Opinion
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Tourism continues to show strength in South Dakota
Tourism once again demonstrated its value to South Dakota last year, and the local economy also benefited, which was no surprise. A story in the April 30 edition of the Press & Dakotan reported that South Dakotas southeast tourism district enjoyed a banner 2023, generating more revenue ($1.959 billion) than…
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Take time to understand autism
We encourage our readers to take the time to do a bit of research and reading to better understand what it means to live with autism. Autism can be difficult to define because Autism Spectrum Disorders describe a wide range of disorders with symptoms that vary in type and severity.…
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GOP isolationist caucus in Congress suffers setback
The U.S. and the Republican Party dodged a geopolitical disaster recently with the House passage of military aid to allies in Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific. But the moment shouldnt pass without noting the members who voted against U.S. help for any allies, anywhere, and against replenishing American…
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Memorials are South Dakota’s connections from past to present
As the cabinet secretary for the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, I travel across this great state and visit with veterans in every county. These trips also afford me the opportunity to stop and view all the veterans memorials in South Dakota. Memorials are not about war they are…
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Bigger field of Democratic candidates in South Dakota will spark healthy debate
It looks like hard work has paid off for the states Democratic Party as it gets ready to field its biggest slate of legislative candidates in recent memory. This may not mean the end of Republican super-majorities in the Legislature, but its the best shot that Democrats have had to…
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Some areas worthy of legislative summer study; some are not
Dont think for a moment that just because the final gavel has fallen on the 2024 legislative session that the work of lawmakers is over for the year. That work continues on through the summer. Soon after the final gavel fell, the Legislatures Executive Board met to discuss topics for…
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Touch screens and districted drivers
As cars go electric and get more technologically advanced, their interiors are increasingly being built around prominent dashboard touch screens. Nearly every automaker has been moving controls for windshield wipers, headlights, air conditioning, gear selection and other basic functions to these centralized touch screens. Its an industrywide shift that is…
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Addressing the health of democracy in South Dakota
A forum held last week in Vermillion explored the state of democracy in South Dakota, and three veteran lawmakers all agreed that the health of democracy in this state leaves a little to be desired. Actually, perhaps more than a little. And, in fact, it reflects what were seeing on…
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South Dakota Legislatures unsung role: Protecting us from bad bills
The end of the legislative session is usually a time for congratulations, much of it well-deserved. The 2024 Legislature balanced a $7.3 billion budget. That budget included 4% raises for state employees, education and health care providers; more than $220 million for new prisons; the creation of a statewide public…
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Celebrating farmers and ranchers
Agriculture is the lifeblood of South Dakota, and it is a heritage deeply rooted in our state. You cant go far in South Dakota without encountering some sign of our bustling agriculture sector; whether its fields of corn and soybeans, ranches teeming with cattle, or freight trains and trucks transporting…
