South Dakota Board of Regents Announces Systemwide Strategic Objectives for Artificial Intelligence Integration

 CUSTER, S.D. — The South Dakota Board of Regents (BOR) announced a strategic set of objectives designed to position the state’s public universities to become leaders in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. As AI continues to reshape workforce expectations, academic disciplines, and operational practices, the Regental system is taking coordinated action to ensure students, faculty, and staff are prepared to succeed in an increasingly AI‑driven world.

“Artificial intelligence is transforming every sector of our economy, and higher education must evolve just as rapidly,” said BOR President Jeff Partirdge. “These strategic objectives ensure that South Dakota’s public universities prepare students to be AI-ready, responsive to workforce demands, and capable of responsibly utilizing emerging technologies. This is an investment in the long-term success of our students and our state.”

The Board emphasized that intentional, ethical, and future‑focused engagement with AI is essential for maintaining the competitiveness of South Dakota’s public higher education system. This work will be organized into five core components:

1. Governance and infrastructure needs,
2. Curricular and programmatic impacts,
3. Optimization and utilization of agentic AI,
4. Research, and
5. Development of AI literacy and fluency among students, faculty, and staff.

“AI is not a distant concept; it is already shaping how students learn, collaborate, and prepare for their future careers,” said University of South Dakota President Sheila Gestring. “By building a strong support system and investing in training across our campuses, we are helping ensure students, faculty, and staff can use these tools responsibly, confidently, and in ways that strengthen learning and opportunity for everyone.”

The Board of Regents’ strategic decisions reflect a commitment to preparing South Dakota’s public higher education system for the decade ahead, ensuring students and institutions remain competitive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

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Coincidentally, While Josephine Garcia hears voices and claims to be anointed by God for her election, State Senator Glen Vilhauer has more earthly pursuits today with a Fundraiser/Meet & Greet in his campaign to return to the office that Garcia covets.

5pm at the Goss Opera House in Watertown today, with a number of Watertown leaders sponsoring the event to return him to the State Senate.  You can RSVP Here.

OR, give this link a click, and send a donation to Glen to keep sound (and sane) lawmaking in Pierre.

No wonder kooky State Rep. Josephine Garcia wouldn’t sit where she was assigned in House Education Committee.

She’s doesn’t worry about being elected by voters. Because as she declares on facebook, she’s endorsed by God.

Does God get on the phone to talk to her often?

Is she imagining he got her on the horn and said “hey, you goofball, I’m endorsing you because I need to punish District 5, I’m all out of locusts, and I only reserved the first born thing for the Egyptians.”

If God called her, and she pulled an endorsement, she needs to provide a recording. Because I’m a bit of a skeptic, and am going to say that this claim might indicate she needs to speak with someone about the assumptions about her “God conversations.”

**UPDATE**

Garcia changed her facebook image.

… I’m guessing God withdrew his endorsement, as blasphemous as it was.

Outgoing 1-term State Representative and declared enemy of jet-powered aircraft Dylan Jordan decided to lay it all out there last night on facebook in a last ditch effort to go out in a blaze of glory.

First, the grandma-house cohabiting Jordan decided to do some ‘truth-telling,’ and declared that Fred Deutsch only hung around him in the prior election only to bolster Fred’s conservative credentials:

Because no one would consider Fred a conservative without Dylan telling him how to be one (face palm).

Then in a double-shot of doofus, Jordan announced he’s going to vote for every losing candidate on his ballot.

McNeal.. hasn’t campaigned or advertised?  Jordan has his back. Biolata stands his ground on the playground, battling 12 year olds? Dylan is going to be standing next to him.  Don’t even get me going on Doeden or Dylan’s uncle, Tim “Cut my own taxes” Begalka.

Up and down the ladder every single candidate Dylan Jordan has chosen is going to lose.

Especially the last one. Himself.

