Now that Union Center’s own Governor Larry Rhoden has announced that he’s running for the job he currently has, it appears Toby Doeden now thinks he should change his image, bought a hat, and will start using AI in his videos to give the appearance that he can speak with a west river drawl. As he announces a “rocking western” event.
Thune: Back to Regular Order
“[D]espite their recent actions, I know that a number of my Democrat colleagues do share Republicans’ interest in seeing regular order restored. Well, now it’s time to act like it.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:
Rounds, King Seek Maximum H-2B Work Visas to Support Small Businesses in 2026
H-2B visas help employers fill temporary, seasonal positions
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Angus King (I-Maine) recently sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) requesting that they release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, consistent with the previous three years. Rounds and King are joined by 31 of their colleagues in the Senate.
H-2B visas fill needs for American small businesses when there are not enough American workers to fill the temporary, seasonal positions. As required by law, employers must first make a concerted effort to hire American workers to fill open positions. When the local workforce is insufficient, H-2B visas are used to employ workers to support local businesses and economies.
“Chronic labor shortages—faced by seasonal U.S. employers throughout the nation’s history—have been exacerbated by the post-pandemic evolution of the American workforce,” wrote the senators. “As this need grows, so does the pressure on U.S. workers, whose employers’ workforce needs cannot be met with American workers alone. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues.”
“An efficient analysis, issuance of a rule, and release of these visas allows the supplemental tranche of H-2B visas to meet the seasonal market demand during the market cycles when they are most needed,” continued the senators. “We thank you for your continued support—in recognizing the vital benefit to the economy of these seasonal, temporary work visas—and we are hopeful the maximum allowable FY26 supplemental visas will promptly be released pursuant to Congressional authority and in the same manner as in the three previous years.”
The letter was also signed by Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D- Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).
The full text of the letter can be found HERE or below.
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Dear Secretary Noem and Secretary Chavez-DeRemer,
We write on behalf of the seasonal businesses in our states who lack sufficient employees to support their operations and sustain their businesses. In light of these labor shortages, we respectfully urge that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), utilize the authority provided by Congress in the current Continuing Resolution to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B for Fiscal Year 2026. These visas will allow employers to supplement their U.S. workforce to keep their businesses open, as well as provide additional certainty regarding their workforce planning decisions in the coming months.
Chronic labor shortages—faced by seasonal U.S. employers throughout the nation’s history—have been exacerbated by the post-pandemic evolution of the American workforce. As this need grows, so does the pressure on U.S. workers, whose employers’ workforce needs cannot be met with American workers alone. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues. In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that “counties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers.” Issuing the extra discretionary H-2B visas in a timely manner will help alleviate these workforce shortages and, in doing so, will help create and sustain the jobs of American workers who rely on the H-2B workers to support their duties during their peak seasons.
It is important to note that supplemental visas are set aside specifically for either returning workers or workers from Northern Central American (NCA) countries. Many returning workers are those who return to their qualified employer each year and are core members of their respective organizations, supplementing and supporting U.S. workers. NCA workers are carved out with a special tranche of visas to help foster regional stability in these impoverished nations. In addition, H-2B workers return to their home country at the end of the season and then use the legal process to return to the qualified U.S. employer for the next season. This exemption for NCA countries was initially introduced during President Trump’s first term, allowing many seasonal businesses to invest in these workers, even as they continue to work with the returning workers eligible under the parameters of the supplemental tranche of H-2B visas.
An efficient analysis, issuance of a rule, and release of these visas allows the supplemental tranche of H-2B visas to meet the seasonal market demand during the market cycles when they are most needed. We thank you for your continued support—in recognizing the vital benefit to the economy of these seasonal, temporary work visas—and we are hopeful the maximum allowable FY26 supplemental visas will promptly be released pursuant to Congressional authority and in the same manner as in the three previous years.
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Attorney General Jackley Announces Creation of Task Force To Review State’s Open Meetings Laws
PIERRE, S.D. –- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces a newly established Advisory Task Force Committee on Open Meetings Laws will hold its first meeting Tuesday, Nov. 25, in Pierre.
The task force is different than the South Dakota Open Meetings Commission, consisting of five states attorneys, which was established in 2004 to review and address alleged violations of the state’s open meetings laws. Attorney General Jackley said this 15-member group will discuss possible legislative amendments to the state’s current Open Meetings Laws.
“Government, funded by the taxpayers, should be transparent,” said Attorney General Jackley. “I have formed this task force made up of the news media, private organizations, and local government officials to improve our State’s Open Meetings Laws and to increase government transparency within our State.”
Members of the new task force are:
Tuesday’s meeting starts at 10 a.m. CST, both in person and on TEAMs. The in-person session takes place at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Training Center, 1302 E. Hwy 1889, Pierre, SD, in the DCI Conference Room (second floor).
The agenda for the meeting can be found here:
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If you hadn’t noticed the new banner ad that just went up on the website, Heath Shields has joined us on advertisers’ row in his campaign to become the next SD Treasurer.
Please click on his ad, and visit his website.
