South Dakota students stay busy with a multitude of activities offered in our school districts. From track and drama club, to FFA and volleyball, extracurricular activities provide students with opportunities to learn teamwork, leadership, and life skills outside the classroom. Of course none of these would be possible without the... Continue Reading
It seems like middle-class Americans just can’t catch a break. Over the past five and a half years of the Obama presidency, the price of everything has risen. Tuition prices have soared. Gas prices have almost doubled. Food prices have skyrocketed. And of course, health care costs just continue to... Continue Reading
Many people have heard me tell stories about my father, Harold. Hal, as we sometimes refer to him, but better known to me as Dad, has been the head of the Thune home for a long time—so our family has lots of good stories and fond memories. From time to... Continue Reading
South Dakota is a state known for its beautiful landscapes, abundant wildlife, and numerous attractions that draw millions of visitors to the state each year. While there are unique tourist destinations throughout the state, the Black Hills of South Dakota has come to be known for its nationally recognized sites,... Continue Reading
Several weeks ago, stories began to emerge about administrators at the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital in Phoenix falsifying medical records to cover-up delays in care to veterans. The story also highlighted a number of preventable deaths of veterans who were victims of the secret wait lists. Since then, similar stories... Continue Reading
South Dakota is scattered with creeks, stock ponds, and ditches. In wetter years, the creeks run a little faster and the stock ponds fill and may even overflow, but landowners generally know what they need to do to plan ahead and manage the water on their properties. These small and... Continue Reading
Benjamin Franklin famously coined the phrase, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” While this is undoubtedly the case for those of us who are still recovering from last month’s tax filing deadline, we recently learned that far too many employees of the... Continue Reading
Each year in early May we join as a country to celebrate the extraordinary role mothers play in each of our lives. Kids get out the construction paper, macaroni, and glue, and design homemade cards to be given to their mother with sticky hands and proud smiles. Moms everywhere will... Continue Reading
As a country, we take special opportunities to thank the men and women in uniform who bravely defend our freedoms at home and abroad. These heroes deserve our gratitude and praise for the work they do throughout the world to keep us safe. While we remember our troops, we sometimes... Continue Reading
South Dakota is one of seven states throughout the country without a state income tax. With a zero percent state income tax rate, zero percent corporate income tax rate, and four percent sales tax rate, South Dakotans enjoy one of the lowest tax burdens in the country. Our state’s strong... Continue Reading
Each year, South Dakota’s agriculture industry faces significant uncertainty as a result of our state’s unpredictable weather conditions. From droughts to floods to snowstorms, our ag producers continue to meet weather-related challenges with resilience and perseverance. Unfortunately, this year South Dakota producers are also facing significant problems getting reliable rail... Continue Reading
As the annual tax deadline quickly approaches, businesses and families across the country will sit down to review their receipts, earnings, and finances to submit their 2013 taxes. According the National Taxpayer Advocate, Americans spend $168 billion and more than six billion hours each year complying with our complicated tax... Continue Reading
