Anthony Mirzayants, former Lobbyist for the Texas-based libertarian student activist group Young Americans for Liberty is apparently now spending his time out on facebook trying to organize pressure campaigns against members of the Minnehaha County Commission over flock cameras in the area.
Mirzayants had recently taken after Minnehaha County Commissioner Cole Heisey on flock cameras, and today, he’s going after Minnehaha County Commissioner Dean Karsky, trying to adopt the tools of the far left and taking to facebook to organize campaigns to harass elected officials by staging protests at their private residences:
This is the same lobbyist who at the time ended up on the poke end of Arch Beal’s cane during the 2025 legislative session after being caught sticking his phone in the window of the Senate Caucus trying to film it:
At the time, my correspondent noted that more than 25 people at the time were apparently willing to testify to boot him from the lobbyist corp, noting that Mirzayants had allegedly threatened them. With my correspondent noting at the time that they were “not sure what the South Dakota legislature is more united on; our appreciation for veterans or hate for Anthony.”
Not sure what exactly he’s trying to accomplish, as I’m sure he’s going to be as effective in Sioux Falls as he was in Pierre.
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Gov. Larry Rhoden announced 618 students have been awarded Build Dakota Scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year. These recipients make up Cohort 12, representing the 12th year of scholarship awards through the Build Dakota program. You can find the complete list of recipients here.
“These 618 scholars represent the future of South Dakota. When we invest in students, we create opportunity for them to succeed, and South Dakota grows right alongside them,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “I am grateful for T. Denny Sanford’s leadership and foresight to help launch this program. More than a decade later, we see that vision at work across our state. This year’s scholars are the next chapter of his remarkable legacy.”
This year’s announcement holds special meaning as South Dakota remembers T. Denny Sanford and the extraordinary legacy he leaves behind. In 2015, his $25 million investment helped launch Build Dakota alongside a $25 million investment from the State of South Dakota. His vision was simple but powerful: invest in students, create opportunity, and build a stronger South Dakota.
5,196 Build Dakota Scholarships have been awarded since the program began. A 2025 economic impact study conducted by Dakota Institute found Build Dakota generated an estimated $235 million in economic output during its first decade, or $4.33 for every dollar invested.
“Denny always believed in people and in South Dakota,” said Dana Dykhouse, Chairman of the Build Dakota Scholarship Board and Chairman and CEO of First PREMIER Bank. “He knew an investment in education could become so much more than a scholarship. Today, Build Dakota is launching careers, connecting students with employers, and creating opportunities that can change families for generations. With industry partners now investing alongside Build Dakota in 90% of our scholars, Denny’s vision continues to grow through people investing in people and in South Dakota.”
The 618 scholars in Cohort 12 represent more than 160 home communities across South Dakota, demonstrating the statewide reach of Build Dakota. The recipients will attend one of South Dakota’s four technical colleges and prepare for careers in some of the state’s highest-demand workforce fields. Scholars commit to living and working in South Dakota in their field of study for three years following graduation.
Businesses, students, and community leaders can learn more about the Build Dakota Scholarship program by visiting www.BuildDakotaScholarships.com. Details on eligibility, Cohort 13 (2027) programs, and how to become an industry partner are available online.
Karl Adam is the 11th president of the South Dakota Bankers Association. Adam has been closely involved with the public policy work of the SDBA since 2002, when he was first elected to the SDBA Board of Directors. He served as SDBA chair in 2018-2019.
Bringing ‘CLARITY’ to the Stablecoin Interest Loophole by Karl Adam, President, South Dakota Bankers Association
Sometimes the most consequential policy debates come down to a few words in a piece of legislation.
That may be the case with stablecoins and the ongoing effort to establish clear rules for digital assets. Congress took an important step last year when it passed the GENIUS Act, creating a federal framework for payment stablecoins and, importantly, prohibiting stablecoin issuers from paying interest or yield to holders.
That prohibition was intentional. Congress recognized that payment stablecoins should function as payment instruments—not as savings or investment products.
But there is a problem: The current language can be worked around.
Some cryptocurrency exchanges and digital asset platforms are offering rewards or yield-like incentives to customers who hold payment stablecoins. Because those rewards may come from an exchange, affiliate or other third party rather than directly from the stablecoin issuer, they can get around the prohibition Congress established in the GENIUS Act.
That is the loophole the banking industry has been working to close.
This isn’t about opposing cryptocurrency or financial innovation. Banks understand that technology continues to change the way consumers and businesses move money, and we support responsible innovation. The issue is whether a product designed to function as a payment instrument should be allowed to become a de facto interest-bearing alternative to a bank deposit simply because the payment comes from a different entity.
The distinction matters because banks operate differently.
