AGP Executive Report

Carbon Capture & Energy Tech: South Dakota Mines researchers say microbes at SURF inspired a carbon-cutting approach that could turn fossil fuels into “green energy,” with Carbon EnZero commercializing the work. Local Water Infrastructure: Sioux Falls put Well 25 into service, boosting drinking-water capacity by 5+ million gallons per day with a modern horizontal collector design. STEM for Kids: Rapid City’s Main Street Square Splash Lab runs free weekly STEM activities, including ocean-themed sensory bottles tied to World Oceans Day. Poultry Health Research: SDSU researchers developed vaccine candidates for avian metapneumovirus, aiming to protect U.S. poultry from emerging, costly outbreaks. State Economic Development: South Dakota’s board approved major incentives, including up to $30M in sales-tax rebates for Smithfield’s Sioux Falls move and additional REDI/infra funding for projects like an industrial business park in Rapid City. Agriculture & Food Safety: NMPF named 2026 dairy leadership scholarship winners, including an SDSU doctoral student studying listeria persistence and biofilms. Higher Ed Recognition: SDSU released spring 2026 dean’s list updates, with thousands of students statewide earning honors. Rural Power Resilience: A DOE microgrid program offers funding and technical help for small communities seeking more reliable electricity. Tech Policy Watch: Illinois plans to suspend data center tax incentives, a move that could ripple into debates in neighboring states.

Sioux Falls Water Upgrade: The city has put Well 25 into service, a new horizontal collector well that boosts capacity by 5+ million gallons per day and replaces a 1952 well to protect long-term aquifer sustainability. SDSU STEM Spotlight: SDSU named Mason Jackson to the spring 2026 Dean’s List, while SDSU researchers also reported developing a vaccine for a destructive poultry virus. AI in the Classroom: Rapid City 5th graders from Saint Elizabeth Seton Elementary won the AI Presidential Challenge with a project aimed at cutting cafeteria food waste using AI analysis. Local Tech & Governance: Pennington County is rolling out a new analytics tool to track short-term rentals and push licensing compliance, with enforcement starting after a six-month application window. Energy Storage Tech: A roundup of thermal energy storage approaches highlights systems like Rondo and others that aim to store renewable heat for industrial use. Space Science Honors: Former Landsat project scientist Jim Irons won NASA’s Pecora Award for decades of Earth observation leadership. Health Tech Policy: The FDA approved bemotrizinol as a new over-the-counter sunscreen ingredient, expanding options after more than 20 years. South Dakota Politics: A Race Lab model suggests Gov. Larry Rhoden has the cleaner path in the July 28 GOP runoff against Toby Doeden, depending on voter consolidation and turnout.

Dairy & Feed Signals: USDA says May Class III milk benchmark rose 10 cents to $16.92/cwt, with Class IV up to $22.32, while the All Milk Price hit $20.80. Wildlife & Habitat Awareness: Two conservationists biked the “Whooper Highway” to spotlight whooping crane migration and Great Plains wetland loss. SSA Service Push: Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano heads to a House hearing to argue phone wait times fell 75% and service improved despite staffing cuts. Sports Policy Fight: Nine GOP governors, including South Dakota, urged the NCAA to overhaul transgender student-athlete rules for “fair” female competition. Local Tech & Compliance: Pennington County approved a short-term rental analytics tool to flag unlicensed rentals and enforce occupancy limits. Health & Innovation: FDA approved bemotrizinol as a new over-the-counter sunscreen ingredient after decades, expanding options for UVA/UVB protection. Education & Skills: Mitchell Tech students earned medals at SkillsUSA nationals, including a silver in Marine Service Technology. Agriculture Research: Purdue study says USMCA tariff reductions helped lower U.S. food prices, especially for lower-income households. Air Quality Warning: A new study links wildfires to ozone worsening, reversing years of air-quality gains.

FDA & Health Tech: The FDA has approved bemotrizinol as a new over-the-counter sunscreen active ingredient—the first sunscreen monograph update in more than 20 years—expanding UVA/UVB protection options for adults and kids 6 months and older. Local Health & STEM Careers: Dr. Yorell Manon-Matos opened 2027 scholarship applications for healthcare students in Sioux Falls, targeting students across medicine, nursing, dental, pharmacy, public health, and allied health. Public Safety & Housing Compliance: Pennington County is rolling out a new analytics tool to track short-term rentals, flag unlicensed properties, and enforce occupancy rules, with a six-month window to apply. Education & Workforce Training: Mitchell Technical College’s amphitheater remodel is nearing completion as new students use the space during registration for the 2026-27 year. Community Revitalization: Mitchell’s planning commission advanced tax breaks and a plan to stabilize and restore a 1907 Main Street building, aiming for storefronts plus short-term rentals. Research & Agriculture Tech: SDSU Extension is expanding precision livestock and range research support, including upgrades at the Cottonwood Field Station and continued work on practical tech adoption for producers. Environment & Weather: A new study links worsening wildfire-driven ozone to reversed air-quality gains, while South Dakota faces active severe-storm and fire-risk conditions in the region.

STEM in Schools: Rapid City fifth-graders are national finalists in the Presidential AI Challenge, using AI to track and analyze cafeteria food waste and earning a spot among the top 0.16% of entries. Precision Livestock Research: SDSU Extension is upgrading and expanding precision range and livestock work at the Cottonwood Field Station, testing tools like virtual fencing, GPS ear tags, cameras, and water monitoring to help producers judge real returns. Local Tech Procurement: Grand Forks City Council gave preliminary approval to a consultant for the Alerus Center LED scoreboard rebid, aiming to move the project toward design and construction management. Agriculture Support: SDSU Extension added seasonal staff to its Garden Hotline for 2026, offering free help on weeds, plant poisoning, and choosing varieties suited to South Dakota. Wildlife Conservation: Two abandoned South Dakota cougar cubs are now in Florida for care and a permanent home after being too young to return to the wild. Education & Training: South Dakota Mines plans a $6M geology field station in Nemo to reduce daily commuting and boost hands-on field camp learning. Community & Civics: “250+ Years of American Civics and News” events are bringing free, nonpartisan discussions to Watertown and beyond.

Cancer Screening Update: Avera-area clinicians say the American Cancer Society now recommends the FDA-approved Shield blood test for colorectal cancer, but it’s not a replacement for colonoscopies, which remain the “gold standard” for catching early disease. Nursing 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 across western South Dakota. STEM in Schools: Rapid City fifth-graders are national finalists in the Presidential AI Challenge, using AI to track and analyze cafeteria food waste. Ag & Environment: SDSU Extension is hosting a CAFO environmental training in Huron focused on odor, manure management, soil health, water quality, and permitting. Research & Education Infrastructure: South Dakota Mines plans a 9,415-square-foot geology field station in Nemo to reduce daily commuting and expand field-camp mentorship. Wildlife Conservation: Abandoned cougar cubs from South Dakota are now in Florida for care and eventual naming after a quarantine period. Community & Civics: A “250+ Years of American Civics and News” series is bringing civics and trusted-news lessons to libraries statewide.

Data Center Water Fight: Protesters in the Midwest are pushing for moratoriums on large data centers, citing heavy water and energy use and local impacts on aquifers. Finance Advice: A Rapid City expert warns that “shadow advisors” — people who influence decisions without being formal advisers — can steer finances, urging more transparency. STEM in Rapid City: Fifth-graders from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Elementary are national finalists in the Presidential AI Challenge for using AI to track cafeteria food waste. Geology Education: South Dakota Mines plans a 9,415-square-foot geology field station in Nemo to reduce daily commuting and expand student research and mentorship. Health Tech: The American Cancer Society now recommends a blood test option for colorectal cancer screening, while still calling colonoscopies the gold standard. Cancer Equity: Monument Health is bringing back the Walking Forward program to expand cancer screening and navigation for Native communities. Ancient Science: A new fossil study describes a feathered gliding dinosaur that may have hunted birds 120 million years ago. Local Election Process: Sturgis will review election discrepancies Monday before deciding whether to certify results. Cat Genetics Call: Darwin’s Ark is recruiting more South Dakota cat owners for a nationwide feline genetics and behavior study.

