South Dakota

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem squirms as she is asked about dubious claims of meeting Kim Jong Un and backlash over killing her pet dog – before insisting ‘I’m not retracting anything’

Published

2 years ago

May 6, 2024

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem squirms as she is asked about dubious claims of meeting Kim Jong Un and backlash over killing her pet dog – before insisting ‘I’m not retracting anything’

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem made for some awkward television viewing Sunday morning as she was repeatedly challenged over a claim that she once met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Speaking on CBS Face The Nation, journalist Margaret Brennan asked Noem about the anecdote, said to be printed in her forthcoming book.

In one section discussing meetings with international leaders, Noem writes: ‘Through my tenure on the House Armed Services Committee, I had the chance to travel to many countries to meet with world leaders – some who wanted our help, and some who didn’t

‘I remember when I met with the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. I’m sure he underestimated me, having no clue about my experience staring down little tyrants (I’d been a children’s pastor after all).’

But Noem appeared to be in no mood to offer any corrections despite others pointing out there was no meeting. ‘I’m so proud of this book and what it will bring to people,’ she said defiantly. ‘I’m not retracting anything.’

The Republican also defended her decision to put down her 14-month-old dog, a move that some have said has cost her a chance to be Donald Trump’s running mate.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem faced scrutiny on CBS’s Face The Nation on Sunday over her claim of meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

Noem wrote that she met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, above, while serving in the House of Representatives, which appears to be false.

The description of a supposed meeting between Un and herself was quickly challenged and described as implausible by experts on U.S.-North Korea relations – a fact not lost on Brennan as she asked Noem directly, ‘Did you meet Kim Jong Un?’

‘You know, as soon as this was brought to my attention, I certainly made some changes and looked at this passage and I’ve met with many, many world leaders. I’ve traveled around the world,’ Noem responded, avoiding answering the question.

‘As soon as it was brought to my attention we went forward and have made some edits, so I’m glad this book is being released in a couple of days and that those edits will be in place and people will have the updated version.’

But Brennan wasn’t finished. ‘You did not meet with Kim Jong-un, that’s what you’re saying?’, she queried.

Noem was no clearer in her answer the second time around.

‘I’ve met with many, many world leaders and traveled around the world. I think I’ve talked extensively in this book about my time serving in congress, my time as governor, before governor, some of the travels that I’ve had.’

Noem’s continues to be in the doghouse over anecdotes shared in her forthcoming book. She is pictured at a Trump rally in March

A Facebook picture shows Noem with a gun. In her forthcoming book she writes about Cricket, a 14-month-old wirehair pointer, that Noem shot dead in the gravel pit on her family property, moments before her children came home from school

Noem then attempted to give her comments an air of plausibility: ‘I’m not going to talk about my specific meetings with world leaders. I’m just not going to do that.

‘This anecdote shouldn’t have been in the book and as soon as it was brought to my attention I made sure that was adjusted,’ Noem added.

Brennan then asked who she might have confused Un for before stating that she had never been to North Korea.

Noem said she had visited the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea but that there were ‘some specifics’ she was ‘not willing to share.’

While former President Donald Trump met with Kim on three occasions during his presidency, Noem served in Congress from 2007 to 2011, when relations were frostier.

Noem detailed in her upcoming book a story about shooting and killing her ‘dangerous’ 14-month-old farm puppy Cricket. Another dog, Hazel, a Vizsla, is pictured

Noem has written a new book, No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward , which will be released on May 7

In a statement to DailyMail.com Noem’s spokesperson Ian Fury placed the blame on Noem’s ghostwriter.

‘It was brought to our attention that the upcoming book ‘No Going Back’ has two small errors,’ Fury said. ‘This has been communicated to the ghostwriter and editor.’

‘Kim Jong Un was included in a list of world leaders and shouldn’t have been. The Governor spoke with Nikki Haley in 2020 and met with her in 2021,’ he added.

