There’s a story about alleged campaign hacking that’s getting ginned up a bit in Sioux Falls:

Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead confirms that a hacking probe is underway, involving a candidates campaign website, e-mail account, wi-fi, and social media. It may have been occuring for the past several months.

Milstead’s prepared statement says that investigators have reached out to other mayoral candidates to determine if those campaigns experienced similar interference.

Loetscher and Paul TenHaken are in a run off May first, for the top job in South Dakota’s largest city.

The hacking allegations came up in Monday’s mayoral debate between Loetscher and TenHaken. TenHaken acknowleged that investigators questioned him on Sunday, before accusing Loetscher of implying that he, TenHaken, was responsible for the hacking. Loetscher responded by saying that TenHaken has said in the past that he has the tools to do it.

Read it here.

So, Democrat Mayoral Candidate Joelene Loetscher may have been intimating that her opponent has something to do with her campaign allegedly being “hacked?”   That seems a bit… desperate, as Loetcher appears to be shifting negative in the final hours of the campaign.

Why does this sound like she’s telling a “big scary computer” story? What’s next? Is she going to accuse her opponent of making her forget her banking password?

A few weeks later her secured Wi-Fi was entered by someone without authorization, and in February the login for her campaign bank account was changed, causing her to be locked out for a time.

Read that here.

Sorry I asked.

Update – here’s the video where Loetscher tries to portray her opponent as a computer hacker.. about 50 minutes in:

From facebook, an observant reader just pointed out a post to a local Aberdeen page that indicates that the race for Sheriff in Brown County might be getting a little more personal than it already is:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- April 23rd, 2018

Bennett County State’s Attorney Sarah E. Harris Endorses John H. Fitzgerald for South Dakota Attorney General.

Martin, South Dakota: Bennett County State’s Attorney Sarah E. Harris announced her support for Lawrence County State’s Attorney John H. Fitzgerald for South Dakota Attorney General.

I support John H. Fitzgerald, as the Republican candidate for South Dakota Attorney General. John has thirty plus years of experience as a county prosecutor and is dedicated to the concept of justice for all. With more than thirty years of experience, he understands the issues faced by local and state government. John has dedicated his life to fighting for victims, trying cases and improving public safety. His extensive experience in the handling of criminal cases as State’s Attorney has given him the resources needed to be the most qualified candidate for South Dakota’s next Attorney General.

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TenHaken Campaign Announces Endorsement From Former Mayor Gary Hanson

SIOUX FALLS, SD — The TenHaken for Mayor campaign announced today an endorsement from Gary Hanson, who served eight years as mayor of the City of Sioux Falls and seven years as Commissioner of the city’s utilities.

The endorsement comes in the weeks leading up to the runoff election on May 1.

“I am thrilled to have a person of Paul’s high standards running for mayor,” said Hanson. “Sioux Falls continues to grow rapidly and we are certain to face future growing pains. We need a person with forward-thinking ideas and multi-layered business experience to properly run the city and give our families the best opportunity for the safest and highest possible quality-of-life. I believe that person is Paul TenHaken.”

Hanson stated he is very impressed with TenHaken; “Paul has a good heart. He truly cares about making Sioux Falls a better place to live for everyone.”

“Gary was a tremendous public servant for Sioux Falls and remains one for our state,” said Paul TenHaken. “He’s served as a strong sounding board for me during this campaign and I know our strong relationship will continue into City Hall.”

Gary Hanson served in the office of mayor from 1994 to 2002 and Sioux Falls’ Commissioner of Utilities from 1988 to 1994; a period of exceptional growth. During his service Gary was instrumental in the establishment of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, the city’s violent crime rate decreased by 31.4%, Falls Park was completely transformed, downtown was revitalized, the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science and a new convention center were built, Sioux Falls’ Baseball Stadium was rebuilt, the acreage of parks increased by 32%, and portions of property taxes were actually returned to the citizens. He currently serves as a South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner.

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I had a reader ask me about rumors they were hearing about the status of CJ Abernathey, the Libertarian candidate for Governor, and in reviewing the Secretary of State’s web site, the rumors on Abernathey’s status are just idle silliness, because Abernathey is their guy:

But, there’s still this issue of the “TBD” for the Libertarian ticket’s Lt. Governor choice.   I was chatting with one of the Libertarian candidates and asked them about it, and was informed that they’re getting together again:

“I guess I’d call it a reconvention rather than a second one. The blizzard kinda wreaked havoc on things during the first portion, and left some unfinished business.”

Yeah… Unfinished business as in forgetting a Lt. Governor might be a big deal.   So, the Libertarian “re-convention” is taking place in June, where they’re going to finish out their ticket with the nomination of a Lt. Governor. But there’s also a twist.

As I queried the Secretary of State’s Elections Office..

“It’s my understanding that the Libertarian Party is going to be reconvening their convention in June to nominate a Lt. Governor Candidate. Will they be able to nominate additional legislative candidates at that time – to supplement those they’ve already nominated – at that time as well?”

