Opinion

Earlier this week, the State of South Dakota closed the financial books for fiscal year 2022 with a record-breaking $115.5 million surplus. This historic surplus was a combination of revenues unexpectedly being $72.3 million above what was adopted by the Legislature this past session, and the general fund budget for state government operations having expenses $43.2 million less than budgeted.

While attending college in pursuit of an Agricultural Education degree, I had to take some psychology and sociology courses. They didn’t seem very necessary when I was looking at the required course list, but they did turn out to be interesting and they have caused me to look at human nature and why we react the way we do. Recently I have been thinking about belief persistence and the effects it has on the cattle industry. Belief persistence means holding on to your beliefs even when the facts would suggest otherwise.

The Dakotas, Wyoming, and Montana were mostly mile after mile after mile of frontier and wide open range. In the beginning, there were only a few settlements along the rivers and major streams. Later, more and more folks came west. There were even a few courageous pioneers who were brave enough to settle out on the prairie with no one living nearby.

A pair of South Dakota campaigns trying to expand access to Medicaid through the November ballot announced Monday they will join efforts to focus on passing an amendment to the state constitution. The announcement from the two organizations - South Dakotans Decide Healthcare and Dakotans for Health - puts to rest a potential rivalry between the two campaigns.

Adversity: Adverse fortune, condition, or circumstance; a state opposed to well-being or prosperity; misfortune, distress, difficulty, hardship. – Oxford English Dictionary Do you know a coworker, family member, or even a certain reader (*cough* *cough*) that is either the resident doomsayer or the uber “sending you positive vibes!” collector of happy thoughts? If it makes you feel any better, neither person is doing themselves any favors in times of adversity.

South Dakota Health officials said Thursday a man from the eastern part of the state has contracted the state's first assumed case of monkeypox, a disease that has emerged in more than 50 countries and 41 U.S. states.

Last week’s ADVOCATE article about the visitors from Spain enjoying Gregory’s Independence Day celebrations incorrectly stated that Patty Beck is Brian and Donna Beck’s daughter. She is their daughterin-law.

Funeral services for Randy Klein, 44, to be held Memorial services for Randy Klein, age 44, of Gregory, SD, will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the little league ball field in Gregory, SD.

MARRIAGES Jayd Douglas VanDerWerff, 23, Gregory, SD, to Kylie Jace Horstman, 24, Gregory, SD, on July 9, 2022, in Gregory, SD. MAGISTRATE COURT Cloyd Marshall, Jr., 41, Los Angeles, CA, speeding on a state highway, fine $39.00, court costs $50.00, surcharges $28.50.

In my four years as governor, I have focused on finding ways our programs can positively impact the next generation. This goes beyond reading about what state government does; I go out and see these programs for myself so I can understand exactly what we can do to improve them.