Please help me welcome Heath, who joins Monae Johnson for Secretary of State, US Senator John Thune, United States Senator Mike Rounds, the Dusty Johnson for Governor campaign, Emmett Reistroffer for District 35 House and others – including our friends at Dakota Town Hall, and my own Dakota Campaign Store.
Are you running for office in 2026 as it seems everyone is doing this year? (I hear it’s what all the cool kids are doing). If you’re running, you should get in front of the thousands of readers we have a week. The last 2 days were between 4000 – 5000 views each day.
I have a number of spots open, and questions on ad prices, ad positions, and ad commitments may be directed to the webmaster by clicking here. Lots of open space available at the moment, such as the #1 and the #2 positions on the right, as well as spots lower down on both sides of the page.
Ads run in their position through the site, meaning they are not rotated. Advertising is available on a first-come first-served basis, and discounts are provided for extended commitments. Advertising on the Dakotwarcollege.com website is based on a first come, first serve basis for available positions.
State Representative Brandei Schaefbauer is on Facebook today claiming to not serve “any special interest.”
“South Dakota is my top priority before anything else. I don’t serve any special interest before I serve the people of South Dakota!” – District 3 State Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer.
And also Rep. Schaefbauer..
Is it just me? Despite her protests, I notice that Rep. Schaefbauer spends a good percentage of her time using her office to directly advocate for her landlord Toby Doeden as much as she does anyone else.
Johnson Votes to Release Epstein Files
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) voted to release the Epstein files.
“Jeffrey Epstein committed heinous, evil crimes. I voted to release the Epstein files, which I’ve consistently supported for months,” said Johnson. “We all want transparency, and for any person found guilty to face the full force of justice. My heart goes out to the victims, and I hope proper action is taken to protect their identities.”
In September, Johnson voted to continue the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
The Oversight Committee’s investigation has:
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Protect South Dakota From the Pain of Federal Interference
By: Dr. Bill Cohen
As a physician who has spent decades at the American Pain Relief Institute, I’ve seen how harm affects people in ways that go beyond the physical. My work has taught me how easily poorly regulated systems can create stress, financial strain, and emotional pain for families. That’s why South Dakota’s approach to government matters to me: when the rules are strong and locally guided, we protect people from risks they may never see coming. Safeguarding our state sovereignty is a key part of that, because decisions made close to home reflect the needs and values of the people who live here.
When South Dakota voters approved sports betting in 2020, we did it the right way—our way. We built a system rooted in accountability, local control, and common-sense responsibility. Our Gaming Commission and Deadwood casinos ensure that legal wagers follow strict rules, protect consumers, and support the state programs and communities that make South Dakota special. That’s how it should be: South Dakotans regulating South Dakota issues.
And the proof is in the results.
Our state-regulated market is working exactly as intended. Sportsbooks must be licensed, vetted, and regularly audited. Regulators know the operators personally, understand the local landscape, and hold them to the same high standards we expect across all gaming activities in the state. That level of oversight simply isn’t possible from a federal agency thousands of miles away. Because our regulators know our people and our priorities, problems are identified quickly, rules are enforced consistently, and consumer protections are actually meaningful.
Most importantly, the revenue generated stays here. Over the years, in my clinical work and research, I’ve met countless South Dakotans whose well-being depends on clear rules and fair systems, which is why I pay close attention to how new state regulations are handled. Tax dollars from sports wagering support responsible gaming programs, fund tourism and economic development, and help maintain the quality of life South Dakotans value. We built a system that strengthens our local communities while keeping betting activity transparent, accountable, and safe.
But now, a federal agency in Washington is threatening to upend that balance. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, has begun allowing a new form of online wagering called “prediction markets.” These platforms let people place bets on the outcomes of sports and other real-world events—but they label them “financial contracts” to dodge state gaming laws. If you’re putting money on the outcome of a football game, that’s not a financial hedge. That is sports betting, plain and simple.
And unlike our licensed sportsbooks, prediction market platforms don’t follow our rules. They operate under federal approval, completely outside South Dakota’s regulatory framework. They don’t pay taxes that fund our state programs. They don’t support addiction treatment or responsible gaming efforts. They don’t contribute to tourism or community development. They don’t even answer to our regulators.
That’s not just unfair—it’s dangerous. It undermines the businesses playing by the rules and puts consumers at risk by allowing unregulated operators to skirt the safeguards that South Dakota intentionally built.
The CFTC was never meant to be a gambling regulator. Its job is to oversee commodities like wheat, corn, and cattle—things that matter deeply to South Dakota producers and our economy. That’s where its focus should stay. The last thing we need is Washington bureaucrats deciding how our state handles sports betting.
At the end of the day, South Dakota doesn’t wait for Washington to tell us what’s right, and we never have. We built this system ourselves, with our values in mind, and it’s serving our people well. If Washington wants to help, it can start by staying out of the way.
Because here in South Dakota, we don’t need someone else calling the shots. We’ve got this covered.
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Dr. Bill Cohen is the former medical director at American Pain Relief Institute.
From Facebook:
