Gov. Kristi Noem once again delivered a fearmongering speech about the U.S.-Mexico border instead of finding solutions for problems in South Dakota.

Noem continues to claim that cartels are operating on reservations for drug and human trafficking. When questioned, she acknowledges drugs and human trafficking are happening throughout South Dakota and this country. So why is she only focusing on the tribes?

South Dakota should be working with tribal leadership and providing more resources for drug prevention and rehabilitation programs as well as organizations that help victims of human trafficking.

The governor also said tribal leaders need to “stop focusing on politics and banishing me and bring me solutions.” That is a two-way street. Noem has a long history of showing disrespect for Native Tribes in South Dakota. Her administration needs to put in the work to improve relationships with each of the Tribal Nations. Good leadership doesn’t hurl attacks; it finds solutions.

South Dakotans should be encouraged by the new basic law enforcement certification course for tribal police recruits this summer. This is a step in the right direction in the hope of more law enforcement officers on reservations to help with the public safety issues.

Noem (seen above in public domain photo on a 2019 visit to American troops posted in wikimedia commons) also continues to allege that there is an “infiltration” and “invasion” at the southern border. If she truly wanted to find a solution to the border crisis, she would have urged US Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds as well as US Representative Dusty Johnson to support the bipartisan immigration bill. While it was not perfect, it addressed concerns by both political parties. Instead, they all fell in line with former President Donald Trump and killed real, meaningful immigration reform.

The only purpose for this news conference is to distract from the bad press she’s receiving nationally due to stories of killing her dog and inaccuracies in her book like meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The focus should be on the real challenges of South Dakota families.

Many families across the state can’t afford child care. Families sit on waiting lists because there are not enough daycare employees and providers. South Dakota is also dealing with a shortage of affordable and workforce housing. Meanwhile, the Governor recruits people from places like California who are driving up the cost of housing and our property taxes. And while Gov. Noem is vilifying people who are crossing the southern border, South Dakota is actually in need of migrants to fix our labor shortage.

Noem continues to show that she is more concerned about her national image than effectively governing South Dakota.

Dan Ahlers of Dell Rapids is the chairman of the South Dakota Democratic Party. Contact him at dan@sddp.org or contact the state party office by phone at 605-271-5405 or 605-940-3071.

(AP) – Voters in Colorado and South Dakota will have a say on abortion rights this fall after enough signatures were collected to put measures on the ballots.

South Dakota voters will get a chance at direct democracy on the contentious issue in a conservative state where a trigger law banning nearly all abortions went into effect after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Colorado’s measure, which made the ballot Friday, would enshrine abortion protections into the state constitution. Colorado already has broad protections for abortion, becoming a haven for those in states that have restricted abortion, particularly Texas.

South Dakota’s top election official announced Thursday that about 85% of the more than 55,000 signatures submitted in support of the ballot initiative are valid, exceeding the required 35,017 signatures.

Voters will vote up or down on prohibiting the state from regulating abortion before the end of the first trimester and allowing the state to regulate abortion after the second trimester, except when necessary to preserve the life or physical or emotional health of a pregnant woman.

Dakotans for Health, which sponsored the amendment, said in a statement Thursday that the signatures’ validation “certified that the people of South Dakota, not the politicians in Pierre, will be the ones to decide whether to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of South Dakota.”

Abortion rights are also on the ballot in Florida and Maryland, and advocates are still working toward that goal in states including Arizona, Montana and Nebraska in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 reversal of Roe.

Voters of seven other states have already approved abortion access in ballot measures, including four that wrote abortion rights into their constitutions.

Supporters for Colorado’s ballot measure said they turned in over 225,000 signatures, nearly double the required number of just over 124,000. Amending the state constitution will require the support of 55% of voters.

“In this time of uncertainty, we need to secure abortion rights and access in the Colorado Constitution, beyond the reach of politics and politicians,” Karen Middleton, president of Cobalt Abortion Fund based in Colorado, said in a statement Friday.

South Dakota outlaws all abortions, except to save the life of the mother.

Despite securing language on the ballot, abortion rights advocates in South Dakota face an uphill battle to success in November. Republican lawmakers strongly oppose the measure, and a major abortion rights advocate has said it doesn’t support it.

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota warned when the signatures were submitted that the language as written doesn’t convey the strongest legal standard for courts to evaluate abortion laws and could risk being symbolic only.

Life Defense Fund, a group organized against the initiative, said they will continue to research the signatures.

Opponents still have 30 days — until June 17 — to file a challenge with the secretary of state’s office.

“We are grateful to the many dedicated volunteers who have put in countless hours, and we are resolute in our mission to defend unborn babies,” co-chairs Leslee Unruh and state Rep. Jon Hansen said in a statement.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Oklahoma State’s first game of 2024 will not be an easy one.

The Cowboys have high expectations going into next season, and they might need to realize their potential in game one. Although they are kicking off against an FCS opponent, South Dakota State is not a typical team.

OSU is 17-2 in season openers under Mike Gundy and has won nine straight. However, the team’s most recent loss came against Florida State in 2014.

The Seminoles entered that season No. 1 as the defending national champions. To begin 2024, the Jackrabbits will enter Stillwater as a two-time defending national champion, riding a 29-game winning streak. 

READ MORE: OSU Football: Avoiding Slow Start Imperative for Cowboys in 2024

The Cowboys’ season-opening matchup made ESPN’s list of 10 potential FCS over FBS upsets for next season. Although the game could cause issues for the Cowboys, the team’s position could help it get out of week one with a win.

Perhaps the most important quality for OSU going into next season is the lack of questions surrounding the team. Going into 2023, OSU’s season was filled with unknowns.

The Cowboys had three quarterbacks vying for the starting spot, three running backs looking for an opportunity and a new defensive coordinator for the second straight season. Meanwhile in 2024, Alan Bowman has the starting spot, Ollie Gordon II is a Heisman hopeful and Bryan Nardo’s defense has shown it can be relied on in big moments.

With the third-most returning production, OSU is likely to enter next season ranked. With so much returning talent from a 10-win team, OSU would not be on upset watch against any FCS team other than the most dominant.

The Cowboys have struggled in early season games in recent years, but with an abundance of continuity, they could be ready to hit the ground running against a tough opponent.

READ MORE: OSU Softball: Poullard and Davis Shine; Cowgirls Take Down Northern Colorado

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