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Bosworth, Benda… Top 26 Blog Stories of 2013

Earlier this month, I gave Northern Plains News my list of the top five South Dakota political stories of 2013:

  1. Feds investigate South Dakota EB-5 program.
  2. October blizzard hammers West River.
  3. Kristi Noem fails to pass farm bill.
  4. South Dakota passes school gunslinger bill.
  5. Shantel Krebs pushes Jason Gant aside.

That was my subjective read of the news. But here are the 26 South Dakota stories that got the most clicks from you, dear readers, on the Madville Times in 2013 (I take 13 times 2 to get a larger sample of what you found interesting this year):

Title Rank
Bosworth Broke, Trying to Leave Country 1
Suicide, Says Jackley of Benda Death 2
USFWS Disqualifies South Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Winner; Don’t Call Congress 3
Friend Remembers Richard Benda; Saw No Sign of State’s Story 4
Feds Investigate Governor’s Office of Economic Development 5
Annette Bosworth, Republican, Also Digs Che 6
Buyer Confirms: Bosworth Non-Profit Sold Raffle Ticket, Didn’t Draw, Hasn’t Refunded 7
Chad Haber Directed Utah Company Involved in 2006-2007 House-Flipping Ponzi Scheme 8
MDR: Benda Goes Pheasant Hunting, Dies with Bullet Hole in Side 9
Feds Investigating Northern Beef Packers, EB-5 Visa Program 10
State Loses $550K to GOED-SDRC Scam… and Shrugs? 11
Benda Suicide Denials Sprout: What Are You Really Saying? What Are You Prepared to Do? 12
Affordable Care Act Requires Congress to Buy Coverage on Exchanges 13
Evidence Suggests Former DSU Instructor Now Trolls SD Blogosphere as “Julie Gross” 14
Bosworth Drafts Response to Raffle Scam Story: Mostly Smoke and Mirrors 15
South Dakota Crybaby Ranchers Embarrass State in Joan Jett Macy’s Float Fracas 16
Corporate Bull Drives Woster and Garrigan from Rapid City Journal 17
Grant County Zoning Board Approves Big Pig CAFO; State Exerts Pressure 18
Former Executive Director Takes Bosworth to Court for Unpaid Wages 19
USD Professor Resigns Amidst Charges of Romancing a Married Student 20
South Dakota Medical Board, 2012: Annette Bosworth Histrionic, Narcissistic 21
Benda Pocketed $450K Diverted from Future Fund-NBP Grant 22
“There Ought to Be a Law…”: Submit Your Ideas for New South Dakota Bills! 23
Still No Financial Disclosure from Bosworth; Campaign Not Worth the Legal Risk? 24
Kephart: GOED/EB-5 Scandal Not Going Away, Jackley Playing Politics 25
Blizzard Disaster for West River Ranchers; No Time for Shutdown Shenanigans 26

Eight of those stories dealt with the Annette Bosworth–Chad Haber medicine show. While Bosworth's candidacy is not likely to have major political impact, her weird web of financial mystery and misdealing clearly captivates readers.

GOED/EB-5/Benda-gate also rivets your attention. Just the suicide angle of the story placed four stories in the top ten, suggesting that stories about the death of one man, alone in a grove of trees on a sunny Sunday afternoon, compel interest in a way that stories about the financial complexities of the Northern Beef Packers bankruptcy and the secretive EB-5 visa investment program do not. But remember: Benda's death is the hook that focused everyone's attention on this big story; the financial investigations, the corruption they uncover, and the reforms we undertake to rid South Dakota of that corruption will drive the news throughout 2014.

I tread on thin ice whenever I write about agriculture. I'm not a farmer or rancher, so I depend on commenters and other sources to supplement my knowledge about one of South Dakota's biggest industries. But you readers do crave ag stories: the October blizzard, Grant County pig CAFO, and even the ranchers' hissy fit about Joan Jett's veganism drew lots of reader attention.

The duck stamp story drew lots of readers and comments from near and fear. A little sex helps the Google juice (the USD's Don Juan professor didn't strike me as a big story, but it snuck to the top of the list). So does Kevin Woster, whose departure from the Rapid City Journal drew great appreciation from you readers for one of South Dakota's best storytellers.

And you readers love the chance to participate in civic conversation. In less than a week, my call for reader suggestions for legislation to submit to Pierre pole-vaulted over 1400 other blog articles that I wrote this year to make the top-26 list. (And you still have plenty of time to participate!)

