PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem’s administration has signed a contract amendment raising the maximum spending on workforce recruitment ads starring the governor to $9 million.
The contract is publicly viewable in the state’s online portal for financial documents, Open.SD.gov, which also shows the state has paid $8.5 million to the firm managing the campaign so far. The original contract from last year, prior to amendments, was for $5 million.
The Freedom Works Here campaign showcases Noem stepping into various high-demand jobs and inviting applicants to fill openings in the state.
Launched last summer, the campaign entered its third round Monday with a new video ad featuring Noem as a homebuilder. The national campaign has further elevated the profile of Noem, who is under consideration as a running mate for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Some lawmakers have criticized a lack of clear data demonstrating the workforce campaign’s effectiveness or lack thereof.
The governor’s Monday press release about the newest ad said, “Thousands and thousands of families have already moved to South Dakota, and thousands more are in the process of coming here.”
In response to questions Tuesday from South Dakota Searchlight about the ads’ effectiveness, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development responded by email. The office said the number of job openings in the state has dropped by 4,000 since the campaign began. The office also said 9,400 people who “worked directly through the Freedom Works Here process” have shown interest in moving to South Dakota, and another 2,400 have received individual assistance to begin the process of moving to the state.
“Anecdotally, we are hearing from even more folks who did not utilize the formal process but were spurred to move here by the ads,” the office said.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development contracts with an Ohio firm, Strategic Media Placement, doing business as Go West Media, to run the campaign. Both entities are subsidiaries of The Strategy Group, whose CEO Ben Yoho managed Vivek Ramaswamy’s unsuccessful campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
During a legislative hearing in January, a former Noem administration official testified that the Ohio firm seemed predestined for selection to carry out the campaign. State Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, said during the hearing that the Ohio firm’s idea for the campaign was “clearly stolen” from a similar proposal submitted by Lawrence & Schiller, of Sioux Falls.
Most of the money for the workforce campaign comes from state government’s Future Fund, which is controlled by the governor.
South Dakota employers pay into the Future Fund when they submit payroll taxes for unemployment benefits. The Future Fund receives a fraction of an additional percent — which the state describes as an “investment fee” — on top of those payroll taxes.
According to the most recent data available from the state Department of Labor and Regulation, 28,261 employers paid $23 million into the Future Fund in 2022, which equated to an average of $814 per employer.
State law says the Future Fund must be used “for purposes related to research and economic development for the state.” Unlike other funds administered by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Future Fund expenses don’t go through a board of citizen appointees for vetting or approval.
Responding to recent controversies about the fund, lawmakers passed and the governor signed a bill in March requiring biannual reporting to legislators about the governor’s use of the fund.
Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish was one of the bill’s sponsors.
“Many people wonder if this is a proper use of tax money,” Odenbach said Tuesday. “As the spending on this program grows so does the need for more vigorous oversight. I am hopeful that this session’s bill is just the beginning of reforms to Future Fund spending.”
Of the $8.5 million paid to Strategic Media Placement so far, $7.5 million has come from the Future Fund, and the rest has come from other state funds, according to Open.SD.gov.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development spent an additional $130,000 from its marketing funds last year to wrap a NASCAR vehicle with a Freedom Works Here-themed design for two races.
Story by: South Dakota Searchlight
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City police say two people are dead and a third is critical after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building late Tuesday night.
Police say a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed went out of control and struck an apartment building on Philadelphia Street.
The crash killed two individuals inside the vehicle and a third was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The names of the deceased are being withheld until next of kin notification can be made.
The crash also severed a gas line, resulting in the evacuation of residents inside the building.
The investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash is ongoing.
PIERRE, S.D. – Nursing homes across South Dakota will soon receive a boost in support, as part of the most recent legislative session.
Facilities caring for Medicaid recipients are reimbursed by the state for some of the cost. Reimbursement rates have been calculated based on patient needs, occupancy and funds available in the state budget. Last year, the South Dakota Legislature increased the rate from about 75% to 100%.
House Bill 1167 now allows the Medicaid reimbursement rate to be adjusted annually, to keep up with inflation and other changes.
Erik Nelson, advocacy director for AARP South Dakota, is glad lawmakers are giving nursing homes attention.
“We have seen a number of nursing homes close in recent years,” Nelson pointed out. “Financial considerations were a factor in that, along with workforce and some other issues.”
Since 2019, 15 nursing homes have closed across the state, with six of the remaining 98 on a federal list of facilities not meeting basic standards of care. In addition to a lack of funding, the average staff turnover rate is 54%.
State lawmakers also approved the use of $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding toward expanding telehealth services in facilities including nursing homes, allowing patients to receive some health care services remotely.
Nelson noted telehealth is one way to supply needed support.
“For not only the residents, but the family caregivers that are supporting their loved ones in the nursing homes,” Nelson emphasized. “And of course, the staff of the nursing home that’s in the community.”
Census data show South Dakota’s population is aging and by 2030, one-fifth of residents will be older than 65.
PIERRE, S.D. – A woman was arrested on drug and other charges Tuesday by the South Dakota Highway Patrol after smashing into a vehicle while driving through Pierre.
The crash happened around 1:20 pm at the intersection of Highland and Sioux Avenues.
Department of Public Safety Communications Director Brad Reiners says a Chevy Impala approached the intersection at a high rate of speed and side-swiped a pick-up truck waiting for the stoplight to change. The impact ripped the front passenger tire from the Impala, but the sedan continued through the intersection, crossing over the other lane, over a curb and through the parking lot of the Wells Fargo bank at Sioux and Pawnee Street before stopping in the 300 block of South Pawnee.
Both vehicles were disabled as a result of damage in the crash.
The female driver of the Impala was arrested on charges of D-U-I, Possession of a Schedule One Drug, Drug Paraphernalia, Open Container and Careless Driving. Neither driver was injured in the crash.
No other identifying information was released by the Highway Patrol.
STURGIS, S.D. – Authorities say an Iowa man was arrested following a high speed chase that ended near Sturgis Monday.
According to the Meade County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy observed a pickup truck driving the wrong way in the eastbound lanes of I-90 early Monday morning and attempted to pull the vehicle over. Andrew Carlson of Iowa then drove through the median and entered into the westbound lanes of the interstate, reaching speeds of 85 to 90 miles per hour.
Deputies informed Sturgis Police officers of the pursuit, and officers worked alongside deputies to set up spike strips. The suspect tried to avoid the spikes and drove at a Sturgis officer. The officer moved out of the way, and the spike strips successfully deflated the tires of the pickup. Carlson continued to drive into Sturgis where he came to a stop and surrendered.
Carlson was taken into custody and brought to the Meade County Jail. He is charged with Aggravated Assault against Law Enforcement, Aggravated Alluding, and ten more violations.
BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Brookings County Sheriff’s Office arrested 28-year-old Ryan Gapp of Sioux Falls for multiple offenses including aggravated eluding, ingestion of a controlled drug or substance as a felony, commit or attempt to commit felony with a firearm, grand theft, DUI 1st, reckless driving, loaded firearm in possession while intoxicated, resisting arrest, obstruction, speeding and lane driving.
All that following a high speed chase that reached speeds in excess of 100 mph and covered both lanes of travel in I-29 on Tuesday.
Before all was said and done the SD Highway Patrol, Deuel County Sheriff’s Office and Codington County Sheriff’s Office were all assisting.
The suspect was armed with a large buck knife and two loaded magazines to a firearm. A loaded firearm and more ammunition were found in the suspect’s vehicle.
He was transported to Brookings County and is being held on a $5,000 cash bond.
