The Radke Report

A red wave has washed over the country, and with the re-election of President Donald J. Trump as the 47th president of the United States, all eyes are on his cabinet appointments and what they might mean for the direction the country is headed in for the next four years. 

To date, Trump has selected Rep. Elise Stefanik as the UN Ambassador; Governor Kristi Noem as the Secretary of Homeland Security; Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State; Mike Huckabee as the Ambassador to Israel; John Ratcliffe as CIA Director; Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary; Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence; Matt Gates as Attorney General; Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services; Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Todd Blanche as Deputy of Attorney General, Dean John Bauer as Solicitor General; and Governor Doug Burger as Interior Secretary — all of which require a confirmation by the Senate.

Thank you to Andrew Southwick for having me on his BEK News Culture Crossroads show to talk about the attempted land grab happening in South Dakota.

Please, stand united with farmers, ranchers, and landowners, and vote NO on RL21 to safeguard our private property rights and local governance.

It feels like the entire country, on both sides of the aisle, is waiting and holding their breath, uncertain of the outcome and just anxious to know the results so we can get back to living and doing what’s best for our families in this next season.

I had a dear friend and mentor tell me the other day, “No matter the outcome, I don’t place my stock or my life on who is in charge in Washington, D.C. I will charge forward like I always have, building my businesses, raising my kids, and living my life by following Christ.”

It was a poignant statement, one based not on the fear of the present moment, but of confidence in something greater, and a willingness to fight for it, no matter what external threats or challenges may come our way.

Contrary to what proponents of RL21 will tell you, this government grift is greenwashing at best, using your tax dollars, for a land grab.

I shouldn’t be surprised by the final hour attack ads that are coming out from the “Yes On RL21” camp;  yet I’m dumfounded by how they are painting everyday South Dakotans who simply want to protect their private property rights and maintain a voice at a local level.

There is much uncertainty in the United States of America at this present moment. The nation seems to be holding its breathe, anxiously waiting to see how the next four years will look as we vote for the next president.

Meanwhile, inflation and a down economy continues to press down heavily on the American people. Not a day goes by that I don’t see a small business announcing the closure of its store. Families are tightening their wallets on the “extras” as food and gas prices continue to climb.

In the food and agricultural space, commodity grain prices are depressed, and farmers are worried this may be one of the worst years on recent record. Further consolidation is evident in agriculture, as well. Studying the trends — we lose an alarming amount of livestock producers each year. The big get bigger, and the mid- and small-sized operations get out.

Today, we celebrate and remember the full and meaningful life, works, devotion, and unyielding Catholic faith of Devona Katherine Weber Nolz — a precious daughter to Nicholas and Leona; a sister to 12 Weber siblings; a devoted wife to Alvin, a committed mother to Sharon, David, and Dennis, a loving grandmother to Travis, Jodi, Christa, Amanda, Courtney, Kaley, Emily, Andy, and Erin; and delighted great-grandmother to 17 beautiful children.

Proverbs 31:31 reads, “Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” 

Guest Column - By: Abby Scholz

Specialty and rare might be the first words that come to ones’ mind when contemplating the concept of American Wagyu beef. While this notable breed has only been in the United States for the last fifty years, the impact that these cattle are making on producers and consumers alike is impressive.

One of those producers whose life has been impacted by American Wagyu cattle is Jed Kirby, a co-owner of King Mountain Cattle (KMC), located in McCoy, Colorado. The Kirby family began selling farm-to-fork beef in June of 2020, when the meat counters were bare, and consumers were searching for a beef product to enjoy with their families that could also be purchased at an affordable price.

By: Karla Lems - SD District 16 Representative

The South Dakota ballot box will determine the future for South Dakota in many ways.  One of them is in the form of Referred Law 21, or RL21.  

I wish I could sit down with each of you to explain every step that has led to RL21 being on the ballot.  I could visit with you for hours, but I only have a few paragraphs to try and explain this.   However, it IS very important for you to understand.  It IS very important to South Dakota.  It IS very important to FREEDOM.  So here we go. 

Three years ago this month, Tyler and I stood in front of a judge in a crowded courtroom, surrounded by our children,  extended family, dear friends, social workers and adoption case workers.

When prompted, we raised our hands in the air and promised to be Mom and Dad to a sweet little boy in foster care, who needed a forever home to call his own. 

Early voting has now begun in South Dakota, and folks will have some big decisions to make that depending on the outcome could fundamentally alter the future of this state for our children and grandchildren.

One of those decisions voters will need to consider is Referred Law 21. Dubbed a “landowner bill of rights,” with promises of protections for farmers and more money for the counties, I urge you to dig deeper into RL21 and don’t buy the lie that exists within the deceptive and misleading title and description.

There are so many things terribly wrong with RL21, and I write this column to unpack the most concerning issues that so many South Dakotans see with this bad piece of legislation.