U.S. Senate Candidate and State Representative Stace Nelson released a statement today on his opposition to the ‘Common Core Standards State Initiative (CCSS). “Over the past several months, as CCSS is being implemented across SD, concerns among parents and educators have grown exponentially. CCSS was enacted in South Dakota, without legislative approval, and with little public knowledge, during the last few months of the Mike Rounds Administration…”

PIERRE, S.D. – Anyone impacted by the recent western South Dakota snow storm can call 2-1-1 or 877.708.4357 for any storm-related concerns. Producers living in Harding, Perkins, Ziebach, Shannon, Jackson, Jones, Bennett and Mellette counties will need to call 877.708.4357 to reach the helpline. The helpline can answer questions regarding animal removal from agricultural properties, documentation of livestock losses, livestock identification and provide contact information for other assistance programs. Producers experiencing emotional distress can also call for support or to find counseling resources. Agencies needing volunteers and individuals interested in volunteering to help should dial 2-1-1 or call877.708.4357 for assistance. Agriculture is South Dakota’s No. 1 industry, generating over $21 billion in annual economic activity and employing more than 122,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online athttp://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SDAgDept and Twitter @SDAgriculture.

My family and I recently visited Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. We didn’t intend to, but we were driving from Gettysburg to Philadelphia and stumbled across signs for this historic place, so we decided to pop in. During the American Revolution, in those days, armies tended to encamp over the winter because it was so difficult to fight in the cold and bad weather of winter. In the winter of 1777-1778, General George Washington parked the Continental Army at Valley Forge.

Today, we are beset with usurpation after usurpation. The difference between the American Revolution and now is utterly distasteful in that our Founders foresaw their vulnerable state and strove to gain their freedom. We on the other hand, have enjoyed freedom without the thought for understanding it, appreciation it or assigning it the proper defense. This distinction makes our present day usurpations intolerable and critical!

The blizzard in western South Dakota was devastating to the ranchers of South Dakota. Some are estimating as many as 75,000 cattle were killed during the blizzard. The exact count is probably still a long way off, since it will take a while for ranchers to get out into their areas and make a full count. But a relief fund has been set up to help.

Author and historian David Barton recently appeared on Glenn Beck show and discussed the Common Core education standards. Barton also examined education standards from a century ago. When you examine what students then were required to master, versus what they are required (and I use the term loosely) to learn today, it is amazing how dumbed-down America’s education standards have become.

ObamaCare: bringing to America the inefficiency, incompetence, waiting lines and oppression that people in socialist countries have been enjoying for years. Apparently the ObamaCare website is just as efficient and beneficial to the American people as ObamaCare itself, or any other government program, for that matter.

My family and I recently visited the Gettysburg Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania, and I wanted to share some of our pictures with you. One of the things that struck me early on in our tour was the fact that the battlefield was much larger than I had ever imagined. Not having extensively studied the battle, I was under the assumption that it all took place in a relatively confined and geographically close area. Not so. The battle took place in the small town of Gettysburg, as well as in several major locations spread around the town on almost all sides.

Senator John Thune (R-SD) appeared on Sean Hannity on Fox News yesterday. Some of the subjects Thune covered: President Obama’s hysterical lies about defaulting on our debt, We would still pay our debts even if the debt ceiling isn’t raised, When the debt limit has been raised in the past, there were at least some measures taken in conjunction to help restrain our debt and spending, The national debt has doubled on President Obama’s watch, President Obama is purposely going out of his way to make the current government hurt the American people as much as possible: “I don’t think there’s any question that the administration is trying to maximize the pain of the American people with regard to the shutdown.”

Do you think environmentalism is just about saving cute whales and polar bears? Think again. What would have been considered absolutely nuts 15-20 years ago is now mainstreaming. And it’s in the White House, where policy is made and set regarding your freedom and prosperity.