Opinion

Governor Kristi Noem recently announced four cornerstones to enhance government accountability in the State of South Dakota. As the first step, Governor Noem signed Executive Order 2024-07, which establishes required state employee trainings centered around public trust, duty to act, internal controls, conflict of interest, and a service mindset for the citizens of South Dakota.

During the fall of 1869 and winter of 1870, more than the usual disc ontent appeared among the Indians at Whetstone Landing and along the Missouri River. This was due to various causes; one of the principal reasons was the lack of suitable clothing and shelter in the severe winter weather at that latitude.

Dear Editor and Readers: The dust is finally settling down from the 2024 general election and for those of us like myself who love life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - and who hate communists and tyranny - the results could scarcely have been better. In District 21, we the electorate, just over 77% of us, are sending Mykala Voita to Pierre to represent us in the state Senate in January Seventy-seven percent isn't quite the 81+% of the District vote that Erin Tobin received in the 2022 election, but then, Mrs. Tobin enjoyed much wider name recognition in 2022 than Mrs. Voita has in this cycle.

I love South Dakota. I love our natural beauty – from the rolling plains to the incredible Black Hills, from the Mighty Missouri to the peaceful prairie lakes. I love our people – they’re the hardest working around with common sense American values and strong family morals. I love everything about our state (except for maybe the January weather).

The routine of activities at the Whetstone Agency during the winter months of 1869 – 1870 was occasionally relieved by the arrival of some distinguished chiefs and a portion of their tribe. They had passed the summer and fall in the raiding of stock from the early settlers to the south toward the Platte River or out on the Rosebud.

Just a few days ago, America went to the polls to vote. People in counties, towns & cities, and states across the nation made decisions about what they want their communities to look like moving forward.

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that the amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2025 has increased to $23,500, up from $23,000 for 2024. The IRS today also issued technical guidance regarding all cost‑of‑living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for tax year 2025 in Notice 2024-80, posted today on IRS.gov.

Long before the arrival of Europeans, American Natives were the first to experience the thrill of discovering ancient bones which had been buried for thousands of years. This resulted in fossil collectors taking specimens from the tribal lands since Western scientists discovered them in the United States in the mid-1800s.

Dear Editor and Readers, I have been studying the seven ballot proposals on which we the voters of SD will be approving or rejecting - on 5 November and have concluded that I will “Vote YES on F and NO on the rest”. Why? Let’s take each measure in turn... Amendment E would “update gender references to certain office holders”. Do we really need to waste time and money removing male gender pronouns from our state Constitution? No, and I will vote “No”. Amendment F would “allow the state to consider requiring certain adults, eligible for expanded Medicaid, who are working-age and able-bodied, to seek work or training, rather than stay on gov’t assistance programs long term”. Basically, means-testing. Good idea - I will vote “Yes”.

The we s twa rd mig ration from the Atlantic Coast resulted in the establishment of numerous trails which became the interstate highways of the 18th and 19th centuries. A combination of factors, including the terrain and location of waterways, the attraction of the desired destination, along with the location of America’s first inhabitants, helped the earliest explorers and adventurers determine a route west.