After a little business yesterday, enjoying the Black Hills this weekend. And no visit would be complete without a visit to America’s Shrine of Democracy, Mt. Rushmore.
I’m also pairing it with a stay at the South Dakota Game Lodge at Custer State Park.
If you visit, remember not to pet the fluffy cows. They definitely don’t want to share their personal space.
This month’s Federal Campaign Finance report for South Dakota Democrats show a donation that might get some tongues wagging:
On July 25th State Democrats report they received $9,237.47 from Alexander Soros, a son of George Soros.
You can read the entire August 20 South Dakota Democrat FEC Report here.
This week, KELOland’s Angela Kennecke started throwing bombs at Governor Kristi Noem’s administration because someone at the state didn’t have any interest in talking to Angela, and she claimed there must be a plot against her. Governor Noem’s Comm’s Director Ian Fury rebuffed that notion, noting that they’re talking to reporters all the time, and it might just be her..
Governor Noem has spoken with 8 separate local news reporters so far this week (so far).
But you can’t believe everything you hear from @AngelaKennecke… probably why she can’t get an interview. https://t.co/a32TsxghSG
— Ian Fury (@IanTFury) August 18, 2022
.. and the Twitter war is off and running.
While there are state laws which guarantee the openness of most documents, as there should be, there’s nothing that declares that reporters have interview access to employees on demand. Given the pressure to sensationalize stories for ratings, why would any employee want to speak with the media?
When it seems as if it’s a constant drumbeat of negativity declaring there must be some sort of scandal, or someone is allegedly corrupt, or simple fact is less attractive of a tale than a conspiracy, most people look at whether they want to get involved in any story and take a hard pass.
It’s not all the media’s fault, as social media has forced other outlets of information to turn up the volume to compete. But they don’t necessarily shy away from it, either.
Gov. Noem Announces Pay Increases for Correctional Security Officers
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced immediate pay increases for correctional security officers at the South Dakota Department of Corrections (DOC).
“These permanent pay increases will assist us with recruiting and retaining quality correctional security officers,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “These increases show officers our appreciation for their service to our state. Sec. Wasko and I will continue to focus on solving problems and prioritizing the security of both our correctional officers and the inmates that they manage.”
Pay will increase for officers across the board. Starting pay for correctional officers will increase from $20 an hour to $23.50 an hour. Additionally, raises will be instituted for security officers up to $28 an hour.
“This is the latest step to improve safety and the overall culture at DOC. We are proud of our corrections employees and grateful for their service,” said Kellie Wasko, Secretary of the Department of Corrections. “Thanks to Governor Noem’s leadership, our Department has made tremendous progress in the past several months. There is still much work left to do, including newer and safer facilities, and we are committed to getting that accomplished.”
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Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden Announces STEM Award for Lakota Tech High School
Pine Ridge Reservation, SD – Today, Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden announced that Lakota Tech High School will receive an award for its STEM programming from the National Lieutenant Governors’ Association Lt. Governors’ STEM Scholarship Program! NLGA awarded the school $1,000 as part of a national call for applications for funding STEM programming and curriculum in schools.
“Promoting and encouraging STEM activities in schools in critical to building the workforce of tomorrow,” said Lt. Gov. Rhoden. “Lakota Tech’s weather balloon project will further interest in STEM in our youth, and this funding from NLGA ensures that STEM learning will expand for the students at the only career and technical education high school on a Native American reservation anywhere in the United States.”
Lakota Tech is the only career and technical education high school on a Native American reservation in the U.S., offering students access to a diploma and career pathways. Through the use of the NLGA funding, students will learn about high-altitude weather ballooning and gain hands-on experience with designing and testing a payload.
NLGA opened the application period for the STEM Scholarship Program in May 2022. The application process was competitive, with NLGA receiving 170 requests for STEM funding from schools in 32 states and one U.S. territory. Submissions were awarded by region, with three schools in each of NLGA’s four regions receiving scholarships ranging from $500 – $1,000 each.
“As the seconds-in-command in state and territorial government, lieutenant governors are uniquely poised to lead on STEM Education,” said NLGA Executive Director Julia Brossart. “By supporting STEM-related activities in schools across the country, we can encourage a long-term interest and passion in STEM Education in America’s youth.”
