This was very well done.  Sometimes criticism cuts deeply. In this case, because it’s so true!

Candidate for Congress James Bialota seems to be getting roasted on his facebook page for some old news, where he thought South Dakota’s laws were such that he could legally stand his ground against an unarmed 12 year old.

James Bialota Jr. believes he was defending himself when he took down a 12-year-old boy on a Rapid City playground.

and..

Bialota told police he “nudged” the boy’s hands down, swept his legs and stood over him. Some witnesses took a video of the incident and posted it to TikTok, capturing the profanity laced period between the takedown and police’s arrival.

The video reportedly captured the father saying, in response to an inaudible statement from a witness, “I’d love to see that. I’m a combat veteran and I’ve killed.”

Except the court didn’t agree.  Now, he gets to be reminded of the incident on the campaign trail.

The document that Bialota is getting roasted with that’s tough to read is the jury verdict. Because of course, his tussle with a 12-year old had to go to the expense of a jury trial.

1 week to go!

There’s a new ad on the airwaves from a group who is unhappy with Jon Hansen’s zeal in attacking fertility treatment solutions for couples attempting to have a child, but needing a little assistance.

The SD Families for Fertility PAC has an ad running in conjunction with a website going after 2% Hansen for his stance on IVF over the years, including his attempts to make surrogacy a class 6 felony in South Dakota:

Since first taking office, Jon Hansen has consistently supported legislation that places legal, regulatory, or practical barriers in front of families seeking to grow through IVF, fertility treatment, or surrogacy.​

Across more than a decade, his record reflects a consistent approach centered on three areas: limiting surrogacy, increasing government involvement in embryo decisions, and advancing legal definitions that directly affect how IVF works in practice. Each of these areas intersects with the ability of families to have biological children through modern fertility care. Learn more below.

You can read the website, with the full commercial and examples of Hansen’s attacks on loving couples attempting to have children, here.

Today, the South Dakota Republican Primary is on facebook advocating that Republicans should not fully vote in primaries. Rather, they are encouraging people to “vote ONLY for your top conservative choice to maximize their support. It’s legal and effective under SDCL!”

Really.

The last I knew, the Republican Party is supposed to treat all Republican candidates equally and equitably. From the House Majority Leader running for office down to the convicted and now pardoned felon running in District 23.  No favorites should be expressed.

Yet, that’s not what the party is advocating.  They’re asking voters to treat Republican candidates unequally..

But what was the guidance of the former 32-year democrat who passes at the party chair a while back?

If they’re going to get involved in primaries, to do so out of the umbrella of the party. Yet, isn’t the party doing just that in trying to steer people towards the “top conservative choice,” whatever that is in the mind of the beholder.

The party’s job is to get Republicans elected.  Period, and with no adjectives or qualifiers.

They should especially not be burning time and resources by trying to get in the middle of primary elections.  Especially when the encouragement and insinuation is to NOT vote for some Republicans.

Looks like the Minnehaha County GOP chair is joining the “step out of your lane” club, and is abusing his title to promote a primary candidate:

Despite the “official” guidance.

From the Dakota Scout, South Dakota State Senator, Tamara Grove, is claiming owner-occupied status of her Sioux Falls Home to get a discount on the tax bill, despite claiming residency 3–4 hours away in District 26, according to this article today at the Dakota Scout:

On county property filings, Grove claims the home as a single-family owner-occupied property, a classification which designates the building as her principal residence. It also comes with a lower property tax bill, which records show she’s been paying on the home under that tax designation since at least 2017.

and..

“There’s actually many people that leave here and go to different states for extended periods of time after they leave here,” she said. “I live in Lower Brule. You could literally ask anyone if I am there.”

The Scout reached out to representatives of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribal government, which has a presence in the town, who could not corroborate Grove’s assertion that she was a full-time member of the community.

Read the entire story here.

Uh oh..

Representative Reimer Responds to Confirmed Reporting Regarding Opponent Tamara Grove’s Residency

OACOMA, S.D. — Today, Representative Rebecca Reimer, candidate for District 26 Senate, released the following statement in response to confirmed reporting by The Dakota Scout regarding opponent Tamara Grove’s residency and eligibility to represent District 26:

*If you want to represent District 26, you should actually live in District 26, and my opponent does not,” said Reimer. “We raised our family here, built our business here, and I’m never leaving. For me, District 26 is home, not a political opportunity, and I humbly ask for your vote now or on June 2nd.”

(in response to this article in the Dakota Scout)

Flags at Half-Staff in Honor of Memorial Day

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden ordered that flags be flown at half-staff statewide from sunrise until noon, then briskly raised to full-staff until sunset on Monday, May 25, 2026, in honor of Memorial Day.

“The men and women who gave their lives for our country will never be forgotten,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “This Memorial Day, and every day, we honor and remember the courage, service, and sacrifice of our fallen heroes.”

###

Just another example of things that some of the county Republican organizations are doing that would’ve had them taken to the woodshed in years gone past:

No, I’m not referring to Black Hills resident Brandei Schaefbauer. I am referring to Rich Hilgemann, who is allowing the use of his Republican Party title in connection with this event.

Just mark this one down in your book, and maybe something for donors to remember next time they come around with their hands out.

This was not expected this afternoon. Former State Federation of Republican Women leader Catherine Barranco is going to assume her husband‘s place in the campaign for State Auditor.

From the Dakota Scout:

Sioux Falls City Councilor David Barranco announced Friday in an op-ed published in The Dakota Scout that he is stepping away from the campaign for state auditor. However, Catherine Barranco — a Republican organizer and conservative activist — will seek the GOP nomination for the constitutional office at next month’s South Dakota Republican Party convention in Rapid City in his place.

“Over the last 12 months, David, our sons and I have attended Lincoln Day dinners and candidate forums statewide. Regardless of his declining health, David never stopped fighting for the people. But after he received a grim diagnosis, he asked me to pick up the banner and assume his candidacy,” Catherine Barranco said in a statement provided to The Scout on Friday afternoon.

Read the entire story here.