After they’ve announced they’re moving print production to another state, Gannett Newspapers are already finding ways to save money. By charging subscribers for three days worth of newspapers when they’re only sending one. At least, that’s what the e-mail they just sent out seems to say:

We want to inform you the Argus Leader will combine the Dec. 23, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 editions into a singular, expanded holiday edition that will be delivered on Thursday, Dec. 23. No separate editions will be printed Friday, Dec. 24, and Saturday, Dec. 25. For purposes of your subscription, this expanded edition will count as three editions.

Similarly, for the New Year holiday, the Argus Leader will combine the Dec. 30, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1 editions into a singular, expanded holiday edition that will be delivered on Thursday, Dec. 30. No separate editions will be printed Friday, Dec. 31, and Saturday, Jan. 1. For purposes of your subscription, this expanded edition will count as three editions.

Wait, what?

So, next month for people who have subscribed to the print edition, they will be delivering two editions instead of the six they’re charging you for? (But now you can get the crossword puzzle on-line.)

 

Thune, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect, Expand Rural Broadband Access 

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) recently introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the funding mechanisms for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF), which promotes universal access to broadband and other telecommunications services.

“It is crucial that rural communities across South Dakota have access to reliable broadband services,” said Thune. “For years I have fought for predictable and sufficient support for broadband providers to help enable the continued deployment of these services throughout our communities. I’m proud to support this legislation that builds on those efforts to ensure that the FCC’s Universal Service Fund remains sustainable in the future.”

The USF – which includes programs to support broadband access in rural communities, facilitate rural health care, and expand access to affordable broadband service for low-income families, schools, and libraries – is largely funded by fees imposed on landlines. As the use of landlines continues to decline, this places a disproportionate impact on seniors, who are significantly more likely to use a landline than younger adults.

The Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act directs the FCC to initiate a rule making proceeding to reform the contributions system, taking into account the fairness and the relative burden any changes in fees will have on consumers and businesses, as well as the impact the proposed changes to the contribution system will have on seniors.

The Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act builds on several efforts by Senators Thune and Klobuchar to modernize the FCC’s USF’s High Cost Program. In May 2014 and May 2015, Senators Thune and Klobuchar called on then-FCC Chairman Wheeler to modernize support for rural broadband carriers by allowing carriers to be eligible for support under the USF when providing broadband-only services to consumers. In December 2019, Senators Thune and Klobuchar led nearly half of their Senate colleagues in urging then-FCC Chairman Pai to prioritize sustainable rural broadband networks when the FCC established the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) proceeding – the most recent round of funding made available in the High Cost Program. In January 2021, Senators Thune and Klobuchar urged then-FCC Chairman Pai to redouble its efforts to review applicants in the RDOF, consistent with the goals of the USF High Cost Program.

###

KELO Radio updated their earlier story today, and confirmed with the candidate that Lora Hubbel intends to run for Governor as an Independent candidate.

What does this mean? According to the Secretary of State, with Hubbel running as an Independent, that means she will have to collect 3,393 signatures (1% of the total vote for governor in 2018 – 339,214).

I’m a little skeptical whether she’s going to go out and do the work. But, we’ll see.

Build Back Better?  Better Add Hyde!!!
By Dale Bartscher, Executive Director, South Dakota Right to Life

South Dakota Right to Life condemns the passage of President Biden’s “Build Back Better” reconciliation bill that was pushed through the House Friday, November 19, as part of Nancy Pelosi’s agenda.

The House of Representatives passed the “Build Back Better” spending bill in a vote of 220 to 213 with no Republican support.

Despite overwhelming taxpayer opposition to paying for abortions, the Democrats’ spending spree deliberately excludes Hyde Amendment protections with the goal of expanding abortion on demand paid for by your tax dollars.

