RAPID CITY JOURNAL

Illinois ad director named publisher of Rapid City Journal

October 17, 2011

Opinion: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Do more to track victims before granting clemency Former Gov. Mike Rounds did not receive all the necessary information when he granted clemency for a convicted killer in late December. So he has done what he can to try and remedy that. Acting upon a recommendation from state corrections officials, Rounds granted clemency to Joaquin Jack Ramos, who had been sentenced to life in prison after shooting his fiancee, Debbie Martines, during a drunken fit of rage. Ramos had been a model prisoner, according to the recommendation, prompting Rounds to reduce his life sentence and make Ramos eligible for parole in 2013.

January 15, 2011

Opinion: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Increase in 911 services surcharge is warranted Twenty years is a long time to offer growing 911 services without any revenue increases. We hope a study requested by the South Dakota 911 Coordination Board will produce good suggestions of how to use the service’s revenue streams most efficiently.

January 08, 2011

Opinion: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Inmate workers cut costs State corrections officials have assigned some inmates to work on the construction of a new minimum-security prison in Rapid City. It’s a simple concept that should be put to greater use. Putting inmates to work supports rehabilitation of prisoners while saving taxpayers money.

December 18, 2010

Other View: Time to put aside bickering and get to work for state

South Dakota’s new Republican congresswoman, Kristi Noem, won a hard-fought battle by a hair, defeating U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin by a mere 2 percent of the vote. Conservative West River voters tipped the scales in Noem’s favor as election night wore on, prompting Noem to proclaim: “My heart is in West River.”

November 06, 2010

Other View: Better pipeline oversight needed on Keystone XL

Hill City paleontologist Peter Larson has sounded an ominous warning about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. He fears construction of the oil pipeline will destroy fossils, which are especially abundant in Harding County. Larson knows what he’s talking about when it comes to fossils. He was the first to identify bone fragments found near Faith in 1990 as a Tyrannosaurus rex.

October 16, 2010

South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Job of Herseth Sandlin’s husband no laughing matter It’s less than reassuring that U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin finds questions about her husband’s job to be “laughable.” Max Sandlin, a former Texas congressman who married the congresswoman in 2007, is a political lobbyist. Kristi Noem, who is challenging Herseth Sandlin for South Dakota’s only House seat, says the situation generates improper influence.

October 02, 2010

South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Booster seats should be required in South Dakota South Dakota is one of only three states without a law mandating the use of child booster seats. That embarrassing distinction borders on child neglect. Last week, it also, prompted the National Transportation Safety Board to call for a change.

September 25, 2010

Opinion: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Are speeding tickets really an issue in race for U.S. House? Several days ago we talked about candidates using non-issues during a campaign as distractions to take the focus off the real issues at hand. The idea, apparently, is to get people focusing on something that has nothing to do with the issues of the day and the tough decisions that must be made.

September 11, 2010

Opinion: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

State Fair is becoming what S.D. residents want it to be The 125th edition of the South Dakota State Fair recently opened, and we’re pleased to see it in better financial health. For most of the last decade, the future of the State Fair has been vigorously debated in the state Legislature. Financial troubles, scheduling challenges and the changing demographics of South Dakota all played a role.

September 04, 2010

Opinion: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Cabin shouldn’t be perk A unique piece of South Dakota history named Valhalla sits in the middle of Custer State Park. For many years, use of this historically-significant summer home of a former South Dakota governor and U.S. senator, Peter Norbeck, has been restricted to a select few South Dakotans — mostly governors and their inner circle of family, friends and colleagues. We think that’s wrong and urge Gov. Mike Rounds and Custer State Park officials to change the policy.

August 28, 2010

South Dakota Editorial Roundup

We’re ‘red,’ but not like Wyo. South Dakota is not far behind Wyoming as one of the most conservative states in the nation. Our neighbor to the west takes the top prize, while we rank fourth. Otherwise, there are several degrees of separation, according to the latest Gallup poll.

August 14, 2010

Editorial: It’s wise to track South Dakota’s college graduates

The South Dakota Board of Regents and the state Department of Labor are teaming up to study where students from South Dakota wind up after they graduate from the state’s five public universities.
It has been nearly a decade since such a study was done. Because individual colleges track students differently, it’s impossible to cobble together a comprehensive look at the situation.

By Editorial board , August 07, 2010

South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Same-party affiliation hinders bipartisanship in S. Dakota News about a Sioux Falls businessman switching his political party affiliation was a small item in Tuesday’s local news cycle, but the reasons for the change should make every South Dakotan a little disappointed. The concern isn’t that Ben Arndt, who was nominated by gubernatorial candidate Scott Heidepriem to be his running mate, officially changed from being a Republican to a Democrat in order to accept the nomination. Arndt certainly isn’t the first candidate to make that kind of switch for politically expedient reasons.

July 10, 2010

South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Young drivers need careful parents who pay attention A recent accident involving a 14-year-old teen who was nearly killed while drag-racing in Rapid City highlights the need for careful monitoring of young drivers by parents. South Dakota law allows 14- to 16-year-olds to drive without a licensed driver in the car, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., if they have a restricted minor’s permit and parental permission.

June 26, 2010