When a customer deposits money at a bank, those deposits help provide the funding banks need to make loans to farmers, ranchers, small businesses, homebuyers and families in our communities. Banks operate under extensive safety, soundness and consumer protection requirements, and the banking system’s ability to provide credit depends in large part on maintaining a stable deposit base.
If dollars instead move from insured bank deposits into uninsured stablecoin products offering attractive rewards, those dollars are no longer available to support the same lending activity. The consequences aren’t theoretical. Less funding can mean less credit availability, higher borrowing costs and fewer resources available to support economic activity in our communities.
This is why the South Dakota Bankers Association (SDBA) has been engaged on this issue for nearly a year.
We’ve asked South Dakota bankers to make their voices heard with Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds, explaining why closing this loophole matters to the banks they lead and, more importantly, to the communities they serve. Our members have responded, participating in multiple SDBA calls to action and adding their voices to a broader banking industry effort.
Those efforts have been part of a much larger conversation. The American Bankers Association (ABA) and state bankers associations across the country have repeatedly urged Congress to ensure that the prohibition on interest and yield cannot simply be avoided through exchanges, affiliates or other digital asset platforms.
This is advocacy at its best: bankers seeing a potential policy problem, understanding how it could affect their communities and taking the time to make sure policymakers hear directly from those on the front lines.
The GENIUS Act established an important foundation. Now Congress has an opportunity to make sure the law works as intended.
The CLARITY Act is broader legislation addressing the regulatory framework for digital assets, but it also includes provisions addressing stablecoin yield. Section 404 seeks to prohibit crypto platforms, which are not FDIC insured, from providing interest or economically similar rewards on stablecoins. Banking organizations have urged lawmakers to make important technical refinements to that language, so the prohibition is clear, comprehensive and difficult to work around.
In other words, GENIUS established the guardrail. CLARITY provides an opportunity to strengthen it.
The goal isn’t to prevent innovation. It is to ensure that innovation occurs on a level playing field—one where products that function in similar ways are subject to appropriate and comparable rules.
Banks aren’t afraid of competition. South Dakota’s bankers compete every day by serving their customers, supporting local businesses, financing agriculture, helping families purchase homes and investing in the communities they call home.
But competition should be fair. A digital asset platform shouldn’t be able to replicate the economic characteristics of an interest-bearing deposit while avoiding the rules and responsibilities that apply to the institutions consumers have long relied upon for their savings.
The stablecoin market will continue to evolve, and so will the financial system around it. That makes getting the rules right now even more important.
We appreciate the South Dakota bankers and industry partners who have answered the call and made their voices heard. As Congress continues its work on the CLARITY Act, we encourage lawmakers to listen to those voices and ensure the legislation delivers what its name promises: clarity. Most importantly, it should preserve a level playing field, protect consumers and ensure South Dakota banks can continue putting deposits to work for the people, businesses and communities they serve.
Attorney General Jackley Credits Law Enforcement with Arrest in Youth Sexual Abduction
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley credits South Dakota law enforcement with the arrest in a youth sexual abduction case Monday afternoon.
Attorney General Jackley said the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) was notified Monday afternoon by Wyoming authorities who were searching for a vehicle involved in the abduction of a 15-year-old female from Sundance, WY.
Highway Patrol troopers stopped the vehicle on I-90 near the Aurora County line, east of Plankinton. The stop occurred less than one hour after South Dakota authorities had been first notified.
The adult male suspect was identified as Dalton Renollet, 36, of Maricopa, AZ. He has been charged with one count of Sexual Contact with a Minor in Aurora County. The female victim was safely recovered.
Wyoming authorities had initially been working with Utah thinking that Renollet was taking the female back to Arizona. License Plate Readers (LPR) technology located the suspect’s vehicle in South Dakota.
“A 15-year-old abducted and traumatized girl has been brought to safety by the excellent work of law enforcement. This incident demonstrates how valuable technology can be in protecting the public and assisting officers to locate a vulnerable juvenile and bring her to safety within an hour,” said Attorney General Jackley. “I remain committed to strict safeguards and oversight to ensure this technology protects the public from serious crimes with strong protections in place to safeguard personal privacy.”
Attorney General Jackley has announced plans to propose legislation to ensure that technology is used solely for legitimate law enforcement purposes with strong protection for the public’s privacy. He is working with legislators, law enforcement, and prosecutors on legislation to establish clear standards and safeguards for law enforcement’s use of this and similar technology, ensuring it is used responsibly, with appropriate oversight and consequences for any misuse.
The Aurora County State’s Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the South Dakota case. Other charges are expected to be filed in Wyoming. The defendant is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.
