The South Dakota House of Representatives has been provided a hard drive full of material related to the State’s investigation of last September’s traffic accident involving the Attorney General, and cautions that it will take months to review the material:

Gosch said Thursday that his staff in Pierre received the hard drive late Wednesday and that he hadn’t had a chance to see what it contains. He’ll have to sort through files that contain nearly 1,300 photos, cellphone data extraction reports, roughly 10 hours of video and audio of interviews, more than 1,500 pages of investigative reports and a crime scene map that requires special software to view.

“We’re still evaluating what the process is going to look like,” he said, adding that lawmakers would “allow an ample amount of time and an ample amount of due process.”

and..

“It’s so difficult to know how long it would take to sort through all that evidence,” said Republican state Rep. Jon Hansen, who is a member of the legislative leadership.

Read it all here.

If the legislature decides to move forward, this may be something that has to go beyond next winter’s legislative session as they try to make a case for impeachment beyond the traffic offenses the Attorney General pled no contest to.

I’ve had a concept banging around in my head for a long time about something slightly different, in a more magazine style and longer form articles than many of the posts at Dakota War College tend to be. It’s not that I’m abandoning things, as much as creating a slightly different sandbox. There will be a lot of cross-pollination, as articles will appear in both places, but sometimes I just want to try things in a different format.

And with that, I’m “officially” kicking off the South Dakota Political News, with an article on the battle over threatened COVID vaccination legislation:

The business community also has the support of one of the State’s most powerful political figures, Governor Kristi Noem. After the legislators began demanding a special session, the Governor launched a fusillade of criticism via social and traditional media against those who sought to bring a solution to what they saw as a problem that needed immediate government intervention, terming the proposals as “not conservative.”

As reported by South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Governor Noem noted in some of the sharpest criticism to date during her time as Governor that “It is not conservative to tell businesses what to do and how to treat their employees. Most of the Republican legislators get that in South Dakota—they get that. But, there are the vocal few, like Jon Hansen and Scott Odenbach, who are chasing headlines and are trying to tell South Dakotans how to do business. They want to make government bigger and more powerful in your life. It’s like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Businesses have been cool to the proposals as well, according to South Dakota Retailers Association Director Nathan Sanderson.  According to Sanderson, “The South Dakota Retailers Association has long supported the right of business owners to determine the practices and policies best-suited for their own business and employees. The vast majority of South Dakota businesses are not mandating vaccinations for their employees, or even considering doing so, but a business owner should have the right to make the decision based on their own circumstances.”

Read the entire article here.

Hunting Season is Serious Business in South Dakota
By Gov. Kristi Noem
August 27, 2021

I love the fall. Cooler days. County fairs with youth livestock shows going on almost every weekend. And, of course, heading out to the fields to shoot the state bird.

As tourism season draws to a close, hunting seasons are beginning to open around the state. Dove, Antelope, Deer and Canada Geese seasons recently opened, kicking off the fall 2021 hunting calendar.

Over the next four months, South Dakotans and non-resident hunters will flock to the fields and forests in search of fertile grounds. Thanks to the enthusiasm brought by our hunter-friendly policies, both hunters and the state are reaping benefits from seasonal outings.

It’s estimated the annual hunting season brings in about $500 million to the state economy, benefiting businesses of all sizes. When combined with fishing and other outdoor activities, the total economic footprint of our Game, Fish, and Parks Department is about $1.33 billion. A new study going on now is looking at this season’s figures and will give us a better post-pandemic picture of how hunting is benefiting local economies.

The fees collected from licensing alone bring in nearly $28 million each year to support our Game, Fish, and Parks Department. Those funds go to our conservation officers, habitat improvements, grassland restorations, and much more. Our Hunt for Habitat raffle raised $329,000 this year — the raffle has raised more than $1 million total over its first three years — to support more than 6,500 acres of habitat restoration and improvement across 18 counties. Since 2013, the Bighorn Sheep auction has raised nearly $1 million for bighorn sheep reintroduction projects, wildlife disease testing labs and research, and water development projects.