Fury cast scrutiny of the errors in Noem’s book as biased, saying, ‘The media will, of course, try and make these tiny issues huge.’

Noem was then asked about the shooting dead of her 14-month-old puppy, Cricket.

Noem said that she took care of her ‘untrainable’ dog the correct way by taking Cricket to a gravel pit and shooting her after aggressive behaviors like killing neighbor’s chickens and trying to bite her.

She acknowledge on X she understands why ‘some people are upset’ but reiterated it was legal in South Dakota to ‘put down’ a dog that attacks and kills livestock

Critics claim that Noem, who shot her dog while her kids were at school, could have rehomed the dog or surrendered to a shelter that may have been better equipped to train the animal.

‘The reason that this story is in the book — because people need to understand who I am and some of those difficult decisions,’ Noem said. ‘This book is filled with vulnerable painful moments in my life, filled with times where I’ve made very difficult decisions.

‘This was a dangerous animal killing livestock and attacking people. We had many kids running around and I made a difficult choice. I would ask everybody in the country to put themselves in that situation because that’s what I faced. I talk about it because what I’m tired of in this country is politicians who pretend to be something they’re not.’

The revelation has apparently hurt Noem’s chances at being on the Trump ticket. One anonymous senator recently told The Hill that she is out of the running after defending the decision.

‘She’s just done, too much drama,’ said one Republican senator who knows Trump’s thinking on the matter.

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South Dakota

Thousands expected for Avera Race Against Cancer in South Dakota

Published

11 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Press Room

Thousands expected for Avera Race Against Cancer in South Dakota

Thousands of participants are expected to lace up their shoes as the 38th Annual Avera Race Against Cancer returns Saturday, May 9, with events across eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota.

Avera Race Against Cancer running and walking events will take place in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Mitchell, Pierre, Yankton and Marshall, Minnesota, with total participation projected to exceed 7,500 people. Last year’s event broke participation records with a total of 7,747 participants across all regions.

“We never take that for granted,” said Reid Jensen, director of annual giving for the Avera Foundation. “Yet a lot of our signups each year are based on the excitement and inspiration people have experienced or heard about from past events.”

The annual fundraiser supports patients facing all types of cancer, with proceeds benefiting a wide range of services. Among them is the Avera Cancer Institute Navigation Center, a 24/7 call center offering guidance and support to patients and families.

Funds also help cover lodging and transportation assistance for individuals and families, screenings and early detection, genetic testing, specialized equipment, wigs for cancer patients, complementary therapies, such as massage and Arts in Healing, and grief support and survivor events, according to the Avera Health press release.

Organizers emphasize that all dollars raised stay local to support patients and families in the region. As of April 30, fundraising totals had already reached more than $780,000 toward an $850,000 goal, $100k more than last year’s goal. Donations can be made online at AveraRace.org.

For those wishing to volunteer for the event, sign up online on the Avera Race Against Cancer Sioux Falls event page at averafoundation.org. Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older. Those who sign up to volunteer will receive a 2026 Avera Race Volunteer shirt.

There is also still time to register individually on the event website.The Avera Race is one of the few large events of its kind that offers “week of” and “same day” registrations, according to the Avera press release.

“We’ve been doing that for 37 years and will continue to do that,” said Elijah Bonde, community giving manager for the Avera Foundation.

Sioux Falls race details

In Sioux Falls, the race will start and finish at the GreatLIFE Fitness Club at Avera McKennan Fitness Center at 3400 S. Southeastern Ave. Race course maps are available for each running or walking course. Parking information can be found on the Sioux Falls event page online at averafoundation.org.

Before the day of the event, all registered individual and team participants are required to pick up their race day packets at the GreatLIFE Fitness Club at Avera McKennan Fitness Center on the following dates and times:

Team packets:

Friday, May 1, 1-7 p.m.
Saturday, May 2, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, May 3, 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
Monday, May 4, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.

