Attorney General Jackley Announces Tyndall Man Sentenced To Life in Prison For Triple Homicide Case
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that Francis Lange has been sentenced to life in prison after he had earlier pled guilty to a 2021 triple homicide that occurred in Scotland.
Lange was sentenced Monday in Bon Homme Circuit Court after he had earlier pled guilty but mentally ill to three counts of Murder in the First Degree and to two counts of Aggravated Assault. The defendant received consecutive life sentences for each murder charge and 15-year consecutive sentences for each aggravated assault charge.
“The sentencing today brings some resolution to this tragic case and justice for the victim’s family,” said Attorney General Jackley. “This was a cooperative effort between state and local law enforcement and prosecutors.”
Lange shot and killed three people during an incident Nov.9, 2021 in a Scotland home. Two other individuals received gunshot wounds.
Agencies involved in investigating the shooting were the State Division of Criminal Investigation, the Bon Homme County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Prosecution of the case was handled by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office and Bon Homme County State’s Attorney’s Lisa Rothschadl.
Release: Representative Chris Kassin Selected for Leadership Program
Representative Christopher Kassin was selected to participate in the 2023 Emerging Legislative Leaders Program, sponsored by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and held at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.
This prestigious program is held every year on the campus of the University of Virginia for a select group of state legislators who have been nominated by the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate or Minority Leader from their state. Leaders are asked to nominate one or more members who by their actions have demonstrated those qualities we associate with leadership—integrity, compassion, intelligence, vision, and common sense.
The goal of this program is to inspire these men and women to continue careers in public service. Class discussions will examine qualities and characteristics of leadership including: ethical leadership, the art of compromise and coalition building, and the philosophical underpinnings of representative democracy. The discussions will be led by a team of distinguished Darden School of Business professors, including: Jared D. Harris, Ph.D. and Mary Margaret Frank, Ph.D. Dr. Thomas Little, Curriculum Director of the State LegislativeLeaders Foundation, will join the Darden faculty.
Representative Kassin is one of only fifty state legislators chosen from a nationwide pool of nearly 200 outstanding nominees.
As Stephen G. Lakis, President of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, has noted “These legislators represent the best in our legislative institutions, and are destined for future leadership roles in their state. Spending time with these up and coming leaders renews my confidence in our country’s great democratic experiment.”
Rep. Kassin noted, “I am incredibly honored to have been recognized as one of the top first-term legislators in the United States by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF). Last week, I had the privilege of participating in the highly esteemed Emerging Leaders Program at the University of Virginia alongside other exceptional senators and representatives from across the nation.”
“It was a remarkable chance to be challenged, motivated, and equipped with the necessary tools to serve the people of District 17 in Pierre. My commitment to public service is driven by the desire to safeguard the quality of life we are fortunate to experience in South Dakota. I am determined to ensure that the opportunities I have enjoyed are preserved for the benefit of my children and the future generations of South Dakotans. The SLLF conference was a significant strategic and educational opportunity. Other states also share many of the challenges faced by South Dakota in the country. Learning about different ideas and solutions at the conference is invaluable as we prepare for the upcoming legislative session in January 2024,” Kassin said.
The State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to professional development for our nation’s current and future state legislative leaders. SLLF receives most of its funding from the private sector through annual dues, grants, and program sponsorship fees. The Foundation’s principal source of funds is its 70-member Advisory Council, comprised of representatives of leading corporations. SLLF does not accept public funds.
Kassin was elected to his first term in the South Dakota State House in November 2022. He serves on the Committee on Appropriations. Kassin and his family live in Vermillion, SD, where he works for the University of South Dakota Foundation.
From BRAC to B-21: Ellsworth’s Mission Goes On BySen. John Thune
Just a few months after I was elected to the Senate, we got the dreaded news that Ellsworth Air Force Base was being recommended for closure. The odds of saving the base were slim. The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission in charge of these decisions rarely reversed course. But, through an all-hands effort by our congressional delegation and state and community leaders, we proved to the Air Force and the BRAC Commission that Ellsworth was too valuable to lose.
We didn’t stop there, though. Having saved Ellsworth from closure, we got right to work building up the base so we would never again find ourselves in the same position. In 2007, the Air Force Financial Services Center opened at Ellsworth. The 89th Attack Squadron, which remotely commands MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, arrived a few years later. In 2015, after a nearly decade-long effort, we quadrupled the base’s local training airspace, making the Powder River Training Complex the largest range in the lower 48. And in 2021, Ellsworth was designated Main Operating Base 1 for the B-21 Raider, meaning it will host the Formal Training Unit and first operational squadron.
The B-21 will extend Ellsworth’s already incredible contributions to America’s national security for years to come. A sixth-generation long-range bomber, the Raider has been called the future backbone of the bomber force. And that’s no exaggeration. Operating from the United States, it will be able to reach targets around the world that 90 percent of our current bomber force can’t. It will use stealth technologies that you have to see – or not see – to believe. And it’s designed to be able to incorporate new technologies within its airframe and work alongside the technologies of tomorrow, like unmanned aircraft and artificial intelligence, enabling the B-21 to evolve with a changing threat environment.