All but one of the winning tags from this year’s Hunt for Habitat raffle went to South Dakota hunters. That’s because hunting is serious business in our state.

Last year, South Dakota was No. 1 in the nation for the percentage of residents obtaining a hunting license (nearly 25%) — we were No. 11 overall based on total non-resident hunting licenses issued. And while we are known for our premier pheasant hunting, we also are favorites among archers coming in at No. 4 on BowHunting.com’s most hunter-friendly states.

We’re not taking these accolades for granted, either. Since 2019, the Second Century Initiative has fought to maintain family hunting traditions by introducing kids to the adventure of the outdoors, while conserving our outdoor culture for the next generation.

Thanks to the Second Century Initiative, we are seeing remarkable pheasant numbers, which increases interest in South Dakota as a hunting destination. Our Nest Predator Bounty program is getting more youth involved in trapping while also helping to boost our pheasant numbers through increased nest success.

All of these actions are meant to protect and sustain our rich outdoor legacy in South Dakota. Hunting, trapping, and living off the land are all valuable skills that should be handed down to the next generation. Hunting also provides a great outlet for exercise, positive mental health benefits, and the value of knowing exactly where your food is coming from.

To learn about hunting in South Dakota, or how to obtain a license, go to gfp.sd.gov/hunt/ and click the “Purchase License” banner. While at the website, you can also learn about our youth mentor program, which was recently expanded by the legislature. There’s also information about accessing hunting areas.

Good luck to all the hunters gearing up for another fun season! Thank you for what you do to keep our state’s traditions alive and thriving for the next generation of hunters.

###

One of South Dakota’s worst legislators is apparently doing everything she can do to ferret out new crazy things to bring to Pierre next year.  As you can read in State Senator Julie Frye Mueller’s latest column in the Rapid City Journal:

August was extremely busy as well. Sidney Powell came August 5 to speak at a SD Citizens For Liberty meeting on the Arizona voter fraud. She did an excellent job and discussed what her team was dealing with regarding the process they were going through. The courts have refused to hear the evidence, so reports of no election fraud are not factual. I was blessed to be able to spend four days on and off with her and her team. We have stayed in communication with each other and I feel fortunate for that connection.

On August 9, my husband and I took off for Sioux Falls for the Mike Lindell Cyber Symposium. The event venue was well-suited for what was going on there. Eventually legislators from all 50 states showed up and a large group of us went into a private room to discuss what we can do to help. We had our first Zoom meeting last Tuesday and will be continuing every two weeks. Another great part of this is we are connecting to help share ideas for bills that will help “We the People”.

Read it here.

Jesus wept.   Are we actually reading this?  First Frye-Mueller claims through some connection with Sidney Powell that “reports of no election fraud are not factual.” Despite Powell arguing through her attorneys in court filings that “no reasonable people would believe her election fraud claims.”

Even worse, the legislator who said parents accepting a school handbook might inadvertently be giving permission to give transgender surgery to your children wants to share ideas for bills with other people who went to the looney MyPillow Cyber Symposium. The 3-day conference which most elected officials across the nation avoided like the plague because predictably, it fell flat on it’s face and became a national circus of mockery.

Lindell, who is a diehard Trump fan and prominent voter fraud conspiracy theorist, launched the pseudo-conference with the hopes of definitively proving that the Don was robbed of the presidency last November by a band of Deep State goons and Chinese hackers.

and..

Unfortunately for Lindell, the man he hired to assess that data has now admitted that it can’t possibly show what he says it does.

Read that here.

I might be showing my age, and opening up myself for razzing from my daughter who claims I’m old, but I remember a time when our Senators and Representatives came to the legislature every year to solve problems of the people who elected them to office.

Not to support people on the Internet spouting nutty conspiracy theories reinforced by reading too much facebook.

Ah, the good old days.

The GOP Booth at the State Fair is hopping today..

The Democrat booth.. not so much.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to leave the pro-life TX law in place, I have directed the Unborn Child Advocate in my office to immediately review the new TX law and current South Dakota laws to make sure we have the strongest pro life laws on the books in SD.

— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) September 2, 2021

Apparently a number of states are adding use of apple wallet for driver’s licenses, including a neighboring state to South Dakota:

Apple has announced that Arizona and Georgia are to support Apple Wallet for state ID and drivers’ licences in iOS 15, with six more states to follow.

Apple has long been preparing to have passports and other ID stored on iPhones, and iOS 15 will add support for it. Now the company has announced seven states that have signed on to accept ID through Apple Wallet.

DPS Provides Ravnsborg Investigation File to Speaker Gosch

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem and the South Dakota Department of Public Safety provided the full investigation file into the fatal crash involving South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg and the late Joseph Boever to Spencer Gosch, the Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives. The file includes a minimal amount of redacted information referring to unrelated investigations and/or security matters.

“This investigation file represents incredible work by our excellent law enforcement officers, and I thank them for their efforts,” said Governor Noem. “The remarkable detail in this investigation file will assist the House in its important work of considering whether to proceed with impeachment articles for the Attorney General.”

The cover letter from Craig Price, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety, to Speaker Gosch, which is contemporaneously being released, sets out generally what is included within the investigation file. You can read that letter here.

Speaker Gosch said in March that the House would wait until after “the judicial system is able to do its job” to proceed with articles of impeachment against Ravnsborg. The South Dakota Sheriff’s Association, the South Dakota Police Chiefs Association, and the South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police previously called on him to resign.

###

FCC Implements Johnson’s COVID-19 Telehealth Extension Bill

Washington, D.C. – Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced award recipients for round two of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program, following the passage of U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson’s (R-S.D.) COVID-19 Telehealth Program Extension Act.

In April 2020, the FCC launched the COVID-19 Telehealth Program authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The program supports health care providers responding to COVID-19 by funding telecommunications services, information services, and the purchase of connected devices necessary to provide critical connected care services to patients at home.

Due to the popularity of the program, on June 25, 2020, the FCC announced it would no longer accept applications from providers. By July, the FCC released the final round of funding to approved applicants, exhausting the original $200 million appropriated for the program.

In July 2020, U.S. Representatives Johnson and Abigail Spanberger (D-V.A.) introduced the COVID-19 Telehealth Program Extension Act to appropriate additional funds to the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program. This bill was included in the $900 billion COVID-19 relief package that passed in December.

“South Dakota has seen the benefits of expanding telehealth firsthand,” said Johnson. “Additional funding for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program enables health care providers to use technology to meet patients’ needs wherever they are. South Dakota patients deserve quality care, so I’m glad to see the additional funds being used to strengthen telehealth programs in South Dakota and across the country.”

“Sanford Health is grateful for these FCC grant funds, which will help expand telehealth services and bring exceptional care closer to home for those in our rural footprint. These funds will allow us to upgrade our systems and install new wireless access points across our network in the Upper Midwest.” Corey Brown, Sanford Health System Vice President, Government Relations.

South Dakota health care providers were recipients of the program in both rounds.

###

Selection Process for United States Senate Youth Program is Underway

Two South Dakota High School Students Will Be Selected for 2022 Washington, D.C., Program

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today announced the annual statewide selection process for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) has begun. Two South Dakota high school juniors or seniors will join student delegates from around the country to participate in the USSYP’s 60th annual Washington Week, which will take place March 5-12, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

“The U.S. Senate Youth Program is an incredible opportunity for student leaders in South Dakota to learn firsthand about the inner workings of the U.S. government, policy making, and public service,” said Thune. “This program is an opportunity of a lifetime, and I encourage all student leaders across the state to apply.”

Each of the student delegates will receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for next year’s program. During their trip to Washington, student delegates will potentially visit Capitol Hill, the White House, the Pentagon, and the Supreme Court, among other locations, and will meet with policymakers, which in the past have included members of Congress, the president, and cabinet secretaries.

Students interested in applying for next year’s program can find more information by visiting the South Dakota Department of Education website or by contacting Mark Gageby (mark.gageby@state.sd.us), the South Dakota selection administrator, or their school’s principal.

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, September 24, 2021.

###