Opinion

In A. D. 1857 Yankton, was an Indian village occupied by the Yankton tribe of Dahkotah Indians, and was the residence of the principal and most influential chief Pe-la-ne-a-pa-pe, which translated into the English, reads “Man that was struck by the Ree.” Being the home of the head chief and the seat of the tribe’s most important councils, this was the principal village, of the Yankton tribe. It was known among the whites as “Struck by the Free Camp,” and this locality had been designated by traders and steamboatmen as the Yankton Valley.

One of my favorite pastimes is welding. I’ve welded thousands of custom branding irons over the years. I’ve made them for hundreds of ranchers, but also as souvenirs for friends, family, and even charity auctions. As a lifelong West River Rancher, welding has always been a useful skill. When something breaks, you learn how to fix it yourself. And it’s taught me an important lesson: the strongest things are often built by bringing different pieces together and forging them in fire.

Most of the state of South Dakota is currently struggling with an abnormally dry season. The southern half of the state, which likely makes up the majority of readers of this column, is considered to be in an “extreme drought.” According to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDS) website, the southern parts of South Dakota are down over 2 inches in rainfall this season compared to normal amounts.

More South Dakotans may now qualify to purchase a Governor’s House following action by the South Dakota Housing Board of Commissioners. Effective June 15, 2026, household income eligibility for the Governor’s House program increased to 100% of the State Median Income, currently $103,400.

hoden National Security for the next generation Engaging with the next generation keeps me focused on what’s important: South Dakota’s future. Recently, Sandy and I hosted all of the state government interns for a picnic.

The South Dakota State Park Tagged Fish program is back for 2026, and individuals fishing within select state parks have the opportunity to catch fish for prizes! Tagged fish will have a streamer on their back and indicate “REWARD RETURN TO PARK.” Individuals who catch a tagged fish can remove the tag from the fish and bring it into the park office you caught it at, take a picture with the fish with the tag still attached and show that to park office employee, or if they wish to keep the fish, bring it into the park office. Anglers that return a tagged fish are eligible to receive a custom GFP Mepps Spinner.

In 1762 France had ceded the Territory of Louisiana to Spain and that nation held it for thirty-eight years, or until the year 1800. At this time the Duke of Parma, a son-in-law of the King of Spain, was desirous of securing for himself the succession to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, that he might be raised to the dignity of a king, and have his dominion enlarged by the addition of Tuscany.

No. South Dakota is one of dozens of states that doesn’t require a high school degree or teaching certifications to homeschool children.

Institution-wide partnership with BoodleBox introduces AI-powered learning solutions to enhance educational experiences and prepare students for the future As AI adoption accelerates across university campuses, Dakota Wesleyan University is investing in and prioritizing responsible AI use by providing more than 1,000 students, faculty members and staff with access to BoodleBox, a collaborative AI platform specifically built for higher education as a tool that’s private, safe and secure. This institutionwide implementation strengthens DWU’s position at the forefront of educational innovation and enables the transparent, ethical use of AI in teaching, learning and research.

Not much has changed overall from last week, but conditions are improving and fish activity is picking up across the system. One area with increased action is Whitlock Bay, where anglers are reporting more consistent catches and greater fish movement south of the bridge. As water temperatures rise and seasonal patterns develop, opportunities should increase in the coming weeks.