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As We See It
Fat Chance
THUMBS DOWN to the new report concluding that more than a fourth of South Dakota adults are obese. The state’s obesity rate stands at 26.9 percent — up 0.9 percent from the previous report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Misery loves company, and South Dakota has tied neighboring Nebraska for 20th nationally in the percentage of overweight adults. At the high end of the spectrum, Mississippi has the nation’s highest obesity rate at nearly one-third, or 33 percent. Colorado has got the skinny — or at least the lowest obesity rate — at 18.9 percent. But that’s still nearly one out every five adults. And the trend is worsening, with obesity rates among adults rising in 23 states over the past year.
To Your Health
THUMBS UP to this week’s health care reform summit hosted in Yankton by U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (both D-S.D.). The summit consisted of two panels, sharing their experiences as both consumers and as health professionals. The two-hour meeting was informative but also distressing, showing the wide range of health care needs. The meeting particularly shed light on rural issues, which often go overlooked or outright ignored and dismissed in Washington, D.C. Regardless of your stand on health care reform, this week’s meeting was important for bringing out the issues.
For The Record
THUMBS UP to the new South Dakota laws taking effect July 1 which bring more open public records. In the past, the burden was placed on the person seeking the records to justify the request. Now, the burden rests on the government official or entity to show why the records should be kept confidential and the request denied. South Dakota’s changes are based on Nebraska law, which we have found quite accommodating when requesting public records and other information.
Hit The Road
THUMBS DOWN to the growing backlog of highway and bridge projects in South Dakota. Our Nebraska neighbors are also struggling with transportation needs. At this week’s meeting in Yankton, a Department of Transportation (DOT) official said South Dakota faces a $700 million backlog in highway projects. Even with federal stimulus funds, the backlog will likely remain at $550 million. And that figure doesn’t include bridges or the needs of counties, towns and townships. This week’s meeting primarily focused on the hazardous hills and other obstacles on South Dakota Highway 46, particularly the 12-mile stretch linking Irene and U.S. Highway 81. Hopefully, the funding — or at least creative scheduling — can be found to regrade that segment of highway.
Leaving Home
A sad THUMBS DOWN to the death this week of actor Karl Malden at age 97. Perhaps obscured by the frenzy tied to some other recent celebrity deaths, Malden’s passing brings to the close the career of an intelligent, blue-collar actor who could hold his own with some of the biggest stars in the business. He won an Oscar for best supporting actor in 1951’s “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and he was nominated again for his role as a tough, reform-minded priest in 1954’s “On The Waterfront.” He later starred on television on “The Streets of San Francisco,” and he will always be remembered for his two-decade gig as a spokesman for American Express, delivering the memorable pitch line, “Don’t leave home without it.” Malden had the face of a working man — his nose, broken more than once during his boxing days — became a prominent feature — and he always played his parts with intelligence and empathy. He’ll be missed, but he leaves a terrific, memorable legacy.
THUMBS DOWN to the new report concluding that more than a fourth of South Dakota adults are obese. The state’s obesity rate stands at 26.9 percent — up 0.9 percent from the previous report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Misery loves company, and South Dakota has tied neighboring Nebraska for 20th nationally in the percentage of overweight adults. At the high end of the spectrum, Mississippi has the nation’s highest obesity rate at nearly one-third, or 33 percent. Colorado has got the skinny — or at least the lowest obesity rate — at 18.9 percent. But that’s still nearly one out every five adults. And the trend is worsening, with obesity rates among adults rising in 23 states over the past year.
To Your Health
THUMBS UP to this week’s health care reform summit hosted in Yankton by U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (both D-S.D.). The summit consisted of two panels, sharing their experiences as both consumers and as health professionals. The two-hour meeting was informative but also distressing, showing the wide range of health care needs. The meeting particularly shed light on rural issues, which often go overlooked or outright ignored and dismissed in Washington, D.C. Regardless of your stand on health care reform, this week’s meeting was important for bringing out the issues.
For The Record
THUMBS UP to the new South Dakota laws taking effect July 1 which bring more open public records. In the past, the burden was placed on the person seeking the records to justify the request. Now, the burden rests on the government official or entity to show why the records should be kept confidential and the request denied. South Dakota’s changes are based on Nebraska law, which we have found quite accommodating when requesting public records and other information.
Hit The Road
THUMBS DOWN to the growing backlog of highway and bridge projects in South Dakota. Our Nebraska neighbors are also struggling with transportation needs. At this week’s meeting in Yankton, a Department of Transportation (DOT) official said South Dakota faces a $700 million backlog in highway projects. Even with federal stimulus funds, the backlog will likely remain at $550 million. And that figure doesn’t include bridges or the needs of counties, towns and townships. This week’s meeting primarily focused on the hazardous hills and other obstacles on South Dakota Highway 46, particularly the 12-mile stretch linking Irene and U.S. Highway 81. Hopefully, the funding — or at least creative scheduling — can be found to regrade that segment of highway.
Leaving Home
A sad THUMBS DOWN to the death this week of actor Karl Malden at age 97. Perhaps obscured by the frenzy tied to some other recent celebrity deaths, Malden’s passing brings to the close the career of an intelligent, blue-collar actor who could hold his own with some of the biggest stars in the business. He won an Oscar for best supporting actor in 1951’s “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and he was nominated again for his role as a tough, reform-minded priest in 1954’s “On The Waterfront.” He later starred on television on “The Streets of San Francisco,” and he will always be remembered for his two-decade gig as a spokesman for American Express, delivering the memorable pitch line, “Don’t leave home without it.” Malden had the face of a working man — his nose, broken more than once during his boxing days — became a prominent feature — and he always played his parts with intelligence and empathy. He’ll be missed, but he leaves a terrific, memorable legacy.
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| A New Push For Independence |
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