Thune: Senate Republicans Pass Bill to Make America Safer, Stronger, and More Prosperous
“I look forward to the House taking up and passing this historic legislation and getting it to the president’s desk.”
Click here to watch the video.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor.
Lance Russell, Fall River and Oglala Lakota County State’s Attorney,
to run for Attorney General
HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (July 1, 2025) – Fall River and Oglala Lakota County State’s Attorney Lance Russell today announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for South Dakota Attorney General. “I am running to work as our next Attorney General to ensure safer communities and open government for all South Dakotans,” Russell. “Violent and drug-related crime is on the rise in South Dakota, and my number one priority will be to reverse that trend and to make sure our streets are safe.”
Russell is committed to open government and has always fought to ensure the public’s right to know. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley appointed Lance to serve as a member of the South Dakota Open Meetings Commission in 2024. “If I am entrusted to serve as our next Attorney General, I will continue my efforts be a guardian of transparency and open government in South Dakota.”
Lance previously served 12 years in the South Dakota Legislature, with 8 years in the House and 4 in the Senate. During Russell’s time in the Senate, he served as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he focused on issues of government transparency, accountability and protecting Constitutional Rights. According to Russell, this was a significant factor in his decision to run.
“My life as a public servant has always been about fighting for victims, property rights, transparency in government, and an improved quality of life for all South Dakotans,” Russell said.
Currently in his fourth term as the Fall River and Oglala Lakota County State’s Attorney, Russell also owns a 25-year private practice in Fall River County.
Russell earned a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law and a Master of Laws Degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Law from the University of Denver College of Law. He represents Grassland Grazing Associations and is City Attorney for municipalities in the southern Black Hills.
Russell has been a life-long member of the South Dakota Republican Party and has served as the Executive Director for both the Pennington County Republican Party, and the State Republican Party. Lance has also served as GOP Chairman in his home county of Fall River and was selected by his peers to represent South Dakota as a delegate to the 2016 and 2024 Republican National Conventions.
During his public service, Russell has been recognized by South Dakota Right to Life, the National Rifle Association and the National Association for Gun Rights as a champion for our rights.
Russell concluded, “The South Dakota Republican Party will nominate our candidate for Attorney General at the 2026 Republican State Convention next year in June, and I hope to earn your support at the Convention and in the November General Election.”
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Hot off the press from the Federal Elections Commission, Marty Jackley has filed paperwork with the FEC to continue his entrance into the Congressional contest.
Well known Sioux Falls attorney Russ Janklow will serve as the treasurer for the committee, and you can read the Statement of Organization for yourself below:
Jackley for Congress FEC by Pat Powers on Scribd
Thune Secures Generational Wins for South Dakota in Reconciliation Bill Passage
“The Senate’s reconciliation bill will put more money in the pockets of South Dakota families and strengthen farms, ranches, and small businesses across our state for generations to come.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today applauded the Senate’s passage of the Republicans’ reconciliation bill that will provide permanent tax relief for South Dakota families and small businesses, bolster the agriculture sector for farmers and ranchers across the state, and provide resources for the B-21 bomber mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The legislation will also make a generational investment in border security, increase American energy independence, and cut waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs.
“The Senate’s reconciliation bill will put more money in the pockets of South Dakota families and strengthen farms, ranches, and small businesses across our state for generations to come,” said Thune. “This historic legislation delivers on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make our country safer, stronger, and more prosperous, and I look forward to getting these pro-growth policies working for the people of South Dakota.”
Permanently extends the 2017 Republican-led tax cuts:
Puts even more money in the pockets of South Dakota families by:
Strengthens South Dakota’s economy and incentivizes small businesses and family-owned farms to grow and invest in their workers by:
Provides critical support for South Dakota’s agriculture producers and rural communities by:
Bolsters the mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base and makes our nation safer by:
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Chemtrails Conspiracy Movement Streams into S.D. Republican Politics
Scientists say they are contrails not chemtrails
By Todd Epp, Northern Plains News
A growing movement centered on “chemtrails” conspiracy theories has found its way into South Dakota Republican politics, with some state lawmakers actively supporting efforts to ban alleged chemical spraying from aircraft.
Pledge Circulates Among Lawmakers
On April 4, 2025, State Representative Logan Manhart of Aberdeen shared a “Ban Chemtrails” pledge on his Facebook page that commits signatories to three specific actions:
1. Advocate for and support a statewide ban on the use of chemtrails in South Dakota.
2. Support legislation that authorizes the National Guard to take military action against aircraft engaged in the dispersal of chemtrails.
3. Sponsor or co-sponsor legislation to enforce this ban and ensure it remains strong, without dilution or compromise.
“Originally posted on April 4, 2025, the pledge reads: ‘By signing this pledge, I commit to protecting the health, environment, and sovereignty of South Dakota,” states the document posted on Manhart’s Facebook page on April 4, 2025.
Representative Dylan Jordan of Clear Lake has also signed the pledge, commenting in April 2025 “Yes!” on Manhart’s Facebook post, according to screenshots of the Facebook exchange.
Facebook Group Pushes for Action
The Facebook group “South Dakotans Against Chem Trails,” which has 327 members, is at the forefront of this movement. The group describes itself as being for those “committed to advocating for legislation that would obligate the National Guard to shoot down these poison pushing planes dispersing chem trails,” according to the group’s Facebook page as of April 2025.
Political Tensions Emerge
The movement has already created friction in South Dakota politics. According to a post in the Facebook group by Lori Jacobson Welch on April 3, 2025, “SD speaker Jon Hansen refused to, not only sign a pledge to ban chemtrails in SD, but refused to discuss the issue.”
