Attorney General Jackley Joins Congressional Request To Create AI Child Exploitation Expert Commission

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined 53 other Attorneys General in asking Congressional leaders to create an expert panel on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is to use to exploit children.

“Artificial Intelligence has its benefits, but there is also potential for serious harm that we are now experiencing with several investigations in South Dakota,” said Attorney General Jackley.  “That harm is real with ‘deepfakes’ that include the use of real children’s voices and photographs taken from social media to create computer generated child porn.”

In their letter, the Attorneys General urge Congress to create an expert commission to study how AI methods are used to exploit children and then take steps to protect children from such issues as the generation of child sexual abuse materials and the use of their images for deepfake photo images.

“We need Congress to take action, and I also plan to do so this Legislative Session in South Dakota,” said Attorney General Jackley. “We will be working with legislators to address ‘deepfakes’ and to make AI generated child pornography a crime in South Dakota.”

Other Attorneys General signing onto the letter were from the states of: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

The letter can be read here:

This has been a decidedly different Labor Day weekend for me.

No State Fair, but I did manage to visit one of my family’s ancestral homes in Newport, RI, and finally accomplished a successful whale watching tour.. right about the time Jimmy Buffet’s passing hit the news.

Back to the salt mines tomorrow..

Katie Washnok Announces Candidacy for South Dakota Senate

Aberdeen, SD —September 1, 2023 – Today Katie Washnok (35) of Aberdeen, SD proudly announces her candidacy for South Dakota Senate from District 3, promising a new voice, fresh perspective, and unwavering dedication to the greater Aberdeen Area and its constituents.

With a proven track record of dedicated community involvement, Katie seeks to bring positive change and a strong voice to the South Dakota Senate.

Having worked in both Washington D.C. and Pierre early in her career, Katie brings an in-depth knowledge of the policy process. And her service to the community has instilled a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Northeastern South Dakotans. Katie will ensure these issues are made a priority in the legislature.

“I am excited to hit the campaign trail running, I look forward to engaging even more with the constituents of District 3, listening to their concerns, and working collaboratively to make the greater Aberdeen area an even better place to call home!” Says Washnok.

Katie invites all to join her campaign by liking her Facebook page “Katie Washnok for South Dakota Senate”.

Lt. Gov. Rhoden Opens Dakota Events CompleX 

HURON, S.D. – Today, Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources opened the Dakota Events CompleX (DEX) at the South Dakota State Fairgrounds in Huron.

“The DEX is a state-of-the-art facility that will position us to better compete for national rodeo and equestrian events. It will provide the city of Huron and the entire state of South Dakota with new opportunities,” said Lt. Governor Rhoden. “Out of adversity, we have found opportunity to grow. The DEX will be a special place. I can’t wait to see all of the memories that families, friends, visitors, and fairgoers will make right here.”

Almost three years ago, in the early hours of October 31^st, 2020, a fire destroyed the State Fair Open Class Beef Complex. Thanks to State Fair staff, firefighters, and first responders, no people or animals were injured in the fire, but the building was a total loss.

Immediately after the fire, Governor Noem announced the DEX project in her 2020 Budget Address and held a press conference in Huron discussing the plans to build this new and improved complex.  The legislature authorized $20 million to build the DEX in 2021 and an additional $9 million earlier this year to ensure that it was ready to open for the 2023 South Dakota State Fair.

The DEX is a 150,000 square-foot open concept facility. It is capable of housing up to 2,000 head of cattle and allows for indoor regional and national rodeos, equestrian events, and livestock exhibitions.

Photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony can be found here, here, here, and here.

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As you get older, you can look back and remember people who taught you lessons in life, and you tend not to forget them.  For me, Ken Orrock was one of those people, and his name popped up in the news today:

Kenneth Orrock was Bennett County state’s attorney before being charged in federal court for failing to collect and remit payroll taxes from 2011 through 2015. The charges didn’t relate to his practice of law, but to his security company, called Black Hills Patrol. He was given a five-year probation sentence and ordered to pay $280,000 in restitution after pleading guilty. He was released from probation after three years.

On Wednesday, Orrock appeared before the state Supreme Court in Pierre to ask for limited readmission to the bar. The bar’s disciplinary board heard from Orrock earlier this year and recommended readmission on several conditions, among them limiting Orrock’s practice to criminal law and requiring him to retake and pass the bar exam.

Read that here at South Dakota Searchlight.

That’s a name I remember, as it was the first, and maybe the only bad debt I’ve had to write off in my postcard business.    Back in May of 2016, I had been been selling campaign materials for a while, and I was asked to design/print/mail a postcard for Orrock in his race for Bennett County State’s Attorney. Which when it came time for the bill, it was ignored.   It wasn’t much, about $165, but after being ghosted long enough, as well as noting his legal troubles, you have to decide how much energy a person is going to put into trying to collect a $165 bill across the state.

I wrote that debt off over 7 years ago now, but the the lesson I learned sticks with me. Cash up front in political races if you don’t know the person.  You’d think you could trust elected officials, but it turns out that there’s always one who spoils it for the rest.

Getting back to Orrock’s latest appearance in the news, if you read the article, his attorney Jim Sword is vouching for his “his growth as a person” since he got stomped on by the Federal court for failing to pay payroll taxes to the tune of $300k. But, the court isn’t so sure they agree..

