As noted in my e-mail box, today is the last day to register for the 2023 Midwest Ag Export Summit, with the following speakers:

2023 SPEAKERS

• The Honorable Michelle Bekkering, National Engagement Director, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
• The Honorable Gary Black, Managing Partner, On Point Strategies
• Brian J. Cavanaugh, Senior Vice President, American Global Strategies
• The Honorable Norm Coleman former U.S. Senator, Minnesota
• Ambassador Gregg Doud, Chief Economist, Aimpoint Research and former Chief Agricultural Negotiator, USTR
• Karim Gamal, Director, Trade and Commercial Office, Embassy of the United Arab Emirates
• The Honorable Dan Glickman, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
• The Honorable Dusty Johnson, U.S. Representative, South Dakota
• Luke Lindberg, President & CEO, South Dakota Trade
• The Honorable Ted McKinney, CEO, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
• The Honorable Linda McMahon, 25^th Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
• The Honorable Mike Naig, Secretary, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
• The Honorable Thom Petersen, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• The Honorable Kimberly Reed, former Chairman and CEO, Export-Import Bank of the United States
• The Honorable Hunter Roberts, Secretary, South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources
• Rose Sager, Trade Representative, Kingdom of Bahrain
• David Thomas, Senior Vice President, U.S.-China Business Council
• The Honorable John Thune, U.S. Senator, South Dakota
• Ambassador Kip Tom, former U.S. Ambassador, UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture
• The Honorable Sherry Vinton, Director, Nebraska Department of Agriculture
• Colin Woodall. CEO, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
• The Honorable Steve Yates, Chair, China Policy Initiative, America First Policy Institute

You can find out more and register at the Ag Expo’s website here.

KELOland is reporting that following today’s press conference with Attorney General Marty Jackley announcing the status of the Castleberry investigation over her business’ receipt of state monies, Senator Castleberry has announced her resignation from the South Dakota State Senate:

Minutes after the news conference ended, Castleberry, who represents District 35 in eastern Rapid City, announced her resignation.

“I formally resign from my position in the South Dakota Senate,” Castleberry said in an emailed statement. “I was humbled to be appointed and honored to be elected. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the people of the state of South Dakota.”

She said she is “glad speculation from other state departments and the executive branch regarding my ethics and intentions can be laid to rest.”

Read the entire story here.

I think the Senator as attested to by the AG has been an open book and cooperated fully, but unfortunately with the wild west of COVID funds, had received advice that didn’t prove true, and made an honest mistake.

The Attorney General is holding a press conference at the moment with regards to the COVID relief funds that went to State Senator Jessica Castleberry’s day care business as they attempted to provide services during the pandemic.

It appears that $104,100 is not being required to be given back to the state, as they were direct pass through dollars to families, but $499,129 will be required to be repaid, as ineligible to have been received by the business under constitutional prohibitions for legislators receiving state funds.

A payment plan has been set up, where Senator Castleberry will be required to repay funds at the rate of $2400 monthly, at the federal interest rate (currently 4.03%).  While some funds went directly to families, unfortunately, nearly half a million was considered inappropriate under the constitution, and must be repaid back to the State of South Dakota.

Jackley remarked that Senator Castleberry has been acting in cooperation with the investigation, providing full access to her financial records, including tax returns, financial statements, and e-mails, and all funds went towards DSS approved expenditures for day care related expenses.

A copy of the repayment plan agreement will be public, and will be released.  Jackley said in looking at the plan, they determined that a payment plan must be “realistic and achievable,”and they believed that it will be payable over 20-30 years.  In response to a question, Jackley noted that under the constitution, Senator Castleberry’s business would be eligible for state funds after the Senator is out of office for a year.

Attorney General spokesman Tony Mangan noted that a press release and the settlement will be disseminated within the hour.

Fiegen Runs for PUC Re-Election

Kristie Fiegen, Chairperson of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, announced her candidacy for re-election on Wednesday evening at the Turner County Fair in her hometown of Parker, SD. The Public Utilities Commission is led by a three-member elected commission who has a regulatory role with public utilities, grain warehouses and grain buyers. In addition, the Public Utilities Commission serves in a judicial role, evaluating facts and evidence presented in permit applications for energy projects.

