In a story this last week on August 3, embattled South Dakota Democrat Party Chair Jennifer Slaight-Hansen was fairly defiant with regards to the demands for her to resign:

Annie Bachand, chair of the Pennington County Democrats, told KELOLAND News she met with Slaight-Hansen this week. Bachand said Slaight-Hansen told her she won’t resign unless she’s voted out.

and..

Slaight-Hansen confirmed to KELOLAND News she does not plan to resign her position.

and..

Slaight-Hansen said she was reluctant to share her side of the story but she is now reaching out to people inside the South Dakota Democratic Party to combat the recall effort.

Read that here at KELOland.com.

But, in a story a short time later, it sounds as if Slaight-Hansen may be seeing the handwriting on the wall:

Jennifer Slaight-Hansen said she is taking some time to think about calls for her to resign as chairwoman of the South Dakota Democratic Party. The former member of the Aberdeen City Council said she wants to have more individual conversations and work through the process before she makes a decision.

Read that here at Aberdeen Insider (Subscription required).

It looks like it took Slaight-Hansen a day to move off of “won’t resign” and “does not plan to resign” to “think about calls for her to resign.”

Wondering if we’ll see that happen this week or the next.

Monday, the day I was returning from vacation, also happened to coincide with the deadline given by the State of South Dakota for State Senator Jessica Castleberry to repay COVID relief finds totaling $603,000 that were received by her business. However, it appears that the deadline passed without an announcement of repayment, but the Attorney General did provide an update on the matter:

Monday is the deadline for state Sen. Jessica Castleberry to return $603,000 in pandemic aid to the state.

Attorney General Marty Jackley said the incident involves a significant amount of money. Because of that, he wants to review documents from Castleberry and the state.

“The Attorney General’s Office continues to receive and review documents related to this issue, and we are still awaiting documents from the State Department of Social Services,” Jackley said. “Sen. Castleberry and the State Department of Social Services have been cooperating with this office.

Read the story here, according to South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

South Dakota Searchlight did provide a few more details, including comments from Senator Pro Tempore Lee Schoenbeck about clarifying conflicts with the state, and indications that the Castleberry might not be the last person who finds themselves in conflict with the constitution:

“We’ve got, and I suspect you’re going to hear it in the news in the next month, more instances of people that are in transactions (with the state),” Schoenbeck said. “We have to do something for potential candidates and current legislators so that they’re not getting in trouble.

Read that here.

Who might those other instances be?

I would venture an educated guess that the first example might be one that I pointed out in January, where State Representative Kevin Jensen‘s name was on Grants/Contracts for his wife’s business through DSS, and no one has pursued it as of yet:

 

(You can go look up all those contracts here).  And go read my entire story here.

With Senator Jessica Castleberry being required to repay $603,000 in funds received by her LLC, It is no less arm’s length than the funds received by the family business that State Representative Jensen serves as fiscal contact for.

And Rep. Jensen could be the next legislator who finds themselves under the spotlight for being involved with a business that receives state funds.

Lately, the president has taken to touting his economic policies. With consumer prices up 16 percent since he took office, though, there’s little for which he should be proud. In that time, inflation has cost the average South Dakota family $895 per month. The president calls it “Bidenomics,” but it’s more like “Bidenflation,” and it has only caused economic pain for a lot of Americans.

One year ago, Democrats passed what they would consider to be a key element of the Biden economic agenda, the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, which has proven to be little more than a reckless tax-and-spending spree that expanded the federal government and contributed little to nothing to bringing down inflation. Instead it focused on raising taxes, supersizing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and spending lavishly on taxpayer subsidies for Democrats’ Green-New-Deal priorities. The best that can be said of this bill is that it was less damaging than the president’s first choice: a multi-trillion-dollar spending spree that included more tax hikes and new entitlement programs.

From the outset, it was questionable whether the Inflation Reduction Act would live up to Democrats’ sales pitch, and it has not aged well. The bill’s costs have ballooned. Its Green New Deal provisions were originally projected to cost an already staggering $400 billion, but they are now expected to cost as much as $1 trillion or more. And that’s just one part of the bill. Democrats also promised the bill would reduce the deficit, but these new estimates suggest it could actually increase the deficit.

So, for all this spending, what are taxpayers getting in return? It’s not an economy growing “from the middle out and the bottom up,” like the president talks about often. In fact, 90 percent of the bill’s green energy subsidies will go to companies with sales exceeding $1 billion. And, it turns out, some of the biggest beneficiaries of these programs are not American companies, but companies based in foreign countries, including China.

Also included in this bill was nearly $80 billion to expand the IRS, an amount six times greater than the agency’s fiscal year 2022 budget. But, while the IRS has struggled to do as little as answer taxpayers’ phone calls in recent years, only 4 percent of this new funding goes to improving taxpayer services, and more than half of it is earmarked for increased audits and other tax collection efforts.