Chief Justice Steven Jensen said it was clear to him that Orrock had done a great deal of work on himself since his conviction, but also asked about complaints from before the charges appeared in 2017. Orrock had seven complaints lodged against him, some of which were later expunged, with others leading to reprimand. That’s more than usual, Jensen said.

and..

His ability to act as a court-appointed attorney, however, could help relieve the burden caused in the Rapid City area by a dearth of criminal lawyers.

“Many of the court appointed attorneys that I’ve been able to speak to in the last several months have just been overwhelmed,” Orrock said. “As a matter of fact, one told me last week he’s stopping to take them because he can’t do it any more.”

Same citation..

The back and forth, as well as my own experience leads a person to ask, “are they really THAT hard up for attorneys in South Dakota?”

Patrick Schubert, who ran for US Senate against Senator John Thune for about 10 minutes in the 2022 has apparently set his sights on the 2024 Congressional race.

Schubert Congress by Pat Powers on Scribd

Schubert of Box Elder, who announced his candidacy for US Senate around this time in 2021 via a overly long and rambling press release, has been living in Rapid City for the last decade, and managed to raise around $1200 in his run against Senator Thune. However, Schubert failed to collect sufficient signatures to get on the ballot, and was done by the end of March in 2022.

I imagine he’s going to do about the same in this election.

August has been a busy month! Every year, Congress has an extended “district work period.” It’s a time where members of Congress stop traveling back and forth to Washington and spend August in their home state to attend events or much-needed meetings, visit with constituents at fairs, sit down with business owners and community leaders, and host town halls. This time in the state helps us hear firsthand what is happening in communities big and small. Some may see August as a break from Congress doing their work, but it is filled with important meetings across the state to connect with South Dakotans.

I’ve been all across the state, from Hot Springs to Webster, North Sioux City to Newell—it’s easy to say I’ve spent a lot of time in the car. A day in each town is jam packed with events. One of my favorites is celebrating South Dakota agriculture at Dakotafest. I shared an update on the Farm Bill during South Dakota Farm Bureau’s Congressional forum, served lunch, and met producers from across the state who work hard day in and day out to provide quality products for Americans.

This August, I’ve hosted several Vietnam veteran pinning ceremonies, giving Vietnam veterans a proper thank you and welcome home. More than 100 Vietnam veterans have gathered at these ceremonies, bringing the total number of Vietnam veterans I have honored to almost 900 since I started the program in 2019.

At the beginning of the month, I spoke at the Naturalization Ceremony in Sioux Falls. It was a privilege to congratulate new citizens on completing the citizenship process. These individuals bring unique talents to our state and I’m grateful for their decision to call South Dakota, and America, home.

I’ve met with dozens of business leaders, community leaders, students, and health care workers. They keep me updated on what is going on in each community, any needs they have, and progress on community and business improvements.

The time I spend going from town to town allows me to best represent you in Washington D.C. – I’m looking forward to a productive fall when Congress is back in session.

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Had an interesting rumor from the field today from a tipster:

Minnehaha County Auditor Anderson has hired Mike Mathis (with SD Canvassing Group) as her new Elections Coordinator. She secured Mike a starting pay two pay classes higher than election previous coordinators. 

We’ll be able to confirm this pretty quickly as soon as it rolls through the County Commission so we can compare what the new coordinator is making in comparison to the old one. But the part that’s far more concerning is where Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson is said to be using to tap for her talent.

Mathis (Pictured to the left) was active in the SD Canvassing group, where in the linked clip he was claiming that he has “no confidence” in the elections.

If you’re not familiar with the SD Canvassing Group, it’s hard to deny that they’re a bit …on the fringe with their election beliefs:

Early into our research, we realized the Federal Election Laws like the NVRA and HAVA weren’t for the good of the States, or the integrity of the vote. Neither was the Patriot Act. Federal interference comes with Federal funds, which come with strings attached. Then, pick your favorite three letter agency and how they meddle in United States (s)elections. You may or may not know that the US perfected the election steal on other countries before using it on us.

and..

South Dakota has lost control of it’s elections. It’s death by 1,000 cuts. 

Read that on one of SD Canvassing’s websites.

And it’s not as if Anderson has distanced herself from the elections conspiracists.

Better saddle up for the ride, I’m sure we will hear more about it very shortly.

Despite Jennifer Slaight-Hansen’s exercise in futility to stop her removal as party chair, I notice that South Dakota Democrats have already expunged her from their website, instead noting the leadership of their interim chair:

I guess we know how that appeal is going to turn out.

Final Explanation Released for Draft Initiated Measure That Would Legalize Recreational Marijuana

PIERRE, S.D. – The final ballot explanation for a draft initiated measure that would legalize recreational marijuana, proposed by Matthew Schweich of Sioux Falls, has been released by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

Attorney General Marty Jackley takes no position on any such proposal for purposes of the ballot explanation. He has provided a fair and neutral explanation of the proposed initiated measure to help assist the voters.

This proposed initiated measure would allow individuals 21 years old or older to possess, grow, ingest, and distribute marijuana for recreational purposes. The initiated measure does not affect laws dealing with hemp. The measure also does not change State laws concerning the State’s medical marijuana program. 

The final ballot explanation can be found here.

State law requires the Attorney General 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. The Attorney General’s explanation is meant to be an “objective, clear, and simple summary” intended to “educate the voters of the purpose and effect of the proposed” measure, as well as identify the “legal consequences” of each measure.

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 15 comments were received.

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

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Ltr. MJJ Final Initiated Measure Legal. Rec. Use Possession and Distrib Marijuana by Pat Powers on Scribd