chart which lays it out:

That’s $4000. As Arch Beal would say – Whoa Whoa Whoa!  Where are they getting the $5,000 and $10,000 from that they’re soliciting for. Well, you have to go to the bottom of the web page. And you get the explanation:

This is not a state gubernatorial campaign committee that they’re slapping their names on and using to run for office. They’re running as Hansen/Lems for Governor, but donations are being routed directly to a Political Action Committee.  They’re entirely skipping over a regular campaign committee that you or I would use, and the mechanism they are using to raise funds for their gubernatorial campaign right out of the gate is a PAC who can take far bigger checks:

That’s where they are getting the 10k limits from. In fact, they even state it on their donation website.. The People First PAC solely supports the Hansen Lems 2026 election campaign.   Well, that’s sneaky.

Hansen & Lems seem to be skipping the basic campaign committee entirely for the purpose of raking in higher amounts of cash then they could normally take from individuals – $10,000 a person, versus $4000. In fact, it appears that they don’t even have a regular campaign committee set up at this time.

Given this focus on wealthy donors, maybe their slogan needs a little editing. Instead of “Stronger Together,” it should be “Wealthy Donor PACs are Stronger Together?”

Or something like this..

 

A Prayer for Our State and Nation
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
April 18, 2025

We’re at the Easter holiday. It’s a great holiday to celebrate traditions with family and loved ones. I remember when I was a child, the day before Easter we would dye eggs that we’d just gathered from the chicken coop. You rarely see real eggs at Easter egg hunts anymore! To this day, my wife Sandy hides Easter baskets outside for everyone to find – adults included.

But Easter is about far more than just egg hunts, good food, and time with loved ones. As I write this column, it’s Good Friday, the day that we reflect on our Savior’s sacrifice for the entire world. Easter comes in a few days to reflect on our Savior’s resurrection.

I’d like to take this opportunity to offer a prayer for our state and nation, particularly for the leaders who serve in positions of public service. If you’ll join me in prayer:

Dear Savior Jesus Christ,

About 2,000 years ago, the government of one of the most powerful empires in history sent you to the cross.

Today, Christians across the world reflect on your sacrifice for us that day: Good Friday. And we celebrate that which is to come this Sunday: Easter, when you rose from the grave and conquered death.

Lord, you bestow an incredible trust on those of us who serve our people in Government.

In 1 Peter 2:13, you tell us to “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority.”

You also share countless examples in your Scriptures of what it means to be a good ruler – or a bad one. Give us the wisdom to know the difference.

Give us the insight to follow that path that will make us good leaders of your people. Give us the knowledge to make the best possible decisions for those that we lead. And when these gifts fail – give us the humility to trust in your will – not our own.

Be with President Donald J. Trump, our congressional delegation, and our state legislators. Be with the leaders in our cities, counties, and communities. And Lord, I ask that you be with me, with Lieutenant Governor Venhuizen, and with our whole administration.

All authority comes from you. So help us to exercise our authority as you would – for the good of your people.

In your name we pray – Amen.

###