Stephanie Rissler begins today's program by welcoming SDPB News Director Cara Hetland who gives an update on this morning's activity at the South Dakota Legislature.
Dakota Political Junkies David Montgomery of the Rapid City Journal and Mitchell Daily Republic Editor Seth Tupper discuss legislative issues including education funding and Governor Daugaard's reform package and conceal and carry among other topics. They also talk about Senator John Thune's new leadership position in the U.S. Senate and Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin's decision to not run for her old seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Don Ritchie, Secretary of the Senate Historical Office in Washington, D.C., talks about the significance of Senator John Thune becoming the third ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. Ritchie also visits about the history of U.S. Senators from South Dakota who have served in leadership positions.
In today's final segment, Chad Newswander, an Assitant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of South Dakota, talks about President Obama's State of the Union address and what parts of his message may be important to South Dakotans.