STEM Education Boost: Rapid City fifth-graders from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Elementary are national finalists in the Presidential AI Challenge, using AI to track and analyze cafeteria food waste; they’ll compete in Washington, D.C. Campus Science Infrastructure: South Dakota Mines plans a 9,415-square-foot geology field station in Nemo to cut daily commutes and give students a dedicated space for field camps and mentorship. Public Health Tech: Sioux Falls reports the American Cancer Society now recommends an FDA-approved blood test (Shield) as another colorectal cancer screening option—while still calling colonoscopies the “gold standard.” Cancer Equity: Monument Health is bringing back the Walking Forward program, which has supported more than 5,500 American Indian patients since 2002, with expanded screening and trial access. Citizen Science: Darwin’s Ark is recruiting more South Dakota cat owners for a feline genetics and behavior study, aiming to enroll 100,000 cats nationwide. Geology & Art: South Dakota Mines is inviting ceramic artists to use Fuson Shale clay for “Echoes of Earth: From Sea to Stone,” linking Black Hills deep time to contemporary sculpture. Workforce Pipeline: West River Health Science Center graduated 122 registered nurses in its first full year, supported by partnerships and scholarships across western South Dakota. Local Tech & Learning: NASA named MIT’s lunar power systems concept a top winner in its 2026 university aerospace competition, highlighting continued student innovation in space exploration.

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.

Conservation & Policy: A Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery fundraising push highlights a bigger South Dakota governance question: why private donations are needed when the Noem–Rhoden administration spent years on a predator bounty program that lawmakers and biologists doubted. STEM Education & Research: South Dakota Mines physics lecturer Michael Dowding earned a national Society of Physics Students honor for mentoring, while the school also invites ceramic artists to use Fuson Shale clay in “Echoes of Earth.” Community Science: Darwin’s Ark is recruiting more South Dakota cat owners for a national feline genetics and behavior study. Water & Food Security: A new report warns the Ogallala Aquifer—the nation’s biggest groundwater farm supply—is steadily running dry, raising stakes for irrigation and prices. Transportation & Infrastructure: DOT plans a public meeting for I-90 Exit 10 reconstruction in Spearfish, and US Highway 85 reconstruction discussions draw mixed reactions. Health & Livestock Tech: USDA confirmed New World screwworm in Texas calves, prompting an on-site response. Local Tech & Accessibility: DSU and Lifescape teamed up for a Go Baby Go! build day to customize mobility for a child with disabilities.

Highway Safety Planning: South Dakota DOT held a public design meeting in Deadwood on future reconstruction of US Highway 85 (Spearfish Canyon to the Wyoming border), with potential work like added shoulders, new grading, and curve reroutes as early as 2030—neighbors raised concerns about land, forests, and wildlife impacts. Space Tech Education: NASA named MIT’s Exploration-Class Lunar Integrated Power SystEm the first-place winner in its 2026 RASC-AL academic linkage competition, highlighting student systems concepts tied to Artemis. Agriculture Economics: SDSU researchers report the 2000s ethanol boom boosted Midwest farmland values by up to 44% after energy policy changes—new causal estimates published in an economics journal. Animal Health Watch: USDA confirmed a New World screwworm detection in Zavala County, Texas, and says a strike team is already on-site to find additional flies. Native Plants & Nutrition: SDSU Extension added two specialists—Allison Dollen (native plants) and Megan Block (nutrition)—to expand education and field programming across South Dakota. Rural Mobility Tech: DSU students helped build a customized electric ride-on for a child with mobility challenges through Lifescape’s Go Baby Go! program.

Space & Tech Education: NASA named MIT’s “Exploration-Class Lunar Integrated Power SystEm” the top winner in its 2026 RASC-AL university aerospace concepts competition, with teams also placing for Mars exploration system ideas. Native Plants & Nutrition (SDSU Extension): SDSU Extension added Allison Dollen as a Native Plant Field Specialist and Megan Block as a Nutrition Field Specialist, both focused on hands-on education for South Dakota communities. Ag Field Research: SDSU Extension is hosting free Winter Wheat Variety Tours on June 9 at two Crop Performance Testing sites, plus it’s running regional drought meetings June 17 across Hot Springs, Winner and Yankton. Beef Production Tech: Iowa Beef Center and SDSU Beef Extension are teaming up for a northwest Iowa field day showcasing new beef tools and techniques. Rural Health (Kansas): Avel eCare, Great Plains Health Alliance and Pioneer Health Network partnered with Kansas Rural Health Transformation funding to expand telemedicine-enabled care across rural hospitals. Accessibility & Community Tech: DSU students joined Lifescape’s Go Baby Go! build day in Sioux Falls, customizing an electric ride-on for a child with mobility needs. Local Infrastructure: SDDOT will hold a public informational meeting June 18 about the I-90 Spearfish (exit 10) reconstruction, including new signals and intersection changes. STEM in the Spotlight: A Brookings teen, Evian Johnson, won Miss South Dakota’s Teen with a STEM scholarship and plans to study surgical technology.

