Free Republic

(Washington, D.C., May 23, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take several actions to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation and trade disruption. President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a relief strategy to support American agricultural producers while the Administration continues to work on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets in the long run to help American farmers compete globally. Specifically, the President has authorized USDA to provide up to $16 billion in programs, which is in line with...

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), new chairman of the Senate armed services’ subcommittee on military personnel, has signaled he will defend retirement reforms proposed for a new generation of service members by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission.

Post Holdings will buy Lakeville-based MOM Brands for $1.15 billion, combining the nation’s third and fourth largest breakfast cereal makers. The deal, announced Monday morning, will give publicly traded Post a presence in the growing bagged cereal and hot cereal businesses, two of MOM Brands’ strongholds. Privately-owned MOM Brands, which has a big cereal plant in Northfield, is known for its Malt-O-Meal brand. The 95-year-old company has grown steadily over the past 15 years, particularly capturing share in the low-price or “value” segment of the cold cereal business.

The Department of Veteran Affairs announced Tuesday night that the VA Black Hills Health Care System will initiate an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to look at proposed reconfiguration of services at the Hot Springs VA Facility. Secretary Eric Shinseki met with South Dakota representatives Tuesday to announce that the VA would move forward with plans that could potentially close the Hot Springs VA.

BOX ELDER, SD - The B-1 Bombers at Ellsworth Air Force Base won't be flying anytime soon. "Our local combat squadron, the 37th combat squadron will not fly between now, and right now we're planning until October first," 28th Bomb Wing Colonel Kevin Kennedy said. Because of sequestration the military is coping with close to $500 billion in cuts to its budget over the next decade. The groundings will help Air Combat Command cut a total of 45 thousand flight hours across the board. "Bottom line, though, this is something that we need to do to make sure we're ready...

Menards is blaming President Obama for the company's decision to scrap plans for building a store in Missouri, saying the president is "scaring the dickens" out of small businesses. The Eau Claire, Wis.-based home improvement chain said it won't build a planned store in O’Fallon, Mo., because of economic uncertainty...

Vietnam War Memorial ceremony draws 32,000 By Bill Harlan, Journal Staff Writer PIERRE - Thirty-two thousand people, many of them veterans and their families, surrounded Capitol Lake in Pierre for Saturday’s dedication of the state’s new Vietnam War Memorial. Gov. Mike Rounds’ main message was two words: “Welcome home.” Adrian Cronauer, played by Robin Williams in the movie “Good Morning, Vietnam,” was master of ceremonies for an event staged like a military operation. Gray skies threatened rain, but the storm held off long enough for the dedication. War planes flew overhead, including Vietnam-era Huey helicopters and a B-1B Lancer bomber...

Senator stumps for Thune By Denise Ross, Journal Staff Writer BOX ELDER — Ellsworth Air Force Base would be a good home for research, development and training for the nation's growing fleet of unmanned military aircraft, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said Saturday. "Ellsworth clearly has room to grow," Frist told a small crowd of reporters and political staffers at a news conference outside the main gate of the Air Force base east of Rapid City. "One thing I think we should at least consider — and I will be in touch with the Pentagon — for this...