Teacher Pay & Cost of Living: A new look at South Dakota’s public school pay finds teachers rank low nationally while living costs aren’t as “cheap” as many assume, adding fuel to ongoing teacher shortage concerns. Privacy Tech in Policing: Attorney General Marty Jackley is pushing state safeguards for license plate reader cameras, aiming to limit use to legitimate investigations and set rules for how long data is kept. Local Tech Governance: Vermillion’s planning board heard public pushback on proposed data center ordinances, with residents citing water, power, quality-of-life, and environmental worries. Rural Health Research Access: Avera is bringing an NIH-funded-style mobile research unit to Mitchell, letting rural participants join studies without traveling to larger sites. STEM & Materials Science: Rice University researchers report graphene “nanowrinkles” can reshape electrical behavior, pointing to new ways to control electronics by geometry. Paleontology Breakthrough: South Dakota’s Hell Creek fossils are at the center of research finding organic molecules like collagen preserved in dinosaur bones. Agriculture & Animal Health: A livestock export summit highlights how animal health systems protect global market access, while heat stress is blamed for thousands of cattle deaths in the state. Economic Development: South Dakota approved loans and grants for Rapid City expansions, including high-purity ethanol manufacturing and growth in energetic materials production. Cyber & Broadband: Congressional staff toured DSU’s SecureSD efforts, focusing on rural broadband and cybersecurity for water and other critical services.