>> THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO OUR FIRST "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS" OF 2021.

I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED TONIGHT, I WANT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF BECAUSE I KNOW I'M A NEW FACE TO MANY OF YOU.

I'VE SPENT THE LAST THREE YEARS AS THE EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE REPORTER HERE AT SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

IN THAT TIME, I'VE REPORTED ON THE NURSING HOME CRISIS IN OUR STATE, PRESCHOOL EDUCATION, SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH FOR OUR STATE'S AG PRODUCERS, AND OF COURSE, I SPENT MOST OF THIS PAST YEAR REPORTING ON THE PANDEMIC.

I HAVE A HEART FOR SOUTH DAKOTA STORIES, BUT I'M FROM ILLINOIS.

AS A YOUNG TEENAGER, MY PARENTS AND I FIRST VISITED THIS STATE ON A FAMILY VACATION.

THERE'S THAT TOURISM INDUSTRY AT WORK!

AND TEN YEARS AGO, I CAME HERE TO VERMILLION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

I DOUBLE-MAJORED IN JOURNALISM AND NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES AND SCORED MY FIRST INTERNSHIP WITH SDPB.

I CAME BACK AS A GRAD STUDENT, AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

I'M GRATEFUL TO STEPHANIE RISSLER AND THE REST OF OUR "FOCUS" TEAM FOR WELCOMING ME ABOARD AS YOUR NEW HOST.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY SOME NEW THINGS WITH THIS SHOW MOVING FORWARD, AND IT WILL LOOK A BIT DIFFERENT.

BUT YOU CAN STILL EXPECT THE IN-DEPTH, HONEST REPORTING, COMPELLING CONVERSATIONS, AND SOUTH DAKOTA STORYTELLING THAT MADE YOU FANS OF THIS SHOW FROM THE BEGINNING.

SO THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON THIS NEW ADVENTURE.

AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT.

YOU CAN FIND ME ON TWITTER AT @JACKIEHENDRYSD, AND YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT THE ADDRESS BELOW.

WITH THAT, LET'S START WITH TONIGHT'S MAIN FOCUS.

CIVICS EDUCATION IS ONE OF GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM'S PRIORITIES FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IN HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, THE GOVERNOR ASKED HER ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE FRESH CLASSROOM RESOURCES, AND SHE WANTS $900,000 FROM LAWMAKERS TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT.

BUT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THE GOVERNOR HAS PRIORITIZED CIVICS EDUCATION.

>> IN HER FIRST STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IN 2019, KRISTI NOEM PROPOSED THAT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOULD PASS THE U.S.

CITIZENSHIP TEST IN ORDER TO GRADUATE.

>> LISTEN, THIS IS A TEST WE ASK IMMIGRANTS TO TAKE BEFORE THEY BECOME UNITED STATES CITIZENS.

IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT BEFORE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND TAKE ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AS CITIZENS, THAT THEY ALSO DISPLAY A BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF OUR NATION'S INSTITUTIONS AND ITS HISTORY.

>> THE IDEA EARNED A STANDING OVATION FROM LAWMAKERS AT THE TIME.

BUT THE BILL FAILED ON THE SENATE FLOOR AFTER A SERIES OF AMENDMENTS REMOVED THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.

NEWLY APPOINTED SECRETARY OF EDUCATION TIFFANY SANDERSON SAYS THE 2019 BILL FAILED IN PART BECAUSE THE CURRENT CURRICULUM INCLUDES CONCEPTS FROM THE U.S.

CITIZENSHIP TEST.

SANDERSON TALKED RECENTLY ON SDPB'S "IN THE MOMENT" PROGRAM.

>> AS WE LOOKED AT WHAT'S ALREADY IN OUR CONTENT STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES, BETWEEN SECOND GRADE AND TWELFTH GRADE, OUR SOUTH DAKOTA STUDENTS EXPERIENCE EVERY ONE OF THOSE 100 QUESTIONS ON THE CITIZENSHIP TEST AT LEAST THREE TIMES.

>> SO THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR NOEM HAS SHIFTED HER FOCUS.

SHE WANTS TO DEVELOP CLASSROOM MATERIAL CENTERED ON THE COUNTRY'S FOUNDING AND SOUTH DAKOTA HISTORY.

>> THROUGH ALL OF THIS, OUR COMMON MISSION AND KEY OBJECTIVE NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINING WHY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS THE MOST SPECIAL NATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

>> NOEM'S COMMENTS IN THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS MET WITH SIMILAR ENTHUSIASM FROM LAWMAKERS.

HOWEVER, THEY HAVE A REMARKABLY DIFFERENT BACKDROP THAN THEY DID TWO YEARS AGO.

THE GOVERNOR'S INTEREST IN CIVICS CURRICULUM COMES IN THE WAKE OF NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATIONS CONDEMNING POLICE KILLINGS OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

NOEM'S PROPOSAL ALSO COMES AS THE NATION IS REELING FROM TRUMP SUPPORTERS RIOTING AND LOOTING AT THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

NOEM RECENTLY SAID CIVIC EDUCATION REFORM COULD ADDRESS THE "ROOT CAUSE" OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

SHE SAID IT CAN TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION THAT VIOLENT ACTIONS SHOULD NOT REPLACE PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER FACTOR AT PLAY THAT COULD AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THIS NEW EDUCATION PROPOSAL FROM GOVERNOR NOEM.

SHE COMMANDS MORE NATIONAL ATTENTION NOW THAN IN THE PAST.

THE GOVERNOR IS A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SPENT DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION TRAVELING THE COUNTRY TO CAMPAIGN FOR HIM.

JUST BEFORE HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, "THE FEDERALIST" PUBLISHED AN EDITORIAL BASED ON NOEM'S SPEECH TO THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.

IN IT, THE GOVERNOR ACCUSES THE POLITICAL LEFT OF INDOCTRINATING STUDENTS.

IT'S A FAMILIAR REPUBLICAN COMPLAINT.

IN FACT, THE OUTGOING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RELEASED ITS 1776 REPORT ON MONDAY.

THAT DOCUMENT IS INTENDED AS A SUMMARY OF AMERICA'S FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES.

IT CLAIMS THAT KEY CHALLENGES TO THOSE PRINCIPLES ARE PROGRESSIVISM, COMMUNISM, AND IDENTITY POLITICS.

BUT MANY EDUCATORS, INCLUDING IN SOUTH DAKOTA, SAY CURRENT CIVICS CURRICULUM OFFERS STUDENTS A SOLID BASIS OF KNOWLEDGE.

THEY TAKE ISSUE WITH THE INSINUATION THEY ARE INDOCTRINATING STUDENTS.

THE SIOUX FALLS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION RELEASED A STATEMENT RESPONDING TO NOEM'S EDITORIAL AND HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

IT SAYS IN PART: "GOVERNOR NOEM'S IMPLICATION THAT TEACHERS ARE INDOCTRINATING THEIR STUDENTS IS NEITHER CORRECT, NOR A CONSTRUCTIVE STARTING POINT FOR THE CONTINUED ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS."

TIM ECKART IS PRESIDENT OF THE SIOUX FALLS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

BEYOND PLAYING TO NATIONAL POLITICS, HE SAYS IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT GOVERNOR NOEM HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH IN HER LATEST PUSH FOR CIVICS EDUCATION REFORM.

>> IS EVERYTHING INCLUDED IN THE STATE STANDARDS THAT THEY WANT IN THE STATE STANDARDS?

THAT'S WHY WE REVIEW THE STATE STANDARDS.

>> WHICH BRINGS US TO HOW CURRICULUM IS DEVELOPED IN SOUTH DAKOTA CLASSROOMS.

ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, THE SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF EDUCATION STANDARDS ESTABLISHES K-12 CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS.

IT CANNOT MANDATE SPECIFIC MATERIAL OR METHODS OF INSTRUCTION.

