I was just tipped off that anti-porn activist Chris Sevier is at the South Dakota Capitol today. (Wearing dress blues.)

Apparently, he’s been traveling the country on his crusade, and is back in our state with his legislation. If you’re not familiar with it, there was a story in the Kansas City Star last February:

Sevier has made national headlines for his bizarre opposition to pornography and LGBTQ marriage. Since being deemed mentally unfit to practice law in 2011, he has tried to marry his laptop in multiple states and sued Apple Inc. for a porn addiction that he said ruined his marriage.

But most recently, Sevier has been pushing his anti-porn, anti-gay legislation in states from Virginia to Hawaii. Last week, Sevier was found to be behind six bills in the Kansas House.

Read the entire story here.

And last year, he brought that same bill to our state as he lobbied on an anti-porn measure last year in Pierre:

South Dakota’s bill, like its counterparts being introduced in state legislatures across the country, was created and championed by an anti-porn advocate.

Chris Sevier, a Tennessee native, was in Pierre during the hearing to speak in favor of the South Dakota bill. He compared telecom companies to Columbian drug dealers, and then compared the regulations proposed in the bill to the same restrictions on non-Internet porn vendors.

Read that here.

Yeah..  I have to say I would question any law being championed by someone who tried to marry their laptop.

(Update… so I’m being told security may have just walked him out… )

From the Rapid City Journal, Rapid City politics rear their head once again, as the Rapid City Common Council expels one of their own:

Modrick and her attorney, Steven Beardsley, took nearly an hour to defend Modrick’s view of the Dec. 10 conversation with Haar. Beardsley went on to claim that Tuesday’s hearing was illegal, there was no due process and it was a contrived plot — with Allender as the mastermind— to penalize Modrick because she is employed by Westjet.

and..

“It is my opinion that I can never safely have a private conversation with Mrs. Modrick without it being recorded now,” Armstrong said. “I know for a fact that this is shared by many members of this council as well. Unfortunately, Mrs. Modrick created and amplified a situation where it is no long feasible for us to work together. The trust is broken.”

This past week, Sioux Falls City Councilor Janet Brekke had her day in ethics court…er.. on the ethics panel.. on her question over the propriety of endorsing candidates.  Nevermind she had sought and been given an endorsement by another councilor in her immediately prior election.

Of course, that question was shut down quickly, since we have this thing called the first amendment.

So just yesterday I’m being told by an observant reader that they noticed City Councilors Patrick Starr,  Theresa Stehly and Janet Brekke doing photos together outside the Washington Pavilion. Which the correspondent thought was interesting.. and likely to resurface as part of an endorsement for Theresa Stehly.

The trio does stand together as a block vote on several issues on the Sioux Falls City Council, such as when they were advocating the expansion of video lottery across the state. And now it’s likely they’re going to continue to stand together for the embattled councilor Stehly.

Obviously, Councilor Brekke is less concerned about endorsements when it appears that she might be back to doing them herself.

Rounds Statement on First Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement on the news that the state of South Dakota has confirmed five cases COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus. One individual who tested positive for COVID-19 has passed away, but because of underlying health conditions, the cause of death is still being determined at this time.

“The state of South Dakota has been preparing to deal with a COVID-19, as has the federal government. Last week, we passed legislation to provide state and local entities with additional resources to save lives and prevent the spread of disease. Additionally, health officials are actively working on a vaccine and advanced therapeutic treatments.

“South Dakotans should continue to take care of their health during this time. This includes washing your hands frequently, avoid touching your face and stay home if you feel sick. Additionally, avoid close contact with large groups of people if possible. I’ll continue working with federal administration officials, state officials, tribal leaders and healthcare providers to make sure we’re doing all we can to take care of our citizens. While we recognize that there will be economic impacts throughout the United States, the most important things we should focus on right now are saving lives and appropriate healthcare needs.”

South Dakotans are invited to visit www.rounds.senate.gov/coronavirus for up-to-date, accurate information on COVID-19.

###

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem today issued the following statement regarding COVID-19:

“The state’s Public Health Laboratory in Pierre has confirmed the first presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in South Dakota,” said Noem. “The cases are travel related. While we wait for the CDC to conduct their confirmatory testing, the Department of Health staff is working to identify additional people who came in close contact with these individuals to decrease the spread of illness.”

“Our team has been preparing for weeks, and I am confident we have the right people in place to address this fluid situation. Without panicking, I encourage all South Dakotans to take this seriously – now is the time to prepare and to stay informed.”

So, this is interesting. Dakota Vaping Association Lobbyist and marijuana legalization petitioner Jordan Mason was out posting on facebook this afternoon that he’s recruiting candidates to run for a number of legislative offices, despite there being current office holders who intend to run again, as well as declared and filed office seekers:

The problem with this is that a lot of those are filled already. I mean it’s a free country and all, but i’s pretty widely known that in the House in D31, Mary Fitzgerald and Rep. Dayle Hammock have already filed petitions. Same goes for Joel Koskan who has already filed in Senate 26.  There’s also 3-4 who are already running in House 17, not to mention Rep. Jess Olson and former Rep Mike Derby who have staked their claim on the House in 34.

When Jordan is recruiting people to run against Sen. Novstrup, Sen. Schoenbeck, Sen. Steinhauer, Sen. Curd, Sen. Art Rusch, Sen. Schoenfish, Sen. Klumb, Sen. Cammack, Sen. Duhamel, Sen. Partridge and Sen. Casleberry among others, that brings into question why he’s looking for people to put those current officeholders out on the street?

Not a lot of lobbyists who are actively recruiting their own candidates to take on current office holders.

From Facebook, Minnehaha County States Attorney Candidate Daniel Haggar is hosting a campaign fundraiser in Sioux Falls at the Remedy Brewing Company on Thursday night from 5-7pm, with a few familiar names as hosts:

Larry Nielson, rural Tulare, is running for District 23 Senate.

Larry is a farmer in Spink County where he resides with his family including Jeni and two children still at home. The couple also has several adult children and grandchildren. A second generation farmer, Nielson uses irrigation to grow corn and soybeans primarily. He has been interested in government most of his adult life, having served on the Heartland Consumers Power District Board for nine years, Garfield Township almost two decades, eight years as Chair of the Spink County Republicans and South Dakota GOP Central Committee. He has also lobbied for various organizations at both the state and national level.

Nielson has been active in several trade and social organizations including South Dakota Irrigators Association, Farm Bureau Young Farmers &Ranchers Committee, Corn, and Soybean Growers.  He participated in the “See if for Yourself” tour of Mexico sponsored by SD Soybean Research and Production Council.  He has invested in corn, alfalfa, and soybean processing facilities.

He is a life member of the NRA, Worships at Our Savior’s Lutheran church, is a Shriner and Mason, a former state and national leader of ABATE, an officer of Clark County Riders, and is a leader in his son’s scout troop.

Nielson’s platform echoes the core values of the South Dakota Republican Party  including Individual Liberty, Personal Responsibility, Protecting Property Rights, Limited Government, Reasonable and Proper Relations with tribes and minorities, Responsible Limited Government, the Right to Bear Arms, Protecting Life, and Honest, Fair and Moral Values being integrated into the education and raising of our families.

Central South Dakota faces many difficult challenges today and Nielson intends to advocate for the agricultural and rural South Dakota needs and perspective.  He would appreciate your vote June 2.

Help keep a Farmer in the Legislature
Larry can be contacted at [email protected] or visit his Facebook page @LNielsonforDist23.

State House hopeful Mike Derby of Rapid City is hosting a campaign kickoff at the Canyon Lake Resort on Thursday in Rapid City. Here’s the flyer: