Dakota Political Junkies, Navy Week and Quality of Life Survey

Dakota Midday - 07/18/2012

Jonathan Ellis, reporter for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, and Denise Ross, web editor of the Mitchell Daily Republic, discuss political news. They discussed the implications of the state's nearly 48 million dollar budget surplus, Attorney General Marty Jackley's conclusion that Secretary of State Jason Gant and former employee Pat Powers did not violate state law, speculation that Senator John Thune is or isn't on Mitt Romney's short list as VP on the Republican ticket and Representative Kristi Noem and the House Ag Committee's passage of the farm bill.

Rear Admiral Mark D. Guadagnini, Chief of Staff for the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, talks about Navy Week that's taking place July 19-28 in Sioux Falls. This week-long event gives area residents the opportunity to experience a little bit of the fleet through a wide array of community events and outreach. Sioux Falls is among 15 cities selected nationwide for a Navy Week in 2012. Navy Week is designed to increase public understanding of the Navy's mission and how the Navy's work in the world has an impact here at home. Navy Week will kick off with the "Blue Angels" Navy Flight Demonstration Team at the Sioux Falls Air Show this Saturday and Sunday. Events will also include jumps by the "Leap Frogs" Navy Parachute Team at the Great Plains Zoo and other locations, and performances by the Navy Band "Horizon" in city parks and other venues.

South Dakota State Demographer Mike McCurry talks about the survey focusing on the quality of life in South Dakota. The survey, funded by the Bush Foundation, will go out to over one percent of South Dakota households. "In the past, we had the Census long form, which went to every sixth household. It's been replaced with the ongoing American Community Survey; so now we get more current data, but it isn't as reliable. We're hoping to make our data a little more reliable and to gain a better understanding of how the people of South Dakota feels," said McCurry. The survey covers a variety of topics ranging from road maintenance, education, commuting distances, email use and community satisfaction.

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