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Tag: South Dakota

  • South Dakota Hotel Owner Found Liable for Discrimination Against Native Americans

    SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The owner of a South Dakota hotel who said Native Americans were banned from the establishment was found liable for discrimination against Native Americans on Friday.

    A federal jury decided the owner of the Grand Gateway Hotel in Rapid City will pay tens of thousands of dollars in damages to various plaintiffs who were denied service at the hotel. The jury awarded $1 to the NDN Collective, the Indigenous advocacy group that filed the lawsuit.

    The group brought the class-action civil rights lawsuit against Retsel Corporation, the company that owns the hotel, in 2022. The case was delayed when the company filed for bankruptcy in September 2024. The head of the company, Connie Uhre, passed away this September.

    “This was never about money. We sued for one dollar,” said Wizipan Garriott, president of NDN Collective and an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. “It was about being on record for the discrimination that happened, and using this as an opportunity to be able to really call out racism.”

    Uhre posted on social media in March 2022 that she would ban Native Americans from the property after a fatal shooting at the hotel involving two teenagers whom police identified as Native American. She wrote in a Facebook post that she cannot “allow a Native American to enter our business including Cheers,” the hotel’s bar and casino.

    When Native American members of the NDN Collective tried to book a room at the hotel after her social media posts, they were turned away. The incident drew protests in Rapid City and condemnation from the mayor as well as tribes in the state.

    In Friday’s decision, the jury also ruled in Retsel’s countersuit against NDN Collective that the group had acted as a nuisance in its protests against the hotel, awarding $812 to the company.

    The Associated Press reached out to the defense attorneys for comment.

    Rapid City, a gateway to Mount Rushmore, has long seen racial tensions. At least 8% of the city’s population of about 80,000 identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native, according to census data.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

    Associated Press

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  • Young mother deported from Minnesota to Honduras without her infant

    After being deported from Minnesota last week, a young mother says she’s back in Honduras without her 8-month-old child. 

    Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjivar Aguilar, 22, lived in St. Cloud with her partner. They moved to South Dakota shortly before having a child in March.

    In a Zoom conversation translated from Spanish to English from her parents’ house in Honduras, Menjivar Aguilar told WCCO about the moment she was detained by federal agents at a September fingerprinting appointment for an approved work permit. 

    “‘Is this your baby?’ I said yes. And soon after they asked if I was breastfeeding. I said no,” said Menjivar Aguilar through a translator. “They arrested me in handcuffs behind my back.”  

    Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjivar Aguilar with her child

    Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjivar Aguilar


    Kelly Clark is Menjivar Aguilar’s immigration lawyer.

    “She signed something that they told her was, ‘If you are removed you can take your baby with you,’ and she signed that document, but at the end she was removed without her baby,” Clark said.

    Menjivar Aguilar explains her two-week journey to the U.S. when she was 17, crossing the Rio Grande with her younger brother, all to escape a gang who was trying to recruit them, and to be with their dad in the U.S. He’s since been deported, too.

    The assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released this statement: “On September 29, ICE arrested Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjivar Aguilar, an illegal alien from Honduras. She illegally entered the U.S. on April 13, 2021, near Eagle Pass, Texas, and was RELEASED into this country by the Biden administration. She received full due process and was ordered removed by an immigration judge on October 12, 2022. This administration is not going to ignore the rule of law.”

    b61215e5-abb3-435e-89fb-a5d8cf2b5648.jpg

    Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjivar Aguilar with her child.

    Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjivar Aguilar


    Her lawyer confirms she had the outstanding order of removal from 2022 after missing a court date, which Menjivar Aquilar says she didn’t know about as her father handled her documents and mail.

    “After that removal order happened, she was given deferred action, which is literally a ‘we’re not going to deport you,’” Clark said. “It is discretionary. It can be revoked, but it wasn’t revoked”

    “All I want is to be with my family, my baby and my partner,” Menjivar Aguilar said.

    When Menjivar Aguilar was detained in September, she was approved for a special immigrant juvenile visa. Her attorney is now working with the family to see if they can get her and her baby back together.

    Frankie McLister

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  • Young mother deported from Minnesota to Honduras without her infant

    After being deported from Minnesota last week, a young mother says she’s back in Honduras without her 8-month-old child. 

    Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjiver Aguilar, 22, lived in St. Cloud with her partner. They moved to South Dakota shortly before having a child in March.

    In a Zoom conversation translated from Spanish to English from her parents’ house in Honduras, Menjivar Aguilar told WCCO about the moment she was detained by federal agents at a September fingerprinting appointment for an approved work permit. 

    “‘Is this your baby?’ I said yes. And soon after they asked if I was breastfeeding. I said no,” said Menjivar Aguilar through a translator. “They arrested me in handcuffs behind my back.”  

    Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjiver Aguilar with her child

    Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjiver Aguilar


    Kelly Clark is Menjivar Aguilar’s immigration lawyer.

    “She signed something that they told her was, ‘If you are removed you can take your baby with you,’ and she signed that document, but at the end she was removed without her baby,” Clark said.

    Menjivar Aguilar explains her two-week journey to the U.S. when she was 17, crossing the Rio Grande with her younger brother, all to escape a gang who was trying to recruit them, and to be with their dad in the U.S. He’s since been deported, too.

    The assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released this statement: “On September 29, ICE arrested Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjivar Aguilar, an illegal alien from Honduras. She illegally entered the U.S. on April 13, 2021, near Eagle Pass, Texas, and was RELEASED into this country by the Biden administration. She received full due process and was ordered removed by an immigration judge on October 12, 2022. This administration is not going to ignore the rule of law.”

    b61215e5-abb3-435e-89fb-a5d8cf2b5648.jpg

    Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjiver Aguilar with her child.

    Kimberlyn Yaritza Menjiver Aguilar


    Her lawyer confirms she had the outstanding order of removal from 2022 after missing a court date, which Menjivar Aquilar says she didn’t know about as her father handled her documents and mail.

    “After that removal order happened, she was given deferred action, which is literally a ‘we’re not going to deport you,’” Clark said. “It is discretionary. It can be revoked, but it wasn’t revoked”

    “All I want is to be with my family, my baby and my partner,” Menjivar Aguilar said.

    When Menjivar Aguilar was detained in September, she was approved for a special immigrant juvenile visa. Her attorney is now working with the family to see if they can get her and her baby back together.

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  • Carbon Capture Pipelines Have Struggled to Advance. A Project in Nebraska Found Success

    BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A multi-state carbon capture pipeline began operating in September, reducing emissions from Midwest ethanol plants and carrying that carbon dioxide gas to be forever buried underground in Wyoming — an achievement after years of complaints, lawsuits and legislation blocked similar efforts by other companies.