Gov. Rhoden Announces Marcia Hultman as Senior Advisor
Kendra Ringstmeyer Named Interim DLR Secretary
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced that current Department of Labor and Regulations (DLR) Secretary Marcia Hultman will continue to serve in the Rhoden Administration as a Senior Advisor in his office, effective September 14. Kendra Ringstmeyer will serve as Interim Secretary of DLR.
“South Dakota is an incredible state, and I have an incredible team serving alongside me,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “Marcia brings a new set of skills and expertise that will round out my exceptional policy team and elevate our efforts to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free.”
Marcia Hultman is a native of Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Just like her grandmother and mother before her, Marcia was trained to be a teacher. She taught school in Hot Springs, Custer, and Rapid City before joining state government in 1997. Hultman had served in a variety of leadership roles with DLR for seventeen years before taking the role of DLR Secretary in 2014. Marcia received a bachelor’s degree in education from Black Hills State University.
“I am honored by the trust Governor Rhoden has placed in me. I have great respect for his leadership and look forward to contributing to his mission,” said Marcia Hultman.“As a Senior Advisor, I will bring my years of experience, belief in relationship building, foundation in education, and capacity to learn to the position.”
Marcia Hultman and her husband, Brian, live in Pierre. Hultman enjoys reading, gardening, and all things baking-related. You can find a photo of her here.
“I have the utmost respect for Secretary Hultman, as do her colleagues, state legislators, key stakeholders, and the team at DLR. She leads with civility and approaches solving problems with an open mind,” said Mackenzie Decker, Chief of Staff for Governor Larry Rhoden. “She brings needed strengths to our office and leaves behind a capable team at DLR who will continue meeting the workforce needs of our state.”
Kendra Ringstmeyer, who currently serves as the Director of Workforce Development for DLR, will serve as the interim Secretary. You can find a photo of Ringstmeyer here.
Kendra has made a career in workforce development, with 15 years at DLR. She currently serves as the Workforce Development Director at DLR where she focuses on building partnerships that bridge gaps and create opportunities for individuals to engage in the workforce and contribute to their community. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master’s in Public Administration from University of South Dakota.
Kendra and her husband, Phil, are both natives of Winner, SD. They have raised three daughters in the Pierre area.
From my mailbox, former Representative Blaine “Chip” Campbell passed away on Friday, Aug 28, 2026 in Rapid City. He served in District 35 House from 2013 to 2018.
His viewing will be on this Thursday, September 3 from 10:00 am to 11:45 am at the LDS church at 2822 Canyon Lake Drive, Rapid City, SD 57702. His Funeral will follow at noon, and burial will be Friday, September 4th at 12:30 at the Black Hills National Cemetery.
Indy/Dem/whatever US Senate wannabe Brian Bengs is out on facebook crowing about a passage in a recent SD Searchlight Article how “he wants to deny the majority.” Like that’s a good thing. And in at least one case, he wants to deny the vast majority of South Dakotans something they’ve weighed in on already – freedom from the inheritance tax.
In Washington US Senator John Thune has long championed getting rid of the Death Tax at the federal level, and has gone into great detail about how it affects everyday South Dakotans, as he did in this column from 2025:
Death tax proponents talk as if it only affects the extremely wealthy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The death tax can sweep up those who have very little money in the bank. Take for example a family farm or ranch, which are often cash-poor businesses. They might have substantial-looking assets on paper, but the vast majority of that is land and farming equipment, and a small fraction of it is money in the bank.
So what happens when a farmer or rancher dies and his estate is subject to the tax? There’s a very good chance that his liquid assets – in other words, the cash that he has available in the bank – won’t come close to covering the tax bill from the federal government. The only alternative for his heirs in that case may be to start selling off land or farm equipment to pay the tax. They may be able to keep the farm – just a smaller version of it – or they may have to sell it off entirely. It’s the same plight that many ranches and small businesses face as well.
While Thune and Rounds have been talking about ending the death tax once and for all, Brian Bengs thought differently, and wrote how he actually wants to penalize those who inherit things.:
Currently, the tax system rewards passive income from capital—dividends, capital gains, and inherited wealth—more generously than income earned through labor. This disparity undermines the principle of meritocracy and fuels the rampant economic inequality that now exists.
…
Rebalancing the tax code to favor labor would mean increasing taxes on capital income to be more aligned with wage income, eliminating loopholes such as the carried interest exemption, and implementing wealth taxes or inheritance taxes that prevent dynastic accumulation of capital.
He wants to “prevent dynastic accumulation of capital” in South Dakota? Is he kidding? Has he never talked to a family farmer who is just trying to keep the family farm operation intact?
It has long been accepted that the estate tax forces families to sell generational farms, ranches, and small businesses to pay the IRS. Because the inheritance tax counts the value of land along with cash – which forces families to break up farms. And is opposed by more than 80% of South Dakotans.