The Scholarship Program is administered by NLGA, the nonpartisan, nonprofit association for the nation’s seconds-in-command, and sponsored by ACT, the education and career readiness nonprofit.
“STEM is for everyone, and the NLGA’s STEM Scholarship Program will help ensure that more students are prepared for whatever path they choose after high school,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “ACT has spent decades assessing and analyzing the skills that students will need to be successful in college and career. NLGA’s leadership on STEM will provide more students, including young people from underserved populations, an opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills to fuel their own educational and career successes, as well as the country’s long-term prosperity.”
Public, private, and tribal schools in the 50 states and five U.S. territories were invited to apply for funding to support STEM-related activities, programming, curriculum, equipment, and other expenses. Funding will be provided to all winning schools in August.
Additional information on the STEM Scholarship Program can be found athttps://nlga.us/strategies/nlga-state-strategies-in-stem/.
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Is there something in the water in District 30? While Republicans have our own cross to bear in that area, it looks like Democrats have a bit of a handful themselves in District 30 House.
Bret Swanson is a candidate who isn’t bothering with showing how he reflects the values of his neighbors in this heavily, heavily Republican District. He’s going full left-coast liberal with his campaign platform. According to his website, which bears little information, he declares in a video that he’s running because he had to “nut up or shut up.” Classy. And he blares his platform:
One party dominates this state. Vote for me and make things fair.
“Right-to-work” is terrible for workers, and our minimum wage workers live in poverty.
Bret would like to end Right-to-work laws in South Dakota to strengthen worker’s rights and raise the minimum wage to $20 dollars an hour.
While the South Dakota Democrat Party is going for a $15 an hour wage in their platform (page 10), Swanson figures, what they heck, why not $20!
In either case, neither are going to win, so why worry about explaining that the cost of everything will go up to pay for it. Or they’ll just go out of business. He must think people really like checking themselves out at WalMart.
South Dakota has had enough of inflationary increases and gas prices that are leaving apartment dwellers without places to live, and people wondering why everything costs more. Biden-omics is bad enough without liberal do-gooders trying to make it worse.
Busy day in Mitchell at #Dakotafest! pic.twitter.com/Nrk0ydIdou
— Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) August 17, 2022
Got one of the dumbest press releases this afternoon that I think I’ve seen in a while. The leaders of the SD Freedom Caucus are raising the alarm about time-sensitive election issues and demanding not just action but immediate action from the Governor and Attorney General on a voter integrity issue…
…except, they won’t tell us what the issue is.
Freedom Caucus Calls for Election Integrity
Just weeks before the 2022 general election begins, the South Dakota Freedom Caucus called on the Governor and fellow legislators to join them in taking immediate action in light of election integrity findings the caucus says they have recently become aware of.
The caucus has not disclosed the specific details regarding their findings, but stated that some of the issues are time sensitive and affect the oversight of the election process.
and.
The Freedom Caucus stated that they will be speaking with the Governor and Acting Attorney General Mark Vargo in the next following days to seek immediate action due to the time sensitive nature of the issue. The caucus said that they will provide further details of their findings at that time.
Maybe they should wait until they can tell us what these time-sensitive election integrity issues actually are?
Rounds Introduces Legislation to Blacklist China from Buying American Farm Land and Agriculture Businesses
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced legislation that would blacklist China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from investing in, purchasing or otherwise acquiring land or businesses involved in agriculture.
“Protecting American farmland is critical to maintaining our national security,” said Rounds. “As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I was alarmed when a Chinese company recently purchased farmland near an Air Force base in North Dakota. This acquisition could threaten our national security by allowing the Chinese Communist Party to closely monitor the operations and communications at a very important military facility.
“In my travels around South Dakota, I’ve heard from many farmers and ranchers who are concerned about foreign adversaries owning American farmland. It’s time to put a stop to this and take action. This legislation makes certain American interests are protected by blacklisting foreign adversaries from purchasing land or businesses involved in agriculture.”
On July 1, 2022, Representative Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) introduced the House version of the PASS Act. Rounds’ legislation retains key provisions of the House version and adds additional language related to foreign investments, agricultural land acquisition and reporting by the Secretary of Agriculture. The new provisions are outlined below:
The full text of this legislation can be found HERE.
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While I’m going to be out in the Hills, don’t forget that this Friday is the Brookings County Republican Summer Picnic..
