Flags at Half-Staff Statewide for Former U.S. Senator Tim Johnson

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem ordered that flags be flown at half-staff statewide effective immediately in honor of former U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, who passed away Tuesday evening. Flags will remain at half-staff until the day of Senator Johnson’s interment, which is yet to be announced.

“I worked with Tim Johnson and appreciated that his heart was for the people of South Dakota. He was a true servant,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “On behalf of the State of South Dakota, our prayers go out to his entire family.”

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Attorney General Jackley Announces Indictments on Fraud Charges Related to Department of Revenue Employment

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces two Pierre women have been indicted on fraud-related charges connected to crimes committed while they were both employees of the South Dakota Department of Revenue.

“These charges are alleged violations of the public’s trust,” said Attorney General Jackley. “As Attorney General, I will continue to protect taxpayers and maintain transparency in bringing forth these violations.”

Lynne Hunsley, 63, and Danielle Degenstein, 51, were indicted Oct. 1 by a Hughes County Grand Jury. Hunsley was indicted on seven counts, five felonies and two misdemeanors, and Degenstein was indicted on one misdemeanor.

Hunsley is accused of using her position with the Division of Motor Vehicles to falsify records between Jan. 1, 2021 and June 30, 2023. The charges and maximum sentence for each are:

• Count 1 Forgery, Class 5 Felony:  five years in prison and a fine of $10,000.
• Count 2 Altering or Forging Certificate of Title, Class 5 Felony:  five years in prison and a fine of $10,000.
• Count 3 Making False Statement in Application for Certificate of Title, Class 5 Felony:  five years in prison and a fine of $10,000.
• Counts 4A and 4B Grand Theft by Deception, Class 6 Felony:  two years in prison and a fine of $4,000.
• Count 5 Offering False or Forged Instrument for Filing, Class 6 Felony:  two years in prison and a fine of $4,000.
• Count 6 Falsification of Public Records by Public Officer or Employee, Class 1 Misdemeanor:  one year in county jail and $2,000 fine.
• Count 7 Failure to Pay Excise Tax, Class 1 Misdemeanor:  one year in county jail and $2,000 fine

Degenstein is accused of a Misprison of a Felony, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, where she concealed her knowledge of a felony to authorities. The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in custody and a $2,000 fine.

The two defendants have not made their initial court appearance. They are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.

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Tim Johnson served his home state of South Dakota in public office for more than 35 years, including in the Senate seat that I now hold. His love for South Dakota was undeniable.

His loss will be felt across the state, but particularly by his wife Barbara and family. Praying for…

— Senator Mike Rounds (@SenatorRounds) October 9, 2024

From KELOland News, one of the last Democrats to serve in Congress and the US Senate, former Senator Tim Johnson, has passed away:

Former three-term U.S. Senator and five-term U.S. Representative Tim Johnson has died. Johnson had a long career in politics that took him all the way from his hometown of Vermillion, South Dakota to the nation’s capitol in Washington, D.C.https://t.co/8xd0amCK6c pic.twitter.com/dplQrcNZO0

— KELOLAND News (@keloland) October 9, 2024

From Twitter:

Great op-ed on how South Dakota can lead the way in safeguarding children online. Requiring parental consent for minors' app downloads and age verification at the App Store level empowers parents and protects kids from social media's harmful effects 👇🏻https://t.co/JTrRNjY1Rj

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 8, 2024

South Dakota Leads Nation in Income Growth

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota once again led the nation in income growth in 2023. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, South Dakota’s Real Median Household Income grew faster than any other state. Governor Kristi Noem celebrated this excellent news.

“South Dakotans are thriving because we defend Freedom and advance their opportunities to pursue their dreams,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “Incomes are rising, and people are moving here to share in our prosperity and Freedom. I am so proud of what our great state continues to accomplish.”

According to the same Federal Reserve Bank data, South Dakota ranks second best for growth in real median household income over the past five years.

South Dakota also has the lowest unemployment rate of any state in America at 2.0%.

For more information on job opportunities in South Dakota, visit FreedomWorksHere.com.

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A new ballot measure group has become active and is hosting an event tonight in Sioux Falls with Congressman Dusty Johnson.

The group “NoGforSD,” is having their event at the Minnehaha Country Club at 7PM with Dusty, who is scheduled to speak from 7:15 to 7:22 as a special guest and is not soliciting funds for the group (that’s very specific..):

The group also has a commercial ready to roll according to their website:

Interestingly, the group is completely separate from the Life Defense Fund.

I’ve heard rumors that they believe the campaign is within the margin of error, so they believe it to be winnable, and their goal is to make it happen. (Maybe without some of the baggage of the LDF.)

Stay tuned, and we’ll find out more as we get closer to the election.

Noncitizens Removed from South Dakota Voter Roll 

 PIERRE, S.D. – Today, 273 noncitizens are being removed from the South Dakota voter roll. The removal is being executed by the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office (SOS). This discovery was part of a review to ensure the integrity of South Dakota’s elections and safeguard against improper voter registration. 

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) discovered the need for this correction and worked with the South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications to implement a fix and ensure election integrity. 

“Ensuring the integrity of our elections is our highest priority,” said South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson. “We are proud of the thorough work done to safeguard South Dakota’s voter rolls. We worked closely with DPS to resolve this issue, and we’re constantly working to make sure that only eligible citizens are participating in our elections.” 

There are 682,031 total registered voters in South Dakota, and 617,396 are considered active voters by the SOS. 

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Interesting data being released in a report by the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors. Especially when it comes to South Dakota’s farm economy:

Furthermore, the experts said a few indicators in the recent state report should be watched closely, as they carry potential warning signs for the future.

Chief among those concerning indicators:

• • A somewhat stark drop in overall farm income since 2022 that can cause negative ripple effects across the entire state economy.
  • Lower-than-expected state sales tax collections in June and July, which could portend a crisis if that trend continues – especially if voters decide in November to end the sales tax on consumable goods.

Read that story here.

With far right groups joining the far left in opposing pipelines to support ethanol production in South Dakota, if RL21 – The Landowner Bill of Rights – doesn’t pass in November, and the next legislative session continues to attack the ethanol industry in the state, it could contribute greatly to an already declining trend in farm income in South Dakota.

Imagine ethanol production shifting out of state because they can’t sell what they make in South Dakota. Imagine the billion dollar jet-fuel production plant not being built. And imagine all the corn they won’t be buying in the state.  It does not take a wild imagination to believe in the market forces of supply and demand and how it affects what they pay.

If the demand isn’t there, it’s South Dakota’s ag producers who will feel the pain.

Good gosh. First we have to worry about Watertown being in a kill zone, the state being overrun by meth and fentanyl, and now we have to worry about being eaten by sharks:

Colleen Monfore, 68, from South Dakota, USA, was enjoying a diving trip with six friends around the Pulau Reong island off the coast of the country’s Southwest Maluku Regency when tragedy struck.

and..

The fisherman described the disturbing moment he found a body. He said: “The shark was caught but it was not in normal health. I thought it had swallowed plastic or a fishing net. It was cut open to find the problem and inside there were the remains of a woman.”

Read that story here.