Time-- and Money!-- Coming Quickly to an End

This article from the Rapid City Journal highlights the decreasing national interest in the South Dakota election because of recent polls that show their advertising may be to no avail. South Dakotans seem to be favoring Republican candidate Mike Rounds for the Senate win, over Rick Weiland, the Democrat nominee. So far, the Democratic Party nation-wide has spent $400,000 on just broadcast and cable advertising for Weiland, but with the decreasing support for him, they only have about $29,000 worth of ads from now until election day. This is in stark contrast to $340,000 that the Republican Party plans to spend advertising within this last week.

I find this extremely interesting (and slightly sickening)-- I cannot believe how much money is spent on advertising! I know that this has been a hotly-contested national race, although currently it looks as though it is losing national recognition because of the lead Rounds seems to be taking. I think it will be funny to look back on this in a week, knowing the outcome, to see whether or not the thousands of dollars used for advertising really paid off-- and if the Democrats should have backed off campaigning right before votes were cast!

Noem for the Win?

Rapid City Journal-- Noem sailing toward win, Robinson lacking traction

A recent Rapid City Journal article states that South Dakota's current Representative Kristi Noem is headed toward another big win in the next election. There are only two weeks until voting, but Noem's name is far more recognized than her competition, Corinna Robinson. Noem has been South Dakota's Representative from the Republican party for two terms, and is running for a third. She has stated that she will push for new economic plans to grow South Dakota's agricultural exporting. Robinson's priorities are strengthening the education system of our state, including an increase in teachers' salaries.

This is especially interesting to me because I am able to vote in these next elections! Learning about these candidates will expand my knowledge and make me a more informed voter. As South Dakota only has one seat in the House of Representatives, I think this race is very important because the winner will be our sole voice in half of Congress. There has been a lot of press about the Senate race in South Dakota, so I like reading about another showdown within our state. (And I am excited to finally be able to participate and have a say in the state, nation, and world I live in.)

First 48 Hours of Freedom, and you do THIS?

Man Just Freed from Prison Kills Mom

On Sunday, October 12, Gwendolyn Pratt was found dead in a house in Atlantic City. According to an autopsy performed, she died from "massive blunt injuries" to her head. Her son, Steven Pratt, was found at the scene and has been taken in as a suspect in her murder. In a twist of events, Steven had been released from prison two days earlier after serving 30 years for shooting and killing his neighbor in 1984. Steven was 15 at the time.

This event saddens me, and I wonder if something could have prevented such an act. I have to think that in thirty years someone at the prison would have noticed a mental instability in Pratt, so why wasn't anything done before he was released back into society? I hope this is a learning lesson, and that no other similar event happens again.

Banned Bans are not Banned?

This article by the Wall Street Journal highlights Monday's decision by the Supreme Court not to intervene with 5 states' recent overturn of bans on gay marriage. Appeals had been made on these states' decision to allow gay marriage, but the Supreme Court's denial to hear these cases left the bans banned. Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin are the most recent five states to join the 19 others in which gay marriage is legal. Interestingly enough, the fact that the judges did not take these cases is the most surprising outcome of this situation, not the potential over-turn of the bans or banned bans.
As confusing as this issue is with the many uses of the word "ban," this decision impacts not only the supporters of gay marriage in these five states, but supporters in every state, especially those in which gay marriage is illegal. It seems like there is always a new story concerning states overturning marriage bans, and this movement is gaining speed. As a Catholic I do not support this movement; however,  I can understand the arguments made for equality under the premise of unalienable Constitutional rights.