ECKART EXPLAINS THE STATE PLAYS A SPECIFIC ROLE IN DECIDING WHAT STUDENTS MUST LEARN.

>> THE MAIN CONTENT AREAS ARE REVISED EVERY SEVEN YEARS, AND THEN OUR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSES ARE REVISED EVERY FIVE YEARS.

DOES THAT MEAN THEY'RE CHANGED?

NOT NECESSARILY.

BUT THEY'RE LOOKED AT IN CASE THERE ARE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADOPTED OR CHANGED.

AND ALL OF THAT GOES THROUGH THE APPROVAL OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> FROM THERE, EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT CHOOSES TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER CLASSROOM RESOURCES.

POLICY MAKERS CALL THIS "LOCAL CONTROL."

TEACHERS THEN CREATE DAILY LESSON PLANS TO MEET STATE STANDARDS.

THE STATE'S CURRENT SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS WERE ADOPTED IN 2015 AND REVIEWED LAST SUMMER.

THEY'RE DUE FOR REVISION HEARINGS THIS SPRING.

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION TIFFANY SANDERSON SAYS SOME EXISTING STATE STANDARDS ALREADY SET SOUTH DAKOTA APART.

>> OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL WITH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IN THEIR BACKGROUND, WITH U.S. HISTORY IN THEIR BACKGROUND, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 1.5 UNITS IN OTHER SOCIAL STUDIES CONTENT.

THAT MIGHT BE ECON OR OTHER SIMILAR AREAS.

AND THEY ALSO HAVE A SPEECH OR DEBATE EXPERIENCE.

NOT ALL STATES REQUIRE THAT.

>> BUT SANDERSON SAYS THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR DEVELOPMENT.

>> RATHER THAN, "WHAT ARE THE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS," LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE EXPERIENCE IS THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS HAVE.

WHAT ARE THEY EQUIPPED WITH, SO THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED AS THEY ENTER ADULTHOOD TO BE ENGAGED CITIZENS.

>> THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR NOEM IS REQUESTING $900,000 TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM MATERIALS AND A TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM.

SANDERSON SAYS THERE IS CURRENTLY NO COHESIVE MATERIAL CENTERED ON SOUTH DAKOTA HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY FOR EDUCATORS.

>> THAT $900,000 WILL HELP TO DEVELOP THOSE KINDS OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS SO TEACHERS HAVE LESSON PLANS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INSTRUCTION IN THE CLASSROOM, AND STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE PRIMARY DOCUMENTS, HISTORICAL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OR INTERVIEWS WITH SOUTH DAKOTA EXPERTS THAT REALLY BRING THE RICH STORY OF OUR STATE TO LIFE.

>> SANDERSON SAYS SOME OF THE MONEY CAN ALSO FUND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS.

THEY COULD INCLUDE VISITS TO THEIR CITY COMMISSION OR MOCK LEGISLATURE PROGRAMS.

BUT STATE LAWMAKERS STILL NEED TO FILE AND APPROVE A BILL FOR THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL.

IN THE MEANTIME, SOUTH DAKOTA'S EDUCATORS CONTINUE THEIR WORK TO MEET EXISTING STATE STANDARDS.

>> NOW, LET'S LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT CIVICS EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE IN OUR STATE RIGHT NOW.

PATRICK GAINEY IS THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR OF SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE SPEARFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HE TEACHES CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT, AMERICAN HISTORY, AND A.P.

UNITED STATES HISTORY.

HE ALSO ADVISES THE SPEARFISH HIGH SCHOOL "WE THE PEOPLE" TEAM.

NOT ONLY THAT, HIS STUDENTS HAVE REACHED THE NATIONAL COMPETITION MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN A ROW.

PATRICK GAINEY JOINS US NOW BY ZOOM.

PATRICK, WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

>> VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE.

>> SO, PATRICK, I WANT TO GIVE YOU YOUR SHANS CHANCE TO BRAG.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME LATE-BREAKING NEWS AS FAR AS YOUR "WE THE PEOPLE" TEAM THIS WEEK.

>> YEAH, WE PARTICIPATED IN A TRI-STATE COMPETITION.

WITH HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

UP TO THIS POINT.

THERE'S AN EBB AND A FLOW TO THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT COMPETE AND AT THAT CURRICULUM.

SO WE DECIDED TO PAIR WITH SOME NEIGHBORING STATES.

SO MONTANA AND IDAHO, WE GOT TOGETHER, AND WE DID A VIRTUAL COMPETITION BETWEEN THE THREE STATES.

AND, YEAH, I AM HAPPY TO SAY, MY STUDENTS WON THE COMPETITION.

THEY SCORED THE HIGHEST IN FOUR OF THE SIX UNITS OF THE STUDY OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

SO THAT'S SUPPOSED TO ENTAIL A TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL FINALS.

BUT I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF COVID.

AGAIN.

THE STUDENTS LAST YEAR, SAME -- SAME CIRCUMSTANCES.

THEY WON STATE.

AND WERE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT OUR STATE AND THEN COULDN'T BECAUSE OF THE OUTBREAK.

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, CONGRATULATIONS.

TO YOU AND TO YOUR STUDENTS, FOR THAT VICTORY.

BUT FOR THE FOLKS AT HOME WHO ARE A LOT LIKE ME, A WEB AND A D A HALF AGO, WHO DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS COMPETITION, WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO US ABOUT WHY THIS IS A BIG DEAL, WHAT THIS COMPETITION ENTAILS.

>> WELL, THIS IS DEVELOPED BY THE CENTER FOR CIVIC EDUCATION.

AND THIS CURRICULUM WAS FORMED TO CELEBRATE THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF T OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

SO THE BICENTENNIAL ON THE CONSTITUTION COMMISSION IS CHAIRED BY FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE WARREN BURGER.

THEY DEVELOPED A CURRICULUM.

AND WE HAVE USED THAT IN SOUTH DAKOTA EVER -- OR IN SPEARFISH, I SHOULD SAY, EVER SINCE IT WAS CREATED.

MY MENTOR, THE PERSON THAT I STUDENT-TAUGHT FOR RIGHT HERE AT SPEARFISH HIGH SCHOOL, LETICE LARSON, AND I CONTINUED TO TEACH IT.

I THINK IT HITS ALL OF THE 21ST CENTURY SKILLS.

IT BREAKS DOWN THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS INTO SIX DIFFERENT AREAS OF STUDY.

AND THERE ARE EVEN DIFFERENT LEVELS.

THERE'S A MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL AND AN ELEMENTARY LEVEL.

THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL THAT I TEACH THERE ARE DISTRICT, STATE, AND NATIONAL COMPONENTS TO THE COMPETITION.

BECAUSE SOUTH DAKOTA IS AN AT-LARGE STATE, OUR DISTRICT COMPETITION AND OUR STATE COMPETITION ARE ONE O AND THE SAME.

SO THERE ARE -- STUDENTS ARE BROKEN OUT INTO SIX DIFFERENT AREAS OF STUDY.

BACKGROUND OF THE CONSTITUTION.

PHILOSOPHICAL AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS.

THE IDEAS CONTAINED IN THE DECLARATION.

THE EXPANSION OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

YOU KNOW, WHERE THE COUNTRY IS HEADED IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

AND I REALLY FEEL THAT THE CURRICULUM HITS AIL OF THE POINT -- HITS ALL THE POINTS, YOU KNOW, FOR STUDENTS WITH REGARD TO 21ST CENTURY SKILLS, RELATING, WRITING, WORKING AS A MEMBER OF A TEAM, PRESENTING, DOING RESEARCH.

IT'S ALL THERE.

AND IF YOU COULD SEE MY STUDENTS AND HOW WELL THEY PERFORM.

YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND OUR COUNTRY IS ACTUALLY IN A LOT BETTER SHAPE THAN WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HEARING YOU DESCRIBE ALL OF THAT.

