Western Organization of Resource Councils

And no help from the state. #SNAP #hunger #SouthDakota

South Dakota won’t tap reserve funds to fill federal food assistance gap, governor says • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota’s governor said he does not support using state money to fill a funding gap in a food assistance program.

DRA has long advocated that #SouthDakota should take care of her people. We should prioritize feeding people, period. We, the State, has money in reserves to fill this gap. southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/03/s... #SNAP #hunger

Waste and Fraud in the Billion-Dollar Carbon Capture Tax Credit Despite a long history of failure and fraud, U.S. leaders are cranking open the 45Q cash spigot for the carbon capture c

We have plenty of evidence that carbon capture doesn't work. Our government is wasting all this money on a scam.

NEW REPORT outlines threats that idled oil and gas wells pose to rural communities, wildlife, and recreation. #KeepBondingReform to ensure the oil and gas industry–not taxpayers–pays for the cleanup.
www.nwf.org/-/media/Documents/PDFs/Press-Releases/2025/A-Growing-Risk-on-Public-Lands

A photo of cattle on grass. Quote from Roger Svec: Despite Senator Rounds's assurances a few days ago, the Trump administration is full speed ahead on increasing Argentine beef imports.

On increasing imports of Argentine beef: This is not in the best interest for South Dakota farmers and ranchers. We raise safe, high-quality beef that should not be undercut by a faulty trade scheme. - Roger Svec, DRA member & cattle producer www.dakotarural.org/dra-statemen... #usabeef #cattle

Rural Policy Action Rural advocates identify priority legislation and executive action that supports working families and strengthens rural communities.

Out today, Rural Policy Action Report, which WORC and many of its member groups contributed to, provides practical steps Congress could take immediately to improve rural people’s lives and deliver lower costs, higher wages, and the freedom to make choices about our own lives. ruralpolicyaction.us

Senator 'encouraged' Trump will 'do right' amid backlash over Argentinian beef comments • South Dakota Searchlight Amid a backlash against President Trump's suggestion to import Argentinian beef, a U.S. senator from South Dakota went to the White House.

SD's ag economy is being toppled by the #tradewar & the feds keep bailing out Argentina ($40 billion!). Let's not wipe out cattle markets too or #SouthDakota will be in a world of hurt quickly southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/senat... #usabeef

Idaho Familias Assistance Fund By Idaho Organization of Resource Councils

A Latino community served by Idaho Organization of Resource Councils suffered a brutal police raid this week. Police zip-tied children & fired rubber bullets into a crowd. Please consider donating to help the traumatized families whose head of households were detained.
givebutter.com/ifaf?fbclid=...

A 19% hike on #electricity bills would be felt by everyone & would be a flat-out hardship for many who are already struggling to buy groceries or pay rent #ratepayers #utilityrates #energysky

Senate Cancels Locally Developed Land-use Plans That Protected People and Communities in Montana and North Dakota | WORC Blog updates Newsletter

"Sens. Daines and Sheehy did the industry’s bidding and laid waste to years of consultation the BLM conducted with local tribal leaders, ranchers, farmers, outfitters, and other Montanans to ensure that coal mining can co-exist in the Powder River Basin without destroying our livelihoods."

Trump's major coal sales flop in Wyoming and Montana - WyoFile Feds postpone Wyoming coal sale despite promise to "revitalize" the industry. Critics say even the coal industry isn't betting big on its future.

Oh, the irony. Same day that Senate cancels two land-use plans to allow coal leasing to continue in eastern Montana and North Dakota, this happens. And it happened because coal is now worth essentially nothing-- 1/10 of a penny per ton, as one company priced it at on Monday. #mtpol #northdakota

Senate passes resolution to open up Montana for coal leasing, now headed to Trump's desk The resolution would overturn a Biden-era amendment to a Miles City-based resource management plan that halted new coal leases in Montana

“What the hell happened to Daines and Sheehy’s conservatism, to their belief in local control and less government? Their votes today couldn’t be more top-down, more political, or more disconnected from the needs and interests of Montanans who will be most affected by their actions."

Politicians and industry lobbyists in D.C. shouldn’t be making public land decisions for Montanans | Jeanie Alderson My family has been ranching in the Powder River Basin since 1889. Over the six generations we’ve been here, we’ve learned how to take care of the land and water

"[Canceling the Miles City RMP] gives companies the green light to mine the public coal that sits underneath private property.... Property owners could literally have the earth taken out from underneath us."
#mtpol
billingsgazette.com/opinion/colu...

Summit knows that SD doesn't want this #CO2 #pipeline & won't let them use eminent domain to force it through. Hopefully the Iowa Utilities Commission holds the line on Summit's permit there & doesn't give them any more wiggle room. #CCS #NotforsaleSD

Decades of public-lands planning, overturned in a day - High Country News The House voted to nullify three Bureau of Land Management plans, and critics fear many more could follow.

“Those of us who live with this don’t have any say in what happens to the land we own and have leased for generations. [The current Miles City Resource Management Plan] was a collaborative process, and to have that overturned in one fell swoop is stunning.”

www.hcn.org/articles/dec...