I'm happy to have these numbers to share with you. I'm happy to see the number of readers (and contributions to the tip jar!) keep going up, even as I blog about South Dakota from exile. You readers have made this a wonderful year for me. I hope my work to inform, provoke, and entertain you has made your year better as well. With a big Legislative session brewing, followed by a surely contentious primary and general election season, I look forward to blogging even more for you all in 2014. Happy New Year, South Dakota!

23 Comments

  1. grudznick 2013.12.31

    As I was reading your list without having the click numbers to add on my napkin I was thinking that it seemed Dr. Bos was the most popular topic.

    I, for one, think it is partially because people are fascinated with pretty women who are insaner than most.

  2. John Tsitrian 2013.12.31

    Happy New Year to all here, particularly Cory. MT is without a doubt the best political blog in South Dakota and among the best I've seen anywhere.

  3. Deb Geelsdottir/ 2013.12.31

    Happy New Year from me too. I'm grateful for all the effort you put in that keeps this South Dakota loving ex-pat in the loop. You, Cory, are my #1 and most trusted source for SD news.

  4. grudznick 2013.12.31

    Source for news, Ms. Geelsdottir? Have you tried a news paper or tv show? They do some news. This here is blogging.

  5. SDBlue 2013.12.31

    Personally, I will choose Cory's "blog" over the fluff in our local media any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

    Thanks for all you do! Happy New Year!

  6. Kevin Weiland 2013.12.31

    Ditto on the best blog. I don't have much time to write but I turn to Madvilletimes to get the latest in-depth news in a conceive read. His hyperlinks to Johns blog has been just as educational and in its own right! A great blog. Do I see the tip jar filling up?

  7. grudznick 2013.12.31

    Indeed, I am not saying Mr. H. doesn't do a fine job because he does. I'm just saying that this is a blog. A blog.

  8. Kevin Weiland 2013.12.31

    That Damm autocorrect....concise not conceive. And FYI. I can not use PayPal on iPad to tip? Back in office on a Dell and will tip then.

  9. PrairieLady - Gayle 2013.12.31

    Thanks for a great job Cory! Happy New Year to everyone!

  10. Roger Cornelius 2013.12.31

    Madville is indeed the best "news" and commentary blog in South Dakota. I get more hard news here than I do from the Rapid City Journal and local tv news is much irrelevant.

    Cory is more of an investigative reporter than a blogger, and excellent one at that. Thanks Cory for you vital service.

    Happy New Year to all!

  11. grudznick 2013.12.31

    "news" is a good way to put it, Mr. Cornelius. Happy New year here in another 90 or so. I have a pot pie to put in to be ready by then.

  12. grudznick 2013.12.31

    The libby candidates are paying Mr. H now??? That is a very neat trick, Mr. H. We all figured you were paying him.

  13. Kevin Weiland 2013.12.31

    Grudz, not a candidate, just an admirer of local Madison talent, and a fan of investigative news.

  14. grudznick 2014.01.01

    Aren't you running for something, Mr. Weiland? If I'm mistaken, I apologize. Have a good New Year, sir.

  15. Jaka 2014.01.01

    Grudz---here's hoping for an epiphany for you in 2014!! And if I had to rely on the RCJ for info without MT I'd be quite less informed. Congrats and best Wishes Cory for a good year to come.

  16. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.01.01

    Hey grudznick, as often as you post on here, I thought that you used it as your source for news also. You ought to put something in the tip jar as well.

  17. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.01.01

    Happy New Year to all and particularly to CAH.

  18. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.01.01

    Kevin isn't on a ballot yet, but I'd welcome him to jump on. Hey, Kevin, are you in District 32? Maybe Governor Daugaard can appoint you to Senator Adelstein's seat!

  19. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.01.01

    And to you all, thank you very much. And hey, we made it! Happy New Year! I look forward to even bigger, better blogging in 2014.

  20. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.01.01

    (Paypal not working on iPad? Interesting... is there some Flash widget preventing that from working?)

  21. grudznick 2014.01.01

    Mr. Stricherz, may I call you Lanny? Lanny, what makes you think I haven't?

  22. Jim 2014.01.01

    My dear Grudz, may all your breakfastez be hot in this new year.

  23. larry kurtz 2014.05.23

    Madville is inching toward 2 million hits: please join me and send Cory some money.

Comments are closed.