Latest news with #SouthDakotaPublicBroadcasting
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SDPB promoting free educational resources for parents, educators, caregivers
Jun. 10—MITCHELL — As home to longtime programming content like Sesame Street, South Dakota Public Broadcasting and its fellow public broadcasting outlets in other states are known for educational programming, along with other cultural, information and news offerings. But there is more than just that available at SDPB. That was the message staffers and supporters of South Dakota Public Broadcasting were sharing Friday evening in Mitchell. They had set up a booth near the Corn Palace to talk with the public about programming the organization has available, particularly when it comes to early childhood development and educational resources. "One of our core mission objectives is ensuring that every child in South Dakota enters kindergarten ready for school and ready for life and is supported and informed by engaged parents and professional educators and caregivers," Julie Overgaard, executive director for South Dakota Public Broadcasting, told the Mitchell Republic. "Our job isn't to take the place of any of that caregiving. It's to provide useful, high-quality, set-to-state standards educational resources that are free for anybody to use." Overgaard was referring to a slew of online educational and professional development materials available for anyone to use for free online through the SDPB website. Those resources include PBS Kids videos, interactive games, early learning resources such as activities, lessons and articles along with outreach and professional development information. It's all available at and Overgaard and her fellow SDPB officials are hoping South Dakotans take advantage. The programming is geared for year-round learning but the free, online nature makes it available for use at any time or any season. SDPB is focusing its outreach on teachers, parents and other professionals such as daycare providers. The offerings found their footing in the late 2010s, particularly in the leadup to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then that interest in the educational programs took off when young children were suddenly home from school due to worries about the virus. Combined with general funding issues associated with education, the SDPB programs grew into a valued repository of learning tools. "(The pandemic) just had an outsized impact on our efforts in this area that none of us saw coming. Since then, we've been really successful and our major donors and other people around the state are really feeling that this is an important topic area that maybe doesn't get the funding and attention it deserves," Overgaard said. The materials provide a great source of educational activities, but there are also resources related to professional development. Overgaard said SDPB holds professional development workshops at daycare centers, Head Starts and school-associated preschools on how they can use the free materials to support their curriculums. The programming is designed to meet South Dakota early learning guidelines, she said. Other outreach takes place at public libraries to encourage student interest in reading, as well working in the summer with teachers to help them with continuing education or professional development credits. "We go to a lot of education conferences and meet the teachers where they're at and just keep trying to get the world out about what we have to offer them," Overgaard said. She said that over 100,000 children a month access the available online programs. When added to other programming offered by SDPB, that comes in closer to 750,000 children a month. The resources have been especially utilized by homeschooling families, who Overgaard said are always on the lookout for supportive materials. A recent stop at a homeschooling conference was well-attended and well-received, she said. Kara Brodsky, brand and marketing manager for SDPB, was at the organization's booth on Friday in Mitchell, speaking with members of the public next to a large cutout of Sesame Street star Elmo. Conversations ranged from topic to topic, but getting the word out about the educational materials was paramount. "(It's for) parents, for sure, but also teachers," Brodsky said. "We're here to support parents and teachers with the resources they might need. We fill in the blanks a little bit with some of the things that we can help with. So teachers, caregivers, anybody who is reaching those preschoolers, that early childhood development, is really important." Conveying the value of the resources that SDPB has available is important right now, Overgaard said. There has been concern about potential funding cuts to public broadcasting at the federal level, and Overgaard and other SDPB officials have been lobbying South Dakota leaders such as Rep. Dusty Johnson, Sen. Mike Rounds and Sen. John Thune about the importance of that funding to various programs. The cuts target perceived bias at the national level, such as National Public Radio and programming like PBS NewsHour, All Things Considered and Morning Edition, Overgaard said. But such cuts could hurt more localized programming, as well. "I'm very, very concerned about it. Federal funding flows through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which has been targeted for elimination in a rescission of prior authorized funding. The talk is that it's all about biased programming at the national level," Overgaard said. "What most people don't understand is that the money that's being rescinded or threatened for elimination — the vast, vast majority of those dollars are funneled to local public broadcasting stations across the country like SDPB. So the cut will have an outsized impact on rural networks and rural stations if it goes