Election Integrity & Local Governance: Sturgis will reconvene its Municipal Canvassing Board Monday, June 8, to review discrepancies from the June 2 special election and decide whether to certify results after further analysis with state and county election officials. Healthcare Workforce: West River Health Science Center graduated 122 registered nurses in its first full year, with Monument Health scholarships and partnerships feeding a broader pipeline of new nurses across western South Dakota. Cancer Care & Disparities: Walking Forward, a Native-focused cancer navigation and screening program founded in 2002, is returning to Monument Health with plans to expand screening and education for multiple cancers and strengthen research partnerships. STEM & Research Community: South Dakota Mines physics lecturer Michael Dowding earned the 2026 Outstanding SPS Chapter Advisor award, while Darwin’s Ark is recruiting more South Dakota cat owners for a national feline genetics and behavior study. Materials & Local Science Culture: South Dakota Mines invited ceramic artists to use Fuson Shale clay for “Echoes of Earth: From Sea to Stone,” linking Black Hills geology to contemporary sculpture. Agriculture & Environment: A new SDSU study finds the early-2000s ethanol boom boosted farmland values in ethanol-producing states by up to 44%, tying energy policy to Midwest land prices. Public Safety & Infrastructure: US Highway 85 reconstruction discussions in the Black Hills area could reshape shoulders and curves as early as 2030, with residents weighing safety gains against land and wildlife impacts.