So when Brian Bengs talks about “denying the majority” – that’s what he’s referring to. He wants to deny the majority of South Dakotans things they’ve voted on decades ago because it doesn’t fit with his liberal Bernie Sanders sensibilities.
Service and Stockyards By Rep. Dusty Johnson August 28, 2026
BIG Update
Over 54,000 South Dakotans answered their country’s call to serve during the Vietnam War. They showed great dedication during this time, and many were not given a proper welcome home and thank you from their fellow Americans. Over the last several years, I’ve sought to recognize these brave men and women for their service and provide a proper thanks from their country. It has been an honor to provide these veterans with a commemorative pin and my challenge coin. I’ve shaken the hands of over 1,300 veterans and honored over 1,500 through this program. I hope you will join me in continuing to thank those that have defended our freedoms.
Johnson with veterans in Piedmont
BIG Idea
It was Agriculture Appreciation Night at the Central States Fair in Rapid City this week. This is always a special event and a great chance to connect with producers about the challenges they face. I provided an update on the policies I’m working in Washington, D.C. to support South Dakotans feeding the world. The Farm Bill is moving through Congress, and I’ve been working to get this legislation across the finish line so our farmers and ranchers can have clarity about the future of the agricultural industry.
Johnson volunteers at Central States Fair in Rapid City
BIG News
President Trump signed an executive order this week removing tariffs on 300,000 tons of lean beef trimmings imported into the United States. I have consistently opposed policies that increase foreign beef imports at the expense of American cattle producers. We need to address the affordability challenges our country faces, but the American rancher should not suffer market disruptions in favor of short-term policies. I have raised these concerns with the White House several times, and my position has not changed. American cattlemen have worked hard to rebuild the nation’s herd and meet consumer demand. The additional market pressure will further disrupt the ability of South Dakota ranchers to adequately plan for the future and meet the demands of the market.
Strengthening Tribal Relations By: Gov. Larry Rhoden August 28, 2026
I enjoy meeting people where they’re at. It’s far easier to understand where someone is coming from if I can look them in the eye, see and hear their needs for myself, and gain a better appreciation for their perspective. It’s just how I’m wired. And I’ve taken that approach to meeting with South Dakota’s nine tribal nations.
When I took office, in my very first speech to the Legislature, I promised to “reset” relationships with our Tribes. In my first 18 months on the job, I’ve been very encouraged by the results.
This past year, on State-Tribal Relations Day in the Legislature, I had a scheduled meeting with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Well, other tribes heard about it, and suddenly, we had members of 8 tribes filling our conference room, including 6 tribal chairmen and presidents. The room was literally overflowing! We talked about challenges and opportunities. And there were some instances where we disagreed – but we did so agreeably.
The cornerstones of my Administration are openness, responsiveness, and civility. And I’ve especially emphasized that approach in my interactions with the tribes. They know that if they ever have any concerns, then can bring them to me, and I will do my best to help find a solution.
I recently visited the Pine Ridge Reservation to sit down with leaders of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Our conversation focused on economic opportunities. By visiting them where they’re at, I gained a better sense of their challenges and opportunities for myself. It was a productive meeting!
I also recently met with tribal leaders to discuss public safety and law enforcement on our tribal reservations. That topic has been a key focus of mine in my first two sessions as Governor. Our law enforcement deserves respect – at all levels. But for too many years, tribal law enforcement officers have not had the full protection of South Dakota law. This year, we changed that. I supported the bill to recognize tribal law enforcement under the definition of “law enforcement officer.”
On top of that, my Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force is hard at work. And that work includes some tribal-specific rehabilitation opportunities. If we can give inmates the opportunity for true rehabilitation, then we can end the revolving door in our prisons. And we can improve public safety on our tribal reservations.
When I met with our tribal leaders, I did make a couple requests. I asked them to continue working closely with my administration on public safety issues. That collaboration starts with communication, but it can go far beyond that. Tribes have the opportunity to sign Law Enforcement Agreements with my Administration, and I encouraged every tribe that has not yet done so to change that.
After all, crime does not recognize borders. Whether South Dakotans live in Onida or Oglala, Winner or Wagner, drugs are impacting every community.
To reduce crime throughout South Dakota and our reservations, we must look past politics. We must focus on working together. For as long as I am Governor, that is the approach I will take. It will always be my mission to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free. And that goes for every South Dakota community, including our tribal reservations.
Johnson volunteers at Central States Fair in Rapid City
I enjoy meeting people where they’re at. It’s far easier to understand where someone is coming from if I can look them in the eye, see and hear their needs for myself, and gain a better appreciation for their perspective. It’s just how I’m wired. And I’ve taken that approach to meeting with South Dakota’s nine tribal nations.