THIS SOUNDS, IN A LOT OF WAYS, EXACTLY WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE IN A SORT OF KNEE-JERK WAY MIGHT THINK IS MISSING FROM STUDENTS'S EDUCATION THESE DAYS.

BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED EARLY ON IN OUR SEGMENT ABOUT THE FACT THAT SOUTH DAKOTA DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THIS MANY PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS OR TEAMS IN THIS "WE THE PEOPLE" COMPETITION.

WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE THIS HASN'T TAKEN OFF ELSE WHERE THE SAME WAY THAT IT HAS TAKEN OFF IN SPEARFISH?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS.

THE CURRICULUM IS PRETTY CHALLENGING.

IT'S A LOT.

FOR A TEACHER TO BITE OFF.

YOU KNOW, IT REQUIRES QUITE A BIT OF ADDITIONAL TEACHER TRAINING.

YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY NEED TO MAKE YOURSELF AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD IF YOU'RE GOING TO TEACH THIS STUFF TO YOUR STUDENTS.

AND THAT ENTAILS, YOU KNOW, GIVING UP SOME TIME DURING THE SUMMER.

BUT IT ALSO REQUIRES SOME BUY-IN FROM YOUR COMMUNITY AND FROM YOUR SCHOOL BOARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, SPEARFISH, I HAVE TO SAY, FOR YEARS HAS BEEN VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CIVIC EDUCATION.

AND NOT ONLY ARE OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND OUR ADMINISTRATION ARE BEHIND THIS, BUT EVEN THE COMMUNITY.

I HAVE, YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN HELP US OUT.

IT COSTS MONEY TO SEND STUDENTS TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO COMPETE IN THIS COMPETITION.

AND, YOU KNOW, CURRICULUM DECISIONS ALWAYS END UP BEING BUDGETARY DECISIONS.

AND IT'S A MATTER OF PUTTING YOUR DOLLARS WHERE YOU NEED TO PRIORITIZE THEM.

AND I THINK SPEARFISH HAS JUST MADE A DECADES-LONG COMMITMENT TO DO THAT.

AND I'M JUST FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE THE BENEFICIARY OF THEIR .

>> IN A NON-COVID WORLD, WHERE TRAVEL IS A LITTLE MORE FEASIBLE, POTENTIALLY, ASSUMING YOU HAVE ALL THOSE FUNDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES INTO THAT, TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY YOUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE PART IN AND GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR THIS NATIONAL COMPETITION.

>> WELL, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING FOR SO MANY OF THESE CIVIC ED PROGRAMS HAS BEEN CUT.

AND IT'S A PROBLEM NOW.

[ Laughter ] I'VE REALIZED, BUT IT'S A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND I CAN PROMISE YOU, A LOT OF TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THIS ISN'T NEWS TO THEM.

THAT CIVICS EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S A SHAME IT TAKES A U.S. CAPITOL BEING STORMED TO BRING THAT TO THE FRONT BURNER.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S NOT JUST A FEW KIDS.

IT'S THE ENTIRE CLASS THAT GETS TO GO.

SO, YOU KNOW, I TYPICALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF DOZEN STUDENTS.

IT'S A SENIOR-LEVEL CLASS.

IT'S ALSO A YEAR-LONG CLASS, SO KIDS HAVE TO COMMIT TO IT.

IT'S AN HONORS ELECTIVE PROGRAM.

AND SO THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO THE WORK.

AND SO THERE IS A LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERY STUDENT IS WILLING TO TAKE ON.

BUT THE TRIP TO D.C., IT IS A NATIONAL COMPETITION.

AND THEY STRETCH IT OUT OVER A WEEKEND, BUT IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR THE KIDS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST TIME I WENT, IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY, THE EXPERIENCE WAS SO WONDERFUL.

AND I'D BEEN TO WASHINGTON, D.C., SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE.

IN RELATION TO, YOU KNOW, OTHER PROGRAMS, "CLOSE UP," AND THERE'S A LOT GOOD STUFF OUT THERE.

THERE REALLY IS.

BUT THIS EXPERIENCE FOR MY KIDS WAS JUST TREMENDOUS.

YOU KNOW, THE COMPETING AGAINST THE OTHER SCHOOLS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE -- WHEN YOU WIN SOMETHING, AND I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I'VE WON ONE AWARD.

ONE.

IN ALL THE YEARS THAT I'VE GONE TO D.C.

BUT I WOULDN'T TRADE THE EXPERIENCE OF TAKING MY STUDENTS THERE EVERY YEAR FOR ANYTHING.

AND WHEN YOU DO WIN AN AWARD, IT MEANS SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY PROUD OF MY KIDS JUST THIS -- JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO ON TUESDAY.

FOR WINNING THAT TRI-STATE COMPETITION.

BUT I WAS PROUD OF ALL THE STUDENTS FROM ALL THE STATES BECAUSE THEY DEMONSTRATE A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING AND COMPREHENSION OF THE CONSTITUTION THAT IS REALLY BEYOND WHAT MOST ADULTS AND, YOU KNOW, GRAD STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

>> I GUARANTEE THEY WOULD SCHOOL ME.

SO I'LL PUT THAT ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.

[ Laughter ] PATRICK, SHIFTING GEARS A LITTLE BIT JUST TO CIVICS EDUCATION IN OUR STATE IN GENERAL.

IN THE PIECE THAT PLAYED EARLIER, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THOSE STATE STANDARDS ARE REVIEWED ON A CYCLICAL BASIS, EVERY SEVEN YEARS, AND IT TURNS OUT THIS SPRING, THOSE SEVEN YEARS ARE UP TO RECONSIDER THE CIVICS EDUCATION CURRICULUM.

I'M CURIOUS.

YOU'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR A FEW OF THOSE CYCLES NOW.

WHEN THAT TIME COMES AROUND, HOW CLOSELY ARE YOU MONITORING DISCUSSIONS OF POTENTIAL CHANGES OR DO YOU JUST KIND OF WAIT AND SEE WHAT DECISIONS ARE MADE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK OUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOES A GOOD JOB OF ALLOWING TEACHERS' BUY-IN, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MAKE THEM PART OF THE PROCESS.

BUT THE BROAD PICTURE STANDARDS DON'T REALLY CHANGE ALL THAT MUCH.

YOU KNOW, OVER THE COURSE OF A CYCLE.

WE MAY PUT MORE EMPHASIS IN SOME AREAS.

I LISTENED TO GOVERNOR NOEM'S ADDRESS.

AND I LISTENED TO IT ON THE RADIO.

AND I PRINTED OUT HER SPEECH.

AND I READ THROUGH PARTS ON EDUCATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR COUNTRY IS THAT WE'RE SO QUICK TO DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER, AND THERE'S SUCH A WILLINGNESS TO DEMONIZE THE OTHER SIDE POLITICALLY.

AND I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO THAT, BUT I READ THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

AND I SEE VERY LITTLE I DISAGREE WITH.

YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY'S WAITING FOR ME TO OBJECT TO $900,000 IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR CIVIC AND HISTORY EDUCATION, THEY'RE GOING TO BE WAITING A LONG TIME.

[ Laughter ] I THINK WE CAN -- I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF COMMON GROUND HERE, YOU KNOW?

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I TEACH MY STUDENTS WITH THIS CURRICULUM IS, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.

TO LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE.

THAT HONESTLY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING MY STUDENTS LEARN FROM THIS CURRICULUM.

>> FOR FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INDOCTRINATION QUESTION OR WHAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING IN THEIR CLASSROOM, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY TO THEM, AS A CAREER EDUCATOR, RIGHT HERE IN SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR THOSE FOLKS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRIES ARE A LOT LIKE PEOPLE.

WE LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES.

THIS IS A GREAT COUNTRY.

MAYBE THE GREATEST COUNTRY.

BUT AS MY, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS -- I GAVE MY FINAL IN MY A.P.

HISTORY CLASS TODAY.

AND THIS WAS THE PROMPT.

THIS VERY QUESTION.

