Rapid City, SD – The South Dakota Democratic Party (SDDP) held officer elections during its quarterly SCC meeting at their annual Democratic Roundup event in Rapid City. Shane Merrill will serve as the state party’s Chair and Jessica Meyers the Vice Chair.
Jessica Meyers, from Sioux Falls, is the CEO of Porchlight a Midwest talent recruitment firm. Meyers is excited to get to work for the state party. “I’m really looking forward to the future of the Democratic Party in South Dakota. It is an honor to be the newly elected vice chair. Roundup was a huge success this weekend. The banquet hall was filled with Democrats looking forward to the future. We are all ready to move forward.” – Jessica Meyers, Vice Chair, SDDP
Shane is a farmer, school bus driver and baseball coach from Parker, SD. He had been serving as interim chair since August. “We are united and looking to a brighter future. I think having a young, rural voice in leadership will be beneficial to the Party. Our leadership team is a reflection of the people of South Dakota. I appreciate the support and look forward to leading our efforts.” – Shane Merrill, Chair, SDDP
PIERRE – The Study Committee on Sustainable Models for Long Term Care will hold their fourth meeting of the 2023 Interim on Monday, September 25, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. (CT). The meeting is being conducted via electronic conference and in Room 414 of the State Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota, to allow for both remote and in-person participation.
The Study Committee on Sustainable Models for Long Term Care is chaired by Senator Jean Hunhoff (R-Yankton) with vice chair Representative Taylor Rehfeldt (R-Sioux Falls). Members will receive information on telemedicine support for long-term care facilities; hear about the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE); review Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) staffing requirements; and hold breakout sessions for workgroups on community-based services, location and infrastructure, innovation, workforce, and regulatory issues. The full agenda is available online.
In addition to Senator Hunhoff and Representative Rehfeldt, committee members include Senators Shawn Bordeaux (D-Mission), Bryan Breitling (R-Miller), Sydney Davis (R-Burbank), Erin Tobin (R-Winner), David Wheeler (R-Huron), and Larry Zikmund (R-Sioux Falls), and Representatives Hugh Bartels (R-Watertown), Linda Duba (D-Sioux Falls), Mellissa Heermann (R-Brookings), Chris Karr (R-Sioux Falls), Dennis Krull (R-Hill City), and Brian Mulder (R-Sioux Falls).
DES MOINES, IA – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was among ten G-O-P presidential candidates who addressed over 1,200 conservative Iowa Republicans at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition fall fundraiser this past weekend in Des Moines.
Prior to the fundraiser on Saturday DeSantis campaigned alongside Senator Joni Ernst in Red Oak where he pledged to deal effectively with illegal immigration and also brought up the topic of the age of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump and questioned their ability to hold the office. DeSantis is 45.
He also announced that a group of Iowa pastors had endorsed his presidential bid.
RAPID CITY, SD – A man who pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor was sentenced in federal court to 10 years in federal prison after he was arrested in August 2022 for explicit conversations with an undercover law enforcement agent he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
Brandon Prue, 28, Rapid City, was one of six local men arrested during a sting operation held during the 2022 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The sting is a routine effort by federal, state and local law enforcement and primarily pulls in local men.
Prue pleaded guilty on May 5 to attempted enticement of a minor using the internet. The government dismissed remaining charges against him as part of the plea deal: attempted enticement of a minor using the internet, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography and transfer of obscene material to a person under 16.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Viken sentenced Prue to the mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. He also ordered Prue pay a routine $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The amount is required for every federal felony conviction.
Prue will have to register as a sex offender after his release and will also have to undergo behavioral training for mental health illnesses that were identified while in custody.