Unfortunately, South Dakotans are all too familiar with the reality of the president’s economic policies, which continue to strain family budgets month after month. Twelve months after one of their marquee legislative accomplishments, it’s clear Democrats’ priorities do not align with the American people’s needs. I hope Democrats in Washington can finally acknowledge what common sense has told us all along: bigger government and higher taxes are not in the best interest of American families. Republicans will continue working to rein in wasteful, inflationary spending and pursue pro-growth policies that help working families, small businesses, farms, and ranches succeed.

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BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, and MSCI, a top stock-market-index compiler, have been investing American retirement dollars in Chinese companies that strengthen China’s military and pose security threats to America. Not just that, but more than 60 of these companies have been flagged by U.S. agencies for security or human-rights violations.

This means Americans have been funding our biggest adversary’s growth for years. The same communist government that steals Americans’ personal data from apps like TikTok, spies on our allies’ imports and exports, and sets up CCP police stations in America. Those are just the tip of the iceberg. 

We’ve known it’s a possibility that asset management firms have been investing in CCP-backed companies for a while and Congress has been working to bring clarity and accountability to these firms. Recently, the Select Committee on China launched an investigation into several venture capital firms for their funding of Chinese tech companies. In the Senate, a bill is being worked on to require American companies that invest abroad, especially in countries like China, to disclose certain investments. The bill would also create a panel to review and block these investments that are national security concerns, similar to how the Council on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) works.

MSCI and BlackRock manage a total of over $22 trillion in assets. While these investments in Chinese companies can yield a high return, putting our national security at risk is not a wise trade. The means do not justify the ends.

The Select Committee on China expressed these concerns in a letter sent to BlackRock and MSCI earlier this week. We requested a full accounting of the investments in Chinese companies—the American people deserve to know where their dollars are going and the type of un-American behavior it’s advancing. I hope the Select Committee receives a response soon so we can hold these firms accountable.

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Sturgis: The Fastest and Freest
By: Governor Kristi Noem
August 4, 2023

South Dakotans are a proud people. We are proud of our upbringings, our small-town values, and our old-fashioned work ethic. There is one thing, though, that we South Dakotans are prouder of than anything else.

Freedom.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is one of the most iconic celebrations of Freedom in the United States of America. It’s a good thing it takes place every year in the Freest state in the nation!

For more than 80 years, late summer has brought thousands of motorcycles to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Bikers come from all over to experience the beauty and the Freedom of South Dakota. They hop on their bikes and explore this great open country through our open roads. These folks come here because they love their fast bikes and Freedom – and we love to have them here.

The 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is just getting ramped up. From August 4th-13th events will be happening all over the Black Hills. I can’t wait to be out there to say hey to all of the Freedom-loving folks in town for the ten-day affair.

For just over a month, our “Freedom Works Here” campaign has been recruiting hard working Americans to move their families to South Dakota. The momentum of this campaign has been incredible. We’ve had over 4,000 people apply to move to South Dakota, and over 800 are in the final stages of the process.

We aren’t slowing down now. In fact, I recently made a special announcement that the “Freedom Works Here” campaign was about to get faster…up to 200 miles an hour faster.

The “Freedom Works Here” NASCAR stock car will be at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip during the Rally. Folks will be able to get a close look at the vehicle that will be racing to recruit workers to the Freest state in America.

To me, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has always been a symbol of our Freedom. That became even more true in 2020. In the midst of a pandemic, when some states were forcing businesses to shut down and cancelling any and every public event, we still held the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Sturgis went on without a hitch, completely shattering the media’s pandemic narrative. The 2020 Rally made it clear that South Dakota was thriving without mandates and lockdowns – and Sturgis became a symbol of Freedom to the entire country.

This all led to the 2021 Rally being one of the biggest in history, with American flags waving constantly. I am looking forward to feeling that patriotic energy at this year’s Rally.

South Dakota has become a beacon of Freedom for the nation – and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a part of that. With our economy growing faster than ever, and our people reaping the benefits, it’s time for us to kick of the fastest and the Freest event in the United States of America.

It’s time for the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally!

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After the North Dakota utilities regulator hit the pause button on their approval of the Summit Carbon sequestration pipeline project, the CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions sent a letter to North Dakota newspapers noting that the project will continue to move forward as they address the concerns raised in the North Dakota application process.

—-

A Letter from the CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions

To the People of North Dakota,

I’m writing to you as the CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions to share some updates and our commitment to your great state. First off, a big thank you to the landowners who have shown trust in us. Because of you, we’ve secured 80% voluntary easements along the North Dakota pipeline route.

Now, we’ve heard the feedback from the North Dakota Public Service Commission, including concerns with respect to the pipeline location around Bismarck. We’re looking at our plans again and will address those issues in our application, including reroutes. We want to get this right for everyone involved and will reconsider those parts of our pipeline permit. Our goal is simple: to work together, understand everyone’s concerns, and make sure our project fits well with what North Dakota wants for its future, especially in areas like energy and agriculture.

Our ties in North Dakota are growing. We’ve partnered with the great North Dakota company, Minnkota Power, to have access to their sequestration site if necessary. With partnerships in 34 Midwest ethanol plants, we’re looking at a big investment here – to the tune of $900 million.