    Other projects prompted intense opposition, including one that has run up $1 billion in spending with no guarantee of success, but the Tallgrass Trailblazer Pipeline is being praised. The reason: community negotiations and financial support.

    “I wish all energy companies would treat communities with a lot more respect like Tallgrass did,” said Jane Kleeb, whose group Bold Nebraska has fought other carbon capture and oil pipelines.

    The Tallgrass pipeline has started moving emissions from 11 ethanol plants in Nebraska and one in Iowa to a site in southeast Wyoming, where the greenhouse gas will be buried 9,000 feet underground.

    The fermentation process to convert corn into fuel releases carbon dioxide. By capturing it before it’s released into the air, plants can lower their carbon intensity score, making the ethanol more attractive for refinement into so-called sustainable aviation fuel — a market some believe could climb to 50 billion gallons annually. The Midwest-based ethanol industry sees jet fuel as essential to its future, offsetting expected declines in demand for motor vehicle fuel as more drivers switch to electric vehicles.

    The federal government encourages carbon capture through lucrative tax credits to pipeline operators. The Biden administration wanted to encourage a practice that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the Trump administration has let the credits continue.

    “If an ethanol plant captures the carbon, it lowers their carbon index and they become a low-carbon fuel, and there’s a premium for that,” said Tom Buis, CEO of the American Carbon Alliance, a trade group. “And they can also produce sustainable aviation fuel out of it. Sustainable aviation fuel is a huge, gigantic market just waiting for someone to step forward and take it.”


    Routing a pipeline isn’t easy

    At least three other companies have proposed carbon capture pipelines in the Midwest, but aside from Tallgrass, only Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions is persisting — and it hasn’t been easy.

    Despite strong support from agricultural groups and the ethanol industry, Summit has dealt with persistent opponents who don’t want their land taken for the pipeline and fear a hazardous pipe rupture. Landowners sued to block the pipeline and sought help from legislators. South Dakota’s legislature banned the use of eminent domain for such lines.

    In response Summit has asked Iowa regulators to amend its permit so the company retains an option for a route that would avoid South Dakota.

    “Our focus remains on supporting as many ethanol partners as possible and building a strong foundation that helps farmers, ethanol plants, and rural communities access the markets they’ll depend on for decades to come,” Summit said in a statement.

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversees a rigorous process for underground carbon dioxide injection, involving permits for construction and injection and regulations to protect underground sources of drinking water, Carbon Capture Coalition Executive Director Jessie Stolark said. Typically, porous rock formations similar to a sponge will store or trap the carbon dioxide more than a mile underground, she said.

    Tallgrass had one big advantage at the starting point — it converted an existing natural gas line. The natural gas was put on a different pipeline as Trailblazer was retrofitted. The company built branches off the 400-mile mainline to connect to ethanol plants.

    But Tallgrass also took pains to engage with communities along its route.

    The company worked with people to get its project done “instead of trying to push it down our throat,” said Lee Hogan, chairman of the Adams County commission in Nebraska, whose home is a half-mile from the pipeline.

    It helped that Tallgrass worked with Bold Nebraska, a citizens group, to create a community investment fund that will make annual payments to organizations related to early childhood development, Medicaid-eligible senior care and food pantries.

    Tallgrass will make an initial $500,000 contribution followed by annual payments based on 10 cents per metric ton of carbon dioxide sent through the pipeline. The Nebraska Community Foundation, which will manage the fund, expects more than $7 million will be given out through 2035 across 31 counties in four states.

    It’s a unique arrangement, and a possible template for future projects, said Nebraska Community Foundation leader Jeff Yost.

    “I’m just really impressed that folks that could have just approached this purely as opponents have come together to find a really productive middle ground,” Yost said.

    Tallgrass spokesman Steven Davidson said the investment fund is just one piece of the company’s agreement with Bold, which he said emphasizes being cooperative and transparent, such as when surveying land and valuing easements.

    While lauding Tallgrass’ cooperative approach, Jack Andreasen Cavanaugh, who studies energy policy at Columbia University, said it may be hard to replicate the experience since few if any natural gas pipelines will be available for retrofitting, given increases in supply and demand for natural gas domestically and abroad. Tallgrass’ line crosses his family’s land in Nebraska.

    Still, companies can do better to engage and negotiate with communities, and that includes spending money, he said.

    Kyle Quackenbush, a Tallgrass vice president, said his advice to other pipeline companies is to listen.

    “I think the biggest advice we would have for people is to take those concerns seriously,” he said, “and figure out what it takes to be able to help people get comfortable and understand that this infrastructure is a benefit for their community and not something that they need to be afraid of.”

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Oct. 2025

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  • Senate Republican leader floats way to end government shutdown

    Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said that if a “critical mass” of Democrats support the House-passed continuing resolution bill to fund the government, he would be willing to negotiate health care reform, specifically the Affordable Care Act (ACA), in an exclusive interview with Politico.

    Newsweek reached out to Thune’s office for comment Wednesday night.

    Why It Matters

    The U.S. federal government entered its first shutdown in six years after lawmakers failed to pass a new funding bill, disrupting services for millions and compounding existing strains on a workforce diminished by record departures this year.

    The standoff exposes deep partisan divides over health care funding and future fiscal priorities, with potential repercussions for federal workers, ongoing public services and the economy at large. The competing strategies of Republicans and Democrats—centered on whether to link funding to health care subsidies—could set the tone for legislative cooperation or gridlock heading into future elections and key budget deadlines.

    What To Know

    In his interview with Politico, Thune, of South Dakota, signaled willingness to discuss future negotiations on expiring Obamacare insurance subsidies if a sufficient number of Democrats agree to pass the House-passed continuing resolution, which would extend funding through November 21. Thune said he would not negotiate on the substantive extension of subsidies or broader health care reforms until the government is no longer shut down.

    “I keep telling them: When they have eight or 10—preferably 10, or more—when they have a critical mass, let me know if there’s a conversation they want to have,” Thune said to Politico. The comments are in line with previous remarks the lawmaker has made about his openness for discussion.

    Democrats demand immediate extension of enhanced ACA subsidies and the reversal of Medicaid cuts, as Republican leaders, including Thune, emphasize that passing the current GOP-backed House bill is the only viable path to reopening the government.

    “Some of those conversations are happening,” Thune said to Politico. “With our members and their members, there’s a lot of back-and-forth going on right now about some of the things they would like to see happen.”