Archaeology at Fort Meade: The University of South Dakota is in its fifth year digging at Soapsuds Row, spotlighting the Army laundresses who supported Fort Meade’s cavalry and families. Disability support in Vermillion: A ribbon cutting unveiled the Southeast South Dakota Activity Center’s new Sensory Garden, designed to lower stress and anxiety and open to the wider community. Education & workforce pipeline: USD’s School of Education graduated its first cohort from a fully online M.A. in Elementary Education plus K–8 licensure, aiming to ease South Dakota teacher shortages. Health equity spotlight: A new report says Native American South Dakotans face some of the nation’s largest avoidable health gaps versus white residents. Drought planning: SDSU Extension will host free regional drought meetings June 17 across Hot Springs, Winner, and Yankton with crop, livestock, and relief guidance. STEM & research news: SDSU Extension added Megan Block as a nutrition field specialist, and SDSU researchers received an NSF fellowship (plus other campus science updates). Space weather: NOAA warned a strong geomagnetic storm could bring northern lights as far south as South Dakota.

Space Weather: NOAA issued a Strong Geomagnetic Storm (G3) watch for tonight after a “cannibal” chain of coronal mass ejections, with auroras potentially visible across much of the U.S., including South Dakota, though clouds could get in the way. Health Equity: A new Commonwealth Fund report says Native Americans in South Dakota face one of the nation’s largest health gaps, with premature, avoidable deaths far higher than for white South Dakotans. STEM & Research: SDSU research links the early-2000s ethanol boom to higher farmland values across the Midwest, with corn-suitable counties seeing the biggest gains. Local Tech/Business: Netcapital says it’s moving ahead with a non-binding plan to buy Resmac mortgage-banking assets via a new South Dakota subsidiary, aiming to add a regulated lending platform. Education & Community: West Sioux students buried a 2026 time capsule packed with tech and local history for future classmates in 2076. Agriculture & Biosecurity: USDA confirmed a New World screwworm detection in Texas, prompting containment and eradication efforts that could affect livestock and grain markets.

Aurora Watch: NOAA issued a Strong Geomagnetic Storm (G3) watch for June 4–5, with northern lights potentially visible across up to 23 states. South Dakota Higher Ed: USD’s Sanford School of Medicine says its move to Sioux Falls won’t affect its Yankton clinical campus, with leadership pointing to the site’s long-standing role in medical education. State Politics (Runoff): South Dakota’s GOP governor primary heads to a July 28 special runoff between Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden, with advanced voting starting June 12. STEM & Research: SDSU natural resource grad student Isabel Dalton earned an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for work on a native flower’s pollinator relationships. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Winner City Council awarded a street-lighting bid for Monroe Street and approved related public-safety and anniversary banner spending. Health Tech/Industry: Altivera Medical added senior clinician-leaders to its board, including Avera McKennan CEO Ronald J. Place, as it expands non-invasive pain and recovery tech.

Rural Connectivity: Range expands fiber in southeast Crook County and northeast Weston County, starting June 8 with about 50 miles of buildout for roughly 60 rural customers; service is expected in spring 2027, with local crews and South Dakota engineering partner Vantage Point Solutions supporting the work. Local Tech in Action: A Sioux Falls community is using PawBoost to find Koko, a juvenile red-footed tortoise reportedly taken from a yard near East Arrowhead Parkway and North Foss Avenue. STEM & Research: SDSU graduate student Isabel Dalton earns an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for work on a native flower and its pollinators; a separate federal case backs a School of Mines student in a deportation dispute after a judge ruled in their favor. Health Tech Policy: Patient groups launch “The High Cost of Low Bids” campaign urging Congress to stop Medicare competitive bidding for urological and ostomy supplies, warning it could limit access to the right products. Education & Workforce: A Sioux Falls paramedic science student, Dylan Schatz, lands on the President’s List at Southeast Technical College. Energy Reliability: Black Hills Energy highlights major infrastructure investment and winter reliability efforts across its multi-state service area.