News

The Annual Benefit Hunt is celebrating 35 years this year. The hunt started in 1990 when Rick Johnson got a few friends together to raise money for the racket ball club.

Cody Dale Blare, 32, Winner, SD, seat belt violation, fine $25.00. Charles Johnson, 47, Dallas, SD, records required, fine $200.00, court costs $50.00, surcharges $28.50..

Clay Malmberg, 68, Thurston, NE, sexual contact w/o consent capable of consent, disposition: dismissed-motion by prosecutor, plea: not guilty..

Elly Lois Witt, sophomore, of Burke, SD, College of Education and Human Sciences, communication sciences and disorders. The minimum requirement is a 3.75 GPA.

On January 31, 2025, ranch group R-CALF USA, alongside NFU and four fed cattle producers, who filed a class-action antitrust lawsuit in April 2019 against JBS, Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef, filed a motion with the Federal District Court for the District of Minnesota for preliminary approval of a proposed $83.5 million class action settlement with the JBS defendants.

Commentary by Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA The new administration and new Congress are off and running. Well, at least they will be when the U.S. Senate confirms the rest of President Trump’s cabinet nominees.

The Billie Sutton Leadership Institute seeks applicants for its 2025 Sutton Leaders and Rural POWER programs as applications officially open February 1st. Billie Sutton, former state senator and 2018 candidate for governor of South Dakota, founded the non-partisan, non-profit Leadership Institute to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders to serve their communities with integrity, vision, and heart.

During its January meeting, the Board of Directors of R-CALF USA elected Region VIII Director Dave Hyde as the new president of the board and Region X Director Eric Gropper as the board’s new vice president.

The most recent survey of teen mental health by the Centers for Disease Control in 2023 revealed that 20.3% of adolescents in the United States have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. This reflects a 35% increase since 2016. The survey also found that 40% of teens reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, 20% seriously considered suicide, and, tragically, 9% attempted suicide.

On Monday, February 3, Governor Larry Rhoden invited President Donald J. Trump “to come to Mount Rushmore for Independence Day in 2026 to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday with fireworks.” He made this invitation in a letter to the President.