Attorney General Jackley Releases Final Ballot Explanation on Proposal Requiring 60 Percent Approval for Constitutional Amendments and Revisions

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has released the final ballot explanation for a Constitutional Amendment proposed by the State Legislature that would require any future proposed Constitutional Amendment or Revision receive an affirmative vote of at least 60 percent of the votes cast to be approved. The proposed amendment will be on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

Attorney General Jackley takes no position on any such proposal for purposes of the ballot explanation. As required by law, he has provided a fair and neutral explanation on the initiated Constitutional Amendment to help assist the voters as required by state law. The sponsors of the proposed Constitutional Amendment were Rep. John Hughes and Sen. Sue Peterson which was approved by the 2025 South Dakota Legislature.

The Attorney General’s explanation was finalized after a review of all the comments received during the 10-day comment period on the Attorney General’s draft explanation. Two comments were received by the deadline.

Language for the final initiated ballot measure explanation can be found here.

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

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Austin Hoffman Campaign Announces Endorsements from Former Attorneys General Mark Vargo and Roger Tellinghuisen

Hoffman Says Support Reflects Need for Independent Leadership, not Political Establishment Control

EUREKA, S.D. — Austin Hoffman, Republican candidate for South Dakota Attorney General, announced today that he has received endorsements of former South Dakota Attorneys General Mark Vargo and Roger Tellinghuisen.

Vargo served as Pennington County State’s Attorney from 2013 to 2022 and as South Dakota Attorney General from 2022 to 2023. Tellinghuisen served as South Dakota Attorney General from 1987 to 1991.

Vargo praised Hoffman’s character and judgment, noting that he has demonstrated a “strong moral compass and an ability to seek out and consider all citizens and then make his own decisions,” calling that measured collaboration a rare quality in modern politics.

Tellinghuisen emphasized Hoffman’s fairness and dedication to the principles of justice. He said at a time when public trust in the justice system is strained, the Attorney General’s Office requires a leader whose integrity is unwavering. “Austin Hoffman embodies those qualities,” Tellinghuisen said.

Hoffman said he is honored to receive support from two former Attorneys General who understand the demands of the office and recognize the need for steady, independent leadership in the Attorney General’s Office. According to Hoffman, the role requires listening, following the law, and making decisions based on what is right for the people of South Dakota.

“South Dakotans do not need an Attorney General who is chosen by insiders or controlled by the political establishment,” Hoffman said. “They need an Attorney General who understands that the law belongs to the people, not the powerful. My commitment is to serve the citizens of South Dakota, protect their rights, support law enforcement, defend the rule of law and put the law above politics.”

“This campaign is about restoring trust and making sure the Attorney General’s Office works for the people of South Dakota,” Hoffman said. “I am grateful for the support of Mr. Vargo and Mr. Tellinghuisen, and I will continue working to earn the trust and support of Republicans across this state.”

Hoffman, a Eureka native, announced his candidacy late last year. He currently serves as McPherson County State’s Attorney and sits on both the South Dakota Open Meetings Commission and the South Dakota Board of Elections.

The Republican nominee for South Dakota Attorney General will be selected at the Republican convention at the end of June 2026.

For more information about Austin Hoffman, visit HoffmanForAG.com.

Senator Tim Reed Recognized for Legislative Effectiveness During Freshman Senate Term

BROOKINGS, S.D. — State Senator Tim Reed of Brookings has been recognized as one of the most effective lawmakers in the South Dakota Senate during the 2023–2024 legislative session, according to the newly released State Legislative Effectiveness Scores from the Center for Effective Lawmaking.

The report ranked Reed third among all Republican Senators in South Dakota with a Legislative Effectiveness Score (SLES) of 2.35. The report also identified Reed as the highest-performing freshman Senator in the state and named him to the prestigious “Above Expectations” category for first-term lawmakers.

The Center for Effective Lawmaking, a nationally recognized research organization, evaluates legislators based on fifteen metrics that measure a lawmaker’s ability to advance legislation through the legislative process and successfully enact laws.

