South Dakota’s tourist attractions are receiving some exposure with fans of B-movie actress Cynthia Rothrock this week, as she tours the Black Hills.

The martial arts legend who starred in Hong Kong action films in the 80’s and 90’s such as China O’Brien and Lady Dragon has been posting her travels in the Rushmore state on Facebook, as she tours the Badlands, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.

Rothrock has starred in over 60 movies and is currently working on upcoming projects. Holding black belts in seven martial arts, in 2016 she was the first martial artist (male or female) to be inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Going off my post where noting there’s talk that Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson might not be the hard right’s candidate to challenge incumbent Secretary of State Monae Johnson (who isn’t drinking their tainted kool-aid), I mentioned their other possible options to challenge the SOS might be election conspiracist Rick “my life is at risk” Weible or fellow election conspiracist Jessica Pollema of SD Canvassing.

Coincidentally, these two just happened to pop up on the Pillow Guy TV podcast this week, like harbingers of electoral doom for South Dakota.

Which really reinforces the fact that as a state, we might need to consider putting statewide candidates for political parties on the primary ballot, instead of being one of the last three states to choose them at convention.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is speaking at the 2025 McGovern Day Dinner on Saturday July 12 (In case you had forgotten, or not noticed):

In case you needed one, here’s a blast from the past from Governor Walz about those pesky things they call laws in his Minnesota:

• I strongly support immigrant communities. I support policies that keep law enforcement from enforcing federal laws that everyone knows are broken. I will not back down on that commitment, and I won’t back down to a bully.

— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) May 23, 2018

You know, supporting immigrant communities is all well and good. But the “keep law enforcement from enforcing federal laws..I will not back down on that commitment” isn’t exactly the thing you want from someone who is supposed to uphold the rule of law.

But, that’s the message that’s going to be preached to South Dakota Democrats.

After previously backing out of an earlier plea agreement and demanding a jury trial this last April, this last week former West River TV News Reader Shad Olson quietly went back to court and pled no contest to assault for laying hands on his live-in girlfriend:

A former television news anchor avoided trial by pleading no contest to a charge of simple assault-domestic violence late Wednesday.

and..

Prosecutors say Olson grabbed the woman by her shoulders and pushed her to the ground multiple times.

By pleading no contest to the assault charge, prosecutors will recommend a 180-day suspended jail sentence as well as anger management sessions for Olson. He will also be ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Read the entire story here.

If you recall the arrest report, Olson’s live-in girlfriend and supposed provider had to run out coatless and barefoot in the snow, after she claims he grabbed and lifted her by the neck:

180 days of a suspended jail sentence, and anger management doesn’t seem much like justice, does it?

Stay tuned for his sentencing on July 3rd, where the judge will – unfortunately – probably sign off on this wrist slapping.

In related news, unfortunately, it seems that Shad is still able to find women who believe his ridiculous horse-sh*t:

 

Thune Joins The Will Cain Show on Fox News

 “We want to make this as ambitious and aggressive of an effort as possible to rein in the cost of government, to put a lot of these programs on a more sustainable fiscal path going forward, and to achieve what I think a lot of people never thought was possible, and that is actually seeing a reduction in the size and scope of government.”

Click here or on the picture to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined The Will Cain Show on Fox News.

It has been kind of a big week for the Summit Carbon Pipeline, as while some were thinking it might be able to be put down for a ten-count, they’ve bounced back in federal court, where the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals wiped away local ordinances which tried to stop it. (8th Circuit includes SD, BTW)

Only a short time ago Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds delivered a veto to an anti-pipeline law that came out of their legislature.  Sabrina Zenor with Summit Carbon Solutions just issued a statement thanking Governor Reynolds for her decision:

We thank the Governor and her staff for their thoughtful and thorough review of the bill. Summit remains committed to working with landowners through voluntary agreements—just as we have with more than 1,300 Iowa landowners to date, resulting in $175 million in payments. We look forward to continued discussions with state leaders as we advance this important project. At a time when farmers are facing increasing pressures, this project opens the door to new markets and helps strengthen America’s energy dominance for the long term.

And the Governor earned that thanks. The veto message was quite powerful. South Dakota’s leaders should take the time to read it, as the Governor was quite direct with regards to doing business in her state:

“HF 639 isn’t just about eminent domain. It goes much further-and in doing so, sets a troubling precedent that threatens Iowa’s energy reliability, economy, and reputation as a place where businesses can invest with confidence.”

2025.06.11 HF639_Full Veto Message by Pat Powers on Scribd

Governor Reynolds noted that her state should have a “reputation as a place where businesses can invest with confidence.”

As we watch a couple hundred miles to the west, as some run amok trying to shut down any development in our state, whether it’s pipelines, solar farms or data centers, being a place where businesses can invest with confidence is a message we’re not hearing enough of.

Either we want jobs in South Dakota or we don’t.