Americans Already Agreed How to Balance Energy Development on Public Land in Their States. The House Just Voted to Undo It The U.S. House of Representatives voted to upend the way we balance resource development on BLM lands, with RMPs. Here's why.

Any day now, the Senate could join the House in tossing out years of local collaboration, negotiation, and public involvement that went into the development of public land management plans in southeast Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska. The effect could "destabilize land management" across the West.

Wyoming's massive new federal coal tract not likely to draw high bids - WyoFile State and coal industry officials want a new 440 million ton coal tract offered for sale, but opponents warn lease won't benefit public coffers like years past.

“If the only way to keep this industry alive is for the federal government to basically give away coal for free, how does that make any sense?”

Economic advisers say growing crop supply and weakened foreign demand are hurting SD’s economy • South Dakota Searchlight Farmers are seeing healthy crops, but abundant supply and weakening foreign demand are driving prices down.

Things are not OK in farm country: Karl Adam, SD Bankers Association president said many farmers are looking at losses of $125 - $200 per acre for their corn, due to prices falling from above $7/bushel to less than $4/bushel currently southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/08/28/g... #rural #farming #sodak

The One Big Betrayal of a Bill demands we hold our elected officials accountable. For that to happen, our neighbors need to know the harm it's going to bring to rural communities in the West and Midwest. We break it down for you.
worc.org/one-big-betr...
#grassrootsorganizing #communityorganizing

A photo of the sun & clouds against an orange-colored sky. The quote: It was just another broken promise to Native tribes...It's one of those things where we were promised opportunity and hope in these communities and for these jobs, and that was taken away by a stroke of the pen. Cody Two Bears, CEO of Indigenized Energy

The Solar for All program could have made an enormous impact in Tribal communities with energy generation, cost savings & job creation #solarenergy #southdakota www.dakotanewsnetwork.com/2025/08/27/h...

Harwood Residents Concerned Over $3B AI Facility Development (Harwood, ND) — Harwood residents aren’t supporting the construction of a new AI data center in the area. Concerns and frustrations were expressed during a town hall meeting this week regarding Applie...

Residents are justified in questioning how this project has been approved & what the impacts could be. Examples like this are what make folks distrust their governments - we need to do better #datacenter #localcontrol www.dakotanewsnetwork.com/2025/08/27/h...

Solar energy can strengthen South Dakota’s economy, independence - Brookings Register In South Dakota, independence isn’t just a value — it’s a way of life. We take pride in working hard, running our businesses, farms, and supporting our communities. We also enjoy …

South Dakota has abundant #solarenergy resources & we should be using them according to Rick Bell, DRA board member brookingsregister.com/stories/sola...

Mitchell farmer shares his experience with conservation farming As conservation farming practices continue to grow in popularity, many are looking to states like South Dakota to keep farmland healthy and workable for the future.

Yes - South Dakota is leading the way on acres preserved by #conservation practices! www.sdpb.org/business-eco... #agriculture #farming

WORC's Principles of Community Organizing (POCO) gives everyday people the power to strategize, campaign, and manifest the future they want to see for their families and communities, people like Callie Stainbrook of Rapid City.
worc.org/power-to-the...
#grassrootsorganizing #communityorganizing

Feds reactivate 440-million-ton coal lease application in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin - WyoFile The Trump administration is fast-tracking the process after it had stalled due to a bankruptcy by the Antelope mine's previous owner.

Never mind there is enough coal already under lease in the Powder River Basin to flood the market for at least the next 15 years. Never mind that the energy market has already left coal behind, with 93% of new US electricity now coming from solar, wind, or batteries.

USDA abruptly cancels rural energy grant application window It’s the latest setback for the longstanding REAP program, casting uncertainty over the future of a resource that helps farmers save on energy and install…

“This program has been key to helping people who don’t have a lot of assets make a change and provide some cash flow for their family.”
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...

LETTER | Dusty Johnson puts CO2 pipeline profits over South Dakotans Letter to the editor by Dennis Jarabek of Sioux Falls

South Dakotans have shown over & over that we don't want the #CO2 #pipeline www.thedakotascout.com/p/letter-dus... #CCS #federalsubsidies

Exxon Mobil cleared to put in test well to assess viability of Snowy River carbon sequestration project On July 31, 2025, the Bureau of Land Management said it would allow a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil to access its land to put in a stratigraphic test well. Sonya Germann, the state director for the agency...

This decision shows the power of grassroots organizing and is a good reminder that the public can still sway BLM state offices. We might not have the kind of money and influence that Exxon has, but we have the power of the people. #ruralorganizing
montanafreepress.org/2025/08/08/e...

Solar = freedom. Esp. in rural places.

South Dakota leading effort to support ranchers in beef labeling dispute Attorney General Jackley joined by other states in amicus court brief against packers

Happy to see the South Dakota Attorney General's office leading the way in defending US beef labeling! www.thedakotascout.com/p/south-dako... #COOL #truthinlabeling #wheredoesyourfoodcomefrom