The weather outside might be frightful, but I’m seeking comfort into bringing some awesome South Dakota history home to stay.

Coming back to South Dakota from Texas, when on-line I found some silk ribbons to add to my collection that I’ve never seen before; a Republican Slate ribbon topped with Pierre for the Permanent Seat of Government & the Mellette for Governor race. There’s a Roosevelt/Taft for President with a portrait of Burke for Senate. And there’s the item pictured below:

Frank Pettigrew, the Pickerel Statesman – First Senator from South Dakota.  With a graphic of a pickerel, because that was his thing.

There were others available, but I stretched my pocketbook about as far as I thought I could for the ones I felt I had to have, as the owner was pretty darned proud of these pieces, and I don’t think I had anything he would want in trade.

That’s the problem with liking this South Dakota stuff. There’s just not that many of us, so it’s always kind of scarce.  And ribbons, or campaign textiles, are even more of a challenge. They’re old, and usually pre-date buttons. They can be durable, or they fray if you touch them.  Or industrious people may have sewn them in a quilt, so when you find them, you have to figure out if it’s worth deconstructing it.

And note – if you ever come across any South Dakota political ribbons (candidate or state political convention) or state capital fight items (Pierre for Capital, Watertown for Capital, etc), get ahold of me here. I’d be interested in at least finding out what you have.

Energy Security Is National Security
By Waylon Brown

South Dakota’s leadership is right to argue that national security should be the state’s next big industry.

In a recent column, Governor Rhoden outlined how South Dakota contributes to keeping America safe, from Ellsworth Air Force Base and the arrival of the B-21 bomber to leadership in cybersecurity, defense innovation, and food security. These efforts strengthen our country while creating good-paying jobs and long-term opportunities.

There is another critical component of national security where South Dakota’s continued leadership will be essential in the years ahead: Energy security.

Energy security is national security. A nation that cannot reliably power its homes, farms, hospitals, military installations, and businesses is a nation exposed to risk. Energy disruptions weaken economic stability, threaten public safety, and leave communities vulnerable. South Dakota has taken a practical approach to energy policy that prioritizes reliability, affordability, and homegrown production.

South Dakota is widely recognized as a national leader in renewable energy generation. Thanks to abundant wind resources and longstanding hydroelectric infrastructure, renewable energy supplies a substantial share of in-state electricity. Wind produces more power than any other single energy source in South Dakota, helping the state remain a producer of energy to surrounding regions.

That leadership matters. A diverse energy mix that includes all power sources – including coal, natural gas, hydro, wind, and solar – protects consumers from volatile fuel markets and sudden price swings. When fuel prices spike elsewhere, South Dakotans benefit from greater stability. That predictability matters to families managing household budgets, to farmers navigating tight margins, and to employers making long-term investment decisions.

Energy security also supports South Dakota’s rural economy. Wind and solar projects are financed with private capital and bring significant investment into rural counties. These projects create construction and maintenance jobs while generating tax revenue that stays local. In 2025 alone, wind facilities paid more than $16 million in nameplate capacity and production taxes, with nearly $6 million going directly to local school districts. That revenue supports classrooms, infrastructure, and essential public services without increasing the burden on property taxpayers.

Responsible energy development respects private property rights and strengthens agricultural livelihoods. Landowners who choose to host energy projects continue to farm and ranch their land while receiving steady lease payments that help family operations remain viable during volatile commodity markets. These agreements are voluntary and market-driven, reflecting landowner choice rather than government mandate.

State leadership has rightfully emphasized a systems-based approach to national security that recognizes how defense, food production, economic development, and innovation work together. Energy security fits squarely within that framework. Reliable and affordable power underpins every sector, from military readiness to agriculture.

South Dakota has already shown what is possible when we pursue practical, all-of-the-above energy policies rooted in common sense. By continuing to lead in homegrown energy production, our state can strengthen national security, support rural communities, and ensure affordable and reliable power for generations to come.

Energy security is not a partisan issue. It is a practical solution that’ll keep South Dakota strong, competitive, and secure for years to come.

—

Waylon Brown is a farmer, former Iowa State Senator, and Regional Policy Director with Rushmore State Renewables and the Clean Grid Association.

 

Representative and Gubernatorial candidate Jon Hansen’s list of accomplishments are few and far between, especially this legislative session.

And as we end the second week of the legislative session, his first bill of 2026 is certain to set off alarm bells with the medical association as well as South Dakota’s dairy producers.

Hansen’s bill seeks to amend South Dakota’s raw milk prohibitions that were last visited over a decade ago, when the Department of Agriculture opened the door to allow raw unpasteurized milk to be sold in the state at the farm where it was produced.  Now in 2026, in his House Bill 1121, Hansen proposes throwing open the doors to selling it in the state, allowing raw milk to be sold at farmer’s markets, at retail stores (RawMilk Mart?), and delivered directly to consumers by the RawMilk Man.

In 2015, raw milk sales were opposed by the State Medical Association as well as the South Dakota Dairy producers. However, Jon’s liberal anti-pipeline friends in Dakota Rural Action were proponents at that time, and will likely support the sales this time around as well.

We’ll see how this debate shapes up in the coming days.

Johnson Earns A+ Pro-Life Rating

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) earned an A+ rating on Susan B. Anthony’s Pro-Life Scorecard for his votes and actions in 2025.

“Life begins at conception, and every life is worth defending – even the unborn,” said Johnson. “I’ve been proud to support legislation that supports pregnant mothers and families, while preventing taxpayer dollars from funding abortion, a heartbreaking taking of an innocent life.”

Johnson has voted consistently to protect the lives of the unborn and to stop forced taxpayer funding of abortion. This includes delivering the largest pro-life legislative victory in two decades by defunding Big Abortion businesses, like Planned Parenthood, of Medicaid dollars for one year through the reconciliation bill H.R.1. Johnson also stood strong against attempts to further subsidize plans that cover elective abortion.

Johnson took nine votes in 2025 to protect life. View the scorecard here.

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Attorney General Jackley Presents $41.7 Million Budget to State Legislative Appropriations Committee

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley Friday presented the office’s proposed $41.7 million fiscal year 2027 budget which includes funds for the Appellate, Criminal, and Civil Attorney Divisions, the Consumer Protection Division, the Division of Criminal Investigation, the State Forensic Lab, and Law Enforcement Training to the Legislative Appropriations Committee.

“Every year as Attorney General, I have proposed a budget that uses its resources wisely to protect South Dakotans, and this year is no different,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Most of our proposed funds are earmarked for criminal investigations including those at our state correctional facilities, protecting children from internet crimes, and consumer protection,”

Highlights of the budget request include:

• $646,161 in general funds to replace reduced federal funds for the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, victim witness specialists, and drug investigations.
• $91,009 to hire a Consumer Protection Division Special Projects Coordinator that would focus on addressing emerging scams aimed at consumers. Money for the new employee would come from the Attorney General’s Consumer Settlement Fund.  

The Attorney General is also requesting $99,370 in general funds for a new Legal Assistant to provide administrative and case support to the Rapid City Office.

Of the proposed budget, 68 percent ($28 million) is earmarked for the DCI, Law Enforcement Training and 911 Training. Another 32 percent ($13 million) is allocated for department attorneys, legal services and other programs.

The proposed budget would include 49 percent in state general funds, which is the same as last year; 36 percent in funds that come from fees and settlements, and 15 percent from federal government funds.

Final state budget decisions will be made later by the committee, then be subject to approval by the full Legislature and sent to the Governor.

The Attorney General budget slides can be found here: 

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From the Dakota Scout comes the announcement that GOP leaders had been working on toughening penalties for threatening worship services:

Rhoden, flanked by Republican lawmakers, announced the introduction of Senate Bill 113 Friday during his weekly press conference. And there was no mystery as to the provenance of the bill. Rhoden and GOP leaders cited the incident in St. Paul Sunday where illegal immigration activists burst into a church, disrupted the service and refused to leave.

“Just last week, religious freedom came under assault, just a few hundred miles from here in the Twin Cities,” Rhoden said. “That should trouble every single American, and it certainly troubled me. We’re here to announce a plan to make sure that that doesn’t happen in South Dakota.”

Read that here.

In light of this already existing bill that had already been in motion, already had assignment and is moving forward, it makes the late-night facebook announcement by Brandei Schefbauer come off as a me-too effort, trying to insert herself into the narrative on the effort that Governor Rhoden and legislative leadership had already been working on in an attempt to look important.

(Guessing House leadership didn’t invite the whips in on that one).

What the *BLEEP*?!?