    “What I can’t guarantee, of course, is an outcome and, in particular, one that would clear in the House too,” Thune said later in the interview. “The White House is another factor here. But I think everybody realizes we want solutions.”

    What People Are Saying

    Thune, on X Wednesday: “Democrats passed CRs 13 different times when they had the majority and Biden was president. They have lost all rationale when it comes to their hatred for President Trump. I hope Democrats will come to their senses and reopen the government.”

    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, also on X Wednesday: “Republicans shut down the government because they can’t be bothered to protect health care for Americans across this country. Premiums are set to more than double! Americans cannot afford this.”

    This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.

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  • Hegseth says Wounded Knee massacre soldiers will keep Medals of Honor

    Defense secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that 20 US soldiers who took part in the 1890 massacre of hundreds of Lakota men, women and children at Wounded Knee will keep the Medals of Honor that were awarded to them.

    The move is the latest in a number of contentious actions taken by the Trump administration to reinterpret US history.

    The long debate over the events at Wounded Knee includes a dispute over its characterization as a “battle” given that, according to historical records, the US army killed about 250 Lakota Sioux people – many of whom were unarmed women and children – despite fighters in the camp having surrendered.

    Related: Native public radio braces for ‘devastating and catastrophic’ Trump budget cuts

    “We’re making it clear that [the soldiers] deserve those medals,” Hegseth said, announcing the move in a video on social media on Thursday. Calling the men “brave soldiers”, he said a review panel had concluded in a report that the medals were justly awarded. “This decision is now final, and their place in our nation’s history is no longer up for debate.”

    Hegseth’s Democratic predecessor at the Pentagon, former defense secretary Lloyd Austin, ordered the review of the honors in 2024 after Congress called for it in the 2022 defense bill. Announcing the review, the Pentagon said Austin wanted to “ensure no awardees were recognized for conduct inconsistent with the nation’s highest military honor”.

    But in Thursday’s video, Hegseth – who has a history of Christian nationalist sympathies – said his predecessor had been “more interested in being politically correct than historically correct”. It is unclear if the report will be made public.

    Hegseth’s move also halts a push from Democratic lawmakers to revoke medals tied to the massacre at a camp on what is now the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. For Native Americans, the massacre marked a devastating climax to the tragedy of Indigenous removals from their land.

    “We cannot be a country that celebrates and rewards horrifying acts of violence against Native people,” senator Elizabeth Warren said in a statement earlier this year after reintroducing the proposed Remove the Stain Act.

    After the massacre, 19 soldiers from the seventh cavalry were awarded the Medal of Honor for their “bravery” and “gallantry” over actions ranging from rescuing fellow troops to efforts to “dislodge Sioux Indians” hiding in a ravine.

    Native Americans have long pushed for revocation of the medals. As time has gone on, the isolated site has become a place of mourning for many tribes, symbolizing the genocidal history of brutality and repression they have suffered at the hands of the US government. While Congress issued a formal apology in 1990 to the descendants of the massacre, the medals were left in place and no reparations offered.

    Thursday’s announcement is the latest move to sanitize the nation’s history taken by the Trump administration since Donald Trump signed an executive order in March titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History”.

    In recent months, Hegseth has reverted the names of several US army bases back to Confederate-linked names, monuments to the Confederacy and Confederate figures have been restored, and he renamed a US navy ship that honored gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

    The Trump administration has also gone after cultural institutions like Smithsonian museums for exhibits it considers “unpatriotic”, purged and rewritten federal webpages related to topics including slavery, diversity and discrimination (some of which were later restored), and cut funding to grants to institutions that honor the lives of enslaved people.

    Some historians took to social media to denounce the administration’s latest move.

    “Only an administration intent on committing war crimes in the present and future would stoop to calling Wounded Knee a ‘battle’ rather than what it truly was,” Columbia University history professor Karl Jacoby posted on Bluesky.

    Jacoby added: “Fortunately, history does not work as Hegseth seems to believe. It is never “settled” and the government cannot (at least for now!) impose its interpretation of events on the rest of us.”

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  • College Professor Who Called Charlie Kirk a ‘Nazi’ Handed…

    A tenured college professor at the University of South Dakota was handed a temporary legal win on Wednesday after a judge halted his impending firing for remarks made immediately after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

    Newsweek reached out to the school via email for comment.

    Why It Matters

    The case involving the professor who called Kirk a “hate spreading Nazi” online, according to a court document, is at the center of a larger national debate over the limits of free speech for educators, public employment and political discourse.

    The recent federal court ruling that the university cannot terminate the professor for his social media post exemplifies the ongoing tension between academic freedom and public accountability, with broad implications for First Amendment rights in educational settings.

    Kirk, 31, was a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and a face of the MAGA movement for younger generations. He utilized social media platforms to engage with younger people about culture war topics, foreign policy, religion and other notable conservative values.

    What To Know

    Professor Phillip Michael Hook’s win follows his lawsuit against the university for “unconstitutional retaliation in violation of the First Amendment,” the court document says.

    U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier, nominee of former President Bill Clinton, noted in her ruling in part: “The public has a compelling interest in protecting its First Amendment rights.”

    Hook, in the late afternoon of September 10—the day Kirk was fatally shot during a question and answer session at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah—posted remarks about the Turning Point USA CEO on his private Facebook account, the court document shows.

    “Okay. I don’t give a flying f*** about this Kirk person. Apparently he was a hate spreading Nazi. I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the idiotic right fringe to even know who he was,” Hook’s post said, per the document. “I’m sorry for his family that he was a hate spreading Nazi and got killed. I’m sure they deserved better. Maybe good people could now enter their lives. But geez, where was all this concern when the politicians in Minnesota were shot? And the school shootings? And Capitol Police? I have no thoughts or prayers for this hate spreading Nazi. A shrug, maybe.”

    In a follow-up post hours later, Hook said, according to the court document: “Apparently my frustration with the sudden onslaught of coverage concerning a guy shot today led to a post I mow [sic] regret posting. I’m sure many folks fully understood my premise but the simple fact that some were offended, led me to remove the post. I extend this public apology to those who were offended. Om Shanti.” (“Om Shanti” is a call for peace, often found in Buddhist and Hindu writings and prayers.)

    Hook was then made aware of the university’s intent to fire him, days after the post, the ruling outlines. The letter, sent to Hook by the university’s dean of the College of Fine Arts, Bruce Kelley, said Hook violated policy.