It will be another few years before the first B-21s make their home in the Black Hills, but the men and women of Ellsworth are working hard to prepare for this important new mission. And I’m working to ensure they have everything they need to successfully carry it out. In recent years, I’ve secured full funding for the B-21 project and its support facilities at Ellsworth. I also worked to establish a dynamic airspace pilot program that will allow airspace boundaries to evolve as exercises progress, which is critical for training in long-range aircraft like the B-21. And I’m proud to report that this year’s defense bill includes full authorization for continued B-21 development and base preparation.
Looking at Ellsworth today, it’s hard to imagine that its future was in jeopardy not long ago. Once slated for closure, Ellsworth is set to be a critical part of our nation’s defense long into the future. I will continue to do everything I can to support both the base’s mission and the men and women who make it happen.
Fight or Flight? By Rep. Dusty Johnson July 21, 2023
Most of us feel a bit of dread when going to the airport. From the time we leave our front door until we reach our final destination, a lot can go wrong. Maybe it’s the crowds, long lines, flight cancelations, delays, or missing baggage, we’ve all had our fair share of air travel problems.
A few weeks ago, I updated you about an important amendment I got included in this year’s aviation bill to protect the airports in Watertown, Aberdeen, and Pierre. This week, the House passed the bipartisan aviation bill, and now it flies to the Senate. Before it passed, there was some opposition to my amendment—some other members of Congress wanted to cut Essential Air Service (EAS) airports.
Without EAS airports in Watertown, Aberdeen, and Pierre, some South Dakotans would have to drive nearly seven hours to reach the closest medium or large hub airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Driving this far to begin the travel journey is astonishing. America has a national commitment to infrastructure, and that includes aviation. These EAS airports connect rural America to larger airports with ease.
This year, we’ve seen multiple nationwide air service problems. In January, the FAA’s computer system outage grounded all domestic flights. This spring, Southwest Airlines encountered a technology issue that caused thousands of flight cancelations and staffing issues. And to top it all off, we’re also facing a pilot shortage.
The aviation bill focused on improving the passenger experience from beginning to end. My colleagues and I won the battle to support EAS airports, so you don’t have to drive as far to start your flight journey. The bill also included provisions to improve efficiency in the FAA, grow the aviation workforce, ensure safety, and foster innovation in America’s aviation industry.
The bill successfully passed the House with overwhelming support. I look forward to the bill getting signed into law and securing more wins for South Dakotans.
South Dakota Dreams: A “Freedom Works Here” Story By: Governor Kristi Noem July 21, 2023
Alex moved to the United States from South Africa in 1995. He had lived in Seattle ever since – until the COVID pandemic and violent riots changed the city. In 2021, Alex decided that he’d had enough of the soaring cost of living and diminishing quality of life on the West Coast. He packed his bags, moved to South Dakota, and never looked back. And Alex says that moving to the Mount Rushmore State is one of the greatest decisions he’s ever made.
“I decided to go to South Dakota because I wanted to improve my situation and my life,” Alex said. “Moving to South Dakota was one of the best decisions of my life. And I can honestly say there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about how thankful I am to be in South Dakota.”
Today, Alex is a dedicated job advisor with the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation. And with our new “Freedom Works Here” nationwide workforce recruitment campaign, he’s busier than ever.
Even with the lowest unemployment rate in the history of the nation, South Dakota still has open jobs to spare. We have more jobs than people! So we’re inviting Freedom-loving people from across America to come join our winning workforce.
More than 3,000 people have applied to find jobs in South Dakota – that’s when folks like Alex step in. As a job advisor, Alex works to connect individuals interested in moving to our state with our businesses that are in need of workers. His personal journey and firsthand experience in transitioning to a new state allow him to empathize with his clients on a profound level. For that reason, Alex is working directly with folks moving from the West Coast!
“Freedom Works Here” has already been the most successful workforce recruitment campaign in South Dakota history. The number one state for applications is California. Americans are seeing the pitfalls of far-left policies. People don’t want to live in packed communities with skyrocketing prices and politicians that don’t seem to care for their wellbeing.
For so many of these folks, South Dakota is a beacon of hope and Freedom. Our vast lands, our thriving economy, and our patriotism set us apart. These folks really are making a statement. It’s not easy to pick up your entire life and move your family across the country, but that’s exactly what these people are doing.
We have hundreds of applicants that are already working with people like Alex. Over 550 are in the final stages of finding career opportunities to move to South Dakota. And people like Alex who have actually packed up their lives and moved here are the one that really connect with Americans from coast to coast.