The answer? Yes.

According to Kea Warne with the Secretary of State’s office “they will be able to nominate additional candidates to supplement the ones they nominated earlier this month.”

This could mean a number of scenarios in addition to picking up candidates who are now interested who weren’t before. Including one where candidates who lose legislative primaries under one party’s banner could switch, and run under the Libertarian banner.

Stay tuned, as this story isn’t finished. It’s just beginning.

Consumers to Robocallers: Enough Is Enough
By Sen. John Thune

I think we can all agree that there’s at least one thing more annoying than having snow on the ground in mid-April: receiving an abusive or illegal robocall. And it doesn’t matter if it’s April or September, there’s never a good time to receive one. In fact, unsolicited robocalls are among the top consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), two federal agencies under which my committee, the Commerce Committee, has jurisdiction.

Advancements in technology have made it easier for scammers to both take advantage of unsuspecting victims and elude the law enforcement professionals who are trying to crack down on this illegal behavior. Scammers and spoofers are often able to make calls from anywhere in the world, while creating the illusion they are coming from somewhere in your community. Last year, for example, the Watertown Police Department alerted residents to a spoofing scam in which the originating phone number was attributed to the police department itself.

We’ve all likely received one of these calls before. Your phone rings, a phone number with a familiar area code pops up, and you answer the call. It might be an automated message or a scammer himself. Maybe you’re told you’ve “won” an all-expense-paid European vacation for you and your family – a contest you didn’t know you’d even entered. Maybe a fake IRS agent or utility company claims you’re delinquent, and you owe them money. One of the worst is the “grandparent scam” where callers trick elderly Americans into believing a family member is in trouble and needs quick financial help. The tactics might vary, but these are all blatant attempts to trick innocent, unsuspecting Americans.

While scammers and spoofers frequently use robocalls to target their victims, not all robocalls have a malicious intent. You’ve probably received an automated call reminding you of an upcoming doctor or dentist appointment. Many pharmacies use robocalls to alert patients when a prescription is ready to be picked up, and important safety recalls are often transmitted via robocalls, too. These legitimate calls aren’t our concern, though.

There are few issues these days that garner significant bipartisan support in Congress, but protecting consumers from the bad actors who prey upon robocall victims happens to be one of those rare cases. I recently convened a Commerce Committee hearing during which we heard from folks whose job it is to combat illegal robocalls. We also heard from industry representatives who discussed ways consumers could stop receiving these calls in the first place.

One of the more headline-grabbing witnesses at our hearing ironically refused to pick up our calls – at least until we issued a subpoena for him to appear. Adrian Abramovich is currently facing $120 million in FCC penalties for allegedly making nearly 100 million robocalls throughout the country. He didn’t answer all of our questions and downplayed his culpability, but he did offer a few interesting insights into his practices.

If you think you’ve been the victim of a phone scam or have received a suspicious call, you should contact your local police department, and if you’re interested in being placed on the federal “do not call list,” visit www.donotcall.gov. It’s important to note, though, even if a phone number is on the list, consumers should always remain vigilant – remember, scammers don’t follow the law. You can also file complaints with the FTC and FCC and find more information about the steps they’re taking to protect consumers by visiting their respective websites. My office can help, too. Always feel free to give us a call.

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The World Needs Strong U.S. Leadership Now More Than Ever
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

Earlier this month, the United States, in conjunction with our allies Great Britain and France, conducted missile strikes against three Syrian chemical facilities in response to the Syrian government’s chemical weapons attack. It sent a strong message that the United States and two of its great European allies will not tolerate barbaric and inhumane chemical attacks on noncombatants.

When Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s regime attacked its own citizens—including young children—with chemical weapons, it killed more than 60 civilians and injured hundreds more. Such use of chemical weapons is a violation of international law and a war crime that must not be tolerated by the civilized world.

In his address to the nation, President Trump explained that the “despicable attack” required a military response to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons, a vital national security interest of the United States. He also reaffirmed that the United States is prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical weapons. I support this strategy. The world needs strong leadership during this volatile time in our nation’s history, and I believe President Trump’s decision is an example of such leadership.

The recent airstrikes in Syria have revived discussion about the proper role for Congress in approving military action. The Constitution makes clear that it is Congress’ role is to declare war while the president is commander in chief of the armed forces.  Additionally, the War Powers Resolution, adopted in 1973, grants the president authority, under certain constraints, to initiate military action.  In this context, both the missile strikes against Syrian chemical weapons facilities and our ongoing military operations to defeat the Islamic State raise important issues.

We currently have approximately 2,000 troops on the ground in Syria working to defeat the Islamic State. Their mission is covered under the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), issued by Congress following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As a result, we and our allies have had great success against the Islamic State in Syria, and the territory that they control continues to shrink.