ACA Applauds Governor Reynolds for Vetoing HF 639

URBANDALE, Iowa (June 11, 2025) — Tom Buis, CEO of the American Carbon Alliance (ACA), released the following statement today applauding Governor Kim Reynolds’ resolute veto of House File 639:

“Governor Kim Reynolds has once again proven she’s an unwavering champion for Iowa’s farmers and ethanol producers, standing tall as a national leader in defending rural America and advancing its full economic potential.

“Her bold veto of HF 639 is a clear victory for Iowa’s agricultural heartland, farmers, and the ethanol industry. It sends a strong message rejecting the misguided efforts of environmental extremists who pushed this legislation. These groups have done everything in their power to undermine agriculture, ethanol, and America’s energy dominance with their anti-ag, anti-ethanol, and anti-energy agenda.

“We are deeply thankful for the thousands of Iowans who spoke up, making their voices heard and letting Governor Reynolds know their economic future depended on this veto.

“Farmers and ethanol producers deserve thriving, open markets, not activist government that changes the rules in the middle of the game. Governor Reynolds’ steadfast leadership protects their ability to compete in the global demand for low-carbon ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel, fueling prosperity across Iowa’s rural communities.

“By rejecting HF 639, Gov. Reynolds is safeguarding the livelihoods of hardworking farmers and ethanol producers while advancing President Trump’s America First energy agenda. Governor Reynolds’ tireless commitment to agriculture and ethanol, backed by the passionate support of Iowa’s people, cements the state’s role as a global powerhouse, driving jobs, growth, and opportunity for generations to come.”

###

The American Carbon Alliance (ACA) is formed to be one unified voice for carbon capture pipelines, ethanol producers, landowners, farmers, construction trade workers and citizens that embrace this new energy future for America. Working together, this alliance will strengthen America’s agricultural economy, ensure a future marketplace for American produced liquid fuel and improve the environment for all.

Summit Carbon Solutions found success in federal court this last week against Iowa counties that attempted to regulate the planned carbon pipeline, giving a renewed boost to the future of carbon capture for the region’s ethanol producers.

According to Iowa Public Radio/Iowa Capital Dispatch, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision, similar to attempts to place setbacks on pipelines in South Dakota, barred Iowa counties from setting their own standards when federal regulations are preemptive:

A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld lower court decisions barring counties from imposing safety standards on a pipeline subject to federal safety standards.

The cases involved Summit Carbon Solutions, the company proposing to build a carbon sequestration pipeline through the state, and county supervisors from both Story and Shelby counties.

Summit sued the counties in 2022 for enacting ordinances that required county-specific setback requirements and other regulations the company argued were preempted by federal pipeline safety laws.

and..

Writing for the appeals court, U.S. Circuit Judge Duane Benton wrote that the county ordinances “focus” on safety and “repeatedly” mention safety risks associated with the pipeline, which “undermines” the Pipeline Safety Act’s goal of preempting state regulations on safety.

“This holding does not prohibit local governments from considering safety, nor prevent them from enacting all zoning ordinances, as the counties suggest,” Benton said in the opinion. “This court emphasizes the distinction between safety standards — which the PSA preempts — and safety considerations — which the PSA does not preempt.”

The county ordinances also included emergency response requirements and abandonment provisions which the court ruled were also preempted by federal regulations.

Read the entire story here.

With Summit Carbon’s success this last week with the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, the question now is how exactly federal courts might look at laws and regulations which were passed in this state by anti-development interests in an attempt to prevent the carbon capture pipeline project from being built in South Dakota.

Finding success in challenging the Iowa-NIMBY efforts in federal court, could a new legal challenge be brought against the South Dakota-NIMBY laws passed to halt efforts to provide carbon capture for ethanol development over the last year or so?

Could be.

I know of him more from his association with his wife, former SDGOP National Committeewoman Mary Jean Jensen, but word comes that former Republican State Senator Eldon Jensen of Lemmon passed away this last Friday, June 6th.  Eldon served in the Senate for 4 years, from 1977 through 1980.

According to his obituary, Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon, SD.  Rev. Allen Wickstrom will officiate and burial with Full Military Honors will follow at Greenhill Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025 at the Prince of Peace Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, SD.

Please keep Mary Jean and her family in your prayers in their time of loss.

This was just posted to social media by the SDGOP. Although, as the former 32-year Democrat supposedly in charge tells us, Jim Eschenbaum feels the need to inform people that …he’s not actually in charge of social media for the party.

“…Although I don’t directly manage the social media posts or comments”. “One complaint is that we are posting too much media from the Governor’s office.”

So.. as chairman, he actually isn’t in control? Kind of sounds like the inmates are running the asylum over at the SDGOP.

The person pretending to be a chairman feels he needs to respond to people complaining when they actually kind-of sort-of perform a political party function?  I’d ask who is in charge if the person elected to be in charge claims he isn’t in charge, since technically the buck is supposed to stop with him. Not that the SDGOP has any bucks to stop.

Instead of worrying about social media comments, the chair should be more worried about being so far unable to raise any money. Or reports that he may have a staffer recruiting for one of the campaigns in the gubernatorial primary.

But why would he worry about that? It’s not in a facebook comment.