Articles

OUR VIEW: College tuition a problem that needs attention

Escalating costs are endangering post-secondary education in South Dakota. We’ve been saying that for years.

• OUR VIEW
• Regent says state nearing ‘dangerous territory’ with tuition, fees
• Big construction plans are slated for state universities

OUR VIEW: Democrats failing to generate buzz about their race

In just a few weeks, two Democratic candidates will face each other in a primary to see who gets to run against incumbent Republican Kristi Noem for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Do you know the names of those two Democrats?

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: SD should do all it can to prepare for oil boom

It’s good to see South Dakota leaders working in advance to prepare for what many expect will be an oil boom in this state.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Wood bats good for baseball in South Dakota

The “ping” of baseball season has been replaced this year with a sound that may seem unfamiliar to those born after, say, 1965.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Postal news not quite as good as it seemed

In the Mitchell trade area alone, we count 47 post offices on the list, from tiny enclaves such as Hamill to sizable towns such as Armour.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Discover Bon Homme group is a good example of regional approach

We recently heard an interesting tale of working together in the name of regional pride and community betterment.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Make an exception to road naming for our vets

The decision facing the state Transportation Commission isn’t an easy one. In the past, the commission decided it would no longer allow segments of roads and highways to be named after more than one single party.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Continue attracting business to Mitchell

It’s disappointing to see Verifications Inc. close its doors, take its jobs abroad and leave 79 employees jobless. Terribly disappointing.

• OUR VIEW

OUR VIEW: Give OK to Vike's stadium already

Gazing eastward without the worry that our own taxes will be affected, we think Minnesota should just do it.

• OUR VIEW

SD’s minor parties may be riding a wave of DC discord

Two new political parties are officially recognized in South Dakota, a development that tends to show that many are frustrated by continued discord in Washington, D.C.

• OUR VIEW

Columns

Editorial: Listen closely to what Gov. Daugaard doesn’t say

Gov. Dennis Daugaard spoke at the annual convention of the South Dakota Newspaper Association on April 9. We found him to be very consistent and thoughtful in his speech and in answers to reporters’ questions. This is what we expected when the Capital Journal endorsed him in the November election.

Editorial: S.D. congresswomen set examples for education

For many state voters, U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem’s lack of a college degree raised questions during last year’s election about her qualifications to represent South Dakota in Congress.

Editorial: Glad to move past ‘birthers’

A decision made by state officials in Hawaii may help President Barack Obama put to rest claims that he was born outside of the United States and, therefore, is not a U.S. citizen.
Thank goodness.

Editorial: Want a list that explains why Mitchell deserved its recent award? Here you go

Gov. Dennis Daugaard this week announced something that we in Mitchell already know: Mitchell is a progressive, aggressive town.
During the Governor’s Economic Development Conference on Tuesday in Sioux Falls, Mitchell was named South Dakota’s Large Community of the Year. The governor said Mitchell stands out because of its focus on smaller communities and innovative efforts to establish cooperative relationships with area organizations.

Editorial: Volunteer, make an impact with Impact Lives

Deb Weitala has lofty goals and corresponding worries, but for the noblest reasons.
The Mitchell woman is organizing the third-annual Impact Lives day at the Corn Palace, an event that sees more than a quarter of a million meals packed and made ready for shipment to hungry people worldwide.
It’s a big job.

• Impact Lives video

Editorial: Better plan must result from recent tax fiasco

The shock wave still is reverberating in Davison County, weeks after many commercial property owners first learned of large increases in their assessments.

Editorial: Week in review

CHEERS to Dale Trautmann, of Woonsocket, who came upon an accident scene last summer and pulled Anna VanOverschelde from a burning vehicle. The mishap, which happened eight miles north of Mitchell, was on Aug. 28, but Trautmann was honored last week for his act of bravery. During a ceremony in Oacoma, Trautmann received the South Dakota Highway Patrol Superintendent’s Award for Meritorious Service. It’s nice to see this great deed rewarded and recognized.

Editorial: Delisting of gray wolf is micromanagement

Among the policy riders added to this year’s budget deal was a measure removing the gray wolf in Idaho and Montana from the endangered-species list, ending a years-long battle between environmentalists and ranchers in those states. The measure has bipartisan support, and neither party’s base is going to war over it. Still, there is reason to worry about this one, too.

Editorial: With cuts to Extension, SD chickens have come home to roost

State government’s hard stance on the budget is rearing its ugly head, and there isn’t much anyone can do about it. This, unfortunately, is what we asked for as deficits have grown without true ways to pay for them.
At a meeting Wednesday in Chamberlain, attendees were given specifics about major cuts to the South Dakota State University Extension program, which provides advice and resources for ag producers and families, among others. Cuts in state funding mean the Extension Service will be losing $1.5 million over the next three years, including $820,000 in 2012, officials said.

Editorial: Sentence in shooting makes key point about gun safety

We were surprised by the harshness of the sentence handed down Tuesday to William Davis, the 21-year-old Mitchell Technical Institute student from Burke who accidentally shot and killed his friend and classmate, Matt Montag, 19, of Big Stone City, in December.
Davison County prosecutor Pat Smith recommended a sentence including time in the county jail and 150 hours of community service, with a suspended penitentiary sentence that could be imposed if Davis were to break the terms of his probation.