This approach has caused some division even within the group. One member, Vanessa Namken, expressed concern about tactics, writing in a Facebook comment: “If ambushing a guest speaker at an event hosted for him is a tactic, and then bashing them on social media, then maybe this is not a group I want to be a part of.”
Scientific Consensus vs. Conspiracy Claims
Scientists have repeatedly debunked chemtrail theories, explaining that condensation trails from aircraft consist of water vapor that freezes at high altitudes, not chemical agents. A 2016 survey of 77 atmospheric scientists found that 76 out of 77 (98.7%) reported not having encountered evidence of a secret large-scale atmospheric program, and that the data cited as evidence could be explained by other factors, such as typical contrail formation.
However, group members remain convinced. Jeffrey Lerud wrote in the Facebook group: “This is not a ‘brain’ thing. I live in a place where chemtrails disrupt weather. I have personally seen jets flying in formation releasing an exhaust that hung in the air and seemed to draw moisture.”
Understanding Contrails Not Chemtrails
Contrails, or condensation trails, are cloud-like formations that appear behind aircraft flying at high altitudes. They form when hot exhaust gases from jet engines mix with cold, humid air in the upper atmosphere, causing water vapor to condense and freeze into tiny ice crystals.
The persistence of contrails depends on atmospheric humidity. In dry air, contrails dissipate quickly. In humid conditions, they can remain longer and spread out, resembling natural cirrus clouds. This variation in persistence and appearance has led some observers to believe in chemtrail activity, despite scientific explanations.
According to the American Chemical Society, contrails can be categorized into three types:
1. Short-lived contrails that disappear within minutes due to low humidity
2. Persistent contrails that linger for hours
3. Persistent spreading contrails that can contribute to artificial cloud cover
Regional Context
The chemtrails conspiracy movement has gained traction in several states surrounding South Dakota. In February 2025, Republican lawmakers in Iowa advanced House File 482, which would prohibit chemical emissions for weather modification purposes. Nearly two dozen Republicans in the Iowa House co-sponsored the bill, according to legislative records.
Tennessee had already enacted House Bill 2063 and Senate Bill 2691 in early 2024, which addressed the release of airborne chemicals. The Republican-sponsored bill passed along party lines and broadly prohibits “affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight,” according to the text of the legislation.
Internal Republican Rift?
The Dakota War College, a mainstream Republican political blog, broke the story about South Dakota legislators’ involvement in the chemtrails movement on April 1, 2025. The blog specifically noted that “unfortunately, it’s not an April Fools’ joke.” There has been a vigorous back-and-forth among Pat Powers, the editor of DWC, and more conservative Republicans.
What’s Next?
This regional spread of chemtrail conspiracy legislation represents a growing trend of emerging theories influencing mainstream Republican politics across the Plains states. According to a 2011 international survey, nearly 17 percent of respondents said they believed the existence of a secret large-scale atmospheric spraying program to be true or partly true.
As this debate unfolds, it underscores the challenges facing policymakers and voters in an era of widespread misinformation and political polarization. The coming months may reveal whether this movement gains further traction or faces pushback from within the Republican party and the broader electorate.
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It’s a new fiscal year in South Dakota, with brand new laws and brand new advertisers joining us on advertisers row!
Please help me welcome the Re-Election campaign for Monae Johnson for Secretary of State – go check out her website to find out more about her campaign. She joins US Senator John Thune, United States Senator Mike Rounds, the Dusty Johnson campaign, and others – including our friends the South Dakota Teenage Republicans who are once again having camp later this month, and my own Dakota Campaign Store.
Are you running for office in 2026 as it seems everyone is doing this year? I have a number of spots open, and questions on ad prices, ad positions, and ad commitments may be directed to the webmaster by clicking here. Lots of open space available at the moment, such as the #1 spot on both the left and the right are available, as well as the #2 position on the right, as well as spots lower down on both sides of the page.
Ads run in their position through the site, meaning they are not rotated. Advertising is available on a first-come first-served basis, and discounts are provided for extended commitments. Advertising on the Dakotwarcollege.com website is based on a first come, first serve basis for available positions.
There is word this afternoon that former State Representative Steve Hickey passed away this last week on the 27th of June.
Hickey served in the House from 2011-2015, and was replaced upon his resignation by Wayne Steinhauer.
Services are pending.
Just so I’m not ignoring what’s happening on the 2% end of the gubernatorial primary, It looks like a couple of Jon Hansen’s former legal clients are hosting a fundraiser for him…
That would be the business owned by former House Majority Leader Lee Qualm and his wife Trudy.
You can read more than you ever cared to know about that here.
And now they are asking people to donate money at a fundraiser for Hansen.
Funny how things work out.
Interesting that now the new version of the South Dakota Republican Party has one of the big candidates running for Governor, they’re suddenly struck mute on social media.. with a day old post on the Governor visiting tornado damage and an ego post about the SDGOP chairman’s birthday…
Oh, don’t forget twitter.
Did I say “don’t forget twitter?”
With the most recent post being February 19, it looks like they forgot twitter.
PUC commissioners appoint Mohr as executive director
PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA – South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioners Gary Hanson, Chris Nelson and Kristie Fiegen have appointed Leah Mohr as the agency’s executive director. She has worked for the commission for the past 19 years, serving as the PUC’s deputy executive director since 2009.
She replaces Patricia Van Gerpen who recently retired, wrapping up 20 years with the PUC and a 41-year career in state government.
Mohr begins her duties as executive director with the commission on July 1, 2025. Her experience prior to working for the PUC includes 13 years in director and manager positions for the South Dakota Department of Tourism and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, three years as an advertising manager for a national insurance company and a stint as a newspaper reporter in the Black Hills.
Mohr graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in journalism. She is originally from Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Mohr and her family make their home in Pierre.
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