Opinion

Dear Editor, Readers, I trust you to fact-check and pass this on to those who get their news from social media on their devices. With all the scams and AI editing (TikTok), what is the truth? The King of Chaos and Retribution says you only get the real news from his chosen Fox News, and only certain reporters can ask questions. I follow CBC, BBC, and PBS, which are also not approved but are non-political. Trudeau, Macron, and Starmer corrected Trump, which caused the penalty tariffs. If you have the wrong tattoo, that can get you imprisoned in El Salvador? If you are a student and protest, you can get deported. Student protesters helped end the Vietnam War. There are more than 100 court filings to block Trump’s decrees to which he has the usual response: deny, delay, appeal, and now impeach the Judge?

Dear Editor, Since January 20 President Trump has issued a blizzard of Executive Orders a large number of which have been challenged in Federal Courts around the country, many successfully. The response from the President, several of his cabinet members and Elon Musk has been to publicly call for judges who have ruled against the Executive Orders to be impeached.

We recently cut the ribbon on the new Lt. Commander John C. Waldron Bridge over the Missouri River between Pierre and Ft. Pierre. For the next 100 years, this bridge will connect two communities. But more than that, it will connect two sides of our state.

In 1875, the Black Hills had not been lawfully opened. The army guarded the reservation, and during 1875 arrested and turned back a large number that attempted to invade the Indian domain. However they were not able to keep out all those who had heard the stories of those who had adventured into the hills earlier.

Dear editor, The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website lists the USDA as the worst offender when it comes to burdensome regulations with twentyone thousand sections for every law passed by Congress. Among these is a recent rule mandating electronic identification (MEID) of certain classes of livestock crossing state lines. This is the first step in what is described as “a modern system of traceability from birth to slaughter”. Once fully implemented, the four major meat packers, who already hold 85% of fat cattle captive, will know how many feeder cattle are out there, how old they are, and who owns them. This will facilitate the international meat packers ability to manipulate the feeder’ cattle market, much to the detriment of the independent cattleman.

One of my favorite parts of serving the people of South Dakota is visiting communities around the state. I like to look folks in the eye, shake their hands, and gain an understanding of the challenges and opportunities that they face.

A list of the names of the post offices established in Dakota Territory up to the close of 1874 indicates quite clearly the progress of white settlement of the area up to that time. Post offices had been established at Platte Creek, White Swan, and Greenwood in Charles Mix County. Fort Randall and Ponca Agency was also delivering the mail. Eleven were already open in Bon Homme County and Crow Creek was distributing the mail in Buffalo County.

DITOR Dear Editor, In several press releases and articles since taking office, Governor Rhoden has been very outspoken about making himself available to his constituents. So we took him at his word and last week sent a letter about a critical issue affecting our family’s ranch in southern Lyman County and many others along the Missouri River. This letter also brought to light how an inefficient, bureaucratic snarl is impacting South Dakota’s ability to tackle a huge grassland problem.

In the development of Dakota Territory, the ox was an important and indispensable element. With the patience and fortitude only exceeded by that of his master, he transported the pioneers and their household goods onto the frontier.

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