“South Dakotans want a PUC commissioner who is fair and honest,” Fiegen said in her announcement. “As your PUC commissioner, I will keep utility companies accountable to the people and advocate for reliable service at fair rates.”

Since joining the commission, Fiegen has focused on three main areas: First, Kristie is a consumer advocate for South Dakota utility consumers and keeping rates reasonable while providing reliable service. Keeping the lights on is essential to our state as President Biden’s radical anti-fossil fuel energy policy is causing the lights to go out. We must have “all above energy” to ensure reliability of our electricity.

Second, Commissioner Fiegen advocates for expanded utilities such as broadband, cell phone coverage, and electric transmission infrastructure which are all important to rural South Dakota. South Dakotas in every corner of our state should have high speed internet and be able to have access to worldwide commerce, online education, and new health care opportunities.

Third, Kristie does her day-to-day work with the utmost respect for the law and facts in every decision she makes. Kristie’s detailed evaluation of each case, impartial judgment, fair decisions, and hard work are what she is known for. Her reputation for protecting the process and citizens is important in how she looks out for you every day by placing honesty and integrity at the base of everything she does.

Fiegen is asking to be nominated at the State Republican Party Convention in June 2024, and re-elected in the general election in November 2024.

Fiegen was elected to the commission in November 2012 and re-elected in November 2018. Prior to serving on the commission, Kristie was the state-wide Executive Director for Junior Achievement of South Dakota for 17 years. She was elected to four terms in the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving the taxpayers of District 11 from 1993 to 2001. Kristie and her husband Tim, have two adult sons, Alex and his wife McKenna and Jackson and his fiancé Mara.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO MEET

PIERRE – The Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee will hold its first meeting of the 2023 Interim on Monday, August 21, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. (CT).

he meeting is being conducted in Room 362 of the State Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota. The committee will select a Chair and Vice Chair; discuss the efficacy of statutes and rules related to medical marijuana; and hear presentations and take testimony from sectors impacted by South Dakota’s medical marijuana laws including state agencies, the medical marijuana industry, and the public. The full agenda is available online.

Members include Senators Jim Mehlhaff (R-Pierre) and Erin Tobin (R-Winner); Representatives Roger DeGroot (R-Brookings) and Curt Massie (R-Rapid City); and non-legislators Francine Arneson, Brian Doherty, Katie Kassin, Brian Mueller, Kristi Palmer, Jon Thum, and Rachel Waddell.

-30-

If you recall  the story earlier this year that Bob Braun, Superintendent of the Aberdeen Water Treatment plant, had some harsh words for his former employer, as in a very public tirade, when he exposed a litany of employee issues that he was not allowed to take any action on, as well as delays that increased costs for taxpayers, because they were held for no discernible reason.  He also explained how he was denied the ability to get surgery by his employer, laying most of the blame at the feet of the City Manager, Joe Gaa.   Of course, the city claimed all was well.

And then the city had to later send out notices pointing out there’s an increased risk of disease in using their water supply.  Oops.

Now, it looks as if the city manager, Joe Gaa, has decided that it might be a good time “to move closer to family.”

Aberdeen City Manager Joe Gaa is departing for Iowa after working in the Hub City for three years.

and..

Gaa is expected to start in Marshalltown as early as next month.

In a statement to Dakota News Now, Gaa said the move to Iowa will allow him to be closer to family.

Read the entire story here.

Gotta love city politics. Never a dull moment.

From Facebook:

Youngberg announces candidacy for District 25 Senate

COLMAN, SD – Today, Jordan Youngberg announced his intention to seek election to represent District 25 in the South Dakota Senate during the upcoming election cycle. This decision comes on the back of support from citizens across the district and a desire to take action to improve the lives of South Dakotans through his conservative values and proven record of results and leadership.

“The decision to run again is something I’ve been excited to announce for a while now,” Youngberg said in a statement, “I would like to thank my family and friends for supporting me in this decision, and I look forward to working with our communities to take action for District 25.”

Youngberg enters the race with an extensive amount of experience in the legislative branch. He was first elected to the South Dakota Senate in 2016, where he served as the Republican Whip and championed legislation to prevent higher taxes, improve education, and protect children and victims of human trafficking.

