Dakota Midday, Jan. 25, 2012
I appear as a commentator on South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s “Political Junkies” segment of their “Dakota Midday” show, discussing bills before the state Legislature and recent announcements involving the state’s Congressional delegation.
Herseth Sandlin won’t run for House seat
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin came extremely close to running for Congress again this year.
Daugaard proposes major K-12 education system reform
Gov. Dennis Daugaard proposed sweeping reforms Tuesday to the state’s K-12 education system, including annual $5,000 bonuses for the state’s best teachers, more bonuses for math and science teachers and an end to the venerable institution of teacher tenure. (Rapid City Journal, 01/11/2012)
Interactive graphic: Restaurant inspections
Ban proposed on abortions after 20 weeks
Anti-abortion groups plan a major push next year in the South Dakota Legislature to ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Governor's budget plan gives increases to schools, Medicaid, state workers
South Dakota has money to spend on schools, medical providers and state workers, Gov. Dennis Daugaard declared Tuesday — and proposed what he termed a cautious way of spending it. (Rapid City Journal, 12/07/11)
Dakota Midday, Nov. 7, 2011
I appear as a commentator on South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s “Political Junkies” segment of their “Dakota Midday” show, discussing the news of a former South Dakota governor’s brain cancer, a state GOP presidential straw poll and a referendum to raise the state sales tax.
Janklow: 'I have inoperable cancer'
Former South Dakota Gov. Bill Janklow announced Friday that he is dying of brain cancer.
County: Results of septic inspections startling
Last fall, Silver City resident Jeff Sugrue received a letter from Pennington County he had never seen before: an order to have his home’s septic system pumped and inspected.
Road dispute threatens to lead to legal battle
A dispute between two rival groups of landowners near Hill City could end up entangling everyone — and Pennington County — in expensive litigation over a narrow dirt road through the Black Hills. (Rapid City Journal, 10/22/2011)
Interactive graphic: State redistricting map
Reva residents rally to save local post office, community
There is no piece of paper declaring Reva — a sprinkling of buildings alongside S.D. Highway 79 in remote northwest South Dakota — to be a town. But don’t try telling the proud ranchers living among the Harding County buttes surrounding Reva that they are not part of a community. (Rapid City Journal, 08/31/2011)
Police shooting
A series of articles in the Rapid City Journal covering an incident where two police officers and a gunman were killed, and a third officer wounded, in a sudden shootout:
County commission accuses citizen of 'harassment'
The Pennington County Commission is taking aim at a citizen whom commissioners and county employees say has become abusive and harassing. (Rapid City Journal, 08/03/2011)
Analysis: Voters stand with Sam
The long and bitter campaign is over. Now it’s Sam’s turn to lead. (Rapid City Journal, 06/29/2011)
Hill City shootout
A series of articles in the Rapid City Journal covering an incident where a re-enactor accidentally shot three spectators at a Wild West show:
Residents in Pierre, Fort Pierre braced for flooding
Todd Bernhard lives in a $500,000 dream home. Tacy Kennison built her home herself with volunteers as part of the Habitat for Humanity program. Cora Jeffries’ house has stood where it is since 1963. All three Fort Pierre homes are under assault by the rising Missouri River below the Oahe Dam. (Rapid City Journal, 05/29/2011)
Rescue crews still searching for missing child near Rapid Creek
Emergency personnel fear that a 10-year-old Rapid Valley boy may have been swept away in Rapid Creek on Saturday, even as they continue an expansive search effort and hope that Trevor Whitehead is safe on dry land. (Rapid City Journal, 05/21/2011)
Deep pocket PACs fund local legislators
Gov. Dennis Daugaard spent millions of dollars in his successful campaign for governor last year. But the success of Daugaard’s agenda depended on the outcome of dozens of legislative races throughout the state — legislative races where the big spenders collected about $25,000. (Rapid City Journal, 05/01/2011)
Noem's financial support mounting for re-election campaign
Rep. Kristi Noem’s impressive first-quarter fundraising report shows the recently elected congresswoman beginning to benefit from the money-raising perks of incumbency. (Rapid City Journal, 04/28/2011)
Democrats looking for an ace
South Dakota Republicans took a political gamble with their 10 percent budget cut, putting themselves in the position to face the wrath of voters in the next round of elections.
Two years of trims taking their toll
Gov. Dennis Daugaard didn’t call Julie Palmlund and tell her she no longer had a job. But she is nonetheless facing unemployment as a side effect of Daugaard’s signature achievement so far as governor: steep spending cuts to balance the state’s budget. (Rapid City Journal, 04/10/2011)
Feds reject Daugaard offer to keep Mount Rushmore open in a government shutdown
The National Parks Service rejected a last-minute offer from Gov. Dennis Daugaard on Friday to use state resources to keep Mount Rushmore National Memorial open if the federal government were to shut down. (Rapid City Journal, 04/08/2011)
Budget battle
A series of articles in the Rapid City Journal looking at the 10 percent budget cuts the South Dakota Legislature faced in 2011. Key articles are bolded:
John Thune announces he will not run for president
In the end, it was a step he just wasn’t comfortable taking. Sen. John Thune took to his Facebook page Tuesday morning to announce an end to the speculation: He would not be running for president in 2012. (Rapid City Journal, 02/22/2011)
Daugaard finding money for economic development
Can Gov. Dennis Daugaard bolster economic development even as he slashes state spending? He and his staff say it’s not only possible, but necessary. (Rapid City Journal, 02/06/2011)
What will happen to South Dakota if Bush tax cuts aren't renewed?
A political dispute in Congress about which tax cuts to extend raises the possibility that everyone’s taxes could be going up next year. (Rapid City Journal, 02/06/2011)
Sioux Falls legislator proposes requiring every South Dakota adult to buy a gun
Rep. Hal Wick wanted to get people’s attention. He succeeded. (Rapid City Journal, 02/02/2011)
Community concerned with lack of funding for nonprofits, childrens homes
Before the November election, Gov. Dennis Daugaard spent two decades as an executive at the South Dakota Children’s Home Society, a nonprofit devoted to abused and neglected children. As governor, similar groups are proving some of the fiercest critics of his proposed budget cuts. (Rapid City Journal, 01/26/2011)
The elephant in the room
A multi-part special looking at the dismal state of the South Dakota Democratic Party after the disastrous 2010 elections. (Rapid City Journal, 01/09/2011)