Alex firmly believes that everyone deserves a chance to thrive professionally. He is committed to empowering others to achieve their dreams in South Dakota. And there are people like Alex all over our great state. People have seen that our small-town values and rural way of life work.
Freedom Works Here – and now, Americans from across the nation are working here too.
You can listen to Alex tell his story here. More information about the “Freedom Works Here” campaign can be found here.
South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds is part of a group in the US Senate demanding answers to rumors about the military collecting data on extraterrestrials and UFO’s:
The Senate has adopted an amendment to an annual defense bill that would require the federal government to collect and disclose all records related to UFOs and UAPs unless a special review board determines they must be kept classified.
The amendment was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees.
and..
Rounds said he has seen “no evidence personally” that extraterrestrial craft are visiting the planet but said, “I know that there’s a lot of people that have questions about it.”
and..
“I don’t think anybody should say that they know for certain either way,” he said. “If we simply refuse to acknowledge there’s even a remote possibility, then we’re probably not being honest.”
“Some of the items we simply can’t explain,” he said of the Naval videos of UAPs.
Governor Noem Appoints Chas Olson as Director of South Dakota Housing
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Krisi Noem announced that Chas Olson will be the new Executive Director of the South Dakota Housing. He has served as Interim Director of South Dakota Housing since April.
“As interim director, Chas has been very proactive in reaching out to communities and working to roll out funding as quickly as possible,” said Governor Noem. “I am confident that he will continue to cut red tape and streamline state government for the people of South Dakota as executive director.”
Olson previously served as the Director of Rental Housing Development and worked as a Housing Development Officer prior to his appointment. Before joining SDHDA in 2014, Olson worked for seven years in various roles at a national bank.
Olson is a native of Pierre and graduated from T.F. Riggs High School in 2002. He attended the University of South Dakota where he obtained a bachelor’s in finance. He also has a Housing Development Finance Professional Certification from the National Development Council.
“It’s an honor to be appointed by Governor Noem, and I want to thank her for the opportunity to serve as the Executive Director of SDHDA,” said Chas Olson. “We have an outstanding staff and board of commissioners at SDHDA, and I look forward to continuing my work with them in this new capacity. Together, we will ensure that all South Dakotans have a place to call home.”
Chas Olson and his wife, Sheila, have two children. Olson enjoys golfing, hunting, and spending time with family and friends in the Black Hills and on the Missouri River.
Information on South Dakota Housing can be found here. A photo of Olson can be found here.
South Dakota Breaks U.S Record for Lowest Unemployment Rate
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota has officially broken the record for the lowest unemployment rate in United States history with a June unemployment rate of 1.8%. South Dakota had previously tied the record of 1.9% unemployment rate over the past several months. Employment grew by 1,300 in June.
“South Dakotans are the hardest working folks I know, and this record low unemployment rate is proof of that,” said Governor Noem. “South Dakota is setting an example for the rest of the nation. We are showing that work ethic and traditional American values still have a place in the United States of America.”
South Dakota currently has more than 24,000 job openings. The “Freedom Works Here” nationwide workforce recruitment campaign is encouraging freedom-loving people from across the nation to live, work, and raise their families right here in South Dakota. By welcoming new South Dakotans into our winning workforce, we are ensuring the continued growth and economic success of our state.
“Unemployment in South Dakota is the lowest that this country has ever seen,” said South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Secretary Marcia Hultman. “I am grateful that Governor Noem kept our state ‘Open for Business,’ and allowed South Dakotans to keep on working during the pandemic. Our economic success is truly thanks to the people that get up and work hard every single day. With the great response we’re seeing to the Freedom Works Here workforce recruitment campaign, we’re hopeful this healthy growth can continue.”
A more comprehensive overview of the South Dakota labor market based on the preliminary June data can be found here.
Here’s one of those stories where previous actions have returned to come back and bite someone in the tail. This week in legislative testimony on elections, the Deputy Secretary of State testified in a legislative committee that their team of election experts do not know anything about election technology:
Hansen also wants the security procedures for ballot tabulators better proscribed in rule and wanted to know more about KNOWiNK, a St. Louis, Missouri, company that bought BPro. The secretary of state contracts with the formerly South Dakota-based company for some voter-registration and elections technology.
(Deputy Secretary of State) Deadrick indicated he didn’t know much about the company and acknowledged that the secretary of state’s staff lacks expertise in election technology.
“The fact that we don’t even know who these people are just concerns me a little bit,” Hansen said about KNOWiNK. He added, “Even the head of our elections doesn’t fully understand how this stuff works.”
It goes without saying that if part of your focus is going to be on election technology and the machines that run elections, you probably don’t want to FIRE most of the people who have at least a passing knowledge of very specific equipment.
Because any embarrassment to the Secretary of State that arises from this incident seems to be pretty self inflicted.
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that Francis Lange has been sentenced to life in prison after he had earlier pled guilty to a 2021 triple homicide that occurred in Scotland.
