South Dakota Public Broadcasting

Dakota Political Junkies, Badlands Astronomy Festival and The Congress

Dakota Midday - 08/15/2012

Jon Hunter of the Madison Daily Leader and Jonathan Ellis of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader discuss the latest political news. Discussion topics include Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate on the Republican presidential ticket and how that could influence the debate in South Dakota's U.S. House race between incumbent Kristi Noem and Democrat challenger Matt Varilek, the nearly 9 percent drop in the number of registered Democrats in South Dakota since 2008 along with the rise of independents and the Democrats' apparent struggle to fill ballot vacancies in a few state legislative races.

Tricia Smedley, Badlands Interpretive Park Ranger and organizer of the Badlands Astronomy Festival, and Aaron Kaye, Badlands Supervisory Park Ranger, talk about the festival. The Badlands Astronomy Festival is this Friday through Sunday in the Badlands National Park. Tricia and Aaron talk about the schedule of events which includes workshops, guest speakers, portable planetariums, book signings and more.

Matthew Fritz, manager of the band The Congress, talks about the band. The Congress is playing at Rookies in Sioux Falls on Friday night. The Congress, founded in Richmond, Virginia, as an open mic hosted by bassist/singer Jonathan Meadows and guitarist Scott Lane, was transformed into a live music powerhouse in 2010, planting its feet in Denver and eventually adding drummer Mark Levy. After only a year of touring, the band played a slew of festivals in 2011, including Wakarusa, High Sierra, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Targhee Fest, and Tall Tree Lake, and released its debut LP "Whatever You Want" on May 4, 2012. The Congress has garnered critical acclaim across the country, maintaining stark originality while drawing comparisons to bands like The Rolling Stones, Wilco, the Black Crowes, and The Band. The music is anchored by keen songwriting and a powerful live show that's "immediately reminiscent of hey-day Little Feat with soulful vocals, fluid guitar work, the drive of gritty R&B grooves...and epic, fist-pumping bar anthems."

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