It seems Peters is still in denial that Gear Up was one of the biggest scandals to hit our state in decades (oh, I forgot about EB-5);
As feuds in the Legislature go, there might be none deeper these days than between Sen. Deb Peters and Sen. Stace Nelson over the GEAR UP scandal.
Their dispute reached a strange low last Monday.
Peters invoked a legislative joint rule to stop, specifically, SC 28: Nelson’s commemoration recognizing investigative work of KELO television reporter Angela Kennecke.
I guess if I was Angela, I would be like ‘Oh Well’ just doing my job. I guess I have never been big on handing out awards to journalists who were simply doing what they should be doing, investigating. But it was pretty crappy of Peters to do what she did. She has become quite a piece of work over the years.
“Kennecke” and “investigative” should not be in the same sentence.
Not all reporters are investigative reporters, and the falling fortunes of most “traditional” media outlets (newspapers, radio, TV) don’t allow for budgets for investigations, which are expensive and time-consuming to get right – especially to a journalistic standard. [SD NewsWatch is designed to fill that journalistic void, supplementing the more informal blogging done here and elsewhere and being a source for other news outlets without the resources to have in-house investigative reporters.]
Angela Kennecke has done an excellent job on hewr investigation of SD GEAR UP and deserves recognition (such as from the regional news EMMYs organization). Whether she deserved a legislative commemoration is a separate issue. Unfortunately, as Bob Mercer said, Angela’s name became embroiled in the feud between Sens. Nelson and Peters, which is a no-win situation for Angela or anyone else who has been working on or following the SD GEAR UP scandal.
I’m glad I wasn’t nominated for a commemoration for my Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ) articles, for my multiple on-camera interviews with Angela for her reports, or for being the person who found the long-lost 2005 SD GEAR UP grant application after both the state and the feds said it was unfindable.
KELO is to be commended for giving her the time to do investigations, though I realize she has other reporting and anchoring duties that sometimes compete for her attention.
What did Angela do to deserve commemoration. Stace Nelson is a waste of time.
OH now I remember…. She whipped up a conspiracy theory that had thousands of folks believing a pickup hauling a crate was assassin.
Or maybe is was that yarn about a lonely priest that didn’t sexually abuse anyone.
Mr. Nelson has too much time for so little talent.
Now, this is the same Deb Peters, who as an incumbent in 2012, barely beat Lora Hubbel in a GOP state senate primary, right? I believe the margin was 52.7 to 47.3; and as a incumbent too….
Peters was once the county treasurer. She did a good job renovating with efficiency and computer software. Something happens when a politician goes to Pierre. It’s a solitary confinement insanity that affects sound decisions.
Angela Kennecke deserves but doesn’t need commendation. We know and appreciate her without a certificate that gets filed away and eventually shredded.