Individual packets:

Thursday, May 7, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 8, 7 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

Packets will include timing chips on racing bibs for the 5K and 10K races and the first 5,000 registrants will receive an official 2026 Avera Race Against Cancer shirt.

Whether rain or warms rays of sunshine, the race day schedule of events will be as follows:

6 a.m. — Complimentary shuttle buses begin, running in 15-minute increments until 10 a.m.
7 a.m. — Avera Race Expo and Survivor Pavilion opens
7:15 a.m. — Survivor group photo
7:40 a.m. — Song tribute to all survivors
7:45 a.m. — Aerobic warm up with Jackie Haggar-Tuschen, executive director at Avera McKennan Fitness Center
8 a.m. — 10K race start and breakfast buffet opens
8:15 a.m. — 5K race start
8:20 a.m. — 1.5 and 3-mile walk start

Both runs will be staggered and chip-timed. Race results will be posted online after the race at AveraRace.org.

‘Smiles, hugs and a few tears’

The Race offers countless moments that keep people coming back year after year. It’s a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together — united by purpose, driven by hope and committed to a cause that truly matters.

That spirit of unity is shown by not just runners and walkers, but also from local sponsors and organizations who make the event possible.

This year, Sioux Falls Ford Lincoln serves as the title sponsor for the 2026 race, and events like the Sioux Empire Ford Club’s Mustang Cruise for Race Against Cancer, held on April 28, have helped build momentum and excitement leading up to race day.

For the participants themselves, they bring their own story, motivation and connection to the cause.

“Many [participants] are running enthusiasts who appreciate the chip-timed 5K and 10K races, with awards to top finishers,” Bonde said.

Others simply enjoy venturing out an a spring day for a leisurely 1.5-mile family walk or a 3-mile walk, while also supporting a good cause.

In this instance, the race can also be a spectator sport for those who wish to cheer participants in support.

For those who stand beside patients in their hardest moments, the Avera Race Against Cancer is a day filled with meaning, and reflects the stories they carry, the lives they’ve cared for and the courage they witness every single day.

This is true for Jayna Boeve, mammography quality control technologist who leads a team from Avera primary care clinics in Sioux Falls, who has seen cancer tough the lives of not just patients but also co-workers, friends and family members.

“As healthcare workers, it’s especially meaningful for us to stand alongside our patients outside the clinical setting and show our support in a visible, unified way. It’s become a tradition that brings our team together for a cause that truly matters.”

For many others, the annual event is “deeply personal.”

Avera Foundation statistics reval that 90% of participants are not cancer survivors themselves but attend in support of someone they love, according to Avera’s press release on April 28.

“There’s a lot of fun as teams show their spirit. But there’s also inspiration as we recognize survivors and remember those who are no longer with us,” Jensen said. “We see a lot of smiles and hugs but also a few tears.”

Vanessa Carlson Bender is the Development and Public Health Reporter at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Reach her at vbender@gannett.com.

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South Dakota

Tribes sue to halt exploratory drilling in Black Hills near sacred ceremonial site

Published

12 hours ago

May 4, 2026

Press Room

Tribes sue to halt exploratory drilling in Black Hills near sacred ceremonial site

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Nine Native American tribes in South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska are suing the federal government in a bid to stop exploratory drilling for graphite near a sacred site in the Black Hills.

A small group of demonstrators has been protesting at the drilling location and at the mining company’s headquarters since they learned ground was broken on the drilling project in late April.

The tribes filed their federal lawsuit Thursday in South Dakota against the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging that the agencies violated federal law by greenlighting a project near a site called Pe’Sla, a meadow in the central Black Hills used for tribal ceremonies, prayer and youth camps year-round.

The project is the latest point of tension between tribes and mining interests in the lush pine-covered Black Hills, which encompass over 1.2 million acres (485,000 hectares), rising from the Great Plains in southwest South Dakota and extending into Wyoming.

The region is a yearly destination for millions of tourists boasting such attractions as Mount Rushmore and wildlife-filled state parks. Yet for even longer, it has been sacred to Sioux tribes who call the area He Sapa and consider it “the heart of everything that is,” according to the complaint.