A bipartisan group of Senators who serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently introduced legislation to replace the 2001 AUMF with an updated one that would authorize the use of force against al-Qaida, the Taliban and ISIS in a way that better suits new conditions that have arisen since 2001.  The intent is to reassert the role of Congress in deciding questions of war and peace, while continuing to allow the president to act swiftly when necessary, such as in the case of the recent missile strikes.

Updating the AUMF is a healthy discussion to have, and while we must certainly give the administration flexibility to act when necessary, there is certainly a role for Congress to play. I’m pleased the legislation is being carefully considered by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Senator Bob Corker who has said committee members will be free to offer amendments during their debate of the measure.  I welcome an open, robust debate on this important topic as our nation continues to provide global leadership against our enemies.

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Keeping Washington Out of South Dakota
By Rep. Kristi Noem

It never ceases to amaze me how far Washington wants to reach into our personal lives. I have always believed in a limited federal government – one that defers to the states and individuals to make the vast majority of decisions. But that isn’t the way Washington bureaucrats operate.

Most recently, the federal government attempted to micromanage how South Dakota 4-H formats its rodeo. All three of our kids competed in rodeo growing up, and I volunteered with the program for more than 16 years. When you’re part of rodeo, it’s clear the sport is heavily dependent on the skill of the contestants, but the inherent differences between sexes can have an impact on the winner in many cases. Nonetheless, the federal government sought to force “gender neutral” competition, putting political correctness above the rodeo experience for the kids involved.

After phone calls, texts, and letters to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Sonny Perdue, the agency finally listened to those actually involved, hit pause, and allowed South Dakota youth rodeo to continue to operate as it has for decades.

But this is just one example. A few years ago, the EPA considered regulating dust to the point that it would have been hard for farmers to dig their fields unless it had rained that week. In response, I introduced the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act, which passed the House and helped force the administration to reverse course.

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Labor handed down a new proposal that would have undermined traditional family agriculture. Many South Dakotans hire their nieces or nephews to help during the summer, but these requirements would have put new and unnecessary limits on what they could do. Safety on farms and ranches is imperative, but we need to have a commonsense approach to how we address the issue. I put pressure on the Department of Labor, and they withdrew their proposal.

A couple years later, OSHA tried to circumvent the law and regulate “post-harvest” activities, such as storage, fumigation, and drying. Once again, I pushed back. Under pressure, the agency revoked its guidance.

Career bureaucrats will always try to push the bounds of their authority, and if they succeed, individual liberty is often the price paid. I do believe the Trump administration understands this, and the willingness of Agriculture Secretary Perdue to listen to South Dakota rodeo families speaks volumes. In total, we’ve repealed more than 1,600 regulations under the Trump administration with more being rolled back each week. I’m hopeful the deregulation, coupled with historic tax cuts, is just the beginning of a shift to a smaller, more limited federal government.

Celebrating South Dakota’s Conservationists
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

In South Dakota, we are fortunate to live on a landscape managed by dedicated farming and ranching families. For generations, they’ve known that their livelihoods depend on being good stewards of soil, water, livestock and wildlife.

As we celebrate the natural resources that we cherish on Earth Day, we should applaud those who care for working lands protecting our land and water.

Each year the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, South Dakota Grassland Coalition and Sand County Foundation bestow the Leopold Conservation Award^® on a farming or ranching family who demonstrates outstanding conservation leadership, and is dedicated to land and wildlife conservation. The award is named for renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold.

This year’s Leopold Conservation Award recipient is Cammack Ranch of Union Center.

Cammack Ranch is owned and operated by State Senator Gary Cammack, and his wife, Amy. They raise beef cattle on 11,000 acres of grazing land in Meade County, where they have implemented rotational grazing practices, constructed windbreaks and planted more than 30,000 trees. Their improvements have resulted in abundant wildlife, and healthy soil, grasslands and cattle.

The Cammacks purchased their first land in 1978 and opened Cammack Ranch Supply in Union Center shortly thereafter. Truly a family operation, their four grown sons all contribute to the operation of the ranch in some way.

This Earth Day we congratulate the Cammacks and all South Dakota landowners who care for the natural resources on which we all depend. Their strong land ethic ensures that our natural resources will be here for future generations.

For information on Cammack Ranch and the many conservation practices used by farmers and ranchers, visit LeopoldConservationAward.org.

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It appears as of this weekend that former US Attorney Randy Seiler is going to be challenged at the Democrat State Party convention by the daughter of Russell Means.

Tatwan Means had been rumored as expressing an interest in the past among a few attorneys. Apparently, she wasn’t kidding and jumped in the race, according to Liberal Dem insider Cory Heidelberger.

Normally, one might view Seiler as the automatic front-runner. But, Randy has a couple things in his background that might cause concern for Democrat purists. Such as his $1000 donation to the campaign of Republican candidate for Governor Marty Jackley in 2016:

As well as his donation to the campaign of Republican candidate Tad Perry in 2014:

Dem delegates are no less purists than those who attend the Republican convention. And they may not like the recent big dollar donations, especially to one of the GOP candidates who could be representing the Republican Party in the fall.

Stay tuned.