IS AMERICA THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD?

AND SHOULD WE BE TEACHING IT THAT WAY?

AND PRIOR TO US GOING ON THE AIR, I WAS READING THROUGH -- IT'S FINALS WEEK HERE AT SPEARFISH, AND SO I GRADING SOME OF MY STUDENTS' ESSAYS, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE SAYING IT'S THE JOURNEY.

IT'S NOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME VICTORY AT THE END OR THE FINISH LINE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES AMERICA GREAT IS OUR JOURNEY.

IN BECOMING THE GREATEST NATION UNTIL THE WORLD.

IN THE WORLD.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES STUDYING HISTORY INVOLVES FACING SOME HARD TRUTHS.

WE HAVEN'T DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY.

WHAT COUNTRY HAS?

SO, YES, WE'VE MADE SOME MISTAKES.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVEN'T DONE GREAT THINGS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE WON'T CONTINUE TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS.

IS THERE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?

WELL, OF COURSE THERE IS.

THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO MAKE THE NATION BETTER.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T TEACH HISTORY SO KIDS LEARN TO LOVE THEIR COUNTRY OR HATE THEIR COUNTRY.

WE TEACH HISTORY SO KIDS CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR COUNTRY.

SO THAT WHEN THEY GET TO BE ADULTS AND TAXPAYERS AND PARENTS, THEY CAN MAKE THE KIND OF DECISIONS, THEY HAVE THE KIND OF INFORMATION NECESSARY TO MAKE THESE IMPORTANT DECISIONS.

SO HISTORY CAN'T BE -- IT CAN'T JUST BE A -- A HISTORY CLASS CAN'T BE A GRIPE SESSION OR A PEP RALLY.

IT NEEDS TO BE -- IT NEEDS TO BE HONEST WITH STUDENTS.

THEY'RE SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

THEY'RE SMART ENOUGH TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

>> PATRICK, IN OUR LAST COUPLE MINUTES LEFT, TALK TO US ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE MAYBE PITCHING THIS "WE THE PEOPLE" CLASS TO POTENTIAL STUDENTS.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS TO THEM?

WHAT KINDS OF QUALITIES MAKE A STUDENT ESPECIALLY SUCCESSFUL IN THIS FIELD OR WOULD MAKE THEM INTERESTED IN THIS CLASS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IS CHOICE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

YEAH, I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM MANDATING MORE CIVICS EDUCATION.

BUT AS I SAID EARLIER, IN THE BROADCAST, YOU KNOW, CURRICULUM DECISIONS ALWAYS END UP BECOMING BUDGET DECISIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO REQUIRE STUDENTS TO TAKE A CLASS IN A CERTAIN AREA, THAT MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FORGO AN OPTION IN ANOTHER FIELD.

AND THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON S.T.E.M.

FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT'S WRONG, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF CLASSES THAT KIDS NEED TO SECURE REALLY GOOD-PAYING JOBS, RIGHT?

JOBS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT WE ALL WANT.

AS EDUCATORS AND PARENTS.

WE WANT OUR KIDS TO BE SECURE.

WE WANT THEM TO HAVE OPTIONS.

SO WHEN I TRY TO -- INTO JOINING MY CLASS, THEY NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE SAY IN THE MATTER.

THEY NEED TO BE ABLE AND WILLING.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY OLD SUPERINTENDENTS, OR OR MY OLD PRINCIPALS USED TO SAY THAT ABOUT KIDS.

THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE AND WILLING.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM ARE ABLE, BUT THEY'RE NOT WILLING.

[ Laughter ] AND OCCASIONALLY, YOU GET A FEW THAT ARE WILLING BUT NOT ABLE.

BECAUSE IT'S A LOT TO TAKE ON.

IT'S JUST LIKE AN A.P.

CLASS IS A LOT TO TAKE ON.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT IT'S NICE THAT IT'S AN OPTION FOR STUDENTS.

EXPWHRERNL.

>> CERTAINLY.

MY GUEST HAS BEEN PATRICK GAINEY.

DEPARTMENT CHAIR OF SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE SPEARFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HE ALSO LEADS THE HIGH SCHOOL'S "WE THE PEOPLE" TEAM.

PATRICK, CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

BEST WISHES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE'RE CONTINUING OUR "STATEHOUSE" COVERAGE TONIGHT NOW WITH A CONVERSATION ABOUT BROADBAND EXPANSION.

IT WAS ANOTHER TOPIC OF GOVERNOR NOEM'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, AND IT'S BEEN ONE OF HER ADMINISTRATION'S KEY PRIORITIES SINCE SHE TOOK OFFICE.

FOR THIS, WE TURN TO SDPB'S POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY REPORTER LEE STRUBINGER.

HE'S OUR MAN ON THE GROUND IN PIERRE THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THIS YEAR, HE'S INVITING US INTO SOME OF HIS CONVERSATIONS FOR A NEW SEGMENT WE'RE CALLING "PIERRE TO PEER."

♪ >> I'M SITTING HERE WITH GREG DEAN.

HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS WITH THE SOUTH DAKOTA TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION.

GREG DEAN, THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON PIERRE TO PEER.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THE DISCUSSION.

>> GREAT.

COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION DOES REAL QUICK?

>> YEAH.

OUR ORGANIZATION PROVIDES GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY FOR 18 MEMBER COMPANIES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND THE WAY I DESCRIBE THESE COMPANIES IS, THEY ALL HAVE LONG AND RICH HISTORIES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

SOME DATING BACK AS FAR AS 100 YEARS.

AND THEY ALL -- THE WAY I DESCRIBE IT, GREW UP AS TELEPHONE COMPANIES, HARD LINE TELEPHONE COMPANIES.

BUT AS TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED, THEY HAVE MORPHED AND EVOLVED AND I THINK EVERY ONE OF THEM WOULD TELL YOU TODAY THAT THEY ARE BROADBAND PROVIDERS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

PROBABLY VIDEO PROVIDERS SECOND.

AND HARD LINE TELEPHONE COMPANIES THIRD.

>> SO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED A $100 MILLION BROADBAND EXPANSION PROGRAM FOR THE STATE.

AND SHE MENTIONED THAT PROPOSAL AGAIN DURING OUR STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

I'D LIKE TO PLAY A CLIP FROM THAT BEFORE WE START OUR DISCUSSION.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE FAMILIES ARE NOT FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE MODERN ECONOMY ON THE ONE HAND AND THEN LIFE IN THEIR HOMETOWN ON THE OTHER.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING THAT WE INVEST IN FINISHING CONNECTING THIS STATE WITH BROADBAND.

EVEN THE MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE SHOULD BE PROVIDED THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE CONNECTED.

THRIVING COMMUNITIES FROM BORDER TO BORDER WILL YIELD MUCH BETTER RESULTS FOR OUR STATE AND OUR FAMILIES, RATHER THAN CONCENTRATED GROWTH IN JUST TWO BIG CITIES.

>> I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TELL ME HOW MANY SOUTH DAKOTANS WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS PROPOSAL?

>> WELL, THE BEST INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER IS THAT IT'S LIKELY IMPACTS OVER 135,000 SOUTH DAKOTANS THAT TODAY DON'T HAVE QUALITY BROADBAND SERVICE.

IT COMPRISES ABOUT 27,000 HOUSEHOLDS, SPREAD OVER MORE THAN 10,000 SQUARE MILES.

>> AND SO WHAT ROLE WOULD THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION PLAY IN THAT ROLLOUT?

>> YEAH, AND OUR MEMBER COMPANIES WOULD BE THE ONES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE DOING THE WORK.

THEY WOULD BE THE ONES THAT WOULD BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE SERVICE.

AND OPERATE THE NETWORK.

AND THE WAY I DESCRIBE A BROADBAND NETWORK TO PEOPLE IS, THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF EITHER A WATER SYSTEM OR A HIGHWAY SYSTEM.