Some of the landscape has already been altered by the gold rush of the 1870s that developed the region and displaced Native Americans. And in recent years, a new crop of miners driven by rising gold prices have sought to return to the landscape.

The complaint said the project by Rapid City-based mining company Pete Lien & Sons would impact the use of Pe’Sla for traditional, cultural and religious purposes by the tribes, and that the Forest Service did not consult with the tribes before approving the project.

Parts of Pe’Sla are owned by Sioux tribes after they bought the land in 2012, 2015 and 2018, and an agreement between the tribes and the Forest Service established a two-mile (three kilometer) buffer zone on public lands around the site, according to the complaint.

Because Pe’Sla was not included as an affected area and no environmental review was conducted, the approval violates the National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act, the lawsuit alleges.

Pete Lien & Sons, which supplies materials like limestone, sand and gravel, did not return email requests or voicemails for comment Thursday and Sunday.

Frank Star Comes Out, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, said in a statement that the lawsuit is “a historic demonstration of unity” between the nine tribes. The tribes are separate, distinct federally recognized tribes sharing cultural and linguistic roots, but each with its own government and land base.

“We as Lakota people have been coming and praying and holding ceremony at these places for over 2,000 years,” said Wizipan Garriott, president of Indigenous advocacy group NDN Collective and a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. “And so us being here is a continuation of countless generations before us. And it’s important that these sacred places be protected for future generations to come.”

The project was granted a permit from the Forest Service in February without conducting an environmental review because the agency said it met the requirements for a categorical exclusion, like having a duration of less than a year and not posing impacts to environmental and cultural sites.

But tribal opponents disagree that those requirements were met and said drilling projects are often a first step leading to future mines.

Besides the lawsuit from the tribes, NDN Collective and other environmental groups filed a request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to halt the project.

Some of the drilling pads are in the buffer zone around the site, according to NDN Collective. The project calls for the company to drill up to 18 holes down some 1,000 feet (300 meters) into the Earth to collect samples.

On Thursday, opponents demonstrated with signs reading “Protect Pe’Sla” and “Sacred ground not mining bound” near two drilling pads to block access. NDN Collective said the Forest Service told them drilling was paused for the rest of the day and the contractors were sent home.

The Forest Service said in a statement that it had no comment on the project when asked for a response.

“The Forest Service does not comment on the specifics of the case or on issues that are part of ongoing legal proceedings,” the statement said.

It is unclear when drilling began, but NDN Collective said it noticed drilling pads in operation last week. The group said protest actions will continue as needed to protect Pe’Sla.

“As Lakota, we pray as long as we need to,” Garriott said.

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South Dakota

South Dakota Property Tax Refund Program: Do You Qualify?

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2026

Press Room

South Dakota Property Tax Refund Program: Do You Qualify?

AARP South Dakota works to help individuals 50-plus make sure their money lives as long as they do.

That is why we fight for measures to help provide financial security, like the South Dakota Property and Sales Tax Refund Program. Each year during the legislative session, we proudly advocate for funding to keep this program available for older adults with low income and people with disabilities.

2026 Program Eligibility:

Be a South Dakota resident during all of 2025;
Be 65 years old on or before January 1, 2025, or disabled at any time during 2025; and
Live alone and have a yearly income of $17,215 or less OR live in a household whose members’ combined income is $23,265 or less.

Property taxes are the single most burdensome tax for low-income and older homeowners. Many of our state’s elderly citizens have lived in their homes for generations. As their property values have appreciated, so have their property taxes. Plus, older adults often live on fixed incomes and cannot afford the yearly increases in their property taxes while meeting their basic needs for food, medicine and utilities.

AARP South Dakota advocates for you – helping you take advantage of property tax refund programs that can save you money and help you stay in your home longer.

The deadline to apply for South Dakota’s program is July 1, 2026.