    Schreier ultimately sided with the professor, ordering: “Hook’s motion for temporary restraining order (Docket 3) is granted. Defendants are required to temporarily set aside their determination to place Hook on administrative leave. Defendants shall reinstate Hook’s position as a Professor of Art at the University of South Dakota, retroactive to September 12, 2025, to remain effective until the preliminary injunction hearing on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Sioux Falls Courtroom 2.”

    What People Are Saying

    Republican South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden, on X earlier this month: “When I read this post, I was shaking mad. The Board of Regents intends to FIRE this University of South Dakota professor, and I’m glad. This individual stands in front of South Dakota students to educate them. We must not send the message to our kids that this is acceptable public discourse. We need more Charlie Kirks on campus and less hatred like this.”

    What Happens Next

    Petitions to reinstate Hook and other educators continue to gain support online, reflecting the national reach of these disputes.

    The temporary restraining order remains in place until October 8, when a preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled.

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  • South Dakota locks up women at a higher rate than any other state, report says

    A partial view of a state women’s prison under construction in Rapid City on Sept. 23, 2025. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

    South Dakota incarcerates women at a higher rate than other U.S. states — and countries — according to a new report from the Prison Policy Initiative.

    The incarceration-reform nonprofit released the report Tuesday, the same day South Dakota lawmakers approved the construction of a men’s prison in northeast Sioux Falls.

    This graph shows the number of women in state prisons, local jails, and federal prisons from each U.S. state per 100,000 women in that state and the incarceration rate of women per 100,000 in countries with at least 500,000 in total population. (Courtesy of Prison Policy Initiative)

    According to the study’s authors, South Dakota women are imprisoned at a rate of 338 per 100,000. That’s a higher rate than Montana or Idaho, in the second and third spots in the ranking of female incarceration rates. All three states have higher rates than El Salvador, the country with the highest incarceration rate.

    The nationwide incarceration rate for women in the U.S. is 112 per 100,000. 

    The report is titled “States of Women’s Incarceration: The Global Context 2025.” The Prison Policy Initiative built its rankings by looking at women incarcerated in prisons, jails and tribal jails.

    The press release on the report notes that well over half the women imprisoned in South Dakota are held on drug charges or crimes. It also notes that the state voted in 2022 to build a new women’s prison in Rapid City to manage the overcrowded South Dakota Women’s Prison in Pierre. The new women’s prison is under construction at a cost of $87 million.

    Female incarceration rates have declined in most states, the report says, but South Dakota’s rate has increased. According to a state data brief cited in the nonprofit’s report, the number of women incarcerated for violent crimes in the state increased 33% between 2013 and 2023. The number of female drug offenders grew by 66% in the same time period.

    South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden pledged last week to create a rehabilitation and recidivism task force to study high rates of incarceration and repeat offenses. 

    The South Dakota Department of Corrections did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday. 

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  • South Dakota utility regulators decide energy storage facility needs a state permit

    A sign displays the names of South Dakota’s three elected public utilities commissioners outside of their Pierre office in January 2023. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

    State utility regulators split Tuesday in Pierre over whether a proposed 120-megawatt energy storage facility in northeast South Dakota requires a state permit, voting 2-1 to deny a developer’s request for an exemption.

    Crowned Ridge Energy Storage petitioned the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission in August for a declaratory ruling that the project does not meet the legal definition of a facility subject to state permitting. The project is designed to store excess electricity from the electrical grid and from Crowned Ridge Wind’s turbines in the Watertown area. It would store enough electricity to power tens of thousands of homes. 

    Crowned Ridge is an affiliate of Florida-headquartered NextEra Energy Resources.

    Commissioner Chris Nelson moved to grant the company’s petition. He said regulating large-scale batteries would exceed the commission’s legal authority. 

    “Batteries don’t generate electricity,” Nelson said. “Secondly, if the Legislature had intended for these to be cited, they need to flat out say so, and not make us try to be electrochemical analysts to figure out whether it should or shouldn’t be.” 

    The energy storage facility, planned for commercial operation in December 2027, would be among the first large-scale energy storage projects in the state. Documents in the commission docket say the project would consist of rows of large lithium-ion batteries housed in white, semi-trailer-sized containers on about 15 acres.

    Examples of energy storage systems. (Courtesy of Public Utilities Commission)

    Mike Nadolski, a lawyer for the company, said the battery system does not generate new electricity and therefore falls outside the commission’s authority. He said the project simply stores and later injects that energy back into the power grid.

    The state’s three elected commissioners are assisted by staff. Staff attorney Amanda Reiss said their review centered on whether discharging stored power back into the grid could legally be considered “generation.” Staff wrote in their review that the project could qualify as an energy conversion facility, which would require a permit. Staff left the question to commissioners after noting the laws were open to interpretation.

    Commissioner Kristie Fiegen offered a substitute motion to deny the company’s petition and make it seek a permit.

    “Yes, energy is stored chemically, but when it comes out, electricity is generated,” Fiegen said. “I’d rather err on the side of customer protection.”

    Chairman Gary Hanson joined Fiegen, calling the matter “the beginning of a new era in electricity in South Dakota.” He said large-scale energy storage could reshape the grid and deserves regulation.

    The 2-1 vote means Crowned Ridge must pursue a state permit; however, commissioners said the Legislature could still clarify how battery storage projects should be treated under South Dakota law. The Legislature will begin its annual lawmaking session in January.

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  • Man from Jamaica pleads guilty to defrauding California woman out of $181K

    A man from Jamaica has pled guilty to multiple federal charges in connection with a seven-year sweepstakes scam that defrauded a California woman out of more than $180,000, prosecutors said.

    On Monday, the Department of Justice announced that 35-year-old Dwayne Anderson of Hanover, Jamaica pled guilty Friday to federal wire fraud charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.

    Anderson was arrested by Jamaican authorities in July 2024 after being indicted on eight counts of wire fraud and was extradited to the U.S., where he was incarcerated pending trial.

    “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting Americans from the threats posed by transnational criminals and will vigorously pursue them, wherever they are located,” assistant attorney general Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said in a statement. “Anderson is the latest example in the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat these kinds of foreign based schemes and hold those involved accountable.”

    According to the plea agreement, Anderson admitted to the scheme to defraud the woman, which took place from 2010 to Sep. 2017.

    Anderson admitted he used phony names and contacted the victim via phone, text and emails, falsely saying she had won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes. The victim sent money to pay purported fees and taxes.

    Prosecutors said Anderson repeatedly contacted the victim with additional requests for money, saying she would receive her winnings if she paid the requested money. The victim lost $181,000, but did not receive any purported winnings.