That means:

• Giving a boost to the ethanol industry and supporting everyone involved – from plant workers to the farmers selling corn.
• Helping secure a market for liquid fuels and the internal combustion engine.
• Opening up new market opportunities in the region.
• Making sure farmers and ranchers are treated right, from good compensation to taking care of their lands.

I’m also happy to say we’ve secured almost 90% of the space we need for our own sequestration sites in North Dakota. In simple terms, that’s a big step forward for our project.

I want you all to know that Summit Carbon Solutions is here for the long haul. We’re excited about what’s ahead and truly believe that together, we’ll make a positive difference for North Dakota.

Thanks for your trust, and we look forward to a bright future together!

Best,

Lee Blank
CEO, Summit Carbon Solutions

What tends to be downplayed by the opponents of those working for the future of ethanol is that a strong majority of those along the pipeline route have signed voluntary easements.

As noted in North Dakota, it’s about 80%, and in South Dakota, it was recently reported 70% of those along the pipeline route voluntarily signing easements.  (Update – 75%)

Stay tuned for more coming on this, as the project continues to move forward with the approval of a strong majority.

Former State Senator Jordan Youngberg seems to be increasing speculation on whether he’s going to be getting into the D25 State Senate race against incumbent Tom Pischke with his latest Facebook post:

Given Senator Pischke’s most notable activity of the last legislative session was either getting kicked out of the Republican caucus, or his unsuccessful, and somewhat crackpot demand for his fellow senators be arrested, Youngberg is likely going to have a lot of support if he decides to pull the trigger in this race.

Looks like South Dakota Democrats are unifying behind a common cause.

Unfortunately for chairwoman Jennifer Slaight-Hansen, the cause they’re unifying behind is dumping her from party leadership:

“Your actions are unacceptable and unbefitting of the office they hold. We asked you to resign. You refused.”

And..

“Yesterday, our legal counsel resigned because of the split in our party caused by you, yet you failed to communicate this to our executive board. For all the above reasons, we are unified in upholding the South Dakota Democratic Party Constitution and recalling you as our SDDP Chair.”

Read the entire story here.

Pretty rare to see South Dakota Dems agree on anything. Yet they are managing to find common ground on the need to dump Jennifer Slaight-Hansen,

Stay tuned.

WOW. Here’s a major bomb dropping about the new Democrat Party Chair Jennifer Slaight-Hansen.

In a story breaking on the Dakota Scout, after barely lasting 60 days, South Dakota Democrat Party Executive Director Dan Ahlers has apparently resigned, citing that the SDDP is hostile work environment, and that Democrat Party Chair Jennifer Slaight-Hansen is not very nice to her colleagues:

And his decision to step down from the position stems from what he said was mismanagement of the party by South Dakota Democratic Party Chairwoman Jennifer Slaight-Hansen, including allegations of a hostile work environment and violating campaign finance and party bylaws.

“When I try to advise the chair on these matters, she becomes angry and reminds me that I work for her,” Ahlers wrote in an email Friday to the party’s State Central Committee members informing them of his resignation.

and..

Ahlers alleges that Slaight-Hansen, elected chair of the party in February, uses “demeaning and foul language” when dealing with party staff.

Read the entire story here (Subscription required).

Do you think it’s because Dan Ahlers was a middle-aged white man?  Just asking.

There has been a facebook post being forwarded around among some of the far right from the SD Canvassing group, an organization whose raison d’être is the belief that US Elections lack integrity, which has been a notion endorsed by former President Trump. Even though many in both parties disagree with the notion, or at least the extent of issues.

In the post, the group goes out of their way to dissuade South Dakotans from attending the upcoming Monumental Leaders rally featuring former President Trump, Governor Kristi Noem, and others as they appear for the benefit of the South Dakota Republican Party.  As they attack the SDGOP, they claim in part…

As the SD Canvassing goofballs claim “the SDGOP does not stand for the average American…. Buying a ticket to the Trump Rally is funding their agenda..“

Adding to those comments, I’d remind you of a post I did pointing out the Minnehaha County GOP being utterly silent on the former President coming to the state, as well as what unsuccessful congressional candidate Taffy Howard felt the need to bray forth on facebook:

..I don’t want to help in any way.

The political outliers who have such hate for the GOP threw their stones earlier this week. And what was the result?  Literally only one week later the biggest Republican Party rally in state history is already sold out. 1 week, and 6000 tickets are gone in a flash.

Where does that leave the people who hate the Republican Party that much?

For the Minnehaha County Republicans, who went completely radio silent.. at least when their chair wasn’t complaining..  it is going to leave a number of people wondering why they were so passive and felt the need to hide when they could have helped their people get tickets.

For those who were actively trying to poison the well with regards to the South Dakota Republican Party, such as SD Canvassing and Taffy Howard, it leaves them with serious egg on their face.

SD Canvassing who goes out and courts Republican leaving groups to join their paranoia, and Taffy Howard, who is alternately rumored to want to run for Congress again, or is said to be trying to stage a party coup, are now going to be left trying to sell their anti-Trump and anti-party messaging and explaining why they felt the need to devote their efforts towards attacking Republicans.

Not a good look for those who need South Dakota Republicans to further sell their ambitions.