Opinion
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EPA’s mandate to replace lead pipes important, but expensive
It is almost impossible to be against a rule announced by the Environmental Protection Agency this month requiring utilities to replace all lead pipes within a decade. After all, who opposes the swift removal of a deadly toxin from drinking water? But theres a tricky road ahead, and its an…
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Thune has to wonder about leadership candidacy if Trump is going to run the Senate
It was in December of 2004 that I got an odd phone call from the South Dakota Republican Party. The caller, a young fellow, probably an intern, wanted to thank me for helping his party defeat Tom Daschle. As a journalist, my personal standard was that I should be registered…
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Secret Service overhaul is a necessity
Based on 58 multi-hour interviews and more than 7,000 documents, the independent bipartisan panel President Joe Biden assigned to analyze the Secret Service after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump this summer issued a grim warning: Without fundamental reforms to the agency, what happened in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13…
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More than ever, South Dakota’s next legislative session will require courage
Ive never been much good at political predictions. I knew George Mickelson as a tall guy I played volleyball against in the adult league in Brookings. While he was a force at the net, I didnt think that qualified him to be governor. John Thune was unknown to me when…
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Publics prison investment met with problems and secrecy in South Dakota
The South Dakota Legislature has set aside $569 million for the creation of a new mens prison in rural Lincoln County. Since construction costs rarely go down, its safe to say that South Dakota will likely pay even more for what will be the most expensive capital project in state…
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Tim Johnson proved doubters wrong until he had nothing left to prove
Tim Johnson described us as a couple of old codgers that day in the spring of 2013, as we spoke whimsically about politics and life and campaigns won and, well, won. Because Johnson never lost a campaign, including that nationally prominent U.S. Senate race in 2002, which well get to…
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Make the effort, register by the deadline, and vote in this vital election
Nov. 5, Election Day, is an important date for South Dakota. Almost as important is Monday, Oct. 21. Thats the last day that eligible South Dakotans can register to vote in this election. The importance of this election cant be overstated. Voters will make decisions on ballot issues that will…
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Too many newspapers stand by mute while the rest of the world has opinions
It was July of 1984 and I had just been named editor and general manager of The Redfield Press. That was quite a gamble for the people who owned the newspaper as all I had to recommend me was five years as an advertising salesman and a degree in English.…
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Catholics, abortion and the complicated organism of faith
Its important to understand a couple of things about the No on G signs stuck in the grass and affixed to the front of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in western Rapid City. First, Blessed Sacrament has the right under IRS rules to speak out againstAmendment G, the proposed constitutional amendment…
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South Dakota’s initiated measures offer lessons for future elections
In the run-up to the Nov. 5 election, South Dakota voters should be hearing quite a bit about seven ballot issues. Looking back, there are some lessons inherent in the way some of those ballot issues were handled in this election cycle. People seem to like medical marijuana One of…