through." As officials with SDPB monitor the funding situation, they are also celebrating more accessibility to their product in the Mitchell area. The organization recently launched a new full-power radio station, 89.1 FM, near Mitchell. The tower has been in the works for nearly a decade, with Overgaard saying that another full-power radio station in the area overpowered the old low-powered SDPB transmitter and "blew us off the air." Listeners should be able to pull in the new transmission easily, she said. "Now we have a good quality signal into Mitchell that extends all the way down south of Parkston, covering a much larger geography. We've really solidified our coverage in that area," Overgaard said. The new signal is a boost for SDPB, Overgaard said, but the free educational materials are available anywhere, anytime for anyone who has access to an internet connection. In times when funding for education can be limited, any and all quality resources become valuable for parents and professionals alike who want to support their kids the best they can. The invitation to use those materials is always open, she said. "The state and the legislature have had difficulty coming to agreement and funding for early childhood education initiatives. So as with other things in the state, you sometimes have to figure out the best way to do it yourselves," Overgaard said. More information on the educational resources available through SDPB can be found at
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Appropriators reject Noem's $3.6 million cut for SDPB
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The panel that sets state government's budget has decided against making a massive cut in general funding for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Former Gov. Kristi Noem had recommended in December that $3,613,698 of general funding be stripped from SDPB's budget for the new fiscal year that starts on July 1. Noem wanted SDPB to find the money from other sources. House votes to slow growth of owner-occupied values But the Legislature's Joint Committee on Appropriations rejected the former governor's proposed cut on Tuesday. Members of SDPB's Friends organization and some of its management staff were in the room when the decision was made. The vote was 15-0 against making the cut. 'This was a team effort across both sides of the aisle,' Democratic Rep. Erik Muckey said. Republican Rep. Chris Kassin agreed. 'Really happy to see funding restored to South Dakota Public Broadcasting at the full level,' he said. The committee's chair, Republican Rep. Mike Derby, asked that a SDPB representative come forward. Executive director Julie Overgaard went up. She's been with SDPB 37 years. 'This has been one of the few hardest months of my life and my past life,' Overgaard said. She thanked the appropriators for listening and acknowledged that 'there's probably more conversation to come' about SDPB's future direction. In the December budget speech, Noem said, 'I propose reducing funding for South Dakota Public Broadcasting to bring us in line with the national average. Currently, South Dakota has the 3rd highest per-capita funding of public broadcasting of any state in the nation. We've been paying more than double the national average.' Noem meanwhile had also recommended starting education enhancement savings accounts that would have provided $4 million for K-12 students enrolled at an accredited nonpublic school or microschool or receiving state-approved virtual coursework outside of a public school district. The ESA legislation however failed in the House Education Committee. That in turn freed up money in the general fund. Noem resigned in January as governor after the U.S. Senate confirmed her appointment as the new federal Homeland Security secretary. The lieutenant governor, Larry Rhoden, succeeded her as governor. 'We appreciate the work that you did and the decision that you make,' Overgaard told the appropriators. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rhoden's inaugural speech: SD is ‘open for opportunity'
South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden delivers his inaugural address Feb. 8, 2025, at the Capitol in Pierre. (Courtesy of the Governor's Office) South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden delivered his inaugural address Saturday at the Capitol in Pierre. Rhoden, formerly lieutenant governor, took over as governor last month after then-Gov. Kristi Noem departed to become secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Following is the video and prepared text of Rhoden's speech. Video footage of the inauguration of Gov. Larry Rhoden. (Courtesy of South Dakota Public Broadcasting) Mr. Chief Justice, honorable members of the Supreme Court, Lt. Governor Venhuizen, senators, legislators, constitutional officers, family, friends, and my fellow South Dakotans: Good afternoon! Before I begin, I want to thank our people for this honor. Our state is great because 'Under God, the People Rule.' It is truly an honor to serve our people as Governor. And as a former Guardsman who served for six years, it is a great honor to serve as Commander-in-Chief of the South Dakota National Guard. South Dakota has given so much to me and my family. I'm a fifth-generation South Dakotan on my mom's side and a fourth-generation South Dakotan on my dad's. My roots are in South Dakota – and I'm never leaving. About a week ago, I was at Longhorn Steakhouse out in Rapid City. An older rancher walked up to my table and asked, 'you Larry Rhoden?' I said, 'Yes I am.' He said, 'Well, it's good to meet you. You built me a couple sets of branding irons a few years back, and they work great!' I can think of very few things that he could have said that would have made me feel better. The truth is, we are all called to serve one another. Everything that we do for each other should be done to the best of our ability. If we work hard and put others first, things tend to work out. If we do a great job, it will stick with people. But we don't do these jobs to be remembered. We do them because it's right. Public service requires someone to step up and do the right thing on behalf of the people. 