He resides in Colman with his wife, Ann, and their two children, Russell and Blake. If elected to the Senate, Youngberg’s goals remain the same: focus on actions over words and use his proven record of conservative values to work hard for the people of District 25. Youngberg is committed to keeping taxes low, supporting agriculture, cutting red tape, and improving public safety.

To learn more about Youngberg’s campaign, please visit www.youngbergforSDsenate.com. For press inquiries, please email jordan.youngberg@yahoo.com.

Attorney General’s Office Releases Final Explanation For Initiated Measure Repealing South Dakota’s Medical Marijuana Program

PIERRE, S.D. – The final ballot explanation for a proposed initiated measure that would repeal South Dakota’s Medical Marijuana Program, as proposed by Travis Ismay of Newell, has been released by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

Attorney General Marty Jackley does not take a position on any such proposal. As required by law, the Attorney General has provided a fair and neutral explanation on the proposed constitutional amendment to assist the voters.

This proposed initiated measure would repeal the state’s medical marijuana program that was approved by voters in the 2020 general election. The repeal would make all possession, use, cultivation, sale, manufacture, sale of marijuana, and marijuana products a crime. The ballot explanation can be found here.

If the required 17,509 valid signatures are gathered and approved by the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office, the proposed constitutional amendment will be placed on the 2024 general ballot. A majority of the votes cast in the general election will be needed to pass the measure.

The Attorney General’s explanation was drafted after a review of all the comments received during the proposed amendment’s 10-day comment period. A total of 48 comments were received.

State law requires the Attorney General to draft a title and explanation for each initiated measure, initiated constitutional amendment, constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, or referred measure that may appear on an election ballot.

For more information regarding ballot measures, please visit the Secretary of State’s website.

-30-

Interim update from State Rep. Chris Kassin, District 17 House

A few miles north of Burbank, on Highway 50, two identical historical markers read, “On November 25, 1935, 17 farmers from Clay and Union counties held an historic meeting at the Manning/O’Connor store in Burbank. Their purpose was to form a consumer-owned corporation which would allow the rural residents of this portion of southeastern South Dakota to provide themselves with central station electric service. At that meeting, Clay-Union Electric, the first rural electric cooperative in South Dakota, was formed.”

As I’ve shared, the legislature’s work is more comprehensive than the time in Pierre in January and February. Our interim time focuses on having more in-depth discussions, reviewing progress on projects, and getting the opportunity to see and hear firsthand about industries and initiatives serving South Dakota’s people. During the past month, I’ve had the chance to learn more about one of our state’s most essential tools in our economic development — our rural electric cooperatives.

When those 17 farmers got together in 1935, 90% of our rural homes and farms didn’t have electricity. In May 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an Executive Order establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), a lending program from the federal government designed to “spark” development for rural communities, and it was the farmer-based cooperatives that made rural electrification a reality.

For most of us, the idea of not having electricity is only something we deal with for only a few hours if the lines go down. The idea of trying to earn a living, educate our children, and have access to health care or other services without electricity is beyond our experience — thankfully — due to our electric co-ops.

Reliable power is the cornerstone of rural development, contributing to economic growth, improved living conditions, and the integration of rural communities into the broader national economy.

This month, I joined other friends and neighbors to celebrate the grand opening of the new headquarters for the Union County Electric Cooperative in Elk Point. In operation for more than 86 years, it can be easy to take for granted all the electric co-ops have done for our communities. They’ve been the crucial key to rural economic development. The member-owned cooperatives invest in our communities by supporting local small businesses, first responders and emergency services, and education.

Our co-ops and the REA efforts on behalf of the community continued after initial electrification. They’ve continued to provide support to ensure reliable power for rural communities. The REA and local co-ops stay current in a volatile and ever-changing market. They are committed to ensuring their communities benefit from ongoing advancements in the energy sector. They play an essential role in rural communities, providing reliable energy, fostering local development, and empowering members to have a voice in their energy provider.

The history of service provided by the co-ops is a testament to the power of private partnerships and cooperative efforts to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural regions by providing them with access to electricity.

As our focus now turns to the 2024 legislative session, any ideas, thoughts, or concerns can be the foundation for future legislation. Please know that I’m listening. My email address is chris.kassin@sdlegislature.gov, or you can always call/text me at (605) 670-9698.

Thank you again for the opportunity to represent you.

Sources: The Historical Marker Database; National Rural Electric Cooperative Association