AND A WATER SYSTEM, MAYBE THE BEST ANALOGY, BECAUSE -- BECAUSE ONCE YOU BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE, ONCE YOU PUT THE PIPE IN THE GROUND, AND IN THIS CASE, THINK ABOUT FIBER OPTIC HAS BEING A WATER PIPE.

ONCE YOU PUT THAT PIPE IN THE GROUND, REALLY, ALL YOU'RE LIMITED BY IS THE SIZE OF THE PUMPS THAT YOU PUT ON THAT PIPE TO DRIVE THAT WATER THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

AND IT'S A LOT OF THE SAME WAY WITH BROADBAND.

ONCE YOU PUT THAT FIBER IN THE GROUND, THE ELECTRONICS THAT YOU PUT ON THAT -- ON THAT FIBER OPTIC SYSTEM, ON THAT NETWORK, REALLY ARE WHAT AMPLIFY THAT SIGNAL SO THAT IT NOT ONLY CAN PUSH MORE DATA THROUGH THE SYSTEM BUT IT ALSO CAN PUSH IT AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

>> SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS DEFINITELY IN TERMS OF LIKE SOUNDING LIKE A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT.

WHAT ENTAILS GETTING THIS BROADBAND, YOU KNOW, FIBER OPTIC CABLE IN THE GROUND?

AND WHAT VARIOUS CHALLENGES, I GUESS, SORT OF EXIST ACROSS THE STATE?

>> WELL, AND A LOT OF WHAT DRIVES BROADBAND PROJECTS IS, AND IT'S PROBABLY BEST PUT BY ONE OF OUR COMPANY GENERAL MANAGERS BECAUSE HE TALKS ABOUT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY LOOK AT IS POPULATION DENSITY AND DISTANCE.

BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR A PROJECT TO BE VIABLE, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE A NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES TO DERIVE THAT ECONOMIC RETURN.

AND SO IT HAS TO BE A PROJECT THAT'S GOT TO BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.

AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT BE CONNECT SOUTH DAKOTA, LIKE THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED, OR OTHER FEDERAL PROJECTS, COME INTO PLAY IN TERMS OF SERVING REMOTE AREAS OF RURAL AMERICA.

AND THAT'S REALLY KIND OF WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT IN A LOT OF CASES IN SOUTH DAKOTA IS THAT POPULATION DENSITY, AND THEN THE AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT REALLY HAS TO BE BUILT TO REACH THOSE VARIOUS HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

>> COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN PUTTING FIBER OPTIC CABLE IN, YOU KNOW, MORE RURAL AREAS, AND FARM GROUND, AND RANCH COUNTRY?

AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING FIBER OPTIC IN THE BLACK HILLS?

>> AND THERE'S A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE ONCE YOU'RE, ONCE YOU MADE THE DECISION TO DO THAT PROJECT, PUTTING FIBER IN THE PRAIRIE OR ACROSS THE PLAINS IS JUST TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN BUILDING INTO THE BLACK HILLS JUST BECAUSE OF THE GEOLOGY.

PLOWING FIBER INTO A PASTURE, PASTURELAND, OR FARM GROUND, OUR ESTIMATES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THAT YOU -- IT REALLY COSTS ABOUT $15,000 PER MILE OF LINE LAID, ROUGHLY, DEPENDING UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS, BUT ABOUT $15,000 A MILE TO PUT A MILE OF FIBER INTO RURAL SOUTH DAKOTA.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BLACK HILLS, AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WITH NOT ONLY THE GEOLOGY AND THE GEOGRAPHY, BUT TRYING TO CARVE THROUGH THE GRANITE THAT PERMEATES THE BLACK HILLS, YOU TAKE THAT $15,000 FIGURE AND REALLY MULTIPLY IT BY A MULTIPLE OF AT LEAST FOUR.

AND SO IT BECOMES MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TO -- TO PROVIDE SERVICE WITH THAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE BLACK HILLS.

>> GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT IT TAKES TO, YOU KNOW, PUT IN BROADBAND, I GUESS WHY THIS, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR SOUTH DAKOTA?

>> WELL, OUR COMPANIES -- OUR COMPANIES JUST ABOUT DEFAULT TO USING FIBER OPTICS BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST PROVEN SOLUTION.

IT'S THE MOST INVEST LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR THE CUSTOMER, WHETHER IT BE THAT IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING OR A BUSINESS SETTING.

FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WE SEE -- WE SEE THE VALUE OF CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH FIBER OPTICS BECAUSE THE, YOU KNOW, THE UPPER ENDS OF THOSE SPEEDS AND CAPACITIES REALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY CONTINUE TO PUSH THEM OUT EVEN HIGHER AND HIGHER ALL THE TIME OUT OF THE LABS.

THAT'S WHY IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ANY KIND OF A HIGH-SPEED CONNECTION, WHETHER IT BE 500MEG, A GIGABIT OR HIGHER, YOU REALLY NEED A PIECE OF FIBER TO MAKE THAT VIABLE.

IT'S THE BEST LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF FIBER OPTICS IS ROUGHLY 30 YEARS, AND SO IT PROVIDES THE BEST LONG-TERM AMORTIZATION FOR SOUTH DAKOTA OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN TECHNOLOGY KIND OF LIKE HIGH AALTITUDE BALLOONS THAT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED TO SEND OUT INTERNET SIGNAL OR MAYBE THE USE OF CELL PHONES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WHY NOT THOSE TECHNOLOGIES?

>> I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF REASONS.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU TALK ABOUT THE BALLOONS THAT I THINK GOOGLE IS TESTING, OR LOWER SATELLITES, THOSE ARE STILL UNPROVEN TECHNOLOGIES.

THEY'RE STILL IN, FOR THE MOST PART IN THE BETA TESTING PHASE OR STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY CAN ACTUALLY DELIVER IN REAL-WORLD SETTINGS WHAT THEY -- WHAT THEY THINK THEY CAN DO IN A LABORATORY SETTING.

SO TO REALLY KIND OF PLACE A BET WITH PUBLIC MONIES TODAY, I THINK IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST USE OF PUBLIC MONIES IN TERMS OF PUBLIC -- DEVELOPING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

JUST THE DEMAND FOR DATA SERVICES IS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY.

YEAR BY YEAR.

RIGHT NOW, THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF BROADBAND IS SET BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS 25 MEGA BITS DOWN AND 3 MEGA BITS UP, AND THAT'S A SIX-YEAR-OLD DEFINITION.

AND WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED AND HOW MUCH CONSUMER DEMAND HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST SIX YEARS.

AND SO IT'S LIKELY THAT THE F.C.C.

WILL DRIVE THAT DEFINITION OF BROADBAND UPWARD IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A FLUID DEFINITION OVER TIME.

IN FACT, I'VE SEEN SOME THINGS THAT INDICATE THAT WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE TO SIX YEARS, MOST CONSUMERS, IN ORDER TO GARNER THE REAL BENEFITS OUT OF THE APPLICATIONS THEY WILL USE ON A DAILY BASIS, WILL PROBABLY NEED ANYWHERE FROM 400 TO 500 MEGA BITS, MAYBE EVEN AS HIGH AS A GIGABIT SPEED, JUST IN A CONSUMER SETTING.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF CAPACITIES AND SPEEDS THAT A PROVEN TECHNOLOGY LIKE FIBER OPTICS CAN REALLY DELIVER FOR SOUTH DAKOTA BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS.

>> COULD YOU TALK REAL QUICK ABOUT HOW THE DEMAND FOR BROADBAND HAS CHANGED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR?

>> YEAH, AND I THINK WE ALL CAN THINK BACK TO WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO AT THIS TIME.

AND JUST HOW LIFE HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 10 TO 12 MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE -- WE HAVE CERTAINLY CHANGED IN TERMS OF DOING A LOT OF THINGS FROM HOME THAT WE NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT DOING PRIOR.