    Authorities did not say where in California the victim was from.

    “Whether it happens in a rural community or a metropolitan area, the Department of Justice will ensure these criminals are held to account for their shameless targeting of vulnerable individuals and their hard-earned savings,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota.

    Prosecutors did not announce when Anderson would be sentenced. Officials previously said Anderson faced a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

    Anyone over the age of 60 who may be a victim of financial fraud is urged to contact the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). 

    Tim Fang

    Tim Fang is a digital producer at CBS Bay Area. A Bay Area native, Tim has been a part of the CBS Bay Area newsroom for more than two decades and joined the digital staff in 2006.

    Tim Fang

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  • Guy Fieri and Circle K collaborate to bring Flavortown to South Dakota

    Guy Fieri, the celebrity chef and restaurateur, is teaming up with Circle K, the national convenience store chain, to bring a little bit of Flavortown to South Dakota.

    The partnership will bring 11 exclusive Flavortown-inspired menu items to participating Circle K and Holiday locations in 10 states, including South Dakota.

    “Our customers are looking for more from their convenience store experience, and we’re answering that call by partnering with Guy Fieri to bring his iconic Flavortown creations to Circle K,” Gary Brant, vice president of North American food service at Circle K, said in a news release.

    The new menu items include a range of different options for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and don’t forget the snacks.

    “Flavortown is as much a lifestyle as it is a place, so when it comes to great food and flavor, it’s all about finding it wherever you are,” said Fieri, the longtime host of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and self-styled “Mayor of Flavortown.”

    Related: Get a peek inside the new Sioux Falls One Stop, so big it could be its own ‘small city’

    What are the new Flavortown menu items available at Circle K?

    Here’s what you can expect to find on Circle K’s new Flavortown menu:

    • Denver omelet on a cheddar bun sandwich

    • Chicken royale with swiss and jalapeno

    • Mac n’ cheese burger with jalapeno American cheese

    • Sweet heat fried chicken and waffle sandwich

    • All-American-inspired breakfast burrito

    • Roasted poblano chicken flavor roll

    Where else will the new Flavortown menu be available?

    In addition to South Dakota, the menu will be offered at participating Circle K and Holiday stores in Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

    This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Guy Fiery, Circle K team up to bring Flavortown items to South Dakota

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  • Three of five SD governor hopefuls endorse statewide approach to cellphones in classrooms

    (StockPlanets/Getty Images)

    Three candidates hoping to be South Dakota’s next governor support a statewide policy or law banning cellphones from school classrooms. Another said the decision should be left to local school districts, while a potential candidate is seeking local input on the issue.

    Most school districts in South Dakota already have a policy in place that doesn’t allow cellphones in classrooms. About one-third of school districts take the further step of removing or locking away cellphones during class or school hours, based on a South Dakota Searchlight survey of superintendents and analysis of published school policies.

    South Dakota’s lone U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, a Republican, announced three days after the publication of Searchlight’s story that, if elected governor next year, he would seek a statewide prohibition on student cellphone access during class time.

    “The state constitution makes it clear that kids should have quality education,” Johnson told Searchlight. “The state government setting a broad-stroke policy and then having the execution of that strategy and management done at the local level will give us the best of both worlds.”

    South Dakota is one of 24 states to not implement a statewide policy or law to ban or limit cellphone use in classrooms. State lawmakers considered a statewide effort last legislative session, but held off after school administrators said they’d prefer to determine policies at the local level. The Legislature instead passed a resolution encouraging school boards to implement such policies.

    According to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, 72% of U.S. high school teachers say cellphone distraction is a major problem in the classroom. Some research suggests student performance improves after schools ban cellphones.

    Other candidates weigh in

    Two other announced candidates for governor said they support efforts to establish a statewide law or policy removing cellphones from classrooms.

    South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, would support a statewide policy to ensure students focus “on learning, not on distractions” and foster healthier social interactions.

    From left, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, Gov. Larry Rhoden, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, and state House Speaker Jon Hansen. (South Dakota Searchlight images)

    Democrat Robert Arnold, a 20-year-old college student who said he plans to run for governor, said a statewide policy or law would benefit students, but added that other efforts would be more impactful on student wellbeing, including providing universal free lunch and ensuring the federal Department of Education remains intact. Arnold said Johnson should support those efforts.

    “Not a peep from him about policies that will have a real impact on our people, but he’ll of course propose legislation that at least makes it look like he cares about our children’s education,” Arnold said in an emailed statement.

    Aberdeen businessman and Republican Toby Doeden said phones in classrooms are “roadblocks” to education and a “breeding ground” for negative influences and distractions. But he said school boards should address the issue.

    “Allowing state leaders to mandate individual policy changes at the local level would set a terrible precedent and is an obvious constitutional overreach,” Doeden said in a text message. “As governor, I would absolutely lean on our local school boards to ban cellphones from the classrooms.”

    Robert Arnold announces his campaign for governor in June 2025 at the state Capitol in Pierre. (Courtesy of Robert Arnold)

    Robert Arnold announces his campaign for governor in June 2025 at the state Capitol in Pierre. (Courtesy of Robert Arnold)

    Current Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden has not announced his intention to run, but is expected to enter the race. The Rhoden administration is asking school leaders if they prefer cellphone policies that come from the local or state level, spokesperson Josie Harms said in an emailed statement.

    First Lady Sandy Rhoden spent the first few months of the Rhoden administration visiting schools to talk about the consequences of using cellphones during school hours.

    Students at Platte-Geddes School District, the first in the state to lock away student cellphones during the school day three years ago, said the restriction improved relationships and academics, the first lady said in a statement. The students started to spend less time on their phones outside of school, too, leading to better self-discipline.

    “Our students have so much to gain, and the constant distraction impedes their ability to learn,” she said.

    School administrator representative encourages local control

    Rob Monson, executive director of School Administrators of South Dakota, said school administrators prefer to handle the issue themselves. He surveyed members of his organization last year, when legislators considered introducing a bill.

    “I think most school districts are doing what they feel they should and what’s best for their school districts and patrons,” Monson said.

    Monson added that if a bill is introduced this legislative session, his organization will likely oppose it. 

    Johnson hopes the Legislature passes a bill this winter setting a statewide standard, saying it’s a “no-brainer.”

    “Once you identify an approach that clearly increases educational outcomes,” Johnson said, “that’s when it’s time to come together as a state and make sure every student is able to benefit from that policy.”

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  • Platte Creek Brewing unveils SD’s official beer to celebrate America’s 250th birthday

    Aug. 31—HURON — The United States’ 250th birthday is expected to be a big party in 2026.