We thank US Representative Dusty Johnson for his pro-life values and for voting to defeat this bill on the floor of the House.  Shortly after the House Vote he wrote: “I voted no on this legislation.  If made permanent, this spending bill will skyrocket the deficit by $2.5 trillion more every decade …. Additionally, this bill fails to include the long-standing pro-life protections from the Hyde Amendment.”

Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee stated, “Abortion is not healthcare and, until this Congress, the Hyde Amendment enjoyed 45 years of bipartisan support.  The Hyde Amendment is widely recognized as having a significant impact on the number of abortions in the United States saving an estimated 2.4 million American lives. Yet, today, the Hyde Amendment is being targeted at every turn by pro-abortion Democrats.”

President Biden’s “Build Back Better” spending spree would:

• Mandate abortion funding in Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) plans in 2024 in states that have not expanded Medicaid.
• Fund abortions via reinsurance payments and cost-sharing funding to states.
• Extend the Obamacare expansion from the Covid-19 American Rescue Plan Act. This would further subsidize Obamacare exchange plans that cover abortion and subsidize millions of individuals’ taxpayer-funded plans that cover abortion on demand.
• Direct billions of dollars to various public health grants without Hyde Amendment protections.

We respectfully urge US Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds to defeat this massive bill as passed by the house. If this bill should happen to see the light of day, it must include the Hyde Amendment which stops taxpayer funding of abortion and has saved millions of American lives.

(From my mailbox – PP)

 

After heartfelt and prayerful consideration, it is with great joy and excitement that I am announcing my candidacy for the House of Representatives in District 14. My wife, Erika, and I believe Sioux Falls is an amazing community and that South Dakota is the best state to raise our growing family. Now is our time to serve the people of southeast Sioux Falls as their voice in the Legislature.

Erika and I are the proud parents of Emmett (1) and we are expecting our second child in April. Like many families in District 14, we relate to the daily joys and challenges of balancing our careers and raising a family while also being engaged in improving our community. As a father and young professional, I will bring this unique perspective to South Dakota’s House of Representatives. As a conservative, I will also bring our shared values to the policymaking process. For me, this means being responsible with our resources and continuing South Dakota’s successful record as a business-friendly state. Above all, I will put people first as their legislator.

Although 2022 will be my first time as a candidate for public office, I am no stranger to public service. I have served on community service boards including the Sioux Falls YMCA board of directors; Rotary Club of Downtown Sioux Falls; and numerous other state boards and commissions, including the Senate Bill 55 Taskforce for Higher Education. I also currently serve in the Office of U.S. Senator Mike Rounds as the Southeast Regional Director, leading the senator’s Sioux Falls office, and as the office’s State Director of Tribal Affairs.

I am looking forward to working hard, knocking on doors, and earning the vote of my neighbors, but first I need your help to run a successful campaign in a potential primary as well as in the general election.

Your financial support will help my campaign get my name out to the voters of District 14. Other ways you can help is to mention my candidacy to your friends and family in the area, hosting a coffee or event with District 14 voters, or perhaps put up a yard sign at your home or business. Any help or support would be greatly appreciated as we launch this new adventure.

If you have any questions about my background or positions on issues, or would like to visit with me further, I welcome your calls at (605) 381-8105 or feedback at tylertordsen.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for your support and consideration.

Sincerely,

Tyler Tordsen
Candidate, District 14 House

From my mailbox:

MINNEHAHA COUNTY MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY LICENSURE APPLICATION TIMELINE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office will begin accepting medical cannabis dispensary applications beginning November 29, 2021. The deadline to apply is December 13, 2021. Applications can only be submitted in person by sealed envelope at the Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office, 415 N. Dakota Ave., 57104 between 8:00 – 5:00, Monday-Friday, excluding holidays. 

Applications must comply with Minnehaha County Ordinance MC 60-21, a copy of which can be found at www.minnehahacounty.org, under the How Do I? section. 