WHETHER IT'S REMOTE LEARNING, WHETHER IT'S WORK FROM HOME, WHETHER IT'S TELE-MEDICINE, THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE REALLY DRIVEN BY THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO ACCESS A BROADBAND CONNECTION AT THEIR HOMES.

YOU KNOW, WE UTILIZE -- I THINK A YEAR AGO AT THIS TIME, IF YOU ASKED PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING IF THEY HAD EVER HEARD OF A ZOOM CALL, 99% OF THE PEOPLE WOULD SAY NO.

WELL, NOW, WHETHER IT'S ZOOM OR MICROSOFT TEAMS OR ANY OTHER KIND OF TWO-WAY VIDEO APPLICATION THAT'S BEEN USED FOR REMOTE LEARNING, WHETHER IT'S BEEN USED FOR WORK FROM HOME, THOSE ARE JUST THE NORM.

THOSE ARE JUST THE STANDARD THAT WE UTILIZE.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE MOVING BACK INTO A HA KIND OF NORMAL ENVIRONMENT, I UTILIZE ZOOM AND MICROSOFT TEAMS REGULARLY, EVEN THOUGH I'VE GONE BACK INTO THE OFFICE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND SO I THINK WE ARE JUST -- WE'VE EVOLVED VERY QUICKLY.

AND THE NEED FOR TWO-WAY VIDEO THAT'S STABLE AND VITAL UPLOAD SPEEDS, THOSE -- THOSE CAPACITIES THAT MAKE THE ABILITY TO HOLD -- HOLD REMOTE MEETINGS AND REMOTE LEARNING, THOSE ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT IN TODAY'S WORLD.

>> YEAH, IT'S AMAZING HOW ZOOM HAS BECOME -- LIKE, ZOOM CALLS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE LEXICON LIKE KLEENEXES AND I'M GOING TO GOOGLE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW?

>> EXACTLY.

>> WHAT KIND OF -- IF THE LEGISLATURE WERE TO APPROVE THIS $100 MILLION EXPENDITURE, WHAT KIND OF TIME FRAME ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE, YOU KNOW, TO REACH EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE?

>> WELL, I THINK THE REALITIES ARE THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL YEARS.

AND I HATE TO SIT HERE TODAY AND PROMISE YOU THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DONE IN THREE YEARS OR FIVE YEARS OR TEN YEARS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO -- IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO BRING BROADBAND TO ALL CORNERS OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND, AGAIN, I'LL GO BACK TO AND EQUATE IT TO THE WAY THAT ELECTRICAL SERVICE CAME TO RURAL AMERICA.

IT CAME OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS, AND IT TOOK A VERY STRONG COMMITMENT FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY HOME AND FARM AND BUSINESS HAD ELECTRICAL SERVICE.

AND WE'RE VERY MUCH IN THE -- IN A PARALLEL SITUATION WITH THAT WITH BROADBAND SERVICE TODAY.

>> WELL, THAT DID IT FOR ALL MY QUESTIONS.

WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD THAT I DIDN'T ASK ABOUT?

>> NO, I THINK WE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> THANKS, LEE.

NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OTHER NEWS HEADLINES THIS WEEK.

AT LEAST SIX SOUTH DAKOTANS RECEIVED LAST-MINUTE PARDONS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE HE LEFT OFFICE.

ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS IS WELL-KNOWN FOR HIS CONNECTION TO A RUSSIAN OPERATIVE.

PAUL ERICKSON IS INFAMOUS FOR DATING RUSSIAN FOREIGN AGENT MARIA BUTINA.

SHE WAS CONVICTED IN 2019 AND DEPORTED.

ERICKSON'S CHARGES AREN'T RELATED TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP, THOUGH.

HE PLEADED GUILTY TO WIRE FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING.

ERICKSON WAS SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON AND ORDERED TO PAY ALMOST $3 MILLION TO HIS VICTIMS.

SEVERAL EXPERTS TELL US HIS PARDON MEANS HE NO LONGER HAS TO PAY THAT MONEY.

TRUMP ALSO ISSUED LAST-MINUTE PARDONS TO FIVE OTHE >> INCLUDING THE PENNINGTON COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY THAT PROSECUTED HER.

GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM ISSUED A STATEMENT THANKING TRUMP FOR FIVE OTHER PARDONS W PARDONS WHE OMITTING -- JOHN NYSTROM PLEADED GUILTY IN 2009 FOR FAILING TO REPORT THAT A CONTRACTOR WAS ILLEGALLY DOUBLE-BILLING FOR WORK ON A TRIBAL SCHOOL BUILDING.

GREGORY, DEBORAH, AND MARTIN JORGENSON WERE CONVICTED IN 1996 FOR SELLING BEEF THEY FALSELY BRANDED AS HORMONE-FREE, GRASS-FED, AND OTHER HEALTHY QUALITIES.

AND FINALLY, JESSICA JEAN FREASE PLEADED GUILTY IN 2012 TO STEALING CHECKS FROM MAILBOXES AND CASHING THEM AT A BANK WHERE SHE WORKED.

T.C.

ENERGY HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL STOP CONSTRUCTION ON THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED JUST BEFORE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S INAUGURATION, T.C.

SAID IT'S DISAPPOINTED THAT THE NEW PRESIDENT IS RESCINDING THE PERMIT ISSUED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

T.C.

ENERGY WILL STOP THE CONSTRUCTION IT ALREADY STARTED, WHICH INCLUDES A SMALL SEGMENT OF PIPE THAT CROSSES THE U.S./CANADA BORDER.

WES FURLONG IS AN ATTORNEY WITH THE NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND, WHICH REPRESENTS THE ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE IN MONTANA FEDERAL COURT.

FURLONG SAYS THE JUDGE WARNED T.C.

THAT CONSTRUCTION BEFORE LAWSUITS WERE SETTLED COULD RESULT ON A LOSS FOR THE COMPANY.

>> TRANSCANADA'S FORGING AHEAD WITH BUILDING A PIPELINE WITH THIS SORT OF CLOUD OF LITIGATION HANGING OVER THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND OUR PERSPECTIVE, THEY REALLY HAVE ASSUMED A LOT OF THE RISK DOING THAT.

>> SOUTH DAKOTA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION HAS SENT A JOINT MESSAGE TO JOE BIDEN TO ASK HIM TO KEEP THE PIPELINE PERMIT IN PLACE.

SENATORS JOHN THUNE AND MIKE ROUNDS AND REPRESENTATIVE DUSTY JOHNSON SAID SHUTTING DOWN KEYSTONE XL WOULD MEAN A LOSS OF $100 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES TO THE STATE.

THEY SAY IT WILL ALSO MEAN THOUSANDS OF LOST CONSTRUCTION JOBS.

ATTORNEY WES FURLONG SAYS THOSE JOBS CAN BE REPLACED.

HE ADDS INSURANCE COMPANIES, BANKS, AND INVESTORS HAVE BEEN PULLING AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS, AND THE MARKET HAS DROPPED.

AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WANT TO TESTIFY BEFORE STATE LAWMAKERS THIS YEAR CAN DO SO IN PERSON OR REMOTELY.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD THE TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, BUT IT'S BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WITH THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SPENCER GOSCH SAYS LAWMAKERS ARE ENCOURAGING REMOTE TESTIMONY THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU DO IN-PERSON TESTIFYING, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WILL TESTIFY.

BUT WHEN YOU OPEN IT UP TO THE WEB, IT'S INFINITE AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT AND TIME.

SO THE CHAIRS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED BEST ON THEIR TIME ALLOWED IN THEIR OWN COMMITTEE.

>> ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TESTIFY REMOTELY SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR REQUEST TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR AT LEAST 24 HOURS BEFORE THE START OF THE MEETING.

PEOPLE CAN SUBMIT THEIR REQUEST USING EMAIL ADDRESSES POSTED ON THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COUNCIL WEBSITE.

