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All Articles
A Generational Land Opportunity: What Smithfield’s Move Really Means for Sioux Falls
Smithfield’s move out of downtown Sioux Falls opens more than industrial land. It creates a rare opportunity to rethink the city’s riverfront, convention center plans, and long-term growth strategy. Here’s what this decision could mean for Falls Park, downtown momentum, and the interstate corridor.
4 days ago4 min read
Early Data from the South Dakota Affordability Project Shows Emerging Strain Across Communities
Preliminary results from the South Dakota Affordability Project show more than half of respondents have taken on additional work due to rising costs, while a strong majority feel local leaders do not fully understand housing pressures.
5 days ago2 min read
Andy Williams Jr., the Role of Attorney General, and the Growing Accountability Gap
As trust in public institutions reaches historic lows, accountability has emerged as one of the defining civic demands of the moment. Drawing on national research and an interview conducted at the 2025 RISE Leadership Conference, this analysis examines the growing accountability gap in American governance and the role state attorneys general play in restoring public trust, with Illinois Attorney General candidate Andy Williams Jr. serving as a case study within a broader nati
Jan 285 min read
South Dakota’s HB 1132 and the Limits of Federal Power
South Dakota House Bill 1132 isn’t just a gun bill — it’s a constitutional test of state sovereignty. As lawmakers debate limiting state cooperation with future federal firearm regulations, the bill raises deeper questions about federal power, enforcement authority, and the boundaries of American federalism.
Jan 265 min read
State Firearm Laws: What’s Legal Where in the U.S.
Firearm laws vary widely across the United States, with states setting different rules for background checks, firearm carrying, and other regulations. This explainer breaks down what is legal where, using official government data and independent reporting to provide national context.
Jan 264 min read
Why Parenting Became a Public Debate Instead of a Private Duty
Over the past several decades, parenting in America has shifted from a private family responsibility to a public debate shaped by schools, medical systems, and government institutions. Research shows how and why that change occurred.
Jan 253 min read
Marxist Roots of the Modern American Left: How Class Theory Became Cultural Power
Marxist ideology did not take hold in America through economic revolution, but through a gradual shift toward cultural power. This article traces how class theory evolved into a framework shaping modern left-wing politics.
Jan 254 min read
Poverty, Health, and Hope: The Lakota Experience in the Dakotas and Midwest
Data from the Dakotas and the Midwest shows persistent economic, health, and education challenges facing many Lakota communities, alongside ongoing efforts to preserve culture and rebuild long-term stability.
Jan 253 min read
South Dakota Legislature Honors Charlie Kirk With House Resolution
The South Dakota Legislature approved a House resolution introduced by Rep. Logan Manhart honoring the life and achievements of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Jan 252 min read
Florida Governor’s Race: Donalds Leads GOP Field as Conservatives Shape the Future of the Sunshine State
The 2026 Florida governor’s race is taking shape as Republicans compete to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, with the GOP primary likely to determine the state’s next leader.
Jan 253 min read
Two North Carolina Teens Killed in DUI Crash Involving Undocumented Driver
Two North Carolina teenagers were killed in a head-on DUI crash after authorities say an undocumented driver crossed the center line. The case has raised renewed questions about enforcement, licensing, and public safety.
Jan 252 min read
How Social Media Rewired Human Tribalism
Social media didn’t create tribalism—but it fundamentally changed how it operates. This analysis explores how digital platforms reshaped identity, belonging, and group behavior in modern culture.
Jan 254 min read
Why Congress Is Fighting Over Homeland Security Funding — And What Happens Next
Although the House has passed a Homeland Security funding bill, the measure faces resistance in the Senate. With a January 30 deadline approaching, lawmakers are clashing over immigration enforcement, oversight, and the risk of a partial government shutdown.
Jan 254 min read
Why Crime Data Alone Can’t Measure Public Safety
Official crime statistics don’t always reflect what families experience on the ground. This article examines why reported crime data alone fails to measure public safety—and how victimization, trust, and community order tell a fuller story.
Jan 254 min read
Mental Health, Schools, and the Quiet Expansion of Institutional Power
Over the last decade, Americans have been told a simple story: children are struggling, mental health is deteriorating, and schools must step in to fill the gap. The argument is often framed as compassionate and unavoidable — if families cannot meet the moment, institutions must.
Jan 255 min read
The Connection Gap: What Research Says About Family Stability and Community Life
American family life is often discussed as if it rises or falls based on private choices alone. But a growing body of research points to something bigger and less comfortable: families don’t operate in a vacuum. When social connection breaks down at the community level, the impact shows up in mental health, youth outcomes, trust, and long-run stability.
Three major research streams help clarify what’s happening: public health research on loneliness and isolation, national yo
Jan 253 min read
When Communities Lose Shared Norms, Families Feel It First
Historically, local communities acted as a stabilizing layer between families and large institutions. Churches, civic groups, neighborhood associations, schools, and local traditions helped translate shared values into daily life.
Jan 252 min read
Why Schools Are Often the Front Line of Civic Conflict
When families perceive that decisions are being made without transparency, consent, or local input, tension rises quickly. Schools are not abstract policy arenas. They affect children, routines, beliefs, and household dynamics in immediate ways.
This proximity makes schools uniquely sensitive to civic disagreement.
Jan 253 min read
Who Actually Controls Local Policy?
Local governments appear to hold decision-making power, but federal and state funding requirements often shape policy outcomes behind the scenes. This analysis breaks down where control actually sits and why it matters for accountability and civic trust.
Jan 253 min read
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