100 years ago, another governor gave his inaugural address to the South Dakota Legislature. Carl Gunderson had grown up a farmer. Before he became Governor, he served five terms in the South Dakota Senate, then as Lieutenant Governor for four years. Does that sound familiar to any of you? When he delivered his inaugural address, he spoke of many things that might be familiar to us. He talked about the ups and downs of agriculture; how property taxes are too high; how we need to find ways to make government more efficient. Some of the specifics are different today, but the basic needs facing our state are very much the same. I want to read you one paragraph from the end of his speech: 'The solution of South Dakota's problems will not come through legislation. The tendency toward state and federal supervision, inspection, and regulation has resulted in a lessening of the spirit of self-reliance. We look to government for too much aid. We need a revival of the spirit of the 'covered wagon.' The spirit that traveled by covered wagon in the early sixties across the prairies of Iowa to the Dakotas; the spirit that made its home temporarily in the 'dugout,' the 'sod shanty,' and the log cabin along the streams. It was the spirit that came more to give, than to receive; the spirit that served humanity and the future of a great state.' My goodness, those words still ring true today. That same spirit of the 'covered wagon' brought my own family west to South Dakota more than 100 years ago. Through the generations, my family passed down that same spirit that 'came more to give, than to receive.' Service runs strong in our veins. And it runs every bit as strong in the veins of my own children. Governor Gunderson's statue sits out in front of the Governor's Residence. He's sitting on a hay bale fixing a wagon wheel. He was a down-to-earth South Dakota man. And when his time serving as Governor was finished, he went back to farming. Many of you probably didn't know who Carl Gunderson was. And 100 years from now, folks might not remember who Larry Rhoden is. If we remember that, making the best decisions for our people suddenly becomes a lot easier. I promise to be a Governor who remembers that the solution to our problems will not come through legislation. Rather, it will come from providing our people the opportunity to do right for their families. I promise to set a tone of civility and respect, and the example will start from the top. I pledge to govern with openness and responsiveness. My focus will always be to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free. I want to keep South Dakota strong – strong families, strong businesses, and strong institutions. I want to keep South Dakota safe – with low crime and respect for law enforcement. And I want to keep South Dakota free – freedom will continue to be our calling card as long as I am governor. I will extend a renewed hand to everyone in our state: East River and West River; small towns and big cities; and yes, our tribal communities. I will be available to discuss the challenges that you face and how we can turn them into opportunities. I believe that the distinction between challenges and opportunities is largely one of perspective. A challenge is many times an opportunity not yet recognized or realized. Whenever I have a task in front of me, I try not to look at it as an obstacle to be overcome. Rather, if I look at it as an opportunity to achieve something, the task at hand becomes a lot easier. I want that same mindset to be the foundation of everything that we do during my administration. Five years ago, Governor Kristi Noem declared South Dakota 'Open for Business.' That bold stand was put to the ultimate test during COVID. We overcame that challenge and turned it into South Dakota's greatest opportunity. Now, I want to apply that same approach to all of our work. I want to keep South Dakota 'Open for Business.' But more than that, I want our state to be 'Open for Opportunity.' That means opportunity for families to do what is best for their kids; opportunity for our communities to respond to whatever unique situations they're facing; opportunity for kids graduating high school to go into whatever college or career field is right for them; opportunity for farmers to be able to keep earning a strong living so that they can pass that farm down to their kids; opportunity for every hard working South Dakotan to seek out better and higher paying jobs; opportunity for our businesses to keep growing at a tremendous rate. When we protect opportunity in South Dakota, we pave the way for better jobs for my children and grandchildren – and yours. We create new educational opportunities that don't pit this group against that group, but instead allow every child to succeed. We don't build new prisons just to lock more people up; instead, we use those facilities as an opportunity to get people back on their feet and contributing to our society. Opportunity is not limited by my vision, or even the vision of anyone in this Rotunda today. It is as broad as the South Dakota prairie and as high as Black Elk Peak. If we all link arms and pledge to chase down opportunities together, our state will be in pretty good shape. And if years from now, someone remembers the work that we did together, then that's just a bonus. I want to thank my family for giving me this opportunity to serve. I especially want to thank my wife, Sandy. She has been my most loyal supporter and chief confidant for almost 44 years. I would not be here today without her love and support. I want to thank the Good Lord for putting me in the position to serve as your Governor. And I want to thank the people of South Dakota. Thank you for trusting me with this honor. And thank you for celebrating with me and my family. Thank you. May God bless you all. And may God continue to bless the great state of South Dakota.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Busloads of public broadcasting supporters make case to avoid $3.6 million state budget cut