    And for South Dakota, Platte Creek Brewing Company is providing the beer.

    On Saturday at the South Dakota State Fair, the small-town brewery from Geddes formally unveiled the special brew called “Dakota Liberty” that will represent South Dakota as the official beer of the semiquincentennial.

    Platte Creek Brewing owner Doug Dykstra told the crowd on Saturday at the Freedom Stage that Dakota Liberty has been a staple on the Platte Creek lineup for a while. Normally, it’s known as Dakota Light.

    “It was chosen because it’s an American lager, brewed with pilsner, and has a corn base to it. It’s light in weight, light in color, and perfectly built for South Dakota,” he said.

    Being selected as the state’s official beer for the semiquincentennial was a case of being in the right place at the right time, Dykstra said.

    “They were looking and we gave them samples at the right time to get on their radar,” he said. “They had a few different ones that they were choosing from and they tried Dakota Liberty. … I think they preferred being able to have an established beer, rather than one we were trying to create from scratch.”

    As Dakota Liberty, the beer will be used as a fundraiser for the South Dakota State Historical Society, with a portion of each sale going to the organization.

    “They definitely wanted something lighter, something that the general public could easily enjoy,” Dykstra said.

    He said he’s most excited for Platte Creek Brewing to be able to participate in more statewide events as part of the 250th anniversary celebration, which is expected to run through the 2026 State Fair.

    “We’re super excited about that being our beer and being on tap at different places around the state,” he said. “For us, we’re a small-town brewery and I think it represents that South Dakota is a small-town community. We love that part of it.”

    The Platte Creek brewery has been open since 2021 in the small town of 250 people. The brewery’s location is more than 100 years old and previously housed a hardware store before its extensive renovation. Dykstra pointed out to the crowd that the brew team includes a history teacher, a doctor and a farmer that all help bring the beers to life at Platte Creek, something he said is emblematic of small-town South Dakota.

    Saturday’s event included Dykstra’s wife Jo Ellen and son Carter helping unveil the new branding on a huge display of a beer mug. The logo includes South Dakota America’s 250 branding, which includes a buffalo silhouetted against a Badlands-like landscape.

    Dykstra said the beer will likely be more widely available around the state starting in December.

    “We look at ourselves going to some of the bigger events around the state, whether that’s in Rapid City or Aberdeen and bringing our beer there to share with people,” Dykstra said. “We’ll have Dakota Liberty and there will be some merchandise as well, and the proceeds of those support a good cause in the Historical Society.”

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  • Red States Lean Green This Election

    Red States Lean Green This Election

    The last 20 years have seen a big change for marijuana.

    The War On Drugs framed a mindset about marijuana for two generations, but in the last 10 years, the country seems to have moved passed it. Now even red states lean green this election. Nixon’s administration went to battle with drug abuse declared “public enemy number one”. But times have changed and so has public opinion and taste. And in this election, even conservative states are polling positive about opening their border for forms of legal cannabis.
    The west coast led the way for legalization with California, Oregon and Washington, but other states were slower in acceptance. But as of 2022, over 50% of the population has access to legal weed and even the AARP has come up in support of it for medical marijuana. And states have enjoyed the robust revenue to the state coffers.  States with fully recreational earn more money from cananbis taxes than alcohol. And crime drops also.

    In Kansas, the Midwest Newsroom partnered with Emerson College Polling to conduct surveys. More than 72% of the state’s voters said they support legalizing medical marijuana. About 56% support legalizing it for recreational use. Republican leaders in the Sunflower state have opposed legalizing marijuana of any kind. But with some movement at the federal level,  recently appointed a special committee on medical marijuana.

    North Dakota voters appear split and largely undecided about the marijuana initiative according to poll commissioned by the North Dakota News Cooperative. The Dakotas are traditionally conservative states, but the North’s sister state to the south is showing a bit of difference. The Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota shows an increase in support, but not quite at the level needed to to pass.

    Utah, which is not a fan of alcohol or caffeine seems to be leaning green. A recent poll found 50% of the Beehive State voters would support recreational cannabis. Another 38% of Utahns surveyed support medical cannabis only and 9% believe cannabis should be illegal entirely. Three percent were “not sure.”

    Florida, one of the largest states, seems to have leaned into saying yes for recreational marijuana according to polls. This is interesting considering the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, has waged an all out war against the ballot initiative.  Currently, there is a court battle about DeSantis using the state’s resources to put pressure on the media to promote public service announcements against legalization.

    November 5 could be a big day for cannabis, and a look into the mindset of the country.

    Terry Hacienda

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  • No. 17 Oklahoma State opens with two-time defending FCS champ South Dakota State

    No. 17 Oklahoma State opens with two-time defending FCS champ South Dakota State

    South Dakota State at No. 17 Oklahoma State, Saturday, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

    BetMGM College Football Odds: Oklahoma State by 9 1/2.

    Series record: First meeting.

    WHAT’S AT STAKE?

    Two teams with high expectations meet for the first time. Coach Jimmy Rogers hopes to lead South Dakota State to a third straight Championship Subdivision title and his Jackrabbits haven’t lost a game in nearly two years. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is entering his 20th season with the Cowboys. They return all but one starter from a team that won 10 games last season. The Cowboys are expected to contend for a Big 12 title and a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The Cowboys are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball while the Jackrabbits return just three starters on offense and five starters on defense.

    KEY MATCHUP

    Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon vs. South Dakota State linebacker Adam Bock. Gordon ran for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns last season and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back. Bock, an FCS All-American with 344 career tackles, anchors a stingy defense that limited opponents to 88.1 yards rushing per game in 2022 and 89.6 yards in 2023.

    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Oklahoma State: WR Brennan Presley, a preseason All-Big 12 pick, caught 101 passes for 991 yards and six touchdowns last season. Look for QB Alan Bowman to target Presley and fellow wideout Rashod Owens (63 receptions, 895 yards, five scores) early and often if the Jackrabbits bottle up Gordon.

    South Dakota State: QB Mark Gronowski threw for 3,058 yards and accounted for 37 total touchdowns to win the Walter Payton Award as the top FCS player. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior is 37-3 as a starter and led FCS quarterbacks in passing efficiency (179.67).

    FACTS & FIGURES

    FCS No. 1 South Dakota State has won 29 straight games and two national titles since losing to Iowa by four points in the 2022 season opener. … The Jackrabbits averaged 37 points and 450 yards per game last season. … South Dakota State’s defense limited opponents to 9.3 points and 257 total yards per game last season. … The Cowboys return seven offensive linemen with a combined 200 career starts, including preseason All-Big 12 picks Dalton Cooper (49 career starts) and Joe Michalski (23 career starts).