According to the report, Senator Reed introduced 19 bills during the 2023–2024 legislative session. Of those bills, 18 received committee action, 13 advanced beyond committee, 12 passed the Senate, and 10 became law.

Since that freshman Senate term, Reed has continued to focus on legislation aimed at transparency, public safety, healthcare, and victim services. During the 2025–2026 legislative term, he successfully passed legislation to provide continued funding support for victim services programs, including rape crisis centers and domestic abuse shelters. He also passed legislation requiring boards and governing bodies to annually review South Dakota’s open meeting laws and legislation requiring hospitals to maintain policies and procedures when sexual assault victims present themselves at a hospital emergency department.

Reed is currently running unopposed for the 2027–2028 South Dakota State Senate term representing District 7.

“I’m honored by this recognition,” said Reed. “Public service is about working hard, building relationships, listening to people, and finding practical solutions that improve our communities and state. I’ve always believed governing should focus on results, and I appreciate the opportunity to work with colleagues from across South Dakota to get meaningful legislation across the finish line.”

The report also highlighted South Dakota’s strong record of integrating freshman legislators into the lawmaking process, noting that freshman Senators in South Dakota perform significantly above the national average in legislative effectiveness.

Before joining the Senate, Reed served six years in the South Dakota House of Representatives and previously spent 13 years in Brookings city government, including eight years as Mayor of Brookings.

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I heard both privately, and as noted in the Dakota Scout this evening that State Auditor candidate Dave Barranco has been diagnosed with and treating for cancer in recent weeks:

“I have undergone another battery of tests, and the results are beyond dispute: I have cancer,” the 53-year-old attorney-turned-elected official said, opening up about a months long health battle that recently worsened.

and..

He is the only declared GOP candidate ahead of next month’s South Dakota Republican Party convention in Rapid City. His term on the council is set to expire in July.

When asked what the diagnosis means for his candidacy, Barranco indicated that discussions are ongoing with his medical care team, family and inner circle.

Read the entire story here.

Please keep David and his family in your prayers as they work for David’s recovery.

Bringing up the rear, gubernatorial wannabe Jon Hansen underlines that despite all the extra time he had to raise money being the first one in the race, he just could not get shifted out of the “legislative” gear on his campaign camper.

Jon Hansen Pre Primary by Pat Powers

Raising $355,300.70 in the last months, with 1/4 of that coming from pro-hansen political action committees (that we’re still waiting to see), Hansen spent $245,276.02, leaving him $163,918.65 for the last two weeks of the campaign.

And sorry, but I’m not sure this would make the grade in a congressional race anymore. I don’t think one could get over the hump in an attorney general race in the fall with this.

Stick a fork in this last place fundraising finish. I think you can retire this retriever, because he’s done hunting.

 

Governor Larry Rhoden has filed his pre-primary report in the few days left until the primary election. And while it’s nothing to sneeze at, it shows that his campaign could have benefitted by an earlier campaign kickoff:

Larry Rhoden Pre-Primary by Pat Powers

Mustering his other affiliated committees kicking in $159k from his DC PAC (Free American Fund), and the Strong Safe and Free PAC passing along another $114k, Governor Rhoden added another $571,853.09 to his existing total of $511,815 to enable him to spend $914,052.53 on the primary, leaving $169,616,49 for the last 2 weeks of the election.

But compared to Toby Doeden blowing millions from his own pocket, as well as the millions that Dusty Johnson has been able to accumulate over the years, Governor Rhoden’s campaign is quickly running out of cash when at least two of his other opponents can open up the spigot even further.

That poses a problem for our state’s chief executive going into the last weeks of the campaign.  If he had announced earlier, and raised more cash, this might have been a different race.  But with 2 weeks to go, $170k in the bank might put him at a disadvantage.

Keep watching the airwaves. We’re almost to the finish line.