Our local newspapers play an important role in educating the public and bringing communities together. They are the beating hearts of our towns and cities in South Dakota. We rely on them for updates on local news, wedding and birth announcements, sports, upcoming events and more. Newspapers, especially our local daily or weekly papers, keep us connected to our neighbors and our friends.

I recently met with the South Dakota Newspaper Association (SDNA) to talk about a serious issue that local papers are facing right now—tariffs on Canadian newsprint. During our meeting, SDNA Executive D...