Each Medical Cannabis Dispensary license application must be accompanied with the following fees and information, separate from the sealed envelope: 

• • A document containing the legal business name, the business’s primary contact name, email address and phone number. 
• • A non-refundable $50.00 publishing fee; 
• • A non-refundable application fee of $5,000.00; and 
• • An Initial License Fee of $100,000.00. The Initial License Fee is refundable to those applicants that are not awarded a medical cannabis license. 

Payment of each of the fees must be submitted on separate checks or cashier checks made payable to the Minnehaha County Treasurer. 

A copy of the application can be found at www.minnehahacounty.org, under the Notices section or obtained from the Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office. 

Please contact the Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office with any questions at 605-367-4220. 

-30- 

From KELO Radio, long-time conspiracy crank Lora Hubbel has apparently gone on the air to tell people she really is running for Governor, despite no one paying any attention to her:

She is airing a spot on KELO Radio saying she is running.

Hubbel did not say if she was seeking the Republican nomination or was running as a third party candidate or as an independent.

Read the entire story here.

And that’s the key.  Any tin-foil hat wearing idiot can say they’re running for Governor, but getting on the ballot is the important part.

I doubt she’ll run as a Republican or Independent, because she’s actually have to go out and work to get signatures. But as part of a third-party bid, they can just anoint her.

Too bad for Lora that there’s only one third party group in the state after her part in the destruction of the state’s Constitution Party, and I’m not sure the Libertarians are so desperate they’d nominate her.

(Or are they?)

Lora has been long known for all sorts of goofball statements, but in my mind, nothing will ever top it when back in 2017, she equated alcohol consumption with demonic possession, and declared that taking pills from your pharmacist was into “sorcery.”

Americans For Prosperity – South Dakota Announces New State Director Keith Moore

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota (AFP-SD) today announced Keith Moore as its next state director.

“South Dakota has a lot of good things going for it, but there are some areas where significant policy reform would take our state to the next level: education, economic opportunity, and criminal justice to name a few. Last year’s legislative reforms in health care and education shows that South Dakotans are ready for real solutions to some of our challenges. I look forward to working with South Dakotans from across the state to push transformational policy solutions that will lead us out of this pandemic and to a recovery that makes South Dakota stronger than ever,” Moore said.

Prior to joining Americans for Prosperity, Moore served as the state director of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a position he served in since 2012. Moore has also held positions with the Federal Bureau of Indian Education, the University of South Dakota, and the South Dakota Department of Education.

Moore earned his undergraduate degree from Northern State University and his graduate degree from South Dakota State University. He also holds a specialist degree in educational leadership from Montana State.  Born and raised in South Dakota, Keith now lives in Sioux Falls with his wife and children.

Background:
AFP-SD is a grassroots organization that encourages lawmakers to champion policy that promotes economic opportunity for all South Dakotans, expands access to quality health care, reforms our criminal justice system, and improves education for all students.
 

Republican State Representative Mike Derby announced his re-election campaign kickoff this past weekend in Rapid City, and was able to get a nice soundbite on the local news as part of his announcement.

As he looks ahead to a second term, Derby has declared a couple of priorities.

“As a businessman for over 30 years, I always look through legislation with the lens of a business person. What is this legislation going to do to impact the business people? What are the barriers we can get out of the way?” Derby asked. “I’ve been involved over the years with Ellsworth Air Force Base in Box Elder and past Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee and Ellsworth Task Force, and been through the base realignment and closure commission process,” he adds. “And so those are two things that I’m very interested in.”

Read (and watch the story) here.

Representative Derby represents District 34, and has served in the legislature for 8 total years, spanning two runs of office. He is currently a member of the LRC Executive Board.

Good catch to a blog correspondent who pointed out to me this evening that Dakota Free Press author Cory Heidelberger has recently filed a change of address to his ballot measure committee, noting that “SD Voice” is now a ballot measure committee operating out of Nebraska:

NebraskaVoice_sdcfdisclosure by Pat Powers on Scribd

(Funny that Cory has yet to mention the move…)