THE REQUEST SHOULD INCLUDE THE TESTIFIER'S FULL NAME, WHO THEY REPRESENT, WHERE THEY ARE FROM, THE BILL THEY WISH TO ADDRESS, AND WHETHER THEY SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE LEGISLATION.

IF APPROVED, PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE A MICROSOFT TEAMS INVITATION TO THE COMMITTEE MEETING.

LAWMAKERS ALSO ACCEPT WRITTEN TESTIMONY.

AND EARLIER TODAY GOVERNOR NOEM HELD HER FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SHE OPENED WITH AN OUTLINE OF BILLS SHE'S INTRODUCED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.

>> EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY START TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I WANTED TO GO OVER A FEW OF THE BILLS THAT WE'VE INTRODUCED THIS WEEK AND THAT ARE STILL COMING BEFORE I TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.

ON TUESDAY, I SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL MERGE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

AS ALL OF YOU KNOW THE NEW NAME OF THAT DEPARTMENT WILL BE CALLED THE DEPUTY DEPARTMENTG AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND IT WILL TAKE EFFECT 90 DAYS AFTER THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER.

COMBINING ON JULY 1ST.

AND HUNTER ROBERTS WILL BE THE SECRETARY OF THE NEW DEPARTMENT AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LARRY RHODEN WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE AGRICULTURE A.M. BECAUSE DOCTOR ACROSS THE STATE.

WE DID THIS MERGER FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

NUMBER ONE, I WANTED TO SET UP A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR OUR AG PRODUCERS.

AND WE HAVE SOME REDUNDANCY BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS THAT WE CAN CONSOLIDATE AND MAKE IT MUCH EASIER FOR THEM TO NAVIGATE YOUR OF OUR REGULATORY PROCESSES ANDS PROGRAMS THAT THEY USE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WE ALSO WILL BE SAVING TAXPAYER MONEY BY BEING ABLE TO REDUCE THOSE COSTS AND FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES GOING FORWARD.

AS SCOTT VANNEDDER WALD, THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARM BUREAU SAID, YOU KNOW, THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY IS CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVING.

AND THIS IS GOING TO HELP FACILITATE THAT KIND OF INVOLVEMENT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE IT MUCH MORE EFFICIENT FOR OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS GOING FORWARD.

IN ADDITION TO THE MERGER, YESTERDAY I ANNOUNCED AND INTRODUCED TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL PERMANENTLY EXPEPERMANENTLY EXTE FLEXIBILITIES THAT WE INTRODUCED IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.

THAT WE BUILT IN TELE-HEALTH AND THE ABILITY FOR FOLKS TO ACCESS HEALTH CARE THROUGH THAT MODERN MECHANISM.

AND ALSO RECOGNITION OF OUT OF STATE LICENSES FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

GEJUST IN REGARDS TO OUR SOUTH DAKOTA MEDICAID SYSTEM.

WE'VE SEEN VERY FEW PEOPLE COME UP WITH PROBLEMS WITH THAT.

IT'S FACILITATED THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM AND WE THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO MAKE PERMANENT.

THE SECOND PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS TO DO WITH RECOGNIZING OUT OF STATE LICENSES ALLOWS US TO GET PEOPLE MOVED INTO THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND GET THEM LICENSED SO THEY CAN IMMEDIATELY GET TO WORK IN DELIVERING HEALTH CARE AND MEETING A LOT OF OUR WORKFORCE NEEDS WE HAVE IN THAT AREA.

WE KNOW THAT ALL THESE FLEXIBILITIES WORK.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BUILD ON THOSE INNOVATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT SOUTH DAKOTA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM REMAINS EXCELLENT AND PROVIDING THE CARE THAT IT'S KNOWN SO WELL FOR.

TODAY I'M GOING TO BE INTRODUCING TWO MORE BILLS.

WE'RE INTRODUCING LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO CONSTRUCT BUILDING THE DAKOTA EVENT CENTER IN HURON AT THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE FAIRGROUNDS.

WE CALL THAT FACILITY THE DECKS BUILDING AND WE PLAN TO HAVE IT UP AND RUNNING BY THE 2022 STATE FAIR.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A WORLD-CLASS COMPLEX THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HOST REGIONAL AND NATIONAL RODEO AND LIVESTOCK EVENTS.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE'LL HAVE TO MARKET SOUTH DAKOTA TO EVENTS THAT TODAY WE JUST DON'T HAVE A FACILITY TO HOST.

BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND BE AGGRESSIVE TO GET IT UP AND GOING BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE 2022 STATE FAIR.

AND SO THAT'S WHY TODAY WE'RE INTRODUCING A BILL THAT WILL ALLOW US TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

AND ADDITIONALLY I AM INTRODUCING A BILL TODAY THAT WILL PROTECT THE PRIVACY RIGHTS OF DONORS WHO GIVE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.

YOU'LL BE GETTING A PRESS RELEASE FROM MY OFFICE SHORTLY ON THE DETAILS OF THAT LEGISLATION AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DECKS BUILDING TODAY.

NOW, TOMORROW, MY OFFICE WILL BE INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO EASE THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR HOME BUILDERS AND HOMEOWNERS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, SOUTH DAKOTA'S HOUSING MARKET IS BOOMING.

NEW CONSTRUCTIONS ARE UP 160% COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND WE HAVE HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT IS UP BY 10% IN OUR STATE.

PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO OUR STATE BECAUSE THEY VALUE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND THE RESPECT THAT OUR GOVERNMENT SHOWS ITS CITIZENS, AND THAT'S TREMENDOUS NEWS.

BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT HOME OWNERSHIP OR HOME CONSTRUCTION TO SKY-ROCKET, AND SO WHAT WE'LL BE DOING IS FOLLOWING A PROTOCOL THAT WE UTILIZED LAST YEAR FOR COUNTIES, AND IMPLEMENTING IT AT THE CITY LEVEL.

LAST YEAR, WE PASSED A BILL THAT STREAMLINED ZONING RESTRICTIONS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

SO THIS BILL WILL MIRROR THAT, AND THEN IT WILL ALLOW THOSE SAME TYPES OF FLEXIBILITIES AND INNOVATIONS TO HAPPEN AT THE CITY LEVEL.

THIS WILL HELP KEEP OUR HOUSING COSTS AFFORDABLE FOR SOUTH DAKOTANS WHILE SPURRING SUPPLY TO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING TO THE STATE.

AND YOU'LL ALL BE GETTING A PRESS RELEASE FROM MY OFFICE TOMORROW ON THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

NOW, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO QUESTIONS, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, THAT I DO AS GOVERNOR AND MY OFFICE PUTS FORWARD IS FOCUSED ON FAMILIES.

AND ALLOWING THEM TO BE SAFER, TO BE HEALTHIER, AND TO BE STRONGER.

AND THE BILLS THAT I'M WORKING ON THIS WEEK ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.

WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AG AND NATURAL RESOURCES MERGER, IT'S GOING TO GIVE OUR STATE'S STATES LARGEST INDUSTRY SUCCESS FAR INTO THE FUTURE.

WITH THE HEALTH CARE FLEXIBILITY LEGISLATION, IT'S GOING TO ALLOW OUR ALREADY EXCELLENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THE FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE IN OUR STATE.

THE DECKS BUILDING WILL BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR HURON AND FOR THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IN OUR STATE AND OUR ABILITY TO MARKET IT AND THE ZONING BILL WILL ALLOW OUR COMMUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND FAMILIES TO BUILD THEIR HOMES AND TO LIVE WHILE KEEPING COSTS DOWN FOR SOUTH DAKOTANS.

STRONG FAMILIES LEAD TO STRONG COMMUNITIES AND STRONG COMMUNITIES LEAD TO A STRONG STATE.

AND THAT'S MY GOAL EACH AND EVERY DAY.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT FULL PRESS CONFERENCE AND OTHER "STATEHOUSE" FOOTAGE ON OUR SDPB YouTube CHANNEL, PLUS AS THEY HAPPEN ON SD.NET.

THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BACK STORY BEHIND CURRENT ISSUES FACING LAWMAKERS IN A SEGMENT CALLED "WHY IS THAT."

THIS WEEK, THIS WEEK, SDPB'S SETH TUPPER LOOKS AT GOVERNOR NOEM'S RECENT PROPOSAL TO BUY A NEW STATE AIRPLANE.

IT'S AN ISSUE WITH A COMPLICATED PAST.

>> GOVERNOR NOEM WANTS TO REDUCE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH FLEET FROM THREE PLANES TO I TWO.

THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN WOULD SELL TWO OLDER MODEL PLANES AND BUY A NEW ONE.

NOEM SAYS THE NET COST IS $5 MILLION.

>> AS PLANES AGE, THEY REQUIRE MORE FREQUENT, COMPLEX, AND VERY EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE.

THE STATE'S TOP PRIORITY WHEN CONSIDERING AIRCRAFT MUST BE SAFETY.

>> NOEM'S CALL FOR AIRCRAFT SAFETY REFLECTS ONE OF THE REASONS THIS ISSUE HAS A COMPLEX HISTORY.

IN 1993, GOVERNOR GEORGE S. MICKELSON AND SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE DIED WHEN A STATE-OWNED AIRPLANE CRASHED.

MICKELSON WAS THESON OF GEORGE T. MICKELSON, ONE OF OF THE EARLIEST SOUTH DAKOTA GOVERNORS TO TRAVEL IN AN AIRPLANE.

DURING THE ELDER MICKELSON'S TERM FROM 1947 TO '5, THE STATE BOUGHT A SINGLE ENGINE FOREL PASSENGER PLANE FOR ABOUT $8,000.

BUT AS MICKELSON AND FUTURE GOVERNORS OF BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES LEARNED, WHEN A GOVERNOR TRAVELS IN A STATE AIRPLANE, CONTROVERSY SOMETIMES FOLLOWS.

MICKELSON WAS IN OFFICE LESS THAN TWO YEARS WHEN THE CUSTER CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER TOOK HIM TO TASK FOR FLYING AROUND THE STATE.

THE CHRONICLE WANTED MICKELSON TO COME DOWN TO EARTH LONG ENOUGH TO LEARN THE CONDITIONS OF THE STATE HIGHWAYS.

THAT CRITICISM WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO LATER POLITICAL FIGHTS.

HARRY CHRISTIANSON SERVED.

THEN HE WORKED AS A LOBBYIST FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

HE SAYS AIRPLANES ARE EASY TO POLITICIZE BECAUSE THEY CAN BE SEEN AS A LUXURY.

>> AND QUITE FRANKLY, MOST SOUTH DAKOTANS HAVE NOT FLOWN IN A PRIVATE AIRCRAFT, PARTICULARLY A CORPORATE SIZED CABIN CLASS AIRPLANE.

AND SO IT WAS ALWAYS A POPULAR THING TO CRITICIZE THE ACQUISITION OR THE USE THE STATE PLANE.

>> ONE OF THE MORE COLORFUL CONTROVERSIES OCCURRED WHILE DEMOCRAT TICK KNIPE WAS GOVERNOR.

IN 1971, HIS ADMINISTRATION BOUGHT A PLANE FOR $200,000.

A REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER, ROGER HAUGO, CLAIMED IT WAS EXTRAVAGANT.

HE CALLED IT A LUXURIOUS FLYING BAR.

THE GOVERNOR'S DEFENDERS ARGUED THE PLANE DIDN'T HAVE A BAR AT ALL.

THEY CALLED IT A REFRESHMENT BUFFET.

THE PLANE TURNED OUT TO BE A LEMON.

HE ASKED LAWMAKERS TO BUY ANOTHER ONE AND THEY TURNED HIM DOWN.

HE ENDED UP LEASING A PLANE.

CRITICS CALLED THE HELICOPTER HE USED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL A WASTE OF MONEY.

AS GOVERNOR IN 1983, HE USED HIGHWAY FUNDS TO BUY A PLANE FOR ALMOST $800,000 WITHOUT ASKING THE LEGISLATURE FOR APPROVAL.

DEMOCRATS CRIED FOUL, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.

TEN YEARS LATER, IT WAS THAT SAME PLANE THAT CRASHED IN AN IOWA FIELD, KILLING GOVERNOR GEORGE S. MICKELSON AND SEVEN OTHERS.

THE STATE'S LATEST AIRPLANE CONTROVERSY WAS 15 YEARS AGO.

GOVERNOR MIKE ROUNDS OVERSAW THE SALE OF TWO STATE PLANES AND THE PURCHASE OF ANOTHER FOR $1.5 MILLION.

THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OBTAINED HIS FLIGHT LOGS AND THE ARGUE YOUS LEADER NEWSPAPER EXAMINED THEM.

STU WHITNEY WHO WAS A REPORTER AT THE ARGUE YOUS NOTICED SOMETHING INTERESTING.

>> I REMEMBER MATCHING UP A LOT OF THOSE LOGS, AND PUTTING THE SPREADSHEET TOGETHER WITH THE PIERRE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SCHEDULE.

AND THAT'S WHEN IT SORT OF CLICKED FOR ME BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE FLIGHTS WERE LINKING UP WITH PIERRE ROAD GAMES.

THERE WOULD BE A FLIGHT TO ABERDEEN.

AND THEN MITCHELL AND THEN BROOKINGS AND GOVERNOR ROUNDS' SON WAS A PLAYER ON THE PIERRE BASKETBALL TEAM.

>> ROUNDS, A PILOT WHO SOMETIMES FLEW THE PLANES HIMSELF, SAID HE WAS USING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO REPAY THE STATE FOR HIS PERSONAL FLIGHTS.

THAT DID NOT SATISFY HIS CRITICS.

THEY PROPOSED A MEASURE ON THE 2006 BALLOT LIMITING THE USE OF STATE PLANES TO STATE BUSINESS.

VOTERS APPROVED IT.

PHAFAST FORWARD TO 2020 AND GOVERNOR NOEM CAME UNDER FIRE FOR FLYING AROUND THE COUNTRY TO CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HER STAFF SAYS SHE NEVER USED STATE PLANES FOR THAT TRAY.

THEY SAY SHE FLEW COMMERCIAL OR CAUGHT RIDES WITH OTHER CAMPAIGNERS.

IN HER BUDGET ADDRESS, NOEM EVOKES THE MICKELSON CRASH TO MAKE HER CASE FOR A NEW PLANE.

>> WE ALL KNOW THAT SOUTH DAKOTA LOST PEOPLE 27 YEARS AGO.

THEY DIED IN SERVICE TO OUR GREAT STATE.

>> NOEM SAYS ONE OF THE PLANES IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH FLEET TODAY WAS PURCHASED TO REPLACE THE PLANE THAT CRASHED IN 1993.

SHE SAYS THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE THREE PLANES IN THE FLEET IS 26 YEARS.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL TO SELL THE STATE'S OLDER TWO AI AIRCRAFT AND BUY A NEW PLANE.

LAWMAKERS WILL VOTE ON THAT REQUEST THIS SESSION.

FOR SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M SETH TUPPER.

>> THANKS, SETH.

YOU CAN FIND ALL OUR ONGOING "STATEHOUSE" COVERAGE ONLINE AT SDPB.ORG/STATEHOUSE.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND LIKE US ON FACEBOOK.

AND DON'T FORGET, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU WANT ANSWERED ON "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS," SEND ME AN EMAIL OR FIND ME ON TWITTER.

AT JACKIE HENDRYSD.

COMING UP ON OUR NEXT SHOW, GOVERNOR NOEM HAS ORDERED THE MERGER OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

LAWMAKERS' OPINIONS ON THE MOVE ARE MIXED.

WE'LL TALK THE MERGER AND HOW AG PRODUCERS ARE MANAGING INTO THE NEW YEAR, NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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