Opinion

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has filed a circuit court motion requesting that two companies be ordered to stop the deceptive advertising of the sale of abortion pills and abortion services in South Dakota.

Dear Editors and Readers, In her GT-A op-ed letter of 17 December, Nancy Wirsing criticized your scribe for “mixing religion and politics,” and she believes that doing this is poisonous for political discourse. She also holds that if someone supports and votes in accord with Christian views and values, that person is going against his/her own interests. While her interests (and the Democratic Party’s) are physical and temporal, it is far wiser when a Holy Spirit-guided Christian recognizes his/her true interests, which quite often oppose those of the Dems, are spiritual and eternal and are infinitely more important, according to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” - Matthew 16:26a. Our time on this ball of rock is but a relative eye-blink. Christians should not scrap their views and values in any sort of compromise with people holding anti-Christian values, that is, sad to say, today’s Democratic Party leaders. Actually, your scribe awaits the coming of the ultimate theocracy - eternal government by God Himself, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Church and State will be one and the same. And it will be an absolute monarchy; indeed, Christians request this in the Lord’s Prayer, Second Petition: “Thy kingdom come,” and Third Petition: “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” We of mankind have shown that we cannot govern our own affairs and at some point in the future the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” will step in and set matters aright. By the way, there will be no talk of “No kings!” at that point... Sincerely, The Sage of Section Ten, Eric P. Putnam, Rural Dallas, S.Dak.

Controlled Substances in Penitentiary, Protection of Youth From Illegal Substances, AI Adult Pornographic Images South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced three issues that his office has worked on throughout 2025 -- controlled substances in the state penitentiary, protection of youth from illegal substances, and Artificial Intelligence- generated pornographic images, are centerpieces of his legislative bill package that will be introduced in the 2026 South Dakota Legislature. “These issues require stronger legislative action, and it is my duty as Attorney General to bring these bills to the Legislature for its consideration,” said Attorney General Jackley.

Wi n t e r began early when a mid October blizzard swept through Dakota Territory in 1880. Never before had anyone seen such severe snowfall, recalled Doane Robinson in 1904. The snow was so bad, it prevented regular train access.

YES. South Dakota is one of almost 30 states that requires front and back license plates on vehicles, though there are a couple of exceptions.

Horace Mann once said, “Education… is the great equalizer—the balance-wheel of social machinery.” He reminded us that nothing shapes opportunity, strengthens democracy, or fuels progress more than a strong public education system.

R eport Senator Mykala Voita District 21 Aurora, Charles Mix, Douglas, Gregory, Tripp Counties Committee: Appropriations Capitol Address: 500 E. Capitol Ave.

The Internal Revenue Service Whistleblower Office announced that it is making it easier for whistleblowers to report tax noncompliance to the IRS with the launch of the new digital Form 211, Application for Award for Original Information.

hoden Growing up on our family ranch near Union Center, the holiday season was always a time of simple joys. The ornaments might not have been the fanciest, but they were ours – and they reflected the true meaning of Christmas.

Here is the other side of the news, and please fact-check. All the changes in the B blankety Bill are to reduce income taxes on billionaires. ICE has detained Tribal members in SD, not recognizing their tribal papers. Who are the immigrants here? Costco is joining other companies suing the Trump administration over price increases caused by his tariffs. Farmers are to receive $12 B in compensation for the effect of tariffs, coincidentally the same amount they received in his first term. Farmers will recognize that his palatial ballroom is 90,000 square feet (2 acres) after he tore down The West Wing without any Congressional approval. From his first term, we learned “Don’t listen to what he says, pay attention to what he does”.