Dakota Midday

Rick Weiland, a former staffer for U.S. Senator Tom Daschle, unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House in 1996 and 2002. He's the first Democrat to announce his candidacy for the seat of retiring Senator Tim Johnson.

Dr. Gerard Jacobs is a clinical/community psychologist, who has been working in disaster psychology since 1989. He is a Professor of Psychology at the University of South Dakota and Director of the Disaster Mental Health Institute. Following the BBC "Children and War" report, Dr. Jacobs discusses the effect of war on children in this part of the country.

Hal Rammel is a Wisconsin visual artist, musician, composer and instrument inventor. Some of his instruments are included in the National Music Museum exhibit, the Shapes of Sound: Hearing with your Eyes. The exhibit features more than 40 unusual instruments in a special exhibition that explores some of the museum's Seuss-like holdings, as well as new and unusual musical instruments, instruments made from found objects, experimental musical instruments, and even some whimsical instruments. A gallery talk and reception is this evening from 6-8 p.m.

Singer, songwriter and comedian Gordy Pratt portrays the ghost of frontiersman Seth Bullock during Wild Bill Days on June 14 and 15 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., in the Pioneer Room at the Adams Museum in Deadwood. The event is open to the public and wheelchair accessible with admission by donation. Pratt brings history to life as he shares stories and songs about the colorful characters of early Deadwood. Pratt has carefully researched Bullock and portrays the grit, tenacity and glory of Deadwood in a vibrant context.

Joining the program are Kevin Woster, reporter and columnist with the Rapid City Journal, and Jon Hunter, publisher of the Madison Daily Leader to discuss the latest news in politics. Topics included U.S. Representative Kristi Noem's announcement that she won't run for Senate but instead will seek a third term in the house, the farm bill passed by the Senate on Monday and longtime state auditor and secretary of State Alice Kundert, who died on Monday at the age of 92.

Pennington County Master Gardener Joe Hillberry talks about gardening tips for Dakota Midday's semi-regular gardening segment.

The South Dakota State Penitentiary is an intimidating structure in Sioux Falls. The prison houses the state's most notorious criminals. Inmates and staff lead lives behind tall stone walls and razor wire. For more than a decade, one man has commanded the state penitentiary: Chief Warden Doug Weber. He officially retired Friday after a career in corrections that started in the late 1970s. As he left the post, SDPB's Kealey Bultena went to the prison to have a conversation with the warden about the triumphs and tragedies of his tenure.

Lieutenant Colonel Les Snyder (USAF-Ret.) is talking about his bombing missions during the Korean War in a presentation to the Black Hills Veterans Writing Group in Rapid City on Saturday at 9 am at Western Dakota Technical Institute. Snyder flew the required 50 missions in about six months in a B-26 as a navigator. He retired from the USAF Reserve in 1972 and became a pilot. Snyder is Professor Emeritus at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. For more information about the presentation, go to: www.battlestory.com.

Nan Baker, interim executive director of the Sioux Falls Arts Council, talks about her new Bush Foundation fellowship and what she'll be doing to engage her community.

Jim Thorpe would have turned 125 on May 28. Or would he? According to the late Grace Thorpe, one of Jim's daughters, Jim's baptismal certificate indicates that he was born in 1887, not 1888. Kate Buford is the author of "Native American Son: The Life and Sporting Legend of Jim Thorpe." From 1994 to 1999 Buford was a commentator for NPR's "Morning Edition." She's an occasional commentator for American Public Media's "Marketplace."

Michigan-based author, filmmaker and songwriter Bill Jamerson makes history come alive with music and storytelling. He's currently in South Dakota delivering his program about the Civilian Conservation Corps with a musical tribute called "Dollar-A-Day Boys." Jamerson's upcoming performances are:

June 5 - Mitchell, SD Public Library 2 pm

June 5 - Yankton, SD Public Library 6:30 pm

June 6 - Wayne, NE Senior Center noon

June 6 - Vermillion, SD Library 6:30 pm

June 7 - Hawarden, IA Public Library 1 pm

Denise Ross, web editor for the Mitchell Daily Republic, and Jonathan Ellis, columnist and reporter for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, discuss the latest news in politics. Topics included the Rapid City mayoral election, the farm bill, Governor Dennis Daugaard's request for action on insurance violations and U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson's non-comments on running for his father's Senate seat.

The group performs June 8th at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City and June 10th at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls. Celtic Woman combines the talents of four gifted Irish women--vocalists Chloe Agnew, Lisa Lambe, and Susan McFadden, and violinist Mairead Nesbitt--whose dazzling performances combine the sounds and sensibility of Irish traditional music with memorable original compositions and contemporary pop standards. The 2013 tour boasts an exciting new stage production and the return of such enduring fan favorites as "You Raise Me Up" and "Orinoco Flow."

Last Thursday's South Dakota Focus program with Stephanie Rissler was on infrastructure in South Dakota. Guests included Darin Bergquist, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Transportation; Brookings City Manager Jeff Weldon; State Senator Mike Vehle of Mitchell; Phillip Anderson, President of the Piedmont Board of Trustees; and Mark Cotter, Public Works Director for the City of Sioux Falls. the guests discussed infrastructure in South Dakota, which cities are thriving and which are failing and the state of South Dakota's roads and bridges.

The Sioux Falls VA Health Care System is part of the nationwide effort to ensure veterans receive the mental health services and support they need. They are one of 15 pilot sites where the VA is working with community based mental health providers to help veterans access mental health services in a timely manner.

About 100 days before the birth of his daughter Sioux Falls resident Hugh Weber began to panic about becoming a first-time father.  He decided to send a video of his concerns and questions to his closest friends.  The video went viral so Weber started a website.  He was then approached by a publisher to transfer his experiences into book-form.  Weber's "Dude to Dad" is built around 40 lessons for the 40 weeks before childbirth.

Janet Parr, Library Associate at the Rapid City Public Library; Heather Stevenson, Reference Librarian at Siouxland Libraries; and Karen Wiechmann, Youth Services Librarian at Siouxland Libraries, joined Karl Gehrke on the Dakota Midday Book Club to discuss their picks for summer reading and what makes a good summer time read.

"Murder on the Missouri" is a coming of age novel written by John English who resides in Belle Fourche and Spearfish.  Known nationally for how-to writing, especially in the woodworking field, English's first novel takes place in the fictional town of Clinton, South Dakota, on the banks of the Missouri River.  English introduces readers to John Henry Higgins who discovers secrets of Clinton's past as he begins to relate to older members of the community of an adult level.

Farmers with flooded fields have another disease to worry about. SDSU Extension says a dozen fields in the state showed traces of "Soybean Sudden Death" disease. South Dakota State University Extension Plant Pathologist Connie Strunk tells SDPB's Gary Ellenbolt that the southeast is primed for a large outbreak of the disorder.