    ___

    Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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  • Two more players from South Dakota baseball team plead guilty to lesser charge in rape case

    Two more players from South Dakota baseball team plead guilty to lesser charge in rape case

    4 things to know from June 18, 2024


    4 things to know from June 18, 2024

    01:37

    Three of six South Dakota players from a baseball team made up of high school-aged players who were charged as adults last summer with rape have pleaded guilty to a lesser felony charge.

    Two former members of the American Legion team from Mitchell pleaded guilty Monday to being an accessory to a felony, KELO-TV reported. Another player reached the same plea deal earlier this month. All three could face up to five years in prison when they’re sentenced in August.

    Three other players who were charged as adults last August still face the original counts of second-degree rape and aiding and abetting second-degree rape. They have a status hearing July 1.

    Meanwhile, another three players were charged in juvenile court.

    According to prosecutors, the victims were 16 when they were sexually assaulted during a tournament in Rapid City last June.

    The American Legion sponsors summer baseball leagues for high school-aged players throughout the U.S.

    CBS Minnesota

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  • Mega Millions player just misses $284 million jackpot. Where was winning ticket sold?

    Mega Millions player just misses $284 million jackpot. Where was winning ticket sold?

    A Mega Millions ticket sold in South Dakota matched five numbers to win $1 million, just missing the $284 million jackpot.

    A Mega Millions ticket sold in South Dakota matched five numbers to win $1 million, just missing the $284 million jackpot.

    Getty Images/iStockphoto

    A Mega Millions ticket sold in South Dakota won $1 million, narrowly missing out on the $284 million jackpot, lottery officials say.

    The ticket matched five winning numbers in the drawing Friday, May 3, but not the Mega Ball, the national Mega Millions site said.

    Nobody won the grand prize, which rises to an estimated $306 million, with a cash option of approximately $140 million, for the next drawing Tuesday, May 7, the site said.

    The winning numbers were 6, 13, 15, 53 and 56, with a Mega Ball of 11.

    More than 908,000 other tickets sold in the United States also won prizes ranging from $2 to $20,000 in the drawing, the lottery said.

    What to know about Mega Millions

    To score a jackpot in the Mega Millions, a player must match all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball.

    The odds of scoring a jackpot prize are 1 in 302,575,350.

    Tickets cost $2 and can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times vary by state.

    Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET and can be streamed online.

    Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

    Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

    If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

    Don Sweeney has been a newspaper reporter and editor in California for more than 25 years. He has been a real-time reporter based at The Sacramento Bee since 2016.

    Don Sweeney

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  • Kristi Noem DOUBLES DOWN On Killing Puppy – But Also Changes Her Story! – Perez Hilton

    Kristi Noem DOUBLES DOWN On Killing Puppy – But Also Changes Her Story! – Perez Hilton

    Well, what the hell did you expect in the Donald Trump days? Politicians have learned if they never show any shame, never apologize, and never accept any personal accountability… they’ll be fine.

    That’s certainly what top Trump VP contender Kristi Noem is doing after one of the most horrific and upsetting political gaffes in the history of the country. For those who haven’t heard the INSANE story, the South Dakota governor wrote in her own memoir about killing a puppy. We’ll say that one more time just in case, she said she killed a puppy.

    According to Kristi, she tried to train the 14-month-old wirehair pointer to hunt pheasant with her, but little Cricket was too rambunctious. After her first hunt didn’t work out — she just chased the birds around all day — she took her to a friend’s farm where they raised chickens. And, in the least shocking twist of all time, the puppy continued to do what she was doing earlier! Only the chickens couldn’t fly away like the pheasants could, and Cricket killed a bunch before she could be restrained.

    Related: Not-So-Fun Fact – Donald Trump HATES Dogs

    We don’t know about you, but when we hear that story, all we can think is the dog’s owner is to blame. After all, Kristi was the trainer AND she took a dog she knew liked to chase birds and let her loose around chickens.

    Talk about irresponsible!

    Noem didn’t see it that way. She “hated” the dog anyway and since it was “worthless as a hunting dog” it had no value to her. So she writes about how she took Cricket to a gravel pit (apparently right by where her kids get dropped off by the bus?) and shot the puppy to death. Then her daughter arrived home a short while later and asked, “Hey, where’s Cricket?”

    OK, so that’s the story. Obviously the response was overwhelmingly shocked and appalled. Even tons of Republicans, including dog owners, hunters, and MAGA diehards, said this story was sick. And remember, this is how she told it. It wasn’t an exposé by Ronan Farrow; the governor chose to include it in her memoir, No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward. She was clearly trying to show how tough she was, how she could make the hard choices, but to us it just seems like she made a choice that was lazy (she could have worked harder to train the pup or given it to another home) and psychotic (because it was killing a puppy).

    In her first response to the backlash late last week, Kristi tweeted — we kid you not — a plug for her book, writing:

    “We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm. Sadly, we just had to put down 3 horses a few weeks ago that had been in our family for 25 years. If you want more real, honest, and politically INcorrect stories that’ll have the media gasping, preorder No Going Back”

    We guess at the time she figured it would just be the lamestream media upset. After the massive wave of backlash, however, she wrote a much longer response. Having a couple days to think on it, the extent of Kristi’s reflection was… she was right about everything, everyone else is soft and crazy, and btw her book is coming out next week. She wrote on X Sunday:

    “I can understand why some people are upset about a 20 year old story of Cricket, one of the working dogs at our ranch, in my upcoming book — No Going Back. The book is filled with many honest stories of my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions, and lessons learned. What I learned from my years of public service, especially leading South Dakota through COVID, is people are looking for leaders who are authentic, willing to learn from the past, and don’t shy away from tough challenges. My hope is anyone reading this book will have an understanding that I always work to make the best decisions I can for the people in my life.”

    Tough challenges? Lady, the challenge was “try not to murder any puppies” and it was an easy one, and you failed in front of everyone! She then got into the defense part. First, she made explicitly clear her choice to kill a puppy was legal in this case:

    “The fact is, South Dakota law states that dogs who attack and kill livestock can be put down.”

    Oof. We’re not sure anyone even brought up the law. Mostly folks were thinking about morality and, to be frank, mental stability. Because she jumped to killing that dog herself so fast, we’re not sure she isn’t the one who’s “untrainable”! Even if killing the dog was legal… and that feels like a pretty messed up law, to be clear… Who could do such a thing? What kind of person could kill a puppy themselves? Yeesh.