South Dakota Public Broadcasting's mascot, Buddy, waves to a crowd of supporters gathered on Feb. 7, 2025, at the Capitol Rotunda in Pierre. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) PIERRE — Supporters of South Dakota Public Broadcasting made their pitch Friday at the Capitol to avoid a $3.6 million budget cut that they said would undermine public safety, government transparency, education, high school activities and local storytelling. The state agency receives state and federal funding, along with money raised by its affiliated nonprofit, the Friends of SDPB. Friends CEO Ryan Howlett told members of the Legislature's budget committee that the state funding cut would imperil federal matching funds, and the combined reduction in state and federal funding would trigger 'grim' local programming cuts that would hinder fundraising. 'It's not just a $3.6 million budget cut,' Howlett said. 'It's much more substantial than that because of the domino effect.' Proposed funding cut could sink network in as little as two years, SDPB director says He estimated that the combined effect of the lost state, federal and privately raised money would shrink the organization's total budget from $11 million to $4 million, and reduce its workforce from 76 to 26. That would effectively diminish the network to a pass-through for national programming on radio and television, Howlett said. Locally produced shows would end, and the organization would no longer be able to broadcast dozens of state high school events ranging from all-state orchestra to football championship games. It's SDPB's willingness and ability to cover all 40 to 50 state-level high school events — not just a few of the popular sports — that makes the agency a vital partner of the South Dakota High School Activities Association, said Executive Director Dan Swartos. 'We're not going to find another over-air partner who is able to do that,' Swartos said. Lawmakers learned about a lesser-known aspect of SDPB's work from its director of engineering and operations, Severn Ashes. He explained that SDPB's statewide network of broadcast towers is a backbone for the state and national Emergency Alert System, with alerts received and triggered by SDPB, and then relayed by other broadcasting systems. If the budget cut is adopted, Ashes said, 'the state would have to find an alternative' for the system. The network also live-streams, records and archives every legislative committee hearing and floor session of the state House and Senate, plus the meetings of dozens of state boards and commissions. The agency would not be able to operate that system with its reduced funding, Howlett said. Kayla Klein, representing the Early Learner South Dakota advocacy group, testified about the value of SDPB's free educational programming and resources for parents, homeschoolers and child care providers. She drew smiles in the committee room with a story about her young son using something he learned on the PBS show 'Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood' to help her through a difficult day: 'He turned to me and said, 'Mom: When you feel so mad that you want to roar, take a deep breath and count to four.'' Eric Erickson, vice president of corporate partnerships for the Friends of SDPB, said the educational programming, the high school activities broadcasts, the podcasts and documentaries that SDPB produces about South Dakota news and history, and other SDPB programming are worthy of state support. 'The stories we do are not profitable — they're important,' he said. The hearing was one of many that the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee conducts as it works to prepare the annual state budget. Members listened and asked questions but took no action and made no public comments indicating support or opposition to the SDPB budget cut. This year's legislative session began last month and continues through mid-March. The budget bill typically takes most of the session to draft, with many decisions occurring in the final weeks and days of the session. Republican former Gov. Kristi Noem proposed the public broadcasting cut in December before she departed last month to become the secretary of the federal Department of Homeland Security. The state is facing a difficult budget year due to declining sales tax revenue, the depletion of pandemic aid from the federal government and rising Medicaid costs. New Gov. Larry Rhoden, who was Noem's lieutenant governor, acknowledged last month in a speech to the Legislature that 'there is concern about some specifics in the budget proposal.' 'I will work with our budget office to try to restore some of those cuts,' he said at the time, without going into specifics. After Friday's budget hearing, SDPB leaders gathered with two busloads of supporters for a picture on the Capitol Rotunda steps. Rhoden's lieutenant governor, Tony Venhuizen, joined them. In a brief interview with South Dakota Searchlight, Venhuizen said revenue projections are looking a little worse than when Noem proposed her budget. 'In a tough budget year, you have to prioritize and make tradeoffs, and there are all sorts of cuts being proposed that nobody really wants to make,' Venhuizen said. 'We'll just see what happens over the next couple of weeks.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
