Viewpoints

'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.' - First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Viewpoints

LETTER | Prisoners need more support to avoid recidivism after release

Aug 23, 2026

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2 min read

LETTER | Prisoners need more support to avoid recidivism after release

My name is Robert Poppen and I’m serving a life term at South Dakota Mike Durfee State Penitentiary in Springfield.

Viewpoints

Aug 23, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | ‘Flock’ off

As seen in the Aug. 21–27, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

Aug 16, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | Bezos bucks

As seen in the Aug. 14–20, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

LETTER | Fauci received a full preemptive pardon, so why is he pleading the Fifth?

Aug 12, 2026

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1 min read

LETTER | Fauci received a full preemptive pardon, so why is he pleading the Fifth?

Anthony Fauci received a full pardon from Joe Biden.

Viewpoints

Aug 2, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | Building a beltway

As seen in the July 31–Aug. 6, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

LETTER | Sioux Falls wins with merger creating transcontinental railroad

Jul 31, 2026

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1 min read

LETTER | Sioux Falls wins with merger creating transcontinental railroad

Cities such as Sioux Falls run on the hard work of everyday men and women, small business owners, farmers and many more.

Viewpoints

LETTER | The fall elections will be a referendum on Donald Trump’s words and actions

Jul 30, 2026

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1 min read

LETTER | The fall elections will be a referendum on Donald Trump’s words and actions

By the time this letter is posted, the primary/runoff elections will be over and it’s off to the November general elections.

Viewpoints

Jul 26, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | Problem produce

As seen in the July 24–30, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

LETTER | Judge GOP governor hopefuls by the company they keep

Jul 20, 2026

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1 min read

LETTER | Judge GOP governor hopefuls by the company they keep

On July 15, 2026, Larry Rhoden hosted a campaign event that was reportedly organized by Dan Lederman.

Viewpoints

Jul 19, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | Fair share

As seen in the July 17–23, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

Jul 12, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | I want a recount!

As seen in the July 10–16, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

Jul 5, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | Moo? Me?

As seen in the July 3–9, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

Jun 28, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | America250

As seen in the June 26–July 3, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

Jun 21, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | Bird-flu breakthrough

As seen in the June 19–25, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

LETTER | South Dakota is shifting from ‘all politics is local’ to ‘all politics is national'

Jun 18, 2026

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1 min read

LETTER | South Dakota is shifting from ‘all politics is local’ to ‘all politics is national'

Submitted by Bill Kubat, Sioux Falls

Viewpoints

LETTER | Response to Amundson letter: Parties deserve a say about who votes in primaries

Jun 17, 2026

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1 min read

LETTER | Response to Amundson letter: Parties deserve a say about who votes in primaries

Submitted by Ezra Hays, Piedmont

Viewpoints

LETTER | Let independents pick their primary

Jun 15, 2026

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1 min read

LETTER | Let independents pick their primary

In past legislative sessions, proposals for open primaries in South Dakota have been debated and defeated.

Viewpoints

Jun 14, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | Capitol churn

As seen in the June 12–18, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

Jun 7, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | And then there were two

As seen in the June 5–11, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

Jun 1, 2026

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1 min read

VIEWPOINT | Posts with Prime Minister Modi prove Brand India's digital multiplier effect

Digital diplomacy has handed world leaders an unexpected advantage: a shared post, or “collab,” with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Viewpoints

May 31, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | Valued scholar

As seen in the May 29 – June 5, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

May 24, 2026

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1 min read

CARTOON | Wary wells

As seen in the May 22-28, 2026, print edition of The Dakota Scout

Ryan M Stoick

Viewpoints

VIEWPOINT | In a divided world, the simple power of giving endures

May 23, 2026

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2 min read

VIEWPOINT | In a divided world, the simple power of giving endures

Guest column by Dinesh Kumar Tudu, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology

Viewpoints

VIEWPOINT | What’s the real threat to rural America?

May 23, 2026

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3 min read

VIEWPOINT | What’s the real threat to rural America?

Guest column by Craig Bieber

Viewpoints

VIEWPOINT | My family's strength will carry on for South Dakota, too

May 22, 2026

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2 min read

VIEWPOINT | My family's strength will carry on for South Dakota, too

Guest column by David Barranco