    101 Dalmatians Laughing GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

    Next, however, she did something truly interesting. She changed her story. She wrote:

    “Given that Cricket had shown aggressive behavior toward people by biting them, I decided what I did.”

    Did you catch that? “Aggressive behavior toward people by biting them.” She’s now saying Cricket bit humans. Except, she didn’t say that in her initial story. When it came time to write down all the details, to give the full truth as she saw it in her own memoir, she didn’t mention a single time that pup bit a human. So why leave that out? Why mention only now?

    Simple. She knows she messed up. She’s mostly doubling down, this statement has the posture of doubling down, that she was always right and has nothing to apologize for. But when it comes down to it, she’s also tweaking the story, quietly adding a detail that could only be described as crucial. Because she knows she screwed up telling that story, she knows she stepped in it. She was trying to look like John Dutton, instead she came across like David Eason.

    Noem finished by saying once again, she was “right” to kill that puppy, and that’s all there is to it:

    “Whether running the ranch or in politics, I have never passed on my responsibilities to anyone else to handle. Even if it’s hard and painful. I followed the law and was being a responsible parent, dog owner, and neighbor. As I explained in the book, it wasn’t easy. But often the easy way isn’t the right way.”

    She showed everyone who she really is, and the vast majority of folks were horrified. Because to all the normal people out there reading it, this didn’t sound like someone who thought killing a puppy was “hard and painful.” She wrote that she “hated that dog” for crying out loud! The choice came across as a particularly easy one for Kristi, as a matter of fact! And that’s still true!

    Here are some of the strongest responses to the governor’s new defense:

    “Kristi Noem: This is the real me.
    America: Yikes.”

    “The dog frustrated you. You killed it. That wasn’t a tough decision by an empathetic person. That was a weak and lazy decision by a sociopathic person. Leading in government is making the right choices. You are insensitive and impatient. Your choices suck.”

    “How dare you blame a puppy you killed for its death; it’s evident that you are a sick, sadistic person.”

    “One cool thing about not killing a pet, is that you don’t have to explain that time when you killed a pet.”

    “You’re disgusting. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHEN IT HAPPENED. What matters is that IT DID HAPPEN. You’re a murderer and you go to church? Sit down.”

    “Sorry, Kristi, but you’ve betrayed our trust and that of our dogs.”

    “It sounds like out of at least three options 1) train the dog; 2) drive any distance to a shelter; or 3) shoot it on the spot, you literally took the easiest one.”

    “Kristi blaming the dog is vile. It’s your fault! Bad owners create aggressive dogs.”

    “You’re toast. It’s not some people, it’s most people and it’s not a partisan issue. You actually united people on both sides of the aisle with your despicable animal cruelty.”

    “You’ve brought both republicans and democrats together in their horror of this story. Congratulations.”

    About that last line though… It’s true, for now lots of Republicans are against her. But a lot spoke out against Trump during Charlottesville and January 6, too. And what happened? They came around and started defending his actions. Because that’s how it works.

    Believe it or not, there are already hard-right pundits trying to work the spin cycle on all this. And you know what? At this point we wouldn’t be surprised if it works on her Republican fans. Hell, look at what they accept from Trump. Maybe they’ll just move the goalposts again and decide NOT killing puppies is “woke” nonsense.

    But we’re guessing it won’t be enough to get her that running mate spot, though. A political ally of Trump told The New York Post on Monday:

    “She was already unlikely to be picked as VP, but had a shot. After this, it’s just impossible.”

    Well, at least that’s something. We can’t imagine a person with this little regard for life — or this little patience and care — in such a position of power. We’re talking about being understudy to someone who will be 78 years old on Election Day. Someone who can’t even be trusted keeping a puppy safe? No thanks!

    [Image via MEGA/WENN/Kristi Noem/Instagram.]

    Perez Hilton

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  • South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Banned From Setting Foot in 7,578.9 Square Miles of South Dakota

    South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Banned From Setting Foot in 7,578.9 Square Miles of South Dakota

    Fresh off a teeth-based scandal in which she appeared to do an infomercial for an out-of-state dentist office, Kristi Noem has been banned from setting foot in approximately 10% of the state she oversees as governor of South Dakota. And not in, like, a casual “please stay away, lady” sense but in a “could be thrown out for trespassing” manner.

    The Daily Beast reports that Noem, who is on a short list of possible Donald Trump running mates, has been officially legally barred from visiting three separate reservations that comprise roughly 10% of South Dakota’s 75,789.6 square miles of land area. On Tuesday, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council voted to bar her from its reservation, following Noem’s claims that Mexican drug cartels “have been successful in recruiting tribal members to join their criminal activity” and that “some tribal leaders…are personally benefiting from the cartels being here.” (She has also suggested that Native Americans don’t care about their children being successful.) The move by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe follows similar ones from the Oglala Sioux and the Cheyenne River Sioux.

    In a statement, Lakota People’s Law Project director Chase Iron Eyes said, “It’s not acceptable for Kristi Noem to lie repeatedly, stoke further division, and endanger the people of the sovereign nations which pre-exist the United States and South Dakota, which have illegally annexed and occupied sovereign territory of the Oceti Sakowin. Noem is now prohibited from entering sovereign territory of Sioux bands and is subject to detention and/or removal if she violates banishment orders, meaning the state’s governor is barred from entering more than 10 percent of all land her state claims is within its ‘borders.’” Standing Rock Sioux Tribe chairwoman Janet Alkire called Noem’s remarks “wild and irresponsible,” adding: “Rather than make uninformed and unsubstantiated claims, Noem should work with tribal leaders to increase funding and resources for tribal law enforcement and education.”

    A spokesman for the governor told The Daily Beast: “Banishing Governor Noem does nothing to solve the problem. She calls on all our tribal leaders to banish the cartels from tribal lands.”

    In February, Trump confirmed that Noem was on a short list of candidates he is considering adding to his 2024 ticket.

    Yes, you definitely hear a lot of Democrats insisting Donald Trump won the 2020 election

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    GOP senator Tommy Tuberville now straight up calling for trans people to be imprisoned for using locker rooms

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    Bess Levin

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  • Missouri-based Greenlight is Growing – Cannabis Business Executive – Cannabis and Marijuana industry news

    Missouri-based Greenlight is Growing – Cannabis Business Executive – Cannabis and Marijuana industry news





    Missouri-based Greenlight is Growing – Cannabis Business Executive – Cannabis and Marijuana industry news






























    Tom Hymes

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