Today, South Dakota State Senator and end-time army member Mykala Voita has decided to bring the full crazy to Pierre this session, since she’s probably not going to be back next year. And brought a Senate Concurrent Resolution to urge people to “return to the Lord Most High, the Almighty and Uncreate, and plead for His mercy upon the state.”

Senator Voita and her end-time army resolution by Pat Powers

Ohh.. wow.

Voita has introduced a 4 page resolution requesting everyone pray and fast in July, “depriving ourselves of those temporary physical comforts.” (What about fireworks? Is her version of jesus-government still going to allow us to do fireworks in July?).

And for the “the Paraclete to move within the halls of government, classrooms, businesses…,” etc.

As someone who flagged it for me noted “Someone should draft an amendment that says something like 4 lines. The lord is our savior. Please bless our country and state. Amen.    And Catholics can do what they want. Lutherans should be able to do what they want. And she can do what she wants with her army. It’s called freedom of religion. “

That sums it up pretty well.  You do your thing. I’ll do mine. And maybe the Senator who swore an oath to follow the constitution should actually do that.  Follow the first amendment instead of Senator Voita using the legislature to demand we follow her internet religious studies. 

(I do notice Rep. Phil Jensen is the only other person to sign on.  Apparently he wants people to deprive themselves in July as well. )

If you were ever tempted to feel bad for former Deadwood City Commissioner Blake Joseph, now would be a good time to consider that his problems might be largely of his own doing.

Applied Digital pitches Deuel County AI facility as tax reform, national security issue

Company executives say South Dakota’s energy, climate, and workforce give it an edge in the global AI race — but current tax law puts the state at a disadvantage.

Northern Plains News, LLC
By Steve Jurrens \ Northeast Radio SD News

WATERTOWN, S.D.—The proposed Applied Digital AI factory in Deuel County aims to enhance local tax revenue and serve as a strategic effort to maintain American technological competitiveness globally.

In a recent interview, Nick Phillips, executive vice president of external affairs for Applied Digital, said South Dakota’s cold climate and energy surplus position it as a key player in the international AI competition.

A TOOL FOR LOCAL INDUSTRY

Phillips addressed common anxieties regarding artificial intelligence, characterizing it not as a replacement for human workers, but as a transformative tool.

He cited examples from the “Grand Farm” initiative near Fargo, where AI analyzes soil and imagery to help farmers increase yields while using fewer resources.

“If you’re still out there with a manual mower… you’re not paying your bills,” Phillips said. “Technology has changed. This is just an extra tool for us to utilize.”

Phillips also shared a personal account of how AI helped his family navigate a medical diagnosis, emphasizing that the technology’s benefits are already being felt in healthcare and energy production.

THE LEGISLATIVE LANDSCAPE

Despite the region’s operational benefits, Phillips said current state law makes South Dakota an outlier. Along with Colorado, South Dakota is one of the few Midwest states that charges sales tax on data center equipment.

Rep. Kent Roe has proposed legislation to eliminate what Phillips described as a “bricks and sticks” tax disadvantage. Phillips said the bill is essential to leveling the playing field with neighboring states such as Iowa and Nebraska.

“South Dakota energy is already powering these facilities in other locations,” Phillips said. “Why not bring home the benefits of having these facilities right in the state?”

Some local residents and lawmakers have raised broader questions about large-scale data centers, including long-term grid capacity, infrastructure strain, and whether projected tax benefits match public costs over time.

CONSUMER PROTECTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Phillips said the proposed law includes explicit protections designed to ensure that the arrival of a large-scale power user does not shift costs onto residential ratepayers.

He emphasized that Applied Digital is not seeking a “free ride,” but rather a tax structure that allows it to compete with other states for multi-billion-dollar investments.

COMMUNITY INVITATION

As the project moves forward, Phillips said Applied Digital plans to continue engaging with local residents.

He confirmed the company will host another town hall meeting in the third or fourth week of February.

“Spend the time to look at it,” Phillips said. “I don’t see any better economic development opportunity for the state of South Dakota right now than bringing folks in that are very compatible from a workforce standpoint.”

The facility is expected to bring 200 to 250 jobs to the area, primarily in mechanical, electrical, and facility maintenance roles.

I had someone send me more on the House blocking off access to the bathrooms. Accompanied with a photo, they noted that not only has the Speaker decided to prohibit public access to public restrooms, they’ve also sealed off access to the offices of the majority leader and assistant majority leader.

There’s the South Dakota House of Representative’s version of being open & transparent.